Category: Letters

Pvt. W.D Johnson Jr 34945847
G Co. 26th Inf
APO 1 c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.

March 23, 1945
Germany

Dearest Mother & Dad:

Well, we have had some busy times lately and now we have pulled back for a day or two of rest – much needed rest. Even when we are back “resting” its very often not much of a rest and we don’t often have all the time we would like to have to write. We have to spend quite a while getting a shower even. You ride sometimes an hour or so each way and after showering you often have to wait a long time for a truck to come back. but a shower is a real luxury after 3 or 4 weeks without one! You get pretty dirty in that length of time.

We’ve been lucky lately in fighting mostly in towns and after we take a town we get to sleep in bldgs. We very seldom get to sleep in a bed and are most often in the basement sleeping on the floor because like as not the Jerries are shelling the town after we run them out of it. And like as not the upper portions of the house are already tottering from the shelling we gave it before we moved in! However, we have had to spend some time in foxholes too. In fact one day lately we had to dig 3 holes in about 24 hours.

Mom, your letters, both current ones and letters written some time ago, have been coming in regularly. Your letters are wonderful and they really are an inspiration. It just makes me feel better all over after I read a letter from you and I just know everything is going to turn out ok. You’re mighty sweet, honey, and it’s such a comfort to have you back home pulling for me. I know you have a job writing all your boys in the service but I want you to know your efforts are appreciated.

I have had letters from Rip and Macey lately. Both seem to be doing fine. I’m so glad Macey got the break and didn’t get into the infantry. In the infantry one is like the violet “born to blush unseen etc”. He seems to like his outfit and says the job doesn’t look too dangerous & that the only Jerries he’s seen so far have been dead ones.

Well, honies, I gotta close. I’m fine and hope same for you both. Take care of yourselves and God bless you too.
Love always David

Germany
March, 24, 1945

Dear Rip,

Your letter of Mch 12 arrived yesterday when the mail came in. We had just pulled back a few miles for rest and reorganization of a couple of days when your letter came. Also in the same mail the wooden box of cigarettes came. And they came at a good time. As I told you before, ordinarily we get plenty of cigarettes but lately we haven’t been getting too many so all the guys were glad to see them. Also our rations are sometimes Raleighs and Phillip Morris and whereas the guys prefer Camels, Chesterfields & Luckies (Chesterfields for me) we are thrilled to get those brands even tho we may have plenty of Raleighs, for instance. I have never seen a box packed to nice. The cigarettes were perfectly preserved. You must have made that nice little wooden box. One of the guys immediately spoke for it to use in sending home a pair of Jerry binoculars. I sent home a pair of binoculars last time we pulled back.

Speaking of souvenirs. I have a swell .30 automatic which I personally took away from a German tank officer in a night attack the other nite. We had slipped into town in the dark and were all over the place before the Jerries knew what was up. My buddy and I rounded the corner of a building and walked into a tank with the crew getting in it. There were only 2 of us and four tankers. I shot one & my buddy shot one (we were only about five feet from them). I grabbed the tank officer and snatched his pistol. One Jerry got in the tank and started it to moving. I was standing in front of the guns and was sweating out their opening up. But I know now we got ’em all but the driver. If I had been sure of that then I could have caught the tank & climbed on it & dropped a grenade on the driver. Instead when the guns swing over me, I duck, and my prisoner tries to run and I hate to shoot an unarmed man so I have to hit him with my rifle. It was a busy pair of minutes. Id have got a silver star if I could have caught the tank but by knocking out all the crew but the driver we probably saved a lot of lives as we had no tank support and it could have cruised around knocking us off. I think I already wrote you that I received the box with the cigs and tuna and sardines also the pipes. Anyhow I surely have enjoyed those boxes. I really have enjoyed the pipes too. I sweated out giving one of them away but finally decided to keep them both even if it was a bit selfish. Im smoking the pipe right now.

Had a letter from Macey recently. As you probably know he’s with the 4th Armrd. Div. with Pattons Army. According to Stars & Stripes the 4th Armrd has been spearheading Pattons drive on Mainz. Macey says he’s in communications of some sort and seems to have a pretty good job. Also the says he may get back to ack ack in the same outfit fore long.

Things are going pretty good with us. The going gets tough at times as Jerry gets himself together long enough to lower the boom now and then, but on the whole its not too bad.

