15 Jul July 15, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
68th Station Hospital
Compiegne, France
15 July 45, Sunday 5:30 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad’s medical problems in the hospital continues. Dad predicts th
progress against Japan.

My dear Alice and Ronnie,

Taking time out before the show to let you know I am still very much in the
damn hospital, much to my disgust.  I was supposed to leave last Friday, but
didn’t.  Then the date was again set for today.  Last night a lump began to
appear beneath my chin - like the ones on my head.  This morning when the
doctor arrived, it was quite large and he said I couldn’t leave.  So here I
sit, for God only knows how long, with a triple chin and a sore face.  Besides
that the damn stuff is coming back on my legs again.  These past

page 2
five weeks have now definitely been for nothing.  It certainly is discouraging,
I’ll tell you that.

Yesterday I received a package from you mailed June 15th.  Everything was in
excellent condition.  One bag of caramels just about made it around the ward.
That makes three five-pound packages since coming to the hospital and I
received one the day before I came in.  I’d say you are doing right well.  The
only trouble now is that I have no way to dispose of all my worldly goods and
they are piling up on me.

Well looks like my poker is over for a while.  The poker

page 3
players have now dwindled down to four, and after a couple of bad sessions
myself, I am pretty low.  So until I can recuperate, I am afraid that there
won’t be much for me.  I am certainly glad I sent you that one hundred and
twenty-five dollars.  Had a hunch my good luck wouldn’t last forever.  That or
I’ll run up against some one better than I.  One or another of the two has
happened.

Have been wanting to send something to some of my nieces and nephews, so now
that poker won’t be taking up so much of my time, maybe I’ll try to make some
of them something.

Ddidn’t write you last nite because I figured by tonite I’d

page 4
be back out in the world again and have lots to tell you.  Well now you know.
I know nothing and I’m still not out in the big wide world again - yet.

According to the Doctor, this swelling is the same as the two on the back of my
head.  They are both gone now.  It seems there is a gland under my chin and the
infection has now settled there.  Probably because of my face breaking out.  It
feels like a small hard ball there about the size of a marble.  That’s besides
the swelling of course.  They took another blood test today but I don’t know
what good that is or what it showed.

Well I guess by now your vacation is all over and by now you are safe back

page 5
home.  Certainly hope you are safe and did have a good time.  No letters for
two days now so I still don’t know much about what all you did while at the

lake.  Perhaps I’ll get some mail tomorrow.

I’ve not proven to be much of a prophet as far as this war is concerned[,] but
it’s beginning to look to me like Japan is due for an invasion by our troops on
their island within the next 30 days.  Unquestionably the invasion will be
successful because we won’t make it until we are sure to succeed.  Six months
to clear up Japan proper.  And then if they don’t give up entirely after that,
another six months for Manchuria and the rest of China.  In other words, at the
worst, one more

page 6
year and we will see the complete end of Japan.  If we are lucky - six months.
It looks to me like our air power will so soften Japan up that our infantry
will be be able to overcome anything they might have to throw against us.  I
hope so.

10 P.M
After the fair show, a Dr. Kildare picture, and a couple hours of Pinochle,
I’m writing this between games while the others are having a cup of coffee.
Bye for now and all my love to you both always,

Daddy