Letter 282- March 1, 1946

Giessen, Germany (Hesse)
March 1, 1946

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Boy! Yesterday I received three letters from you. Two of them had been written on the 18th. of February and one on the 20th. That’s the fastest I’ve seen in a long time. I got quite a kick over the concern you had over my date. So I guess that I’ll have to tell you about it. In the first place don’t get excited; it ain’t love. Around Christmas time I met this girl, Rosemarie, up at the POW hospital. She’s a student nurse. Her father is head of the Physics dept. here at the University of Giessen and is slated for General Director of the University due to the fact that he was never a Nazi. Rosemarie is a very nice well educated girl and everything with her is strictly on the up and up. It’s rather rare that an American soldier can make acquaintance of a nice girl over here so I consider myself fortunate. Of course, remember that I don’t consider myself merely an average soldier. We’ve been going out to the dances that are held here in town and in general that’s about all. She’s not exceptionally pretty but she has a pleasing personality and is a very good conversationalist despite the rather odd kind of English she speaks. She’s the one who is teaching me German and I’m teaching her English. She claims that I’m too afraid to speak it for for fear of making mistakes, and she says I shouldn’t be because I speak it rather well. I hope so. At any rate don’t worry about it. You should see me dance a German waltz now—Yoost like I was borned in Wien.

The date for my leaving seems to be getting closer and closer but as yet I’ve heard nothing about it. Forty-nine pointers are leaving today so you can figure it out for yourself. During all this time I’ve been over here I’ve always expected the worst, but now I’m getting so I can’t sit still. I guess I’m just like a little kid getting ready to go to the circus. About every five minutes I say to myself, “I wonder how long it will be now” or “I ought to be on shipboard in about 45 days now.” Boy I just can’t wait. “The Conquering Hero Returns”. Oh Yes! I can see it now as I get off the boat. The first thing someone will say is- “Out of the way, Bum”. All kidding aside, that’s what I expect. At least I don’t have any illusions about how it’s going to be.

You claim that all the relatives want me to come and see them now that I’m out of the thing almost. Well, they can go straight to you know where. When I was over here fighting for them, Jessie was the only one who wrote to me and she managed to talk about almost nothing but how tough a time poor dear Bob was having flying all over the world weighed down with his Major leaves and responsibilities. That didn’t go very well on my empty frostbitten guts. In short, if they want to see me they can come to me. Maybe I shouldn’t feel that way but I do. All I want is to get back and see you. T’hell wit everybody else.

How’s the clothing situation now? I suppose I’ll be like the Krauts going around in a ragged uniform for years and years. Boy! Such a situation. I suppose the boys will be wondering around like a lot of Confederate irregulars or something. I’ll tell you one thing. Before I spend fourteen dollars for a shirt I’ll wear old burlap. I don’t see how they’ve got the damn nerve to ask prices like that. And for that jerk, Ben, he must think that money grows on trees or something--$600.00 for clothes. Yipe!

March certainly came in like a lion this year. This is a miserable day if ever I saw one. It’s supposed to be a good omen and I sure hope so. We’ve had only one day of decent weather since I can remember and it only served as an appetizer.

The picture was taken last week by Lt. Romano. From right to left, Weber my roommate, Schnappsie the Lt’s pooch, and old drizzlepuss himself. I really don’t know how I manage to look quite so stupid.

Well, that does it for today.

Best love,
Bill

Letter 281- February 25, 1946

Giessen, Germany (Hesse)
February 25, 1946

Dear Mudder and Dad,

After I finished last night’s letter I reread the damn thing and debated whether or not to tear it up. It seemed to me terribly unbalanced and inher—that is incoherent. However, since it was one of the most difficult letters that I ever wrote and I had spent about three hours on it I decided that I’d send it anyway. I hope that you don’t think it is too insane or merely the usual blah that fills young kids minds. At any rate I promised that I wouldn’t say any more about it and I won’t.

Today is the most glorious sunshiney day that I’ve seen in Europe. The sun is so bright that I think I’m back home. It’s quite warm after the snowstorms that we’ve had the past week and this is the first day since I can remember that I’ve been able to hang out my bedding. It’s really swell. I didn’t know that Germany was capable of such weather. I guess I shouldn’t complain about Germany though. The weather here is about ten times better than it is in England and “sunny France” is not much better than England. By the way, Giessen means gushing rain literally so I guess the weather here is not exactly like the Mohave Desert—That’s Mojave isn’t it?

There seems to be some indications that our company may fold up before very long and I don’t know where we’ll go. I’ve always hoped to stay right here until I get my travel orders but it looks now as if we may move. Of course, it takes so long for these birds at our center to do anything that God knows when they’ll get going. This past week I’ve spent most of my time closing out our DEF files so that leaves us with nothing to do. I only wish that they’d be a little more definite about what they are going to do. There are people I would like to see before I leave and I’m always afraid that we’ll get a sudden order to leave while all our clothes are being washed or some such thing. It’s the usual procedure.

