AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 Letter to Aunt nell - Oct. 19, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell - Just a few lines to say the exams are over and - well - I was surprised to discover that I would answer every identical question - dead easy! So - tonight I'm pretty satisfied with myself & the world in general - and - while not too confident that I'll be Lieut. Bliss in a week or so - I've no reason to be other than sure I've done my best and think that chances are "pretty durned bon." Will write you as soon as I know - and - if that cablegram comes with the money in time, will cable you, and you can let the folks at home know. Do you know the meaning of the French word "liaison"? Anyhow - we military students and "experts"(?) use it daily - it's incorporated in ever tactical problem or military source or vein of thinking. It means "communication" or "cooperation through close touch between the (?) of the service." Well a French Lieut. was lecturing us this w

 More diary entries - October 7, 1918, Mon., Partly cloudy. C.O. drill, bayonet & physical, map problem, patrol conference, a T.M. lecture and an approach drill in a.m. Had 2 hours of writing up a patrol (reconnoitering) problem & a 1 hour conference in counter attack in p.m. Study combat & Browning A.R. in evening. Bed early. Cold night. October 8, 1918, Tues. Rain. Went to Polygon for a counter - attack problem in a.m. Critique on yesterday's Map problem. Mine was perfect. Class in attack work in p.m. and an advance drill. School in defensive combat in evening. Shaved. Wrote notes. Bed at 10. October 9, 1918, Wed., Cold - fair. Regular old fashioned foggy morning. Had terrain exercise in jumping off attack in a.m. & a hike. Lecture on field forts & attack exercise in p.m. - then fixed stone walk. (?) Rotten meals here lately. Study 7 - 9 p.m. Now sleeping next to aisle. Cold night. No mail. October 10, 1918, Thur., Fair. Went to Polygon for a problem in cleari