11 Apr April 11, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
4-11-44, 10:30 p.m., Tuesday
Noteworthy: more on the rigors of bootcamp.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Will start this tonight even though I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to finish.
We have had a pretty tough day again - two speed marches 4 1/2 miles
each - hot as hell.  When I got in tonite I drank five cokes - that’s awful I
know but we were really dry.  You see we are allowed very little water to drink
during the day and what they give us is filled with salt.  It’s kind of tough,
but really is best for us.  We fired rifles today for the last time for some
time I understand - for which I am very thankful.  Today we had landscape
target firing - if that means anything to you.  It’s firing by squads at
different targets at different ranges marked by the landscape.  Very
interesting and if it weren’t for the marching out to the various ranges[,] it
wouldn’t be bad at all[,] as I enjoy firing the rifle.  Then when we came in
tonight we had to clean our rifle from

page 2
stem to stern.  First thing in the morning we have rifle inspection and it’s
just T.S. if they catch any of us with dirty rifles.  To clean them right it’s
a 3 hr job.  I just finished so you see it really takes that long as I started
right after chow.  Tomorrow we take it easy - eleven hrs of classroom work -
3 of them after chow in the evening.  In other words we work to 10 P.M.  So
maybe between today and tomorrow I will find time to finish this letter.

Haven’t had a chance to see about your return ticket yet.  Probably won’t be
able to until Saturday.  Hope that isn’t too late.  You talk about just calling
up.  You don’t realize, my dear, that in order to get near a phone you have to
wait for 1 to 3 hrs and then another 1 to 3 hrs wait to get your call through.
Just like that and it’s done.

Got [a] letter today written Sat. nite[.]  I’m still waiting for that 1st
letter mailed from Chicago after you have returned.

page 3
It’s now nearly 11 P.M .and I’m very tired so think I will finish this sometime
tomorrow if I can find a few minutes.  Good nite to both of you and only about
two more days now. GWS.

5:30 PM Wed.
Just received your first letter from Chicago since you returned.  Certainly
glad to receive it.  We fall out for our first class at 5:50 so only have a
few minutes to try and finish this.  When we get in we are restricted to CO
area because some of the CO. had dirty rifles and we have to clean them all
over again.  Then they are inspected and have to be passed before we can go to
bed.  They may mean any time before 5:30 A.M.  Must close now and hope there
are no ill effects yet <? from> your trip to Rockford.

Daddy