Letter Home from a Soldier

Hello dearest family, have I missed you greatly. I hope everything at home is good, I know America is fighting to conserve resources to support this massive war effort. Everything about this war is scary. There are weapons that cause mass destruction and death everywhere. My basic training was short and I feel adequately prepared however the imminence of death is always in the back of my mind.
  My journey started over 6 months ago. I was placed into basic training with my comrades, we were all fresh as they come. In a few short weeks I was considered ready for war. I was able to shoot my gun moderately well, I knew how to use my equipment and I was able to follow orders precisely. This was all I had. The training felt inadequate. Despite my fears I was ready, willing to do whatever necessary to win the war for my country, even at the cost of my own life.
   Myself along with a group of several hundred other men were escorted by convey across the atlantic to Britain. The trip was agonizing, everyone had it in the back of their minds that a U-boat was stalking beneath us, ready to shoot and cause certain death for everyone on board. Despite this the trip was easy, we reached Britain in good time ready to join up with our allies. The squad stationed in Britain for a few days. We rested up from the trip and prepared to fight. Later that week we were officially set for battle, marching toward the french battlefront. What I saw was a maze of trenches as far as the eye could see. In between them were barren patches of land filled with barbed wire and bodies. The sight was the most gruesome and horrible thing I had ever seen.
    War began immediately, we jumped in with a mixture of French, Britain and what appeared to be a few Italians although I don't speak the language. The trenches were harsh. There were men with legs blown off, others who had nasty defects on their faces from gases, unable to breath effectively. Despite this men didn't seem to slow down. Every so often a brigade of men would charge toward the enemies defenses. They would heave ever explosive and gas they possessed into the enemies trench. This sometimes caused mass death for the opposition but in most cases the charges would face a quick and easy death. Machine guns watched over this "no mans land" and anyone caught in its wake would not last long. This charging and submission would reoccur often, both sides taking part in the charging. I could hear the screams of my comrades and enemies alike pierce the air. It made me sick to my stomach but I had to fight. Finally after weeks in the trenches with sub-par food and seeing thousands of men die we managed to prevail.
      The Germans were running out of resources. My men told me they had resorted to using seniors and boys for the war. Exhausting every last resource they had trying to prevail. Despite this resistance to defeat they could not hold on any longer. We received the official word of surrender from our American commander, the room was overjoyed. Not another man would die before seeing his family one last time. I was giddy and the festivities were immense. From what I see now I will be returning home in due time. Able to once again care for those dearest to me. This is a great day for the allies, one that puts an end to the terrible events that have taken place.