February 24, 1945
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310.114.1.2016 Transcription
[P.S.:—
I am/have been/should be 7th Army till
this whole German-mess is over.
P.P.S.:—The enclosed clipping could further
“demonstrate” what I wrote in 3 different
letters in the past about the different ways
of spelling names over here—The Nazi’s
quickly “Germanisized” a spelling the first
chance they got—the French, re-“Frenchisized”
the spelling the first chance they got. Soooo,
again I write “demonstrate” about how
Mr. Smith-Mr Smyth-Mr Smythe are (or could be)
the same (or different) “guys” depending upon
above & prementioned factors. Yet the Germans
could always have had their own Mr. Schmith.][1]
Somewhere–France
24 Feb 45 c̅[2] 7th Army
Dearest,
This “barrage” of quickies over the last 8+ days may be puzzlin’
you—aint nuthin at all except that so many “other-things”
(a cold, sinusitis residual, Doris’ wedding, 116th Anniversary, sporadic work
rushes) have always “landed” to curtail my letters to you. However
I did get off a 5-pager to you last night. Anyhooo, a guy can say
quite a bit on this paper-type anyway.
Over the next days I’ll ad lib various incidental interesting
things about Doris’ wedding. Naturally [or maybe you dont know][3]
there was 1st a French Civil Ceremony (a scream) & 2nd an “abbreviated”
R[oman] Catholic Ceremony in the Chaplain’s office since only Jim is
an R.C. [Oh yes, I better say for reference sake—Jim is James Kenneth
McNullty who married Doris E. Settle; Jim is Brooklyn, NY & Doris is
Harridsburg (?), Ky][4]. Anyhoooo, all the fuss ‘n feathers of making
out the marriage data in 2 French “ledgers” by a guy who
does (special) the most beautiful & distinctive handwriting
you ever saw. Then—the Mayor of the town c̅ his “Santa-
Claus”-belly sashed c̅ the French-Tricolor sash c̅ cold tassels.
It would have been better worn as a cleric’s stole! The inter-
preter standing along side repeating what he says. The couple
sits until about the last 15 seconds. Oh yes! the woman must
see to the education of all children and finance it! Whereinhell
she gets the money, I dont know. Interestingly, in all Nazi
occupied countries Hitler dogmatically insisted that all Mayors or
clergy performing marriages give as importantly as the Marriage
Certificate (along c̅ it) a copy of “Mein Kampf.” Naturally there are
thousands of these bootiful copies stockpiled all over
Europe in every city & “jerk-water.” Sooooo, the French to
ridicule the former dogma, ask the couples if they wish
a copy as a souvenir & so inscribe it as a “souvenier of
your marriage.” As I said before you will see (I hope!) snaps
of all this or movies of all this (if we can arrange to visit Doris &
Jim after the War. The R.C. ceremony (for ½ non-catholic) is
very rushed-like & forbidden to be in a church.
In previous letters I have implicated (s̅[5] point-blank words)
how “pooped out” I got myself by doing a 1000 & one things/arrang-
ements to make “my daughters” wedding traditional-nice-appr-
opriate since she had asked me to “give-her-away.” Lordy!
Say, didnt you once say you wanted 4 boys?—right after it
was all over I would have heartily agreed c̅ you “against”
daughters since they cause “so-much-marryin’-off” work.
A.M.L.,[6] Dave
[1] Bracketed text is written on the outside of the original Airmail envelope.
[2] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[3] Bracketed text is part of original.
[4] Bracketed text is part of original.
[5] Medical abbreviation meaning “without.”
[6] All my love.