05 Jul July 5, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne France, 5 July 45
Thursday, 8.30 p.m.
Noteworthy: Dad’s advice on how to handle Ronnie.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

At last a landslide.  Two 5 [lb] packages from you, three letters from you,
one from Murray, Campbell’s, and one from Claude.  These letters told of you
knowing of me being in the hospital where, of course, I still am.  And still
no news about when I’ll get out, if ever.  One of the fellows in my room
brought the mail over today.  He said there was nothing new back at camp and
they all had to work yesterday after all.  That holiday bunk was just a lot of
propaganda.  Neither Murray nor Vida had much that was new.  Murray

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did say that he was planning on quitting in August since they weren’t drafting
men over 30.  Well and well.  He also seems a bit pessimistic about post-war
building mostly because of competition I gathered.  Competition doesn’t
bother me.  I’ve had plenty of it before.  In fact, competition is good for me.
It makes me work all the harder and stay on the ball that much more.  Time
will tell on that score.

Now there is one thing I want you to do and no more making excuses and so on.
Either come out flatly and say you don’t want to or go out to Chamberlin’s and
see what the score is.

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If you say definitely that you don’t want to, then that’s alright too.  It
won’t make any difference to me.  I’ll just start figuring out something else.

Right now I fully expect to be in the Army for the duration.  Think I’ll return
to the States late this fall -- get a furlough and then be assigned some place
in the States until the war with Japan is over.  That will be sometime in the
first six months of next year.  Naturally, I have no inside dope and I don’t
know any more about it than you do.  But that’s

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the way I have it figured.  If I happen to be right then that would give you
about nine months to learn something about the real estate business plus
finding out if that business is worth a damn.  Then when I am discharged, you
can go back to being a housekeeper and mother about a couple of times more
anyhow.  At least enough to keep Ronnie satisfied and give him a little girl
for a playmate.

Vida wrote me a nice long newsy letter but really nothing in it important.
Seems as though they are feeling the food shortage a little too.

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Claude told me of you and Ronnie planning on spending your vacation
with them.  I had told him of the black market prospects here and he says he
will keep the boxes coming which will help.  Also said Billy is playing
baseball and seemed quite proud of him, which he has been all along.  Have
pretty high hopes about Ronnie myself.  Not necessarily in athletics, but in
whatever he chooses to make his profession.

I can well understand Ronnie leaning toward a pretty rough temper and a will
of his own.  Admirable traits if handled and trained correctly.  However

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a person who cannot control his or her temper at least ninety nine per cent of

the time is subject to very much criticism and stands to get into a lot of hot
water sooner or later.  I think you must be doing very well with Ronnie but
just remember don’t ever let him get the upper hand.  He should always know
what’s right and when he does something definitely wrong that he has done wrong
before then it’s time to do something about it.  Just because he’s a cute
little boy that all the girls are already going for in a big way,  is no
reason for him to have everything his way.  At least not yet.

Page 7.
Tell Gladys at the rate it sounds -- she will reach that 135 lbs before I get
home even.  Let alone in ten years.  Maybe with Dick around a few days it will
happen damn soon.  Well Joyce needs a playmate too I guess.

As for Dick sending Gladys so much, more power to him.  Everyone else is
making all they can out of this Army and war why shouldn’t he?  I know damn
well after all I’ve seen pulled over here. I am just very sorry I am not in
such a favorable position.  However, I did write Dick and asked him to do what
he could along those lines for me.  I have

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never heard from him since.  However, since he suggested it first, I imagine
maybe he did do a little bit -- maybe.

As for his brother being a S/sgt now, that’s the breaks of the Army.  Once you
get assigned to a outfit and are just a little bit lucky, you are in.. However,
I still have a stinking idea that Les may be in for more than he expects.  A
S/sgt in combat is only a squad leader which is the world’s worst job if you
are a rifleman in the front lines.  Well for his family’s sake I hope he is
never sent to the CBI.

My poker continues to be in the upgrade and I am sending you fifty

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dollars.  However can’t get the money order until tomorrow, so it will be in
the next letter.  Your pkgs today didn’t contain much in the way of bargaining
power, one had the large can of fruit cocktail and your delicious candy.  The
other had your very nice cookies and soap.  The soap is very good and should
easily bring a few hundred francs if I ever get out of here.  Of course, the
candy and cookies didn’t last long here in the ward.  It was very good.  Thanks
very much for all of it.

Glad you and Gladys got to go downtown.  But can’t understand why you are sick
so much of late.  Seems to me you must be trying

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to do a little more than you can take of.  Always remember my dear, that there
is a tomorrow.  And health is about the most important thing on earth.

I am anxiously waiting to hear how you and Ronnie came out on your vacation.
Certainly you were able to get a little rest and Ronnie didn’t act too badly.
Guess he would have to go some to be as bad as four put together so maybe it
all turned out alright.  I hope so.

This is about it for tonight.  Keep the letters coming and spend a little of
this money I’m sending on yourself for a change.

All my love to you both,
Daddy.