Introducing Richard Growcock,
“Dick” Gretchen’s brother.
A bonus chapter for those who have read; Silent Voices a Tale of Love and Conflict in WW2.
Richard “Dick” Growcock was Gretchen’s older brother, born October 12th, 1921. He married Elinor “Jane” Amsden on August 16th, 1941, their first daughter Jane was born prior to Dick’s enlistment. After his return home from serving overseas they had two more children, Sandra, and Richard. Dick would work on the railroad as a switchman for 40 years, retiring in 1982. During WW2 would become a part of the 222nd Infantry Regiment division attached to the 42nd Infantry Division, known as the rainbow Division, as their shoulder patch featured the colours of red, yellow, and blue in the style of a rainbow. Dick’s movements would take part in the European theatre of war, sometimes close to where George Farmer was fighting.
Camp Wolters Texas
Mrs. George Farmer
223 North Michigan St.
Elkhart Indiana
Sunday September 3rd, 1944
Dear Betty
I got your box Saturday eve it sure was good. The boys sure liked your fudge. The only thing the matter with it was that there wasn’t enough. My pen just ran out of ink so I will carry on in pencil. How is George? Do you know if he is in the fighting or not? I don’t suppose you do. I am going to try and write him a letter today. We are awful busy we had night classes 4 nights last week. So that doesn’t give us much time. They say we are being rushed through our cycle faster than we should. Some say our cycle will be over in 9 weeks & some 12. I don’t know do you know how far along George was in three weeks? We have had all our instruction in the 30 M1 rifle & bayonet, the carbine, & handgenades. We haven’t fired them yet but we go on the range in 3 weeks. Of course he was in a rifle company & I am in a heavy weapon company that would make a difference. I am going to the show at 3.15 this afternoon. Abbot & Costello are on I hope I can get in. I will miss my supper but I will have cheese and crackers. I sure hated to hear about Arties death. I bet the Amsdens took it hard. They don’t have much trouble like that. I missed mail call this noon I was in the great town of Mineral Wells. They have a beautiful hotel and that is all. There are lots of dumpy little stores just like every other Army town. I don’t think I will go in very often unless Jane is there. That hotel is the only nice place to stay that I saw. There cabins looked awful trashy. I don’t know if I would want her to stay in one or not. I got a box of candy from Harry & Eva I have to write them & thank them. I was messing around with another fellow & dropped my rifle so I had to carry it with me for a day I even had to sleep with it. I was the first, another G.I. dropped his & he has to carry it 2day & right up the line. It was fun & I got a lot of kidding out of it. Well I must close and go to the show.
Love Dick
Date unknown estimated January 1945
Dear Betty
I will try to write you a short letter before we eat. Our compartment is the last one that eats. That is just my luck. Last at every thing. We just heard a news broadcast and it sounded pretty good. Maybe we can finish if off and come home some time this summer. We are still on the boat but I am not seasick. We still play cards all day and evening. We are going to try and sneak into the show to night. It is free but they let in a compartment at a time and we are again last. I think “Test pilot” is on. I saw in old Chicago “The Powers Girl” and “ The Philea Story” I don’t know how to spell the one. I had seen them all before but they are good because we don’t have any thing else to do. I am tired of playing cards. Do you still hear from George very much? I haven’t got his address. I sent them all home and since I got on the ship I find out I could have kept every thing I sent home. Because others have almost the exact things I sent home. It is all right I will write for what I want as soon as I get a permanent APO number.
Well will close & eat (I hope)
Love Dick
Friday January 26th, 1945
Dear Betty
Well I am still somewhere in France. I couldn’t tell you if they would let me as I don’t know just where I am. We have a pretty nice place here. We eat good and get all the sleep we need. There is about a foot of snow and still snowing. We don’t have any boots now, but we get snow pairs when we reach a division. You know what they are, I wanted to buy some to wear to work last minute. They sure have funny trains here. They are all compartments 8 or 9 men to the compartment. We had a swell trip. No fights no seats outside of that it was perfect. A train in the states would have made the run in 6 or 8 hours but it took us almost 3 days. I was hoping I would get a chance to see George but he is too far from here. Send me his address. I sent them all home as you probably know. Do you guys still take care of Susan every night? How is the little dear? Can she walk or talk yet? Well will close.
Love Dick
January 30th, 1945, France
Dear Betty.
