25 Apr April 25, 1945

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
25 April 45
France 7 PM
Noteworthy: WAC incident not over, Dad talks about Ronnie,
Noteworthy: Dad’s philosophy about money, Dad mentions have 4 children

My Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Since knowing you like a change once in a while will give you one <? once>
again.  You see I have had a very pleasant surprise this afternoon.  Had
gone down town to get my first French coiffure treatment (hair cut and
shampoo to you) all for 33 francs, and not bad either, and on my way back,
<? smith> our mail clerk.  He told me how much mail he received and packages
and all and finally after playing around with me for a few minutes informed
me that I too had hit the jack pot and he had just left it all on my bed.

I <? parted> "toot sweet" from there and sure enough, eighteen letters and
three packages.  Not bad my dear, not bad at all.
I received my first Christmas five pound box.  This one was from "you guess
who" and had the box of candy, playing cards, Swedish hard tac, figs. etc
in it.  Believe it or not, everything was in execellent condition even the
hard tac was edibile although must confess don’t know how much of it is going
to be eaten, especially by me.  Maybe the boys will like it.  They will the
candy and figs I know.  Then I got the box of tea bags you sent April 2nd.
You see how fast thing come when you send it first class.  And another small
package of candy.  All very much appreciated no matter how long it does take
for some of it to get here.

I received a V-mail from Forest, one from Martinsons,

page 2
a letter from Dad and one from Reader’s Digest and I’ve yet to receive a
copy of that magazine.  The rest were all from you.  Four V-Mail and balance
air mail the last one being mailed April 9th and was air mailed.  Most of them
were written in March and apparently must have been written before you received
the money I sent you because a good deal of the space was taken up with money
difficulties and it seemed like most of the rest was worrying about my one
and only dinner with a WAC.  Even though I had told you that it was a dinner
affair only, and even then it was the only means at hand for getting something
to eat.  The army is not serving meals to <? miu on> pass to Paris so you
needn’t worry about that any more and I hope by this time you have received
at least some of the money I sent you recently.  So your problems along those
lines should be petty well taken care of.

Now if you feel sufficiently <? knwled> out, I’ll get along with more
pleasant things but before I go just one word.  Even though I know you
didn’t mean it and no doubt you wrote without thinking, and I’m sure that
is what you did, I don’t like to be threatened.  This time you are forgiven.

Now about the nicest thing I possibly could

Page three.
have received were the three little snaps of Ronnie.  They really got me.
He really looks good and is growing too.  Guess I won’t know him when I do
get back.  I’m telling you if there were no other reasons for sticking to
the straight and narrow path, and there is, he would be reason enough.
I certainly don’t want him to ever have to make excuses for his Daddy or
be sorry, he has me.  Thanks very much, darling, for sending them.  They
are swell.  Even the boys couldn’t figure out how I could have such a nice
little boy.  Me either as far as that goes.

It’s been very nice here today and this evening, I am lying out here in this
big park which is a part of the city and  Napoleon’s castle writing this
letter.  The sun is setting just over the tree tops and there are a couple
ball games going on a short distance away.  Sounds just like back in the
States.  In fact, about one hundred yards away, a good sized circus is in the
process of being set up.  It pulled in today.  And the kids here in France
are no different from ours back in the States.  Even the GI kids.  They are
all crowding around the lion cage and the one elephant the circus <? boasts>.
They have a good size tent up and the number

page 4
of nice looking ponies.  Guess tomorrow about this time, yours truly will be
taking in a circus.  That is if I’m still here.  There’s always that question
you know.

Now back to your letters and some of your questions.  First, the money one.
All the money we have is in joint accounts, except that that you have in the
Pullman bank and that I have in the Beverly bank.  If I remember correctly,
there was only a $15 balance at Smith’s.  And should be about $1,000 at
Chesterfield.  Which is where you would have to go if you ever needed any
money at all.  There are some bonds at Smith’s.  Exactly how much I don’t
remember.  Around $600 worth though I think.  Those in Ronnies name I left
that way.  The rest are made out jointly.  As for house cleaning, I think
it’s foolish.  After all, I am in the Army and the people who come there
must know that and must realize that conditions are not exactly as they were
before I left.  I don’t believe in you kidding yourself trying to decorate
it yourself either.  As for decorating the Pages apartment, I wouldn’t worry.
In fact, if they weren’t so nice, I would recommend raising their rent. Might
even do it anyway. After all everything else is still

page 5
going up.  However, that’s your worry.  As for the taxes, pay them if you
can.  If you can’t, well you can’t that’s all.  We can always do it when
I get back.  And I believe you can let them go without interest penalty.
However, will send you as much money as I can as often as I can.  But even
over here it doesn’t grow on trees.  Did Sweeney ever send you that fifty
dollars and have you received the fifty and sixty I have sent you lately?
You know Ronnie’s insurance is coming up about now too.  How’s that going
to hit you?  Certainly glad you called Sweeney’s wife.  He seemed so
anxious to have  someone besides himself talk to his wife or tell her about
him.  You see, he’s been over here a long time, always in the <? Com Z>
[combat zone] and those two factors along with Army itself has made him
somewhat bitter and very homesick.  Occassionally he goes on a real bender
for which he is always sorry of later but it’s getting to be a habit.  I did
my best for him while I was with him but I’m afraid that very much longer over
here might be too bad for him.  He is now in Belgium so maybe a change will be
good for him.  I hope so.  The money he is supposed to send you I’ll explain
some other time.

