10 Sep September 10, 1945

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
10 September 45, 10:30 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad expresses bitterness about his situation which has driven some
"nuts".

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

A little late tonight much to my sorrow.  Have been playing poker and since my
luck completely deserted me all of a sudden. I have lost for a change.  Decided
I had lost enough, so quit and now will finish the evening writing to you.

[I] received two letters from you today both mailed Sept. 4th and one from Al
Evers - who is now a T4.  I guess he really got a tough break about coming
home but hell have been getting tough breaks for two years now so he shouldn’t
kick.  Besides it looks like I am still getting them and don’t have any

Sgt’s stripes to console me either.

He is at Oryx, France as you know, which is someplace near Marseille.  As near
as I can figure out, we both were in the same camp at Marseille at the same
time.  Certainly would have been a coincidence if I had run into him, wouldn’t
it?  He talks like he has a good deal there now and I know Southern France is
nice so I guess he has.

page 2
There isn’t much new here except they are already sending men out from HQ Co.
[I] don’t know how much longer I’ll last.  I’m at a point where I don’t give a
damn.  I’ve taken so much now that I figure I’m just about <? survivance> to
the worst the Army can dish out.  That is if I don’t go nuts first like one of
the boys here in our room has done.

We have a pretty sad case here.  The Sgt, you remember the one about my age or
a little older, married no children and not too true to his wife, but not too
bad either.  Well while I was on my vacation he went on a bender and has never
recovered.  That’s over four weeks ago.  We think he has lost his mind, plus
drinking heavy and possibly using narcotics although we can’t prove it.  We’ve
done what we can for him in the room.  [We’ve] Tried to get the CO interested
without any success to date, tried to get him to the Doctor and many other
things but still no success.  Right now he is really a sad case.  Something is
bound to happen soon now.  The worst is he is

page 3
eligible for discharge on age now.  Should go home in a very few weeks if he
is able.  Well that’s just one case of what four years in the army can do to a
person.

Doesn’t sound like you had a very exciting Labor Day.  What is wrong with the
car anyway?  Or has it been fixed by now?  So Ronnie has some extravagant ideas.
Such as a new pair of shoes occasionally.  Perhaps we will be able to buy him
an extra pair or two someday at that.  Plus a few other things for all of us.

I’m pulling with all my might to make it by Christmas but if I were you and
Ronnie, I wouldn’t count on it too much.  Right now my chances look pretty slim
much to my sorrow.  However, I’m still hoping for that first real break from the
Army.  Maybe I’ll get it yet!

Now all my love,
Daddy