No recent rumors of going home

No recent rumors of going home

310.276.1-3.2017

United States--Armed Forces--Military Life

Wilsey, David B., MD

The Wilsey Collection

The Holocaust Center for Humanity

310.276.1-3.2017 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.]

Paris (241^st Gen. Hsp)

9 Nov 45 Fri.

Hi, dearest,

It’s been almost a week

now s̅[1] a decent rumor—

even a decent rumor, mind ya.

This is pretty tragic to we

ZI[2]-goes Joes [a distinct & separate breed

from GI-Joes][3]—‘cuz rumors

are about all we survive on.

Four of us bridge-hounds

finally discovered each other

the past few days so we get

in a few rubbers a day.

I’ve played c̅[4] Englishmen on &

off the past few weeks &

they really “go” for bridge it

seems. Maybe its a national

“precedent” c̅ Englishmen but

[2]

they all want to play for money.

Infact they dont seem to feel

that it’s bridge at all unless

money is involved.

I read a book today—

“Alarum & Excursion” by a Miss

Perdue. The word “Alarum” is

apparently an old-English way

of spelling alarm. Its a

good enough book but not

quite so “super” as it’s

recommenders say. Maybe

all mysterys are second-rate

since I read that supreme

one of Ellery Queen’s named

“Calamity Town.” Which reminds

me, I bet Ive search[ed] 5,000⁺

of these GI-pocket-book-types

for “Canal Town”——its

supposed to be really “tops.”

[3]

While on literature—the

last “Omnibook” was a dis-

appointment to me. Disappointed

I guess because it carried

only one “regular” book in the

4 abridgements. Three were

sorta contemporary biographies

of an academic type——

which I’m filled-to-the-gills

c̅ these past months. Anyhooo,

“Omnibook” has always meant

a whole day pleasurably

spent in the past, & this last

edition thus cut me to a ¼-

day pleasure.

Enclosed you’ll find

exhibits “A” & “B.” It’s the “A” that

gives you just one tiny corner

of “What-Goes-On” ——AND

[4]

why Regular Army needs revision

in all nooks & corners if it

is ever going to be [stand][5] in the

minds of decent-conscientious-

adequate men as an attractive

vocation/“profession.”

Exhibit “B” has as one of its

keynotes (THOUGH NEVER WRITTEN):—“Let’s

just keep on screwin’ the

overseas boys.” Dear, I’ve never

said much about this particular

subdivision of thought that

millions of us overseas-Joes

talk about every day. Washington

“Policy” has had quirks &

twists to screw us for so

long now that we actually

laugh about each new one

that blossoms from the “Brain Children.”

Oh, well, why “roar” or write more

‘cuz it would take 100 pages to even

touch the examples. GOOO NITE NOW,

A.M.L.[6], Dave

[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “without.”

[2] Refers to being sent back to the Zone of the Interior (The United States).

[3] Bracketed text is part of original.

[4] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”

[5] Bracketed text is written above “be” in original.

[6] All my love.