I also received the letters from you with your cousin Judy letter <? inassed>
and the one with

page 6
Elinor’s letter.  Too bad their boy wasn’t a girl, but hell, why should they
kick?  We can’t even have either 4,000 miles apart.  Judy’s letter was very
nice, but felt at times as though she was just rambling on.  Anyhow, I’m glad
she thinks you have a pretty good husband and a nice little son.  I don’t ever
have any doubt but what Ronnie will always look upon you as about the finest
mother he could ever have.  It sounded like your Easter was pretty much of a
disappointment.  As you know now, so was mine.  If you remember, I got orders
to move on Easter Sunday, and that’s just what I did.  Come to the place just
before this one.  In fact, to tell you the truth, by 10 a.m. Easter Sunday,
I had forgotten all about it being Easter Sunday.

Am anxious to hear how you came out with Katherine’s visit.  One letter
written, April 3rd, said you were just about ready for them.  And the next
one was April 9th.  So you see I missed the important ones concerning that
event.  Certainly would like to see them all myself but I’ll bet you were
glad when they were gone, unless there has been a lot of reforming since
the last time I saw them.  Of course, I know when we get our four kids --
heaven forbid -- three is enough, they will be worse, I’m sure, but at that,
it still must have been rough.  Forest mentioned in his letter

page 7.
that they were moving to California.  Must be very, very nice.  Sorry to hear
you are having food problems.  We do pretty well over here in the Army now,
but it’s still tough on most of the civilians and if you were to see some of
the lines waiting to get our <? leavings> and how some of the kids look here,
you would be mighty glad that you and Ronnie are over there instead of here.
And then worse yet to see some of the war prisoners coming back from Germany.
That really gets them all.  Those who haven’t died have really known what
misery and starving is.

How’s Ronnie and his Sunday school teacher doing now?  His little chat
with Mrs. Page about not being able to <? eat> his mind, now that was darn
cute.  Glad you were able to dispose of all the pups.  Sounds like you did
all right with them too.  How did Mrs Hyde’s get along?  It’s pretty hard
for me to say now about Tosti’s buying defence home.  However, I am generally
thinking along the same lines that you are.  Oh, yes. I left you one key to
the deposit box.  It takes two to open it.  The other one is at Smith’s.
As for Murray and Marge’s having no house to clean, well, I guess that
would be nice.  But then, I imagine they must miss having their home once
in a while, or will you know.  I still think there are other important things
in our lives except just making money.  Don’t know who the fellow you
mentioned in the the picture was.  The ribbons are ETO good conduct and

page 8
purple heart.  There are two battle stars on the ETO ribbon.  Believe I’ve
told you that Al Evers is about thirty miles northeast of here but as yet
have not had a chance to see him.

Know I shouldn’t mention this subject anymore but feel that I must.
The V-mail mentioning your chance for a steak dinner and about what’s the
use being true when one doesn’t know if her husband is coming home alive
or not is the attitude that many GIs learn their wives and sweethearts have
and is the beginning of much trouble.  It’s very easy to be led astray over
here with so damn many loose French women around, a little encouragement
the wrong way from back home can do a lot of damage and <? his>.  Don’t know
where you ever get the idea that I had changed my views becoming more liberal
minded about such things because I’m sure I never told you I had and you were
never further wrong.  In fact it is very disgusting to me at times seeing and
hearing about the way some of the soldiers act.  It’s a fact that many of
them are not looking any further than their noise [nose] and not thinking
that far.

Well my dears it’s now now 9 pm, the ballgames are all over, the sun
has set and

page 9
it’s getting a little chilly sitting out here.  Besides the mosquitoes are
beginning to bite like hell, so that’s about it for tonight.  There goes
another formation of bombers on their way to finish wiping out what’s left
of Berlin.  Those babies certainly look good up there.  Guess their job is
about over as far as this theater is concerned.  It can’t be long now until
the doughboys finish mopping up too.  That will be the day.

Ronnie my dear little boy, your pictures certainly were nice and you look
like a very good boy.  From what mommy says you are a good boy and smart too.
Your Daddy is far away in France now but some day I’ll be home to play with
you so you just keep asking for Daddy to come back and I’ll make it yet.
Bye now and be good to mommy and eat all your food so you grow up to be a
big man.  Now all my love to both of you and give mommy a big hug and kiss
for me and have her give you one for me too.

Your Daddy