Visit to the Louvre

Visit to the Louvre

310.278.1-3.2017

United States--Armed Forces--Military Life

Wilsey, David B., MD

The Wilsey Collection

The Holocaust Center for Humanity

310.278.1-3.2017 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 Gen Hsp)

11 Nov. 45 Sun

ARMISTICE DAY

Hi, dearest,

Well, I have done my

weekly wash. I washed my

hair & “Rxed-it” c̅[1] that precious

fluid I hoard so carefully.

And I changed my sheets—

I just [iNTENTiONALLY][2] waited to

see how long they would

wait to carry out just a

normal sheet-changing

routine. P.S. I waited 17 days!

Soooo, I just outright asked

to unlock the padlock (then the

cu[p]board lock) & changed the sheets

myself.

In my letter last night I

didnt tell about my return

[2]

trip to the Louvre. They have opened

up 3 “new” [formerly closed][3] wings, & in

them they had what they call

new acquisitions. They showed

lots of small sized treasures—

one of which was The Regent

Diamond. Seems to me I’ve

heard of it before. Also on display

were Louie XV^th’s crown,

Napoleon’s crown, & innumerable

vases, jars, dishes, containers

of made of precious materials.

I went over the oils again—

it further convinced me that

I lean towards Ruben & The

Dutch School (as against the other “Schools”).

In my amblings yesterday

I tried to buy Terry[4] a tiny

pair of bed room slippers. I

nearly fell on my face when

they informed me I had to

have ration tickets to buy

such. There was no leather or

[3]

rubber in them, but even so

they are rationed.

Also yesterday noted my

first-last-& las only (truly)

active participation in the

black-market. Even though

it was very “small-fry” Ill

still hold the details for a

verbal presentation. Just

as a reminder when Im home,

remind me to cite just one

example of what the black mkt

can & has meant in Europe:—

one Corporal; one Berlin; one day;

& one pocket full of watches =

^$14,000—yes! fourteen thousand $s.

There is one thing to this

“Paris-deal” that I think is

swell—each ward has

a radio, & station A.F.N. (Paris)

[army forces network][5]

[4]

gets The Hour of Charm onto these

ether waves each Sunday night.

It’s certainly wonderful to

hear it again—let alone

the listenin’ pleasure—let

alone the memory-connections

that it has for me as regards

you.

I just took time out to listen

to “the” radio program of my

entire overseas life—it

was Bing + Bob Hope + Sinatra +

Judy Garland ALL on the same

program. It was Army’s “Command

Performance.”

Soooo, setch an evening

I haven’t had in 1⁺ year—

Hour of Charm followed by B.-H.-S.-G.!

Here’s hopin’ we can hold

hands next time any such “super”

occurs.

All my love,

Dave

(rep) EXTREEE:—“All Z-I[6] p[atien]ts will

leave on U.S.S. Francis Slanger by Nov 16^th.”

SIGNED, Made-ger Ass-tired Rumor.

 

[1] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”

[2] Bracketed text is part of original.

[3] Bracketed text is part of original.

[4] Their infant son.

[5] Bracketed text is written in small print underneath “A.F.N.” in original.

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