How are you and the folks? I am fine except for my cold. It has just started to snow and is really pretty out. That is it would be if we didn’t have to go out in it. I sure would like to have a nice big box of your fudge. You can send me a box now that I have a permanent APO number. I should be getting a bunch of mail in a couple of weeks then I will have more to write about. Some of the boys are playing black jack but I am not going to start. I won quite a little on the boat and I am going to live off that for a couple of months. Do you hear much from George? How is he getting along? I think he will be alright now he has been over long enough to look after himself. Does Jane seem to like her work? I hope she does. I hate to have her work especially if she don’t like it. I have a terrible time trying to write there is so little to say. We aren’t doing anything now just resting. I sure will be glad when summer comes maybe the war will be over by then. It really shouldn’t last so long if those russians keep going the way they are. Well I am going to quit
Love Dick
March 7th, 1945
Dear Betty
Well I have declared today letter writing day. I am going to write to every body including both george’s if I don’t run out of ambition. I got a cute card from you this morning. My mail is coming almost every day now and I sure am glad. It has rained for about xxxxxxxx now and the place is a mass of mud. I suppose it could be worse though. At least it isn’t freezing. I got paid yesterday. The first received since I got in France. I got 28 dollars for the first 2 months of this year. I am going to send most of it to you. We have very little use for money here all our needs are given to us free of charge. You can send me a box with some jelly or peanut butter and crackers in it, get Peter Pan peanut butter as I like it best. Well I am out of space so will close.
Love Dick
March 7th, 1945
Dear Mother
How is everybody today? I am fine. I still have a little cold but not enough to bother me. I received a letter from you this morning it was dated Feb 25. I also received a card from Betty about the same date. I have received between 60 and 70 letters in the last two weeks. I have all that were written up to the 2nd of Feb but Jane’s haven’t been coming so good after that. The most recent from her is Feb 5. I have 4 or 5 from you and Betty that were written in the 20’s. the weather here is pretty rainy and plenty cool. We got a small piece of cherry pie about 2 inches square for dinner today. It sure was good. That is the first we have had since we were home. I am still with Greg but he is the only one that is in that picture. I see him every once in awhile though. Send me some candy.
Love & Kisses
Dick
March 13th, 1945
Dear Betty
How are you and all the folks? I am fine but am getting more tired of France every day. I sure will be glad when I am able to come back to the states. The war news sounds good so mabey this will be over very soon. I sure hope so. I received a letter from Jane, mother and Mrs. A. they were written around the first of February so I already knew most of the news but they sure are swell to get, old or new. I get a letter every other day or so now I sure am glad. I am looking for that first package now. I don’t suppose I will get it for another couple of weeks but I hope just the same. You can send me some crackers and jelly or some kind of cookies. They sure sound good. We have had pie first time in the last week and it sure is swell. The pieces are small but sure hit the spot.
Love Dick
March 17th, 1945
Dear Dad
Well I will take this time to wish you a happy birthday. I don’t know if it will get there in time or not. I haven’t much time to write because I have a lot to do this afternoon. It is a beautiful sun shiney day here. A warm spring day it would be swell if it would stay this way but I suppose it will rain again in a day or so. How is everybody at home? I am fine they are feeding us better so I don’t have a complaint in the world. That is outside of being in the army. We haven’t had any war news for a day or so but the last we had was sure good. If the yanks hold that bridgehead it really should shorten the war and save a lot of men. We can sure hope and pray for a sudden ending. I am ready to come home any day. How is Jane getting along since Susan is old enough to get into things? I sure bet she has her hands full. I hate to miss this part of Susan’s childhood because now is the cute period. But I will get along any way I guess. Will close for today. #
Love Dick
May 8th, 1945
May 8th, 1945
Dear Betty
I know it has been a long time since I have written you but we have been unable to do so. I think I will be able to write pretty regular at least for awhile. I feel terrible about George. If he could have held out for a little longer the war would have been over and he could have came home. We just have to take it the best way we can. There really isn’t anything I can say that will help as much as I try to think of something. I sure hope I am able to come home after this is over at least for a furlough. Maybe I can be home for Susan’s birthday or at latest for my wedding anniversary. That is if I don’t have to go get the japs. Until then you will just have to help take care of Susan. I have a couple of nice wrist watches now. I am going to give one to Dad unless some of you have already brought him one. They are both 15 jewel so they should be good I hope I get a letter or two whenever we get mail. They sure make one feel good. I am sleeping in a real bed again it is crowded but soft, four of us sleep in two twin beds pushed together. See what I mean? We all got showers last night and I was lucky enough to get new clothes even if they are too big for me. My pants are size 34 by 35 and my shirt is 16½ by 33. So you can just guess how I look. They are new and clean though and really feel well. That is my first bath in about 6 or 7 weeks so you can guess how much better I feel. Well I am going to close and write to Jane. Take good care of yourself.
