13 Sep September 13, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
13 Sept. 45, 4 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad is bitter and disgusted about not being sent home and quite cynical.

Dearest Alice and Ronnie,

Taking a few minutes off from work again to let you know I’m still alive but
kicking.  My mail has been very light the past few days but I did receive a
letter from you dated Sept. 5th.  And for some reason lately your letters are
taking a few days longer getting here.

Really sounds like you did have a busy week last week with Gladys[,] Dick, Elsie
and all.  Has Dick left yet and what to or did he know?  Is Elsie’s husband going
to get out very soon?  Nothing new on my status so guess had better drop it at
that because I’m pretty disgusted with the whole thing.

Well I’m still waiting for those dresses.  Don’t worry about sizes[,] kinds etc.
They can use anything over here.  Although for the life me, don’t really know
what I will do with me money since we can only send home now the amount we are
paid.  Of course I can always bring it with me if I ever come home.  But I’d
better not get started on that again.  When I think about everyone being home
and going home and me being

page 2
stuck here for months yet in all probability[,] I boil.

I don’t remember if I told you that I finally got Norma’s package mailed to her.
Certainly hope it doesn’t take that long to get something off to the rest of them.

[I] Understand we are finally going to be paid tonite.  Only two weeks late.  Not
that it makes any difference to me, as I have over a hundred dollars now that I
don’t know what to do with.  But it’s a typical example of usual army efficiency.
Really sorry I didn’t buy Chamberlin out outright, because then I believe I could
now get out on plea of necessity to the business or Chamberlin’s health or
something.  As it is, don’t believe I have a chance under present circumstances.
Now if Chamberlin could show the Red Cross that I had bought him out and he is
now in no further condition to continue operating the business[,] there might be
a chance.  Of course if you or Ronnie were to get seriously ill, I could get out
too but [I] certainly wouldn’t want that to happen.  Oh well maybe someday we’ll
laugh at all our present troubles -- Right now it’s quitting time and I’ve put in
enough hours at this dump.  See you later.

Wes

page 3 10 P.M.

Saw a pretty good show this evening.  Edward Arnold in a murder mystery plus a
very good Tom and Jerry short.  Bet Ronnie would have liked that one.  I could
almost hear him laughing.  I know I got the first good laugh I have gotten for
some time.  After the show I visited Madame Guethur with some more black
marketing.  And now I have still more Francs.  She gave me a couple very nice
tomatoes which will help supplement our lousy food we’ve been getting lately.
After this letter[,] a wash[,] shave and [it’s] off to bed.  I guess most of the
other boys are out to the dance they are having around.  Me being a good boy and
not caring any too much for dancing anymore anyhow[,] stay at home alone and
mind the room or something.  Any how I’m here alone except for our practically
helpless invalid.  [I] Think he’s going home next week (discharge for over age)
if he’s still alive by then.  He was so bad last nite we took him up to the

dispensary.

page 4
They gave him a couple pills and back he came.  Guess a man has to be dead to get
in a hospital over here anymore.  And he’s not far from it.

I have been fighting a slight cold for the past few days.  That plus some new
breaking out on my face hasn’t helped my mental attitude any too much.  Guess
I’ll live through it though.  Have so far.  One thing I’m convinced of now is I
made one hell of a big mistake ever letting them discharge me from the hospital
last July.   Seems like I just miss the boat every time.  Sometimes I wonder if
my whole life will be one of just missing the boat.  I seem to have been pretty
successful at it todate.

Enough of all this feeling sorry for myself.  I guess I still have you and Ronnie
to think and dream about.  At that there must still be hope for some kind of a
future.

Now all my love to you both and goodnite,
Daddy