letter/questions

My Dearest Mary,
We are in the Army now. I am sitting inside our little old tent listening to the gentle patter of the raindrops on the canvas. It began raining here this morning and it is still at it. No drill today, so I will have time to write a letter or two. We got into the city all O.K., marched up to the armory and had dinner. They have mess in the armory. We have to march back and forth to eat. Eats are pretty good so far as they have some women helping with the cooking. Set up camp in the afternoon. Shoemaker has been Acting Corporal in our squad. We got the tent up all right under the direction of one of the old heads who has seen service on the border. Some equipment was issued in the afternoon. As my name is down well in the list, I have not received anything yet in my own name. Corporal Hilton is staying in town so he let me have his stuff. Got pack, gun, poncho, and numerous other things I don't know what are used for. Slept on the ground last night in a tent with just an even dozen in it. Some of the fellows are staying in town at hotels, rooming houses, and private houses. Taken altogether, things are in rather poor shape as yet, but I suppose it takes a little time to get around. A few of the bunch act like a bunch of bums instead of soldiers, but they will get that taken out of them when they get to a real camp. They got Parker Melliush for kitchen duty the first thing. Walter Anthony was stuck for guard duty last night. It must be fine walking up and down in front of a row of tents watching the other fellows sleep. One thing they did do, everybody had to quiet down at ten-thirty last night. We had a good entertainment before lights out. (We had a light, too, as some of the bunch got hold of a lantern.) A fellow in our squad by the name of Donald gets off some pretty good comedy -- original stuff, too. He is a rather rough nut, but not as bad as some of this crowd. There was some crowd at the station yesterday, wasn't there? I think I shook hands with everybody in town three or four times. Not a very pleasant task under the circumstances, either. Well, I got so much company in here that I can't think straight. This is rather a poor excuse of a letter, but I will write again soon.
With best of love to my own little girl, Lloyd S.
Q1: If you could leave and never return the war would you?
Q2: How often do you think of home?
Q3: Do you still believe in your choice to be in war?
Q4: At what time during your day do you think of your family the most?
Q5: When you leave the war what do you plan on doing with your life?

Self Reflecton

I feel that I put alot of time into this project. I think I have carpal tunnel now ((just kidding)). I feel that in some areas i was weak because I was at a loss for words but overall I think that I produced "A" work.

I actually did enjoy this project. It gave me the opportunity to understand what goes into an essay and how i should compose one.

My work shows that I read the book and that I have a thorough understanding of what is going on in class

I learned that no matter how hard something is i have the strength to persevere and that I AM SMART

I learned that war is not all about bodies dropping but it's about friendship and the way your relationships with those you fight with and fight for arent what you'd expect in such grave and dangerous situations.

Writing Extension

This picture shows the immortality of the soldiers and the hurt that they feel being away from their families. This picture reflects a sense of lonliness and strength. The woman stands although her tears fall. She is the apitome of pain and suffering that has no choice but to persevere just as the soldiers are meant to do.

"War Song"

In the morning when you wake up

You've got planes flying in the sky

Flying bombs made to break up

All the lies in your eyes

There's a man says

he can put an end to war

They shot George Wallace down

He'll never walk around

Our mines are sleeping in the sea

Blow those bridges down

And burn that jungle down

And kill those Vietnamese

There's a man says

he can put an end to war

In the morning when you wake up

You've got planes flying in the sky

Flying bombs made to break up

All the lies in your eyes

There's a man says

he can put an end to war

By: Neil Young

I feel that this song expresses broken promises that the soldiers had to endure. They always had hope that the war would end and yet they continued to fight and lose lives. It mimics their everyday lifestyle in every possible way.

Dear Mom,

I didn't want anyone else to tell you this I wanted you to know that I love you. Things are never what they seem when you get into it. This war has done me fair but I am dieing. Don't cry for me mother rejoice and think of my life as a celebrated time. I am dieing because my country needed me to. I love you mom no matter what may happen in your life i will be watching over you.

Feel no guilt over my death my life was mine to do with as i please. I love you now, I loved you always, and I'll love you forever more.

