08 Sep September 8, 1945

letter
from: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
Compiegne, France
8 Sept. 45
Sat 4 P.M.

My dear Alice and Ronnie,

No mail today and no additional news so really, there isn’t much to write about.
You will notice I’m finally using some of that stationery you sent me way last
winter.  Writing paper is something we have plenty of right now.

I took off this afternoon with the boss to see the ball game.  The ball game is
over now and I think the boss went back to work.  But I decided I wasn’t worth
going back for one hour.  Anyhow, I worked real hard this morning and got all
my work taken care of so I didn’t have anything to do this afternoon.  There
really is very little to do.  Of course there have been plenty of rumors today

 -  all rumors so not worth repeating.  As far as I know the news for me is
still bad and I’m due for a little trip to the 19th Depot.  Until we actually
start moving out there is still hope.  And knowing the army[,] realize anything

page 2
can happen to change the present set up.  So keep your fingers crossed.

Finally mailed a package to Norma today.  Sent Norma some perfume. Claudette[,]
a bag like I made for you, Wayne a watch fob and some French money, Carol some
wooden shoes and Joan a couple handkerchiefs.  Barney just about got left out.
It’s practically impossible to find anything for men here.  Hope he doesn’t
feel slighted.  Think I’ll tackle Dad and Forrest’s family next.  But probably
won’t be able to get something for all of them.  Claude’s family is going to be
tough too.

Had sorta planned on going out to this village for another black market
<? meads> again tonite but the weather looks like rain and besides don’t
exactly feel up to it so will probably wait until someday next week now.

Heard today that Dan Sweeney is now back in the depot in this little town about
20 miles out.  So guess he didn’t go to So. Pacific after all.  Saved by a hair.

I’m writing this letter now because no doubt this evening there will be a poker
game until <? wait> late and not

page 3
much chance to do much writing then.  Since most of us have Sundays off now
it’s usually pretty late before we all go to bed on Saturday nites.

Well Ronnie how are you these fine days and do you miss your Daddy very much.
How’s that gym set of yours and are you quite an acrobat now?  Also how’s your
baseball playing and all your little playmates?  You know Daddy is going to be
home some of these days maybe so you’d better hurry up and get practiced up so
you can show me how good you are when I get there.

Now run over and give Mommie a big hug and kiss for me and then have Mommie
give you one for me too.  And some of these days I’ll be home to do it myself.

All my love,
Daddy

3 P.M. Sunday
Hello,

As I expected, spent the evening last nite seeing a lousy show and playing
poker.  The poker was not so lousy.  I made thirty dollars.  Don’t know what
good it’s going to do me.  I have one hundred and

page 4
fifty dollars on me now and can’t send it home.  I am only allowed to send
twenty dollars home this month.  It will be along is a few days.  We didn’t get
paid this month either and that’s about fifty dollars more I have coming if and
when.

Can’t remember if I told you or not but for some very mysterious reason the
French gov’t all of a sudden decided to pay all American soldiers in France
850 francs a month.  We received the first month’s allotment today.  Not bad at
all but it seems damn funny to me that the French ever consented to giving us
anything.  Anyhow I’m getting a total of $81.20 per month now.  So you see I
get a Sgt’s pay even though I’m only a PFC.  Of course everyone else’s pay is
increased by the same amount so that is no consolation.

If the restriction on sending money home lasts I may be getting on that boat
with a pretty heavy pocketbook.  Although at that it is rumored that the most
you can get changed into American money money is $400.  Always something to
worry about.  Boy there are some men around here who have plenty more

page 5
than that right now.  Especially some of these lucky crap shooters.  There is a
crap game going on every night next door that really runs into the thousands of
dollars.  And I’m not kidding.  Personally, I stick to poker.  Although it’s
fun to watch once in a while.

Received one letter today.  The one with Rosen’s letter enclosed.  Certainly
glad to hear he and Rogers pulled through alive.   I hadn’t heard from either
one since way last winter so had wondered about them.  Sounds like he is doing
all right now.  At least he is back in the States and I hear now that the 95th
is not going to the So. Pacific so guess they are all pretty happy about it.

It rained practically all last nite and today hasn’t been much of a change
so you can imagine how much I’ve done.  Most of the boys in the room have had
to work today so I’m mopping around alone.  Took my laundry over to my French
friend and she gave me a French kiss for bringing her an English French
dictionary from Paris.  Bet that you are jealous now for sure.  Her old man was
right there so guess you needn’t worry.  She

page 6
also gave me a couple nice ripe tomatoes.  The tomatoes alone were worth the
trouble and the small cost.  They are really nice people and a very easy outlet
for all my excess commodities.  By the way did I tell you that since GIs are
leaving France so fast practacally everything has gone up.  We now get 75
francs for cigarettes and laundry soap, 25 francs for gum and candy, and etc.
With an extra ration once in a while that also helps our income considerably.
There are plenty men over here making more money than they have ever made
before in their lives and possibly ever will again.  The spoils of war one
might say I suppose.  [I] Would much prefer working for my living back home,
but "while in Rome, do as Romans do" or some such foolishness.

Guess it’s time to go now so until tomorrow that’s about it.

All my love and don’t pay too much attention to those bad dreams.  It doesn’t
pay.

Love, Daddy