Chapter 1 
Texas-Mexico Border
August 15, 1916 – December 27, 1916
* * * * * * * * * *

Laredo, Texas
August 15, 1916
Dear Miss Atkins,
I am the boy who was fortunate enough to receive the sewing kit you sent down to Mr. Carlin and you just can’t realize how much they mean to us.  It is one of the litle things we need most and which is hardest to get, and I have thought of you many times since.  I wish to thank you very much for your kindness.  And while I am at it, I am going to tell you a litle about our life and conditions down here.
	Military life on the Mexican border is, of course, different from our home life but we are gradually getting used to the climate and conditions here.  We are well with a few exceptions.  Of course, the weather is hot but we are getting used to it.  We are busy drilling every day and we will soon be in fine shape to go in to service should it become necessary.  But I don’t think we will be here much longer.  The trouble down here seems to be blowing over.  
	By the way, I want to tell you.  I have made a garden here today.  I am a florist when I am home and I like to fool around with flowers.
	We have had a bad sandstorm here the last 4 days and the wind is still blowing hard.  I guess you will find some Texas sand in the letter.  I have sent home for my Kodak and I will send you some pictures from the camp as soon as I can get some finished.  
	But I must close for this time but I would love to hear from you so please write me a letter.  Again, I wish to thank you for the sewing kit.
						With best regards to you.
						From C. T. Hansen
						Ambulance Co Na 1 Mo
						Laredo, Texas


Laredo, Texas
August 26, 1916
Dear Miss Atkins,
	I received your letter some time ago and I was very glad to hear from you.  And I should have answered you sooner but I have been very busy.  I am what we call Stable Sergeant and I have supervision over all horses and mules and we have 92 of them so I guess you realize that I am a busy man.  There are about 12,000 men camping around Laredo now.  The weather is awful hot here.
	I must tell you about the big rain we had.  It rained from Friday noon until Saturday at noon and we had about 2 feet of water in our tents and many tents blew down.  But if we did suffer some, the rain was a great relief.
	We just came in from a 40 mile trip over the desert.  We were gone from the camp 3 days and when we came back, my garden had all dried up.  I had petunias, sweet peas, asters, and gladiolas, and I guess I will have to start another.
	But I must tell you something about our work in time of war.  Our duty consists of giving first aid and transporting the wounded soldiers from the firing line to the field hospital.  And we take long trips now and practice up.  We also give medical attention to all the sick Boys here now.  We make a trip every morning and pick up all the sick Boys, but there is very litle sickness here.  This is a very healthy country.
	We will probably start on a 300 mile trip sometime in September to harden us up.  That is going to be a hard trip but it is good experience and we are learning things here every day that will come very handy to us later in life.
	But I must close for this time.  It is bed time and we get up at 5 a.m. in the morning.  Write me a long letter real soon.  I think I will have some pictures for you next week.
						With best regards to you from
						your friend, Sergeant Hansen
	P.S.   I am going to church in the morning.

Laredo, Texas
September 7, 1916
Dear Miss Atkins,
	I just received your welcome letter tonight.  I just got back from a trip of about 130 miles down the Rio Grande River.  We escorted the 2nd Missouri Regiment down there with 8 ambulances and came right back.  The Missouri Regiment is going to do patrol duty along the border.  And I am really too tired to write a letter as you possible can realize after I have spent 8 days in the saddle.  But I thought I would drop you a few lines before going to bed.
	It has been a hard trip but it has also been very interesting and I wish I could see you and tell you about our experience.  But I am in hope that I will see you sometime when we get back to Dear Mo and (believe me) I will have something to tell you.
	I am enclosing a few pictures I have taken around here and are of me and my horse.  And the others are some I took after the big rainstorm we had here.  You will notice our tents have blown down and we were exposed to the rain for several hours.  The pictures are not very good.  You can’t get good work done here.  I am sending the films home for safe keeping.
	I presume you have seen in the papers where some of the Mo Boys have been sent back.  We were rather sorry that we were not included in that order, for while we are not suffering any here, still we must admit we would like to get back to civil life again as long as the country is at peace.  But of course, we have no idea how long we will be here yet.
	I was very glad to hear that you are a church worker.  I think it is a mighty fine thing for the young people, and I want to tell you if we didn’t have the church and the Y.M.C.A. here we would be hard up for recreation.
	But I am awful tired and I must get some sleep.  Good night.  Hoping to get a long letter from you soon.
						I remain your friend
						C. T. Hansen

