M5 Assignment: Historical Fiction - "A Day in the

Life"

Adriana Gerardo

History 153

Professor Patrick McDonald

February 12, 2017

 Gerardo 1

Mayo 1, 1918

Dear Mom and Dad,

It is now three o clock in the afternoon and I am finally in the reserve lines. I hope everyone

had a happy Easter at Aunt Janes house. Thank you for the birthday wishes, I wished I could

have celebrated my 21-birthday with all of you.

I am sorry to hear about the all the horrifying things toward German-American people happening

back at home, especially what they did to our neighbors son, little Thomas. I cannot believe

even children are being targeted at school for their heritage. Hopefully, the kid that punch him in

the face is punished by the school committee.

It has been 10 days since the last time I wrote you. I was in the front line for the past 20 days. It

has been hard, but, I keep reminding myself of the good I am doing serving my country; and

most importantly, I am fighting for you and my young sister Diane. Its not easy to be here and I

assured you is not close to what I ever imagined. Now I can understand why Dad said great

grandpa Allen cried many nights when the Civil War was over.

Remember my friend Steve, the guy from Georgia that I meet at the military training camp? He

died on our first day in the trenches, a German sniper put a bullet through his head. Over and

over, the French reminded us to not peak over the walls of the trench, but he couldnt ignore a

loud scream on the other side. His body stomped on the floor, and just like that he was gone.
 Gerardo 2

The next two days were the hardest. His body lied next to me for what seemed like days. The

rats started feeding themselves of Steves corpse; there was nothing I could do, as I couldnt

move. The first thing I did as I got to the reserve lines was to try to clean myself with wet rags.

Steves blood was spilled over my hands and my face, there was no shower to clean myself; not

that it would make a difference, nothing can erase what happened on my first day at the frontline.

Yesterday my officer told me, Steve was buried in the same spot where he died. It makes me sad

that his family wont have a place to honor him. Not only did my friend died that day but also

my spirit.

The worst is, the Germans are not the only enemies, everything that surrounds me is hostile. The

trenches are infested with those ugly rats, I can always fill them crawling over me. I keep feeling

them, during the day and at night; yet, they are not there.

Many soldiers are getting lice and getting sick, they said its the lice that causes the high fever.

Who knows, at times I feel we live worse than animals, nothing that surrounds me seems

humane. Anyway, I shaved my head.

As for the day to day, is always the same. I keep watch, have breakfast, clean my gun, do chores.

It is raining today, so I will probably be assigned to drain the trenches.

From what they say around here, the Germans are weak, because we are sending many soldiers

abroad. As you probably heard on the radio, the Germans threw a large offensive surprise around

May trying to win the war before more American soldiers got deployed. Rumor has it we are

moving to the city of Albert in the northern part of France, I will let you know if my location

changes, for now I will remain in the Western Front.

 Gerardo 3

Well, that is about all for now so Ill be saying goodbye for today. I hope Moms new job in the

automobile factory is rewarding and more women of the family feel encouraged to join the heavy

industry to compensate for labor shortages. Please write soon.

Your Son,

John.