Germany
March 9, 1945
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.
March 10
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.