We’re waiting on pins and needles around here to see what the point business is going to be next. The next change will make it possible for me to know exactly what they are going to do as far as I’m concerned. They may wait until the Ides of March and then take everyone with 45 points and above or they may take 48 and 49 pointers first and others later. According to the paper today they’ve got the redeployment schedule behind time again.

Just lately I’ve got the darndest curiosity about things at home. I really can’t wait to get back and see how things are. According to the way the fellows who just got here talk things must be in one helluva pickle. I don’t mean that things are bad but that everything is in a big hubbub. I’m beginning to realize now that I’ve been in Europe too long to really have a good picture of things back there. I remember looking back from the Queen Mary as Sandy Hook disappeared and I wondered how long it would be until I saw the ole U.S. again. Now as the time draws near I’m getting restless as hell. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a hamburger again. Oh Boy! I guess I’m getting a little ahead of myself but I still can hardly wait.

I guess that’s all for right now. Sooooo


Best Love,
Bill

Letter 276- February 15, 1946

February 15, 1946
Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Here it is past the middle of February and here I am still sitting and still wondering. Today we discharged the last of our DEF’s and that means that we’re out of a job. I really haven’t the slightest idea what they are going to do with us but as usual they have everything in such a state of confusion that nobody knows anything. Today they’ve issued about twenty contradictory orders. The Lieutenant called up and asked what we are going to do now and they told us that we’d probably get another company of DEF’s. I don’t see that. Where are they going to come from? If you discharge all the POW’s more of them don’t just materialize out of thin air. As far as I’m concerned I’d just as soon sit right here until my turn comes to go home. That shouldn’t be too long now. Beyond that I know that I can have a better time right here than I can anywhere else. All I want is to go home and there doesn’t seem to be any reason for me to stay now. About the only thing that we can do now is security guard work and I don’t care to think about guard duty at this stage of the game. Well, it shouldn’t be too long now. Men with 48 points are supposed to start moving into the pipeline starting next week. Occupation is a none too pleasant job at best and I’ll be glad to be out of it.

Your mail is coming in trickles. Yesterday I received two letters which were written on the 27th. of January but today I got one dated the 17th. Now I probably won’t get anything for a week. It’s really a pain in the neck.

My truck is on the fritz again so I’m not doing much of anything. That always makes me feel blue as hell. Anymore if I don’t have at least some sort of work to keep me occupied I feel like the devil. I read all the bad news in the newspaper and see the helluva state everything is in around me then I feel like crying in my beer. If feel like another Hamlet or something. I guess that I’m just getting “Fed up with the setup” or “ETO Happy”.

Well, that’s enough of the grief that weights me down. How’s everything at home? I see by the paper that they are again clamping down on the rationing. I suppose that everybody is mad although I can’t see any other thing we can do. Say what you will we just can’t let people starve. When things get that bad people will grasp any straw in order to save themselves. In Germany for instance it’s exactly what the Nazis who have gone underground hope for. As long as the people get enough to eat they will be satisfied and even consider themselves fortunate to be rid of Fascism; when they begin to starve they’ll do anything to save themselves. It’s only human. That’s what the Nazis are depending on. They want to be able to say “See, we are no worse than they are.” These birds who sit at home on their fat fannies fail to realize the difference between right and wrong in all Europe is balanced one way or the other by a piece of meat or a loaf of bread. You really have no idea how badly beaten these people are. I don’t mean only the Germans. I mean everyone. They’ve practically lost all hope for the future. They feel stuck and don’t know what to do. I may sound like a radical or something but I can tell you one thing. That is that there’s a great change coming. If we take the bull by the horns we can make change favorable to us. If we don’t someone else will and that’s no kidding. All Europe wants to push ahead but in what direction? As I said before if worse comes to worse they’ll grab at anything. It may be Nazism, it’s not dead yet, Communism or what have you but it’ll be something. I suppose that I sound like a sermon again but I think about these things a lot and I just have to get them off my chest.

Well, that’s about all for tonight again. I hope I haven’t bored you too damn much.


Best Love,
Bill

Letter 274- February 6, 1946

Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

February 6, 1946

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Every time I write you a letter the entire situation has changed. Things are really beginning to pop here and it’s hard to say just what is coming next. Tomorrow they are coming around and ask all of those men with over forty-six points who will volunteer to stay over here until March 31. We believe that is what is wrong with our ratings not coming through. It’s one of those things where they say, “If you hang around a little longer the ratings may come through but if you leave now no soap”. Well, they know what they can do with their ratings. The sooner I can come home the better. This whole service deal has been a monumental piece of incompetence and inefficiency. I wouldn’t stay here a minute longer than I absolutely must. I must admit that I’ve had a good deal here inasmuch as there hasn’t been much Army to bother me but that doesn’t alter the situation one iota. When I get out of the army I think I’ll write a book about the whole thing.

This thing about the ratings is really dirty though. We’ve earned the damn things and we ought to have them. It takes the QM Dept. here just one day to put through their ratings but we’ve had ours in for over a month and one-half and still nothing. Actually while I’ve waited for one grade jump some other birds I know have gone up three grades.

