06 Oct October 6, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Oct. 6, 1944
Friday 7 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad tries smoking a pipe. Dad describes the cold at the front.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

One letter today, no. 7.  That makes letters two, three, five, and seven I
have received.  Don’t know the reason for the numbered letters yet, but
suppose someday I’ll get number one then I’ll know, counting my Aug. letters,
find that there are ten short.  Don’t know if you wrote every day or not,
anyhow there are ten days out of the month missing.  This letter today was
written Sept 7th and mailed Sept 9th.  Guess you forgot to mail that one.

This letter is the one telling about Gallacini’s visit.  Sounds like there is
still money in real estate.  Don’t think much of his idea for <? icmornic>
security, but his <? scmornic> ideas never amount to much.  I have written him.
He should have received it a long time ago.  As for that matter, I

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have never heard from him either.  Hope you and Oralee got to go to the show
and she got off O.K.  Suppose she is in Washington by this time.  Sounded like
Elinor would be away for a while, how is she getting along now?  Tell her she
has my consolations and I wish I were there with her -- well at least I wish I
were there.  So Ronnie misses you too when you run off and leave him.  [I]
Suppose he does feel sort of left at home when you leave.  I had big hopes of
being home by Christmas or for his birthday at the latest[,] but from the looks
of things right now don’t believe there is any possibility of either.  In fact,
now I am not even hazarding a guess as to when I’ll be home.  [I] Just hope it
will be early next year.  That doesn’t sound very optimistic, I know,

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but things look none too optimistic right now for an early ending of things
over here.  These Germans are going to be a tough nut to crack before they
throw in the sponge.

Well we [censor] our [censor] training last night with a pretty tough [censor]
that lasted until after 1 A.M. today.  Then up again at 6 A.M.[,] just an hour
later than usual for another day of Army life.  They let up a little on us
today but not enough for us to forget we are still in the Army.  Now I am just
waiting for the <? Wed.> <? movie> which doesn’t look any too good although no
one knows anything yet.  I get my pass to London next week providing we are
still here.  Suppose I’ll get moved just in time to get cheated out of it.  My
usual luck.  London is the one place

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I really wanted to go to over here.

I definitely gave up trying to smoke a pipe today and sold the pipe and tobacco
pouch both.  Every time I smoked the thing it made my stomach burn so I could
hardly stand it.  Got one pound ten shillings (three dollars) for the tobacco
pouch, was that enough?  Anyhow, I have money in my pocket and hope to have a
better stomach as a result of my decision.  Guess I’ll have to take up
something else for diversion.

I have written to the Hayes, Campbells, Jostes, Sterling, Gladly[s], Dad,
Gallacini and others without receiving an answer.  [I] wonder if it’s me or
just that I don’t receive my mail.  I know for a fact I don’t get very much.
Certainly hope some of it catches up with me before I leave here.

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If it doesn’t I may never get it.  Especially your packages.

You talk about it being cold in Chicago, well kid, you never have been really
cold until you have lived in this lousy, damp country.  I’ve never worn so many
clothes and yet be so cold in my life as I already have here.

Well this is about all for one day.  One thing I wish to remind you of is your
promise to go to bed early.  Staying up so darn late every night when there is
no reason for it seems just a little ridiculous to me and I know it’s not the
best for your health.  You know you can’t very well afford to get sick as long
as I’m so far away, can you?  Enough’s enough.  So bye for now and I miss you
both very much and love you just as much.

All my love,
Daddy