Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1919 — WE ARE SURE TO GO TO HEAVEN FOR WE’VE DONE OUR HITCH IN HELL. [ARTICLE]

WE ARE SURE TO GO TO HEAVEN FOR WE’VE DONE OUR HITCH IN HELL.

I am sitting here a-thlnking of the things I left behind, And X hate to put on paper what is running through my mind; We’ve dug a million trenches, and we’ve cleaned ten miles of ground, A cleaner place this side of hell, I think is still unsound; But there’s one consolation, gather close and I will tell. When dead, we’ve bdtind for Heaven, for we’ve done our hitch in hell. We’ve built a hundred kitphens, for the cooks to stew our beans. We’ve stood a million guard-mounts, and we’ve cleaned the camp latrine. We’ve washed a million mess-kits, and we’ve pealed a million spuds. And rolled a million blanket rolls, and scrubbed a million duds. The number of parades we’ve made, would be hard for us to tell, But we’ll parade in Heaven, for we’ve done our hitch in hell. _ We’ve run a thousand 'extra trains; light and heavy guns we’ve tossed. Past which the German hoards must go, if they would get across. A hundred million inspections, every one of us have stood, And more inoculations than in civil life we could. And how much dust we’ve eaten, no one s can ever tell, ) But we’ll eat no dust In for we’ve done our hitch In hell. W'e’ve cleaned our shoes a million times, and washed our leggins white, We’ve ironed our shirts and pressed our clothes, on every Friday night. We’ve hiked a hundred million miles, and made a hundred camps; We’ve pulled a hundred bales of straw from out the seats our pants. But when our work on earth is done, our friends behind will tell, “They died and went to Heaven, for they've done their hitch In hell.” When final taps Is sounded and we lay aside life’s cares, We'll do our last parading, "tip the shining .golden stairs, When the bugle bids us welcome and the harps begin to play, St. Peter will bid us welcome, loud but sweeto to us he’ll yell—- “ Forget your fears, . 28th Engineers, you’ve done your hitch in hell."