30 Apr April 30, 1945

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
April 30, 1945
Monday 10:30 P.M.

Dearest,

At last I can sit down to relax after a hectic day in the loop.  I haven’t been
down there to shop in months and it’ll be months before it’ll happen again, and
that is certain.  Ronnie and I went down this afternoon and didn’t return until
8:00 o’clock.  We ate downtown too at the place on Wabash called Annie’s
Steakhouse (minus the steaks, however).  We had calves’ liver and onions,
green beans, french fried potatoes, seafood cocktail, vegetable soup, coffee,
milk and jello.  All this for the two of us was 97 cents, which wasn’t too bad
for the loop.

Ronnie was so good all day, and had a big time with the clerks all the time.
He asked a man clerk (a Jew) for a marble and the poor fellow hunted high and
low for one to get him, but Ronnie had to settle for a wood bead.  Our little
boy certainly gets around people.  Guess he’s like his daddy.  Just

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has a way with him [them].

Well, today I splurged and bought new curtains for the living room.  I couldn’t
get them large enough so had to buy three pair and sew two together for the bay
window.  In fact even then I doubt if they’ll be wide enough.  I may have to
buy another pair.  I paid $15.26 for the three pair, and the cheapest I could
find.  They’re nice looking and of marquisette.  It’ll seem funny to have
curtains with no holes in ’em for a change.  Of course the dining room curtains
are "holy", too, but not quite as bad, as yet.

[I] Rec’d a v-mail dated April 20 and an airmail dated Apr. 22, today, and also
the hanky from Paris.  Thanks so much, honey.  I’d like to frame it, as it’s
too dainty to use.  It’s sweet of you to think of me amidst all the gorgeous
Parisian damsels.  Don’t see how you can

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keep your mind on your gal at home long enough to shop for her.  I really do
appreciate it very much, and when you get home I’ll give you a nice big kiss.
Seems so long since I’ve kissed anyone, I’ve probably lost my technique. (Maybe
I should practice?)

Ronnie went to Sunday school Sunday morning (yesterday), but he was a big sissy
and wouldn’t let me leave him.  I had to stay with him.  Hope he gets over it,
as primary Sunday school classes are out of my class.

We went over to Francis Evers for dinner and spent the afternoon, and she
insisted we stay for supper, too.  She didn’t have to insist very much, as she
had baked ham and who refuses two meals with meat nowadays?  I don’t have a
single red point and all the meat I have for the week is one lamb chop [and]

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2 slices of bacon.  Guess will have to start on Judy’s dog food when that’s
gone.  Sounds bad, doesn’t it?   Well, it is!  Oh well, we can always eat eggs
in one form or another.

Francis said Al had filled out a questionnaire, which will determine when and
if the boys will go home after VE day.  Have you done this?

Almost forgot to tell you that I went to the Red Cross Hdqtrs in the loop, this
afternoon and after telling my story was told the Red Cross has no jursdiction

over discharging men either before or after VE day, unless of course I were
desperately ill and even then all they do would be to provide medical care.
She said that the Army felt that they, and they

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alone can determine whether or not a man is physically fit for service.  She
said to sit tight as the war in Europe will be over very soon now, and that only
the very young, and physically fit will be sent to the South Pacific, and I did
not have to worry on that score.  She said she was sure you get home as soon as
transportation permits after VE day.  Well, darling, - I tried, but was very
unsuccessful, it seems, as she wouldn’t even take my name.  I asked if I could
write to the Army, but she said it would be of no avail, as they wouldn’t even
answer.  She just kept saying that you’d be home soon and to hang on a while
longer.  I hope she’s right.

I met Edith Kuester and rode down to the loop on the IC with her.  She also
said VE Day was not far off.  She’s given her notice

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at the draft board, and is going to work for Emil because he can’t get help.
He has moved his office to 113th street now.  I can’t remember the exact
address.  She also asked me again for the millionth time to come over to see
them some night.  She said her dad is ill and that she spent Sunday cleaning up
his house for him, etc.  Today she was going downtown to a show on her day off,
as Emil wasn’t going to be home for supper.  She also said to tell you "hello".

After leaving Frances Evers last night I stopped in at Holmes to give her a
pkg. she had sent out to my house from Carson’s.  They’d spent the day at the
folks as usual.  Marge is coming over to visit Wed. night while Murray works at
Smith’s.  It’s 12:30 and I just had coffee sandwiches and cake upstairs so
guess I’ll go to bed now.

All my love darling always,
Mom and Ronnie

P.S.  I had a miserable dream about you last night and woke up still thinking
it was real.  I’m glad it was only a dream.  It was much too realistic to suit
me as it was.

Addendum: Enclosed letter
from: Mrs. Don Sweeney
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
April 27

Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Dear Mrs. Shonkwiler,

Please forgive me for not writing to you sooner.  I really appreciated your
call very much.  I hope it’s possible for us to get together one of these
weekends.

Had a letter from Don, and he tells me they are on the move again.  This time
it’s Germany.  I’ll be so glad when this thing ends and our men can come home
to their families, so we can have a normal living once again.  I’m so tired of
living this way.

I’m working at the GE Fort Wayne.  I share an apartment with another girl whose
husband is in England.  I go to Bern to see the children 2 or 3 times a week
and every weekend.  Sure wish I could be with them more.  And do they ever miss
their dad.

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The girl is 11 and the boy is 10.  So you see they are old enough to remember
their dad.  My mother takes care of them while I work.  They have the best of
care, but like all youngsters they still need both their Mother and Dad.

Now don’t wait as long as I did to answer this letter.  And I promise to do
better in the future.  Thanks again for calling me, it was nice talking to you.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Sweeney.