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