17 Oct October 17, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
Oct. 17, 1945
7 P.M. Wed.
Noteworthy: Dad expresses he possibly has good news about getting home.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

After two days lapse without writing, here I am back at the office at my old
desk doing my duty by the home folks.  For the last two days have been out to
the 96th BN here in the 16th Depot, which is located on the other side of town
about a mile from here.  Can’t, for the life of me see why we had to go out
there but with the usual army efficiency we wasted two days.  And they weren’t
too comfortable either as living conditions out there are not like here at HQ.
In fact it reminded me very much of about one year ago.

Tonite we moved back in and are now in our 88th BN which is just a couple
blocks down the street from my old hangout.  We are in tents there

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but have a stove so it’s not so bad as far as keeping warm is concerned.
Keeping warm and food are always the important things in Europe.  I am back at
the office to get my mail and to write this letter.  During the next five days
we divide our attention between working here and attending to details at the
88th BN.  Now, here is the payoff.  If my good luck holds for five days more
or until next Monday, you and everyone else back there might just as well stop
writing to me.  If you know what I mean.  However, there are still many things
to put a monkey wrench in the works and if any one of them happens[,] I’m due
to be over here for some little time yet.  Probably one of the most important
things that might happen to keep me here is continued strikes back home holding
up troop shipments.

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And no replacement of ships from the loss of the two big British ships.  There
is one other that is just as important really, but I’ve got my fingers crossed
on both hands for that one, and if it doesn’t happen I’m going to be very, very
happy indeed.  I’ll know about that by Sunday.  And that is only four days away
so you’d better do some tall hoping in the next four days.

Received your X package today.  In fact it’s still lying unopened on the desk
here.  Also a letter mailed the 10th.  I will stop by the Gelbaus on my way
back with the package.  And see what happens.

Now there is one thing I definitely do not want you to do.  I told you the same
on one other such occasion and you did just the opposite with not too good

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results so perhaps this time you will do what I ask.  Should I tell you
definitely that I am on my way back someday, I don’t want you to work nite and
day wearing yourself out getting everything in tip-top shape.  I realize that
I’ve been away for some time and conditions back there haven’t been exactly
perfect for keeping things 100 per cent.  So don’t kill yourself trying to get
them that way by the time I return.  You know, I’ve had things pretty easy here
lately and am filled with a lot of pep, etc., etc.  Should I come home to a
worn out wife that won’t be so good will it?  So now a word to the wize [wise]
should be sufficient.

And with that, I’ll send you and Ronnie my love and hope Ronnie is over his
sniffles.  Now say a little prayer for my continued good luck and perhaps I’ll
be there by Christmas yet.

Daddy