April 26, 1945
Click Here to Enlarge Item
310.148.1-2.2016 Transcription
Somewhere else yet again–Germany
26 Apr 45 With 7th Army 8PM
Dearest,
A Happy Anniversary To You!-BUT also a
“Happy” (?) Anniversary TO ME TOO! Puzzeled?
Yup, a “Strip Anniversary”—“Sleeve-Strip Anniv.”
or whatever you choose to call it. Six months
ago almost this hour my feet [left][1] that dear, wonderful
mavelous, fine, previous, God-blessed soil of that
“Strange Thing” called The United States of North
America ! ! ! [add North American Continenent, Westren Hem-
isphere—just incase ya have trouble locating
it or remembering where it is! !][2] So, thus, to wit—
you can see a Strip “Anniversary” is a “6 months-
deal” instead of a “12 months-deal”, like most
anniversaries. LASTLY!—dont you
dare wish me Many Happy Returns (of the “Anniv” Day)!
Though lotsa guys have 4 & 5 stripes on their left
sleeves, I’d be [& you too, Ill betcha!][3] perfectly satisfied
along c̅[4] millions of others to have only O-N-E
left-sleeve-gold-bar-strip. [P.S. They, Capts bars, all insignia,
ribbons, etc just arent available so I dont have it, & Lord
knows when I will ever see a good ol’ PX[5] after so long a time.][6]
As written last night [P.S. Still in helmet-liner for
lack of a mail box][7] we have moved again. We had
a least wee hopes of not stepping right up into
another holocaust but preliminary reports at least
indicate it might well be that “Nightmarish-
Holocaust” all over again from this site. Till I
[2]
die, Ill never understand/comprehend how &
why (OTHER THAN SOME DEGREE [2% to 99%][8] OF MISMANAGEMENT)
they run/wear Evac hospitals right down to their
knees while numbered {Gen’ls Stations,[9] named {Gen’ls Stations,[10]
Camps, etc, etc have docs just sitting on their
dead asses. [Which reminds me—the fear
of all docs is (1) Socialized Medicine (probably sneaked
through in a vieled manner while a voting majority of us are
gone) & (2) Veteran’s Administration Service, COMPULSORY
100% UNDER UNIFORMED DOCTORS WITHOUT ANY CHOICE—
just move us from letsay, Somewhere Germany,
to San Diego Veterans Facility (still in uniform; still
no break in this Army routine; still no chance to make
more money for your wife & baby(ies) because of T.O. regulations
AND SOME NEW A.R. THEY WILL SNEAK THRU. Especially,
if enough articles such as that recent Readers
Digest keep pouring out. One thing we wonder is
when & how will these thousands “given” a free
medical education by Uncle Sam under that V12+
A.S.T.P. stuff that went on for several years—
Why not let them give us a chance to get out.][11]
The last mail delivery just before seeing
historic (& Allied “plastered”-powdered) Nuremburg enroute
here yesterday, brought me the speediest Elko
Daily Courier paper I (or you) could ever receive. Its
newsiest point was what you & I can chuckle
over—imagine Emily Belkott marrying
Doctor Sprengeringen! You & I both know it will
end in a divorce/split-up, eh what?!
Stead of viewing a beautiful moon c̅ you I better hurry
‘n build my bed-head-stead wall-home. AML[12], Dave
[1] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[2] Bracketed text is part of original.
[3] Bracketed text is part of original.
[4] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[5] Post Exchange, for shopping.
[6] Bracketed text is part of original.
[7] Bracketed text is part of original.
[8] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[9] In original, “Gen’ls” is written above “Stations.”
[10] In original, “Gen’ls” is written above “Stations.”
[11] Bracketed text is part of original.
[12] All my love.