April 6, 1945
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310.139.1-3.2016 Transcription
Somewherelse–Germany
6 Apr 45 c̅[1] 7th Army 5 PM
My Precious,
Not only because yesterday was “Thursday,” but because
of my “personal-life” [scared?][2] I didn’t take the little
daylight free time I had to write you an After 5th letter.
About the only thing in my “personal-life” is a certain
“house”/”set-up”/arrangement I build. [This will seem silly, maybe,
to you but it is “important-like” to a field-foot-soljer].[3] For some
weeks I have carried (dragged along behind me like a tail)
a white painted board 5 feet high, the width of an Army cot,
& made of ply-boarding which makes for unbelievable
strength as con[t]rasted to its weight & flimbsy (sp?)
appearance. I rummage out 3 small flat boards
to set my cot legs on at each new place we move
- Always we are on soft ground it seems, & this time
we are on a figurative & literal morass where the
inside-tent ground just “squooches” water like a
wet sponge each time you step on it [No wonder Army
wont take anybody c̅ the slightest tuberculosis history].[4] Well, I take
this white board & nail or screw it upright at the
head of my cot. This then acts as a hanging-wall to
hand all my posessions—thus keeping them dry,
orderly, rapidly available, & (psychologically) affords the
one last semblance of neatness that I have left possible
in the world. For over 3 days I didn’t have daylight,
time or lack of fatigue to construct my “home”/”set-up”/arrange-
ment so I just took those few daylight hours during
a Thursday’s-shift-to-nights to “build” it. Now I feel
sorta snug-smug-&-“settled” again. But, it “cost” you
a letter. P.S. Anyhooo, the letter never would have gone out I found
out first, so you’ll not be “gyped” in the end as now tonight Ill
write twice as much c̅ my better psyche due to having my “home” back.
P.P.S. Also—this “wall” at the head makes for sort of a protection/wind
break/”warmness” when these damn winds just about tear the place down].[5]
[2]
I’m going to tell you something that you’ll say is
both exaggeration as well as “soft soap”:—Many times a
day (EACH DAY) I think of/bless you for the scarf you knit.
Its impossible to enum[er]ate the ramifications—you can guess
at least a dozen & add (1) tent sleeping use c̅ it wound 2X (∴ high)
around my neck like all Frenchmen have done for centuries
(except they “wear” nothing to bed besides a neckscarf & some say always
a “female hot water bottle”—in other words, p.j.s rarely exist in France)
(2) After a few & far between hair cut[s] you just “freeze” where
the long hair useta keep ya warm-like; sooo, just wind
Em’s scarf higher—see? (3) etc (4) etc (5) wear it along c̅ a gown
in the O.R. which, when it is a tent OR, is as cold as an
ice box during a night duty shift of OR work (6) etc (7) etc.
(8) On the cold ocean trip over c̅ ocean damp penitration (9) etc etc
Soooo, your scarf—has been an absoloutely integral
part of my daily life for months. See?—you blessed Lug?!
Often Ive not had the time to write “side-lights”—
just one of which is Army/warfare slogans. You know
many as they are as applicable (& used) back home as overseas.
However, do ya know viz:—“Golden Gate In ‘48”! (for us
“youngsters-like” the 116th who figure we must finish CBI[6]).
“Home Alive in ’45!” (for old timers who feel they wont have to
go to CBI). Etc. Etc. Interesting, huh?
Maybe tonight I’ll have my first decent chance to
wrap safely Terry’s sweater [rep][7] that I bought in France
yet will mail from Germany. Maybe one of the reasons
why I havent sent it out too is that I purrr so when
I get it out & feel of it/& look at it. Sorta is a circuitous
way of “having-him-here” (‘cuz after all I can just “see”-feel him
inside of it as soon as it gets there). Maybe my mind’s-eye
measuring judgement is all cock-eyed but he should
just about fit it by the time it gets there. [Rep][8] I’m still
[3]
purrie over its boyishness, blueness, (part) silkiness, sportiness,
& even tonight [just now][9] I think he will love the design-
c̅in-the-knitting of it [& also the equitableness of its price: value therein
ratio—my first in France]![10]
Everyplace we have stayed/stopped at for a length
of time that can be called worthwhile, I have picture
postcards. I hope I never have to give them up, or that
they get lost via some fatefull accident. I hope to
perpetuate this idea of picture cards from “worthwhile-
stoppings-places,” but hostile Germany is going to be difficult.
Just today (but probably old-stuff to you) we learned
that the Russians openly state they will not renew their
non-aggression pact c̅ Japan. What a sigh of relief! Now,
if they’ll just declare (& perform) actual war against
Japan———I’ll see you so much sooner than
you & I ever even dared dream of, dearest. Lets pray
the Russians will do it. [Also, a minor point, now Etousa[11] can
zip right into C.B.I. s̅[12] that damnable draggie ocean traveling
which most all of us dread & dislike—sure! I got sea-sick
as Hell—in case I never worded it as such, on a rougher
than maritimly-average Atlantic ocean—Hell! more than one
(not me however) never got their head off their bunk pillows until
we got into the “placid” (?) Mediteranian [sic] the last 1½-2 days out].[13]
[Rep: in different way][14] The way Congressman [Socialist][15] J.B. Belk
has been writing Dakota servicemen about bonus, bonus,
bonus makes us guys sick! Well, if Dad or Lorenzo or
anybody sees that Congressman personally, tell him not
only to pee [yes! piss][16] on the “P” of his “payment” (as in slipping) but to
go freeze his “P” c̅ novocaine-insterted [sic] solution. See? !Ü«!!
The way this German (on the soil thereof) war is handling
Evacs we dont got into big cities or even little cities,
but pitch our tents on outskirts (1-3 miles). We feel safer &
also like it better—the towns are just torn to a
shambles by artillery (or bombing) & it would be no pleasure
to live in them anyway. Maybe if I hurry I can wrap Terry’s[17]
sweater. I love you both so, de[a]rest. Dave
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[2] Bracketed text is part of original.
[3] Bracketed text is part of original.
[4] Bracketed text is part of original.
[5] Bracketed text is part of original.
[6] China Burma India. CBI was the US military designation for this area during the war.
[7] Bracketed text is part of original.
[8] Bracketed text is part of original.
[9] Bracketed text is part of original.
[10] Bracketed text is part of original.
[11] European Theater of Operations, US Army.
[12] Medical abbreviation meaning “without.”
[13] Bracketed text is part of original.
[14] Bracketed text is part of original.
[15] Bracketed text is part of original.
[16] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret. Brackets are original.
[17] Their infant son.