18 Feb February 18, 1945

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
England
February 18th, 1945
Sunday, 7:30 P.M.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Thought I might write you an airmail letter tonite, seeing as how I have a
little time on my hands.  I’m CQ tonite, and things are a little slow at the
present, so you benefit.  I haven’t done much today again, got up at 9 A.M.
cleaned up a little and had dinner at 11:30.  This afternoon had meant to go to
the show but stopped here in the orderly room on my way and they were short of
help[,] so I’ve been here ever since and now will be here the biggest part of
the nite.  Oh well, I’ll get a 12 hr pass out of it and wlll be able to go
into the city during the daytime so perhaps for the first time since coming to
England will get a chance to go someplace when the stores are open.  It would
happen at a time when I haven’t got too much money.

I thought for a while this morning that I was finally going to be shipped out
but for some reason was passed over so I’m still sweating it out here.  Did
move from a tent to barracks today but the beds are the same so there wasn’t
much improvement there.  Our meals today were

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the worst I’ve had since leaving the front.  You’d think on Sunday they would
put forth a little effort but Sunday sure as hell doesn’t mean anything around
here.  Breakfast, I missed; for dinner we had cold cuts, spinach and rice,
coffee and some kind of cherry cobbler.  Tonite we had fat half cooked pork
chops, potatoes, corn,  coffee and an orange.  Of course bread and butter.
I’m starved right now and it’s only about 8 P.M.  And if I get up in time for
breakfast in the morning, after working until 2 A.M., it will be a miracle.
Guess I won’t starve, though.  I know I’ve been hungrier.

It’s been like spring here today.  This morning, especially, it was quite warm
and most of the boys were going around without coats or <? blouses>.  Guess it
won’t be long now until spring will really be here at that.  Certainly thought
I’d be home long before this but it looks like at least another six months and
maybe more.  Certainly not very pleasant outlook is it?  But then I’ve been
wrong before.  Maybe this time I’ll be wrong the right way - I hope.  At least
I stand a pretty good chance of coming home now

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and that’s more than I could say some three months ago.

I have a lot of people to write.  Most of the letters came just before I left
the hospital and I didn’t have time to answer them there.  Now I have the time
but not the inclination besides I kinda hate writing now when I don’t know
what’s going to happen to me and can give them no permanent address.  So if
anyone should mention about me being a little slow in answering[,] you can give
that as one of my reasons.  Of course me not writing is no excuse for them
stopping writing me.  You know letters are about the only thing I get
worthwhile over here.

How’s my little boy Ronnie tonite and how does he feel about being three years
old?  Guess he’ll really be a big man by the time I get to see him again.  Did
you have a birthday party for him?  And who all was there?
I still haven’t heard from Dick, although I wrote him.  Suppose I’ll not hear
from anyone for some time now-worse luck.  That’s about it for tonite my dears.
Have Ronnie give you a big hug and kiss for me and you give him one for me too.

All my love to you both, Daddy