08 May May 8, 1945

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
May 8th, 1945, Wednesday, V.E. Day, 10.35 p.m.
Noteworthy: tale of a prisoner of the Nazi’s.

My darling,

Well honey, guess I don’t have to tell you what today means to Ronnie and me.
If it weren’t for the fact that the war in the S. Pacific still has to be won,
it would be the happiest moment in my life.  But as it is, there is still that
shadow to dim complete happiness.

What celebrating was done was done yesterday, it seems, as today was
comparatively quiet.  Marge called this morning, and as she didn’t have to
work, she and I and Ronnie went to the Nantucket for lunch.  Murray had to
work as all the employees had to sign a pledge to work several months ago.
In fact, most defense plants did work today.  Several closed yesterday,
however, as altho it wasn’t official, it was rumored that the Germans had
surrendered at least.

At least now, that the war in

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Europe is over, I can begin to plan on your coming home at least before this
time next year, and that is something even though indefinite.  I’m pretty
sure you won’t have to go to the Pacific, or at least that is what the Red
Cross seems to think.

We had a nice lunch today, consisting of calves’ liver and onions, parsley
buttered potatoes, corn, consomme, hot rolls, coffee, and raspberry sherbet.
Marge paid the check, so I thought that was pretty nice.  After lunch, we
came home, and Marge cut out a purse and hat for herself.  I’m going to make
a set for myself, too.

When we finished that, Edith Hays called and asked me to comb her hair for her,
so I said, OK.  And she came right over.  She’d  had it set and lacquered a
week ago so you can figure out what a rat’s nest it was to comb.  I managed

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to get it looking quite nice and she seemed very pleased with the results.  I
just can’t imagine how she could go a week without combing her hair.  I know
I couldn’t.

After she left I loaded the lawnmower into the car and dropped it off to be
sharpened on the way to Marge’s apt., as I was taking her home.  When we got
to Marge’s she asked if Ronnie and I would have supper with them.  So we did.
We had roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, Waldorf salad, corn, bread and
butter, coffee and cherry pie, all very good.  The beef was some Murray’s
mother had canned and given to Marge some time ago.  The stuff can’t be
bought anymore it seems.

We left there about 9:00 and came home and put Ronnie to bed.

Page four, 12:00 midnight
The pages just came home and we had some coffee and donuts.  After all my
eating today I’m terribly sleepy so guess I’ll retire and finish this letter
tomorrow, darling.

Ronnie was a pretty good boy all day today and was so tired that he fell
asleep in a jiffy tonight.  He had a busy day dining out with the women and
then at Marge’s, he and Murray were looking at magazines. (Ronnie in Murray’s
lap of course).  When Ronnie does get stubborn, Murray seems to be able to

handle him better than either Marge or I.  Guess it’s that masculine touch.
In other words, he needs his daddy.  (As if you didn’t know that!)

Good night now and I’ll write more tomorrow.
Truth is, I just can’t

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wait to get to bed so I can dream of my honey.  When you get home, I won’t
have to hurry to bed, will I?  On account of I won’t have to dream then.

Wednesday, May 9th, 8:30pm.
Here it is another day and still the same letter.  (Guess I’m up to your
tricks now.)

I’m just dead right now and ache all over.  I’ve been digging dandelions and
weeds out of the front yard all day.  What a job.  You see it’s been so windy
that all the seeds from the weeds in the vacant lot all have blown over to
our lot and such a mess I’ve never seen.  It’ll take me three or four more
days of digging before I’ll be able to mow the lawn again.  I got the lawn
mower

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back from having it sharpened tonight.  Cost $1.50, which is cheap in
comparison to what most charge as this fellow does it at his home on
103rd near State Street.  He’s a Hollander and told me tonight that his son
is home on a 60 day furlough after spending five months in a Nazi prison camp.
He was liberated by the Russians in January.  He had lost 40 pounds but
otherwise seemed okay and is regaining his weight slow but sure.  After his
furlough he will go to Miami and from there may be shipped to the Pacific.
He had said that Nazi cruelty is all it’s cracked up to be.  Again I thank
God you were not a prisoner of war.

I’m enclosing a clipping on Indiana and "Bo" McMatlan.  Thought it might
interest you.  You’ll note

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that torn corner on second page will be found on the back side of the first
page.  Or do you get what I mean?

I had a letter from Eleanor Dlanky yesterday.  I’ll enclose it with this if
it won’t weigh too much.  If so, I’ll send it in tomorrow’s letter.

I’m packing another box to send you.  I hope this reaches you now that you
are finally settled for a change.  I sent you a box of powders in the other
day.  Hope you get it okay this time.  I’m not spending much this time as it
hardly seems worthwhile when there’s so little chance that you’ll receive
it.  The can of fruit I’m sending costs 80 blue points, so you see it’s
pretty hard for me to send canned goods now

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adays.  Fruit of any kind in cans is practically extinct anyway.  Was lucky
to get this.

Ronnie told me today that you were going to take him riding on his sled and
in an airplane when you come home.  Boy, looks like you’ll have to really
step when you get here.  How will you take him sled riding if you should get
here in July?

Every day he picks me a bouquet of gorgeous dandelions and brings them in
for me to put in a vase.  One day he had 6 water glasses filled with
dandelions lined up on my kitchen table.  Oh well, guess taint every son who
gives his Mom flowers at his age.  We sure have fun.

Good night sweetheart, and take good care of yourself.  You belong to me,
and I want you home safe and soon.

Love, Mom and Ronnie.

P.S.
Thank you for the sweet Mother’s Day cable, darling.  The operator when she
called, said it was from my son overseas.

P.S.
Wednesday
I got a V-mail dated April 29th today.