May 1, 1945
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310.152.1-4.2016 Transcription
Somewhere else yet again–Germany
1 May 45 With 7th Army 7 P.M.
Dearest,
I have a few minutes free here while yet on duty
to write a “quickie” for today—the “quickie”
reason is that for the second night in a row
there are movies (in a tent, of course)—after
weeks & weeks s̅[1] any. ALSO—it is “Keys To
The Kingdom” (?) which I believe you saw &
told me to see. So, Precious, I know you’ll
forgive me.
Again—the advanced part is out to
reconsiter [sic] the new site we will move to
in a day or two. War could end any hour
yet we keep moving, racing, working just
as if it weren’t over. Boy! dont ever think
snipers arent raising nasty anesthesia
problems in [illegible deletion] advance parties of GI
infantry men who supposedly walk into a
surrendered town [c̅[2] its white flags flying][3].
Did you get my many times reped in
recent days news about Emily Belkott marrying
Doctor Spreneringen, & how I & you knew it would
split in divorce court before long. Silly! Silly! Fools?
While on marriages of interest to us both—
the Elko Daily Courier carried a note in its society
gossip column that probably Doctor Charlie Secorl and
& nurse Edith Greenshut might be married next
in Elkos “400.” (P.S. God forbid, “400”!)
[2]
[The following is a letter from Wilsey’s friend Alice.]
April 4—
“Hurrah,” You’ll be a Elko
Colonel before long—
My Dearest Dave!—
Andy says he wrote you a few
days ago but I thot [sic] I’d have
a little visit with you too. We are
always so happy to hear from
you. I owe Emily a letter she
sent a snap of the baby, Dave he’s
just precious looking Boy! how
I’d love to get my hands on him,
his grin is just like you exactly.
I have two clippings out of the paper
for her about you for her scrap
book. Andy and I are just fine,
have been all winter. Seems you’ve
been gone ages—but not forgotten.
peaple [sic] talk about you both and
are always asking what we hear.
The neighborhood is just [the][4] same,
the Sheerins go to bed as soon as
its dark ha’, ha’, and poor Chris
looks is too, what am I saying am I
jealous??? Connie Pete and kids
are O.K., they have had Billy Duncar.
(You know night man at [the][5] hotel) at their
house for two weeks, he had a complete
nervous break down and was
terrible for a while in fact all the
time he was in the hospital—didn’t
[3]
know anyone, where he was ect.
You know what a baozi [sic] fighter he
was at one time—well Walter thot
if he had a different environment
and all that he’d snap out of it
which he did for about two weeks
but is very bad again, they are
moving from the Crumley house
as soon as they can find a place
which so far has been bad, there
just isn’t anything here and with
two small boys, you know, Newt
came up a month ago with six
Army Officers took them up to “Show
off” the house, well I guess from
what Pete + Connie said) the house
wasn’t in a showeable condition
and Newt was very put out and
mentioned same to Pete, Mr Crumley
[Jas] Mr + Mrs Reugia to move in
his the gardener there. The Old Town
is sure dead with the mid night
closing and brown Our. We went
down the other evening to dinner
and danced a while Connies
birthday. dont faint but I marked
a 25¢ ticket and won $45—
Mrs Cox has heard from her daughter
and both are O.K. she’s like a different
person.
Heard Jean Warres was expecting,
[4]
so was Gene Hunter Jack’s wife
but she just returned from the
hospital she was only a few
months and last in.
Did I tell you Mr Lucy bought
the New part of the Great house Apts.
his daughter in law and baby live
with him.
Kipplers, Bergers, Dane Burnes had
a big party not long ago—drinks
at Kipplers and turkey dinner at
the Star- big time was had by
all.
Edythe Green is still in the hospital
(I think) she had an operation for
a ruptured gastric ulsur [sic], she was
very very bad for a few days but
shes alright now.
We saw Jack Daley for a few
minutes last week, he was on his
way to Carson to testify at an army
Trial, said Annabelle and baby
were fine, he’d lost serenties tho.
didn’t look a bit good, said
they hadn’t had any meat for weeks,
[5]
didn’t even see it in the
markets, they’d like to be back
here I think.
I thot I had a lot of local news
for you but its all left me.
H.U. Castle att. died not long ago
and Mrs Castle last week.
The war news sounds so very
good sure hope its right and
you’ll all be home safe and sound
before to long.
Every time we have a good dinner
we miss for you kids to be in
on it, you’ll have to come visit
us when you come home.
You owe me two letters now.
I took out a life Inc. Policy from
Carl Kipper last week and was to the
office to see her. Secor, same old
stuff there every chair full with
no standing room in the hall,
Mrs Secor asks for you both often
I see her at Red Cross.
Andy just loves the “name” he gave
[G.D.S. → (GOD DAMN SLAVE)—But yes! any Evac-er.][6]
you and keeps telling i[t] over + over—
Hope you are getting a little rest
and some good eats along with
your hard work.
Much love always—
Alice
[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “without.”
[2] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[3] Bracketed text is part of original.
[4] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[5] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[6] Bracketed text written between lines by Wilsey.