01 Mar March 1, 1944

Letter
from: Alice Shonkwiler
to: Private George W. Shonkwiler
March 1st, 1944, 4 o’clock p.m.

Darling,

Am writing this short note and enclosing this wire received today.  I would
wire a reply telling him you are in the army and so on, but would also have
to express sympathy, and I don’t know whether this is his wife, child, or if
at all related to him.  Maybe I should even send flowers.  I just don’t know
what to do.  If you write him, please explain why I didn’t do anything about
it won’t you?

page 2
If it’s his wife, it must be terrible with all his children.

I just wired you, so I guess you’ll get it before this letter.  Thought
maybe if you did want me to send flowers or something, you could wire me
back at once.

Well, now that I wired you, I can keep on writing this letter and mail it
after Ronnie wakes up.  He just woke up now and had to go "toily".  He
didn’t quite make it, but almost.  I gave him a good balling out one morning
for wetting the bed.  He hasn’t wet it since.  Such an influence I

page 3
have.  He’s a good boy.  Of course he might be slightly hen-pecked by the
time you get here with all these women.  Of course Murray and Mr. Page keep
up his moral some anyway.

I got a letter from Forrest today.  He said he’d mislaid your card, so wanted
your address.  He finishes boat training Mar. 16th, and the[n] he expects to
go to a hospital school, there for 6 wks. then will be shipped out.  That
means he’ll be shipped out in 3 mo.  They really rush ’em through now, don’t
they?

I’ve sure got the blues

page 4
tonight after getting Paul’s telegram, your brothers and your letters saying
you’re both going overseas so soon.  Elinor is bowling tonight, so I’m alone
again.  Haven’t been out since a week ago Sat. that’s bad, isn’t it?

Will try to get some of those things you want tomorrow if the weather’s nice
and I can take the car out.  It’s been nice today, but pretty cold.

Well, guess I’d better take Ronnie off the what’s it and wash dishes and
wash some more doors.  I washed the kitchen woodwork today.

Good night, sweetheart and drop me a line.  Didn’t get a letter for two days,
but got one today dated February 27th.

Ronnie says, Bye, Daddy.
Love, Mom.

P.S.
Miss me more than a little bit yet?  Vida Campbell called and asked about
you.  Said Ben had asked her to every night.  So she finally did.  She
got your address.