Thursday, August 17, 1944

Dear Mom and Daddy:

I will write you a few lines this morning before I go to work and let you know I am o.k. Yesterday was the first time I received any mail since June 20. I received 31 letters in all. Well, Mom, you must not worry too much about Shorty. He is in the care of God the same as I am. If the ship Shorty is on is modeled after the old Arctic, she is a nice ship. Well, the invasion came and I still haven't got t scratch. One of these days Guam will be ours again, and then we will hit Japan a time or two before she falls. Well, I bet you Shorty (Clinton) will be right there shelling the beach when the army moves in on land. Shorty may get black from gun-smoke, but he will be there as long as there are any Japs left, and he will be safe and sound. He is a good kid but a tough kid, and when we know what the Japs and Jerrys would like to do to our sweethearts and loved ones-well we can take a lot and still come home smiling because God is our shield.

Keep smiling, Mom,


Gene

England, July 31, 1944

Dear Cleo:

I hardly know how to start a letter to somebody I do not know. But, since I promised Wayne I'd write you a letter sometime in case he didn't come back, I'm sure going to do just that.

Wayne was in my section and we became great buddies. I have just been in H.Q. Btry. since we came to England. I guess Wayne was the first chum I made over here. We went on all our 48 hour passes together and also our furloughs.

A short time before we left, he received the picture you sent him. It was then that he gave me your address and said I should write you. He thought you were the swellest girl in the world.

Wayne and I had our pictures taken just before we left. I have picked them up since returning and if you would like, I would have one of the best ones enlarged and send it to you.

Cleo, there are lots of things I'd like to tell you, but the censors are very strict and they won't let much get by. So, if you care to write me, I'll sure answer your letters. Then when I get home, I'll come and see you and tell you all about everything.

I was wounded on D plus two. I was sent to a hospital after being taken a prisoner by the Germans. I was lucky enough to get to stay at the German hospital where they had wounded American prisoners, until it was too late for the Germans to get me through to Germany. Then they turned me over to a prisoner of war camp where I was kept until the Americans took Cherbourg. At that time I was released and I returned to my outfit.

There's is a lot more I could tell you about my experiences, but it will probably be of no interest to you. So, for now until I hear from you, I remain the best friend of the greatest guy I've ever known.

Sincerely yours,


Kenny

"I can tell you now that we are in Paris, and were the first WAC's here. The people made a fuss over us when we came to town-meeting us and kissing us in the streets. Have a nice hotel and are eating regularly again, and are working 6 1/2 days a week. Spend most of our spare time with our noses against shopping windows, and figuring the difference between francs and dollars. Of course, we lost no time until we went out to Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triumph the first afternoon off duty. Our only means of traveling here is walking, and we really wear ourselves out in the little spare time we have trying to see everything.

"At first, French people would gather in the streets with banjos, accordions and all sorts of musical instruments to 'Stars and Stripes Forever', 'Beer Barrel Polka', 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary', 'Star Spangled Banner', and other American numbers.

"Could write forever about Paris. Tomorrow I am going to see Notre Dame. Tomorrow night we will see Fred Astaire, who is putting on a show here."