Darlene Blasing ~ writer

April 15, 1945

Germany

Dear honey;

     How are my darlings today? It has been nice here today. I went to eleven o’clock Mass this morning in a German Catholic church. It was really beautiful. A lot of the stuff we heard about the Germans attitude toward religion was a lot of propaganda I believe because you still see Priests and Nuns around here and this church we went to wasn’t damaged hardly at all and all of the furnishings were in good shape in the church. The priest even wore German vestments. We were in a Catholic church in Holland this afternoon. It was nice too. All of the homes around here that I’ve seen have Crucifixes in them and almost all of the pictures they have are Holy pictures.

     The Holland people seem awfully nice. They are all friendly. It keeps you busy saying hello when you walk down the street. The children come up and say hello and then they will take ahold of your hand and walk along with you. Most of the younger folks can talk pretty good English. They teach it to them in school. The children are all neat and clean. They ask you for candy (for themselves), and cigarettes for papa.

     The Holland people were harder hit than the Belgians. The Belgians have quite a few cars and plenty to eat where the Dutch don’t have any too much to eat, and I didn’t see a civilian car where I was today.

     I noticed one thing today that seemed funny. There were quite a few young kids in the beergardens, not that the beer would hurt them any though. A kid could drink any that I’ve had yet all day long and not feel it.

     I want to pick up some souvenirs for you in Belgium when I go in Tuesday if I can. I’ll send you some Belgium money too. We’ll have to save this foreign money for Chucky, when he gets a little older.

     We got quite a bit of mail today. I didn’t get any, but it should start coming through good again. Every time we move it takes a little time for it to catch up. We are lucky compared to some of the boys up toward the front. I know one fellow that didn’t get any mail for six weeks.

     Will you send me some more summer underwear, honey. I could use some. Two or three pair would be enough.

     What have you decided to do with the car? Ma said you wanted to keep it. Do whatever you want to with it honey, but it is worth less all of the time.

     I guess I’d better close for now darling, and write ma a few lines.

     Goodnight darling. Lots of hugs and kisses for my darlings

                                                                      Your loving husband

                                                                              Clarence

P.S. I love you darling.

***********

Note: This letter appeared in WORLD WAR II LETTERS, which was edited by Bill Adler and Tracy Quinn McLennan, and published in 2002 by St. Martin's Press.

Dutch post card and photo Clarence took of a windmill in Holland.