16 May May 16, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
5-16-44, Tuesday, 8 p.m.

Dearest Ronnie and Alice,

Received a nice long letter today besides a nice two lb. box of candy which is
practically all gone right now.  Both were very very nice, I assure you.  Today
has been a very soft day as far as work was concerned but it has been very
tough nevertheless because of the heat. It was at least 100 degrees and the
humidity very high.  A little shower this afternoon didn’t help any either.
Tomorrow, though, is going to be a different story.  We already had a big day
scheduled and then tonight they told us we were going to start an hour earlier
and go over the obstacle course again.  They are not satisfied with just making
us so sore we can hardly walk, now they want to kill us.  Anyway it seems
getting up at 4:30 a.m., which is bad enough in itself.

They just got a letter from one of the fellows in Co A who finished this
<? cycle> about a month ago.  He is somewhere in Europe.  Says we can forget
all we have learned in Message Center and concentrate on being a

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soldier.  He didn’t explain -- it was V-mail,  but sounded like he must have
been put in a rifle co. after arriving there.  He said Camp Blanding was heaven
compared to where he is now.  Certainly is <? encouraging> because if it is
worse than this place it must really be bad.

It sounds like you are really going to have a garden of sorts.  If you are
planting corn, be sure and not plant it too close together.  At least two feet
apart each way.  If you have already planted it closer than that, you might as
well hoe it out when it comes up because if you don’t your corn will all go to
stock.  I know because I planted it too close last year.

Guess what I am doing now -- yes, eating again.  Crackers and Velveeta cheese.
We haven’t caught up from C rations yet.  I eat stuff down here I never would
think of eating in civilian life.  But it all tastes good -- just as long as
it comes from some place besides the army.

So the new neighbors have a grand piano, dress suits and so on, and are to
[too] good to mow the lawn?  If you ask me I don’t think we are

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going to like them any too well -- we got a raise -- somebody just opened a
glass of jelly and some <? snack> and some kind of canned ham.  Now we are
really having a feast.  I have already had three cokes. My poor stomack[h].

Did you get the watch yet and when are you going to get it back?  I certainly
miss it.  I never know how much longer I have to force myself to stay awake
until the next break comes.

Well my dear I am having a hell of a time writing this letter, eating, and
trying to listen to a dozen guys and the latest latrine rumors.  Rumors come
thick and fast these days.  A new and different one, every five minutes.  Time
out -- we just finished putting Sam to bed.  Every night for the last two
months he has said that tomorrow night he was going to bed at 9 PM.  Then when
9 PM comes around, he is snowed under with his work, half done.  Last night we
told him that tonight, he

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was going to bed at 9 PM regardless.  He is now in bed  -- forcibly.  And you
should see the men around his bed.  A slow southerner is one thing I am glad I
am not.

Must close now.  How’s my little Ronnie been today?  And has he treated Mommy
good?  And vice versa.

Night for now,
Daddy