01 May May 1, 1945

V-mail
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
May 1st, 1945, 11.30 p.m. Tuesday

page 2
Hello Again Honey,

Henry Jostin called today and asked for your new address as he intended to
write you.  He said a friend of his, (a priest I think), had just returned
from a Jap prison camp and told me some of the horrible things this fellow
had witnessed in this camp and was fed nothing but a handful of rice or soy
beans each day.  He lost 65 pounds in weight while in this prison camp.  Every
time I hear of these things I think how lucky I am that you weren’t seriously
wounded or taken prisoner.  I guess knowing you’re safe from harm now is all
that keeps me going these days.  Guess we’d all be happier if we counted our
blessings once in a while instead of our grievances and hardships.  I’m trying
to keep that attitude but that doesn’t always help when I really get those
blues, but most of the time it works.  I see they got Mussolini and his
friend, (see it doesn’t pay to step out).  Today it’s rumored Hitler is dead
but I don’t believe it.  It’s just a trick of some kind.  Edith stopped in
this afternoon.

Bye and love,
Mom and Ronnie