27 Jun June 27, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
68th Station Hospital
Compiegne, France
27 June 1945, Wednesday, 5 p.m.

My Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Well, I got about everything today.  Two packages and nine letters.  The
latest one mailed June 19th, and told about you receiving my June 12th
letter, which is the day before I came to the hospital.  And that getting
the news back and forth in a petty big hurry.

One package contained the soap and film.  The other one, had the coffee,
sugar, cookies, candy, and your picture. The powdered sugar had spilled
out a little but otherwise, everything was in excellent shape and you can
be assured that your delicious cookies did not last long once I started
passing them around here in the ward.

Your letters also had a little bit of everything in them.  The Christmas
pictures from Dixon’s the pictures of Ever’s boy and Ronnie, and of them
and you, and then, of course, the snap of you in the package.  Also the
letters from <? Onalee>, Lindell,

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Claude, and last but not least, the "five" which can be put in good use
and will do at least what you said.  Thank you very much for everything
and I must say it really goes a long way toward making up for all that I
haven’t been getting lately.

It was very good of Lindell to have the lights put in.  I hope you did
write him.  Even felt like doing it myself.  However, it’s very likely that
Emil Kuester had a lot to do with that as he is his secretary you know
and handles all such details plus reading the letters.  I think you would
probably make a damn good politician at that and he would also do well
to cultivate your friendship.  Of course you know he is a Republican.
Must be like daylight around there. You know, at that, that office has
done one hell of a lot for us.  First the water, then the street, and now
the lights.  Someone must have some influence somewhere along the line.

Was very glad that Claude and Jo asked you to their cottage for a couple

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weeks and that you accepted.  Guess you will have a chance now to really
get acquainted with them.  Hope they won’t stack up too badly in your
estimation.  But don’t think they will.  Anyhow it was nice of them to
ask and Ronnie.  As for paying, use your own judgement but don’t imagine
they will take any thing.

Al Emerson didn’t come today either so guess he has either left or can’t
get away.  Too bad as I had hoped to get to see him again before he left.
I have already written to Jack <? Deintori>.  But imagine he has left or
is getting ready to also, so don’t imagine I’ll get to see him either.
I’ve almost given up hopes of seeing Dick over here as it seems most of
the boys going back to the states do not come through our Depot.  We get
those going direct to CBI and the high pointers.  That’s why they claim
our job will be finished by Sept.  Oh well, it still sounds good anyway.
It does seem like about everyone is going to get back before I am

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but it could be that that is a good thing after all.  We shall see.

Sorry to hear about your ills.  Also Ronnies short ones.  Certainly glad
he gets over his in a hurry.  Now, what about you?  Still think if you
take things a little easy for a while and get to bed a little earlier
that would do more than any Doctor can do for you.

Now about what I said about your buying some breakfast dishes.  Think you
should read that letter over again as I’m sure I said no such thing about
you not being able to afford a set of breakfast dishes.  As I remember what
I did say was that I guess you have been trying to buy those dishes about
long enough.  You should be able to afford them by this time.  In other
words  Buy them.

Ronnie and you both look good in the pictures.  Guess your instructions in
working the camera helped as your pictures are much better than the others.
That’s a good camera once you learn how to work it.  The one I have over
here now

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is sorta temperamental.  I have already ruined one roll of film with it.
But I couldn’t make out what those damn German words meant.  Hope I do
better with these.  As for the spending a lot of money for such a trivial
things, well I’d pay most anything to have a camera here because that’s
the only way I can keep a permanent record of some things I see.  As for
the gun, that’s one of those things I’ve been able to get and keep so damn
few real souvenirs so far and a pistol seems to be the one thing that all
of us want to take home.  Me included.  And this is a nice one.

It was nice of Mrs. Sweeney writing you again.  I wrote to Dan a couple
of times, but never have heard from him.  Might try it again some of these
days.  I wonder if he is hitting the bottle as much as he was when I was
with him.  If he is I have my doubts sometimes if he ever makes it back.
He was really lonesome I know that.  But God, aren’t we all.

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There’s another show tonight, so guess I’ll take that in pretty soon now
and probably add a little more to this afterwards.  There has been nothing
new develop in my status today but fully expect to be released this week.
Probably Friday.  That will be 16 days in here.  And that has really given
me a chance to catch up on my much needed rest.  This time it has practically
all been rest too as there has been no pain from wounds and so on.  I have
grown used to skin trouble.  Of course my headaches were no laughing matter
and still aren’t occasional but you can put up with most anything if
you try and I have had plenty of experience and have plenty of <? Calloss>.
Time to go now. We’ll see you after the show.

Wes

7.30
Well, the show "Brewster’s Millons" might have been pretty good but this
damned French electrical system broke down and about half of the picture
was all we got to see.  Anyhow, he had just spent three hundred thousand
dollars in six days in that isn’t hay.

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Sounds like <? Ovalu> and Fred are pretty well stuck in the West.  Anyhow
they seem to be doing all right in the <? apiny> now. I think they should,
with their combining income.  Guess they deserve a break at that, and I’m
glad for them.  Only wish some of those breaks would come our way someday.

It would be a good idea to have the car looked after.  It may be a long
time before we are able to buy another and a stich in time might save us
some future walking.  Personally, I’ve walked about all I want to in the
infantry.  Glad you finally got the money order.  As for any future ones

well that all depends on a number of things.  Being in the hospital
definitely handicaps my activities though I know that.

The <? cartons> were very nice.  I like the one with Ronnie asking to be
introduced to his Daddy. The one with

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the beggar and the cigarette stubs is no joke over here.  We see plenty of
just that.  And by some pretty good looking French men and women too.

Of course, there has been talk here of having wives come over but nothing
definite and then only for men who will be in the army of occupation.  So
far, I don’t think I will be part of that.  However, if I were to stay here
very long and could, would certainly want you and Ronnie to come over. I
don’t like this living apart any better than you do.  This picture I am
enclosing is of the little girl who sent you the pansies and the one you
are so worried about.  She has real pretty brown eyes and is typically
French.  Really better looking than this picture shows her to be.  She is
real shy though and I haven’t been able to get very far with her.  Guess
I’m losing my power over women.

The change in the French money does

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not effect any of us. All they did was to call in all the old paper money
and issue new.  The old money, much of which was printed by the Germans
and was being used by the French Black marketers.  They hoped to catch
many of them by making them turn in this money and I imagine they have.
Also a few big time GI operators.

9.45 PM.
This seems to be going into a continued story but you see there were three
or four fellows that wanted to play some poker so a couple of us old
veterans in here proceeded to teach them better.  I only won about 400
francs, but the other fellow cleaned out the crowd so there wasn’t much
use playing with each other so we quit.  Now I’m back to you again and
a few dollars richer.  This army life sure has its ups and downs.  Knowing
how to play cards

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help and I’ve been playing all my life.  Funny I’ve never learned how to
cheat though.  I had learned some of the things to watch for and the other
night I caught one of the boys red handed.  Nothing happening but it didn’t
look so good for awhile.  Just proves that you can’t trust anybody it seems,
not even your roommate.  Well maybe your wife, if you have a good one.

Well Ronnie  my little boy Mommy tells me you are rapidly becoming quite
a little man.  Playing wars, going to Sunday School, having girl friends,
and talking with big words, and a lot of other things.  I think I’ll really
have to be introduced to you all over again when I get home.  Mommie too
maybe.  Do you suppose?

Have to go to bed now, thanks again for the packages and all the nice long
letters and all my love you both always,

Daddy