By the way, sonny, next time you write me how about putting a coupla those small packets of cigarette lighter flints in the letter. I have a good lighter and get plenty of gasoline out of jeeps etc to run the lighter but it is hard to get flints from time to time.Now, a word of warning – you’re such a big hearted lug that I feel this is necessary – Don’t get a wooden box and send me a crate of lighter flints, fluid and wicks! Seriously, kid, we do have to carry just about everything we own so I can’t use much extra stuff. When the fellows get boxes from home full of shaving articles brushes, etc they’re just wasted cause a fellow can’t carry but 1 toothbrush paste etc. and he can’t begin to find a place to lug fancy shaving kits etc.

Well, sonny, take care of yourself. It surely is good to hear from you and I’ll be writing all I can. Be sure and write Macey all you can. He hasn’t probably gotten as accustomed to the grind as I have and his mail probably isn’t catching up with him as well yet so write him all you can.

Letters from home indicate all is in good shape there. Maybe the war will end soon and all will be turkey then.

Lots of love
Dave

Pvt. W.D. Johnson Jr. 34945847
G Co. 26th. Inf.
Apo # 1 c/o P.M.
New York  N.Y.

March 29, 1945
Germany

Dearest Mom & Dad,

Your letters are coming in fine these days. They are pretty good about getting mail up to us even right up to the front so when mail comes in to regiment we get it as soon as anything can reach us. Most often the jeep that gets thru to us with C Rations or communication will bring up mail.

Mom, I can never tell you what your letters mean to me. There’s something solid about them that nails my feet to firm ground. I look forward to them eagerly and always read them more than once. I’ve been getting the McLemore cuttings and enjoying them.

I just wrote Louise and after finishing realize that I didn’t talk about all I intended. Tell her I said that – it’s hard to do a job of writing in limited time but I do appreciate and enjoy all you all say in letters and don’t anyone be hurt by my failure to comment on each item because I devour each news item hungrily. Dad, it’s about time to celebrate our annual dual birthday party – yours and Julie’s. I wish I could be with you or at least send you something. This will arrive late, but the good wishes will be in no way impaired by the delay. Happy birthday Dad, and Happy birthday sweet little Julie. When I wrote Louise today I forgot to mention Julie’s b’day altho I had done so previously. Tell Julie I again thought of her.

In my letter to Louise today I told her about being made 2nd in command in my squad. Get her to tell you about it so I’ll be spared the repetition here. There’s nothing much to it.

I’ve had swell letters from Macey and Rip lately. Both are fine. Macey as you probably know is with the 4th Armored Division which is spearheading  Pattons magnificent drive. Being in ack ack Macey is probably not right up front so don’t worry. He was surely lucky. Ole Rip seems fine too. They’re fine boys!

I’m surely getting an all expense tour of Europe! I must have guessed how many million beans were in the jar! Surely I did something unusual to be picked for a free cross country jaunt like this! It’s fine except that they furnish everything but transportation. As I dreamed of seeing Europe in the past  I never contemplated walking across it. Ho! for life in the infantry.

Germany could win the war in a short time if they were proper students of G.I. psychology! Don’t tell a soul, but it is true. They are dwelling under the misapprehension that the G.I. can be intimidated by screaming rockets and machine guns and artillery. Never! But just let them poison the food left behind and we’d all be goners. Picture a hard won town. We have just run the Jerries (that could still run) out. The rest are sprawled in grotesque poses about the streets and bldgs, but with all toes generally pointing in the same direction – up. Knowing that the remnants of their force have been captured or driven out, the Jerries start throwing in rockets and artillery.

Does the G.I. sit and contemplate the miserable shambles or cringe at the screaming rockets? Not exactly, because, you see he’s always hungry. Across the street is a heap of masonry. An olive drab fanny sticks up as a determined G.I. crawls into the ruins, his nose leading him to the site of the erstwhile pantry. He knows that the German housewife is a past master at preserving cherries, plums, apples, berries and honey. He roots and grunts and presently emerges triumphantly with a plaster covered jar of cherries. The abandoned chicken houses are a source of eggs, many cellars contain cured hams and then theres the eternal black bread. Many a time I’ve seen the ham & eggs a’frying and every Joe in sight gulping canned fruit from a quart jar long before the smoke of the battle had cleared and before we were sure we wouldn’t have to withstand the ever-threatening  counter attack. The other day we captured  an unusually opulent Nazi’s cellar so while the city finished burning I stood in a doorway sweating out the artillery, wondering what our next move would be while I drank some very old champagne out of a tin can!