As I told you in my last letter my trip to Switzerland is off. At first I thought I might be able to make it but now I know I don’t go since I’m not going to take a chance on missing the boat merely to spend a few more days in Europe.

I may be leaving for my shipping unit sooner than I have been led to think but at any rate I should be out of here by the end of the month. Of course that doesn’t mean that I’ll be home just like a flash. They say that it takes approximately eight weeks in all before I’m actually home in my own house. It won’t be too bad though as long as I know that I’m at least on my way.

They’re shooting me full of diphtheria shots now and they really make a guy feel lousy. Everyone here must take them so they must fear an epidemic of some sort.

This doesn’t make much of a letter but I’ve got a date for tonight??? So I’d better finish up now.

Best Love,

Bill

Letter 273- January 31, 1946

January 31, 1946

Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I decided the other day that I wouldn’t write to you until my promotion came through, but now I see that the same old incompetence prevails. Captain Wollner has started home and without him around to give these guys a kick in the pants every five minutes they don’t get anything done. My recommendation has been in for over a month now but we still haven’t heard a thing about it. Twice Captain Wollner found our papers lying around in some office and jumped somebody about it but now that he’s gone I don’t know what will happen. Likely as not the papers will be lost and we shall never hear anything more about it. You remember some orders for the recommendation of a Bronze Star were lost in the same way. After all that they come around and tell us that we’ll really be passing up a great chance by not reenlisting in the Regular Army. HA! They should live so long.

I’ve finally got one break anyway. That is that on the fifth I’m leaving for Switzerland. From what I’ve heard it should really be a swell trip. The army has taken over a couple of the finest hotels available and really made a swell thing out of it. Everybody that’s been there says that they’ve never seen a nicer setup. The trip will cost me a flat rate of thirty-five dollars but since I’ll probably never get a chance to see it again I believe that it’ll be well worth it.

I’ll be sure to write you a couple of letters from there to save as souvenirs, and try to get some presents if it is still possible. I doubt very seriously if Switzerland will compare very well with California the way I feel right now but it will make a nice break in the damn waiting. If I leave here on the fifth I probably won’t be back for ten days anyway and then it shouldn’t be much more than a month at the outside before I enter the pipe line. The order to turn in the names of all fifty pointers came through today so you can see how the situation is going. According to the plan now in use I must be waterborne by April fifteenth and I believe that the army will try to get ahead on the schedule in order to get back into the good graces of the people at home.

There’s not much else to write tonight. The weather is still incredibly mild with no snow and only a little rain. We haven’t even had a slight freeze for more than a week now. Most of the people here are afraid that it will be a late winter with snow in March and April. Maybe so but it will have to get a helluva lot colder than it is right now.

We’re having a lot of trouble with the flu right here now. I’ve had a slight touch of it but nothing to amount to anything though. Some of the P.W.’s however, have been quite ill. I guess it’s the weather that’s doing it. It’s a lot like late March or April right now.

Well, this doesn’t make much of a letter but it’s about all that I have to say for tonight soooooooooo-

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 272- January 27, 1946

Sunday, January 27, 1946
Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I hope that you will forgive me for not writing for the last several days but again it’s the same old story. I’m not receiving any letters from you. The Stars and Stripes makes claims about the bad weather and all that but I believe that it is just a case of slow and careless handling by the postal authorities over here. The mail seems to come in bunches which leads me to believe that somewhere they just leave it lie around until they have so much that they must get rid of it.

The day before yesterday they dropped a bombshell in here by ordering the release of all prisoners who are not SS or Gestapo. We didn’t think that the release of general prisoners would start before next March and then we thought that Nazi Party members would be held for further screening. Evidently this is being done to reduce the number of troops needed for the occupation. Of course this is okay with us but it sure came suddenly. Most of the men will be discharged under contract to the government so they will hold their present jobs. I can’t say that I blame them. To use an old army axiom, “They never had it so good.” When they work for the US they are sure of one thing anyway and that’s three squares a day. The people here are just beginning to realize how fortunate they are to live in the US Zone of Germany. The big German military hospital near here is beginning to fill up with patients from the Russian zone and Poland. I can’t say that the Germans aren’t getting exactly what they’ve always asked for but when I see some of the poor wrecks of humanity that they bring in over there I can’t help but feel a great pity for them. That’s the trouble with these people over here. They think that two wrongs make a right somehow. It’s always an eye for an eye and hate triumphant marches on. To all these people we remain the great enigma. They don’t understand us so they fear us all the more. I wonder if they will ever wake up.

This change in policy rather confuses the situation in regards to our status. Most of us will be entering the redeployment pipe line within a month so there is not much sense moving us somewhere else unless they bring some low pointers to take our places. According to the schedule I must be at sea by April 15th. That means I must be in my carrier unit by March 15th at the very latest. It might be March 1st even. Fifty-three pointers are on the move now so you can figure it out for yourself. On the 4th of April I will be eligible for discharge on both points and length of service.

