April 6, 1945

 

	Camp Edwards, Mass.             6 April 45             1 PM Darling:     Have been sitting around day dreaming ever since I've talked to you - it was so wonderful to hear from you - or rather to hear you -- whether you realize it or not we talked for 14 minutes last night - didn't cost much though only $12.11 - I almost had a breakdown when the charges came thru - but was happy to pay because it was worth every cent or more - I've been dazed since. I want to get home so much to see you & Jack(!) and see all the folks -- I Love you so much Darling!  I've always worried about you so much that it was beginning to get me - it always seeemed to fuitle - there wasn't a darn thing I could have done had I been there - and of course the other problem of getting home was quite a question - so now that our Baby is here & I've set foot on U.S. soil I'm going to settle down and relax & let the Army take it's damn able time! What a great day it'll be when they hand over that 30 day furlough -- but Honey don't be as optomistic as it may be 3 weeks before I get home - it all depends upon the Hospital - it's the general practice to leave in a few days after reaching your general Hosp - so I
	just hope it is that way at the Hospital I end up at -- will probably go to Chicago - the Gardner gen Hosp - there are none in Wisconsin - but all the places are so full that they send them where they can - they've slapped me in the general surgery group - it scares hell out of me - I've already rolled in that operating Room 3 times - it's a dangerous place!  I Love you!  When they pulled out my appendix I thought you were going to be a widow - I'd liked to have kicked the bucket - I got everything - Oxygen - Blood - Dextrose & Penicillin - rather rough shape for two days.  I've had some 880,000 units of Penicillin - an inch long needle every three hours for 5 days & nights - my arms were so sore that I could hardly raise them - it's wonder stuff though!     How's our Son Peg? Have been thinking about calling him Jack - you know when his girl friend(s) call they won't need to be so specific -- I'm really thinking a few years ahead eh what?  Jack Brey - pretty nice name - what 'cha say Ma is it Jack or Johnnie - (Don't mind me I'm only Jealous of my Moniker) I Love you Honey!
	Didn't spent hardly any money till I got here - and look at this     Total when I got here: $126---     Call to Home -          3.50     Call to Ma -            3.50     Call to My Honey -     12.11     Pair of shoes -        4.50     Traveling Bag -        3.95     Haircut - shampoo etc - 2.00     odds & ends -            18.50                    47.86 all in a 24 hour period - and I still have all my insignia - Ribbons - cap and stuff like that to get! It's really rough - money goes like water - was just wondering how far that $300 goes when a gey gets out -- they'd getter give more or bring prices down!  By the way get a duplicate copy of Jack's birth record so we can get that extra $30 - I'm no going to get anything done here because it'll be like my insurance - just a mess -- I Love You Honey.     Suppose you're wondering a little about several of the guys in the Company - about 3/4 or the Company is either killed or missing in action - Nov 14th they jumped off to take St Hubert and it was suicide - but they did get it - and left a holding force there and pushed on - about noon there was a heck of an explosion - the Jerries had left a delayed charge in the Fort blowing up the whole works - killing everyone
	in there - it was a heck of a blow - about 45 men from E Co were in it 0 so then the Jerries cut off our Battalion - and for 6 days they were out there on a hill in Jerry territory - no food, ammunition or blankets but plenty of guts - about 140 men out of the whole Battalion survived!  Birkman - Killed, Klug (Sgt Ldr in my sect.) Missing in Action, Peak 0 Wounded - Shindler - shot himself accidently, Berens - M.I.A., Lamb-K Augustine (Plt Ldr) wounded, Backwich (Plt Sgt) Wounded Bad, Dickenson - Wounded, and scores of others! Oh yes - Janke went nuts.  Ole was killed about 11 o'clock Nov 13th - he was hit by sniper fire & never knew what hit him - it went in one temple and came out the other - at least he didn't have to suffer - death was instantaneous - the heck of it is he new he was going to get killed - or at least always talked about it.  That's where I differed.  Always knew I'd get out of it somehow - but had many anxious moments - those damn Germans are pretty good fighters - and they just Loved knocking out Machine guns.. but we always kicked hell out of them - enough of that stuff -- I Love you Honey!     Honey give our Son a little kiss for his Pa & take take care of yourself -- god Bless you!         I Love you!         Love & Kisses         Johnnie

 

 

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