Letter 259- December 2, 1945

December 2, 1945
Giessen, Germany

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I know what you are thinking about now. Why hasn’t that no good unfilial brat written a letter in so long? Well, it’s like this. I’ve been working like the very devil for the last week and I’ve hardly had time to shave much less write. They’ve got me acting as Co. clerk as well as drive a truck. Right now I should be hauling some trash but I’ve managed to put it off in order to write this letter. Yesterday I received a whole mess of back mail so I at least have something to write about.

I received the stuff from Matson’s as well as a dozen or so letters and so I spent half a day trying to read them all between runs with the truck. The ribbons look swell on my jacket and there’s been some comment about the Victory ribbon. The only outfit that has had them issued to date is USFET itself. Now if that Bronze Star would only come through I’d look like a blooming Christmas tree.

What really hurt about the letters though was the fact that you were counting so much on the fact that that I might have been able to get home with the Division. Apparently some of my more dampening were slow about getting to you so the situation continued to look quite rosy. That the way it goes in this army, however. I honestly believe that there are a lot of people around here that enjoy letting a person get his hopes up only to dash them down again.

I suppose I have no real reason to complain at that. The work is hard here for the army but on the other hand it’s quite instructive and I’m learning to do a great many new things. Of course, the thing I really want to do is come home as soon as possible.

The way things are shaping up at the present time it’s difficult to tell what’s in store for the immediate future. The way the point system is going to the dogs in a big way at the present time and so we don’t know what comes next. They’re all up in the air at the present time about the way the MG’s are going to the dogs but what the hell can they expect. No officer or EM with any ability at all is going to get himself mixed up with that bunch of 8-balls. The Military Government has for the last six months been stepping on the rest of the army’s toes just to make things easier for themselves with the Krauts over here.

In the next few days I should begin receiving mail from you direct to this address. That’ll be a lot better than not getting any mail for 3 weeks and then getting it all at once.

I ran into a fellow over at one of the giant ordinance depots near here yesterday that comes from North Hollywood. In fact he lives only a few blocks from us. He’s a civilian now but is staying over here in order to take a job with the American Legion in Switzerland. He is quite an automotive expert and he believes that there will be a great amount of American interests there which will mean something for the man that stays over here. As far as I’m concerned he can have it just as long as they send me home. But anyway I became quite chummy with him and he said that he’d gladly work on any of our vehicles at any time. Considering how difficult it is as the present time to get work done that seems a godsend. So now I’m the fair haired boy around here insofar as the Captain is concerned. It never hurts you know to smooth the way a little.

This picture below is an actual representation of what I say recently at Weinheim, Germany. The American love of advertising has not been lost.

Outside of that there’s nothing much else to say so I guess that’s all for tonight.

-30-

(sketch here)



Best Love,
Bill

Letter 251- October 29, 1945

October 29, 1945
Vailhingen, Germany


Dear Mudder and Dad,

I sure don’t feel like writing tonight but I do owe you a letter so here goes. It’s about 10:30 now and I’m on C.Q. again (Charge of quarters) at the motor pool until 2:00am. It’s a lonely job but I can at least get the time to write.

God! Has it been dead and lonely around here. Up until today there’s been some 200 men left in our entire bn. and that’s counting the men on Detached Service and on pass. There are 7 men present at A Co., 23 at B Co. and so forth. Ten weeks ago there were 1600 men in the battalion. I eat at D Co mess, and whereas we use to stand in line ½ hour or more for chow now it’s over in about 2 minutes.

There’s been a new point reorganization again, however; and we’re getting a lot of men back from the 12 Armored Div. and the 36th. The 100th. is now supposed to go home with men between 56 and 65 points. You’ll note that there ain’t no 47 points in there anywhere. Boy, do I get griped occasionally! Over 2 years in the army, 16 months overseas, 6 months combat and only 47 points. Phfttt!

My vanity is sure a hurtin’ these days. I know it isn’t really important but sometimes I sure wish I had an arm load of stripes or a chest load of medals to bring home with me so you could be proud. Just P.F.C. Taylor with no honors, no rank. I know I did my share and maybe more but wonder what others will think. The Infantryman sure has a hard, thankless task in war. Don’t think it’s got me down though. If anyone ever says anything I’ll kill ‘em with a glance.