Since we found that the Germans as a rule do eat out of plates, most of us have “lost” our mess kits. It’s that much less to carry. There are so many of us and so many dishes fail to survive the artillery and the house to house fighting that very often there aren’t enough dishes to go around when they do get hot chow up to us. You should see some of the crockery that passes down the chow line! Some, I suspect have even seen service under a bed! Some are dishes of the expensive bric a brac type that have adorned the family china cabinet as show-pieces for generations. Well, honies, that’s all for now. Pray for the end of the war and may God hear all our prayers.

Love always
David

Pvt. W.D Johnson Jr. 34945847
G Co 26th Inf
APO # 1 c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.

Mrch 31, 1945
Germany

Dearest Mother & Dad:

We are just paused for a few hours in our steady drive ahead and have no way to get a letter censored and mailed but I want to avail myself of this chance to write and may be I can post the letter tonite or tomorrow.

Within an hour or two after we took this town yesterday other outfits were pushing thru us attacking towns ahead and on our flanks and by last nite we were “rear echelon” being many miles behind the front. In a little while we will mount our tanks and other armored vehicles, catch up with the front, pass thru the outfits there and attack on ahead again. And so the rapid advance continues. But its an exciting sort of race and certainly never a dull moment. We had hot chow up with us by last night and hot cakes for breakfast this morning after a good nite’s sleep. The night before we had to ride all night on tanks and go into the attack so the sleep last night was most welcome.

A humorous incident: We get a patented soup can issued to us. It has a protected heat unit down the center of the can. You light it and in a moment you pour hot soup out of the can. Well, the Jerries had a roadblock and we were held up temporarily before we jumped in the attack in a patch of woods outside the town.

One of our squad, notorious for his love of food, decided he’d have time to light the element in the soup can drink some hot soup before the attack. It was raining and we were fairly wet & cold so the soup was a good idea. Well, he got it hot and unhooked his cup and poured it out. He was about to drink as the order came to move ahead. As we emerged over the hill, with our chow hound walking along sipping from his cup, the Krauts opened up on us. We got the order to charge on ahead so the guy charges, his rifle in one hand and his rifle soup in the other. He was a scream trying to run and dodge the bullets that were whizzing without spilling his soup. Believe it or not, he got it all drank (drunk) without spilling a drop! These GI’s!!

I have read with interest your several allusions to Alice’s situation, and while I’m sorry it has to be that way, I’m sure she’s better off separated from Frank if he has gotten so chronic in some of his screwy ideas. Please remember me to Alice as well as Dixie and Grandma. I hope they are all in good health again by now.

Today is little Julie’s birthday. How I wish I could see her today! And, Dad, I want to wish you another happy birthday for tomorrow, Apr 1st.

I’ve been trying to write Macey and Rip all I could and I have been getting letters right along from both of them. Macey seems to be enjoying and thoroughly taking in the war. I’m still so thankful that he evaded the infantry. It’s not too hard on me now because I’m used to it but I just hated to think of Macey having to go through that period during which you learn what the scare is in the infantry.

Mom, you’re right in thinking that I trust in the Lord and without being objectionable about it I try to keep the fellows of the squad aware of the real source of our strength. It is hard to reconcile war and Christianity. As a soldier I really can’t afford to examine “Whys” too closely, but I’ve found peace of mind about it and I’m just doing what comes to me to do and trusting that the Lord approves of my attitude. Don’t worry about it honey, as I feel everything will work out all right. And don’t worry about me, either. I’ve found that I’ve a strong enuf mind and psychological & phyliogical physiological setup to take this without its bothering me too much, so dont worry.

You all keep writing and praying and all will surely work out fine. I’m still loving my Mom and Dad. Take care of yourselves.

David Jr.

Pvt. W.D. Johnson Jr. 34945847
G. Co. 26th. Inf.
Apo # 1 c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.

April 4, 1945
Germany

Dearest Mom & Dad,

We got mail last night for the first time in several days and I got about five or six letters from you, Mom, as well as about the same number from Louise. Considering the speed at which we are covering ground I think it is remarkable that we can get mail as often as we do as it must be a real problem to get even ammo and food up to us.

We just got a Feb 12th Life Mag sent to one of the guys and I find the pictures of trench foot that were taken of this fellow Bowen who was at the 108 Gen Hosp in Paris at the time I was and I knew that Life photographers were making progressive pictures of his case. A good friend of mine, Grady Lemans of Nashville was in the trench foot ward and I visited him a time or two and got acquainted at the time with Bowen. That trench foot is something I hope I don’t ever get.

