19 Oct October 19, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
England
October 19, 1944
Thursday, 7 p.m.

Prescript.
Received your package of stationery yesterday.  Where are the stamps?

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

I hit the jackpot today, as did most of the rest of the company.  It seems that
much of our back mail finally caught up with us.  One fellow got 27 letters.  I
didn’t fare so well but did get eight letters, four from you, all old, one from
Norma, one from Forest, Gladys, and Murray.  The letter from Murray was the
only recent letter and it turns out to be the quickest letter I have received
since coming to England.  It was mailed Oct. 6th plain postage and told about
your visit with the Tostis.  Your last letter merely stated that you were going
out there.  Now you can see how really screwed up the mail

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is.  Your four letters consisted of your anniversary card[,] the card you
mailed while at Paw Paw Lake[,] and two letters Sept 14th and Sept 15th.  The
letters from Gladys, Norma and Forest were all mailed in Aug.  That is really
what I call service.  Nevertheless I am very glad to receive them all and am
more than happy they have caught up with me now.  Very possible that if they
had been a few days later[,] it might have been much later.  Am waiting very
patiently now for that box of powders you say you have sent.  Certainly hope
it gets here soon otherwise it too may do some more chasing.

Thanks very much for the nice anniversary card.  It is a little late but of

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course I know that wasn’t your fault.  And I still do hope you think I am
pretty swell.  I still think you are.  Of course it wasn’t so good getting a
card the same day telling me all about your big dance party at Paw Paw Lake.
Your Sept. 14th letter written Sept. 12th told about your peach canning
experience.  Certainly hope I get back in time to help you and Ronnie stow them
away.  In case you didn’t know it there is a pressure cooker upstairs in the
attic which you could have used and made your work much easier.  This letter
also tells about your new niece.  They are doing alright at that.  I certainly
envy them and what they have and their further opportunities.  Oh well our day
is coming yet.

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Your Sept. 14th letter mailed Sept. 15th told of Mr. Cauble’s visit.  Sounded
like you handled that situation pretty well under the circumstances.  By the
way, what did you think of him[?]  I always had a pretty high opinion of him
myself.  Always found him quiet, very intelligent and well versed on current
affairs.  His one fault was that he allowed his women folk to run over him
pretty much.  In the end though I usually observed that the thing that he
really wanted he got.  You said you went Christmas shopping for me but didn’t
say that you bought anything.  Well I can tell you that I have made some
Christmas shopping efforts too but they all have so far proved very

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unsuccessful to date.  I’m going to hate like hell to disappoint you and Ronnie
but so far the prospects certainly don’t look very bright.  Received the two
clippings, one of the wreck, and the one about <? Claune>.  He looks older
every time I see him.  I think how life must be tougher for him than army life
is for me.

Forest’s letter was a V-mail and didn’t have much to say.  Did tell me about
receiving my letter and about sending you the picture, also that he was to be
stationed in Washington another six months.  He’s really getting a rough break
I’d say.  Gladys had even less to say and since Dick still had a month
training yet when she wrote[,] I still don’t know

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much about where he is.  Norma’s letter was quite newsy and remarked that she
had received a very nice letter from you.  They are all well and want us to
visit them at our first opportunity which I would very much like to do.  Murray
sent me a number of football clippings which I was glad to receive and said you
all had a nice time at the Tostis.  Also said Dewey had a chance to win - I
hope - and he was still at Pullman but his further stay there was questionable.
[He] mentioned that someone he [k]new had worked for Chamberlin in Glen Elyn
and the deal out there looked pretty good.  I took it

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from his remarks that he might even be interested although he didn’t say so in
so many words.  He advised me to be careful of the English gals, but guess the
advise [advice] I have already received on that score has proved sufficient.
So now you see the letter situation has improved a little but there still are
many missing letters and none of yours got here very fast.  Try sending one
or two straight mail once and see what happens.

I’m still on my construction detail.  I did a pretty fair day’s work this
afternoon.  Any time you think mixing concrete by hand is child’s play you
should try it.  Even though I am supposed to be more or less in charge of the
detail, I did a considerable amount

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of work and my back is certainly telling me all about it tonight.  We still
have a few more days of it.  I think by that time I am going to be glad the
job[’s] down.

Well my dears I started this letter just three hours ago - I’ve been
interrupted intermittently ever since plus a few long winded conversations,
etc. plus a pretty long winded letter, which now means it’s bedtime and I’m
ready to call a halt.  I had planned on writing a few other people this
evening, too.  But it looks like you are the only one getting a break.  But
how you rate.  Give my love to Elinor, a big kiss and hug to Ronnie and all
that’s left to you.  No kidding.  I miss you very much and every day now it
gets harder.  Certainly hope this damn war ends soon as I can’t imagine how
I can stand being away very much longer.

Love, Daddy