10 Feb February 10, 1945

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
England
Feb. 10, 1945
Sat. 6:30 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad discusses battle injuries.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Did pretty well with mail the last two days.  Yesterday I received a package
mailed with my detachment address and had the candy, cigarettes, tea bags, etc.
Also a box of powders.  Thank you very much for everything.  It was all in good
condition and the boys in the hut made short work of it.  In fact, I put it on
a card table we have here, went to my bunk for a minute, came back and it was
all gone.  You needn’t send any more cigarettes as I don’t smoke the seven
packs a week we are rationed.  Then today I received nine letters.  One from my
squad leader back in the company, and the rest from you.  This fellow said it
had been pretty tough back there ever since I left and was sure I was having
things better than they were.  Also requested to know when I was coming back as
they wanted some more fried chicken.  Guess they will have to learn how to

fry their own chicken now.  Your letters were all old except the two V-mail
you sent as one letter.  That was written January 26th.  That was 14 days ago,
which is

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still not as fast as you’re registered.  One letter was the Sept letter
containing that stuff from Indiana U., one had your pictures in the pasteboard
frame and one was the card with your picture[,] both very good but I like the
one with you and Ronnie better.  One letter was the real long one (and very
nice one) telling me about Forrest’s visit.  And then I received your very nice
Valentine’s card.  Now you see I really did alright all in one day.  However
the trouble with the mail here is that it comes in bunches and there is always
far too much time between bunches.

The rumor I mentioned in my last letter is proving to be just what it was and
so tonite once more I feel pretty secure here again.  Anything can happen in
the Army so I always expect the worst.  I mailed Ronnie’s birthday package
today and am sending it back in the box you sent me.  That box is really making
the rounds, isn’t it?  Of course I had to Doctor it up a little but I think it
will get back O.K.

We have had a touch of everything in the line of weather here today,

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rain, hail, snow, sleet, and then back to sunshine again.  Tonite it is a
little above freezing and clear.  It is a good thing I am inside practically
all the time because all I have to wear is a pair of fatigues and suit of wool
underwear.  There seems to be a shortage of clothing in the U.K.  We get one
day off every two weeks.  My day comes up next Tuesday.  Guess I’ll sleep and
write letters all day.  Have no place in particular I want to go and couldn’t
go in fatigues anyhow.  Besides my poker has not been so good lately and I
don’t have any too much money.  However they say I’ll get paid Monday, and it
should be a big one, and then I’ll be back in the doe [dough].  So far the boys
here in the hut haven’t done any gambling so I’ll probably change my habits
under their influence.  Boy, they really go for pinochle though.

I’m still working in a ward and not finding it too hard.  Have been working
mostly in a medical ward and they are much nicer than the surgical wards.  If
Forrest said they <? akewed> them up in the

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Navy sometimes pretty badly he should see what the infantry <? men> do for
some [of] our boys and they still live.  It’s not pleasant I can tell you.
When I just came here I was put in a surgical ward for the first two or three
weeks, I’ve seen about as bad as there is to see.  It’s too bad that some of
the people back home, who doesn’t [don’t] know there is a war on, can’t be
where I’ve been and where I now am for just a few days.  They would soon change
their attitude, I’m sure.

The black ink you used in writing your V-mail was very plain.  Of course you
must realize that we don’t have the choice over here that you have.  In fact we
don’t always have ink.  Is Elinor back with you for good or just a visit?  You
tell her I know exactly what she means by her best regards and will remind her
of it someday.  As for me telling the major [Doctor] any thing, let alone what
you want well guess that won’t do any good either.  What’s this about Rumbolts
robbery and where did he ever get that much money?  How much did Mary say she
lost?  If she lost any it’s certainly too bad as

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I imagine it is all she had and she is certainly too old to start over again.

Must have been a pretty good meal you served when Forest and Gladys was [were]
there.  Sounded pretty good to your ol’ man too.  No wonder Forrest said, I had
a good cook.  It was pretty nice he getting a ride with Mrs. Cordell Hull.  Was
she so different from any other woman?  I guess he really doesn’t appreciate
how lucky he really is.  In fact I don’t think being in the Navy now can be so
much different than civilian life.  Boy what I wouldn’t give to be stationed
back in the States someplace like maybe Camp Ellis or Fort Sheridan or even
out of it altogether while I’m wishing.

Well, my dears, I’m going to try writing a couple of letters I owe to other
people tonite so guess I’ll close with this.  You know I found out I have to
write letters in order to get any.  And they are darn nice getting.  Of course
I would be perfectly satisfied if I just got one a day from you.  How’s my
little three-year-old Ronnie tonite?

All my love to you both,
Daddy