I’m sure happy now that I didn’t push that OCS business. I’d be stuck for another couple of years—WHOOOEEE!

The weather over here has been amazing for the last few weeks. There hasn’t been a sign of snow nor rain for that matter. The Krauts don’t know what to make of it. They said that the winter of 1937 was very warm and dry but nothing like this. It’s swell with me if everything stays the same all winter.

I sure hope that I get some mail tomorrow. It sure won’t hurt my feelings if I get a whole fist full even. I hate the feeling of being cut off from home. I suppose these mail clerks don’t give a damn.

Things must be in a great muddle at home. In today’s S&S there is a picture of a guy looking at a sign with “LA city limits” on it and a no vacancy sign above it. The impression is getting around over here that things in the states are pretty rough. Of course such a wide spread belief wouldn’t hurt the army recruiting drive any.

That’s about the whole story for today.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 270- January 20, 1946

January 20, 1946
Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I suppose you were about beginning to wonder why I haven’t written again and I must say that it’s the same old reason. I haven’t been receiving any mail from you. This morning, however, I got a letter dated Jan. 1. As far as I can see there is no reason why it must take 20 days for a letter to get to me. Even during the worst part of the fighting the mail situation was better than that.

Well, what do you think about the new point arrangement? In every other theatre men with 47 points are on their way home with the exception of the ETO. And they say that I won’t be on my way until the middle of April. It certainly is quite a comedown. I really don’t feel that this is the fault of the army however, and I believe that the theatre commanders who are taking the worst beating are the least to blame of anybody. They get orders on exactly what they must do and they have no choice on how they’re going to do them. These big shots back in the states seem to think that the U.S. can maintain a major occupation force over here without any troops. That is stupid no matter how one looks at it. I’m afraid the real trouble is that the majority of people don’t understand just what the situation is and that those who do know are keeping it to themselves for certain reasons that are beyond me. I believe General Eisenhower himself is as unaware of the real problem as are the people. I know that there is hardly a single soldier who actually fought in the war who is in favor of a complete demobilization of our armed forces. In that way we would not only lose everything that we fought for but would lose all the prestige that we now hold. Today everyone in Europe looks to America as their only hope for a decent future. This may sound like so much bull but after one gets a slant on these people he realizes that is so. They’re all afraid of us yet they all respect and trust us. If we leave altogether they will get the feeling that America has gone isolationist again and then will come despair and the usual results.

There is a great deal of aap—beg pardon—misapprehension now about troops over here. The general consensus of opinion among government representatives and even high army officials is that there are very few combat troops left in the ETO when just the opposite is true. The B Bag article is just a sample. Actually there has been less agitation by actual fighting soldiers than by the others. Maybe this is because the combat soldier feels himself so fortunate to still be in one piece that complaining would be an ungrateful act.

There certainly is a lot of difference between leaving for home on the 15 of April and on the 5 of February as was promised only about 2 weeks ago. There is only one thing that I can say in favor of the new setup and that is that we at least know what the score is now and we can base all our suppositions on some concrete facts.

Well, glory Be! If there ain’t anudder strike in the news. What’s going to happen anyway? Some writers for TIME say they never saw the U.S. in such a state of selfishness. I really don’t know what to think. I always tell these Krauts that the strikes are very praiseworthy and they express American freedom and such, but I wonder if in the end everybody isn’t going to be on strike against everybody else. We got it all arranged here where the LSC will go on strike against the Railhead Co. and so on.

The weather here continues to be quite a mystery. Here it is the middle of January and no snow and no ice and not very much rain even. I certainly don’t mind it but according to everybody in Giessen there should be a couple of feet of snow on the ground. I’m just getting over the worst cold that I’ve had in a couple of years now. I even had a touch of sinus which I’ve never been bothered by before that I can remember. Since yesterday my nose has been running like the devil and today I feel pretty good.

You can forget about my “dark secret” now. Like everything else in this army that sounds good it didn’t pan out. Even my rating doesn’t seem to be coming through for about half a dozen foolish reasons like “We can’t find this record.” You know the usual army runaround. It no longer angers me; it merely bores me.

I guess that about does it for today. I’ll write again soon.


Best Love,
Bill

Letter 269- January 14, 1946

January 14, 1946
Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Today after not receiving any mail for a long time I got another letter. I was beginning to think that the mail was lost again or something. I don’t know what to say about the letters that you’ve sent me during the last two months but if I don’t receive them I’m afraid that I won’t be able to answer the questions that you’ve been bawling me out about. I’m sure that the new set for the kitchen must be very beautiful. I certainly are—are? Listen to that—am eager to get home but the way they talk now I guess that I haven’t got much chance before May or June. It’s an awful blow but that’s the way it goes. They’re talking now a great deal about devising the discharge system but as sure as God made little green apples if they change it I’ll even get a worse kick in the pants than I’ve received already. I guess a guy just can’t win in the army. I’ve about given up hope. Unless the people are willing to send us replacements we don’t get out. Never believe that we don’t need an occupation force. We may not be doing much over here but the only reason we’re not doing a lot is the fact that these people respect the force we maintain. It’s a bad situation but it’s not one that cannot be figured out if people are only willing to think realistically. I don’t care but a year or so in the army under peacetime conditions certainly won’t hurt anybody.

