 | B-6 13 April 45 3 PM Peg, My Darling! Plan on taking off on a Pass tonight – But Minton reported back & I’m going to meet his wife – It’ll be the first Pass I’ve had in over 7 months – quite a while to be holed up – but it hasn’t seem so bad as I’ve just been waiting for the day that yo and I’ll be together. Bert was pretty surprised when I walked in – Bert said he he expected I would be shipped here. There are quite a few fellows here that were in the same hospital as we were in England. I Love You Honey! I Believe the Doctor is going to check us soon – My Records came in today - but Honey let’s give them another week - I’m about sure that I’ll be home a week from today. It’s hard waiting – but something that is well worth waiting for! I Love You Darling! I’ll bet Jackie gets a lot of attention - He’s the first in everything – am hoping we can take him to Florence as he’ll make a pretty good haul – there’s nothing |
| | like a lot of clothes & stuff! I Love You Darling! It’s pretty quiet around here – only a poker game going on – while in the Hospital I’ve learned quite a few card tricks which are fairly good. I Love You Honey! Well Darling am going to clean up and try & dress up – it’s been so long that I don’t remember just how it’s done. So Long for today Honey. God Bless You Both! I Love You Honey! Love & Kisses Johnnie Fifth Month Aneversary today – that is getting knocked on my Can! It was one time I should have been down instead of up! But Chess said “Oh Hell they couldn’t hit you” – what a surprise we had! I Love You! |
April 13, 1945
April 12, 1945
 | B-6 12 April 45 8:10 PM My Dearest Darling Just finished reading about Pres. Roosevelt kicking the bucket. Really a tough blow for our country—we should have Wallace as Vice Pres. instead of that Truman – it’s a rough time to be changing horses. All we can do is hope for the best – but I’m afraid that he’s not the man to deal with Stalin & Churchill – I’ll bet we’ll take a beating the next time the Big 3 meets. Received the Birth Record today and have it entered – lucky Jack was 4 days early instead of 4 days late as you get paid the $30 for March! It’ll probably be June before you get it – but then you should get $140. I’ll keep the $40 allotment going – ah heck I’ll keep everything going – Here’s how my Pay stacks up - Deductions - Ins . $6.50 Class E all $22 Class F $40 Class B $18.75 {=} $86.25 Base Pay - $96 Combat Pay $10 {total} $106 - $86.26 {=} $19.75 which I’ll draw |
 | That’ll be enough for me as there isn’t anything I care to do when you’re not around! It’ll be rough if I get in some new outfit & they bust me down to Pvt – excepting for the money I don’t care. However it isn’t likely. I Love You Darling! Haven’t heard anything about the furloughs yet – but they did tell us to be patient as their over-loaded. So Honey you’ll just have to sit & wait ‘till they get around to it – we still haven’t been examined but we did pee in a bottle today, had a blood count, had a Kahn test (about a half quart of blood) and we had our teeth checked – so now all we need is the Doc’s signature & we’ll be ready to take off. My teeth are in A-1 shape nary a cavity – there are two fillings & 3 teeth missing. If I’m still here Thursday they’re going to clean them. And I plan on being here! Am trying to rush it along by telling them the Baby’s going to be Baptized Sunday 0 but so far it hasn’t worked! It’s almost a joke now – as we’re classified without |
| | even seeing a Doc – and they have us going to school!!! Boy you should hear the guys moan and groan – It’s a damn shame. Everyone’s blowing his cork. Guys here whose casts are really stinking & no one to change them – what a Joint! Well Darling I hope you & Jackie are feeling well – there’s one thing I hope & that is that Jackie when he grows up will find someone what he can Love & someone who can make him as Happy as you've always made me – then I’ll know that life no matter what obstacles confront him will be well worth living! Goodnight Darling and God Bless You Both! I Love You Honey! Loads of Love & Kisses, Johnnie |
Jack Brey (referred to in this letter as Jackie) explains the pay scheme:
The class E allotment (deduction) was living allowance for the wife. The government took $22 out of the pay and gave a wife $50 ($80 after I was born). See http://www.hardscrabblefarm.com/ww2/payscale.htm
Class F allotment was “Class F - By enlisted men to pay their part of the allowance made for support of dependents under the Servicemen’s Dependents Allowance Act of 1942” http://www.hardscrabblefarm.com/ww2/paper_list.htm. This was deducted from pay to support a child (me).
