War Diaries (July 8) (nonfiction)
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Diaries
John Hammer, Jr.: July 8, 1898
Dear Brother: I have just been relieved from a six hours shift in the trenches, so will write you a short letter and see if I can get to mail it. I had written you on the 23d of last month but on the 24th assembly sounded about 3:30 a. m., and we were marched about eight miles over the roughest country that was ever manufactured and rushed into our first battle or ambuscade and had to fight for three hours. Nearly all this time was spent in locating the enemy who were raining lead into our ranks with the Monger rifle and rapid firing guns. It was simply horrible. We were being mowed down with no chance to defend ourselves or return their rapid fire, I dontthink there was a man in the engagement but what would have given five hundred dollars, if he had had it, to have seen a Spaniard and had a chance to kill him.
- Letter (PDR) - Private John Hammer, Jr. / 1st United States Volunteer Infantry
Probational Officer Toshihiro Oura: July 8, 1943
Last evening, I received my first and possibly last mail from home. It appeared that they haven’t received my letters yet and are somewhat doubtful as to whether I’m still alive or not. They learned that I was on New Georgia. They will really worry if the news of the enemy landing on New Georgia is announced in the newspapers.
Father repeated in his letter that I must fight to the last as an honorable warrior. I will fight to the last, always for the emperor. I will show them that we will fight to the last. March 6: “There is nothing quite so doubtful as to whether life or death be with one, yet we write at random like searching and traversing a battlefield.” March 31: “Pray for cherished glory.” My aged father wrote on April 12: “Even though your soul should remain in the South Sea Islands, follow the will of Heaven.”
- Diary of Toshihiro Oura - Excerpts from the diary of Probational Officer Toshihiro Oura, who was posted near the Munda Point airfield on the southwest tip of New Georgia.
