Describes traveling with Task Force Sundt. This video shows what is almost certainly K Company.
Unlike most the the other 1945 letters, this one is written on both sides. He was probably short of paper.
Germany
April 17, 1945
Dear Family and all,
I guess it’s been at least a week now since I have written but I can say with truth that there just was no chance to write. You might be a little surprised when I tell you that as I am writing this I am keeping one eye on a bunch of prisoners that we rounded up this morning. They are in a yard where there is little chance of their trying to escape so I’ve got little to worry about. They are lying around on the ground and I’m sitting on top of a half track so that I need to just look down to see them. The biggest job is keeping the civilians out. A lot of the soldiers desert the army when it retreats from their home town so we get them when we get to town. And of course all the mothers, sisters, wives, cousins, etc. want to see them. This war sure has some crazy sides to it now that it is moving so rapidly. The Germans are still fighting but there are many of them who are quite willing to surrender. Our company spent the last week and a week the last of March riding on the tanks etc. of an armored outfit. We roll into a town, give it a good going over, roll on and let the infantry come up behind us. They very seldom put up much of a fight against tanks. Our company just furnishes the little bit of ground work that must go along with this type of warfare. I sure hope we can finish the war fighting this way. By some turn of fate or luck our company turned out to be one of the very few that are going along with the armor. I intended to say when I was telling you about this home town stuff that there have actually been times when we have come into a town that the soldiers were lined up waiting to surrender to us. In fact we had a case of that just yesterday. We are not moving today and I don’t know if we are finished now with our job or not.
Something like a week ago now I got a couple of letters but they were older than some I had received before. So as per usual I am getting anxious for news. About that time also I got a package dated Oct. 16. I think it was supposed to be my Christmas from you. It must have been lost in the shuffle. The divinity was sort of run together but it still had its flavor. Thanks a lot for the bill-fold. The other one you had sent me was still usable but I’ll use the nicer one.
Today I am eligible to wear an overseas stripe. This makes exactly six months overseas. That counts the time on the boat but we get credit for that. It doesn’t sound too bad to think of six months but when I realize that it was five months before that when I was home, it makes it sort of hard to take. If this is over first I just hope that I don’t have to see the other half of the world. I’d rather spend a little extra time here than that. The Lord willing though the whole thing will be over before too much longer. Then at least we’ll know how much longer we’ll have to spend at this.
Here’s the situation now: there’s no telling when I’ll be able to mail this and anyway I’ve only got one sheet of paper left so I’ll probably add to this later.
Love,
Donald
April 18, 1945
I am very happy to tell you that I got mail today. I was sort of disappointed not to get a news letter from you but when I opened the letter I did get, it contained your birthday card and the little scripture book. I also got a pocket sized devotional book from Uncle Everett's this evening. I’ve had sort of a fidgety feeling all afternoon and reading some Bible verses seem to be just what I needed. For April 18 in Aunt Mildred’s book I found: “... for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.” Phil. 4-11. That’s sure something to think about.
I mixed up some paste and have put those little spiritual stickers, that I especially liked and saved, in the blank spaces in my birthday book. I’m going to try to keep it right along with my Testament. I also put the picture of Daddy milking the old cow on the fly-leaf.
Well I still have a lot to thank God for. There has been at least a couple of times since I last wrote that without help I would not have come through safely. God bless you all.
Love,
Donald