Love Dick
June 3rd, 1945, Elbach Germany
Dear Betty
How are you to day? I am fine. It has warmed up a little and is not raining. I do have a cold but I always have that. Today is Sunday and every one is going to church. I wish you could see the women here when they get dressed up. They have silk & satin dresses with a lot of hand work and beautiful aprons made of silk I am going to try and buy three aprons to send home but the people in this village say they can’t be brought any more. Maybe I will have a better luck in another village. I took two rolls of film to be developed yesterday. I will get them back tomorrow afternoon. I sure hope some of them are good but I don’t know much about this camera. It is like yours only smaller. I have a box ready to send home this afternoon. It don’t have much of interest in it as it is a rifle and bayonet some german cards a little old watch some hankies and a couple of pins including a gold “German Mother’ pin for having six children. I am going to try and send more stuff home a little later on. We still don’t have any news as to what we are going to do but I am still hoping to stay here for six or eight months. Then maybe Japan would be finished before I could get over there (I hope). There really isn’t much to write about. I go fishing every other day or so but usually don’t catch anything. As usual the other guys can catch them but my luck just isn’t any good. Well I am going to close for today
Love Dick
June 3rd, 1945, Elbach Germany
Dear Betty
Well here it is your 25th birthday. Many happy returns of the day. I hope you can find some enjoyment for your self now. I don’t think I will be able to get up to see George’s grave but I sure will try. If I get there I will take some pictures of it. We are an awful long ways from there and I think we are moving father. I sure will be glad when I am able to come home. I am pretty sure I will get a furlough home before I have to go to Japan. If I even have to go there. I would like to stay here for six months at least then the war in Japan should be almost over by the time I can get a little training and get over there. If we stay here 15 more days we will get the army of occupation medal and I think we will be here at least that long. (this is just a rumour) Well to day my daughter is 11 months old. Are you taking good care of her? You better be. We spend quite a bit of time in sports now, it is better than any old training schedule. We have the best softball team in the company and maybe even the battalion. Well I am going to have to close as I am sergeant of the guard to-night. I still don’t have the rating though and probably won’t have for quite awhile.
Love Dick
June 12th, 1945, Austria
Dear Betty
I received a letter from you to day. I sure was glad to get it. Is my mail coming any better? Yours to me only takes from five to eight days. They fly the air mail right in here to regiment so that really speeds it up. I am on detached services from the company for a few days. We are working right at 222 head quarters and we really have it made. We only have to work 4 and 1 half hours a day, and then all we do is walk around town and pick up GI’s that aren’t dressed properly. The rest of the time is all our own. We get up about 7:30 and eat breakfast and then just stay around till time to go to town & loaf up there. This is going to make a lazy man out of me. We don’t get very many cigarettes but we stole a case of 10 in 1 rations and they have 10 packs in them so we are set for awhile. I don’t see why your government insurance doesn’t start coming. I should think it would start right away. Did you put in a claim as is it necessary? I really don’t think to much of it myself I think the Purple Heart is the most beautiful medal the government gives out, but of course nobody wants them. I have seen a lot of boys earn them though you don’t need to worry about taking care of yourself because you know without me telling you that you can always come and be with Jane & I. What ever we have be it lot or little we will be only too glad to share with you. That is the very smallest we can do for you & George. Every time I walk through town it seems to me that the german people have won this war. We have beaten the government but I am afraid the people will be the real winners if we don’t watch them. I have nothing to do with them. I won’t even talk to them unless I have to. I was in charge of a town and had an speaker about two weeks ago. I was to gather up all the soldiers that didn’t have discharges and I really think I did a good job. Had to have some brought in at the point of a gun but there weren’t any that got away. If there was even a slight doubt as to their papers I threw them in with the prisoners. I sure would like to come home but if it will keep me out of Jap and I would be glad to stay here. Some of the boys don’t like to throw these people out so we can have a place to stay but I tell them that they are lucky I can’t sleep in my bed for a long time yet and they will only be out for a short while. So out they go into the barns or gutters or anywhere it doesn’t matter to me. I have no use for them. The more I think about it the madder I get. Well I must go to chow. Well it wasn’t so good but it serves its purpose. I have to go on duty in a half hour so will close.
