Description
Blake Sabine’s Letters to Aunt Dorothy chronicle three years of faithful correspondence from a young nephew serving in the Army back to his great aunt in Castine, Maine. The letters begin when the writer is seventeen years old and away at school. From there they follow his progress through intensive training and over into the European theater of war, all the while written to reassure his great-aunt that all was well despite being shot. Some letters were written from the hospital in England where he recuperated before returning to France, where he was stationed in Marseille. From there he went back to Germany, this time to help keep the peace while troops were being sent home.
Quotes from Blake’s letters:
“I had to write this on the stock of my rifle—pardon the mess. Did you see that A.S.T.P. is being busted up? Looks like a live outfit for me—oh well.”
“I think every one who was on the attack line that day wondered if they would see tomorrow.”
“I know you are worried about me, and I appreciate your concern. I’ll try to write more often. About that next of kin business, I can have it done when the dog tags get fully stamped.”
“All your letters urge me to ask for things, but I don’t quite know what to ask for, unless it’s fruitcake, and there should be quite a bit on the way.”
“As usual, give my regards to all and sundry, especially females under twenty.”