Month: January 1946

Sunday Evening
January 6, 1946

Dear Folks,
   I realize that it's sort of unnecessary to write to you tonight because this will get there on Tuesday or Wednesday and about all the news I have is that I won't get there on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm in one of the companies for discharges and don't really hear any official news any more but I suppose there must be several men coming in and slowing things down a little.
   The lists are all out for those that start processing tomorrow and thus will get out Tuesday. I'm not on any of them but surely I'll be on one of them sometime within the next couple of days. I suppose I'll get home on one of the examination days but don't let me upset things too much till that's over. If I was deciding, I wouldn't pick that day to get home but I don't think I'll delay coming on that account.
   I received your box containing my hat and the candy yesterday. Thanks a whole lot. The hat's fine. I'm really not in the 30th company now but I'll still go down there to get my mail while I'm here. They don't give out mail in these companies that aren't for permanent party men anyway.
   Well I'm not doing a very good job of writing tonight and I really haven't any more news so I'm going to sign off. Hope everything is OK with you. I'm still planning on seeing you before this week is over.
           As ever,
             Donald
P.S. I'm doing a lot of resting now. To be sure I went to church this morning.

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Monday Night
Hello again,
   Well I didn't get this sent out today so now I might beat it home. At least it won't get there much ahead of me. I feel kind of silly even sending it at all now. But if everything goes off OK I can give you some pretty accurate information. I am on a roster that will finish its processing about 4:30 Wed evening. Even at that, of course, it's still not fool proof.
   But if nothing else happens I'll leave Philadelphia on the 9:19 PM on Wednesday and get to Indianapolis at 11:58 Thursday. So the middle of the afternoon should see me home.
   I may or may not get home before this but anyway I'll be seeing you.
            DVT

January 4, 1946
6:30 PM

Hello Family,
   Outside of a few facts that I have on my mind. I don't feel very windy so don't expect a long letter.
   I am now through with my work in the army! I was officially finished at 6 O'clock this evening. I hardly dare say that this will be my last letter from here but it's entirely possible. I expect I'll have time to write at least a short letter on Sunday but I may not be in the mood or I may be near enough out that I'd beat it home.
   Tomorrow morning I'll go to one of the companies for dischargees and then it'll just be a matter of time. The actual processing for discharge takes forty-eight hours and I ought to start processing at least by Monday. As I've said before things can come up to slow down the schedule but I feel pretty sure that sometime before next week is over I'll be home. I think that's allowing plenty of time. Of course, if there should happen to be an extra big shipment of overseas men come in it might take a couple days longer to get on one of the discharge rosters (lists).
   This morning I mailed my last package of belongings. The rest I'll carry. I won't have so much more and may be able to get it all in my suitcase.
   Oh yes. I also received the letter today that contained my social security number. I'll keep watching the mail so that I'll get my hat in case you've sent it. What did you do about my glasses? If you haven't already sent them wait until I get there now.
   God bless you and I'll be seeing you soon.
             Your son and brother,
                  Donald

January 1, 1946
Noon Hour

Dear Folks,
   I'll start this now one of these times I'll get it finished. I sort of hope that I won't be needing to write to you very many more times. And if things go right I shouldn't. I'll never be able to set an exact date because there are too many things that upset plans. I might not be released from my work as soon as I expect or even after the processing for discharge starts it's possible to be held up if everything pertaining to your records aren't perfect. But don't be surprised if you see me some time next week. It's entirely possible I'll get as close to home as I can and then get home the rest of the way if you can't come after me. I wouldn't be writing this confidently if I hadn't heard from pretty reliable sources this morning that I'll be released in a few days (less than a week).
   Well I'll bet I had a bigger dinner today than you did. We weren't expecting anything extra but we had almost as nice a dinner as at Christmas. We had all the conventional feast-day items including turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, ice cream candy, cranberry sauce, fruit cake etc. The army has fed me for 3 Thanksgivings, Christmases and New Years. I'm sure thankful that it isn't a year ago today. 
   I haven't heard from you yet this week but I did get the after-Christmas package yesterday. Thanks a lot. When this reaches you, I expect you'd better cease sending anything but letters. If I don't get my hat in time to wear it home there'll be no great harm done. You can still write but you needn't worry even about that. I may sort of get lazy on that myself. 
   Well I expect I'd better stop now and get back to work. If I don't add any more to this you'll at least have heard from me.

8:30 PM
   Just want to tell you that I received your letter of Dec. 29 this evening. Happy New Year. I'll be seeing you.    Donald