27 Oct October 27, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Offshore France, Friday, 8.30 p.m.
October 27, 1944
Friday, 8:30 p.m.
Noteworthy: Dad describes his fellow solders in some detail as they are about
to embark onto French soil and possibly battle.  He is also very introspective
about that himself; could he have avoided service?  And why he didn’t.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

By this time you know I have quit England for good I hope and am now in France
- well a couple miles offshore.  It’s been a beautiful day but windy and that’s
the reason why I’m not on shore this minute.  They claim the water is too rough
for a small boat to come alongside to take us off.  That suits me because the
water looks and is plenty cold.  We are going to have to go ashore soon though
as this ship is not equipped for so many men for long periods of time.  It’s
quite crowded on board but not too uncomfortable.  So far the trip over has
been very uneventful and not too interesting.  Most of the trip over was made
in darkness and fog so couldn’t see much.  The French shore certainly doesn’t
look very imposing from this vantage point but, of course one can’t tell much
about something two miles away.  The sailors on board say there was plenty

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action here D-Day and for many days after.  In fact this ship was in on it and
bears the marks of battle in many places.  It’s an English ship and the English
sailors have many interesting tales to tell.  They have really been around.
They served us the first fried eggs last nite I have had since leaving home.  It
tasted almost as good as a steak.  The food is good on board but not so much of
it.  Rations are pretty scarce, I guess.  I didn’t get seasick this time but
came very close to it this morning.  And my crisis has apparently passed though
and I don’t think I’ll get sick now.

No doubt you are wondering what I have been thinking about now that I am so
near France and the possibility of being shoved into the fray at any time has
been increased 100%.  Frankly, I have purposely refrained as much as possible
from thinking about it.  Instead, I have

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studied the faces and characteristics of the boys on board here with me.  It is
interesting to watch the different reactions of different individuals at times
such as this.  Of course we are still far away from any danger but the
possibilities are still here and we are all pretty much keyed up.  Some show it
in their manner of playing cards, writing letters home, by just standing and
watching something that isn’t there, some want to see everything that goes on,
others are not interested, others keep looking at pictures of those who they
love, others talk of home, some just lie around and try to sleep all the time,
we have a piano on board [and] it is surrounded by singers and music lovers, we
also have a radio, news always draws a big crowd, and many just do nothing.  As
for me, I guess I am a bit abnormal.  I do a little of everything.

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I like to hear the news, music, play poker and bridge, watch the sights and do
a little of most everything else except talk, especially about personal things,
that seems to be what I am worst at.  I enjoy talking to the sailors and seem
to be pretty adept at drawing them out. Of course these Limeys are none too
backwards when it comes to telling of their past deeds.  Not that they don’t
deserve all credit they maybe infer that they are due.  They do have some very
interesting things to talk about.  Then of course at times I get to thinking
about home and you and what we might have done and the many things we can do
when I get home.  Then I think of little Ronnie and how much I would like to be
there with both of you right now.  I wonder what kind of a man he is going to

grow up to be and if he will ever have to do the same things his Daddy is doing
now someday.

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Heaven forbid that that ever happens.  Then sometimes I wonder about the very
few who managed in one way or another to miss this little boat ride.
I wonder at times if maybe I had employed some of their tactics if I too
couldn’t have missed this boat.  I guess in the final analysis I decided it
wouldn’t pay in the long run because here I am and I know I have more real
reasons for staying behind than some of them.  Anyhow I still believe that if
one continues to do what he thinks is right in the end everything will
eventually turn out for the best.  Anyhow that’s what I still believe and until
proven wrong will string along with that belief.  That reminds me, you had
better send another box of powders.  I don’t need them yet but C and K rations
mean taking more powders and I know I will be eating a lot of C and K rations

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now.  And by the time the next box catches up with me the first box will
probably be all gone.

Well my dears I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to mail this or how much of
it the sensor will allow to get through to you, I hope it all, but anyhow I
have written to you and even though you only get parts of it[,] it will still
be a letter and that’s for better than none.  I know I was very grateful when I
got those seven letters and 5 lb box the day before leaving England.  Don’t
suppose I’ll get any mail now for some time.  It seems a move over here always
means at least two or three weeks delay when it comes to our mail.  So until
the next time I’ll be thinking very much of both of you and wishing that this
war all over so I could go home.

I miss you both and love you all the more,
Daddy