Love Dick
June 12th, 1945, Austria
Dear Betty
How are you? I received your letter last night and was sure glad to hear from you. There were some men from the 30th division stayed over night here last night. I asked about George but didn’t know him. They are from division head quarters that is the reason. We had a field day on souvenirs yesterday. We MP’s raided a store yesterday and got about 5 good sized badges of different german army insigna. So I have a small box full of junk? I am going to send it home in a few days if I can. I have to get the papers made out & wait for a package mailing day & have it censored and a lot of other red tape. I will probably throw it all away when I get home. But it is fun any way. I am enclosing a arm band with the name of this town on it. I sure am sorry I got you folks all excited about me coming home but it was official dope at that time as passed on by our own company commander. Now I don’t know what we are going to do. I guess we will be here as long as Austria is occupied. I hope till spring any way. It doesn’t seem like they are doing much over there right now. I wish they would hurry up & invade Japan proper as I don’t want to be the first one their. I guess we are going to move to another town in a few days. I hope so I like to move around & see different parts of the country. Today is my six months anniversary overseas. I sure would like to stay here another six. The time has gone pretty fast when since the war ended. There sure were some long days while we were fighting though. Well will close.
Love Dick
June 12th, 1945, Austria
Dear Betty
How is every one at home? I am okay. Still have my cold but I have had it so long that it doesn’t bother me. There really isn’t any thing much to write about. We aren’t doing any thing that I haven’t already told you. Our billets are not very good but we are supposed to move again some time soon so I don’t know what to expect. We will still move inside of Austria as I don’t expect to leave here before Dec at the very earliest. We will probably get home some time in February. Of course if the shipping schedule goes faster than they figure maybe I will make it in time for Christmas. I am in no hurry to leave as the longer I am here the less chance there will be of going to the Pacific. They announced to the divisions that received two new battle stars and the 222 gets them both. I know I have 2 but I am not sure about the third. I hope I get the third because that would make me 42 points instead of the 37 I now process. Of course it don’t make much difference because both points together still would not be enough to send me home. We have transferred several high point men to another division that is going home in about 45 days but have heard nothing about transferring any low point men. I am getting my mail address to regt hdq now so I get it quite a bit quicker that way. I am hungry for some candy. Can you send me some? I could also use some writing paper. I have some more paper but it isn’t very good. Well I must close and write to Jane. Take care of my baby.
Love Dick
July 22nd, 1945, Anif Austria
Dear Betty
How is every one at home now? I have a cold but outside of that I feel good. It gets quite warm here but not as warm as Elkhart. It gets about 87 or 88 in the after noon so that isn’t so bad. I will be glad when we move into Vienna but I understand they are having trouble getting arrangements made with the Russians. I went to an out door show last night. It was down at the 122 med clearing station. I think they have one almost every night so I will probably spend my late evenings down there. It was a good show but I forget the name of it. We hear lots of wild rumours about what we are going to do but they are all made up and 99 out of a hundred aren’t true, so I just don’t pay any attention to any of them. I think I will take the afternoon off but I don’t know why. There isn’t anything to do. I can sleep that always passes time quickly. Well I am going to close. Say how is your mail coming? I don’t get any but about 1 every 3 or 4 days and some times not that often.
Love Dick
August 4th, 1945, Anif Austria
Dear Betty
How is every one at home? Am okay. I still have my cold but I am used to it by now. Our mail is all messed up again it has been four days since I have received a letter. Only four came in for the whole platoon last night. It seems like it takes my packages twice as long to get here as every one else’s. I can’t figure it out. How do you like my writing paper? It is some kind of photo printing paper & this side will turn dark after it is in the light for awhile I think you will still be able to read it though. There is no news here. I went and seen Bob Hope & his USO show yesterday afternoon. He didn’t have his band there & it wasn’t any too good but I can say I did get to see him. G.I. Joe is on in Salzburg so I am going in there tonight & see that! I understand it is real good. It is raining now. I hope it quits before this evening I will have to hitch hike and I don’t want to drown. Has mother made up her mind not to work anymore for a while. She should stay home and rest for a few months at least. How is the food situation? We are getting quite good food now. We get fresh meat once or twice a day and cake about 4 times a week. We even have ice cream about 1 every 10 days so we are doing better. They are putting on a better entertainment program too. We have a little Austrian show once or twice a week & at least one movie & then there is always a movie in Salzburg if we want to hitch hike in and see it. It is easy to get a ride too. Well I guess I will quit & try to find some thing to read.
