Disqualified outfits sent home after short time overseas
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310.207.1-4.2017 Transcription
[The first page is a carbon copy of the first page of 310.205.1-3.2017]
The Fourth [Sixth][1] of July 1945
My dearest One,
I have been transferred to the 137th
Evac. (Sem) one the “eve” of when the 116th is
preparing to go into a processing & staging
area for U.S.A. embarkation. Why God has done
this to us is pretty hard to figure out
right as of this minute. To make an
analagous comparison in our respective lives
it seems as of the moment that this “blow”
to me is somewhat like the “blow” to
you regarding Clarice. So many of our
dreams, plans, & desires of the last 6+ weeks
are postponed/“blasted” into a seemingly
unbearable Future. I honestly believe this
transferred is just simply the dastardliness
of War & not any such thing as a “spite-deal”
by the 116th C.O. as he seemed truly sorry,
cooperative, & kindly in those very hurried
departure hours. It is so hard to ration-
alize why God wants it this way but
we do know [& must accept] that it is
His will & best Plan of Life for us.
Sister Selma wrote just before I left
48 hours ago. She says Brother Alden is almost
certain about the decision to repeat his ordain-
ation sermon.
[2]
I saw Dr Middleton during my hasty 7 hrs in
Paris (also the Arc de Triumph). He feels good re: the prognosis
about Terry.[2] Arley Barnes is a close friend of his & he
feels Dr. Barnes to be absoloutely “tops” & reliable. He
hintively suggested that about now is a good time for
reevaluation of Terry & should be done—this is
just a scientist’s [(CARDIOLOGISTS)][3] oppinion that I really dont know
they “Why” of. Why not call [(phone)][4] Billy Faber to be your
liason man some time soon; he can telegraph back
the arrangements & appointments.
In my original (non-carbon copy) writing of page #1 [(4th of July letter)][5]
I was so defected I forgot to write down the only
bright-spot in these D{efection [D]ays[6]—I have been
awarded The Bronze Star (-Medal) [you know “…meritorious
service over & above the call of duty….etc, etc”][7]. Again I
rep:— Im glad that you & Terry will have something
to be proud & happy about during these D{efection [D]ays}[8] while
the “hurt” is wearing numb. [P.S. Some kind of Special
Service inquiry blank was given out today to be filled in & sent
to all personel’s home town newspapers by Special Services. They
asked for “happenings, achievements, etc” (UNQUOTE) & I “fluffed” the
whole thing except a couple of words about the Bronze Star
ward. Thus, some Bis. paper might get the information to your
eyes before my letters do but I doubt it. Anyhoooo, home town papers
seem to especially “eat-up” such happenings, & so if, (only if) you
want to give them a clearer statement for a story feel free to do
so, as usually those Mass Spec. Serv. Scoops usually “putz” up
the works somewhere along the line][9].
This Assembly Area Command camp is huge. It
brings docs together from all over Hell. Thus I met
today: (#1) our [116th][10] Dental major who got about the same
[3]
disheartening deal I did about 10 days ago; he’s in the
127th Evac 8 rows of tents down. (#2) Dave Randall a GH
fellow who was transferred away from the 116th in the
departure-days of Camp Ft. Jackson at Columbia; he’s
been c̅[11] the 131st Evac since that time. Which brings
up the same ol’ hard-to-take though-wave that nearly
eats the heart out of a certain number of us who are
in the same “boat”—towit! Evacs coming over-
seas long after the 116th did; never really did any work;
never even set up tents; never were in combat; YET
they go via the USA—thus Dave’s 131st, the
118th Evac (functioned 36 hours), & dozens of other similarly
“blessed” Evacs get what seems so unfair/unequitable
a privilege. (Rep) Of course this 137th Evac (A.P.O.[12] 408)
doesnt (functionally) deserve to go home first as they
never even pitched tents nor saw combat. Oh,
my dearest, CEST LE GUIRRE[13]!!
I could pour out my aching! aching! aching!
“broken”-heart for pages but until my psyche is
better off I’d better confined myself to shorter &
generality letters.
Have courage [ask God][14]; have faith [ask God][15]; have
as much patience as is humanly possible [ask God][16] under
this very T-E-S-T-I-N-G circumstances, Dearest One.
I K N O W we will pull-through because of—
All Our Love,
Dave
P.S. The page #1 is the 3rd & last carbon-copy of my (“memorable”) Fourth of
July letter. I so hope one of these 3 letters arrives before any subsiquent
ones.
[1] In original carbon copy, bracketed text is written above “Fourth.”
[2] Their infant son.
[3] Bracketed text written above “scientist’s” in original.
[4] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[5] Bracketed text inserted into original with a caret.
[6] In original, “efection” is written above “ays.”
[7] Bracketed text is part of original.
[8] In original, “efection” is written above “ays.”
[9] Bracketed text is part of original.
[10] Bracketed text written underneath “Dental” in original.
[11] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”
[12] Army Post Office.
[13] “C’est la guerre” is a French expression meaning, “Such is war.”
[14] Bracketed text is part of original.
[15] Bracketed text is part of original.
[16] Bracketed text is part of original.