11 Mar March 11, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
3-11-44, 5:15 P.M. Sat.
Noteworthry: Dad is attached to the Message Center company. Dad feels great
from his boot camp physical exertions. Dad wants to know about Junior.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Another week’s finally over and what a week.  I finished about 1/2 hour ago and
there has been little free moments from last Monday A.M. until now.  Yesterday
all day K.P. 5 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.  Then we scrubbed [our] hut, and cleaned our
rifle[s] until 11 P.M.  Then bed and damn glad of it.  Today it has been raining
- and raining hard all day.  And it’s still at it.  This is the world’s worst
weather and country - especially when it rains like now.  [I] had planned on
seeing a show tonite but I have been soaked twice and I’m not especially keen
about getting it again today.

(Chow 6 P.M.)
And it’s still pouring down.  This

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morning we had dismounted drill with rifles in the rain - guerrilla exercises
in the rain - then rifle inspections (was supposed to have been outside also,
but the officers did not want to get wet so they gave us a break and we had it
inside) then chow and this afternoon another shot in the arm - make up classes
and I had another interview with a regiment officer about something they must
be planning for me.  I have a general idea of what but must refrain from
discussing it until after the war.  I can’t even tell the other fellows here
and they are all inquisitive as hell (when you write say nothing).

Next week I understand we are in for another busy time - Two days we are going
to be on rifle range from 4 A.M. to 10 P.M.  And they no doubt will find plenty
for us to do the other four days.  I believe they keep us so busy so we can’t

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have time to sit around too much worrying about home and wife and children.  If
that is why, they are partially succeeding because most of the fellows are
either too tired or too busy to read their letters until sometime after they
are distributed.  Personally, physically, I haven’t felt better for a long time
as most of my stiffness and soreness has vanished.  And when I lay off of the
coffee my stomach doesn’t bother me much.  My itch is a little worse than it
was when I left Chicago, but doesn’t bother me except a little at nite.  I am
convinced neither one is bad enough to get me released from the Army.  For that
reason I am more than ever glad I am in this company (Message Center) as we are
the pick of the infantry both in

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Intelligence and the type work we have to do as long as we have to be in the
army.  (That’s straight from the Company Commander himself.)

Did you mean Oralee would drive down here with you in June?  I hope that’s what
you meant because it certainly would be nice - in more ways than one.  As for
coming down here sooner, that’s alright too.  After a while I will get out and
scout around and see what I can find in a place for you and Ronnie to stay.  I
would like to have you stay in Stark (about 8 miles from camp) rather than
Jacksonville as we are not allowed off the grounds except on week-ends.  But
wives can come in after 6 P.M.  They can also stay within the grounds 3 nites
with their husbands.  They have special rooms for that purpose.  How about the
gas - you had better hold on to the "C" coupons.

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We were allowed 9 passes out of our hut over the week-end, but the weather is

so bad only 3 boys are taking advantages of it.  So you know the weather must
be bad as most of these fellows haven’t been out of this small area for a month
or more.

Got a letter from Claude today.  Admitted Jo was having another in June and his
2A class restriction was up July 18th.  Also a letter from Paul Smith.  He feels
pretty low[,] Gitta, his wife, died from a heart attack during her operation.
However, his children are old enough to help him over the hard spots a little.
As you know, I can fully appreciate the consolation one can get from one’s
children.  By the

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way, I want a definite statement from you about "Junior."  No more beating
around the bush.

Our "Private Hargrove" in our hut is sounding off right now.  I think if it
weren’t for him this hut’s morale would be pretty low at times.  No kidding.
He is the naturalist, comicalist, getting in troubleist, man I ever saw or
hoped to see.  Every man and officer in the entire company know him.  His name
is Sams and we can hear "Sams" yelled all over the area from morning to nite
He really is a damn nice fellow.  Thirty years old married and has one child
with another on the way.  His father is a small time Methodist minister (by his
own admission) and "Sams" has picked up a lot of Georgia’s homespun intelligence
and humor from traveling around the country with him.

It is now 7 P.M. and still raining hard - No show for me tonite.

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Here’s a typical "Sams" joke.  It seems two very young people came up to the
minister to get married and the minister questioned the girl about her age.
Then he asked her if she had her father’s permission.  She said, "Sir, who do
you think that man back there with the rifle is?"  Of course I know that’s an
old one but the way he tells them and the number and his natural conversation
keeps us going most of the time.

Well Ronnie ole boy - I hear some pretty good stories about you.  Keep up the
good work so your soldier Daddy will be proud of you.  I am already thoroughly.
But of course you can never get perfect.  Just ask Mommy.

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Sounds like the Pages are really fixing the place up upstairs.  How does the
place heat?

When you send me things to eat, will you be sure and send something that can be
divided among 16 men? as we always pass things around.  You don’t get much
yourself but if enough fellows get things you still do all right.  The candy
bars were swell, but I couldn’t very well divide them.

Well  "Honey’s" this is enough for today so keep up your good work. and I think
of you a lot.  Got your two kisses too but they are not like the real thing by
any means.  Besides I never did like just lip-stick.

Bye now. and here is a couple of kisses, one for each of you.
Daddy