March 31, 1944 Friday

[This letter is damaged along the lower right edge, and some words are missing; it looks like tiny teeth marks, a rodent?]

Dear Honey,

Have a hundred enclosures to make tonite. Know I’ll miss some but here’s at least a partial list—your [Jesus Maria] Sanroma program [a pianist], Laura’s news clipping, and some more pictures—Hamilton, this time [$10 bill? See also Feb. 2, 1944 letter to Mrs. Nelson for “pictures of George Washington” = $1 bills?].

Our assault gun problem today was something you should have seen. We manufactured a battalion tank attack, got the first wave going O.K., and then they put up a smoke screen between that wave and our supporting assault guns. Could see neither the enemy nor our own tanks. The lead [missing] folded up because of no support, [missing] wave got lost in smoke and our [missing] assault guns stood by amazed. Our victory [missing] clouded by smoke and it wound up [missing] stopping our attack completely. Wonder [missing] Napoleon would have done.

Got a letter from Laure today, with the (I hope) enclosed clipping which might prove of value to us. I have a lot of respect for Laura. She is having it pretty tough these days. Expects Justin to go any time. But her basic maturity shows up in her letters. She’s got it. Whatever “it” is in this case.

We had a chaplain speak to us today on the relation of chaplains to officers. He was an intelligent man, one of the few we heard among the chaplains. He bemoaned the fact that C.O.’s ignored chaplains. Most [missing] feel that the chaplain’s main [missing] is to punch T.S. cards. This one [missing] tho his own should be brought [missing]. Some day I would like to [missing] an intelligent minister and see [missing] they get that way. Among the candidates here we have supporters of [missing] any side and any topic, except that we have none that even claims to be a Christian in the real meaning of the word. I suppose that is understandable.

This week has been an easy one all round, honey. Has given me a chance to rest up, but I still feel rusty somehow. Need a long rest and a big change. Maybe this prospective Louisville trip will do it.

Oh, I just thought of why I liked Laura’s letter—I must be flattered to find that there is [missing] person in the world who writes as badly as I. Almost, anyway.

I’m very sleepy tonite, Bunny, and would very much appreciate the comfort of your couch. I do believe I could sleep one (1) solid week.

Remember I love you all the time, Honey, and am waiting for the day when I can really take care of you.

All my love,
Wallace