Love Dick
July 22nd, 1945, Anif Austria
Dear Jane
Hi honey. How are you and Susan today? I am just the same as ever. I may walk up to Easy Company and see the boys this afternoon if I can work up the ambition. I went to the party last night it wasn’t bad. We had potatoe salad, beans, roast beef, ice cream, cake, coffee & beer. They had an Austrian band play while we ate dinner. They played Star Dust and some Americans pieces. Then after dinner they had a bunch of Austrian entertainers. First they has girls dance in a short skirt costume then they had a man who put on several acts that was funny & then a Russian couple put on a dance & sing. Then the 6 girls again in different costumes & then a girl sang a couple of songs & then the 6 girls again. This time they had on regular skirts & blouses. Then a couple of more funny acts & then for the finish the 6 girls again in their short skirts & blouses. It has been a dark day. It looks like it will rain any minute. We had quite a wind & rain storm last night. It blew down trees & every thing. I got a letter from Harry & Eva last night but that is all. I hope I get a couple from you to day I am due a couple of good one’s. Well I am going to quit for today. I won’t send this yet as may get some more news to write about. Well it is now five PM. supper will be ready in 30 minutes. I got 3 letters from you and one from mother. I will answer some of yours now & hers tomorrow. I am glad my packages got home. I was afraid they would take the rifle out of it or the watch. I don’t know what we will do with the rifle but it only cost the 150 postage so I guess I got it cheap enough. Can you have the watch tried for a lapel watch or don’t you want to spend the money? It doesn’t matter to me. I will try to bring a pistol with me. I don’t think there is any use to try and mail them. Yes I still love you, I hope Susan is better she must have the well known “G.I. shits! The boys get them when their mess kits aren’t clean. I only had them once. I try to keep from getting them. You had better watch your uncle Bill if he goes to hanging around too much. He might be after a young lady. I am glad my mail is coming through. It usually takes 7 or 8 days so if you mail a letter every day I get one every day. The packages are slow though. Mother mailed one around the 18 of June & it isn’t here yet. A boy from Chicago got one in 23 days so I should get mine any day. Well I am going to go eat & then I don’t know what I will do. Maybe go to the show if there is one, Well I think Susan will be okay by the time you get this I hope.
Love & Kisses & Everything
Dick
July 22nd, 1945, Anif Austria
Dear Betty
Well I guess the war is really over. We were able to obtain a radio yesterday so we received the news this morning. Of course every one is glad but there is no celebration here. We all know that we are in Austria & not home so there isn’t anything to celebrate. It may help us get out sooner but again since they won’t need us over there we may get stuck over here. So every one is just holding on waiting for news concerning themselves. Then too we know of all of our friends that won’t ever come home. I understand they are really celebrating in the States. I should be able to get out in a few months on account of the railroad & Susan but of course you never can tell. I have asked several officers & other men what the chances are to get out but they have no idea. There is a 2 looie laying here on the cot now but they don’t know anymore about it than we do. There really isn’t any thing much to write about. We just go on doing the same thing day in & day out . So it is pretty dull. Time goes pretty fast. I sure am glad too. It looks like rain. We are suppose to play volley ball this afternoon but I think we will be rained out. I am going to hitch hike into Salzburg & go to the movie if it isn’t raining too hard. Well I guess I will close & do a little work.
Love Dick
July 22nd, 1945, Anif Austria
“Well I guess the war is really over. We were able to obtain a radio yesterday, so we received the news this morning.”
August 15th, 1945 ended the hostilities of the Second World War when Japan finally surrendered after the Americans detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cites of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. Known as V.J. Day, Victory over Japan, the news of the surrender began celebrations around the world. Ironically, a German born American photographer and photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt, captured probably one of the most iconic photos of the Second World War; a United States Navy sailor embracing dental nurse in Times Square New York.
