Pvt. W.D. Johnson Jr. 34945847
G Co. 26th Inf.
APO # 1 c/o Postmaster
New York N.Y.
Somewhere in France
January 16, 1945
Dearest Mother & Dad
The weather is warmer today but I guess when the snow starts melting and it’s wet & sloppy we still won’t like the weather. This has been a pretty rugged winter for soldiering.
I’m not at the hospital but am in the process of getting back to my outfit. Do not try to write me at the address on the envelope but use my old address: G Co, 26th Inf and the same APO.
I’ve been feeling fine since I left the hospital and am none the worse for wear. The hardest job of readjustment is getting over being spoiled by the soft living at the hospital and getting used to being out in the weather again. But we are warmly clothed and somehow you get used to the weather and don’t mind it too much.
I got my Purple Heart medal just before I left the hospital so just mailed it home to Louise. I mean for her to let you all see it too and I’m sure she’ll bring it over.
Due to circumstances it’s been about six weeks since I’ve had any kind of mail from you all or Louise so I’m very anxious to hear how things are at home. I’m hoping that I’ll have a big batch of letters waiting for me back at the outfit so I’m anxious to get back there & collect them. They don’t usually try to send mail around after the fellows unless for some reason they aren’t coming back to the outfit. For instance, I was in 3 hospitals so you can see what a long trail it would have to follow and it wouldn’t be caught up with me yet whereas if they hold it and I’m sure they did, pending advice as to my final destination, I’ll get it much sooner in the long run.
I heard one of our boys telling a sad yarn last nite. It seems that while he was in England one of his bosom pals, who was prematurely bald by reason of a skin disease, found a wig in a shop in London. It cost $60.00 and being broke, but suddenly aware of the baldness which had afflicted him for years (and also probably unusually sensitive a/c of a few slugs of English beer) he cried on his friend’s shoulder borrowed 60.00 and promptly sent the wig home. A year has passed and the wig-buyer hasn’t paid off and my friend can’t confiscate the wig. He says he’s willing to bet that he’s the only soldier in the world who has somebody owing him $60.00 for a wig.
There’s just no end to what the G.I. will think of and to the scrapes he can get himself into. I hope that I can remember a few of the things that have happened. So many of the funniest deals involve things that censorship wouldn’t permit us to write about. When we move into new positions sometimes, you should see how American ingenuity and inventiveness come to the fore and take expression in the G.I’s never ending campaign to be as well housed, clothed, and fed as possible. And if a soldier is cold he’ll burn anything. One G.I. captured a big pile of German money. Thinking it was no good, he used it to burn to heat C ration cans in his foxhole. When it was about gone, he found out it was good.
And I’ve seen G.I’s chase every kind of edible living animal from chickens to steers. When they get lost or strayed around a battle area they’re going to get killed or caught by the Jerries anyhow so the boys hate to see them go to waste.
Well, honies, I hope all is well on the home front. It’s too bad that the people of America don’t realize what goes on over here. I don’t necessarily mean the fighting, but the war and the social and economic aspects of it. Particularly the social and moral & religious (or lack of them) picture. If America could be made to awaken and take from Hitler his example of what can be done to sway the course of the world by training the very young (only train them in a different creed) there would be some hope for further generations. I’m afraid there is no hope for this generation, but if we could instil in the children of the future a few basic things we could make a truly great Nation of America. Here’s what should be dinned into children from the time they are able to talk:
1. The moral principles of Christianity.
2. The privilege and responsibilities of being an American citizen.
If children learned and believed those things, we could save our country from the carelessness and immorality in which this and all wars have had their roots. All the rest of the “plans” and panaceas are just a bunch of hog wash. I was amazed to read that some of our American college professors came out opposing military training in the future! If they could just see this polluted, decadent cesspool that is called Europe! They should read a good Jack London story and learn what the strong wolf does to the weak wolf! Phooey!
But as Mehitabel says ” wotthehell, toujours gai!) I can’t change the world. I’d like some of your hot biscuits Mom, but don’t try to mail me any. Take care of yourselves and don’t worry about me.
Love always
David Jr.