27 Jun June 27, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
6-27-44
5:15 P.M. Mon.
Noteworthy: Dad gets his shipping orders: he is to depart Ft. Blanding Thursday
June 28th and report to Ft. Meade July 18th. Thus he gets about 3 weeks "off".

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

While waiting for chow will dash off what will absolutely be my last letter
from here.  Today has been one of hide and seek - we doing the hiding - cadre
the seeking - All we’ve done is manufactured detail work.  The biggest one so
far being tearing up our board side walks and making new ones out of crushed
stone.  Oh yes, we crushed the stone too.  I was pretty successful this morning
in hiding but didn’t fare so well this afternoon.  <? Hewrow>, we all managed to
do plenty of gold-bricking and got through the day.  It has been so damn hot that

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I don’t think they dared working us very hard even if they had wanted to.

After chow, 5:45 P.M.
Boy, can you imagine -  first time we’ve had any beef here for at least 10 weeks.
It was darn good too -  Swiss steak.

We turned in some more equipment today and tomorrow we’ll finish.  Our rifle is
about all we have left.  So far we have no new information as to when we leave
Wednesday. [See P.S. below]  Everyone says it will be around 6 A.M.  And if it
is I should arrive in Chicago sometime Thurs. P.M.  Sorry but that’s the best I
am able to tell you.

Well, will save everything for Thursday.  A gag making the rounds here is that
most of the men have written their wives telling them to get a good look at the
floor because when they get home all they are going to see is the ceiling.  Take
heed, my dear.

Love to you both,
Daddy

P.S.
6:30 P.M.

We have just received our shipping orders.  I leave here 7 A.M. Wed. June 28.
I report to Ft. Meade at noon July 18th.  So you can definitely expect me
Thurs. P.M. some time.

GWS