15 Aug August 15, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France, 15 August 1945, 4 p.m.
Noteworthy: Dad gets a furlough, attached

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Took off a little early today so I can prepare for my trip to the Riviera
starting tomorrow at 9 a.m.  I have enclosed my order for my furlough.
Thought you might be interested.  I had three days work piled up waiting
on me this morning.  By working for a change, I managed to dispose of all of
it by 3 p.m.  Unless they get some one to take my place while I’m gone,
I’ll have two or three days of real work waiting for me it looks like.

Well as you well know, official news of the wars end came this morning.
Since it has been coming now for the last few days, it was more or less
an after climax.  Most every one spent their usual day working.  A few
were a little blurry-eyed from too much last night but otherwise one could
never tell

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that anything important had happened.  Mostly I think because we all think
that it still will not mean an early return to the States for any of us.
Unfortunately, our job is sending men home not going ourselves. I would get
hooked up with such an outfit. <? We assigned> too --  where all I can
ever get out of it is work.  Well, there certainly has never been any breaks
for me so far in this army.  And it’s beginning to look very much like my
army career will close that way too.

I really was sick today when I heard that Dick was home.  Not because I want
to deny him getting home as it’s just why don’t I get one break like that
sometime.  I suppose now he will be discharged months before I ever leave
this damn hole.  Frankly, I can’t see any hope now of returning before at
least six months.  Of course, I don’t

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know a thing but it stands to reason that as long as we are already set up
for handling troops, there is no reason why we should suddenly stop now.
However, the army never seems to do what ordinary reasoning would say they
should do.  On that basis there may be some hope.

I’m rather glad I’m leaving for two weeks at this time because in the next
two weeks it’s very likely nothing will be decided and there will be so
many rumors that one would get sick just listening to them.  Today has been
a good sample.  Rumor has it that we are going have any where from six weeks
to next May.  So you can’t believe anything you hear.

In this letter today you mentioned writing a long letter and then not mailing
it. You

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might as well mail it because now I’m thinking most everything from bad to
worse.  I blow off steam every once in a while but I have yet to fail to
mail a letter I have ever written you.  If there is something wrong, let’s
have it. I have broad shoulders. If it’s just steam you are blowing off,
it certainly won’t do me any more harm to hear about it.

Have you seen Dick and Gladys yet and just what does Dick think is going
to happen to him? How many points does he have?  Sounded like you all had
a nice time while your brother and family were in.  Are you going to Paw
Paw lake next weekend?  No doubt it will be two weeks now until I hear

from you again.  Will try to keep you informed of my whereabouts and

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some of the things I am doing.  They say this Riviera deal is pretty nice.
I hope so. I am still sorry I didn’t put in for Switzerland as the boys
really rave about that place.  Well, perhaps someday when we are rich and
don’t have to work so hard, we can take that in together.  Right now I have
no yearning to ever come back to Europe but maybe someday I’ll change.  It

 might be nice to see these countries after they have had a few years of
peace to get back to normal.

Well, my dears, it’s time for chow now so guess I’ll have to finish this
later in the evening.  So far I have done nothing towards getting ready
for leaving tomorrow.  So I know I have work to do.  May see you a little
later -- for

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now "au revoir".  Wes

11pm
Hello again. I’ve been out watching the many celebrations around town
tonight. Really nothing so outstanding, but most every one having a good
time.  There is a big dance going on about a block from here and others
over town.  Plus some extra shows and so forth.  The war is over. That
seems to be certain.  I am enclosing some pictures I received tonight plus
some pictures from my French friends.  You will notice the picture of
Monsieur Guilbou.  That is the only one they had of him.

Am just about all ready to leave in the morning.  Now for a shave and a
good night’s sleep and I’ll be all set to go.

Now all my love to you both and I think of you all the time.

Love, Daddy