April 11, 1945 Wednesday

Dear Marjorie,

I did not write at the usual time last night, due to a sudden urge to take a walk in the hospital area. It was a “Junior Prom” type of evening. Quiet, clear, and a nice fresh scent of spring flowers in the air. The season here is far in advance of the usual time-table for New England. The trees are green already, and all the early flowers are budding. The sun is warm during the day, and evenings are only a little cooler. 

Last night I found out just how pleasant it was outdoors. I took off my stiff legged gait and strolled. That was possible because yesterday morning I got a new outfit. It’s that “awful” G.I. stuff, but it is much better than pajamas. [switches from pencil to ink] In addition, I began to eat at the officer’s mess. That gives me a chance to take a short walk to each meal. The walk I took last evening was enjoyable, but inevitably it made me a little lonely. Even despondent, in a quiet, almost pleasant, sort of way.

In a day or two I will start physiotherapy. That’s all I need now. The muscles are stiff, and won’t stretch out as they should. 

Today they are having a formal inspection at the hospital so, inevitably the patients take second place, while they clean up the wards. It seems to me that the attitude of the officials at this hospital is not as good as that in others. Most everything is more the detachment and the reputation of the hospital than for the well-being of the patients. That does not go for the medical treatment at all. That is of the best. But the entertainment & morale sections endure patients rather than work for them.

The usual custom is to begin a letter in ink, run dry, and finish in pencil. It is only to flout convention that I reverse that order today. No use being narrow. Might just as well run out of lead occasionally as to be forever running out of ink first.

So long for a short time now, Honey; I am planning to write again today to settle my conscious [sic] about not writing last night. You know I think of you all the time and love you more than all the world. You are always my wonderful wife.

All my love,

Wallace.

April 10, 1945 Tuesday

Hosp. France

My dearest Marjorie,

Well, here’s Dinah Shore’s program! I have heard it several times in the last couple weeks, and each time it recalls happy thoughts of last summer and you. She sang “I’ll Walk Alone” one night. She can sing our theme song better than anyone, and even tho it is off the hit parade now, it’s still our theme song. I’m lonely, but it isn’t at all unbearable since I have you to have faith in and rely on. And I have all the faith in the world, Honey.

Today I branched out to the barber shop without the aid of crutches. I casually roll along with a cane now. A cane makes you feel like a millionaire somehow. You can get such majestic flourishes with it. The bandage make me walk with a rather stiff-legged stride on the left side, but I have all the power of a bull moose in each step. How do I know how it got there? And I can’t prove it, you’ll just have to believe me – it is undoubtedly the power of a bull moose.

Covered some more of Hitler’s early life and the start of National Socialism. There was considerable material on the German underground efforts to maintain the power of the army as a political force. Valuable as a pre-glimpse of what probably lies ahead for us now. If German nationalism of the last war produced such vicious unseen growths, it’s certain to be even more sinister now. For then, only a portion of the population had that fanatical form of patriotism that fosters secret organizations. Now, all of Germany is as steeped in it as Hitler and a few soldiers and students were then. With the practice the Germans got in the early 1920’s they may pop up with something new and mean in fifth column work, and since they have so many people to join in it. The French did some neat underground work, and they did it after a time when their national feeling was extremely low. The Germans have seen the French work, and are themselves so groggy with nationalism they will have even more incentive. 

Today a captain from the 12^th came into the ward as a patient. He is a headquarters man, but is seemed good to see anybody from the outfit. He had some news of the outfit but nothing at all personal about the men I know. They are making plenty of time. 

My goodnite wish tonite is that you are just as happy as you can be and that you love me just the way I love you.

All my love, always,

Wallace.