May 24, 1945
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310.173.1-4.2017 Transcription
Dachau Concentration Camp
Germany 24 May 45
[A.S.
The patch is
for SSers of Dutch
birth who would
“traitor over” to National
Socialism
of Germany.][1]
Dearest,
Before I forget 10X more—————
did you see the movie “Impatient Years”?
Not that even by-&-large it “applies”
to us, but there are a few specific
points good for any new-mother-baby-
overseas pappy “trio” to keep in mind.
Mail surely is screwy—always
bad since 2-3 days after V-E days, but
bizzare in its scattering. How you
doin’?
We are all terribly on-edge—
(naturally the (1) 6 months of work & still no let
up & (2) C.B.I.[2] “awaiting” factor) BUT the main
one of the moment is the high-feeling
about what our rotten C.O. is doing
& trying to do c̅[3] leaves——just
nullify, cancel, balk, & block them
every turn he can. It is absoloutely,
rock bottom, dastardly shameful!!
The nurses (because they have the 7th Army HQ
Chief of Nurses pitching for them—thus “over our
C.O.’s head”) are flying to the Riviera or
Paris. I want so badly to go to
[2]
London (& then sneak into Holland to see Hans[4])
as my 1st choice; 2nd choice is get to
go to Paris (& then sneak up to Holland); &
3rd is outrightly ask for Holland
alone (which is out of the question). The #1
would let me do “2-birds-c̅-one-stone”
thing. Yet, to this minute, the best
information is that we male
officers will get no rest-time-off
at all, & if it does (miraculously)
happen it will only be 70-some miles
from here at a lake in the Alps (just
like subs[t]ituting veal to make—“veal in chicken
salad makes chicken salad.”)—& then
only be for 2-3 days. Dear, most every
soldier {male or female}[5] in Europe is either
planning or having a good (& deserved)
time except the 116th. This just proves
that our CO in one-in-a-million—
only one in a million humans could
be so Spartanly abnormal. P.S. My last
nights letter will tell you of the 116th “muting”
factor that is all but on paper—where it will never
get.
[3]
I surely hope sooo much that my V-E Day
letter reaches you, just as your’s did me.
Your May 10th’s:—Re: your having
“hunched” that Ill be direct CBI.—
if you saw the Army {morale pep-talk}[6] show
we saw today, “Two Down & One To Go,”
you’d know for sure why millions
just can’t possibly get home AND MOST
OF ALL A DOCTOR! I wish to
“hell” they’d show these movies to
civilians—they’re so logical, complete,
accurate, & “revealing.” (There’s no military
reason why they couldnt). Thus—and so—
I’m so fearful your #1 hunch is
going to be right, but your #2 hunch
of my being enroute is, thus, wrong.
Say! dearest, please acknowledge in a
letter that the CBI trip will be a
horrible-terrific mail-“gaposis.” Lordieee!
something like 2 M-O-N-T-H-S ON H2O
‘N me, who “loves” the ocean so much!
Hell!—Ill go nuts after 2 months on
an ocean!—but now (in view of this)
a 2 months “gaposis” should not have
you “nuts,” darlin—just “nuisanced.”
Remember:—No news (to an Army wife) is good news!
[4]
Im tickled that you got to see
“Life c̅ Father.” I saw it c̅ Percy Waram
& L. Gish (?). Please! please! please! dont
ever apologize/“explain” like that again
for missing a night of letter writing.
Some night here, I gotta start
filtering home the “liberated”[7] items.
Some will seem like hunk to you but
I’ve taken nothing, really, that doesnt
have some thought-out use in our life.
I think Ill send it in multiple small
pkgs as looting/pillaging by the APO[8]
Service should really be at its “all-time-
(lucrative)-high.”
I could rep. dozens of things but
I think I’ll have Dad fall-faint by
writing another V-mail right now
(2 nights in a row). Also I wrote (answered)
8 letters last night from Edna Guichu
to Chaplain (Lt-Col) Clarke (who gave me that
wonderful thrill of an Easter Communion 3 wks late).
I lovez ya sooo, darlin—
All my love,
Dave
P.S.
Say! please acknowledge that you
“click” on those “geographical” marriages
you read in past letters; Emily Belkott, etc, etc.
[1] Bracketed text written in upper left-hand corner of original.
[2] China Burma India. CBI was the US military designation for this area during the war.
[3] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[4] Hans Gerritsen, a Dutch paratrooper Wilsey became friends with while liberating Dachau.
[5] In original, “male” is written above “or,” which is written above “female.”
[6] In original, “morale” is written above “pep-talk.”
[7] Looted.
[8] Army Post Office.