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Germany Letters Task Force Sundt

April 1, 1945 (Easter)

From 346th Infantry:

The Regiment spent Easter Sunday in the vicinity of Kraftsolms, Germany, mopping up trapped German remnants. Many prisoners were taken but no valuable information was gained from them. Only resistance encountered was put up by SS men although PW figures showed that even they gave up when the odds were against them.

The next five days were spent in mopping up operations and a move to a new assembly area at Heringen, Germany. No enemy resistance was encountered on patrols.

April 1, 1945
Germany

Dear Folks,
   Happy Easter! If for no other reason this has turned out to be a pretty happy Easter for me because I got four letters from you this evening. They were from March 12 to 19 so you know what was happening along about that time. When I was reading them I thought of a whole “encyclopedia full” of things I wanted to say to you.  So before I go any further I am going to go over them again and underline anything that brought an idea to my mind this afternoon. Maybe that way I’ll get you told at least part of what I wanted to.
   I guess the best way to start would be to say that I wish as much as you do that I could have had the angel food cake for Easter that you wanted to send. The Lord willing next Easter you can bake an angel food cake and we’ll eat it together. What say we make it a date.
   No doubt I had about the same feelings that you did concerning Richard’s turn of affairs. I had hardly even thought of it turning out this way so it did sort of surprise me. I expect that I am gladder than any of you that he was rejected but I know or can guess how he feels. I had told one of my buddies about Richard’s time coming up and as I was reading the letters I told him how it turned out. He said that I should say “Hi 4F” and if I were, I no doubt would do so. I expect that a little kidding would do as much to relieve the tension as anything else. I trust your judgement but since things have turned out this way think it over carefully before you break your neck trying to get into any thing military. I believe the Supreme Being has something planned. Whether it be right or not, but in thinking about what to do in the future, don’t forget that continuing your schooling is one possibility.
   Now that it has been brought to my mind I do remember a little something about Richard’s ribs. But I would have had even less reason to be thinking about that than you would. No one told me how Eulan came out on his examination.
   I wonder if March went out like a lamb for you. I guess the nice weather is the reason things are going so good over here. It made me proud to know that some of our news was getting back home. I can't claim to have personally been in the taking of Coblenz but I was at that time just a little ways up the Moselle from there.
   You did guess wrong though about my being in the Saar again. I have never been back there. I’ve really had some experiences this last week that I don’t suppose I ought to tell you about yet. I’ve got a couple of souvenirs that I’ll send home but I’ll tell you about them later.
   Do whatever you think best about putting in the Tribune about my Silver Star. Don’t misunderstand me but you have my permission. (I wouldn’t want anything big though).
   I think I have explained in another letter about the money you didn’t know how to dispose of. It’s just what’s not taken out of my pay in allotments that I can’t use here. I am sending thirty dollars out of the money I drew today. It’s not a hard and fast rule but I expect most of it should go for bonds. I do want you to feel free, though,  at any time to use what money I send home for anything else you deem wise. It’ll be alright if you want to accumulate it and buy bonds of larger denominations. But of course don’t hold it for six months or anything on that order because it can be accumulating just a little interest. Sometime if you want to I would be interested in knowing just how I stand financially.
   Now that you have asked about the popcorn in my Christmas box I’ll have to tell you. As you know I got it just after we got on the boat coming over and of course there was no way to make use of it then. Well things will happen and as I remember the sack got broken or someway it got spilled before I ever got it popped. A little popcorn might be an idea though for something to send me now. Those packages really are a blessing.
   I’m glad mother mentioned about the cigarette situation. We do get them but that’s still no reason why I must smoke them. You needn’t worry about that end of the story. If my cigarettes get used someone else uses them. You are right though about using them for money. We do use them to trade sometimes to the civilians for something they might have to eat. Not that we’re hungry but it’s a lot of fun just to fry an egg or cook something for yourself. I think the greatest use for them, though, is when someone is lucky enough to get a pass to Paris. They go like hot cakes back there. Incidentally I think I’ll be getting one of those passes one of these times.
   While I’m on the subject: I really do thank the Lord for strength to resist temptations, or perhaps rather, to resist occasional scoffings. As you perhaps know the Germans are great for alcoholic drinks and it’s not occasionally that we come onto them. The drinks (just as the smokes) don’t tempt me in the least but you can guess the rest of the story. With it so easy to get, people are apt to say lots of things without thinking. God has been very good to me.
   If you (the mothers’ club) are having to send Wendell cigarettes I sure wish he could have mine. Our company has had the pleasure recently of freeing a great number of French, Polish and Russian prisoners of war. Boy that is really a happy experience. Those boys are just so excited they can’t contain themselves. One outfit had an experience the other day that I’d like to be in on one of these times. That is the liberating of some of our own boys from the Germans. I guess the height of my ambition would in capturing the prison camp that Wendell is in. Wouldn’t that be something to remember.
   I am thankful that your prayers are still with me. There is no doubt in my mind about their value. As mother wrote recently “May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another.”
           Love, Donald
01Apr1945Download

