28 May May 28, 1945

Letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne France,
28th May 1945, Wednesday 9 p.m.
Noteworthy: Dad tries to get Mom into the real estate business

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Now you know it’s official. I was told a couple of days ago but didn’t become official until today so I thought I would wait until the order came through. Of course you must know by this time that they have finally grown tired of calling me just private and have now made it plus first class. It really is quite a break because A.H. men aren’t usually given promotions. As you see they had to have a special order to do it.  Why I was among the few chosen for such a great promotion is beyond me but so small as it is it’s

a beginning and I’m not kicking.  Who knows perhaps sometime during the coming year they might do it again and I could then become a <? Cpl>.

Received an airmail today marked May 17th with Mr. Chamberlin’s letters. Doesn’t sound like he is doing too much but under the circumstances might not be so bad considering. No doubt it is very difficult to do all he is trying to do at his age.  I tried it when is was some <? fifty> years younger and it came very near wrecking me. Sorry you didn’t make connection with him early in the Spring because I’m sure those few sales he did make you could have gotten and you would have made far more money than you need to live on plus gaining some valuable experience and knowledge of the real estate business. I still think

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you can do it and could work something out with him were you to go out and talk it over. You would certainly learn about the business. which you say you want to do, it would give you plenty to do, keep you up with the times, and I’m sure could work out some arrangement with Ronnie so you could have him under your control most of the time. I know it is a little hard to make the initial step, but I’m sure, once you started, you would find things much easier than you think. I don’t think you would make many sales, if any, right now because of present conditions and the season is about over. However there are always a few houses sold regardless of the season. Whether you made any sales right away or not wouldn’t matter too much as you would be learning the business, the town, the people, and most of all, something about his business.

As for getting 14,000 for our house, well I wouldn’t pay too much attention to Murray’s opinion. In the first place he knows what the house has cost and that’s always bad, besides it would probably hurt his pride a little to know that we could get so much for it. However I can be wrong but I still don’t think so. If you are serious and think you can make some deal with Chamberlin, call up Chapman’s and Brandt’s and tell them the price and

that it is for sale. Then see what they say. Of course they will

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try to get the price down, but in the end they will give you some idea if they really think they can get it. Len Maatman, the fellow I used to talk to across the street, Big Ronnie’s father, works for Chapman. Have him come over and talk to you about it. Of course, Galassine should help you too. They will probably ask for an exclusive listing if the price is anywhere near right. Its alright to give either one of them an exclusive listing, but under no circumstances for over sixty days. Brandt’s I think is probably the better of the two. Of course, let Murray do what he can, but he’s really not in a position to do much selling as long as he continues working at Pullman.

As usual there were more rumors today but nothing certain so no one pays too much attention. As far as I know now I will remain with this depot handling returning troops. We have already received some. But that can change any time and any thing can happen so it’s all a big <? help>. By the way, have you seen where the 95th division is going? Of course they go there through the States where they get a furlough but frankly I’m very glad

I’m not with the 95th right now.

Am going to try to get off another letter or two so that’s all tonite. Did you ever get the $75 and are you getting the $10 bonds regularly?
All my love to you and Ronnie forever.

Daddy