18 Mar March 18, 1944

Letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler,
Mar. 18, 1944, Saturday 4 p.m.
Noteworthy: Mom and Dad try for "Jr". How "Mommy" is doing.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Another week finally over. Each one seems to get tougher, but I seem to
get tougher right along with it, so I am not faring so badly. This morning
I had to go to the eye clinic to be examined for GI glasses, so missed all
the rough stuff.  Did get in on inspection though. It was our first rifle
inspection outside by the camp commander. We stood at attention for the
better part of an hour. That isn’t easy either. We stood at attention while
he examined each one of our rifles. If they were dirty, we caught hell. I
had mine in pretty good

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shape. So did all the rest of our hut with the exception of three. Those
three have been doing extra work ever since. Yes, Sams was one of them.
As for Sams, being <? dumn> or ignorant and so on, I never said that. In
fact, <? Punts Hargrove>  wasn’t either. He was just continually doing the
right thing at the wrong time. The bus driver is just a nice easy going
fellow with reasonably good intelligence. We have a ladies wear buyer. a
National biscuit man, one kid out of high school, one lawyer, one fur buyer,
one farmer, one nightclub owner, Sams worked for Jewel Tea Company and sold
insurance, one department store owner, couple of machinists, one fellow
worked at airport, and so on in this hut.  You see we are typical cross
section of the country, just like every place else. There is the highest
and lowest in any group. A couple boys in our hut could certainly be a
lot smarter and more ambitious to my opinion.

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I am spending another weekend in camp. Tomorrow, Sunday, I am detailed to
be a battalion messenger and Monday, I am table writer. Guess I am making
up a little for what I have missed so far. They are both soft jobs and I
miss no classes so no one minds those details they say, I will tell you
more about them after Monday. I plan on going someplace next week end

 through. Five weeks without a break is about enough. Won’t be able to do
much on ten dollars thought. So I am not planning anything big.

When you come down, bring enough money for both of us because I am just
getting by and that is all.  Also be sure and bring the

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camera and those films I had in the top drawer. More too if you can get
them. As for "Jr", I wish you were here so we could try again -- now. And
it might even be a good idea to check up and see if maybe there is
something either of us could do about getting "Jr" started. Time is getting
short and maybe sometime before we get another chance.  And as you say, we
are not getting any younger fast.

If you want something to send, send a cake with plenty of icing on it.
Cake is something we only get from home down here. You can also send some
more socks, size 10.5 and 3 or 4 more pairs underwear, size 32 pants,
38 shirts and old ones are alright.  Couple more towels.  Could also use
some brown house slippers.

As for the Hayes -- I suppose they are all right and really do mean well.
Joan. I don’t think I ever will like. Just remember though

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don’t get too obligated to them. We can take care of ourselves and manage

our affairs as good or better than they can. Certainly glad the Pages
like Ronnie.  In fact I know I will worry much less because of the Pages
being there than I otherwise would. Certainly glad things are working out
as well as they are.  The army is bad enough but if I had to do a lot of
worrying about home, Ronnie and you, I would not be able to take it near
as well as I am.  Just don’t ever let me down.  From all reports, I am
getting it sounds like you are doing an excellent job.  For which I am very
thankful and love you all the more for it. You know I am not one to sing
praises to anyone very often to my

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detriment, I suppose, but nevertheless, opinions build up and from in my
mind as each day goes by and in time full justice will come forth.  I
think that must be the way the army does it too. We never get praised for
what we do good but certainly get plenty of hell when things go wrong.
In the end though I think they know what they are doing and the ones who
do what’s right will be on top.

Well Ronnie, how are you behaving these days? Your mommy asks if your daddy
is losing any weight.  Well all I can say is if you have gained as much as
I have lost since entering the army you are really some big boy by now.
How much do you weigh now anyway?

Getting about time for supper so will get this off.  Plan on seeing a show
tonight. Have you got the tickets yet?

Daddy