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Germany Letters

March 29, 1945 (Charles Johnson letter)

This letter is not from Donald, it’s from a Pvt Chas (Charles) Johnson who was probably also from the Orestes area and seems to have been in the same area of Germany at the end of March. This is probably the same “Charlie Johnson” who married Donald’s cousin Janette (see April 9, 1944 letter).

“East of the Rhine” would indicate that this is after the Rhine crossing. He mentions Donald.

March 29, 1945
East of the Rhine

Hello Folks,
   Hope this finds you well and enjoying yourselves. All is well over here. Has been raining a bit today. But has been nice till now. Received your letter today - was mighty glad to hear from you. As yest I haven't seen Donald but am hoping to see him before long. He is close to where I am at. I am with the 1st Army and the 9th Division. Have been close to where he is at. Till later. Good Bye & God Bless to All as Ever. 
Charles
29Mar1945-JohnsonDownload

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Germany Letters Task Force Sundt

March 29, 1945

March 29,1945
Germany

Dear Folks,                             
   I hope you’ll forgive a V-mail this time. If you’ve been reading the papers or otherwise getting the news you’ll understand why I feel lucky to even get this kind of a letter written. Things are moving faster now than I would have ever believed possible an couple of months ago. Even the infantry has to be motorized for an affair like this. We just couldn’t keep up on foot. You wouldn’t have to use much imagination to guess about how well our mail is keeping up with us. We’ve received mail about once in almost a week now. I was lucky that one time though and received a package from you. (Feb 23, I think). I needn’t tell you that it was really welcome. You sent me one thing that I’ve been intending to ask for but don’t think I ever did. That is handkerchiefs. You know how easy it is to ruin them. Send very cheap ones. I don’t care if they’re even made of old feed sacks. But I could use one every week or so. They can be sent in air mail letters.
  Loads of love,   Donald
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Germany Letters

March 23, 1945

Clipping mentioned in the letter
Archival footage from Koblenz, which is mentioned in the letter
March 23,'45
Germany

