03 Aug August 3, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
3 Aug 45, Fri 6 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad wants Mom to confess her previous relationships.  Dad relates
his daily routine.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

I’m starting this early before the evening’s activities are started.  Perhaps
that way you won’t be sidetracked.  At 6:30 I am going over for ice cream to
sort of augment the skimpy meal tonite.  After that I want to watch a baseball
game and after that the boys say they would like to relieve me of some of my
folding money.  Naturally I am always anxious to send you another money order
so will probably give them a chance at what I have.

Rec’d a very nice long letter mailed July 27th today.  The one with Dad’s card
and the two pictures.  The pictures were very good and Ronnie looks better all
the time.  I know I’m not allowed to say so but you do seem to be a pretty
efficient

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Mother when it comes to keeping him on the ball.

Don’t know how Dad mis interpreted my statement about returning home.  However
for all I know it could be right.  Belive I did tell him though, that I thought
I would be here from three to nine months more.  That was back in June.  My
opinion hasn’t changed.  As for your worrying about my <? weakening> when it
comes to the <? coomin> we’ll think that was mostly in jest and you really don’t
have much to worry about.  You know, you came about as near telling me something
in this letter about a little matter that I have always wanted to know but had
refused to ask feeling that regardless of your answer I don’t think it would make
any difference in my feelings toward You.  And I felt that you would let me know
sometime some way someday anyhow.  Now you know, of course, I am taking about
whether or not you ever went the limit with some other man

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before our marriage.  Naturally I have always hoped that you never had.  I guess
until one hears it himself from that "one and only person" or knows it to be a
fact that she hadn’t, there always is a certain amount of doubt lying dormant
somewhere back in his mind.

Well, here I am without knowing it <hardly> deep in a subject that probably
should never have been brought up especially with us so far apart.  However,
since neither one of us are children anymore and since you already know my past
on such matters also my present attitude, as verified by my past good conduct
along such lines, especially during this past year, I’m sure no harm has been
done.

Now back to life in the EFO and the army and at the present that is a very
unexciting subject as there is absolutely nothing happening here except the usual
day to day experience.  I arrive at 6:45, if I eat

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breakfast which is seldom, otherwise at 7:30.  Am at the office by 8 AM or there
abouts.  Work until about ten when the Stars and Stripes come[s].  Soon after that
the mail which finishes the morning.   11:15 leave for lunch and then back at 1
PM for four hours more of struggling for time to pass.  At five our working day
is over.  5:15 chow and then usually a show, a baseball game, a little beer or
Coca Cola, cards etc.  Sounds very nice and easy doesn’t it?  Which is exactly
what it is[,] too damn easy no competition amont business[es], it’s all army and

one way no chance for advancement in my present category.  And plenty of time left
over to get into plenty of trouble if one is so inclined.  The army is where bums
are made not men unless one is destined to be a man regardless of the army.

I’m glad you finally got your dishes.  How about silver ware.  And how about the
rest of the money I’ve sent?  Have you received it yet?

Well this is all for now.  How’s my little Ronnie and all his little playmates
today?

Now all my love to you both always.  Don’t forget to save all that love for your
husband.   I can take a lot of it right now.

Daddy