13 Mar March 13, 1945

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
March 13, 1945
Tuesday, 9:00 P.M.
Noteworthy: "unhappy one before"

Hello, honey,
How’s everything in  E.T.O.?  That is in your part of it (France)?

Did you make your trip to Paris yet?  Was it exciting?  Or should I say, was
she?  Why aren’t you allowed to eat while in Paris?  Is it because of the
shortage of food, or because of the exorbitant prices they charge for it?  Do
they allow you to drink there?  Is it true that when you got to Paris, you
forgot all about your wife?  At least so they all tell me!  (You’d better not!)

I received 4 V-mails today, plus an envelope with a Stars and Stripes enclosed.
The letters were dated, one on the 3rd, and the other three dated Mar. 4th,
No. 1,2,3 of the series 4,5,6,7 I rec’d yesterday.

I also had a letter from Betty and

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Chuck and one from Forrest, which I am enclosing.  Seems Gladys isn’t writing
to him, as this is the second time he’s mentioned it.  Guess I write him oftener
than she, and he’s her brother.  I’ve written twice to Joe and Claude, but have
had no reply other than the toy dog and pajamas they sent for Ronnie’s birthday.

Just keep up the good work of writing, Darling, and you’ll find your devoted
wife waiting for you when you get off that boat in New York someday.  As I said
once before that a lot of wives would be more devoted if their husbands wrote
oftener.  I know that I seldom miss a day writing you, so if you’re not getting
letters it’s not because I haven’t done my part.

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Today was a beautiful day, about 56 degrees, and the sun shone all day.  Ronnie
and I went to the grocery and to the cleaners this morning.  (I brought his and
my Spring coats down).  After that Ronnie, Bobby and Tommy Ivan played together,
also a little girl across the Alley. (Johnson, is her name I believe).  At
12:30 I called him to come in for dinner, (which he does without crying
now-a-days.  Guess he found out it didn’t do any good) and later to bed.
During the afternoon I started to cut a housecoat, I’m going to sew, but
couldn’t decide how to make it, so gave up and baked a cake instead.

When Ronnie woke up, he went out to play with Bobby again.  At 5:45, I called
him for supper.  We had beef liver, gravy, mashed potatoes, lettuce and cottage
cheese, green peas and cake and ice cream, and milk.

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Just before we got to the dessert, Mary came over, so she sat down with us and
had some cake, ice-cream and coffee.  She presented me with a gift -- Imagine?
<? Enuf>  handmade lace for two pairs of pillow cases.  One length white, with
pink edge and one white with lavender edge.  I was certainly surprised!  She
also showed me what she had for Mrs. Hayes.  A beautiful handmade linen and
lace vanity and chest set of doilies, and an entire lace cloth for her buffet.
Of course if I had Edith’s flowery gift of gab, maybe I’d rate higher too.
she certainly can "gush" over things.  I’m not the type, as I say very little
in the way of flattery.

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Mary told me Ronnie looks good, so guess he does!  She doesn’t give me advice
as to his care anymore, so maybe she thinks I’m doing okay.  Well, I will say,

I try hard enuf if that means anything.  Ronnie told me yesterday he wanted to
live at Dixon’s, so he could play with Bobby.  That’s not saying much for me,
is it?  Oh, well, I guess it shouldn’t worry me too much, as even you had a
hard time getting him to leave Bobby’s when you were home in July.

Mary asked me to tell you "hello" and would like to see you come back, as she
says[,] it seems so unfair that you should be away now when you could be so
happy home with us, me and Ronnie.  She

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says you deserve to have a happy home now, as you had such an unhappy one
before.  Guess the old gal must have changed her mind about me lately, as she
evidently didn’t think much of me at one time.  (Do you s’pose I grow on
people?)

Seems everyone worries about your future happiness and not a soul worries about
mine (Except me, I s’pect) (Or do you, too?)

The Pages have company tonight.  I can hear them laughing and talking.  Sure
makes me long for a normal home life!  Just think how lucky he was to get out
of both wars.  He was too young during the last one.

Did I tell you Tom Schanstras’ kid brother is home from E.T.A.?  A tiny piece
of his nose (the end) was shot off.  He’s 19, I think.

Good night, darling, lots of love and kisses
from Mom and Ronnie