February 10th, 1945
C932 Bdn. C. l
58th Spt 4th Med Agt R.C.D
C.H.O
Dear John, Georgia and family,
Tonight I suppose I am setting on working in one of the dirtiest filthiest holes of civilization, but still I have informationto write. Perhaps it is because all you folks back there seems near and dear dayto me. I have been working hard to-day and I am wet, cold & tired, but never before have you all back there seemed so close to me. I think it is because we all are afraid of what of may be left and it may be the last opportunity to communicate with you or else it is an information from some which we all sooner or later become aquanted with. To-day to me has been one of hell, of hardships & suffering not for me but for other men. I have seen & had things happen to-day that makes one wonder about life. It has made me realise that somewhere I have someone looking out for my protection. I believe it is from prayers which have been and are being offered by all of you folks alone to me back home. We here are even cold, wet and miserable, things happen quietly and death is but happening, but the papers make it sound glamorous or whatever you may call it. I believe journalists say headlines to me it is tragic. Such young faces full of life and then the direct contrast, twenty years old and a bit more seem to be the unfortunate ones, why I don’t know. New to the game I guess. I think of you all back there with your table full and surrounded by happy faces, and here cold and suffering all that we have to hope for is spring and soon it will be finished.
Then there is the future. After, soon it will be six years of army life for me. What will I do when this terrible mess is finished, will I be fit for anything else? That question I think seems most of the old timers as the young reinforcement call us when they come in. Well so much for that but I just seem to get an information and suddenly it all crashed down at me. That is the way things happen here where so many of us are. I know folks all read the papers, great news but I am sure little they realise the dangers, suffering and hardships which make these headlines. To-day more than ever before many times I have thought of you all and wondered if ever will I again see Francis, Alma, Catherine and yourselves.
The children which to me seem babies as yet will greet me as uncle Ree. I often wonder what tomorrow will bring faith. They seem to me yet as babies in their three little beds which you use to wake up for Seven & I to see. Now you are young folks studying & working hard. I hope Francis when I have to finish that one of you will never be in sucja rotten filthy hole as I was living.
Well, what are you all doing back there? I suppose you are still enjoying the pleasures of riding down hill behind the house. John you are looking forward to to spring & the fishing. Watch out for the police. Remember the time you got pinched for tralpping. That was headlines for the slacks I guess. I may not write often, but such incidents of these are always in my mind. I wrote a letter in answer to your Xmas mail. I do hope you got it. I try to write more often but it is difficult.
You see I have no more right to be in this war the conditions I feel I am in, but such is the army. If I shall be any good when I am finished that remains to be seen. I am thin & nervous, always I have a bad cold such _______ condition that I am ashamed at times, but
we still seem to get there. My feet are always cold & wet & this of course doesn’t help a cold any. I have made several applications for leave, but never seem to be rewarded. I guess I picked the wrong profession, the army.
We all hope here that it will soon be over so lets keep hoping. I will say cheerio & all the best as they use to say in England. I keep applying for leave, so lets hope I see you all before to long.
Love Cec