June 5, 1945
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310.183.1-3.2017 Transcription
Bad Mergentheim, Germany
5 June 45
Hi, dearest,
Still not much to tell you about my
(our) life here at this “4th rate” Rest Camp.
We still feel our “penalty” of “4th rate-ness”
worth it if we can get back to the States
which seems quite hopeful.
At the 63rd Div’s theater last night
they had a Russian “U.S.O.” Show. Russians
certainly seem to be born c̅[1] finer vocal cords
than the average nationality. The little
dap[p]er showman General (Major General Hibbs[2]) of the
63rd Division showed up so we outsiders
[& we are outsiders—except our nurses which are
chased like dogs-in-heat][3] got a look a zee
generale!
I have picture post cards all about
this place that I’ll bring home but right
now let me say “pictures-certainly-do-
flatter” (the subjects). Even so Ill show you
the castle I was in (& its chapel-church was pretty)
this morning.
(Rep) 8 (& maybe 9) cardboard boxes & one chest
high wooden box have been sent. They may
sit in French postal-holding-houses for 6+
months but someday they may arrive.
Anyhooo, someday lets hope you could tell
me (while sitting in Manila; or stuck in a Texas {Gen’l Hosp or Vet Adm Hosp[4])
[2]
that (1) The two intravenous waterp[r]oof-like
cardboard boxes came (2) the one overseas shipper
box I sent you came (3) the wooden one came
(4) the 2 Goodyear inner tube cardboard boxes
came & (5) the 2 (or 3—we left Dachau so fast I cant
recall last minute maneuverings) smallish like
plasma boxes came.
Every night I go to the show so now
I must scoot c̅ this to the APO[5] (our last 1/3 of
the personel comes up from Dachau tomorrow) as our
mail sargent isnt here yet—thus
there’s a walk forthcoming before supper time
@ 5:30PM which just lets me scoot “under-
the-wire” for the 6PM show.
I still “lay-in-the-bushes” for a
chance to get to { London → sneak to Holland}
{ Paris → sneak to Holland} to
see Hans[6]. Its so damn aggrivating to
be rotting here when if they’d only turn ya
loose, I could be hitch-hiked up to Holland
in 2 days (or flown up in 2 hours).
Anyhoooo, I love ya—
Allest my love,
Dave
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[2] In original, “Hibbs” is written underneath “Major General.”
[3] Bracketed text is part of original.
[4] In original, “Gen’l Hosp” is written above “or,” which is written above “Vet Adm Hosp.”
[5] Army Post Office.
[6] Hans Gerritsen, a Dutch paratrooper Wilsey became friends with while liberating Dachau.