You speak of having received my letters of Oct. 6 & 9 but you haven’t mentioned my letter with the O.K on my Expert Rifleman’s badge and so forth. If that letter’s lost after all the trouble I’ve had getting it signed there’ll be dead mail clerks from here to Le Harve and back.

Well this has been a sad sack of a letter but I guess the old thinker is about through for the day so…….

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 247- October 16, 1945

October 16, 1945
(Stuttgart, Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

The last time I wrote I said that I was on detached service. Now I’m on detached service from detached service. I’m driving in Stuttgart for the “Century Sentinel” the divisional newspaper.

Here it is difficult to believe that 30 miles away in Derdingen a line company that actually fought and shed blood is living in relative discomfort with nothing in the way of amusement or convenience. Tonight I had a long talk with Ralph Taylor, an old combat man from my squad and he gave me a pretty comprehensive picture of the situation. It’s rotten throughout. While lower echelon units are crying for men divisional headquarters is packed with men doing nothing but live like Turkish Sultans. Officers and enlisted men alike live in mansions like the one in which I write this letter. This is Stuttgart’s most fashionable district. There’s not a house around here that has less than 20 rooms. Here they live amidst all this splendor with their myriads of servants, personal autos, convenients or mistresses or whatever you will, all of which are currying the favor of the conquerors. They sit in their sumptuous offices and award one another various awards and decorations for valorous and meritorious achievement (Division Headquarters was never closer than 40 miles from the front lines). They eat excellent food and can easily obtain any of the luxuries that the line outfits are so tightly rationed on—candy, cigarettes, liquor, gifts—anything--! And this is what I fought for, what men gave their lives and limbs for. There’s a lot of bitterness welling up in me and the rest.

I guess you can forget about my Bronze Star. The Public Relations Officer’s third assistant pencil sharpener got it instead. Of course he never heard of a gun or saw a Kraut, but he’s so much more important and I such an excellent procurer for the officers that well---. Today they again approached me to see if I would re-enlist. Ha!

I received two more packages from you this week; the one with the T-shirts and another with food. They were swell. I especially enjoyed the tuna. We never get fish at chow and I’m very fond of it.

The weather here has taken an amazing turn for the better recently. We’ve had warm sunny days and since I must be driving an open jeep it’s been a Godsend.

It seems now that I’m going to be transferred out of the Division. I’ve managed to stay much longer than most but I’m about at the end of my rope—there’s almost no one left. There are several places I might go—3rd Div., 78th Div., 386th Div., AAA (anti aircraft ), or military govt. It’s hard to say. The 78th is in Berlin.

It’s sure murder with these strikes, etc. these days. We don’t know if we’ll ever get home. The Germans claim that we’re cynical—small wonder.

Well, I’ll close now with a request--2 bottles of Sergeant’s Mange Cure and 2 bottles of Fitch Shampoo. It did my hair good last time and maybe it’ll save some of it now.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 244- October 5, 1945

October 5, 1945
(Ober-Derdingen, Germany)


Dear Mudder and Dad, I’ve been putting off writing now for 2 days trying to get somebody around here to believe that I’m entitled to wear the Expert Infantry Rifleman’s badge, but now it’s done so that’s it. I hope their satisfied. They should be. I’ve gone to enough trouble.

Everybody’s leaving the outfit—that is except me. Everybody above 50 points and everybody below 44. We had 273 men in the company only 3 weeks ago. After Friday I doubt that we’ll have 73—period. It seems that all the old gang is going or gone. It was a swell crowd and I’m sorry to see the last of it. Anyway it’s a happy parting.

My buddy, Dye, Hubert Dye to be exact, will be about the only one left. He’s from Cal. We have a lot in common. Only men in the 45 to 59 point category will stay and many of us may go to work in Redeployment Centers.

That’s about all for now.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 223- August 2, 1945

August 2, 1945
(Derdingen, Ger.)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I’ve just finished a letter to you by throwing it into the waste basket. I just can’t seem to write anything decent tonight. Last night it was the same way and likewise the night before. I guess I’m in some sort of a “funk”. Again. It could be the radio blaring a blood and thunder radio story in my ear. I don’t know.

How about a nice package of candy, fruit juice, tuna or the like? I’m so hungry these days it’s horrible. The food here is not too bad but—.

