15 Apr April 15, 1945

v-mail
from: George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
15 April 45, France,
Sunday, 9:30 P.M.
page 2.

Hello again.

This city [Compiegne] has only been damaged around the river and the railroad.
The part we are in is quite a well-to-do part of the city.  We are fortunate in
being put up in private homes taken over by the army.  However, a large part of
the camp is made up of tents out on an abandoned golf course.  The house I am
in is quite large, a little old, very dirty but still a house and better than
what I have been accustomed to.

The trip here has proven to be very disappointing.  I was sent here with others
to try out with a GI orchestra.  As I have definitely made up my mind that I
don’t want any part of this GI show business plus the fact that I probably
couldn’t play good enough anyway, I didn’t even ask for an audition.
Consequently I think I will go back where I came from and probably will have
all this waiting to do over again.  It sounds very confusing to you I imagine
but this is as just that.  And I am at loss as to what the army is trying to do
with me and many more like me.

Daddy.

Addendum
v-mail
from: Pvt George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
15 April 45, France.
Sunday, 10 P.M.
Page 3.
Noteworthy: Dad vividly describes the pathetic condition of returning
prisoners of war.

Hello again.

Each day now I expect to get up and hear that the war has finally come to an
end.  Perhaps just that will happen soon and be the end of some of my problems
-- I guess all will work out for the best someday.

This last trip through Paris I saw a sight I shall never forget.  The railroad
stations are crowded from morning to nite.  And all nite, too, with the never
ending stream of returning war prisoners held in Germany.  These people are a
pity to behold.  They come carrying everything they possess on their backs, in
old suitcases and boxes.  None of it worth five cents in our estimation but no
doubt valuable to them because it’s all they have.  And I can easily understand
that.  Occasionally one of them will meet a father, mother, wife, or perhaps
just a friend.  There are thousands waiting [on] every train in hopes that one
of these refugees will be his or her loved ones.  When this happens you can
stand there and cry yourself.  It’s been nearly five years since most of these
men and women were carried off.  They are half starved and look worked to death.
They have waited a long time to come home.

Wes

v-mail
from: Pvt George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
15 April 45, Compiegne France

Sunday, 10 P.M.
page 4
Noteworthy: More description of returning prisoners.

And Hello again,

I think probably one of the worst things I have seen are our own returning war
prisoners, also the British.  The other nite we were put up with a large bunch
of them just recaptured by the 9th Army.  The British soldier I talked to was
taken at Dunkirk almost five years ago now.  He was so weak he could hardly
stand to shave all skin and bones.  He said he had been made to work in the
coal mines for the Germans and since January had gotten practically nothing to
eat.  He looked it too.  Five years a prisoner and now he’s going home.  Just
think of that.  He told of many that he knew that would never go home now.  It
wasn’t nice to hear or see.  It would be easy to be very hard on the Germans I
think.

It’s bedtime my dears.  You notice I’m still using my old address since I
expect to go back there before you would get a letter to me here.  I think it’s
just as well to do it this way.

So now all my love to you both of you.
And I miss you very much,

Daddy.