09 Jul July 9, 1945

Letter
from: Alice Shonkwiler
to: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
July 9, 1945
Monday-Midnight.
Noteworthy: Mom engages in long discussion about morals and desparate love.

Hello, Darling,

Right after breakfast this morning Jo and I drove into Monticello and I stopped
at the post office to inquire about my mail.  The clerk at first told me "no",
he hadn’t seen any, but another cloak interposed with "Why yes, there are some
letters for Mrs. S. over there on the shelf, we were about to send them back as
we couldn’t locate you."  They had been mailed "Spec. Delivery" by Mrs. Page
and it seems there’s no such service to the lake and therefore they don’t even
bother to deliver them at all.  Anyway I got five letters and

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and the [they are] dated 17th June V-mail, which Mrs. Page read to me over the phone when
I called her from Gladys’ last Sat. (or rather a week ago.)

These letters were date[d] June 14, 15, 16, 18, and 21st, which still makes it
2 to 3 weeks for them to get here.

I’ve been so worried that it was a big relief to hear from you again after a
lapse of 2 weeks (except for one V-mail).  Guess Jo and Claude were relieved to
hear me stop griping about not getting any mail.  Guess they don’t realize how
hard it is to be left alone to say nothing about not even knowing if you’re
O.K. or not.

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Jo is already a little worried about Claude, as he’ll be called again soon and
they’re [their] quota of young men is low, so they’ve been drafting men over 30,
again there.  His partner is overdraft age, and as he can handle the store
alone, Claude has no excuse for not going.

Your letter on French and English morals did shock me and I had never heard
that men and women use the same toilet facilities there.  I’m s’prised that
you’d go in with a woman, or did they enter after you?  It’s no wonder morals
are low when women are respected so little over there.  I only

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wonder how it will affect you fellows after you get home?  Not you,
particularly, but those who indulge.

All in all, it appears to me that of all the countries in Europe concerned, our
country has the highest moral code.  That is the majority of people here are
decent, anyway.  Altho it seems our boys are easily led astray when in foreign
countries.  "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," I s’pose.

I’m glad, Darling, that you have the sense to think of our future and not be
led astray by

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the cheap glamour over there.  I think it would kill me if I thought you were
misbehaving.  As you say, these boys will someday be sorry for their short
moments of pleasure, when they pay for it in years of illness, plus coming home
unfit to live with their families and fearing to look their wives in the eye.

In spite of your health, and skin troubles, Darling, you’re worth a million
times more than these fellows who think only of their "self-satisfaction."

I’ve had people tell me that the boys in spite of what they’ve done should be

forgiven by their wives but I can’t see it, as I can’t

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see why men should be excused any more than women in that respect.  I for one,
would or could not find it in my makeup to live with a man who was untrue.
Guess that’s why it took me so long time deciding to marry, as I wanted to be
sure my husband felt the same as I did.  I guess that’s why I promised to marry
George S., as he seemed to think the same as I in that respect, and altho
perhaps I wasn’t desperately in love with him, I thought I’d rather marry on
the basis of a good friendship and know [that] he’d be true than marry someone
I loved, but that was weak in this respect.

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But guess I was predestined to meet you and find both love and a man with
ideals.  The reason I had such a devil of a time deciding to marry you was
because he[?] had once told me that if I let him down, he wouldn’t rust another
girl and would figure that women are all the same and not to be trusted.  I do
hope that he did find someone to replace me in his affections, as I still think
he’d make a grand guy for someone.

Do I sound all mixed up?  I hope not!

All in all I do appreciate that you are being a good husband and thinking of
Ronnie and me when temptation beckons.

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Knowing you love us both is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow, plus
the fact that I love you very much and Ronnie too.

After coming from shopping and reading my letters from you, we all went for a
boat ride.  Yes, even Claude didn’t golf today, but stayed with us.  After
supper Jo and I went out boat riding with the kids while Claude took a nap and
later Jo and I went for a boat ride by ourselves.

Before going to bed we fed the kiddies watermelon and later Jo, Claude and I
read and had coffee and crackers.

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Right now everyone’s in bed, but me, so guess I’d better get there, too as it
must be late.

I’m glad you’re getting good food and I don’t mind hearing (or rather reading)
the menus, as you deserve all the good food and steaks you get, and as far as
for my food problems, I can’t complain.  All I’m complaining about is having
you thousands of miles away.  I’d gladly sacrifice more than food, would it
bring you home soon.  It irks me when people complain about rationing, no
kidding!

Well, honey, guess I’ll

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close now and say good night until tomorrow.  (Note the ink - Jo brought me a
large bottle last night while they were in town for the show - wasn’t that
sweet of her?)

Nighty, night and sweet dreams (about me).

I love you, dear and just don’t forget it, even if I do get tough with you at
times.

Love,
Mom and Ronnie