05 Jun June 5, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
6-5-44 Mon. 6:30 P.M.

Dear Alice and Ronnie:

I am taking a few minutes before it gets dark to write a few words that is if
it doesn’t rain too hard[,] it’s sprinkling right now.  10 minutes later.  It’s
raining now and we are cramped up inside this hot pup tent as tight as a drum.
I am bunking with Rogers[,] the fellow whose wife stayed on the 3rd floor that
last week-end you were in St. Augustine.  These pup tents are 6 1/2 feet long
and 4 feet wide so with our barracks bag, rifles, and packs, and two men you
can imagine how much room we have.  I am writing by flashlight[,] which I am
not supposed to have[,] laying on my blanket.  We spent all day setting up camp
after a 3 1/2 hour march early this morning.  The part of it isn’t so bad.

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In fact after the march the rest of the day has been rather like a picnic.
First we put up our tent[,] dug a drainage trench around it[,] then we built
our foxhole and camouflaged it.  We had all day to do it and we took it.  We
are about 12 miles from camp in a wooded section on pretty high ground.  The
mosquitoes are big as birds and ticks and chiggers by the thousands.  We eat
chow from our mess kits and drink from our canteen.  It’s all very much
"roughing it".  Oh yes, it has rained off and on all day and we know these
tents will shed water if put up right.  We only made a few changes.

Just got a letter from you, one mail call a day here.  Glad to hear my watch is
on the way.  Hope my big package is too because if today is a sample

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of the food we are going to get[,] I am going to be plenty hungry.

Just happened, Roger’s wife sent her package a few days ago and we were able
to bring some of it in our barracks bag.  We have had a large can of peaches
and tomato juice so far - and I am still hungry.

So Ronnie went to a party, Did he?  I’ll bet he had a big time and they had a
big time trying to make him behave.  Certainly hope things went off well.  Did
Gladys come in and what is the latest news about Dick?  Certainly hope he is
not in bad shape.  We had a gas

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attack on our march out.  We all got through it O.K.  It’s pretty nice here
and if it weren’t for the fact that it’s practicing for the real thing I think
we all would enjoy it.  Of course after a few days and we really start to work
and get good and dirty without being able to wash[,] I might very possibly
change my mind.  In fact, probably will.  I think I will be on guard tomorrow
nite, and Wed nite.  We work late so you probably won’t hear from me for a
couple days.  However, will write something if I get a chance.  In the meantime
keep things rolling, and it won’t be long now.

I love you both lots,
Daddy