The Wartime Letters of John Brey, Jr.: January 2043

JOHN BREY JR.

This is a posthumously published blog of letters written by SSG John Brey Jr. to his wife Peg between March 1943 and July 1945, covering training in USA, Deployment to England, France, front line service up to being wounded at the battle for Metz on Nov 13, 1944, and 7 months recuperation in England, and Topika Kansas. His wife delivered his first son, Jack in March 1945 while John was in route back to the US from England. After convalescent leave in May 1945, John remained away from his new family in an Army Hospital in Kansas until his discharge at the end of July.

This blog is maintained by Ken Brey with thanks to Jack Brey who did the scanning and organization, Dot Fulks who holds the original letters and Ed Brey who helped with the technical aspects of creating the blog.

Want to help? Post comments which include the full text of the letters. I will integrate the full text into the blog when there is enough of it.

January 22, 1943

	Saturday January 22nd, 1943 Peg, Darling: Will attempt to write – altho I feel more in the mood to play cards or something – it gets hard to find something to write about here because it’s the same things day after day – and you’ll get tired if I just keep writing & telling you how much I love you – even though I never tire telling you! I do love you! Hon I made a semi-futile attempt to write to Louise last night – it really presented a problem to me – guess I’m not much at writing – but I did try – so I should get E for effort – I love you! Played Poker for a few hours today – made all of 5 cents – right now there’s a tremendous crap-game going on with some 2000 bucks in the game – a lot of money changing hands – I think I’ll be satisfied with what Uncle pays me & keep out – Italian guys are great for gambling – Gee Honey but I Love You! How we are definitely moving out of the desert soon – no one has the slightest idea where – but I do know they are disgusted with the division & there’ll either be more training or guard – whatever it is doesn’t make
	a hell of a lot of difference – I Love You! Just noticed I forgot to enclose Mom’s letter last night – will try better today Honey! Saturday – I wonder what you’re doing – if you’re gonna write to me – being since you’ve been there I haven’t received a letter wrote on Saturday! At first I thought you worked Saturday’s & charged it up to that – but since finding out You don’t – well – well – well – I Love You! Guess You must have changed a little cause I know from 18 months of experience that if you had time to write you most assuredly did --- such is life – I Love You! Another problem will start at 7 bells tomorrow morning -- they naturally couldn’t leave us have a Sunday off --- don’t know if I’ll be able to write as this is an attack problem & that means a lot of walking – will try though! I Love You Hon! Was studying the intricacies of Logarithm for awhile today – I have one almost done – it’ll take at least a week to finish it as I find I’m pretty rusty with my trig. – will give you the problem & you try it & when I finish I’ll send my answer & work for a comparison – Find the value of [cubed root ((3678^4 x 3.257^2)/(1679^(2/3) x 1.345^1.5))] Isn’t it a lulu? I Love You!

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