"Our God, we pray that you will keep us safe and that you will help to protect innocent people like ourselves from this ever lasting war. We pray for all those strong men that we admire so much to keep their spirits high. And thank you god for all-.
"God, I pray that you will keep my family safe and happy in fear of what might happen tonight. For Rachel, Richard, Louis and our little baby whom I long to meet so much in such a short time. Amen".
"Walter, it is time for us to go," that was David and the words I had been dreading the sound of all day. He was a great friend of mine; we were both just thirty years old and had a family waiting with ever lasting hope that we would make it home. Together we had shared the experiences throughout.
"I"m coming David, I"m here." As I climbed out of the trench I knew deep down that I could have just passed my last day with out my family. At the back of my mind I knew that my fellow soldier, David could be crawling back later tonight through the darkness, alone. .
The marshy land around me was like any human's worst nightmare, worst still, the gruesome picture that faced me, was real. Dead bodies cried out to me as I gently crept past them. I was so careful not to touch them but the terrifying darkness was unforgiving. The stench filled my nostrils. The swampy ground was uneven. All I could think of was home and the comforts of the old life. Like playing scrabble, the warm smell from the kitchen every day when I returned from work and of course, my recent birthday treat .
"Happy Birthday dear Walter, Happy Birthday to you." Everybody had clapped with joy as I blew out all those candles; there had been thirty exactly! I had been so happy, my whole family gathered around me. Little did I know what was to come.
"Dad, we got you a joint present!" The boys had cried out in excitement as they handed over a badly wrapped, oddly shaped parcel.
