26 Jul July 26, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
26 July 45, Thurs. 10 P.M.

My Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Received a first-rate letter today from a first-rate gal back in the States.  A
nice long one for a change with a couple three good snapshots enclosed.  The
letter was nice and the pictures were even nicer.  It looks like your vacation
did you both a lot of good.

I have just come back from making the rounds.  Ice cream, Coca-Cola, beer, and
a G.I. show, watching some of the crap games and just walking around.  The army
certainly is doing its best to provide entertainment for the men while they are
waiting for shipment elsewhere.  There is baseball, track, tennis, volleyball,
badminton, and so on.  I only get in on the evening doings because during the
day I have to work.  The evenings do pass without too much effort.  They have a
stage erected outside the PX and tonight we sat at tables drinking beer and
eating ice cream, etc.  Not bad at all.  I had seen the show, "Watching the
Snow", in

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the hospital last week but they had added a couple new jokes so it wasn’t too
boring.  Their music was good.

Today was my first back on the job and needless to say it was a long one.  Not
because of the work so much as the lack of it.  With my usual efficiency, I
worked like hell this morning to catch up.  Then found about 3 P.M. that I had
worked too hard and had nothing to do.  From 3 to 5 are the longest hours
anyhow with nothing to do they were ten times worse.  We have plenty of help
now so it’s easy to get everything done in short order.  That’s a bad sign
because sooner or later they are going to start cutting down I think, and that
will mean someone goes back to a replacement depot.  At that it might be good
- maybe they would send us home then.

Had quite a surprise today while filing some of our correspondence.  Came
across some concerning Dan Sweeney.  Seems he had applied for a transfer back
to the States.  It was disapproved however.  I learned that he is now in the
16th Depot stationed a few miles out of Compiegne

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I called him on the phone but he was out in the field at the time.  Will try
again in the morning.  The battalion he is in is now being processed for
shipment direct to the So. Pacific.  However since he is cadre there[,] I
couldn’t find out if they were sending the cadre along too or not.  They leave
in a couple of days.  Maybe I’ll find out some thing from him tomorrow if I can
reach him.  He gets around almost as much as I used to.  Did Mrs. Swinney visit
you in Chicago?

Nothing new today.  Am really sorry I ever mentioned the possibility of me
coming back in Sept.  Right now I can’t see much indication of any of us here
in the Depot returning then.  Probably just before Christmas though.  However
as far as I know there still is no absolute certainty that I won’t go direct to
CBI.  For some

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reason though something tells me that I won’t get that fate wished on me.  I
will continue to hope for the best that’s for sure.

You will find the balance of my hospital gambling profits enclosed.  Don’t know
how soon there will be more but I’m still plugging away.  All I need is the

bargaining power.  Don’t send any more coffee, flour, sugar etc.  As it’s
very bulky and brings very little in the comparison to chocolate, candy, gum
and cigarettes, etc.  Also no canned fruits.

I wrote to Al Evers a couple days ago.  Haven’t heard where he is.  However
think he was a bit optimistic about going to CBI through the States.  It’s my
understanding from current rumors that many of the gen. hospital go direct.
However I really don’t know.  And I hope he does get to go back home first
should he have to go down there.

I thought all the small pictures of you and Ronnie were very good.  Also the
one of you and Ronnie sitting on the running board of the car.  I showed
Ronnie’s picture to the German I used to talk with once in a while in our ward
in the hospital he said he thought Ronnie was a very intelligent looking child

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and that I had a nice fraulein.  Thought our home looked nice too.  That is
what little I was showing.  Just before leaving I asked him when he thought he
would be allowed to return home.  He said he thought in about five years.  He
has not been home now for over two years.  Sure glad I’m not a German even
though I’m not home yet myself.

Now for your next door neighbors.  Sounds like they are about due for a good
slice of some one’s mind again.  I know I’d like to see them even try to stop
Ronnie from singing if I were around there.  I’m afraid I’m now in a
disposition to tell most anyone off in a big way should they try to cross me
too much.

Well I’m back to my old habit of shaving just before retiring.  That’s so I can
sleep later in the morning and since I still have that little chore to do[,]
guess I better get at it.

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It’s now eleven o’clock and dark out side.  A sure sign that summer is well on
its way already.  That little furlough in the hospital did sort of break up the
monotony over here and before we know it yet someday it will be Fall and then
early Winter and surely by that time our job in the ETO will be finished and
they will send us back.  Well keep hoping.  I really think I’ll make it home
yet in 46.

Now all my love to both of you and Ronnie how do you like your new play things
in the backyard?  Hope you don’t break an arm or something on them.

I miss you my dears,
Daddy