[NOTE 1:  Postcard with photograph of camp]
Laredo, Texas
September 12, 1916
Dear Friend,
	Here is a picture of our camp taken from the Y.M.C.A. building.  We are all well here.  Hoping you are the same.  
						Your friend, Hansen


[NOTE 2:  Postcard with photograph of Laredo, Texas]
	Just a line to let you know we are all feeling fine.  We are getting rested up after the trip.
						Regards from Sergeant Hansen

[NOTE 3:  Panorama postcard with photograph of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico]
Dear Miss Atkins,
	I am sending you a Bird’s Eye View of the two Laredos.  I will have a few pictures of the camp in a few days.  
						Best regards from your friend,
						Hansen

Laredo, Texas
September 18, 1916
Dear Miss Atkins,
	Your letter reached me this morning and as I have time now, I will answer at once.  I certainly was glad to hear from you.  It was such an inspiring letter and I have read it many times.
	I hardly think you can realize how much a letter like that means to us down here.  It seems to inspire us to do better than we have before, for while we are not suffering for the want of anything, still it must be admitted that we are living a rather dull life.  Camp life on the desert gets very monotonous.  
I feel very much rested up now.  We have not taken any long trips since we got back from Santa Rosa Ranch.  We will start on our next trip Wednesday night and we will travel nights and rest during the daytime on account of the hot weather.  I think we will get back to camp about Monday a.m.
	You ask about the 2nd Mo’s Hound Dog.  Yes, he is still with them and so it is the Houndog Band.  We are camping next to them and we hear that Houndog Tune the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, and it is really getting on my nerves.
	I did not know I had neglected to tell you that my home was in Kansas City.  Our whole Company comes from K.C., the best town in Missouri.  At least we all think so.  I am in the landscape gardening and nursery business there, but I am afraid that if I stay down here much longer, I won’t have any business left.  I see now that I can’t get back for the fall planting season and it will leave me in a bad fix.  But I am not worrying.  I will make up for lost time next spring and no one is depending on me for a living.
	You wonder if I like to read.  Why, if I had not had a good supply of good books, I would have been mad by this time.  And we both seem to admire the same authors.  The greatest author in my estimation is Harold Bell Wright.  I have read every one of his books several times with the exception of the one just published lately entitled “A Man’s Man”.  And I am reading “Freckles” now.  I just finished “Michael O’Halloran” last week and if you haven’t read it, do not miss it.  If you haven’t the book in your possession, write me and I will be glad to send you mine.  I have never been so very fond of poetry but I do love a good story.  I have always admired Mrs. Porter’s work.  They all deal so much with nature’s beauty.  I think you are to be congratulated, Miss Atkins, for being able to see the good and beautiful things close to you.  You know, many labor under the impression that the best things in life are always a long ways off.  We can find them wherever we go, but many of us fail to see them.  There is a good many soldiers who has never seen anything beautiful down here.  Well, I just wish you were here right now and see the sunset and the reflection on the Rio Grand.  I went to Europe 4 years ago and went up to the Land of the Midnight Sun, but I have never seen anything that can compare with the sunset here.  But I must be closing or you will think I am writing a book.
	Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you something.  I know you are interested in church work and yes, you were right in taking me for a church worker.  I am afraid I am not as good a Christian as I should be but I was brought up in a good Christian home and have always been attached to church work, and if I never did receive anything from my parents, I shall always be grateful to them for showing me the right way.
	Well, I am afraid that by this time the distance between my letter and your waste basket is very short, and I close in hope of hearing from you real soon.	
						Sincerely
						C. T. Hansen