It’s about time I start a new paragraph. We have not been doing much as usual around here lately. We’ve got an enlisted men’s club going now for the men of the various labor supervision company groups around here. I go there quite a bit but you know how it is. Nothing’s any good over here.

It’s late now so I’d better close now.

God, what English. That’s what happens when I try to write a letter late at night.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 267- January 6, 1946

January 6, 1946
Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

God! What a week this last one has been. I really don’t know where to start this letter. First you’ll notice that I’m still in Giessen and that I haven’t been transferred. That’s not really quite the truth. I should say that I’m back in Giessen. I was all packed and down at Rodheim when they finally got my service record straightened out. I’m thankful that I wasn’t transferred but I do wish that I could get home before too very long. Today one of the Third Division guards came storming in here and said that General McNarny had said last night over the radio that all men with under fifty points would have to stay here until sometime after June. That seems impossible but I’ve heard nothing about it over the news broadcasts today so it may be just some wild rumor. I hope to God it is. Another six months overseas would mean two years over here. That would be terribly unfair when they’re not sending guys overseas who’ve had only 21 months service and all of that in the states. It wouldn’t surprise me any, however, since as Bouillion says that the one word the army doesn’t understand is fairness. If it does come about that way I’m going to write some pretty insulting letters to somebody. With this damn strike situation in the states the way it is I guess nobody will be thinking much about the soldiers over here and the army will be able to do just about what it damn well pleases. That’s what I’m afraid of.

After all this time I finally received a letter from you which was postmarked December 4th. I’m glad to hear that you finally received that package that I sent you in October. I was afraid that we’d seen the last of it. I also received a letter from Ben so I can at least say that I have some mail anyway. I miss getting mail from you like the very devil. The only two things that a soldier has to look forward to are chow and mail. Over here chow is never anything to get excited over so that leaves only mail. Without that life is pretty boring. This is another one of those dead Sundays that are even worse than work days because there is little or nothing to do except listen to the radio and write letters. Last night and this morning I was on CQ so that gave me a little to do but I can’t say that I was having a very good time.

Tonight I’ll probably go to the show or out to the Red Cross for a cup of coffee. Then I’ll probably come home and go to bed—another Sunday shot. Some life, huh?

It’s almost chow time now and I have to get cleaned up so I guess that I’ll close it for tonight.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 266- January 2, 1946

January 2, 1946

Giessen, Germany (Hesse)
Dear Mudder and Dad,

I hardly know how to start this letter. Today I received orders to be at the Labor Center tomorrow for transfer to an AAA outfit for shipment home and it’s one of the rawest deals I’ve ever had and I’ve had plenty in this damn army. Some damn fool has blundered with my records and rated me as having 57 points instead of 47 which I actually have. The Captain called this to their attention but they’ve done nothing to correct the error. In short I’ll be transferred and when they find out that I haven’t the right number of points I’ll get canned and will undoubtedly end up in some stinking hole as full time KP or something—all this when I’m only 5 days from having a rating for which I’ve slaved for 2 months now. My whole army career has a story of me getting the dirty end of the stick. I thought that it couldn’t happen again and I’ll be damned if it hasn’t. I feel mad, sick and hurt about the whole deal. This has been the only place I’ve ever been in the army where I was treated really decently and now I’m transferred just because some damn son of a bitch is too lazy to pay attention to what he’s doing. It just seems that if you do your best and try to do right you end up out of luck. The captain says that he’ll call up tomorrow and try to get something done about it but he admits that my chances are pretty slim. Actually this will hold up my getting home because LSC gets first priority always.

That’s really all I’ve got to say. I’m so sick about the whole thing that I can’t write a real letter. If anything breaks I’ll let you know.

Long live Joe Stalin!

Bill

Letter 261- December 11, 1945

December 11, 1945
Giessen, Germany (Hesse)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Well, it’s Tuesday night and I’m on CQ again. It seems that this is beginning to get to be a bad habit. One is supposed to be either a Cpl. or a Sgt. to pull CQ so I think that I’m getting the dirty end of the stick. Anyway here I sit in this dreary office looking at the posters on the wall which proclaim the Army Enlistment Program and other such repulsive things. I know that I should have a better reason to write you a letter than having nothing else to do but I’m afraid that’s the situation. I haven’t received any mail from you to this address as I suspected I would by now. I think there’s something phoney here in regards to that. None of the fellows in our group have been getting any mail at all for a damn longest time now. This Captain we have here always claims to be the top thing when it comes to efficiency, but I notice that he hasn’t done a damn thing about the mail. Oh well! He’ll be leaving pretty soon and the lieutenant that’s here to take his place is a pretty good guy. I get along good with the Captain as far as that goes but I don’t believe he’s got a helluva lot behind that eagle on his cap. He’s a cousin of General Eisenhower and he never lets a person forget it either. I think that everything would be fine if I only had the authority to tell him to get down off his high horse. He loves to start an argument with somebody and then when the other fellow puts him in his place he says “Don’t forget you’re talking to an officer.” He’s just another of these rear echelon commandos who cannot tell the difference between the armed civilian troops and the toy soldiers of the peace time army.