Hello People,
   I don’t know how to start this letter. Perhaps after I once do get going I’ll think of something to say. I know if I could just remember anything that I have thought about to say in the last couple of days there would be plenty to say.
   To start with I’ll tell you about the clipping I am enclosing. I don’t want to give away any valuable information but I think I can tell you that I was in that very house1This is clearly the story mentioned in the April 1945 clipping about his medal, from the Alexandria Times. That indicates that the newspaper story was based on an interview with his parents the morning the town was taken. Of course at the time we didn’t know the significance of the house but I know this is the one. We had a company CP (Command Post) on the first floor. Just as a matter of interest to you: I had my radio set up in the upper right hand window as you face the house. I later moved it to the window just below it (that is the room where the drug store is located). Also I remember that the engineers were using explosives to move a big tree that had been cut down across  the road to block traffic. One of the charges blew the shutters off one of the front windows.
   Well we’ve had it pretty easy for a while so I expect we’ll be doing something pretty soon. You can always expect something when things quiet down a little. Whenever that time comes when I can’t write for a few days you’ll know the reason.
   I got a Vmail from you yesterday  but it was older than some of the airmail letters I have received. I was in hopes that it would tell me what Richard found out but it didn’t.
   I’ve been pretty lucky in getting to attend church services in the last few days. There were services that I was able to attend both yesterday and the day before. That’s like a lot of other things - when we are in a position to have services they try to hold enough to last for a while. 
   Let’s not cease to look up for His help. The Lord willing we’ll be seeing each other one of these days. He sure has given me a lot to be thankful for.
          Love,
           Donald
P.S. We are allowed to tell you that the 87th took Coblenz2Koblenz.
23Mar1945Download

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Germany Letters

March 20, 1945

Germany
March 20,1945

Hello Folks,
   I hope you get the letter I finished up this morning a day sooner by my cutting it short as I did. I wanted it to go out today and  this one I can’t get started till tomorrow. You’ll forgive the abrupt way I ended the other one.
   You can see in the other letter that I almost forgot that this is mother’s birthday, too. I just thought of it in time to mention it along the margin. I wish I had a birthday present to send. But what to serve as a birthday present is this. I want mom to wear the tiny pin or bar that came with my silver star till I get back. As I understand it, it is the part of the silver star I can wear after I become a civilian again. I’m sure it can be used for this other purpose, too.
   It surprised me just a little to hear about the library work at school. I don’t believe that I even knew that Aunt Mary had the job. Hope mother isn’t trying to do too much by taking the job.
   Boy I’d like to know the late news of Richard’s induction. I’ve read so often that most of the boys are being taken into the army that it almost has me worried. The Lord knows best so be thankful for whatever happens or rather has happened.
   Daddy talks a lot lately about working in the honey house. I’d sort of like to see how the place looks now. As I remember it was just in the state of being planned when I was home last. And that reminds me of a request I’ve been intending to make for a good while. I left all of my pictures in my duffle bag and I doubt now if I’ll ever see it again. I’d like for you to send me some snap shots. The only one I have now is Richard’s senior picture. I received that after I hit combat. I’d also like permission to trim the pictures that I want  to keep so that they will fit into my billfold. When you are taking pictures I wonder if you’d take one of Grandpa and Grandma Carver. I’ve never had a picture of them since I’ve been in the army.
   Before I get completely off the subject of letters and get started on what I’ve been doing I want to thank you for something you’ve been doing. I really appreciate these little stickers you’ve been using with Bible verses on them. The including of scripture references does me a lot of good.
   For the last few days I’ve been doing something just a little different. I’ll still have my old job but this will give me a chance to add a little to my knowledge and maybe help out a little. I am back at cannon company learning to be a “forward observer” (F.O.). The regular artillery always has a forward observer with the line companies and we even have an observer in our company for cannon company but I am learning the job so that I could take over in an emergency. To explain the terms a little: cannon company is a small artillery unit that is directly attached to our infantry regiment, and an F.O. is the observer who is right up with the fight where he can see the artillery is hitting and sends messages back telling how to adjust the fire. My other job will also come in handy along this line too. You can easily see that with the artillery pieces a long way back there must be some method of directing the fire. This will make just one more thing that I’ll have a little knowledge of. It’s almost like having a vacation by being back here, too, so I’m getting a little relaxation out of it.
   Let’s keep looking up. God Bless you all.
      Love,
       Donald
20Mar1945Download
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Germany Letters

