13 Oct October 13, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
13 Oct 45, 3 PM

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

A letter, a v-mail from you, letter from Tostis and a card from Galassini
today.  That’s a little better, but there is still much mail missing.  Oh
yes, a v-mail from Norma too. It certainly is taking Chamberlin a long time
to get the necessary stuff required for a furlough.  However, the way things
seem to be going, now, will not need any of it.  Should something come up,
could always use the information  so it will be nice to have on hand.
Therefore send it on when you or he ever gets it all accumulated.  Who knows
what might happen.  I’ve learned in the Army it always pays to be prepared
for any eventuality.  Guess that applies pretty much for any time too.

Martha F. said Jim was going to some kind of Montgomery Ward school in
anticipation of employment there.  However, he is still interested in
getting into real estate. It seems like there are quite a few men waiting
for me to get a discharge so they can get into the real estate business.
Certainly would

page 2
be a shame if I should happen to cross them all up.  Maybe I’d just better
not show up at all.  She sounded like she was pretty proud of their house.
Also mentioned the fact that everything seems to be very unsettled back there
now.  Suppose it is for some, especially those who have been earning big
money and expected going on doing so.  Wonder how they would like it if they
were earning $64 per month for a couple years besides putting up with other
incidental things that most Americans would never think of puting up with
under ordinary circumstances.

Well tomorrow is my last day of work in the 16th depot and I expect to spend
a good part of that watching a football game.  Seems almost like the States
seeing and talking about football games again.  It would seem a damn sight
better if I could see the Indiana Purdue game this year with you and Ronnie.
Well time and a couple of lucky breaks will tell.  It’s a beautiful Indian
summer day here in France today.  A bit hazy, and cobwebs

page 3
floating in the air just like home.  With the exception of the two weeks of
rain we had here last month, this weather here in France has been nearly
perfect since way last March.  I know what they mean now when they talk
about sunny France.

Had planned on going into Paris Mon. or Tues. for the last time but yesterday
all passes were canceled so Paris is fini for me it looks like.  At least as
far as I know right now.  That is too bad too because had expected to get
close to one hundred dollare out of that little trip.  Oh well, that’s just
a hundred less I’ll have.  The way money comes and goes over here that really
doesn’t sound like much to us.  As for getting someone else to send money
home for me, are you kidding?  Thought I had explained to you that every
soldier over here has more money than they are allowed to send home.  We are
all alike.  And everyone is trying to find a way to send some extra home.

At that I haven’t done too badly as I figure that I have sent you over one
thousand dollars in the last six months.  I wonder how much of it you have
left.

page 4
Not that it makes too much difference, but then it would be nice to have

some of it there to go on when I get back.  What do you think?

How did Mr. Chamberlin come out with the new lease?  Or has he?  No lease,
no business.  And that would pretty much put an end to things in Glenn Elyn.
Well, I’m still worrying about getting home.  So perhaps I should concentrate
my worries on that score instead of a possible business in Glenn Elyn.  So I
guess that’s about what I’ll do.

And so with that, will get back to my work and maybe add a little more to
this sometime later.  How did you like the soldiers like Daddy in the show,
Ronnie?   Well, Daddy wasn’t in that picture but he was in some just
about like that but far more realistic.  Now all my love to you both,

Daddy

Sat 8am
Good morning.  Nothing much to add to above.  I guess this is the last day
at work here.  Now will follow some real loafing I looks like.  Played
ping-pong last night.  See you later,

Wes