Letter from Trenches

This past couple months have been a very hard time for me. I can’t say it enough about how much I miss the United States. Living in the trenches have been one of the most hardest time in my life. Seeing all the dead bodies and see and the helpless has made me think about how lucky I am to be alive and writing this letter to you. A lot of my friends that I was talking to this morning have been killed or wounded. I can no longer see them and talk with them. It is a shame for all the people I know who have sadly gotten killed. These people stood up and fought for their country.

During World War I, trench warfare was very common. It was a newer technique in battles as in wars prior to the Great World War, fighting was less invasive and men merely marched at each other from opposite ends of fields and fought until only one side remained standing or a white flag was hung high in surrender. In fact in older wars, the fighting was far less dangerous to the point where battles were often times viewed by locals who watched from side lines with really no threat of getting hurt. In World War I however, the fighting had upscaled to the most sadistic type the world had ever experienced. With the industrialist wave that had overcome us in the late 1800s into

Soldiers did not die only from warfare casualties,especially the war atmosphere in the trenches brought health issues and diseases which caused most of the death during WW1.Some of this diseases were caused because of weather change , lack of hygiene and the filthy environment.Many of this diseases were insignificant colds but others were deadly as Shell Shock or Trench Foot.

Albigence Waldo, a surgeon from Connecticut, very detailedly explains the horrid conditions of the Army, “which had been surprisingly healthy hitherto, now begins to grow sickly from the continued fatigues they have suffered this Campaign.” Ranging from the poor/ lack of food, hard lodging, cold weather, fatigue, nasty clouds, nasty cookery, vomit, freezing temperatures, and poor/ lack of clothing , everything seemed almost not endurable. He himself heartily wished himself at home, and he was only the surgeon. The vomit and unhealthy conditions can all lead to diseases and to possible death. I would much rather not have to endure these things and be with my family instead; knowing they're safe and not having to worry whether someone got sick or

The health issue had not helped the situation the soldiers the air was not clean in the shafts and was causing trouble breathing. “My Skin and eyes are spoil’d with continual smoke.” (Waldo 151) The clothing was treacherous and the chance of staying warm is only the heat that comes from smoke and bombs is causing us soldiers to become sick. The clothes are worn out don’t fit us or are to small.

Many physicians and caregivers were very hard to find, especially with proper training. In the barracks, the military was contained in a closed space, had poor hygiene, and all of these components led to the spread of disease and infection (Health and Medicine in Revolutionary America, n.d.). As reported by Dosespot, when living the life of a soldier in the American Revolution, you had a higher chance of dying in a hospital than in the battlefield. According to statistics, there was a 75% percent chance that you would survive treatment from a wound or illness if you seek treatment in a hospital. Though, there was a 98% chance that you live through a battle.

I don’t want to risk my health because if I survive the war and don’t die I would not want to go home and have horrid health problems. In Document C we see “Why are we sent here to starve and freeze.” horrible conditions. Also, we see “ My skin and eyes

“Poor food – hard lodging – cold weather – fatigue – nasty cloaths- nasty cookery – vomit half my time – smoked out my senses – the Devil isn’t – I can’t Endure it – why are we sent here to starve and freeze” In Document C, they show the life of a Soldier. Now, do you see yet why I would leave? We travel too much and not with the right supplies besides guns, but still, I walk around half of the time with no shoes and freeze my toes off, do you know how much frostbite I got, you wouldn’t imagine. We get sick with many things like small pocks putrid fever, pneumonia, and dysentery. Although you may think that, this wasn’t that big a deal most people do and so do I. I love my family too much to go through this

service members who have been deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan have returned with an range of signs and symptoms that we are now calling post-deployment syndrome (PDS). Traumatic brain injury, combat stress, blast injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or post-concussive syndrome each fit into the variety of symptoms called PDS. Four hundred thousand previously healthy service men and women now live with PDS that, at times, causes them to be entirely disabled or to suffer so much that they even may take their own lives. This number may seem shocking, however PDS doesn’t just affect these service members, reservists, and veterans, but also their friends, family members, employers, communities, and even the very health care workers who are desperately trying to help them. Surprisingly, despite how common this condition is, it still remains puzzling to fully define and

Amongst almost 3 million Civil War soldiers, over 600,000 lost their lives defending their notions of freedom and liberty in America. Approximately two-thirds of these soldiers, nonetheless, died from disease rather than wounds received on the battlefield. Lack of efficient medicine and health care caused much more impacting damage, as well as scarce, not up-to-date resources, and social divisions between the soldiers. Typically, an average Civil War soldier could expect to face extreme hardships and difficulties in their wartime lifestyles, including bad weather, unprepared, inappropriate clothing, spreading infections, and tensions regarding race and gender. Across

I heard Dr. Albigence mumble under his breath, “eyes are almost spoil’d with continual smoke,” while he was operating on me. (Albigence 151 ) I felt disgusted that my own doctor barely see, and became fearful that he might amputate in the wrong spot and cut off my whole hand instead of one finger. More grumbling from Dr. Albigence was heard by one of my fellow soldiers. He said that the doctor vomited and asked if he was alright. Dr. Albigence replied, “I am sick...Vomit half my time.”(Albigence 151) The thought came to my mind, if the doctor dies we will have no medical attention, which could lead to death. Not too long ago I saw a list that notified us that from December to June an estimated 1,800 had died due to illnesses during encampment. (Busch 147) Despair dawned on me, I came to the realization that so many people died therefore I have an even higher chance of dying. I was strolling by the medical tent when I heard Dr. Albigence arguing with General Washington, “I can’t endure it” my surgeon said. (Albigence 151 ) A fear that our doctor might quit on us saddened me. Death and illness has caused me to not re-enlist because Dr. Albigence might die or quit which might cause me to die or get sick. With the high possibilities of death and illness, I would rather go home for a chance to

* Discussion of the soldier’s experience, including but not limited to fighting in the trenches, the smell, boredom, lice, rats, food, common injuries, and battlefield engagement

While each of those factors will not be elucidated in a clear and comprehensive manner, I will explain the effects and causes of soldiers in the war in general, and then specifically show what the effects and causes of diseases were on each side of the war. It will become clear which side diseases victimized in a more severe manner.

The food here isn't up to much, but I did receive your package and oh my it was delightful. Thank you dearly. How are you and Norman doing at home? I know that myself and my brothers are doing just fine, aside from healing injures. I do know do much of their field as I am still learning but I know Harry, as a recovering dispatch rider, is doing well. He has healed from his leg wound but they are considering rendering him invalid as he will never have the same movement back required to be the dispatch rider. He cannot be moved to defence as he has no experience but he may soon be at home joining you.

After finishing my training at specialist camp thousands of soldiers including me were taken to this new place known as western front. And you might not like it but the French are going to fight the Germans with our help. That is the reason I wasn’t able to write in such a long period of time and still didn’t had time but was forced by Albert. Nowadays, he is working at the anti-aircraft station shooting down enemy blimps. This gives us time to prepare ourself for the attack and plan our strategy.