Friend Al : Well old pal I come within a ace you might say of not being here to write you this letter and you may think that’s bunk but wait till you hear what come off. Well it seems our scout planes brought back word yesterday that the Dutch regt. over across the way had moved out and another regt. had took their place and it seems when they make a change like that our gens. always trys to find out who the new rivals is so the orders come yesterday that we was to get up a patrol party for last night and go over and take a few prisoners so as we would know what regt. we was up vs. Well as soon as the news come out they was some of the boys volunteered to go in the patrol and they was only a few going so I didn’t feel like noseing myself in and maybe crowding somebody out that was set on going and besides what and the he‑ll do I care what