27 Apr April 27, 1945

Letter
from: Private George W. Schoenckweiler
to: Mrs. Alice Schoenckweiler,
27th April 1945, France, Friday 6 30 p.m.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Missed writing yesterday but will make up for it tonight. Much has
happened since night before last so will start right in by telling you
I got another nice bunch of mails 14 letters in all and another package
from Claude. Why his come through so fast is beyond me but that’s the
third one of his I’ve received and that’s more than all the rest of
everyone else except you. He sent some more marshmallows, candy, juice
and a can of cherries all in good shape. Also a letter from Al Ivers,
one from Norma, Gladys, five air mail from you and six V-mails. The
latest was an air mail dated April 15th.  That’s 10 days. Not bad at all.
Then something else happened that seems very important to me right now
anyhow. My new orders finally came through and as I had hoped and
expected, I am assigned to this depot. It’s called an AU assignment or
Attached Unassigned. That doesn’t mean much to you and I don’t imagine
but in short it means I have been made a part of this company but still
not a part of it as far as the Army TO is concerned. You see the TO only
calls for so many men in a company like this but there is so much work for

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the number of men in the TO so the army allows extra men to be assigned
to help out. It’s called attached unassigned. I a way they say it’s a good
deal because when the war is over they claim those attached unassigned
will be the first to go home.  On the other hand since there is no TO for
attached unassigned men, there isn’t a chance in hell for me being
anything but a private as long as I’m here that will be all right with
me if they will send me home a few months ahead of the rest.  Of course
you know the going home part of it is rumor but it also sounds logical I
hope. Anyhow I have a clerks job in army classification. Any six year old
can do the work but they have privates up to staff sergeants doing it. We
start at 8 a.m. to 11 30 and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nice hours and we have our
office in one of the larger homes here in the city. It’s about one block
from the home I am living in. The <? citerers> and mess is between here
and the office so you see everything is very convenient. Personally I feel
very good about the whole thing because as I’ve told you before this is
about the nicest camp I’ve been in in this

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LTO, the best food and plenty of shows and entertainment for the GIs. The
boys here seem nice and it’s the nearest like being in a civilian job that
I can think of and still be in the army.

Now while I think of it you can forget what I told you about canned chicken
and steak. I imagine I got more of both right here than you do and I had
no idea meat <? situation> was so <? loafe> back home. We actually get
steak here about twice a week and fried eggs a couple times a week. I also
have plenty of tea and coac. Thanks very much for it all but there is no
use sending any more than I can use. In <? cast> all my packages should
start catching up with you now so maybe you should lay off for a while
except for powders. I am very low on them and would be glad to see a box
coming about right now.

Went to an American USO show last night and didn’t get out until after 10.
Hence no letter yesterday. The show was fair. Had three men and three nice
looking girls. No one of note but the two men vocalists were very good.
The girl accordion was also good. Tonight I have a ticket in the circus
which starts at 8 p.m.  Never expected to go to the circus in France but

I am. But for that matters I’ve done

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a lot of things the last nine months that I’ve never expected to do.
In fact never expected to be living in a nice city like this in homes
bigger than the one you are doing in and in its day nuch nicer too.
Of course, ten men in a room doesn’t exactly make for the most
comfortaable living in the world, but still far different than most of the
places I’ve stayed in.

Gladys sent me a picture like the ones you send me of Ronnie of she and
Joyce.  They are very good.  She also says she has managed to save about
about one thousand dollare in the last year, so I’d say they’re not bad.
Now let that information give you any rash ideas. You are doing alright
as you are and I was glad to learn that you didn’t go back to Pullman.
Never back there. As for selling the house, that’s another matter when
I asked give about what we could get for that house  it was more for
curiosity. However will tell you what I had in mind when I asked him.
When I wrote him it was about the time I had  mentioned you  going to
Glen Ellyn and by the way, none of your letters yet has mentioned that
but I gather from your later letters that you did nothing about it. I
had thought that if the

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house could be sold for a good price, you could sell it and go out there
to find out how things there really are.  You know I only have thirty
days after I get home to make a different decision about that place
and that isn’t much time. You wouldn’t have the upkeep of the house to
worry about, wouldn’t have to work too hard maybe and still have Ronnie
under your eye. Plus having a good opportunity of getting some good
information for me that I still don’t know how else I’m going to get.
The price give says that we can get isn’t bad. I would see if you can
get thirteen thousand net his <? commussiai> would have to be above the
thirteen thousand from selling the house and went to Glen Ellin and go
ahead and sell it. <? Alterioisi>  I’d prefer holding on to it because
being over here it’s nice knowing one has a home paid for to go home to.
If you know what <? inuau>. I realize it’s a lot of work for you but have
a good idea what all would happen once you sold it and moved into a smaller
place.

11 PM
Just back from the circus and it was very

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good. There were four elephants, six lions, some very nice horses, all had
good acts, some good juggling acts, trapeze acts and many others. I really
surprised and enjoyed it very much. Paid 80 francs or $1.60 for the ticket
and a ten francs tip to the usher. You know you have to tip for every damn
thing over here. We forget to tip the guy and he asked us for it. They had
a real nice crowd. Both GIs and French. Sat near to a couple 15 year old
boys who could speak pretty good English. One a tailors son, the other a
Real estate mans son. They said they were going to come back tomorrow and
invite me to their home. I had given them a couple cigarettes and some gum.
I guess they thought that was pretty nice.  Hope they don’t forget that
<? woulalar>.

Well, my dears, I’m a working man now and it’s after eleven so I’m going
to bed.  Expect to get mail regularly now. So perhaps things will be better.
<? Joiu> have hopes that the war will end soon and maybe in about six
months, more or less, I will be on my way home.  I can dream too can’t I?
All  my love to you both,

daddy.