11 May May 11, 1945

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
Friday, 11 May 1945
6:30 P.M.
Noteworthy: After Dad’s injury at Saar Lautern Germany in December, he was
first taken to a hospital in Thionville France.

My Dear Alice and Ronnie:

Well the news is out and as you well know by this time it looks none too good
for me.  I figure I have a total of 48 points.  And 48 points against the
required 85 for discharge is some difference.  Such is life in the Army for a
year or two more.  I still have one slim hope but am not counting very much on
it.  So far they have said nothing about what they are going to do with limited
assignment class five men (class five is below army induction standards which
is how I am classified at present).  After today [I] think I’ll be very lucky
if I can be sent back to the States for some job there.  Have given up the idea
altogether of being discharged until after Japan is departed.  There is some
good news though in that they claim all of us except army of occupation will be
out of the E.T.O. [European Theater of Operation] by one year.  Of course I can
always be one of those kept for Occupation or could even be sent direct to the
Pacific.  Naturally I am not counting on either of those two things happening.
Well now you see, as is typical of everything else in the army, we have learned
practically nothing and are no better off than we were before.  In fact there
are many of us tonite pretty disappointed as now we know there is going to be
very few discharged in the next few months.  And a lot of us are in for a long
trip and

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not toward home either.

Censorship has been lifted somewhat and we can now tell where we are although I
shouldn’t think in any case it would be necessary as I’ve told you in a number
of ways.  One of them you should have discovered.  Anyhow I am at Compiegne,
France, about 45 miles North East of Paris on the Oise River.  It’s about thirty
five miles South West of St. Quentin, where Al Evers is and about 50 miles from
Rheims where peace was signed.  I came through Rheims last December in the
hospital train back from Thionville where I had been taken in an ambulance
truck from Saar Lautern Germany [now Sarrlouis] after being injured.  This city
has about twenty thousand people during peace time and was the scene of some
pretty heavy bombing and fighting. It was a German concentration camp and there
were many collaborators here.  We meet them on the street most every day.  When
the Americans took over last summer, the loyal French shaved the heads of the
collaborators and many of them, especially the women, still are trying to get
it to grow back long enough so it’s not noticeable.  A lot of them cover it

up with wigs.

Our camp is located at one end of the city and is composed of a lot of tents,
and all HQ’s men billet in residences.  The residences are as nice as any in
the city.  Very large and expensive but old and not very modern when compared
to our home for instance.  However they

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are by far better than anything I have ever had in the ETO.

I had a real land slide in packages today.  Eight in all.  One from E. Kuester,
one from Gladys.  And one from Gladys Scholl[.]  All Christmas packages.  Yours
had the sweater, scarf, flashlight bulbs, candles. <? saudy> - five pacs of
cigarettes and of course a lot of candy and other things.  All in good
condition believe it or not.  Of course the things to eat were a little stale
but those that are too stale will sell to the French.  They won’t know the

difference.  And if I can’t use the money, I can always send it to you.  The
other packages were also mostly food of some sort and right this minute I have
my duffel bag so cramped full of stuff that I can’t close it.  A couple of the
packages were pretty well banged up and had been rewrapped but what amazes me
is that after following me around for ten months I have finally received them,
at least some of them.  Your Christmas packages were very nice[,] very much
appreciated even though almost six months overdue.  [I] Expect those from Dad
and Norma soon now.  They both say they sent me some.  There’s still no mail
though and I should be getting mail direct to to this address by this time.  Oh
well, eight packages should keep me satisfied for a few more days.

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I got paid a couple of days ago.  A little over thirty dollars.  Really thought
I had more than that coming but then I have received four partial pays totaling
eighty dollars since last Sept. and at $16 per month it doesn’t count up too
fast.  Anyhow I’m up to date once again and now don’t have any thing  but
the $16 per to look forward to.  As I really don’t need it[,] [I] am sending
all of it plus a little more that good fortune has placed in my hands, along to
you.  Seventy five dollars in all.  Good fortune doesn’t always smile so nice
but haven’t done so bad lately have I?  Looks like I have to keep the home
fires burning some way.

This is about it for now.  Peter the Doctor’s son, was just here and wants me
to come over for a while.  So having nothing better to do will see what he has
in store.  If I’m due to stay here for a while might as well cultivate this
friendship a little.  Who knows he might even be able to get me some film.
Thanks very much again for the nice packages and I appreciate all that effort
you must have put in wrapping the packages so nicely.  How is everything at
home these days and who is mowing the yard now?  Isn’t Ronnie about big enough?
Give my little boy a big hug and kiss for me and one for you too.

All my love to you both,
Daddy