Edward Wirt of Lowell, Massachusetts, was conscripted into the army in May of 1918, during World War I (1914-1918). He was sent to Camp Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts, one of the sixteen training camps set up to instruct “National Army” (draftees) troops. There, he was assigned to the 76th Infantry Division, known as the “Liberty Bell” for its unit symbol. The 76th had been forming at the camp since September, 1917, but it had not yet gotten up to strength because other, better trained and equipped units were siphoning off their men. Soon after arriving at camp, Wirt injured his ankle.  He was in the hospital when he wrote this letter to his fiancé, Emily Gladys Bartlett, of Holyoke, Massachusetts. There are ninety letters from Mr. Wirt to Miss Bartlett in the PVMA collection, some of which are included on this site.