Letter 148- November 14, 1944

November 14, 1944
(France V-Mail)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

This is my second letter to you from France. I believe I’ll start numbering my letters too. Things are getting a little more settled here. This place certainly is not my idea of heaven. It could be a “helluva” lot worse, however. These letters from overseas are as informative as hell, aren’t they? There’s one thing I can say though and that is, don’t ever let anyone sell you on a trip to Europe. Podunk would look better.

I haven’t heard any news for about a week now, only rumors. The war could be over for all I know. Fat chance, huh? According to the last rumor that wafted my way Gen. Patton is going at it hot and heavy again. I hope so. The war sure has lasted a lot longer than any of us would have thought possible last Sept. I guess it could last for a long time yet.

Chances are that it’ll be quite some time before I get any mail from you. Sure am getting lonely for some.

Best Love,
Bill

About Letter 147

Bill's unit is moving out. Due to censorship he cannot provide any details saying, "as usual we're obliged not to say where or when or how." Bill attends a British vaudeville show he discribes as "so rotten it was pitiful."

Letter 147- November 2, 1944

November 2, 1944
(England)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

I’m sending this air-mail special delivery in the forlorn hope that it’ll catch up with my last letter. I rather doubt whether or not it will. You see the censoring and mail handling is mixed up now so it’s impossible to get mail through in very great quantity or with any regularity. I have received only two letters from you recently—the last being no. 17. I had letters 18 and 19 several days before.

We’re going to be moved out. As usual we’re obliged not to say where or when or how so there’s not a “helluva” lot if elaboration that I can go into.

Haven’t done much lately outside of the usual routine. I’ve washed clothes and gone to a couple of shows in the evening. The other night I went to a vaudeville show (British). It was strictly from hunger. It was so rotten it was pitiful.

I’ve got to cut this short for the sake of the censor.

Best Love,
Bill

About Letter 146

Bill sends home an early Christmas present. He wraps it in in a seperate note with a message to the censor saying, "Censor-Please rewrap."

Letter 146- November 1, 1944

November 1, 1944
(England)

Dear Mudder,

This is just something by way of a souvenir and a minor Christmas present. Hope you like it. It isn’t much but it’s about the best I could do considering the marvelous choice of stuff they’ve got over here.

Well, Merry Christmas and stuff like that there.

Best Love,
Bill






(wrapped note here)
“CENSOR-PLEASE-REWRAP”-

About Letter 145

Christmas packages are beginning to arrive in the Company but Bill has yet to receive one. To cheer himself up he goes to a movie but it doesn't seem to do the trick. He closes saying "you don't want to hear any more morbid stuff so I'll sign off now."

Letter 145- October 29, 1945

October 29, 1944
(England)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Today or rather I should say tonight is Sunday. I didn’t write a letter yesterday because I knew they wouldn’t send out the mail ‘till Monday anyhow.

This evening I went out to the movies to see if I couldn’t cheer myself up a little. I didn’t particularly want to sit around and mope either. I’ve got K.P. tomorrow now and that doesn’t make me feel any too happy anyhow.

Christmas packages are beginning to arrive in the company now but I haven’t received any. They’ve got to come soon.

I did receive two letters from you yesterday, however-#18 and 19. They were both postmarked the 17th. You didn’t ask much in the way of questions so there’s not much to answer.

As usual there’s not much doing these days. It’s maddening never to be able to do anything I personally want to do. Really this army gets more and more difficult to stomach every day. Always being told when and how you can do a thing, the boredom, the everlasting inefficiency and stupidity. Maybe I’ve got too sensitive a nature or something but I’m so goddam sick and tired of it. I can imagine how those in the fighting must feel.

I’m going to try and send something home for Christmas. I don’t know how or what but I think it’ll make me feel better.

You don’t want to hear any more morbid stuff so I’ll sign off now. Hope you are in better humor than I.

Best Love
Bill

P.S. Got the rest of the stamps.