Laredo, Texas
October 16, 1916
Dear Miss Atkins,
	Evidently you think I have forgotten you but I have not.  Your dear letter was received some time ago.  It reached me out at Dolores Ranch about 45 miles from here and I was very glad to hear from you.
	I wanted to write you sooner but we have been very busy.  We got back from a 2 week trip.  Six weeks ago we went down the river as far as Zapatha, 90 miles from here, and it has taken us a week to get rested up again.  These trips just wears you out completely.  We were about dead to the world when we got back to camp.  I enjoy these trips very much for awhile, but you soon get too tired to enjoy anything.  
	Well, when we got back to camp we received orders to go home but the order was cancelled the next day, and of course, we were very much disappointed.  For it can not be denied that we are getting tired of this life.  We have no objection to stay here if we are needed, but we are not doing anyone any good here.
	I do not think we will get back for some time now.  We have been measured for winter clothing and overcoats, and I presume we will be measured for coffins next.  The 2nd Mo has come back from patrol duty and the 4th Mo has taken their places.  The Maine Boys have been sent home and the Florida Boys have replaced them here.
	By the way, the book I promised you I have loaned to a friend of mine from the 4th Regiment.  He is out on a border patrol now, but I shall mail it to you as soon as he returns it.
	Well, Miss Atkins, I will have to cut my letter short this time as I am way behind with my correspondence.  Just think, I haven’t even written Mother since we got back, but I shall write a longer letter next time.
						With best regards from your friend
						Hansen

Laredo, Texas
October 28, 1916
Dear Hazel,
	Pardon me for being so familiar but I feel as we have gotten to be real good friends by this time.
	Your dear letter came today and to show you how glad I was to hear from you I am going to answer at once.  We got back from a 2 day trip yesterday.  We went out to a ranch about 20 miles from here.  We had a fine trip.  And that reminds me, I have never told you how we travel overland.  An ambulance company consists of 12 ambulances, each being drawn by 4 mules . . . 4 pack mules.  They carry all medical supplies and surgical instruments.  Six transport wagons that carry our food, feed for the animals, and other articles used on a march.  We have 3 Captains, 2 Lieutenants and 9 Sergeants.  We all ride horses.  There is only 4 men in our company who walk on a march – those who lead the pack mules and on long trips, they ride in the ambulances and the mules follow along.  We travel anywhere from 15 to 25 miles a day according to where we can find water.  We made one trip of 37 miles before we found water and that water was full of sulphur but it tasted mighty good.  We do not use tents on a march in this country.  We sleep in the open.  The nights are delightful here, just cool enough to feel good with 2 heavy blankets over you.  I always use my saddle for a pillow and I am getting so that I can sleep on the ground as well as I used to sleep in a good bed at home.
	Yes, we can not deny that we are a litle homesick.  Camp life gets very dull.  If we could go tomorrow and have it over with I am sure we would feel much better satisfied.  As it is, we are here not doing much, wondering what is going to happen next.
	I am sure our President has handled the Mexican situation remarkable well.  So far, I do not think it is right for us to go into Mexico and destroy what litle they have left.  God knows, they are having a hard time among themselves.  There is hundreds of people starving to death over there every day.  I think when the proper time comes the American Army will go to help them establish a substantial government and I think the Mexican people will welcome us with open arms.  But they must finish the fight between themselves before we can deal with them, and I have nothing but praise for our President.  I am sure he is doing right.  I am sure because I know that in all his dealings he is governed by his conscience.  You know that we can never go very far wrong if we let our conscience dictate to us.
	But now I am going to change the subject and tell you about myself.  It was very stupid of me that I never told you my name.  You see, I consider it of so litle importance.  It is Carl Theodore.  Now isn’t that some name?  I was born in 1887 and I am 5 feet 9 inches high.  I think a litle taller than you thought I was.  I am going to have a good picture taken soon and of course, the first one is going to Seneca for I will be frank and tell you that there is no litle girl waiting for me at home.  And as soon as we get back, I think I am coming to Seneca to see my new friend.  Am I welcome?
	But I will have to close now.  We are going on a dress parade this evening and I must get ready.
						With kindest regards from your
						friend, Carl
[NOTE 4: Photo of Carl on the prairie.]
	P.S.  I am enclosing a few pictures I have taken.  You will find explanations on the back of them.  By the way, if you want to make me real happy, write me a long letter and tell me something about yourself.  Good night.