Tomorrow is a big day for the 1st. battalion or “Red Raiders” as we are more commonly known. Tomorrow we get the PRESIDENTIAL CITATION. Naturally we are all pretty proud. As you know it is the highest award a unit can receive. There’s also a rumor that we’re going to get the French “Croix de Foi” for the action at Bitche. At the festivities tomorrow, which by the way last all day, we’re going to have beer and donuts, coffee, wine, snacks etc. I’ve got to close now as one Cecil Moninger is pestering me to go have a beer with him.

They caught me before I was ready in the picture.

How do you like the cake?

OK. I’m coming, Monty!

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 217- July 20-21, 1945

July 20, 1945
(Derdingen, Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

This morning I wrote you a letter and one of the fellows mailed it by accident—it didn’t have a stamp on it. I suppose they’ll stamp “free” on the damn thing and you’ll get it sometime in 1946, I hope. Anyway this is a supplementary letter.

Glory be! Hallooya! Guess what I got today?—No don’t guess. You’ll be disappointed. It was a Christmas package with gum and books. It’s only been on its way since Nov. I’ll bet its seen more of the world than Eleanor.

Well, today we had our big parade and tonight Lt. Gen. Haslip is going to “knight” the 1st soldiers to enter Bitche. The Society of the Sons of Bitche is exclusive. Only those of us who fought there can belong and it’s the first such organization ever to exist in the U.S. Army. I should like to go to the ceremonies in Stuttgart but only 3 men from each platoon can go. Of course it’s mostly hocus-pocus now, but any organization that consists of 16 or 17 thousand combat soldiers might develop into something.

July 21, 1945
(Same place)
Dear Folks,

Since last night and the last paragraph the entire 7th Army has been on a “witch hunt”. They got us up at 3 A.M. this morning and commenced raiding all the towns in the area. The idea is that after 3 months of lax treatment the remnants of the Nazi Party would get cocky and careless. They did. However, there has been little activity in this area. The Nazis alienated too many Germans during the closing days of the war.

Flash! Rumor! Flash! One of our boys who went to Stuttgart last night came back with the intelligence that one mighty 1st bn. had won the Pres. Citation. Maybe I get another ribbon with a gold edge.

I’m still waiting on the Bronze Star but I have my doubts. The officers are all getting 4 and 5 awards apiece but the men who did the fighting get nothing. Same old army game. I’ll close on that sour note.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 211- July 10, 1945

July 10, 1945
(Vaihingen, Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I received the two badges from “Mattsons” last night and I certainly am proud to wear the big one. I think I’m the envy of the regiment already. Fellows I don’t even know often approach me on the street and say, “where in the world did you get the snazzy C.I.B. One guy offered me $20.00 for it today. I laughed right in his face. I wouldn’t part with it for “nothings”, posilutely. I think the little one is cute too, so I’m enclosing it in this letter.

If I’m going to get this all in an airmail envelope I’d better not write much.

Pulling a lot of guard duty now. Having a little trouble with Russians here. The French gave them arms and let them do as they pleased. Situation is all right now.


Best Love,
Bill

Letter 191- April 26, 1945

April 26, 1945
(Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Everything around here is nice and quiet now, the payday poker game is all over, most everyone is asleep, I just found some stationery and some ink—put it all together and a letter is inevitable. I even have a “conquered” German pen that writes half way decently. All in all everything seems pretty copisidec, copesedic--I got a “helluva” nerve trying to use those two-bit words.

It looks like rain outside but I should worry. I shouldn’t say that. There’s a lot of fellows over here that aren’t in houses and for their sake I hope it doesn’t rain. As for myself I’m back for a rest of undetermined length of time; the longer the better. I move around and can’t hear the “88’s” and “burp guns”. I’m quite satisfied.

Here’s something that will give you a laugh. I’ve been recommended for the Bronze Star. I doubt very seriously whether I will get it but anyway I’ve been recommended.

If this army doesn’t stop getting all bawled up I’ll be a millionaire before this war is over. When I went to Paris I drew $30.oo partial payment for expenses. Therefore, I went to get paid today without any hope of getting money. However, they paid me anyway. Later on they called me over to the C.P. and paid me again--???!! Since I have no aversion to money, I said nothing.

I think I’m going to get K.P. in a few days. It’s been better than 6 months since I last had it so it’ll be quite an experience.

That about does it so--

Best Love,
Bill