March 17-20, 1945

March 17
Germany

Dear Folks,
   Perhaps this won’t be mailed for a couple of days or so but I’ve just a little time now so I’ll write something or other. I say that because right now I can't think of enough news to really write a letter. I sure hope to be getting some mail one of these days and then at least I’ll have a letter to answer. There’ll be a little handful to read when I get them no doubt. I could almost get a little homesick right now trying to think what may be happening back there. Boy I wish this war were over and I could really be home. I guess that really will be a great day when I can hit the U.S. again. Being 7 or 8 hundred miles from home used to seem like a long distance but now I’d even be glad to be that close.
   I guess one good we (those of us who really have seen  things) are going to get from all of this is the ability to appreciate what we have. After really getting along on nothing for a while even bare necessities are sure appreciated. A chance to clean up and a place to lay down (even if it's only a corner of the floor with a blanket over you) makes you feel like a king. A real vacation at home is something to dream about. Just think sleeping as long as you want, eating all you want of really good cooking and in general just doing what you want to!
   I can’t complain too much about the last few days though. We’ve been still enough that we can get hot meals and can sleep inside.

 March 20
Happy Birthday Mother!
   This is sure a spread out letter but I’ll get it sent before too much longer now. I finally got some mail yesterday evening. There were four letters from you Feb 23 to March 5. I don’t think I’ll have time this morning to answer them but I was happy to just learn a little about what Richard found out. He has now taken his examination and knows for sure about getting into the Navy. Of course, I’m interested in that. I also got your little box containing the pocket knife. I think I recognize it and sure hope no one sacrificed his personal knife just so I could have one. Thanks. I’ll finish up in the next letter.
      Love, 
       Donald
17Mar1945Download
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Germany Letters

March 16, 1945

From 346th Infantry:

The next move came on March 13th as the Regiment with the 735th Tank Battalion moved to the quaint little hamlet of Rubenach, Germany. White flags were now making appearances in all civilian homes. The outfit’s mission was to defend the Rhine-Moselle river line. Cannon Company supported the Regiment by fire from positions near Wolken. An intricate system of patrolling the banks of the Moselle River was set up, so that the bank would be patrolled at least once an hour. Information was seeping in slowly. The Fourth Armored Division said that the German 34th Division was in barracks on the East side of the Rhine at Fort Ehrenbreitstein. PW information brought forth the fact that the enemy was 200 strong on the small island in the Rhine River at the northern part of our sector. Active patrolling was maintained for the next few days. Patrols were sent across the Moselle River into Koblenz and the First Battalion was the first American troops there since the army of occupation from World War I departed.

March 16,1945

Dear Mother and all,
   Before I forget it, I want to wish mother a happy birthday. This will be late getting there, I know, but I hope you’ll forgive me. I thought about it before I wrote my last letter but forgot it again when I got around to writing. Lots of things slip up on me and I feel sort of good just to remember a date at all. I see by the date  also that three days ago I passed my year and a half mark in the army. I guess I’ve got about five months overseas time in, too. If the situation doesn’t change in another month I’ll be entitled to an overseas stripe. Of course, it wouldn’t make me mad, though, to be back in the U.S. even before another month is up.
   It’s been about a week now since I’ve had any mail. I’m getting pretty anxious to find out just what Richard is doing. No doubt by the time he is doing something or is about to. It could be (and I sure hope so)  that this half of the war might not last too much longer. But things will be far from over even then. We’ll just have to keep our chins up and keep working and praying with our eyes always looking toward the complete finish. One of these days we’ll all be home for good.
   I’ve been pretty lucky for the last few days as far as work is concerned. That is far from even implying that I haven’t been busy but I think you’ll understand what I mean when I say it hasn’t been too bad.
   Did you get my V-mail a few days ago telling you that I received a raise in pay? Before my insurance is taken out I should be getting around a hundred dollars a month counting everything. Just to fill space I’ll tell you what I should be getting paid. The base pay for a Sgt. is $78, then I get 20% for being overseas, $10 combat pay (I think), $10 for the combat Infantry Badge and I think and $2 for the Silver Star. Say figuring that all up if I haven’t been misled somewhere it’s a good bit more than I thought!
   As far as I know I’ll still be doing the same sort of work. Spending most of my time messing with the radio and whatever other communications is necessary to keep things operating. I guess I never really thought when I started to radio school, almost a year ago now, that it would ever really be my job. And not only that it’s turned out to be almost a full time job. All the communications work I do seems simple and routine but I suppose if I realized just how much knowledge I have picked up altogether since I began I wouldn’t feel too bad about it.
  Let’s keep trusting and praying. It really pays. Love, 
     Your son and brother,  
     Donald
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Germany Letters

