Dear Mother:
You will have been wondering and worrying at my long silence, but I will explain everything and you will see how impossible it was for me to write before. I have been in the hospital, and I did not want to worry you.
We were surprised one morning to hear that we were in for fighting that day. The troops were up with the dawn, and we got on the move forward. Things went on all right until we got about 500 yards from the front, when I was hit in my foot by a piece of shell. However, I managed to limp along and keep up.
Then others came up to reinforce and support our company. We moved to the left, but we did not get far before I was struck to the ground. I felt very queer. I remember that someone undid my belt; then I suppose I must have become unconscious.
I must have lain like that many hours, for when I woke up it was dark, and the stars were shining. There was a strange quiet all around me. I thought there was someone lying near me. I spoke to him, but he made no answer. I put out my hand and touched him, and then I realized that he was dead. Then I knew what had happened. The fighting was over, and I was left among the dead with others of my company who had fallen.
Oh, it was a shock to find myself lying helpless there, a dull ache all over me and a sharp pain when I moved. Doubtless there were a great many dead around. How soon shall I be dead too? I can’t tell you the awfulness of that moment! I was all alone and, I believed, within a few minutes of death.
Something that a friend once said to me came to my mind: “You’ll want God one of these days, Tom,” said he, “and don’t forget He is waiting for you, waiting to be gracious to you!” Then I thought of some verses and bits of hymns that I learned as a youngster. I tried to put a verse or two together of this one:
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
Bless Thy little lamb tonight.
You would never believe how there, under the starry sky, those simple words soothed me, but then it made me think that I, Tom Fisher, was no longer a little lamb - I was a black sheep, old in wickedness, a wandering sheep. I sobbed out my sins for Christ’s sake, and He settled it there and then, out in the cold night. It was as if He said, “My son, give Me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:2626My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (Proverbs 23:26)), and I answered, “Lord, it is Thine!”
The terrors of death left me, for One stood beside me who took away all fear, and I wept again for joy.
Well, they came around in the morning to bury the dead. I remember clutching at an aide’s hand as he was lifting the next poor fellow from the ground, but I had no voice to speak and fainted again. When I awoke I was in the Base Hospital, where they have been very good to me. The nurse would have written to you, but I wanted to tell you the good news myself. I shall soon be with you, for though my wounds are healing I am to have a spell at home.
Your loving son, Tom