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Excerpts from letters my parents wrote to their families during WWII.
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Just got back from a 2 day bivouac. It was a lot of fun. The last 5 minutes I was surrounded by about 25 men—a hand grenade lit a foot from my head, 10 guys jumped on me + I was sure killed. I'd have gotten about 10 of them with the grenades (pine cones) I threw in.
As it was, I captured the command car with 3 lieutenants + a sergeant. They were sure disgusted. Hidden in the woods.
We really showed the Anti Tank Co up. 25 against 170 (with trucks, jeeps, guns, etc)
We were unarmed.
Score ___________ Band | AT Co.
Men lost 7 | 30 to 50
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 I was the 1st sentry (8-10)—about 9:30 I heard a little noise [down] around the woods & sent two scouts out.
They came back with 3 lieutenants + 2 sergeants (the entire officer group) + they were so disgusted the called the war off so we went back to bed + froze. I wore:
Short underwear
Long underwear
Wool Pants
Work "
2 Wool Shirts
Wool Jacket
Overcoat
Shoes
Two Blankets
Raincoat
Tent – Hat
All this + I still froze.
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Maybe I am selfish but I know her very well + I know that she'll be much happier out here + she'll never regret it—especially if I didn't come back after this war.
Maybe it is "war hysteria"—but I want her out here + I'm sure she wants to be here. It's a gamble but so is everything else now. + pooy on anything (like a teacher's contract) that keeps her there.
If she decides not to come you'll sure have one unhappy private in the family.
Well, I hope you'll understand— + [?] will— + Dr. S. will—
I do
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—I haven't been near the camp yet in Corvallis—but Salem is the state capitol—beautiful place—everything so clean—parks—grass (green grass)— Oh! I'll never forget this trip as long as I live—everything was so different and wonderful—even if Steve had been gone when I got here I would have thanked him for the trip because it really was gorgeous—plains, mountains, stops at Cheyenne, Boise, [?]—
Even yet I'm too excited to write a long letter—
He sure is nice to me—you did a good job on raising a son— I'm proud of you!!!
Holly blooms along the streets—I'd like to live in Oregon—
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...
The jazz trumpet man here (from Vaughn Monroe's band) + some of the others told me I could make a good living playing a horn—say I have a beautiful tone—the best in the band trombone section (+ these guys are from Woody Herman + Ted Fio Rito) so that's saying something.—
It makes me feel good, naturally, they hate to see me go— but I still wouldn't want to travel with bands or play every nite. Maybe I'll try to just job around town 3 nites a week or something after the war. Union I'll clear at least 15 in 3 jobs + that would help my hamburger business or my Ohio office job. I'd soon…
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Dear Folks—
Michael is getting [?] every day — he entertained me for an hour last night laughing, & talking, & [grinning?] — he had a wonderful time — I think he knows me now —
Clara Bess & Sloan dropped in Sunday & … |
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