August 23rd, 1945, Anif Austria
July 22nd, 1945, Anif Austria
Dear Betty
How is everything at home? I am fine. I received 6 letters from home, 1 from mother, 2 from L. Jane & 1 from Fred Eggleston. Also my first Elkhart Truth July 21. I sure am glad mail is coming through. It is all old around 2 Aug. I have received several newer than that. Tell mother I have the pictures she sent. They are pretty good I have a roll of film to be developed someday, and then I will send some home. Say Jane says they are building some nice little houses out on Ken wood St. now if she like these & really wants to buy one it will be okay with me. She has some money saved but not enough for a down payment. So if you would be so kind I would like for you to offer to loan us the amount she will need. I don’t think she will take it but I want you to offer it to her. The down payment is $650. She has part of it. If she really likes it I would like to have her get it. We will pay you back every cent. Do it for me will you please? We expect to move to Vienna sometime over this weekend. I think we will be there about 6 weeks and then the good old United States. I sure hope so. How is my little bald headed baby? I sure wish I could see her. It wont be long. I expect to eat Christmas dinner at home.
Love Dick
September 13th, 1945, Vienna, Austria
Dear Betty
Well it is 8:30 and I just got back from breakfast. I have allready washed and shaved this morning. I also have the office all cleaned up. So now all I have to do is settle down and wait and see what the day brings. I doubt if there will be very much work. There usually isn’t only in the evening when I want to go to the show. Then I get stuck here until a about an hour after the show begins.
There are a lot of rumours about going home but none of then do me any good. It really looks like I will get stuck over here for a while in the Army of Occupation. I think I will get home sometime next spring. I have given up hope for getting home for Christmas. All men with 47 or more points are going to be transferred to the 26 division to come home, of course me with my little 45 won’t get to go with them. I look to get in that close out force and they are to be home by the last of April according to the last rumour I heard. I am not going to worry about it as none of it is official as yet. I really can’t expect to get home yet as I really haven’t been in the army very long or over here very long either. I have been overseas 8 months and 4 days. It sure doesn’t seem that long. Time really goes fast over here. Well tonight they are going to open the enlisted mans club uptown. I don’t think that I will go up mabey I can pull some guard for someone and make a little money. I don’t know what I will do with all the money but if I am over here long enough I can send most of it home. I am allowed to send 33 a month home. I am going to get a watch sold to-day for 200 bucks that is good money for me. I hope I can get rid of it. I just as well get a little of this black market money and live a life of ease over here the rest of the time that I am here. It is kind of cold here to-day and it rained all day yesterday. I hope winter isn’t coming yet but I guess it is almost time for it over here. I sure like it here in Vienna we have much nicer billets and everything there is nicer so I hope that I get to stay here in this city until I get ready to come to the states. We don’t do much, I spend most of my time sitting around the office. Once in awhile I take a jeep and go up and post a guard and that is about all I get done. The only reason I go post a guard once in awhile is to get to drive a little. I don’t want to forget how. I don’t like to drive a jeep with the top up they are so low I have to sit all stupped over in order to keep from poking my head out the top. I will be glad when I get home where they have man sized cars. I will mail this, this morning as I am going up after the mail and take some money up to be changed into schillings. We are going to be allowed to spend only one kind of money from now on. I haven’t received any mail for about three days so I should get a few to-day I hope so. I will at least get three of four papers. That is better than nothing. I think it would be all right to send me a package of candy and something to read. You don’t need to send any writing paper as I have enough to last me for awhile. I don’t know of anything else I need right now. I have plenty of everything that I can use which isn’t much. I was trying to buy another camera and last night a man I had been talking too came and brought a camera with him. It was a real nice little one. It was a 620 or something like that. He only wanted 5000 schillings or & 500 dollars in American money. It had a little better lens on than that folding camera of yours and had a shutter speed up to 1/300 of a second. He didn’t care if he got money or cigarettes. But he wanted 1250 cigarettes, you should be here if you ever want to see inflation. A hundred dollars just don’t amount to a thing over here. At the PX and our own clubs is the only places that anything can be bought for less than 50 dollars. This gold watch I am wearing would bring 800 on the black market. But I like it real well and am going to keep it. It is one of my few souvenirs that I still have left. Well I had better close and do a little work.
