24 Oct October 24, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice R. [E] Shonkwiler
England
October 24, 1944
Tuesday 2:35 p.m.
Noteworthy: Dad thinks the war will not change him much. Dad gives child
rearing advice. Dad explains (facetiously?) why he is saving the letters.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Another windfall today.  Seven letters -six from you dated Sept. 15th, 16th,
and 22nd, Oct. 12th - 2nd and 13th.  That means 11 days for the last one and
that’s the fastest to date.  The other letter was from Jim Tosti dated sometime
in Oct. the 10th I think it was.  Now that’s a pretty good haul and makes me
very, very happy because they have come just in time.  Having been doing much
again today.  In fact this reminds me very much of the two weeks following
July 13th.  Played a little poker this morning, did a few small things for the
Army and right now I’m doing a thing or two for you and Ronnie.  Most of the
other fellows are <? recessed> in the same manner so I have the right
environment at last.

page 2
Haven’t received any more of the 5 lb boxes you mentioned having sent me
except the two I have already told you about.  Just think what I have to look
forward to.  Some of the meals you tell me you are having back home certainly
make me sick I’ll tell you.  At that though, I’d much rather have you eating
well and me not than to have all three of us not eating well.  So far I get
plenty, the only trouble is it’s just food.  Certainly sounds like Ronnie is
doing all right.  Hope he is as well and healthy as you say.  As for Judy, she
had those <? experiences> before and nothing has happened.  How dogs must have
their day it seems.  Glad you got to see "Private Hargrove."  I wonder what
that guy would have done over here.  It was nice of Murray and Marge to take
you and include a dinner.  Hope he got the storm windows up for you.  They
certainly should be up by this time.  The $8 gas fill seems about right for
Sept.

Sending Christmas cards this year will

page 3
have to be entirely your worry I’m afraid.  Send one each to my family -
you know their addresses.  If not, they are in that box of Christmas cards or
some box in the attic.  The others, as far as I am concern will just have to
realize that there is a war on and I am in it.  Of course there are a few that
I would like to send to but if I start with one there will be no end so just
won’t start.  And the same goes for the gifts.

I am glad you got Ronnie the blocks.  I’ll bet by now he knows the alphabet
forwards and backwards.  Boy do I wish I was there to help teach him.  I’d like
to help fix up a couple rooms too.  Also do something about seeing that there
was a need for a second room.  Glad you had Mrs. Ivers over for dinner.  I
wrote Al again but have only received the one V-mail from him.  I wonder where
he is now also Dick.  I will look Dick up across the channel, I guess.  Sounds
like Al is getting about the same deal I’m getting here.

Was kind of cute what Ronnie said.

page 4
about the show.  Guess he takes after his ole man a little at that.

6:15 p.m.
And one 5 lb package later.  Now that really makes a big day for me, doesn’t
it?  This package was the one with the very fine soap, can with fruit cake,

candy, and the packages of gum all in excellent condition and very welcome
indeed.  The candy was all gone before it went around[,] also a good part of
the gum.  Haven’t started on the fruit cake yet.  But it looks good and I know
what it’s going to taste like.  Think I’ll save that for a couple days.  Oh
yes[,] this was the Christmas package from my little Ronnie.  He sure knows
what Daddy likes.  This certainly is and has been a mixed up year.  Here I am
four thousand miles from home, having Christmas in Oct. and doing many other
things I can’t tell you about that I never thought I’d ever be doing.  Well
such is life and

page 5
When I do get back hope I’ll be richer for my experiences, not necessarily from
mercenary standpoint but from traveling, what I have seen, etc.  As for a
readjustment after this is all over, no doubt there will have to be one to a
certain degree bBut I don’t believe it will be so drastic as you apparently are
thinking.  If we were much younger, say in our early twenties, and as yet not
settled down to some sort of routine[,] it might be as you apparently expect.
As it is, at least from my standpoint down to some sort of routine, it might be
as you apparently expect. As it is, at least from my standpoint, I don’t think
this army will change me so much.  Of course I still don’t know what all I have
to go through before I reach home so can’t say for sure how I will be but one
thing I do know[,] I am not going to start worrying about it now.  There are
bigger things.

Censored

page 6
at an age where it is only natural for him to grow and change.  I fully expect
it.  As for you guiding him the right way[,] I think you are capable and will
do it.  And very much in a way that I would want it were I there to help.  Just
remember one thing[,] always do what you think is right and you will never be
far wrong.  Between now and the time when I do return, it is up to you to keep
things going there as best you can, take care of your and Ronnie’s health and
remember that day will come and we can start again where we left off almost a
year ago now.  Maybe yet the war will be over this year and we can start
planning on that big day when I’ll step on board that boat for a one-way trip
to Chicago and home.  Now back to your letters.  I still have the one written
Oct. 12th to answer.

page 7
G.F.R.S. means ground force replacement service, replacement pool, A.P.O. 129.
In other words just a new name for the same thing.  I too don’t know just what
it all means but guess I soon will. I assume that your guess is as good as any.
As for you being able to express yourself better on paper, well why do you
think I’m trying to save all your letters?  I’ll really have something to hold
over your head then. Now won’t I.  As for me and my peculiarities, believe you
are pretty well versed in most of them.  One of the worst, of course, is my
habit of keeping things pretty much to myself which has been acquired over the
years.  That I will try to overcome but don’t expect too much as I have been
hat way for a long time and army life isn’t changing that characteristic much.
Anyhow time will tell and

page 8
it will be an experience similar to one you once told me you preferred to have
if you started from scratch when you got married. Remember?

Tosti’s letter was rather short and nothing in it that was new.  It was still
welcome and I’m glad he thought enough to write.  He did a nominal amount of
griping which was as I had expected.  Might do some of those fellows a lot of
good if they went through a little of what some of the boys in the Army
experience daily.  I think they would appreciate what they now have a little
more then.

Enough for today, my dears, thanks again for the nice Christmas box, and give
Ronnie and Mommy an extra big kiss and hug for me and keep your fingers crossed.

All my love to you both, also give Eleanor a little of if there’s any left
over.  Hope she is fully recovered by now.

Daddy