Letter from Chaplain to Lottie Hewitt - October 26, 1918

Transcript

U. S. Army Base Hospital No. 14 A. P. O. 780, American E. F. October 26, 1918. Mrs. Lottie Hewitt, 3324 Wayne Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. My dear Mrs. Hewitt: With genuine sorrow I write this letter to tell you of the death of your brother, Corporal Clyde C. Chilson, in the Base Hospital here on October 16, 1918. He was buried in the Military Cemetery here on the twentieth of October with full military honors. I know the sorry that this will bring to you. In your sorrow let me ask you to remember this: War was absolutely necessary on the part of our Country. It was the only just and honorable thing for her to do. Someone must make the supreme sacrifice, some family circles must be broken. Life is not the highest boon of existence. There are interests greater than life itself for which it is worth while fighting, suffering, and dying. All soldiers know this. Your brother knew it, I am sure, when he gave himself as a true soldier. You will be glad to know that your brother was visited by me before his death and that youe were remembered in the services at the time of his burial. With genuine sympathy to you in your sorrow, I am, my dear Mrs. Hewitt, Very sincerely yours, [ms illegible: 3 wds] Chaplain.