29 May May 29, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
5-29-44, Monday 7-15 p.m.
Noteworthy: more description of basic training, Norma’s boy Wayne had trouble
as an infant.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Here I am well into the last week of classroom work of basic training.  We only
have four more hours of code and an hour or two of this and that.  But it
certainly is good to know that we are nearing the end of this phase of Army
life.  Tomorrow we have what they say is our worst single day of the cycle.

We arise at 3:30 a.m. and get in some time after midnight depending on how fast
we get our work done.  You see we go through infiltration course twice tomorrow
once in daylight and once in nite besides we do closed combat firing.  Of
course as you know infiltration is going through a prescribed course under
actual fire where live rounds are used.  We also get our first use of live

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hand grenades.  Most companies take two days for all this.  They are combining
it all together for us.  Nice of them, isn’t it?  Besides that we eat C rations
all day.  The C rations stuff has not been too good for my stomach either.
Maybe it’s because I eat a lot of other junk in an effort to appease my
appetite.  Wednesday p.m. we have an other 8 hr problem in the field.  We
have to eat C rations cold in a foxhole during that little jaunt.  Thursday and
Friday we have easy days - Then Sat. 9 miles.  Oh well - if I get through this
week I think I can take anything.  I have had a lot of experiences in my life
and plenty of hard knocks but I am now thoroughly convinced that I have not yet
seen everything.

Sounds very much like you and Eleanor and Ronnie are really doing alright when
it comes to getting the work done around there.  Your

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garden really sounds like you are on the beam there and putting up all the
screens is some accomplishment in itself.  Don’t think I will soon forget that
little detail when I return home.

I am over my cold and don’t need any Vicks as I bought some here.  Thanks just
the same.  Can’t figure out what happened to Ed Lewis at Packard Garage as he
was half owner and really the big shot of the place.  Did you tell Dan Regan
who you were and tell him where I am?  It may not do any good financially, but
might.

Can’t possibly see how it would cost $60 to fix the car up.  As for selling it,
you had better hold off for a while.  Maybe if I am actually sent across, then
I suppose you might as well sell it.  We will see later anyhow.

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As for Lil DeYoung - she is nice and means well, but for some reason I could
never see her.  For one thing, she definitely talks too much.  As for you
having trouble with Ronnie and any brother and sister he may have later, I
think that depends a great deal on his parents, don’t you think?

Received a letter from Norma today.  Am inclosing picture of their boy Wayne.
Also some pictures Gladys sent me.  Their boy Wayne is the one that caused them
so much trouble when he was an infant.  I was with them when it all happened.
And I know they lived through four months of hell.  Yet I know they wouldn’t
give him up for anything.  It seems everything turns out for the best if we
just wait long enough.

Oh yes, as for getting tired of your letters - all I can say is keep them

coming - faster if you can.

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This letter is interupted ever so often.  You see, I have to take time out to
reach for more popcorn.  We had a lousy lunch today so we ate the second cake.
It lasted nearly two minutes - I got one piece.  It was very good while it
lasted.

So Ray Hitchcock is in California.  He gets around too.  Nice that Sally could
go out there.  The short fat fellow is Mr. Hitchcock.  Ray must be in about the
same as Forrest is in.  Does he have any rating yet!

So Ronnie is already quite a party man.  Teach him young.  He might as well
have a full life while young because I suppose when he gets about my age there
will be another war he will have to go to.

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Still no letter from Murray, Hayes or Campbell’s.  Are they mad at you, me,
or just to[o] damn lazy to write.  What has happened to Analee?  You never
mention seeing her anymore.

Oh yes, you probably have guessed I may not have much opportunity to do much
writing while in bivouac but that will be no excuse for you to let up any.  In
fact you should double your writing efforts then as letters will be about the
only nice thing I will receive while out there.   Besides letters makes the
time go faster than anything else.

Well Ronnie my boy it won’t be long now, maybe, so you be a good boy and eat
all your spinach so you will be a big man by the time Daddy gets there.

Don’t you and Eleanor work too hard.  Too much backache and not much sleep
isn’t so good you know.

Love, Daddy