February 23, 1945
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310.113.1-6.2016 Transcription
Somewhere–France
c̅[1] 7th Army – 23 Feb 45
I feel like a “heel” trying to answer
your swell recent letters (previously postponed)
when I feel as tired as I do—but
probably the night shift will be a
“Heller” again so I gotta at least start
now. (P.S. I never mentioned that the roarin “Hell”-
time in any Evac is 96% always at the night-shift—
of course some day shifts “go-wild” too, but pan-
oramically it is a night-proposition).
Rather than write the dozens of
interesting things about Doris’ marriage &
my [(as “father”)][2] giving her away first—I’d better
answer you letters first:—
A Jan 16th’s:—cute “red-blue” Valentine
came way out of sequence. Gee! Oh boy! –
did you & Terry[3] ever “Valentine-me”! (P.S. nice!)
(Also a Readers Dig. chg. of addr’ss came—“tanks.” Only 1 R.D. to date)
Your Feb 5th’s:—Please forget all about
that Dec. 26th’s letter beating the Dec 27th’s
letter, dearest. Tiz/twaz nuthin a’tall!
I’m glad to know my Vmails to Helen
& Duncan got through. [You have my 101%
“permission” AND WISH, that you skip writing me
at least once a month to write that marvelous
Christian called Bishop Lewis].[4]
As in a previous letter—I’m glad
for Cornelia & Dutch. Who’s deliverin’ her?
[2]
For various & vaguely-definable reasons, I
am “witcha” in gladness re: not being Navy.
Nope! I don’t know anything about
my baby teething——but I do know
a [horribly][5] little about Thump[6] & you—
thus, being a doc, I made a hunch “diagnosis.”
[P.S. ‘Spect Ill take off my long underwear
(which does keep me warm) when I go to CBI[7]—
‘course—Northern China would be only
a figurate “sweating-it-out”].[8]
Your Deb 8th’s:—had 2 thankfully
received stamps. I’m glad Dad’s cigs;
2 snaps made-it-through. Let’s just “see”
if that damn pkg-service can take over
3 months to get that French artist’s
portrait to you! 卐!Ü!⋆!
[P.S. You say you dont see much weight loss in my
snaps——wait till you see the last 2 shootings
I was on in/when they materialize: (1) Out on the
surgery roof (2) Wedding party (& maybe someday, the
wedding movies that were also taken). L-O-R-D-Y!][9]
Say! 卐!Ü!⋆ !, Schmaltzie, didja ever
think that my hair might be so dirty,
greasy-flat, uncut, & “disappearing” that
Im ashamed to take off my “Jewish-rabbi-
cap”????? (Even if ya don’t think about such a
thing—I still love ya all to “Hell”—H O N E S T!)
Anyhooo, the surgery-roof snaps, & all Wedding
Party pictures are s̅[10] head-covering (except a few)
so that oughta make you happy – huh?
[3]
Know what?—I even asked
those around me how to spell BONA FIDE—
honest! Anyhooo, do it often, PLEEEZZ!
(P.S. Tell me how I spelled it on the artist’s portrait pkg).
My only regret re: the printing paper
situation is that I’ll be less “free” to ask
people for pictures s̅ printing-“profer-ence.”
Just casually (& “minorly”) ask Dad if
he thinks the P.O.’s electrical stamp canceler
would “spark-off” markings on the edge (or
all over) printing paper protected doubly
inside an airmail envelope. [I dont.][11] one guy does.
[Rep.][12] I did receive one pkg c̅ hair tonic
slone. Seems to me you have another [Rx][13] stock-
piled. Goooooodieeee! [OK, no stamps will
be looked for in stationary #2 if it ever arrives][14].
Golly! but pkg’s for all my 9 room-mates
have really been coming through by the
barrell. I feel guilty about not being
able to give them things.
[Rep:-][15] 5th, 6th, or 7th time:—the 2nd ASG[16]
is (& has been) “out.” I still visit (C.O.) Sully
fairly often, however. I enjoy his
(horriblye) F-R-A-N-K-N-E-S-S so much—
you, dearest, taught me about it. You’d
have to know Sully to understand all this.
Your Feb 13th’s (Tanks ↔ 2 stamps):—“Tanks,”
too, for “Thumps” NY Life Ins[urance] “picture.” After all,
I started on-my-own early—he can too
if he wishes ‘cuz he’s got what it takes.
[4]
However, Schmaltzie, I’m not so sure you
sent that clipping for said purpose at all—
you sent it for the “naked” Valentine surf
board rider on the opposite side!—just
to “stimulate” a poor faithful foot soljer—
you rat!?!?
Cerevim + Biolac?—OK!—I’m
so happy for you, dearest. The formula looks
average for Cerevim. If, I was home I’d
get it free by the barrell—damnitohell!
Gotta go to work—I’ll start c̅ the last letter later ↓
Your Feb 12th’s:—(A.S. even 1 stamp is fine).
Your “Bless Beth” expose was cute. Whumpf!
Just wait till I get home if you want to
see some “dense-head-tricks”—why you’re
a Phi Beta compared to some of the things I
can get off. You’ve heard this before but
it wont hurt to reiterate—children
(including babies) are usually “way-ahead” of
parents & are much more “adult” in their
existance than we usually give them
credit for—towit, I love cereal, but
only in my broke-premed-days did I ever
eat it c̅ water, & then I always swiped
sugar, at least to put on the hot water
oatmeal “paste” [ugh!][17] that I use to eat.
Your interesting story re: “The Drama of the
Broken Rocking Chair” brings only one thought
to my mind—Ill betcha 1000 Francs
[5]
that Thump could have hit the floor in a
manner that would have appauled you &
yet never hurt (really) himself! As I wrote
before—baby’s abilities to take “whoops”
is appaulingly phenomenal & phenomenally appauling.
Golly, here is it after a night of
work so I’ll hurry a closure so as to
put this in the mail & then dream
about you two super Dearest ones.
All my love,
Dave
P.S. Terry:—on your cartoon (NYLife) picture you are
ah askin’ (QUOTE) “What’s cookin’, Pop?”—
$56-$58 bucks is NOW cookin’, M’Boy—
& dat’s wit “gas” ——huh?! S’funny
but nobody can really seem to find out
what the money difference is between a
1st Lieutenancy & a Captaincy. Anyhoooooooo,
just [because] you’ll recognize dat strange bum
when he comes home wit the rail-road-tracks
(H) on his shoulders I’ll give you an official
signature-proof to admit me in da front door:—
Captain David Brown Wilsey, M.C.
↑ (seems silly!—doesn’t it??)
P.S. Tell yer Ma, no anesthetist
in any Evac can go higher than
a Capt according to the T.O.—OK!
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[2] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[3] Their infant son.
[4] Bracketed text is part of original.
[5] Bracketed text is part of original.
[6] Nickname for their infant son, Terry.
[7] China Burma India. CBI was the US military designation for this area during the war.
[8] Bracketed text is part of original.
[9] Bracketed text is part of original.
[10] Medical abbreviation meaning “without.”
[11] Bracketed text is part of original.
[12] Bracketed text is part of original.
[13] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[14] Bracketed text is part of original.
[15] Bracketed text is part of original.
[16] Army Surgeon General.
[17] Bracketed text is part of original.