April 28, 1945
Germany
Dearest darlings;
How are my darlings today? I’m doing pretty good except on details. I had guard yesterday and I’m on “Charge of Quarters” from
I didn’t write much last night because it was late when we got in.
I was pretty well “pissed” off this afternoon when I came on C.Q. and couldn’t do a very good job of letter writing so I decided to copy what I had started. They expect me to keep my wrecker up in shape, but I guess they figure that is all I have to do. Most of the fellows are pretty mad about the way things have been going for the last few months. It has been worse than it was in the “States”. We even got orders to paint red dots on the bottoms of one pair of our shoes so that the officers could tell whether we were changing our shoes or not, every day. They don’t want the “first three grades” (of non-coms) to associate with the other lower grades either. The other day I had to tell Danny Byrnes to get out of the wrecker, because some of the section chiefs can’t get along, and if one section wants a job done they have to see our section chief before we can do the work for them. It is just a waste of time, and we were supposed to come over here and help win this war, instead we waste time arguing among ourselves. Sometimes a person wonders what it is all about. I guess that we aren’t supposed to know.
We’ve had quite a lot of rain in the last few days. I hope it dries up pretty soon. It’s quite muddy here now.
I was up near Cologne yesterday. I guess I told you about that in my letter last night though.
Did you ever get that letter I wrote where they took the stove out of my tent back in “Lucky Strike”? I’ve often wondered whether it went through or not. I wanted them to know just how I felt at the time. I was plenty mad about that deal.
I caught up a little on my letter writing today. I was quite a ways behind. I’ve still got a few to go to catch up.
I got a letter from ma the other day saying that the shoes that Charlie got for me are on the way. I wish now that I hadn’t asked for them. I don’t know where I would wear them around here, unless it was to the roof garden the fellows are building on the roof of a bomb shelter. We have been able to get ahold of some beer and coke.
One of the fellows just now stayed here while I went over and had some of that beer. It’s a lot better than the stuff we got in France and England. Larson brought me some coke too, so I’m all set for tonight.
I guess I shouldn’t have typed this letter. I could have made at least a two page letter by writing it. You won’t think you are getting anything this way. Well darling I like to let you know that I’m thinking of you all the time, and that I love you more all the time. That is the main thing honey.
This has been a busy place tonight and I don’t get to write much at a time. They keep interrupting me.
It is almost my bed time so I guess I’d better close for tonight. It is a little after eleven. Good night darling. Lots of hugs and kisses for my darlings.
Your loving husband
P.S. I love you darling, more every day, and I miss you terribly honey
***********
Note: Dad sometimes made comments in his letters that were intended for the commanding officers. He knew his mail was read by 2nd Lt. Kubit before it was sent out. I don't know if my mother received the first letter about the confiscated stove, or not. I imagine they would have saved that one if she did.
Army chow wasn't always the best. My dad said they had chipped beef on toast a lot (or "shit on a shingle" as they called it). He said the jello they served was so tough the guys bounced it off trees rather than eat it. That stove was a valuable commodity. They used it to cook gourmet meals to supplement the army diet, so I'm sure my dad wasn't the only one upset about losing it.