Love Dick
September 13th, 1945, Vienna, Austria
Dear Mother
Well it is 20 minutes until 7 and I have been up for half an hour. Not because I wanted to be though. I didn’t get to bed until almost one o’clock so I am still a little sleepy. I still have a cold but outside of that I feel real good. It warmed up enough yesterday to melt all the snow off the ground so it may be a little nicer for awhile. I hope so but of course it don’t make so much difference to me as I don’t go out much any way. I haven’t heard anything about coming home. There isn’t much in the stars and stripes about it any more. They haven’t shipped out the 50 pointers yet so I am not quite ready to start. I think I will get started about the first or middle of January. Then I will take a month or two to get home from their. I really think I will arrive in the states sometime in march. That isn’t so long now. The time goes quite fast for me. We are having quite a time getting stamps here now. They are afraid that we will send them home and that way we will get to spend a little of our black market money. I don’t have much money any more. I only have about fifty dollars and I have asked for a money order for twenty-five of that. We have to change our money into this new Austrian money this week. All we can exchange is what is on our currency control books. I don’t know how much I have in my book so I don’t know if I have some that isn’t any good or not. Time will tell. I think that I told you that I have been put in for a T/5. I kinda doubt if I will get it on account of my points. But I sure would like it as I would get about 15 dollars a month more and that would help out a little bit. I sure will be glad when I get home and no one can tell me how much of the money I can spend and everything like that. I am getting tired of being told every little thing that I can do like keeping our hands out of our pockets and things like that. It sure gets tiresome. I am running low on cigarettes again so if you can send me a carton or two. I could use some candy and something to read too. Did you know that you can send packages up to 11 pounds now? I don’t know what else you can send but any thing to eat comes in handy. We have a motorcycle down stairs that I would like to send home but I don’t know if I can or not. It is not all mine and the Lt. is talking about selling it. I don’t know if he is going to or not. I could send it home in about six different boxes and make it okay. I would like to send the motor even if I can not send the whole thing. If I could send the motor I could make a nice little car or else make a boat and out the motor in the boat. It is really a nice little motor. Other people send those kind of things home so I should be able to. I think that I will talk to the Lt. this morning and see what he says. I would probably have to get a ton of papers saying that it is mine and it is legal to send it home.
Well I just got back from eating breakfast. It wasn’t very good either. We had pan cakes and they don’t have syrup but instead that good old faithful jam that is made of Orange pealings. It is terrible. They had some kind of breakfast food but I don’t like it so I didn’t eat much breakfast. I never do. I eat most at dinner that is when we have the best meal. The supper isn’t very good either. Well I am going to have to quit and go to work now.
Love Dick
September 13th, 1945, Vienna, Austria
Dear Betty
Well guess what I have finally gotten around to writing you a letter. I’ll bet Mother is all up in the air because I haven’t written for so long but there is just so much work here that I don’t hardly have time to write to Jane. We had a double murder yesterday and then a stabbing this morning so you can guess we are keeping on the move all of the time. None of the trouble we have investigated so far has had anything to do with soldiers so it isn’t so bad. It is all with these displaced persons that live in these camps here awaiting shipment to their home countries. It has rained almost everyday since we have moved to Linz and today it is snowing for a change. Pleasant weather isn’t it? I have the same old cold that I always have but it seemed to be a little worse here lately. I may go to the doctor for it in the morning but they don’t do much to help those things.
