19 Aug August 19, 1945

Enscript Output

Letter
from: A. Schonkweiler
to: PFC George W. Schonkweiler.
August 19th, 1945, Sunday, 10 o’clock p.m.
Noteworthy: a friend aerial gunner with 50 missions

Hi honey,

tis me again and my weekend is practically ended and just as lonesome
for my honey as ever.  S’posed ’tis love, or what are the symptoms?
Or have you forgotten?

Ronnie and I took the south shore train to Michigan City, then transferred
to the Benton Gargant Bus, where Eleanor picked us up.  We had lunch there
as it was 1:00 when we got there.

Ronnie still remembered Eleanor’s folks.  When he saw Eleanor’s mother,
he said hi at best and proceeded into the living room to greet her dad
with "Hi Uncle Frank. I want you to take me for a speedboat ride."

Her dad was busy, so Eleanor took us out for an hour, and Ronnie kept
saying, "Don’t go so fast Eleanor", and when we rode the waves from
another boat, he said, "Eleanor, don’t do that, you’re making me too

page two.
much water".  He was facing the back of the boat where the motor turns
the water into spray.  I think he prefers a row boat.

Eleanor’s brother is still overseas, but one of his pals who attended
Armour Tech when he did, is spending a couple of months here after being
discharged with 125 points.  He was an aerial gunner and completed 50
missions.  He is 27 and lives in Chicago at 82nd and something.  Eleanor
said when he first came up to stay with them, he was so shaky, he had
to hold a cup of coffee with two hands and would walk in circles and

so on . Even now, I noticed he’s always on the go.  While talking,
he’ll swing a fly squatter back and forth and so on.  His mother said
he was even worse when he first got home.

Her cousin, 23, is also here for a visit.  The one is tall and dark,
the other tall and blonde.  The blonde is a 4F and is an orchestra singer.

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For dinner last night, there were eight of us as her uncle, who is about
36, also lives here.  We had a delicious meal of fried chicken, potato
salad, fresh green peas, corn on the cob, beer, coffee and apple, or
blueberry pie.

After dinner, we had a glass of port wine, then dressed went to the dance.
While there, we each had two glasses of sour wine, and by 12 o’clock,
we stopped at the house for a minute and I decided not to go back to the
ance, as I didn’t feel very well.  Eleanor wanted to go back, but I went
to bed, so she did too.  They danced until 2am, so you see I was a very

 good little girl.  I just can’t get in the mood for entertainment while
you’re gone, but don’t suppose I should feel that way as you go to shows
and so on over there.

This morning, Ronnie and Eleanor’s mother went to church while we ate
breakfast.  Catholic Church is held in the dance hall every Sunday. Of
course, Eleanor’s folks aren’t

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Catholic but go anyway once in a while.

I wanted to go to another church today as President Truman set today
aside as a day of prayer, but guess I can pray as well on my own anyway.
Eleanor and <? Vy> (her sister) Ronnie and I went swimming at Lake Michigan
from 11:00 to 4:00 today and I think I got a bit of sunburn, especially
my face, back and thighs are pretty sore.  Ronnie just had a wonderful time
in the water. Even got down on his tummy and tried to paddle with his arms
and feet.  He also played with other children while there.

After our swim, we came home and Ronnie had a short nap while we bathed
and dressed.  Then we dressed him and went to My Koloma restaurant to eat.
Had a nice meal of rib roast, mashed potatoes, corn, shrimp cocktail,
pickles, beets, pear and lettuce, and cottage cheese, salad, iced tea,
coffee with tooty fruity pie. Not bad

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And only $1.50, which Eleanor insisted on paying. After that, we all went
to the show to see "It’s a Pleasure" with Sonya Hennie and Michael O’Shea,
then later had ice cream sodas and came home at 9.30.

While taking a bottle of ink out of the desk tonight, it spilled all over
my dress and the scarf on top of the desk.  It wasn’t my fault, however,
as the top was loose and when I picked it up, that was the end.  I washed
the dress in Linco and milk and actually got all the ink out. I’m sure
lucky at that.

Eleanor’s house is really a dream inside now. Maybe we, (you and I), can
come up so you can see it yourself next summer.  The whole interior is
new and out of five upstairs bedrooms, they’re made three large ones.
Eleanor’s room is about 12 by 24 feet and she has all light, modern
furniture, twin beds, Venetian blinds, (4 windows), quilted chintzy

 drapes, and bedspreads.

Well guess I’ll say goodnight now and sweet dreams, darling.
All our love, always mom and running.