Class B allotment was used to purchase war bonds. That was the WWII equivalent of a savings bond.
http://cbi-theater-1.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-1/lantern/lantern042045.html. Look for War Bonds.
In general, the army took the pay of soldiers in the field and sent it home rather than giving it to the GIs.
April 11, 1945
 | Ward B-2 11 April 45 11 A.M. Dearest Darling: Enclosed is a little card for our Boy – I was going to mail it by itself but am afraid it may get lost. I Love You Honey! Well things are picking up around here – they do have a nurse on – and a Doctor walked thru today. We’re going to have our teeth checked, blood counted & urinal test tomorrow – and if everything checks out O.K. we’ll probably be on our way - It’ll be at least a week yet – they say they’re giving 30 days now so maybe everything will be O.K. afterall. But gosh I’m feally impatient (Darn Pen!) I want so much to get home that this laying around just about has me ready to blow my top! I Love You Darling! Love your Hubby? It’s raining out and the wind is blowing at a pretty good clip! My Leg really hurts when the weather is damp – guess I’m getting old! The wounds seem to pull together tight – it’s just miserable. The Damn War – I see where guys who have |
| | served overseas probably won’t need to go back! I had figured on getting out until I hit here – and now I doubt it very much – my recovery powers are too great – they should put me on limited assignment but having been in the army for 3 years I know we can expect anything! You can bet I’ll raise hell if they try & send me back to full duty! Above all things to happen – my Medical Records are misplaced somewhere – the only thing that came in was my Penicillin record – Army Efficiency they call it! Hope our Son is O.K. & his Mom too - sure hope it isn’t too long till I can Join you two - Well Darling keep on writing – will call or telegraph anything important. God Bless You Honey! I Love You Loads, Love & Kisses Johnnie |
April 10, 1945
 | Ward B-6 10 Apr 45 6 PM Dearest Peggy: Still there isn’t a sign of any activity around here – as yet there hasn’t even been a Doctor around! It sure is one hell of a mess! They at least moved us to another ward – it almost had my hopes up – but we’ve just moved in and that is that. Maybe tomorrow it’ll be a little different – they say they’re going to come around & see if we’re going to live. It’s a damn shame that they can’t do better by their patients – Just hope that every Hospital in the U.S. isn’t likt this! Have my clothes in getting cleaned and they’ll be back Friday – and if I don’t know anything by then I’m going to take off – I want to get home & I’m going to get there one way or another – to hell with the Army! I’m so darn lonesome for you that I’ve got to get home but quick! I Love You Darling! Sure am anxious to see our son – can just picture him – I’ll bet he’s some guy! ope you’re both feeling well. I Love you Honey! |
| | There isn’t much to say about what we’re doing here because it’s nary a thing. I guess that’s the whole trouble there’s too much time to sit and think! I don’t have too hard a time writing now as it’s heaven without censorship – write just what you darn please – wonderful! Am going to write Chess a letter tonight - in case you care to write his name is StSgt Alex J Cieslewicy – 16093244 – I know he’ll appreciate it. Well Darling am going to sign off – give my best to all the folks. God Bless You Darling I Love You! Love & Kisses Johnnie Give our Boy a Kiss for his Pa! |
April 9, 1945
 | Ward B-2 Winters Gen H 9 April 45 6PM C.S.T. My Darling Peggy I sure missed the boat when it came to getting a Hosp near home – but that’s the Army for you – there’s nothing like making a person unhappy! And what a mess this is – we came in early this morning & I haven’t even seen a sign of a Doctor around here – there isn’t even a nurse – all they did was say there’s a bed – hop to it – It seems to me that they should be aware of the fact that we’ve just come from overseas & are all but killing ourselves wondering how & when we’ll get home! It beats me – up until now everything has been so fine -- and here where you’re supposed to really be treated there isn’t a damn thing done! From what the other patients here say we’ll get a leave within a week or ten days – but not 30 days only 21 – but then you can wire for an extension – well the best I can do is wait & see what happens tomorrow. Maybe this is a Hospital!! Hope that you & Jackie are feeling well – you certainly sounded |
