March 7, 1945 Wednesday

[V-Mail]

Hello my wonderful Marjorie,

I’m afraid that big letter won’t be tonight or tomorrow. Had to work until 10:30 tonite and have a big day scheduled for tomorrow, too. I have looked ruefully at the pile of souvenirs I have and wondered how I could send them.

However, that is not what I really want to talk about. I always fritter away my time writing trivial things, when actually I am trying to find a way to say how awfully much I miss you and want you without hurting both of our “morales.” But I do miss you, Honey – it’s like a knife in your chest and thinking about it is like turning the blade around a little. Not all the time, because you can “think” in some hope and that helps. But when the thought of being apart first creeps into your mind unrationalized and naturally, it is pretty “rough.” Well, that’s the truth of the matter, anyway, and even loving ‘til it hurts is a thing I’m very thankful for. 

Yours,

Wallace

March 6, 1945 Tuesday

[V-Mail] 

Hello again, my Honey,

Getting the platoon in shape is the best way for me to “be careful” and we know it more forcibly than ever now – but the new men still think it’s all a picnic and that training is a thing to avoid! If we could only impress them with the necessity and seriousness of it. Got to find some way to make them learn the easy way – the hard way is too expensive. 

But that is just my daily worry – the thing I want to tell you most is that you are still my very wonderful and lovely wife. I love you every second and am always your loving and faithful husband. Captain Fairbairn and I flatter ourselves because we are the only two men in the army guaranteed to be forever faithful to our wives – we have seen Paris in the spring, and are therefore, natcherly, proof against any future temptations after passing this test! Seriously, Honey, “you and I” saw Paris, just as we saw London. It is a beautiful city with all the unique “spirit” you have read about. We must see it together in reality someday – I am sure it would be the best city in the world for us to visit, even over New York and New Orleans. Until I can write more, let me send all the love I can squeeze into a V-mail to you, and be sure I love you a thousand times more than that. 

All my sincerest love,

Wallace

March 6, 1945 Tuesday

[V-Mail]

My dearest Marjorie,

Beaucoups of things have happened since I last wrote! What do you think, Hon? I went to Paris! I am just bubbling over with things to tell you about it. It took 5 days with travel, and I saw just about all the things we have read about in Paris. It was one of those passes like the one I got to London, only this one was longer. Just as soon as I can I am going to write you a big old letter all about it, and send you a pile of pictures and souvenirs. Re-modelling the 2nd platoon takes almost all my time now, including evenings, and I know you realize the importance of that work. It’s a case of not daring to neglect training the new men. The “old men” help a lot but the new ones are so desperately green. The work is extremely urgent and real and difficult to put across. Even so, I think of you and love you always and always.

Wallace

February 25, 1945 Sunday

[V-Mail]

France

Dearest Marjorie,

In this village things are very much like they were in Mulcey—I have an extremely nice couple to live with. In an ultra-modern home done in the best French taste. No kidding! They are fine people, educated, and interesting. My actions are routine platoon duties.

How are you tonite? Still happy, I hope and thinking of me as much as I think of you. These clear moonlit spring nights make me think of our junior prom days. Weren’t they the balmy, romantic days? I used to forget to take the tickets to the prom and such, but even so they were exciting.

I hope we can have a home as nice as the one I am in now. It isn’t overdone a bit, but the effect is wonderful. They have a nice radio, but no record-player. We’ll have them beat there! Gee, I love you, Hon, all to pieces.

Yours always,

Wallace.

February 23, 1945 Friday

France

Dearest Marjorie,

Back to the company today, after a full day of vacation in Nancy. I left the shower bath outfit and got a ride into Nancy. There I got a promise of a ride to division late that night. So I spent the day doing Nancy alone but in our usual method. I visited the University of Nancy with its excellent modern library, the various historic “gates” to the city and Stanislas Place. The last is a square of unusual architectural unity. I’ll try to send you some pictures soon.

Everybody welcomed me back to the company. I have the 2nd platoon again, tho it is very changed. Good set-up here in this town. 

I am thinking of you all the time, Hon, and loving you just as much as always. Even a bit more.

Yours always,

Wallace.

February 21, 1945 Wednesday

France

‘Evening, Hon,

Tonite I feel a little like the Wandering Minstrel. I left the hospital this noon and went to the replacement depot – a trip of about 25 miles. There I found that red tape was extremely minimized. I walked in, presented my orders. They said, O.K., I could return to my unit. I asked about transportation and they just shrugged their shoulders. I could either take off or wait an undetermined length of time for official transportation. I took off after getting one disagreeable look at the depot.

So here I am, wandering thru France looking for my outfit. I have only a general idea where they are, but plenty of faith and pioneer spirit. 

Sounds like a comic opera, but I am spending the night with a portable shower bath company! A friendly captain picked me up and gave me a ride thru Nancy to Toul. He is giving me a lodging for the night. Tomorrow I’ll be on my way again. This is a QM outfit that goes around to give showers to resting troops. My kind of outfit, I can see. Good food, quarters, and amusements. No enemy to worry about. They are the ones that collect the souvenirs of the war. They can carry them with their transportation. 

Toul is an old, romantic town with a real moat around it. Cobbled streets, very, very narrow. Big cathedral. Wonderful. Here are some pictures I bought – actually it is not badly ruined. 

Also here is a Valentine! Little late but still valid. The sentiment is there, but you are much prettier than the girl in the picture! I love you all the time, my Bunny – every little minute. 

All my love, 

Wallace

February 21, 1945 Wednesday

[V-Mail]

France

Dearest,

I am free as a bird – flying across France looking for my nest. Less poetically, I’m trying to hitchhike to my outfit. Am spending the night with a QM shower bath company, no less. It all seems poetic because I have seen the old, moated, cobblestoned town of Toul. Fascinating.

Thought how fine it would be for us to travel in this sector. We could learn and see a lot of things. We must do it sometime. Meantime, I’ll see what I can of it and make believe you are here, too. You seem so close when I go around looking, alone.

All my love,

Wallace