Life in the Trenches

Dear Parents,

In this moment I am writing to you from the trenches. Life here is horrendous. The trenches are about 210 cm at the top and 100 cm at the bottom, which is uncomfortably narrow. We are in complete discomfort and tension. There are so many men living in a very constrained space. Scraps of discarded food, empty tins, and other wastes are all over. The dirt of living underground and not being able to wash for days or weeks creates conditions of severe health and military risks. Pests including rats and lice are very numerous. The rats are cat size. Diseases are spread both by them and by the worms and flies that prosper on the nearby remains of decomposing human and animal flesh.

In winter it is very cold, and the trenches flood sometimes to waist height. Men suffer from exposure, frostbite, trench foot (a wasting disease of the flesh caused by the foot being wet and cold, constrained in boots, for days on end, that would cripple a man), and many diseases brought on or made worse by living in such conditions.

I hope that I will be able to surpass this dreadful life in the trenches, and succeed. I am looking forward to coming back home and meeting all the family. Pray for the best and let God do the rest.

Best Regards,

John Smith

P.S: Say hello to everyone and tell them that I miss them very much.

Picture Source: http://www.1914-1918.net/intrenches.htm