My regiment was sent to fight against the 71st German division led by a monster of a man, my brother Klaus. He and I used to be in good terms until that faithful day. The general cheer of the first hours dissipated into the fer of first combat. 

The general directed us to the frontier and I, proudly hold the tricolores up high as a symbol for us all. We march down the field until the general stopped us. Just as plan, we wait for his signal. 

Charge!!!! He blew the whistle. 

This is our moment. This is our time to shine. We ran into the battlefield. Two cannon shots were fire from the distance by the Germans. We ran past through them. We ran to the end of the field past the brick wall. We are ready!

Then something horrible happen, a shadow hovers over our general. This was very strange. No matter how far the man run the shadow follow him. I have no idea what was going on. The shadow follow him and the bomb land.

The general was hit! How can something so slow hit a man like him?

I see pieces of him flying in every direction. His arms were above me, His chest drench in a pool of blood and cooked carcases. It was horrible. He was absolutely everywhere.

I can hear them laugh. They will pay for this. I pick up our flag up higher and ran ahead. Our comrades follow, with guns and blades in hand.

The German now uses a more advance technology. Machine guns  rapidly fire at us. We ran through the bullets and bombing. We ran through the pile of dead bodies all over the hill.Up the hill we ran, me carrying the symbol of France over my shoulder.

Suddenly it happen.

Three shots were fire and I...

It cold. So very cold....

Letter to Emily:

Miss Emily Brizard, 

Privé Jean-francois Brizard du 145e régiment d'infanterie a été blessé par un tir ennemi le 21 Août. Il a été capturé par l'ennemi, nous espérons que vous recevrez de nouvelles de lui bientôt. 

Cordialement, 

Louis Félix Marie François Franchet d'Esperey de l'Armée de Terre, 1914.