13 Jul July 13, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
68th Station Hospital
Compienge, France
13 July 45, Friday 5:30 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad’s philosopy about poker for money.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Well this is a bad day if one is suspicious.  However nothing serious has
happened to me yet. In fact, so far it has mostly been good.  I received three
letters, or rather one letter and the Shafer Lake folder from you and a letter
from Al Evers.

I called Al yesterday but they told me that his outfit had moved out ten days
ago.  Today he writes me from Reims, France.  It seems they are in a[n]
evacuation camp there awaiting shipment to some place.  He thinks CBI and so do
I.  However, in the trip over from St. Augustine in forty and Eights something
happened to his back

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and he is now in a hospital there.  Says he hasn’t told his wife.  Well that
explains why he hasn’t come over.  He sent me these pictures he took there when
we were together the two times.

Tomorrow I definitely leave the hospital, they say.  Thought I would leave
today but somebody messed up.  I am no better now than I have been at any time
in the last two weeks.  Could stay if I wanted to but believe I’ll really be
better off outside both mentally, physically, and as far as going home is
concerned.  May be making a mistake but I don’t think so.  I’m certainly
getting no better in here and I’m afraid I might

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lose out in my job back at camp.  I don’t wish another session in replacement
depots if I can avoid it.  I feel confident that once I get back in the States,
and think it wise, can get readmitted to a hospital now at any time.

Today’s letter was written July 2nd and you were well into your vacation and
sounded like things were going pretty well.  At least no major accidents yet
that you reported.  Would certainly hate to have my dream of last night come
true.  Suppose I’m like an old mother and am doing a certain amount of worrying
about you at the moment.

I finally got the money order and will enclose it

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in this letter.  I still have approximately the amount I came in the hospital
with so you see I haven’t done too badly.  Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it
as playing poker for money gets to be a pretty nerve-wracking proposition.  I
know I would never wish to be a professional gambler.  For fun occasionally,
yes.  Other than that I’ll stick to something a little more sure.

The folder you sent shows Shafer Lake as being a pretty nice place.  Why
underline the ballroom?  Guess if you wanted to dance I couldn’t do much about
stopping you.  Imagine there are a number of old married

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Daddies and 4Fs who are always wolfing around.  So you shouldn’t have too much
trouble getting around should you desire.  The lake seems familiar for some
reason.  I took a trip over that way once about five years ago but can’t
remember if that was the lake or not.  Anyhow it looks nice.

There isn’t much more to add at the present.  Suppose after tomorrow I’ll be
getting a hot rumor daily to report.  In fact heard a very good one today but
it’s really a little too hot at least, yet.  Just hope for us both that it is
true.  I’m sure it would make us both very

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happy.  A rumor, purely though, I’m very much afraid.

Now Ronnie, my little boy, how was the trip to the lake?  Did you learn how to
swim, row a boat and how did you get along with Billy, Norma Jean and Deedie?
I hope you were a good little man at all times.

All my love to you both now and Good nite.
Daddy