Well, now that I’ve vented my spleen on him I go on with the letter. The weather as usual is lousy. It snows all the time and it’s too cold to do much of anything. Boy, will I be glad to get back to good old Southern California. Some people may think that snow and ice are the berries but give me the good warm sunshine any time of the week. Probably it will be raining when you get this, but I’ll even take the rain in preference to this. I’m not doing a great deal these days. I drive maybe fifty or sixty miles a day as a rule but it never amounts to much. In between times I type out a few letters and that’s about all. This is all so useless though that I feel that it’s all a waste of time. You know anything to keep us in until they can get another war started with somebody. I honestly am beginning to believe that. I think that there definitely are some elements of the armed forces that are very unhappy over the pending reductions in rank and authority who would even be willing to plunge us into another war just to maintain their own personal power.

Had to drive over to Mannheim yesterday just to have five minutes work done on a sewing machine. Wonderful, ain’t it? The truck only burned up thirty-five gallons of gas going over there. Just another example of the way things are done.

All I’m hoping for now is that they put the two year plan for discharge into effect before I grow too old for the service. I don’t see why not now. There are many going home now who haven’t got as much service as I but who’ve been more fortunate on the battle star situation. Forty-seven points still doesn’t look too good but 26 months service does. Maybe I ought to start my letters like the Army Hour, you know, “On this my 800th day of service in the Army of the United States--.” By the way this is either my 799th day of agony or the 800th day of misery. I can’t quite figure it out.

Really that’s about all I can say. I haven’t seen any of those replacements that we’re supposed to get yet. I sure hope some of them come and replace me pretty soon.


Best Love,
Bill








(MY MY SO MUCH EMPTY PAPER)

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 249- October 23, 1945

October 23, 1945
(Vailhingen, Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Well, I’m back at the motor pool in Vailingen after a rather eventful week in Stuttgart. On Saturday I drove the fellows down to Ulm to cover the football game between the 100th and 36th Div. T—for Texas. It was a good game and we won 7-6. When we came out my jeep was gone despite the fact that I’d left it in a guarded area and removed both the distributor rotor and rotary coil wire. Some nerve, huh? A guy lost one the week before and now must pay $900. I’m in the clear, however. Thank God. I took all the cautions—precautions that is, and I have an officer’s word to prove it.

I’m still with the division but I don’t think it can be for long. I just don’t have enough points to stay with the division. The 100th is supposed to set sail on December 5 for the states but it is supposed to take only men with 55-62 points so –draw your own conclusions.

I haven’t had any mail from you for several days now so I’ve been wondering if you’ve received my package yet? No?

I’m still trying to get a pass to Switzerland, I hope. From there I can call you on the telephone. No such luck I guess.

This Europe stinks. I’m sure getting fed up with it all. I dream about home more and more these days. I want to get back to school too. The other day I sat down and thought it over. The only business that I really know is the fine art of human extermination. That is one helluva purpose in life, and I’d hate to go out of the world with that as my sole accomplishment. You asked recently in a letter if I want to return to school. You can bet your boots I do.

I’m sending you a couple more “Sons of Bitche” cards. I’m going to mount one of them in a glass picture holder and set it on my desk when I get home. Good idea, huh?

Yesterday the weather was lousy but today the sun’s trying to come out. I hope tomorrow is a nice day again. Nothing dampens my morale like bad weather.

Ahh! One of the boys just brought in 3 letters from you so I’ll read them now.

I’ve finished the one you wrote Oct. 4, Dad. I’m glad you saw G.I. Joe. True it was a little dull but it was true also that it wasn’t colored up by Hollywood. That sort of thing doesn’t make a good picture. The action shots of that picture were of the 143rd Inf, 36th Div. at San Pietro, Italy. They’re located just south of here now and are quite proud about it. They’re a damn good outfit.

The stuff about Betty and Red Menkin are quite interesting. He always impressed me as awfully irresponsible and the breaks that he’s had during the war won’t help to straighten him out either. I met Red’s mother once but that was quite enough. I think she’s a jerk.

You said it that that 24 grand won’t be hard to take. I ain’t the least bit allergic to money.

Now I’ll read your letters of Oct. 7th and 8. So you say Elaine’s new husband neither smokes nor drinks. If I were her husband I’d stay plastered all the time.

Well, I guess that’s about all for today. I think there’s going to be a good dinner this noon so I better get washed up.

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 241- September 30, 1945

September 30, 1945
(Derdingen, Germany)

Dear Mother and Dad,

Well, what do you know? Today I received 4 letters from you. That just goes to show you how the mail situation is these days. I know damn well you’re not getting all my letters because I’ve written several to you telling you about the packages that I’ve received, and yet you continue to ask me about them in every letter so you haven’t got word about it yet. I certainly don’t understand it because some of your stuff comes over here like a house afire. Of the 4 letters I received today one was postmarked the 20th, one the 21st, and one the 22nd.