 | good this afternoon – almost have an urge to call again tonight – I could listen to you all Day & night – I Love You So Much Honey! Am really anxious to see our Son. I’ll bet he’s quite a fellow – I do know he has the swellest mother in the world! Hope that we’ll be able to take him to Florence with us – but am almost afraid that he’s a bit young to be running around the Country side – so I believe Florence will have to come to him! Hope you wait ‘till I get home before you have him Babtized – and hae you thought about who’ll be his God-Parents? I was thinking of Uncle Billy & Aunt Mary – but that is entirely up to you! I Love You Mom!! Had a nice trip here – went by way of Canada – we were parked in the Union Station Chicago almost all of Sunday Aft & they wouldn’t let us leave the train – and there was one kid only 11 blocks from home and I’ll be damn if they left hem get off – a bunch of U.S.O. commanders are running the Army back here – over where the shells are flying there aren’t many people talking what you can do & what you can’t!! I’m pretty disgusted tonight! I Love You Honey! |
| | Was pretty surprised to hear that Bert Minton was here – I went down to the Register's office right away & found that he’s home on furlough – his due back here the 12th – so I’ll probably see him then. He’s quite a guy – humorous as heck! Sell Darling take care of yourself & Jackie – I’ll try & see if I can get home soon – if someone wakes up around here - maybe they’ll come in and have a look at these headaches tomorrow! God Bless you Darling! I Love you Loads & am terrifically lonesome for you! Love & Kisses Your Hubby & Pa I Adore You! Today’s call $4.06 |
April 6, 1945
 | Camp Edwards, Mass. |
 | 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 |
page 2
Page 3
Page 4
April 5, 1945
 | Camp Edwards, Mass 5 April 45 My Darling Sweetheart & Mama! Have so much to write about & hardly know where to start – but first I Love You Peg Darling – and am so darn proud of you that I’m about to bust! Was really happy to get the news of our Son’t arrival – called as soon as I got here – it only took 15 minutes to get the call thru- Am I happy? It’s hardly a word to use - everything Honey is better than even my ondest dream – Am going to call you tonight – but only hope that if you’re not ablt to get to the phone you don’t try – cause I surely don’t want anything to happen to you! Am still so nervous & excited that I can hardly write – called Ma after I talked to Billy – and she was pretty excited – But our Boy was the thing - Have always wanted to it to be a boy - but didn’t get my ho[es too hight as I always figured it would be just as hard to have a boy a a girl. I Love You Honey! |
 | Will be leaving here soon for some hospital near home – have had quite a bit of patience till now – it’s starting to get me – you see there’s a 30 day furlough awaiting me somewhere here in the States! And I sure do want to get moving – that wait in England was a lilly – I should have been home the 1st of March – we were to be evacuated by air – but it had to be foggy – and after a week’s wait they called it off – it was hellish – every minute just sitting and waiting for that call – don’t believe I was ever disappointed in my life – am feeling good – everything is fine – the only thing I need is a good Discharge (Army Discharge! ahem!) but believe it’s a little too much to hope for – have played it about as far as it’s worth – maybe I’ll get a limited assignment somewhere in the states – guess being hospitalized 5 months is spoiling me - I don’t believe I’ll be able to go back to full duty – am really lazy – I Love You Peg Darling! My Lef will be O.K. someday I hope – there isn’t much they can do for it – am sweating out another little operating though as there’s a little piece |
| | of steel still left – and they may go a digging for it – hope not as I’ve had all the cutting I care to have! I Love You Honey (Actual size sketch of scars) That’s about what they look like! Well Peg Darling kiss our son for me – will have to sign off for tonight (Morning!) I Love you My Darling! Love and Kisses to Both of You! Daddy (It’s authorized now) Don’t write to this joint as I’ll only be here shortly! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)