Impression of Holland

310.212.1-2.2017 Transcription

Somewhere—France

14 July 45

Hi darlin’,

Setch a bizness! Heat today (AND A NUMBER OF DAYS)

so bad on this lime dust treeless flat that all

EVERYONE can do is lay prostate on an army cot!

Setch a bizness! And need I say any ambition,

even for letter writing to Beloveds, is nil.

As written last night—I got back from

a 4 day pass to Holland. I hitch hiked up & fly

few back in a privately assigned plane (SETCH

FRIENDS I HAVE!). Holland is an unbelievably modern,

clean, fine, noble, progressive, & admirable nation

as my picture post cards will show someday.

There’s so much to write I just cant even start.

However let me summarize one point—when

you heard of “fortress-Europe” it was 101% literally

fortress. Billions of {dollars & “lives”}[1] were spent in creating

almost “Flash Gordon” structures I’ll verbalize about.

By now you surely must know of all the

disheartenments, etc, etc, associated c̅[2] being transfer-

red into this Class IIA (direct C.B.I.[3]) outfit. My

disheartenments wouldn’t be had at all if it

wasn’t for my knowing/surmising what it means

& “does” to you upon learning it—after that

damnable build-up of Hope (you &) I had back

in Bad M. days. Goshhhhhhh! Anyhooo this 137^th

Evac (A.P.O.[4] 408) seems to have a good bunch of young

guys even though inexperienced.

No mail in 16 days; no hope of mail; & it will probably

be 63 to 80 days before I read your handwriting saying—

All my love

Dave

[1] In original, “dollars” is written above “&,” which is written above “’lives.’”

[2] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”

[3] China Burma India. CBI was the US military designation for this area during the war.

[4] Army Post Office.