Your Son,

Kemmerich

Literary Analysis

Chapters 1-4
Chapter 1-Paul is knowingly surrounded by all of his classmates and enjoys their presence. He also has met new people in which he respects for their characteristics and their attributes to the war and to a general conversation.
Journal Entry- He feels somewhat at peace because he is surrounded by alot his classmates.
WIL- I really was still in my observing stage in this chapter
Chapter 2- Paul reflects on his life before the war and how he had a love for writing and he explains that that love is slowly fading away-not just for him but for everyone. He explains how he feels about his old friend Kemmerich and his injuries. He shares to the readers that he will soon be dead and that he will have no need for the things he did before because of his amputated leg. Therefore his boots will no longer be of use to him and Muller takes notice of this immediately because he wants the boots.
Journal Entry- He feels that his life before is becoming more and more irrelevant and that his goals before hold no merrit in his life now. So I guess you could say he feels a loss.
WIL- war can drain a personn of their personality
Chapter 3-He has to watch a new band of recruits come in to the front line, unprepared, and afraid of what is to soon come. He converses with his fellow soldiers about their hatred of their superior officer, Himmelstoss.
Journal Entry- He feels sorry for the new recruits and their placements here. He understands that the war has its bead and good days and yet he does not agree with them sending 17 years olds to fight.
WIL-war has no remorse for anyone
Chapter 4- On the way to the front line Paul hears geese cackling and Kat realizes what Paul is insinuating by his looks. They later go back and get a goose and after a long had stuggle with 2 geese and a dog ((lol)), they feast on the goose as if it were a gourmet meal. They then take some back to some of the fellow soldiers that are in a jail of some sort.
Journal Entry- Feels some sort of hope in knowing that a good meal is right there waiting for him and yet there is still the dreadful feeling that he has to back to the font line again.
WIL- you can find joy in little things
Vocab
Voracity- the condition or quality of being voracious
Requisition- a demand made
Ceaselessly- without stop or pause; unending; incessant
Queue- a braid of hair worn hanging down behind
Quartermaster- an officer charged with providing quarters, clothing, fuel, transportation
Palatial- of, pertaining to, or resembling a palace
Scat- to go off hastily (often used in the imperative
Billet- lodging for a soldier
Uncompromising- not admitting of compromise or adjustment of differences
Confound- to perplex or amaze
Ostracize- to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges
Renunciation- an act or instance of relinquishing, abandoning, repudiating, or sacrificing something, as a right, title, person, or ambition
Pettifogging- to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters
Barrack- a building or group of buildings for lodging soldiers
Latrine- a toilet or something used as a toilet, as a trench in the earth in a camp, or bivouac area
Esprit de corps- a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely associated in a task, cause, enterprise
Protrude- to project
Gangrene- necrosis or death of soft tissue due to obstructed circulation, usually followed by decomposition and putrefaction
Canteen- a small container used esp. by soldiers and hikers for carrying water or other liquids
Munitions- material or equipment for carrying on any undertaking
Aspirant- a person who aspires, as one who seeks or desires a career, advancement, status
Acrid- sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes, nose
Reverberation- a reechoed sound
Indigent- lacking food, clothing, and other necessities of life because of poverty; needy; poor; impoverished
Taper- to become smaller or thinner toward one end
Lorry- any of various conveyances running on rails, as for transporting material in a mine or factory
Baseness- morally low; without estimable personal qualities; dishonorable; mean-spirited; selfish; cowardly
Satchel- a small bag, sometimes with a shoulder strap
Monotonous- lacking in variety; tediously unvarying

Chapters 5-8
Chapter 5- Paul descibes the disgusting way of living that he and his fellow soldiers have been reduced to. Himmelstoss was brought to the front line as punishment for being cruel to soldiers.
Journal Entry- feels glad that he is going to be equal with Himmaelstoss therefore revenge will be sweet
WIL- do unto others...
Chapter 6- Paul has to fight rats with his fellow soldiers because they have been stealing their food. The conditions that they are living under are rediculous.
Journal Entry- feels that in all his struggles he shouldnt have to live this way no matter what. He also feels that he can't catch a break
WIL- things could always be worse
Chapter 7- Paul loses his virginity and when he returns home he is punished for not saluting a major in the street and he also has trouble sleeping because everything around him reminds him of war. Pauls teacher, Kantorek has been enlisted to fight in the war.
Journal Entry- he is happy because he is going to be above his teacher who now has no authority over him and he is also happy because he feels more like a man after losing his virginity
WIL- what goes around comes around
Chapter 8- Paul is put in a jail in which he can see the Russians eating from the garbage and he gives them cigarettes. Paul's father and sister come and visit him and they talk about his mother's illness and her hospitalization.
Journal Entry- Paul is saddened because his mother is sick and yet he is still happy that his father and sister came to visit him. Feels remorse for his Russian enemies
WIL- Your enemies are humans too
Vocab
Laconically- using few words; expressing much in few words; concise
Buxom- full-bosomed.
Moors- To fix in place
Bobby- a policeman
Disconcert- to disturb the self-possession of; perturb; ruffle
Ventilate- to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills
Glower- to look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or anger
Wrathfully- very angry; ireful; full of wrath
Insubordination- not submitting to authority; disobedient
Knapsack- a canvas, nylon, or leather bag for clothes, food, and other supplies, carried on the back by soldiers, hikers, etc
Parapet- a defensive wall or elevation, as of earth or stone, in a fortification
Onslaught- an onset, assault, or attack, esp. a vigorous one
Protrude- to project
Annihilation- the act or an instance of annihilating
Automaton- a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power; robot
Debauch- to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce.
Stupor- suspension or great diminution of sensibility, as in disease or as caused by narcotics, intoxicants
Cleave- to adhere closely; stick; cling
Poplar- any of the rapidly growing, salicaceous trees of the genus Populus, usually characterized by the columnar or spirelike manner of growth of its branches
Predominant- having ascendancy, power, authority, or influence over others; preeminent
Apparition- a supernatural appearance of a person or thing, esp. a ghost; a specter or phantom; wraith
Congeal- to change from a soft or fluid state to a rigid or solid state, as by cooling or freezing
Inducement- the act of inducing
Delirium- a state of violent excitement or emotion
Downy- of the nature of or resembling down
Sullen- showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve
Pallid- pale; faint or deficient in color; wan
Delouse- to free of lice; remove lice from
Tremulous- timid; timorous; fearful
Affable- showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant
Loftily- extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering

