Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 189, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1918 — FRED J. McCOLLY RECEIVES LETTER FROM HIS BROTHER [ARTICLE]

FRED J. McCOLLY RECEIVES LETTER FROM HIS BROTHER

France, July 10, 1918. Dear Brother:— I received your most welcome letter today, will answer the same today. I haven’t received any mail for two or three months now. I guess it was all sent back to you. I was supposed to come home 'but I refused the discharge and the battery commander didn’t know it and he sent my mail all back to the States. That is. why your mail returned-to you. I have been in nine different hospitals since I have been in FranceI am glad you are all well. I wish I had some of those strawberries. They don’t raise very many in this country and I have not seen a wild one in France. I wish I were there and was able to work at the old trade once more, but I fear I’ll never be able. I guess I will have to sell shoe strings on a corner some where —that is about all that I will be able to do. I hope that father gets well by the time I get home. I am not doing anything now only laying in the hospital, and I don’t know how long I will he here, but ! expect for some time. I can not tell much more than that and that I am feeling fine. • Will have to tell the rest when I get back, if I ever do, which I think I will. I will close for this time. Good-bye, I remain as ever, your loving brother, FORD E. MeCOLLY. France, July 22, 1918. Dear Brother:—

I am glad to say that I received your most welcome letter of June 12.» I have received several of your letters lately but I have received only one from mother. I haven’t received any from Daisy or anybody else. I have written several to Frank but nave received no answer. Well, how are you by this time? Working hard-, I suppose. How is mother and everybody else in town? I am feeling pretty good. I am leav-. ing the hospital tomorrow, but the Dr. says that I shall never see the front any more, but I will if there is any possible chance to get there. After I refused the second discharge he told me that. Well, if I have to stay in the rear I guess I will get home with most of my body. We don’t work very hard over here, only when we are after the enemy, then we make up for Tost time. Well, I guess I will close for this time as it is about dinner time. I remain as ever, your brother. FORD E. MeCOLLY. Chateauroux, Base Hospital No. 9, France.