01 Apr April 1, 1945

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Sunday 11 A.M.
April 1, 1945
France
Noteworthy: Dad receives 111 letters this week.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Well it has finally happened.  They looked me up this morning and told me I am
shipping out.  I’m all packed now and ready to go.  Will leave right after
lunch so I’m spending this little time writing you what probably will prove to
be my last special letter.  As I don’t expect to get this privilege at the next
stop.  Can’t quite figure out what I’m going into.  All I’ve been able to find
out so far is that I am going to a depot in Paris as a general clerk.  However,
from Paris according to the orders, I am going someplace else.  Just where that
is I do not know.  I rather hate to leave here because Sweeney and I seem to
have hit it off pretty well and he has treated me very nice as you probably can
tell by this time.  I am having him send you fifty dollars for me and don’t be
surprised too much if someday you might get some more.  All of which I will
explain about in due time.

Today is Easter Sunday and as far as we know here the war is still going on.
That’s another bet I lost.  Had planned on going to church today some way but
of course shipping out changed all that.  One thing I am very glad for is that
I stayed here long enough for a lot of my mail to catch up with me.  Those
twenty letters yesterday[,]

page 2
twenty-eight the day before and sixty-three last week certainly brought me
pretty well up to date back home.  Still have received no packages from anyone.
The two I got while in the hospital are the only ones I have ever received from
anyone since leaving England way last October - except the two boxes of powders.
That is not a very good record on packages, is it?  Perhaps when I get my new
assignment now and really settle down they will all catch up with me - I hope.

There isn’t a whole lot more to tell just now.  Naturally I am very anxious to
learn just what my new job is going to be and where I’m going.  Certainly hope
it isn’t at something that is going to keep me here a long time after the war.
The big trouble with the army is you never know and don’t seem to ever have
much to say about it.  Unless of course you are on the in and know someone who
is big enough to have influence.  So far I haven’t had any luck along those
lines to amount to much.  However, I’m still convinced that competition and
ability is what counts when one gets back to civilian life so I’m not too
worried about my status in the army.  There are millions just like me.  I guess
we can’t all be wrong.  Time to go now my dears, keep your fingers crossed and
I will keep you as well informed as to my whereabouts as I can.  Notice the
small o’s over my i’s in my letters after this.  [I] will send you some
information that way maybe sometime.  I’m still well having a little stomach
trouble and some skin trouble again.  Nothing serious.  Tell Edith Kaither I
received her two long letters and keep working on that getting me home
proposition on [what]

page 3
I wrote you about that last week.  [I] Think you might be able to do some good
if the right party gets to working on it.  Please send me the camera and some
film first class insured mail[.] as [As] soon as the war ends [I] would like to
take a few pictures while over here if possible.

That’s all for now.  How’s my little Ronnie today?  Certainly have been getting
some very nice reports about both of you of late.  Don’t think I don’t
appreciate what a good job you are doing my dear.  Only wish I were there to

help you.  Just stick it out a little longer and some of these days I will be.
That will be the day.

All my love to you both,
Daddy

[PS] If you send the camera be sure and wrap it against moisture and breakage
as well as you can.