10 Aug August 10, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
10 Aug. 45, 3:30 PM
Noteworthy: more of Dad’s philosophy and aspirations

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

It’s a great day around here at the present time.  Ever since lunch, rumors
and flashes here have been coming thick and fast.  About an hour ago, we
heard a flash that the war was over.  Then a half hour ago, we got this flash
I am enclosing.  However, a few minutes ago, another newscast said there
would not be anything of special until 5 p.m.  We are celebrating regardless.
And tonight, I expect a celebration on a real scale -- providing, of course,
it really is true.  It seems too good to be true but in this topsy world,
anything can and has been happening even this may be true.  It’s too early
to even attempt to try and determine what this will mean as to my chances

of getting home soon  but I imagine right now that I will still be anywhere
from 2 to 6 months, maybe even 9 months before I get back home.  We still
have to get the troops out of France and unfortunately, that is a job I am
helping to do in a very small way.

The big news, of course, is the war’s end.  Under no circumstances can it be
much longer until we all are home for good.  That is great news indeed.  I

 sure wish I were back there to witness some of the celebration that must
be going

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on at the present time.  No doubt, by the time I do return the celebrants
will be so tired of celebrating and seeing returning soldiers that they
won’t pay any attention to us.  Well, with possibly two or three exceptions,
do you suppose?  Writing this letter now around here is like trying to write
a letter standing in the center of State and Madison streets, Chicago,
Illinois -- where in hell is that place anyhow.  This office is a regular
thoroughfare with men coming and going hoping for a later flash and, in
general, letting off pent up steam.  We have been doing very little work of
late anyhow. There is none being done now as you might expect.

I received three letters from you, one from Henry Jostis and one from my
ex-buddies today. Your latest letter was Aug. 4th. Not too bad. So my old
Platoon Sergeant is now a Lieutenant.  Well, personally I’m glad for him,
as I got along swell with him the short time I was there.  However, he
definitely wasn’t liked by most of the boys and he tread on some of the boys’
toes getting to be Platoon Sergeant.  No doubt he had to tread on plenty
more to get the Lieutenant.  That brings me now to something I was going to
hold back as a surprise.  Now it definitely will be all off and will make

no difference.  While I was in the hospital, an order came out with openings
for OCS. As soon as I was released, I applied.  And to date, as far as I
know, my application was getting along satisfactorily.  Now you can see why
I was

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so anxious to get out of the hospital and to stay out.  These OCS applications
were for limited service officers and I was applying for finance.  If I had
been accepted would have been sent back to the States and taken the training
at Fort Harrison in Indianapolis.  Now perhaps this explains much of what you
have been wondering about recently.  It was necessary for me to get out of
the hospital and stay out to apply.  The war’s end will end all that
undoubtedly, which doesn’t make me mad as I would much rather go home than
be an officer, even if I had been accepted.  So once more, I am arriving a
little too late.  It seems all through my life, my breaks begin to come about
the time I have no further use for them or too late to do me any good. This

time I don’t mind.  I only hope my success at home and in the world at large
doesn’t treat me the same way.  Like coming about the time I am ready to
<? die> maybe.  It may be that I always set my goals too high or something,
thus causing so many disappointments.  On the other hand -- hitch your wagon
to a star and you may reach the moon or something.  Regardless I’ve still
got my wagon hitched to a star and I have ideas and ambitions.

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In Henry’s letter he mentioned Ray Hines and John Mender <? hall> being out
of jobs at Seneca, Ill.  John used to work for me at Smith’s and Ray, of
course, you know, built some of our houses.  Henry suggested that he thought
we all could get together and make a good firm of our own.  That has
possibilities too.  It seems there are quite a few men who are interested in
getting together with me after the war.  I wonder if they will still be
interested when I get home.  I imagine by that time they will all be busily
engaged in something and will forget if ever existed.  I haven’t much doubt
but what that will be the case.  However, it could be otherwise. With or
without them, I still think I am capable of making a pretty good living
for us in some field.  Time will tell.  Do you ever talk to the Jostis
anymore?  How about Jean Galassini?  Don’t lose contact with anyone if you
can help it.  Contacts are very important in business.  When I do get home
I would like to feel that I have half a chance anyhow.  And by the way,
haven’t heard you mention them lately or haven’t heard from them myself
for some time.  What has happened to the Holmes and Jostis?  Was it that
I didn’t answer to enthusiastically when they suggested a business

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together a couple of months ago?  I couldn’t hardly say yes, could I, with
conditions as they were and still are for that matter?  I do think now,
though, that definitely by this time next year, and maybe much sooner, I’ll
be worrying about making a living, which is quite different from what I am
worrying about at present.  For that reason, it is time I start thinking of
plans for civilian life again.  That really does sound funny.  Things change
fast some times.  A person’s attitude can change fast too.  Yesterday or
anyhow a week ago I was thinking only in terms of a minimum of one more
year of army life.  Today, I visualize some hard sledding getting back into
civilian routine a year from now.

Well my dears, it’s quitting time.  May add more to this letter later this
evening.  Right now I’m going out to hear that 5pm news flash.  Until then,
"Finie la guerre" and all my love to you both,

Wes

8pm
Hello again.

Well, we are all pretty well let down right now as the surrender is still
unconfirmed.  Of course, it may come yet

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in a very short time, but right now we know that we still have a war to
fight to the finish.

Just came back from getting some very good ice cream.  We don’t have it so
bad now, as far as a few luxuries like that are concerned.  However, it’s
still far from like home.   And don’t ever think it isn’t.

That’s all for now.  Perhaps tomorrow will bring another day with the real
news I hope so.  Until then, all my love to you both,

Daddy