Laredo, Texas
November 12, 1916
Dear Hazel,
	I received your letter a few days ago and I should have answered you sooner but I have been very busy lately.  We have made two trips the last 2 weeks.  One to Dolores Mines 24 miles west of here and one to Candletown 40 miles east of here.  We got back from Candletown Friday and yesterday I was busy drawing forage for our animals.  But I think I will have a litle more leisure time now for awhile.
	Oh, Hazel!  I caught a young deer out at Dolores Mines.  The prettiest thing you ever saw.  I am going to send you a picture of it soon.  It is about 2 months old.  I am going to take it home with me.  He is so tame now he will follow me all around.  We are looking for orders to go home this week.  If we do not get orders this week, I am afraid we are doomed to stay here for the winter.
	I am glad to hear that you like to read my letters and I wish I could make them more interesting.  But really, there is not much to write about.  But I must tell you something of the Mexican people.  They are very ignorant.  Filthy and suspicious.  And they are very poor.  Hundreds of women and children come here to our camps at meal time and almost fight to get our garbage and refuge to feed their litle children.  You can see mothers and children come to our garbage can every day and pick food out of them and eat it.  They have been driven out of Mexico by hunger and revolution and thousands of them depend on the hospitality of the U.S. soldiers for their existence.  And still they hate us like poison.  They seem to be under the impression that we have come down here to ruin and destroy everything in Mexico.  They live in litle shacks that we Americans would not even think of putting our animals in and there is, as a rule, from 15 to 20 of them living in those one room shacks.  They are really to be pitied.  They have no ambition or inspiration for anything.  I know of children here 10 to 12 years old who are born here and they can not speak a word of our language.
	But I am glad that Mr. Wilson was reelected President.  I still believe that he has a solution for the Mexican problem.  But this is about all I can think of now.  We are giving a minstrel show at the Y.M.C.A. tonight to benefit the local chapter of the Red Cross and it is high time for me to get ready so I must close.  Hoping to hear from you real soon.
						With hearty regards
						Carl

[NOTE 5:  Dutch Thanksgiving postcard, “That your Thanksgiving last der whole year through, Is mine luffing vish for you”]
Dolores Mines, Texas
November 27, 1916
We are on a hike camping here for the night.  The weather is fine and we are enjoying the trip.  I wish you a happy Thanksgiving.  I am using a bale of hay for writing table.
						Sincerely
						Hansen

Laredo, Texas
December 6, 1916
Dear Hazel,
	I received your card yesterday and was very glad to hear from you.  I was surprised that you had not received my letter.  I wrote you a letter Thanksgiving day and sent you a few small pictures and I hope it will reach you.
We got back from Dolores Mines the night before Thanksgiving and we had a very fine trip.  And while we were good and tired when we got back, still, we had a good time.  And we also had a good time in camp Thanksgiving day.  Here in camp we had a real turkey dinner and everything that goes with it.
We have been busy ever since Sunday getting our equipment in good shape.  We are going out on a sham battle maneuver next week.  All the troops here are going to play war, and of course, we are going out and take care of the wounded.  We are leaving here Monday morning and get back Friday.  I wish you were here to see the maneuvers.  I am sure you would enjoy it.  There will be about 12,000 soldiers taking part in it.
Well, Hazel.  I am beginning to think that we are stuck here for the winter.  The conditions in Mexico are pretty serious now.  However, things may brighten up in the course of the next week or 10 days.  I suppose you have read of Villa’s activities over there.  He took Chiwanna City and took 400 young girls away to the mountains with him.  That is what I call the Horrors of War, and it just makes me sick to see America sit and watch those horrors and not trying to help those poor people.
My patience with Mexico has reached its limit, and I would love to see America turn those Boys into Mexico.  I am sure they would make a long story short with Villa and the rest of the bandits.  
[NOTE 6:  Photograph of Carl and other soldiers holding their pet mascots.]
I am sending you a post card of my pet (Max) and several other mascots.  The dog you see in the center is the Official Hound Dog belonging to the 2nd MO Regiment.  The goat belongs to Battery B of Kansas City.  The dog on the left belongs to us.  The snakes belong to the Florida Regiment.  The third man from the right is holding a young wildcat in his arms, and of course, you will recognize me holding Max.
But I must close for this time and write a letter home.
					I remain as ever
					Sincerely yours
					Carl
	Write real soon please.

