24 Apr April 24, 1945

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: George W. Shonkwiler
April 24, 1945
Tuesday, 9:05 P.M.
Noteworthy: Ronnie’s health report.

Wes, Darling,

Guess I’ll write you a nice long letter today, or should I say tonight.  Just
feel in the mood, so you’ll have to suffer the consequences!

I didn’t get a letter from you today, but maybe tomorrow I’ll have better luck.
I can hope, can’t I?

Today has been a dark, dreary, and rainy day, from morning until tonight. It’s
pretty cold, too.

I ironed from 9:00 until 2:00 today, again and still not thru.  Ronnie slept
from 1:00  until 2:15 P.M., and as we were due at Dr. DeYoung’s office at
3:00, we had to rush.  We got there at 2:45; believe it or not!.  Thought you
might be interested in his report.  He said to tell you to have no worries as
to Ronnie, as he’s in good shape.  He’s 37 1/2 inches tall now, which is a

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gain of 5 inches since a year ago.  He says the average gain in height at his
age is 3 1/2 to 4 inches, so you see 5 inches is really something!  He’s also
made his normal 4 lb.  gain in weight and weighs 30 lbs (stripped).  He weighed
25 lbs 10 ounces a year ago.  His heart and lungs are O.K., teeth perfect and
he has them all, and his tonsils are O.K.  He took a urine test and it tested
normal, too. I asked him if he thought him too thin and he said "no," that it
wouldn’t be normal for Ronnie to be fat, as he’s small-boned.  He also said
never force him to eat, as he’ll eat all he needs and is good for him on his
own, and I found that very true, as that’s just what we’ve done lately.  For
breakfast today, he had soft-boiled egg, toast, butter and jam, glass orange
juice, and 2 glasses of milk and prunes, for lunch: a bowl of vegetable soup,
two glasses of milk, and

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a dish of jello (with peaches and bananas) and cream, 1/2 slice of bread, and
for supper: beef liver, potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn on the cob, tomato
juice, 2 glasses of milk, and 2 dishes of bananas and peach jello.  I’ll bet
even you couldn’t top that for one day.  Almost forgot.  He also had codliver
oil and an a, b, c, and d vitamin capsule this morning.

I almost forgot, it seems I’ve gained a bit, too.  I weigh 108 lbs now.  When
you get back perhaps I’ll be "five by five."  Would you like that?

Back to Ronnie’s report, aren’t you glad he’s such a healthy specimen?  I know
you’re just as happy about it as I am.  Of course, Ronnie got his sucker at the
Doc’s office, so guess, they’re friends for life.  Ronnie didn’t cry at all,
but when the Doc tapped him on his back to test his lungs, he said, "Don’t do
that!" and very emphatically, too.

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I had a letter from Boots, (the Navy lieutenant’s wife, who asked me to come to
Calif. for a visit) and her husband has left for the S. Pacific, altho he won’t
be in combat, as he’s going to an island we’ve already captured.  She also has
a brother, 18 years old, in the S. Pacific, and one, 25, just going overseas.

I talked to Marge Sunday, and I guess Jim and Martha are definitely buying a
defense home.  I was mistaken as to Murray’s "monetary interest," as he’s just
been locating the places for Jim, but the homes are actually for sale by

Brandt’s (or would he still get a percentage that way?)  I think Murray signed
a note for Jim, so he could buy.  I may have misunderstood her, however.

If we should sell our home, couldn’t we sell it with the understanding I might
live upstairs for the duration?

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It’s an idea, anyway, and would solve the problem of finding a place to live.
It also would take a load off my shoulders, as for lawn, upkeep, etc. is
concern.  Of course, I wouldn’t pay $15 per week, either,  as it is our own
furniture up there, so naturally the rent would be much lower.  (I hope!)
Of course there’s such a thing that I might not like the new owner, but guess
we could stand it until you come home, anyway.

Wonder how long it’ll take for Germany to be conquered, now that the battle for
Berlin has begun.  It shouldn’t take long at the rate they’re going.  Maybe
before you get this, the war will be over - I hope!  Then our next worry will
be whether you’ll come home, stay, or go to the S. Pacific, altho why they
want anyone in your condition in the S.

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Pacific is beyond me, but then why you’re even in Europe, is beyond me, too,
so guess my thoughts are different from the Army’s all the way around, it seems.

Well, I’m all out of conversation, so will close, and bid you a fond good night,
again, and perhaps some night in the very near future I can say it in person.

Love, always,
Mom and Ronnie

P.S.
The temperature is now 40 degrees.
Brr!