It is time to eat breakfast as soon as I can get someone to stay in the office for me. They aren’t having anything good but then we only eat two meals on Sunday so I have to eat. If you miss one meal you would starve. Well I have just 80 days over here at the most left. That really isn’t very long and I don’t think I will be here the full time. Well I just stopped and went and ate breakfast. We had hot cakes and syrup. I am so tired of them I can’t hardly eat them anymore but then there isn’t anything else to eat so what can you do. I hear that the 45 pointers will ship out of this division between the 20 of this month and the 10 of March so I will soon be tearing this rainbow off my shoulder and putting on another. I really am going to hate to leave to as I have been in the Rainbow for so long I would like to come home with them. I still think it is the best outfit here in the ETO. I suppose that the snow is almost all gone there at home now. I don’t hear much from home the mail is so bad here the last two or three months it just doesn’t hardly pay to write. I get mail about every 8 or 10 days and I know that I am not getting all the letters that Jane writes as I know she writes almost every day and I only get about three a week from her. Some one is stealing the mail I think. They take it for the packages I suppose and then just throw the letters away. I read in the Stars and Stripes that some General was coming down here to see what is wrong with the post office department but of course that will take about six months for him to investigate and then another for them to take action so you can see what good that will do. How is work there? Are there a lot of people out of jobs now? I see in the paper that the New York central is advertising for men every once in awhile so I guess I will have a job when I get home. I am glad as there is just as much money in the railroad as any thing that I could find I think. Besides I think that I can have more free time there than on other kind of jobs. I am glad that I am coming home in the spring. That is a nice time of year to come home anyway. The only thing I am afraid of is that it will be right in the middle of the rainy season but then that don’t make any difference as home is home no matter what the weather is. To-day is Sunday and I am working again. I am going to work everyday until about the 20 and then I am going to quit altogether. and then I will just lay around and wait until time to come home. The information and Education Office is next to my office here and I have been reading a lot of their text books just too pass the time. They have one on photography that I want to read now and then when I get home I think that I am going to try and develop my own pictures. That should be interesting and also a practical hobby, I am going to try and buy a 35 mm camera with a flash bulb on it so I can take some good pictures at night. That should be a lot of fun. I suppose that film and that kind of stuff is easy to buy again now. It should be the war has been over for quite awhile now. At least almost every one here has forgotten all about it. Sometimes I even wonder who won. Well I think it is time to close and do a little work. I don’t think that I am going to be so busy today so maybe I will have time to write mother a letter too, I will try.
Love Dick
“I will soon be tearing this rainbow off my shoulder” Dick was in the 222 Infantry Regiment 42nd Division their shoulder patch design was a rainbow pattern. “I don’t hear much from home the mail is so bad here the last two or three months it just doesn’t hardly pay to write. I get mail about every 8 or 10 days and I know that I am not getting all the letters that Jane writes as I know she writes almost every day and I only get about three a week from her. Some one is stealing the mail I think.”
On the whole, considering the incredible task of delivering mail to over 16,000,000 American troops on the numerous fronts during World War Two, and those left behind after the war ended in an occupational role, it was inevitable that some parcels and letters would be lost or held up along the way. The problem was addressed initially by the formation of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, consisting of 855 Afro-Americans women, under the leadership of America’s first Afro American officer, Major Charity Adams-Earley . The problem of lost mail in Europe was immense. Major Adams-Earley was tasked with sorting the issue and delivering the mislaid mail with the six triple eight. When landing in Birmingham, England, early in 1945, Charity was faced with six aeroplane hangars full to the brim of lost mail, estimated at 17 to 20 million pieces of mail. The six Triple Eighth, did an incredible job under the leadership of Major Adams, by April 1945, their task completed, they were on their way to Rouen, France, to commence the task again, coming across packages and letters that had not moved for over three years. Major Charity Adams-Earley was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, making her the highest ranking woman officer at that time, for a job well done.
February 27th,1946, Iinz Austria
Dear Betty
Well to night is letter night. I am writing everyone I owe a letter to night. I just wrote one to Fredrick Eggleston. I received one from him a couple of days ago. We got paid today which is a day early on account of men transferring to the 83rd in the morning. I now have 95 dollars that I can bring home with me. Not bad after just sending 275 in money orders. I would like to get another money order for 75 but I don’t think I will be able to. Well the latest rumour is 45 points or 30 points received will transfer out of the rainbow the 1st March. I hope so but am afraid to plan on it. I figure the first of April should find me in the states but I just can’t hardly realise if that near true. I just know some thing will happen to delay it. I know I don’t write as much as I should but I am so excited about being so close to coming home that I can’t hardly sit still long enough to write. It won’t be many days until we can quit writing. When I get home I don’t ever want to see another letter. I am so tired of writing I don’t know what to do. Well radio Linz just went off the air for 1 hour to rebuild the joint so that makes it nice when I planned to write and listen to the radio. I think I am coming home with a Tank Destroyer out fit but I don’t know as yet. I will send you a telegram when I transfer. As soon as I transfer our mail will all be returned if we are going to move out soon so your writing days will be over a little before mine. The weather here is warm in the day time best comfortable in an overcoat in the evening. I can’t complain we have had a very light winter here and now it will be spring in 22 days. I just can’t wait to get home, the Lt. is getting worried about the military police now. I am the oldest member by about three months and now I am leaving and 12 others, so they will be almost all new men. I don’t care though they can fall apart after I leave. It is all right with me. I have ran the thing long enough. Now some one else can take over and see if they can do as good. Well I must close and write to Jane.
Love Dick