The news that you send me in your letters about the big fuss over the draft and so forth is really quite something. We never hear anything about all this so it is natural for us to think that nobody loves us anymore. We know that it isn’t true but you know how it is. Some of those birds back there are really putting their foot in it. It’s surprising to see how soft our high ranking officers are treading over here. Of course they’re not dealing with civilians but rather some pretty touchy G.I.’s and another thing is these big shots over here have some pretty nice reputations that they don’t want to throw away in politics. If they keep their mouths shut they may have the jobs some of the more vociferous brass have back home.

My point situation right now looks as if it is going to be all right. I’ve got 47 points, which means close out force but not A of O. Ben wrote to me and stated that he has 72 points!!! I don’t know if it was a misprint or whether he actually does have that many points but if he does he must have medals all over him. I wouldn’t doubt it considering what branch of the service he is in.

Talking about Ben, he seems to be awfully fed up with his position. Actually he must be having a damn nice time of it, but of course not knowing anything about the Infantry he thinks that he’s having a rough time of it. I suppose I’d feel that way too if I were in his boots. If you’re having a rough time and you don’t know that the other fellow’s having an even tougher time, you’ll complain.

I’m glad to see that that estate ours is beginning to make something out of itself. I was beginning to think that we’d all be dead and buried before the thing would be straightened out.

I was sorry to hear that you were so upset over my being sick. However, since you must know that I’m back with the company I won’t bother with the wire. They must go through Frankfurt and that takes a month of Sundays. Really right now I feel wonderful. A constitution like mine, if given half a chance will be right out front. I think my being ill for so long was what made my hair come out so badly. It looks as patchy as the devil right now but the medic looked at it and said that there are a million tiny hairs growing in all over my scalp. I hope it’ll be all right. Anyway, I’ll bet I’ve taken on ten pounds in the last few weeks since I returned from the hospital.

I don’t know exactly what the division status is anymore but I doubt that it’ll make much difference insofar as I’m concerned. When my point level is reached I go home with that outfit that is going at that time. Right now there’s hardly any of the old gang left in this company.

Gotta close now.



Best Love,

(con’t)

Letter 239- September 23, 1945

September 23, 1945
(Derdingen, Ger)

Dear Folks,

Well, what ya know? Look what I found. Some envelopes you’ve been wondering about and I’ve been looking for.

We’re suffering an acute paper shortage here right now. I’m only writing now by the courtesy of the Red Cross “as any fool kin plainly see.” So if you will, I can use some writing paper in my next package.

They came out with the adjusted point score and I see I’ve been saved by 3 points. Forty-four points and under stays in the Army of Occupation. I’ve got 47 points. I’ve got from 3 to 9 months to spend over here yet in the close out force but at least I’ve got some sort of a chance. I don’t know though. They’ll probably change their minds a hundred times before New Years. I see they’re even thinking of letting low point men at home out before higher point men over here. I wouldn’t doubt it. I guess they think they can handle us as long as we’re way over here. These guys will be sorry someday. I don’t want to see the maintenance of peace and national defense go to hell but they could at least be halfway fair about the thing. I heard a single fellow say that he was never going to get married because it must be a lot tougher than combat the way some people are trying to get points for the married men.

The outfit is going all to hell. Everybody’s leaving for homeward bound units or Occupation units. The status of the 100th is not quite clear yet. I don’t think anybody knows what’s going on.

One thing I’m sure of now is that I’m going to be here past Christmas so if you get this letter in time send them on.

The weather’s taken a turn for the worse again. Rain every damn day and particularly damp, cold and foggy. I just never seem to warm up. There’s almost no coal for the furnaces in the building only enough to keep the showers hot in the afternoon.

That about does it for now.


Best Love,
Bill

Letter 236- September 14, 1945

September 14, 1945
(Derdingen, Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,
This is the 3rd attempt on my part to write this letter. Let’s hope there are no more interruptions. Today I got 2 letters from you, Dad, which were postmarked on the 4th and 6th of the month. Pretty good but the questions that you asked made me wonder about something. You asked several questions that I know I’ve answered in the past. Also you complained that you were receiving only one letter a week from me. I kept track of the number of stamps I had used up until Sept. 1 over a months period of time and it totaled 12. That’s 3 a week on the average. The other fellows are also claiming that something’s wrong since one fellow who habitually has written a letter a night says only two or 3 a week have arrived in the States. Likewise the mail has not been coming in here. Over the 4 day period that I was in the hospital this company of 260 men received exactly 12 letters. Today mail was normal but there was no great pile. I don’t know but from now on I’ll number all my letters and I won’t forget it.

