December 21, 1944
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310.64.1-3.2016 Transcription
Somewher [sic] – France
With 7th Army
21 Dec 44 @ 3 PM on awakening
Hi, dearest,
Maybe I could be accused ‘a
slippin’ on this letter-writin’—but
I got excuses, see! OK?—OK!
Last night I didn’t write ya
‘cuz I spent over 1 ½ hrs visiting c̅[1]
AN EPISCOPAL CHAPLAIN (!!!) who moved
into our “back-yard.” We didn’t have
many mutual friends but it surely
was grand——grand, especially to
be able [hold your thumbs!][2] to make
my Xmas Communion in 3 days hence.
Here’s hopin’ we DO NOT move on
foreward in the next 3 days. His name
is Woodroofe & he went to Cambridge
Theolog[ical] Semin[ary] @ Harvard. Really quite
a nice guy. Apparently one of his
best friends is a Doctor Otto from
Grand Forks, No[rth] Dark[ota]—as this
Capt. MC[3] was also visiting him in
the hospital where the Chappie (P.S. Army
“endearment” for Chaplain) is a patient, but
he will be out of the hosp. for Xmas services.
Next I just had to spend time
to answer (via V-mail) Margery Hughes,
Fr. Kelley, his secretary Phyllis Hecht, &
the Ray Harringtons——all in one
[OVER][4]
[2]
fell-swoop as I’d put it off too many
days.
Next add, that this is my last piece
of writing paper & I haven’t had time to
wiggle-out any more. If I “run” more
than this sheet you will see me using
V-mail paper enclosed in an airmail
envelope. Momentarily (& most unwarrantedly)
I’ll “blame” you [ho! ho!][5] for not getting
airmail stationary to me after
all these years ‘n years. Mad? Huh?
Nope!—she ain’t cuz she knows
it’s that damn pilaging/piddling
army-package-service that is the
cause of my not receiving the airmail
stationary she sent. [P.S. While givin’
the army-package-service Hell—let me
ad lib that it looks as if Margery Hughes’
package is the only one I’ll have to open on
Xmas eve—damnitohell! ! 卐 ! Ü ! « ! —
Dads (mentioned) package never did come
through——& it has very little time
left to make it, now. Gosh! all the other
guys have had [(PKGS.)][6] mail-luck & have gobs
to open on Xmas eve][7]. Anyhoooo, I have
(like yesterday) all those precious parts
of your letters that I cut out, dear,
to reread all over again on Xmas
eve——or any ol’ eve. Ummm!
Speakin’ of Dad’n pkgs ‘n stuff—
yesterday I did get a letter. It was
[3]
the one Dad [chiefly][8] wrote on Thanksgiving Day & you
& Grandma signed it. Thanks a million for your
“Thanksgiving-Day-Chain-Letter.” Boo! hoo! no letter from
you. Say!—“hoo” & “you” rhyme, don’t they! [Whose nuts!?!?][9]
Speakin of “nuts”——I’m gonna enclose
somethin’ that would drive any Etousa[10] “soljer”[11]
nuts! These 2 clippins are out of the Strasbourg
[our “zone”][12] “Stars And Stripes” newspaper, which we
usually get our hands on every day; [We hope!][13]. We
just gobble it up as a rule——but we surely
do “puke-up” the things such as these 2 clippings
which sat on page #1 & page #4, respectively.
I honestly don’t know whether or not to tell you
to let these 2 clippin’s “throw-ya.” They surin Hell
“threw” us when we read ‘em. What we all scream
is:——WHY IN “HELL” DON’T DREW PEARSON,
BOAK[E] CARTER, HANS KALTENBORN[14], etc, etc & THE
LIKE HORSE’S-ASSES AT LEAST MENTION SUCH
THINGS AS A POSSIBILITY TO YOU FOLKS
BACK HOME! 卐 ! Ü ! « !
Darlin’, this has been an awfully “screwy” & hurried
letter—I must close c̅ all my love in prayers
‘n hopes for you Both Swellest/Preciousest Guys,
Dave
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[2] Bracketed text is part of original.
[3] Medical Corps.
[4] Bracketed text written in lower right-hand corner of original.
[5] Bracketed text is part of original.
[6] Bracketed text written above “mail” in original.
[7] Bracketed text is part of original.
[8] Bracketed text is part of original.
[9] Bracketed text is part of original.
[10] European Theater of Operations, United States Army.
[11] Soldier.
[12] Bracketed text is part of original.
[13] Bracketed text is part of original.
[14] American radio and news commentators.