November 1, 1945
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310.270.1-3.2017 Transcription
[This letter is written on Red Cross paper, with a thick, red cross and the words “AMERICAN RED CROSS” printed on the top of each page.]
[I just “aint” interested in
even inquiring what
APO=?
Paris (241st GH[3])
All Saints Day
1 Nov 45 Thurs
(ANOTHER[4]! month)
Dearest,
I’ve forgotten many times
to mention a remote possibility.
A Lt. Henry Hyman, I spoke of
before, might mail a good-“F”
camera to 710-4th St if he finds
one someday back inside Germany.
Another thing I’ve forgotten
about the last 3 letters [sorta sub-
conscious then, but conscious now][5] was
to tell you to forget about
writing letters to Europe—
I’ll just never get them. Of
course, when I left the Reims
Vicinity I was “promised” that
we’d be home in 28-72 hours.
Thus I left things as a 710-4th
forewarding set up, because
[2]
at the 189th is as conscientious
a Mail Sgt (T/4 Raprager of Wis.) as
does exisit [sic] in this maze of
Army-unconscientiousness.
Sooo, you see dear, I’ll never
get anymore Reims letters &
it isn’t worth it to try to
start a “Paris Vicinity” cycle of
letters. This all proves why
another reason why I havent
even bothered to learn this
hospital’s Paris A.P.O.
An additional factor, of course,
is that the one & only thing
that keeps us goin’ from day
to day is The Hope of Home!
It surely isn’t materializing
very well either. Ill not go
into the recent glum prospects
other than to say they are pretty
disheartening (, shameful, & maddening).
[3]
I will mention one “enlightening”
point——a full Colonel
who is no farther ahead in
taking-his-turn-in-line [a shamefully snafued line][6]
than any of the rest of us c̅[7] a
5½ to 9½ weeks wait already
“perpetrated,” is getting out
of here tomorrow for ship
conveyance to the States. Why?
Why just because he’s a COLONEL.
That’s ample, equitable, just
reason enough, is it not? [shit!][8]
The main reason that I know
(per letter heading) today is All Saints
Day is that I (finally!) was
successful in getting a pass, a
subway, etc downtown (30 min ride)
to The American Cathedral. I got
[4]
up at 6AM, shaved, & after subway
transferrings finally got to the
Eucharistic Service 1 minute late.
I don’t know who the Celebrant
was, but he certainly was
the highest “high-Church” of any
Service I’ve ever been to——
except Nashota[h] House where they
swing incense.
I picked up Freud’s “New
Introductory Lectures On Psycho-
analysis” today. Boy! does that
stuff make your hair stand on
end [IF one took it to be the truth][9].
Why! he ascribes things to a
baby (10 mos, 11 mos, etc) that would
appaul, shock, & revolt you.
I just dont see how anyone
can believe his “baby-discussion”
if they believe in God & God’s-
guidedness.
Which———makes me wonder
for the 4th time why He wont let me
SAY——All My love, dearest
Dave
[1] Army Post Office.
[2] Bracketed text written in upper right-hand corner of original, with an arrow pointing from “APO=?” to “what”?
[3] General Hospital.
[4] In original, there is an arrow pointing from “ANOTHER” to “Nov” on the line above.
[5] Bracketed text is part of original.
[6] Bracketed text is written in small print along right-hand margin in original.
[7] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[8] Bracketed text is part of original.
[9] Bracketed text is part of original.