Laredo, Texas
December 14, 1916
Dear Hazel,
	I received your dear and welcome letter shortly after we got back from the sham battle last night, and I certainly was glad to hear from you.  You just can’t realize how much your letters has meant to me while I have been here, and I shall always remember you for your letters.  I am very sorry to say, it has not fallen to my lot to have a sister, and I do think that a man who has no sisters is really to be pitied.  Consequently, I am beginning to look to you as a sister of mine.  May I?
	Well, the battle is over and I wish you could have seen it.  It started Tuesday at noon and continued up til Thursday morning.  About 13,000 soldiers took part in it.  There was Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Machine Guns, and also Aroplane and Signal Corps.  We handled 186 wounded on the battle field and took 137 to the base hospital in Laredo during that time, and I would like to describe the battle to you, but I find it is pretty hard to do on paper.  But when I come home, I shall come down to see you (if you will let me) and then I will have so much to tell you.  It has been a very interesting trip and a trip full of good experience, but it has also been a very strenuous trip.  In time of war, each man carries all his equipment and does his own cooking.  Our ration consists of hardtack and bacon and water, that is, when we can get water.  It is very scarce in this country, and we sometimes have to go a day without it, but it is surprising what a man can stand and do for a cause he loves, and while it seems awful hard now, still I know in time to come we will all be glad for the sacrifices we have made and it has made us better men.  It requires sacrifices to make a good soldier.  And do you know, it is going to be a great satisfaction to me later on that I have been a soldier.
	You ask about the color of my hair and eyes.  My eyes are blue and my hair blonde.  Now isn’t that some combination.  
	Dear Hazel, I am sending under separate cover a litle gift for Christmas.  I am not going to tell you what it is for it will not reach you for a few days, but I thought I would tell you about it as this will be the last letter you will get from me before Christmas.  And now I want to thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness in wanting to send me something.  But really, Hazel, there isn’t anything that I need.  We try to get along with just the necessary articles because we may yet see the time here where we son’t be able to get them.  But I assure you that your kindness is appreciated never the less.  Mother often writes me and asks me what I want, but I am just trying to be a good soldier and get along with just the necessary things.  
	I am awful glad that you like my litle deer.  He is now the pride of the Ambulance Company.  I am trying to find another one so I will have a pair.  He is so tame now that I allow him to run loose around camp.  This afternoon he chased 4 dogs halfways down town.  He is not afraid of any dog.  General Clark from Missouri offered me $25.00 for him today but I refuse to part with him.
	But I must close for this time.  I am very tired.  We have slept on the hard ground the last 4 nights and I have used my saddle for a pillow and my cot will feel good tonight.  I am going on a deer hunting trip Saturday and won’t be back until Tuesday, but when you are celebrating your Xmas, think of us Missouri Boys among the cactus on the desert.  We are sorry that we can not be with our friends, but our thoughts will be with you and I wish you a cheerful and merry Christmas.
						Your friend Carl
						Good night.
	P.S.  Excuse the soiled paper but we are having a dust storm now.

On the Train to Fort Riley, Kansas
December 27, 1916
	We are making fine time.  Will get to Fort Riley about Friday.  The weather is fine but getting colder gradually.  Max the deer and his pardner are with me.  
						Regards
						Carl


On the Train to Fort Riley, Kansas
December 27, 1916
	Dear Friend,
	Aboard train.  Going home.  Received your letter and we are on our way home.  Going through San Antonio territory.  Will write soon.  Happy new year.
						Carl