Soldiers in Africa Who “Can’t Pray” Are Fooling Themselves, Sergeant Says
Robert L. Hagey Writes Parents Here of Fighting
“If any man says he doesn’t know how to pray, he’s only fooling himself,” wrote Sergeant Robert L. Hagey, referring to the men who, with him, have been seeing action in North Africa. His letter was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Hagey, 1124 15th Street.
Sergeant Hagey, a member of Company M in the 133d division, which is made up of men from this territory, wrote “The general is puzzled how we can get by without losing anyone when we are doing so much damage.”
The letter follows:
“Somewhere in North Africa: A few lines to let you know I am all right, have been under fire for the past month and in three battles – once on reconnaissance in a French sector and the next two we slapped the – out of a couple German columns in some mountain passes and for the past few weeks we have been advancing.
“I saw a tank commander from a German tank that we knocked out, and he was such a young fellow, not a day over 20. The rest of his crew were killed and didn’t get out before the tank burned. We tried to help the young commander, but our medics said he was too far gone.
“M Company hasn’t lost a man and we sure have been going to town—surely been hot and we have had some shelling, but no one hurt yet. The general is puzzled how we can get by without losing any one when we are doing so much damage.
“I wonder how many men in this area, who were in foxholes, weren’t praying. In any man says he doesn’t know how to pray, he’s fooling himself.”
“Hope there is a stack of mail here somewhere waiting for me.”
“S-Sergeant Robert L. Hagey.”
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 27, 1943
