2/25/16 February 15, 1916 Dear Mom, How are you? How are Dad and Luke? I miss you guys more and more every day. Do you want to hear the bad news or the good news? I'll just give you the bad news first, which is that I no longer have a right foot. Due to the intense cold this past winter, I got frostbite in my leg, and it had to be amputated, The good news though is that I am being sent home, and I'll be able to see you guys soon. Looking back at my time in France, I can vividly remember the terrible conditions that we soldiers had to endure. It was so horrible I can hardly bring myself to write about it. Let me just say that the trench was horrible, but it gave us somewhere to rest in the intense cold and intense heat. I'I| be the first to say that the trench smells horrible. But if it wasn't for the dug out, | would probably be dead right now, either from the small rations, exhaustion, or the lice, flies, and rats that make the trench their home. What bothers me the most are all the casualties. So many innocent lives were lost. | am lucky to be here today. My best friend Will was Killed just a week ago. He was crawling through the mud, underneath the barbed wire, and into “no man’s land," while the machine guns of French soldiers shot at him. In the end, I think a sniper shot him. Poor guy, all he had was a rifle. If he did make it back alive, he would’ve definitely suffered from shelll shock. My other friend, the one fromgrade school, is still alive and doing all right. We enjoy telling stories of our days as, little kids. Knowing Luke, he will probably excited to here about some of the new technology being used in the war. The main thing that has been created is gas ‘masks. We wear these things over our head and they protect us from harmful gas that the French are bombing us with. Although they protect us from the gas, we can still smell stench. Another cool but deadly thing that has been created is the tank, I'm sure Luke has read about it in school. Mom, as you know, | am an extremely proud German, and I want to see us win the war. As of now, I would say that things aren't’ looking so good for us. Our plan to attack France first, then Russia, did not work, and now we are being forced to retreat. Innocent lives are being lost each and every day. To be honest, I really wish the war would just end, It's not worth it. The sad truth is that the war probably won't be over for at least another year or two. Love and miss you guys!!! Ill see you guys very soon! Love, ea