March 12, 1945

March 12,1945

Hello Folks,
   I’ve not much time today so one of these little letters will be my limit. I wouldn’t even try to get this to you if I didn’t want to tell you something. You may already know it by this time, though, if you noticed the address. If you didn’t notice it before, look at the upper right corner of this page.1He had been promoted to Sergeant - bypassing the rank of Corporal. Apparently this wasn't unusual in front line units, which needed to fill holes in squad leadership. What might be a bit unusual is that, based on later letters, he doesn't seem to have moved into a squad leader role - he continues doing radio work. According to his veteran's records his promotion was to Communications Chief.
   If this is my last letter for a few days, and no doubt it will be, I’ll be busy again. Little vacations are wonderful but they can’t last forever. A chance to rest up a little, eat some hot food instead of cold rations, and go to church is about all we have a chance for. But even that much really helps a lot. Of course we also try to write a few letters.
   Let’s still keep trusting in the Lord to bring us together soon. With His help we’ll be seeing each other. Keep praying and I’ll do the same.
Lots of love,
  Donald
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Germany Letters Souvenirs

March 10, 1945

March 10,1945

Hi People,
   I am a little surprised to be still where I can write to you today but you can be sure I’m not unhappy about the situation. There are a few things, mostly samples of money, that I’ll send along for you to see. These aren’t anything special but just bills from each country that I happened to have. I hadn’t even intended to send them home but decided the other day that you might be interested. You’ll be able to decipher what country they are from and how much they are worth. These bills are invasion money (printed and backed by our gov’t.). Invasion money is always printed in these two sizes and the larger denominations the size of our dollar bills. That way it fits into our billfolds. European money is printed in a million different sizes  and always has to be folded someway or other to fit our pocketbooks. Some of their notes are bigger than this sheet of paper. We had this trouble in England and if we were to use what is printed by the governments on the continent it would be the same thing.
   There isn’t much new I can tell you as far as news goes. It’s just the same old story of sweating out the time when we start moving again.
   Yesterday someone was talking about dogs and the thought came to me that it has been a long time since I have heard anything about old Topsy. Is she still around? If she is she should be old enough now I’d think to have lost a little of her puppy pop.
   I got a whole stack of Tribunes yesterday evening. One bunch of them was from Dec 24 to 27 and the others from the latter part of January. You can see that they come sort of irregularly. Any time there is anything really special even in the Tribune I’ll be glad to receive it as a clipping. Then I’ll be sure to get it and I’ll have it 2 weeks to 2 months sooner.
   Think I’ll hold on to this letter until after mail time this evening. It's time I was getting a letter again.

  5PM
   Rather than start a new page on this letter I’ll sign off by telling you I got to attend church this evening. I’ll be looking again tomorrow for mail. No luck today. God bless you all.
          Lots of love,
            Donald
10Mar1945Download
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Germany Letters