I wrote Louise a long letter today and got it mailed, but we are still stopped and I’m writing this so I can mail it next time we can get mail censored and posted. Anyhow, in my letter to Louise I tried to orient Louise on the general route I had followed over here in combat and I’d like for you all to borrow the letter and find the places on the map and that will save me writing all that stuff over again. Also my letter to Louise gives a blow by blow account of my Battle of the Lice. Most of the guys have them and it is impossible to avoid them considering the places we have to hole up in from time to time. I’ve laid down to sleep in places I practically knew were infected but was just too tired to care about it.

Mom, I gathered from your letters that you have an exaggerated idea of the hardships of war. It is tough sometimes but it isn’t all too tough. And a man can get used to anything. After you get used to being out in the weather and sleeping and eating at odd times, you don’t consider that it’s tough. It is just a matter of course. I can sleep on wet ground in a hole, on cement floor, and I’ve slept on coal piles in a basement, a potato pile in a basement. I’ve sat on manure piles while I ate; I’ve sat near dead Jerries and eaten. It all sounds rough to you but you get used to rough living and think nothing of it. I don’t catch colds from the so called “hardships” while in civilian life I’d probably catch pneumonia from 1/10th the exposure.

Heres a sample of a day – yesterday in fact – which will show you it ain’t too bad. Yesterday A.M. we attacked this town in the rain. The Jerries ran, and we captured a few. I didn’t even fire my rifle. (It isn’t always like that, of course, but we have taken several places lately without firing a shot. The day before we captured a town and didn’t have much shooting and we captured about 40 prisoners).

We always expect a counterattack so tho fairly wet we were placed in defensive positions on the alert. Yesterday we didn’t have to dig in – (the day before on the town we took we had to set a defensive ring of foxholes around the town and spend the day and night on guard in the rain in the foxholes) there were enough bldgs strategically ringed around the town so we didn’t have to dig in. We were placed in a super dairy barn. A couple of guys were put on guard. We found an attic in the barn with straw bunks where the Jerries had been staying. So we went to work in town “(indecipherable word ~ but perhaps “scavenging”)”! I found a lamp and some stove pipe. Another guy found a stove. The “patrols” finally returned and heres what we had in our attic room: A stove (knocked a hole in the roof and set it up) a fresh baked pie, a can of eggs, an accordian, lots of sausage, black bread, three bottles of wine and two bottles of engine oil (the guy thought it was wine) two jars of home-canned strawberries a jar of applesauce, a third of a pound cake, some salt, a sack of coal. So we set about getting dry between our turns at guard (two men on the alert at all times from each squad) and eating. We are never absolutely sure that our kitchen is going to catch up with us so we plan to live off the land till it comes up – hence our interest in bringing in food. Between my guard hitches and several hours delousing self and clothing my day was spent. I got a chance to crawl in a bunk about 10 PM. last nite, was called at 1 AM for guard, got back to bed at 4 AM and slept till 11 AM this morning. I missed chow but preferred to sleep. The lice have disturbed my sleep for several days so I was ready for sleep last nite after putting the damper on the little critters to which I am lately the unwilling host. We’ll probably go into the attack tonite or tomorrow again. We stay ready to move on 10 min notice and they never tell us what we are going to do. So, if we are here again tonite we have a warm attic room, crude but we have made it home in just the few hours we have been here, and no artillery is coming in and while the Jerries are just out there, they are not bothering us at the moment and all we’ve got to do is stay constantly on the alert and relax while we can.

So you see, honey, you don’t need to feel that the war is a horrible, nerve-wracking drudge all the time. After a fellow goes through enough of it to be calm and use the head under fire and after he learns to shed the horrors and not let them impress him too much and after a fellow finds that his nerves can stand the fear and suspense of the situations and can stand artillery, then he just slogs along, taking what comes and not worrying much about it. Thats all there is to it.

I want to tell you again, mother, how much your letters mean to me. They are so sweet and you just don’t know what a comfort they are to me. You are really a swell gal and you have my permission to start smoking cigarettes – if the supply in the states will stand one more addict.

The red cross kit I got when I came overseas was put up by a So. Carolina chapter. I also have a pair of wristlets I wear over my gloves that have been swell. They came from some Red Cross outfit. It’s a fine work and I’m glad you can take part of it.

I’m glad you all took Louise to the “St. Louis” show. She wrote that she thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dad, I hope you had a nice birthday. I thought about you and wished I could greet you in person.

Had a nice Easter card from Grandma and Dixie. Thank them for me. I am fine so you all don’t worry about me. Take care of yourselves and keep on writing and praying.

Love always
David