27 Mar March 27, 1945

Letter
from: PVT George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
France, March 27, 1945, 9 p.m. Tuesday

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

A little late in starting this but have just come from seeing E.G. Robinson
in Tampico. I had seen it once before but then entertainment around here is
very scarce so I usually take in everything that comes along.  As you might
know already, I am still in this camp. Today makes four full weeks. I think
I told you it is located about 30 miles south of Paris and is a replacement
depot for limited assignment men.  Guess just about all LA men from the
States and all wounded LA men come through this place. There are some
pretty sad cases. I am one of them but there are many so much worse than

I am that it isn’t even funny.  However, that is only one of many things
I’ve seen and learned about this army since coming here that it all makes
my head swim. I wish I could dare tell you. But I am even afraid to take
the chance in this letter. It looks like I’ll have to wait until I get home
and then of course the war will be all over and too late, or will it be?

And speaking of the war, it does look good, doesn’t it? I’m still betting
on April but some say it will take until the summer. That brings me to
something that you might be able to do to facilitate me getting home, if
not now, as soon as the war is over in Europe.  I for one am very anxious
to get home.  If you are just as anxious to have me home, there may be a
couple things you can do to help.  This is it. Regardless of what everyone
says, there is going to be one hell of a lot of politics in who goes home
first. Many strings will be pulled, and a lot of men will get home before
their turn. Now you

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can act accordingly.  I’ll tell you what I think will help.  First, see
Edith and Emil Kuenstr - I think they may help -  especially Edith can.
Second. As soon as the war ends here, go to the Red Cross, or better yet,
have one of their representatives come to see you and tell them the story.
Include the fact that I have stomach and skin trouble for years, has been
wounded, one of my wounds being in the side of my head damaging my cheek
bone and sinus.  I was discharged from the hospital after two months of
treatment for my wounds, stomach and skin condition, put in limited
service due to an ulcerated condition in my stomach, which the doctor
admitted to me in person, that there was nothing further he could do at
the time.  I was to try to diet the best I could do  -- in the Army chow
line, imagine -- also the same for my sinus trouble. The only cure he
said would be nature. My skin condition improved immensely under medical
supervision.  I took sulfa <? familihide> but since stopping the medical
treatment, it has begun to come back to me again.  In order to eat Army
chow, I am forced to take the powders you send me all the time.  When I
left the hospital, they would not give me any medicine for it saying I
could report for sick call and get treated.  I have learned from past
sad experience that going on sick call, unless you are practically dead,
is useless. That, in brief, is the story.  I am perfectly willing to
stick it out <? right> here, as long as the war lasts, and there is a
job to do.  But I will be damned if I can see getting stuck here months
afterwards and seeing many other men go home ahead of me who will no
doubt have done much less than I and have far less reason for being
discharged. Plus all this, I have you and Ronnie. Of course there are
millions of us in that boat too, but it’s still important. Probably
very important to you and Ronnie I hope.  Perhaps you know or have heard
by this time of other methods that might help.  If so get them to working.
It can’t do any harm and who knows we might be lucky.

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Had planned on sending you a $60 money order in this letter but was unable
to get it in time so will try to send it in the next day or so.  The money
isn’t doing me much good over here and it’s just possible that you might
be able to use it.  If not you can always save it for that rainy day. I
sent you a couple newspaper clippings the other day from the Stars and
Stripes about Ernie Pyle’s articles. One mentioned one of the boys in the
South Pacific he had met a boy whose wife or girlfriend or someone had
sent him some good old home fried chicken.  Now I hate like the dickens
asking you to send me anything because so far I have received so few of
your packages, none since the two I received while in the hospital, but

a couple pieces of chicken would certainly be very nice.  Even a steak
would help. However I hear that you people are limited in your meat these
days so maybe you had better forget the meat.  We do get plenty of that
here even if it is spam and heated C-rations usually.

Suppose from all this you are beginning to think things are pretty tough
around here. Well compared to home they are.  But compared to what I have
had and what those poor boys up at the front still have, it is a bit of
heaven and I’m not kicking.  At least I don’t have to dodge bullets
shrapnel and mines and booby traps back here.

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Did I tell you that I received a letter dated February 12th from Rogers.

 He was still alright at that time although having it pretty rough.
You know he was in the same regiment, 379th.  I’ve heard from Rosen
once -- written Christmas. He was in 378th regiment 95th division.  We all
stay together all the way, all the time. Got to be pretty good friends.
Certainly hope they both are still alright. Still have never heard from
Dick although have written him a number of times.  Now that I have been
here a month, I should start to receive mail regularly although I’ve had
none since last week.  Would certainly be nice to get some up to date
letters from everyone, especially a couple from 110th and Union Ave.

Ronnie my little boy how are you today and do you miss your daddy once in
a while.  I surely miss you and Mommy.  Wouldn’t it be nice if I could
get home this summer as we could play and do lots of things while it is
still warm.  If you keep your fingers crossed my dears and it could be.
Now this is about all for tonight. It’s after 10 and that’s after bedtime.
5:45 a.m. is still pretty early for me and about the only thing I get

any enjoyment out of doing over here is sleeping.  So don’t usually miss
out on any more of it than necessary.  It has been a little chilly
today and tonight quite cool. Guess you probably could help that
situation were you here.  Oh well I’ll throw on an extra blanket

and dream.

All my love to you both always,
Daddy.