Chapters 9-12
Chapter 9- Paul shares the food his father and sister brought him and he kills hand to hand for the very first time.
Journal Entry- Paul feels remorse for the man that he killed and he feels that he owes his family an apology
WIL- kill or be killed
Chapter 10- Paul and his fellow troops find a mohagany bed, pigs, and pancakes.They eat the food and the smoke alarmed their enemies and they were bombed and yet they continued to eat and cook their food
Journal Entry- he feels a small feeling of joy he is thankful for the meal that he has been given
WIL- in all bad things there are moments that are good and memorable
Chapter 11- Paul's friend Kat dies and the war continues to ogo horribly wrong for the Germans and Paul is the last of all of his old classmates and friends to fight.
Journal Entry- he feels that there is no one there for him now that all his friends are gone
WIL- that friends are very important when you are facing any type of struggle
Chapter 12- Paul is killed.
Journal Entry- there i sno feeling he's dead
WIL- there are no heroes in war just blood and bodies to be accounted for
Vocab
Schnapps - (in Europe) any strong, dry spirit, as slivovitz, aquavit, or kirsch
Tunic- Chiefly British. a coat worn as part of a military or other uniform
Destitute- without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter
Opalescent- exhibiting a play of colors like that of the opal
Dysentery- Pathology. an infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels, with diarrhea that becomes mucous and hemorrhagic
Barrage- a heavy barrier of artillery fire to protect one's own advancing or retreating troops or to stop the advance of enemy troops
Irresolute- not resolute; doubtful; infirm of purpose; vacillating
Grub- the thick-bodied, sluggish larva of several insects, as of a scarab beetle
Fortnight- the space of fourteen nights and days; two weeks
Fastidious- excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
Chloroform- Also called trichloromethane. A colorless, volatile, nonflammable, slightly water-soluble, pungent, sweet-tasting liquid, CHCl3, usually derived from acetone, acetaldehyde, or ethyl alcohol by the reaction of chloride of lime: used chiefly in medicine as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic
Surreptitious- obtained, done, made
Commissariat- the organized method or manner by which food, equipment, transport, etc., is delivered to armies
Convalescent- of or pertaining to convalescence or convalescing persons
Appraise- to estimate the monetary value of; determine the worth of; assess
Aberration- the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course
Oblique- neither perpendicular nor parallel to a given line or surface; slanting; sloping
Insensate- not endowed with sensation; inanimate
Blanche- a female given name: ultimately from a Germanic word meaning “white.”
Armistice- a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce
Superfluous- being more than is sufficient or required; excessive
Divination- the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means
Borne- to hold up; support

Pal Battalions

The Pals battalions of World War I were units of the British Army that consisted of men who had enlisted together at special local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues ("pals") rather than having to be mixed in with the regular soldiers of the Army.
At the outbreak of World War I Lord Kitchener (Secretary of State for War) believed that overwhelming manpower was the key to winning the war and he set about looking for ways to encourage men of all classes to enlist. General Sir Henry Rawlinson suggested that men would be more inclined to enlist in the Army if they knew that they were going to serve alongside their friends and work colleagues. He appealed to London stockbrokers to raise a battalion of men from workers in the City of London to set an example. 1600 men enlisted in the 10th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers, the so-called "Stockbrokers' Battalion", within a week in late August 1914.

trench illustration

Helen Burrey

Helen Burrey was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in 1892. She was of Irish and Alsace-Lorraine ancestry. She had eight brothers and sisters, only two of which survived into adulthood. When she was fourteen, she began work at a department store in Pittsburgh called Pogues. Then, later on, she left her job at the department store to attend nursing school at St. Francis Hospital.
When World War I broke out in 1914, Helen was 22 years old. She graduated from St Francis Hospital and volunteered as an army nurse. She was one of the first nurses to be sent to France where she would work on a hospital troop train. She was one of the first three nurses assigned to work on hospital trains of the American Expeditionary Forces. She was a reserve nurse of the Army Nurse Corps and a member of the nursing staff at a United States Army Base Hospitals located in Angers, France.
The Base Hospital received their first official order to provide army nurses for this service on July 14, 1917. Before then, Medical Corps attached to the trains had cared f or the wounded. Helen was assigned to a Hospital train along with two other army nurses: Edna Cooper and Grace O Donnell. They were told to leave the next day and board the train which would be stationed at Port Boulet, France. They arrived at Port Boulet the next day, July 15, and met Captain Goodwin, the commanding officer. They were to remain on with the train for five months.