(11) Letter: Jack Bentley to Cornelia Bentley, October 28, 1918

A.P.O. 771 Oct 28th '18 Dearest Mother, Hi Hip Horray. I am a 1st Liut and just as happy as a kid and all last night we hiked & hiked for 17 miles until at every momentary halt the men would lay down in the road & ease the weight of the cruel packs. We are now in the city of Verdun shells falling here every few minutes - a town of 30000 persons evacuated and believe me my walk over the town was pitiful - every house caved in or roof put on the Fritz I was particularly impressed with the beautiful cathedral which has been partly demolished

in on end is a shrine like this [sketch] marble pillors it was fully as large as any I ever saw and still is beautiful of course all the windows are broken. Many thanks for that letter which was so full of what I wanted to know. I feel deeply indebted for the splendid work that has kept the farm going - beleive me that puts heart into a fellow. My thanks also go to Edith for her lovely letters. Stanley Wetherald sends me a letter and I am writting to him. Thanks for kindnesses Thine "Jack" O.K. John N. Bentley 1st Lt. US Army.