English Letter Act as a person in war writing letter to a relative

Dear Bob,

I haven’t been able to contact you in a while, I’ve been quite busy. The war is intense and there are disputes at certain times. I can hear constant machine gun echoes and noises around me without explanation. You can see the sweat on the Russian and French faces. I don’t even startle when someone is shot or pierced with a knife. My mind is altered with a different sense of life. You don’t care about the insignificant details anymore. I just came back from being on leave; I can’t worry about the situation at home. War is my habitat for now. Up to now I can’t tell if we are winning or not, it seems like it because of the morality that reeks in the air.

Hopefully you will never experience what I am going through. I have just killed an innocent man in response to panic. As I saw the picture in his wallet, I became emotional again. I just sat there and strived to overlook what I have done. My comrades convinced me that it could be worse. The best thing to do is let the past be the past. I am devoted to become a printer because of him, named Gerard Duval. One of the few purposes I have in my life is to redeem him.

We at one time had this harsh Corporal named Himmelstoss. We would have to make our beds until they were flawless. We did many exercises until our bodies were black and blue. He would yell “Prepare to advance, advance!” and “Lie down!” He would call us crude names like swine. We did have redemption, ambushing and whipping him. It made me wonder why he made us do such difficult work; it might have prepared us for the war.

I apologize for not visiting you while I was on leave before. I plan to see you next time which I hope will not come soon. I have found where I want to be right now. I have no plans after war and see no purpose for anything. I get lost in my thoughts while being on the front. After all that I have seen, life to me is trivial. Well, take care of yourself and I hope you respond.

You’re Friend,

Paul Baumer