10 Aug August 10, 1945

Letter
from: A. Shonkwiler
to: P.F.C. George W. Shonkwiler.
August 10th, 1945, Friday 9.20 p.m.

My Darling.

Today has been an exciting day with the radio giving newscasts all day about Japan’s surrender terms and so on. I do hope it’s not just a rumor and that they are really intending to give up. I see they want

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Hirohito to remain in power. They don’t want much, it seems.  I read in the Tribune that we are inhuman in unleashing this weapon and that they think it’s as much against war ethics as poison gas.  Well, I suppose bombing Pearl Harbor before declaring war and without advance notice was ethical to say nothing of the death march and so on and so on. Personally, I wish they’d blast Japan wide open if it’ll prevent future wars.

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I hit the jackpot in letters today. One from you dated August 4th, one from Claude and from Norma, Mrs. Dan Sweeney, Ruth Eichelberger from California and Elsie (of Beloit). Now it seems I’ll have a few letters to write in return.  Claude and Mrs. Sweeney enclosed letters they’d received from you. So all in all, I did get a haul, didn’t I?

Mrs. Sweeney said she got a severe sunburn,

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which prevented her from coming to Chicago during her vacation, but says she’ll come in sometime soon, especially since she’s heard that Dan isn’t coming. She feels she’d like to get away to forget her troubles for a couple days at least.

Norma writes that she’s recovered from her accident except for a scar over her left eye and her left shin bone tender.  But it doesn’t bother her unless she turns her ankle.

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She said Barney gets a vacation in September and is going deer hunting. She and the kids can’t go because they’ll be going to school.  Said Wayne sold six subscriptions to take the journal newspaper, and as a reward, the paper is taking a group of boys to the ocean for a day.  He still wants a house and found one for $100, which he plans on buying on monthly payments out of his paper route money.  He’s been putting his earnings into bonds and says someday he’ll have all the horses he wants plus a ranch

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to put them on. Norma told him to go ahead.

He seems to be quite a boy.  I’d like to see him.  She also said Barney had given her money for Mother’s Day to get a two strand pearl necklace.

I’m enclosing Claude’s letter or rather Jo’s, I should say. It seems Dee Dee got poison ivy at the lake. I’m lucky that Ronnie didn’t too, as he was with her wherever she went.  Guess all my luck isn’t bad.

My girlfriend Ruth, (the

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Navy Lieutenant’s wife) writes saying she has acquired four chow pups. Guess Judy isn’t the only naughty dog.  I don’t envy her taking care of them although she’s lucky, she’s in a warm climate and can keep them outside. Judy has been romantic this past month, too and every once in a while, the kids have let her out and I hope that she behaved. If not, we’ll have 50-50 Cocker and bull pups, as a white bulldog has been

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hanging around, if it happens again, I think I’ll take her to a vet, as I’m tired of the whole thing.

You mentioned a fellow from Rockford called Junior in your letters. What is his real name? I might know him.

Elsie wrote saying she won’t be in this week and I’m glad, as I need to recuperate after having Chuck’s family here for three days. I also need to wash sheets, towels, and

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clothes before I can have company, plus washing fingerprints from all doors, walls, and woodwork.

Next weekend, Ronnie and I will be going to Paw Paw Lake, then, Gladys and Dick, Elsie and Mrs. Sweeney will be coming in very soon, so it looks like I’ll have plenty of company for the next few weeks.  Even Claude’s family may come in September, if this lady in <? Giansville> comes to Chicago to

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meet her doctor husband when he comes home on leave.

Well, company helps to pass the time, and I do enjoy seeing everyone, too.

Wonder how Murray and Marge are enjoying their vacation this week. I thought perhaps I’d get a car, but so far, I haven’t.

It’s Marge’s birthday, August 23rd, so guess I’d better start to think of what I should give her. That’s a problem, as there are very few

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gifts worth buying on the market now.

I’m thinking of sending you some clothes, and perhaps you can make a little money on them, so I can buy new ones for Ronnie and myself. Can you get anything for Ronnie’s old clothes, such as a coat and hat set, sweaters and so on? Let me know and I’ll send them to you instead of giving them away.  We’re both in need of clothes for Fall and Winter, as my clothes

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are all 5, 6, and 7  years old, and rather outdated  and Ronnie, of course, has grown out of his, and his clothes in size six cost a small fortune. He needs a new snow suit, as this will be the third winter for his old one, and really only suitable for play now, as it’s worn and too short.

Perhaps it would even be advisable for me to buy up a few things that are on sale now with summer on the wane.

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Let me know if your French friends need any particular items and what size and so on. Perhaps I can make a few dollars this way. Let me know what you think. It seems I can buy summer dresses now for almost half price, so if they are willing to pay, I can get things. In fact, perhaps they may need other items too that we can buy here. Of course, if you’d be taking any chances, it’s best not to do this, as I definitely don’t want you in trouble

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with the authorities.

Mrs. Page just bought me a big glass of lemonade and some cookies. That’s what you call service!  It’s very good too. I guess I must not be too hard to get along with when the tenants and I still are good friends after 18 months. Perhaps you and I will still be good friends after 18 months too, could be. It’s only been less than six months for us. Time will tell.

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I’ve been on a vacation today except for meals and dishes, and I’ve really relaxed. They tell me it doesn’t pay to work all the time, and I’ve been pretty busy all week.

Did I tell you I picked my first batch of green beans yesterday? They were delicious. By next week, I should have at least a couple dozen ripe tomatoes. My beets are almost full-grown too. The people living upstairs of Virginia Shepherd’s House

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moved today. They’ve lived together for 25 years without the benefit of marriage. Imagine. Seems it lasts longer when people don’t marry, although at present this fellow is stepping out with the owner of Grayson’s Dress Shop on the Avenue. It seems a couple who lived there four years ago, before the husband was drafted are moving in, and he’s been discharged now.

Well, guess I’ll retire now and dream a nice dream or two. Hurry home as we’re waiting.

Love,
Mom, and Ronnie.