Summer 1918: Clues from Mike Hogg’s Letters

       While Ima Hogg was traveling in July, her brother Mike was preparing to fight in the trenches in France. He had been writing to her faithfully and regularly since May 1917 about his adventures in the military. He was now Captain Mike Hogg, U.S. Army, 90^th Division, 360^th Regiment, 180^th Infantry Brigade, 1^st Battalion, Company D.

       On July 14, 1918 Mike wrote to his brother Will:           

       “Most everyone got mail. I got your letter and two from Sister. One of her’s [sic] was written to Camp and the other over here.”

       “Over here” was, as Mike put it in his censored letters, “Somewhere or Anywhere in France.”

         A letter from Mike to Ima on  August 7, 1918 complains that he has written to her every week, but he has not heard from her lately.

         Another letter from him to her on September 3 wonders if she is receiving his weekly letters.

         Mike did not know that his sister had been taken ill in July. She would not be really well again for a long time.