Big things have been popping while I’ve been away. I’m probably spending my last week in the 100th Div. With only 39 points as of V-E Day I’m scheduled for Occupation. That’s that. The 100th is going home sometime soon but nearly all its personnel is going like me elsewhere. Thirty men have been alerted to move Monday morning to the 29th Div. up in Bremen and there’s another list coming out that day and I expect to be on it. I seem to hold a very unfortunate position over here now and it’s up to the people at home whether we come home eventually or stay here and rot. I know what the army brass wants and it’s up to everyone at home to do what can be done.

If I must stay here I’d like to get a job of some sort in which I’d be doing something worthwhile. We’re all in a terrible mental state now.

I received your latest package today and it sure is goo –fruit cake, peanut butter, olives, etc. It sure takes the edge off the old appetite.

We’re going to use the German book in our class, but with things now it doesn’t make much difference.

You keep asking about Christmas packages but I don’t know what to say. In all probability I’ll still be in the E.T.O. Christmas but I can’t be sure.

That’s all for now. Retreat in 15 minutes.

Best Love,
Bill

About the Point System

The Point System instituted by the U.S. Army was used to determine in what order soldiers were rotated back to the states for redeployment or discharge. The points system went into effect after the war in the ETO ended. The cutoff was 85 points. Anyone who had that number of points was rotated stateside. Following the end of the war in the Pacific it was used to determine who would be sent home and released from the service and who would remain in Germany as Occupation forces. A G.I. got a certain number of points for how many times he was wounded in battle, length of service, length of deployment overseas, combat credits (decorations), and parenthood.

The cutoff number of points changed several times depending upon the needs of the military. The number was a moving target and, as evidenced in Bill’s letters, the men were never certain where they stood. Rumors were the order of the day. Soldiers who never cared about medals while they were in combat all of a sudden started trying to get officers to recommend them for medals. Other soldiers would go over their personnel records with a fine-tooth comb trying to ensure they got credit for every action they were in. Each combat credit was worth 5 points. It is no wonder that Bill was bitterly disappointed that his nomination for the Bronze Star was not acted upon, but he was probably only one of thousands who were attempting to accumulate points by hook or crook.

Letter 232- August 27-28, 1945

August 27, 1945
(Derdingen, Ger.)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I haven’t written for several days due to the lack of incoming mail. Yesterday, however, I did get a letter from you, Dad, and so I’m writing. There’s a new point rearrangement coming out and if all goes well I’ll get 52 points out of it; 5 points for a new battle star and 8 points from V-E to V-J Day plus the 39 points I have now. Because of this I won’t be able to send you that authorization for ribbons, etc. Besides I’m still battling for that Expert Rifleman badge. It’s a losing battle, I’m afraid.


August 28, 1945

Dear Folks,

Today we got word from the Adjutant General’s Office that the 100th is in Occupation. That’s the worst news I’ve heard since the last attack was ordered. Under the present setup it means that we may be stuck over here for an indefinite period of time. The War Dept. is determined to have the A. of O. and the Congress is determined to halt the draft. The only answer is that we’re stuck for a “Prolonged Period of Time”, forever maybe? We are all furious. It seems that the more you fought the less credit you get. Today 119 decorations were given out. The 4 line companies combined received 49 decorations and Headquarters Co. (clerks, truck drivers, switchboard men, etc. received the rest, 70 awards.

For 23 months I’ve kept my mouth shut and thereby kept out of trouble. I don’t know how much longer I can continue to do so. I’m afraid that if things don’t start looking up soon, I’ll go berserk. I’ll bet my squad alone has worn out 20 decks of cards during the past 2 weeks playing solitaire.

I’m too riled to write a decent letter but I will request some candy, juice, cookies and so forth. To make matters worse the food’s atrocious anymore.

Best Love,
Bill

Letter 231- August 23, 1945

August 23 1945
(Derdingen, Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Oh what a life this is getting to be. Your letters and the little books that you and the other fellow’s people have sent are all that’s keeping us from going batty. Any idea of training is repulsive and interest in practically everything is waning. We don’t talk about it much anymore but the foremost thought in everyone’s mind is “when are we going home?” There are no rumors anymore but we still wonder.

The weather here is rotten and so cold that overcoats were handed out yesterday—August! For three days it rained almost steadily.

I heard a new song on the air last Tuesday “Cali-for-naye-ay”. I was quite homesick as were the rest of the Californians in the platoon (6).

There’s a rampaging rumor racing around now that all men under 40 points will go into the Army of Occupation. I now have 45 or 47 points so if it’s true I’m all right. The way the papers read though I’ll be lucky to get out by 1960. Peacetime conscription would simplify everything but some people seem to think we should stay over here forever and everyone else lean back and forget about the whole business. By the way, I see the navy is up in arms over its point system. It is unfair a sailor who never went aboard a ship can easily have as many points as one that had 3 ships shot out under him. I’ll tell you one thing though. When the armed forces do get home a lot of smug big shots in Washington are going to get a jolt.

Watch out! Hyar comes another request. I want a couple of T-shirts and a sweat shirt, if you can get them. I would also like a box of candy, cookies or other stuff like that thar.

Gotta go now.

Best Love,
Bill