Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/406

 404 THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

oner in the hands of the enemy. Since I will never become a prisoner of the Huns, if I remain conscious and able to fight, it is doubtful if I will ever be an inmate of a German prison camp.

"Do not grieve that 1 am among the missing, but rather rejoice that you have given a son in sacrifice to make the greatest military caste of all times lay down the sword, to save civilization, to prevent future wars, to punish the Huns — who have disregarded every law of God and mankind, whose only god is the god of war and military force — and to make the w^orld safe for democracy. I desire that you view the matter in the light and spirit of the Spartan mothers of old, who, when their sons w^ent forth to battle for freedom and their native land, said to their sons: 'Either come home proudly bearing your shield before you or upon it.'

"War was absolutely necessary on the part of my country, and, although I w^as 34 years old and nobody expected me to go, yet some one had to go; some one must make the sacrifice; some mother must lose her son.

"In the light of these facts, and know^ing our country's great need, I volunteered and have never for one moment regretted my decision, and I w^ill not, although my life and the useful career must end. Life is not the highest boon of existence. There are ideals that are superhuman, interests greater than life itself, for which it is worth while fighting, suffering and dying.

"If possible, after the war, 1 would like for my remains to be brought to America and interred at White Hall. 1 have provided well for your support, as 1 have a $10,000 insurance policy with the Government and several thou- sand with the old-line companies. My friend, Thompson, and Jess have these policies and other valuable papers.

"Good-bye, mother; I will see you in the next world. You may know that 1 died fighting for you, my country, and all that life holds dear.

"Your son, ADRIAN."

��A CITATION

Theodore Hoyer I9th Company, Second Fort Sheridan R. O. T. C. ], serving with the famous Second Division in the Chateau Thierry Drive, who had been through the hard fighting of many days, writes to his wife on the Fourth of July, 1918, as follows:

"On the Fourth of July 1 was in the front line. A number of men from each company were sent to Paris to represent the division. On returning, these men told me that the orators in the various banquet halls all referred to our Division as the 'glorious regiments which saved Paris.' Nothing in Paris was too good for these boys. Naturally, we are quite proud now. While Paris was celebrating the Fourth, we were being mercilessly shelled in our position. A feeling of great exhilaration went through my whole being when I thought that I, poor little IQ,' should be on the line doing my little bit, but yet my best bit, in holding the line, so that the people back there in Paris might enjoy the Fourth. It shall always be the greatest Fourth of July in my expe- rience. Many men were decorated by General Pershing for special bravery, and they deserve the honor. As for me, it took all my physical energy and moral stamina to carry out my orders. Don't expect any hero stunts from me. A few who want to be especially heroic come out alive, but most of them die. This is no war for grandstand plays. Hard, earnest work and saving of your own men's lives, if you can do so and still carry out orders, is my policy. If orders come to gain an objective which cannot be got except through a spe- cially difficult and heroic effort, why then, of course, we shall not fail to play

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