March 9-10, 1945

March 9,1945
Germany

Dear Folks,
   There may be a little repetition in this and the V-mail I wrote yesterday but I doubt if you’ll receive them both at once so maybe you can bear to read it again. You can see that I received my package by the paper I am using. Enough other people will help me out on the using of it that I won’t have to take care of it long. Having a box of stationary to use reminds me of being a garrison soldier. I couldn’t use a folder of it a week but you needn’t worry about an occasional one being wasted.
   Just to be truthful about it I don’t think there was a thing in the box from the home made fudge down to the funny papers that wasn’t enjoyed. The candy and cookies were just too good to be true. It may sound as if I am stretching things but I have a cup of the hot chocolate beside me right now.
   In the last ten days when I was actually unable to write I received letters from you dated Feb 9, 12 and 26. I think there were at least a couple of others, too, but they got away from me somewhere.
   No doubt Richard knows a little more about this future now than he did when I last heard. I sure am anxious to know how things turned out.
   Thanks for the news and all the clippings of the sectional. I’ll bet Jim got a big thrill out of seeing it. I told someone the other day that I would rather be sweating out a good basketball game than going through some of the exciting (if you can call them that) spots we were seeing.
   I expect you have guessed from the news that things have been happening pretty fast for me the last few days. Well you guessed right. I just came through the longest and perhaps hardest stretch of fighting of any so far. We actually spent a week without ever seeing the inside of a building and then we didn’t even stop when we came to a couple of little towns. I think it would take me a year to catch up on  my sleep. Getting only one or two hours a night soon puts you behind. I’m not griping through. I really am glad to see things moving the way they are. In order to make gains it stands to reason that we have to keep pushing along.

  10 March
   Well I sort of got lazy and didn’t get this finished yesterday but maybe by waiting a day longer I’ll be able to give you just a little more news. I guess the biggest reason why I didn’t write more yesterday was because it was pay day. Since I am in Co. Hq. I usually have to help out on things like that. I spent almost all day making out forms for the fellows to send money home. I myself sent $45 home but you can expect it when it arrives as it may take a good while. I am pretty sure you are receiving my bonds & $20 allotments OK but I have never heard from the other I have sent. The first time I got paid I sent it myself by money order and this makes the second time I’ve sent it by govt. Check. Let me know about these things. We got paid in German marks this time. Altogether now I’ve been paid in marks, French francs, and Belgian francs. I also used Luxemburg francs in Luxemburg. Of course our govt prints all we use over here and stands back of it so it won’t lose its value by inflation. The marks we use are know as “invasion marks” and are worth 10c apiece. Our French francs are worth 2c apiece and the Belgium and Luxemburg francs a small fraction of a cent more. 
   In addition to the letters I told you about yesterday I have found (stuck away in my pockets) letters of Feb 7, 14, 16 and 19, so you see I haven’t done too bad recently.
   I presume you really want me to ask for things to be sent or you would stop asking about it. As I have said so often it's hard to know what to ask for. Did you get the letter (it’s been several weeks ago) in which I asked for a pocket knife and cheap fountain pen? You know how we feel about anything to eat. It's up to you and it really works well but I don’t ask you every time to go to the trouble of packing the stuff in tin cans. But sometime when you are using cans I’d like for you to fill one can with good fresh popcorn. It wouldn’t be a big fill-up bit it sure would do me good. You don’t have any idea how often I think of the endless hours I’ve spent munching popcorn. You also might fill a can with some of your cracker-jack. Just as a further suggestion I often see in packages small cans and jars of stuff that you can find by just keeping your eyes open from grocers shelves. For instance, jars of jelly, any kind of thing that can be eaten cold or heated a little , esp Campbell’s soups or anything you might see. (I used Campbell’s soup just to give the idea rather than even necessarily suggesting it). It doesn’t have to be anything special; in fact plain things are even better. But remember anything I mention is just a suggestion. Be sure to use your own judgement.
   I still say that the Lord has been most gracious to me. Out of forty that started out together in our platoon, there are five of us left. And three of them have been in the hospital and have returned. He has been with me every step of the way. You’d be surprised to know how much easier it is to go through difficult situations just trusting in Him. Keep praying. Love,
                 Donald

PS - I made a p.s. So you can use this as a different request if you wish. If you use 21/2 size cans you might start one with salty peanuts and finish it with cookies. How about a can of marshmallows? It might even be possible to can up a piece of cake.
09Mar1945Download