What a life. My tent blew down again last night. It happens so frequently we are very philosophic about it.
Last night was quite an affair. A nurse showed up looking for one of the officers we have known for some time. Talk about your triangles! The nurse & the officer are violently in love but keep it strictly platonic. The officer is a Catholic, married, and has a family—devoted to them. The officer wasn’t here, and although I had never met the girl before, she has heard so much about me that I ended up as big brother listening to a tale of woe. She’s a good kid, but not too smart.
This a.m. I bathed in a G.I. shower. Everything I have is clean. I even threw away my leaves which are corroded with age. I’ve been a major so long now no one will ever accuse me of being a new one.
While I was standing here, I see a Royal portable, so I decided to drop off a line or two. It is the first time I’ve had my hands on a Royal for about two years, and it sure does feel good.
This morning I had quite an experience. A sgt. told me he wasn’t going to work in a certain office because the light wasn’t good enough and he didn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to. Unfortunately, I was in a rough spot, as he is the old man’s secretary and what he said was true. Darling, if I don’t get back into some office where this a slight resemblance to the U.S. Army, I’ll go nuts. I like the Army way of doing business, and this damn civilian army is most nauseating.
The boss is afraid of his own shadow, and no one has been able to get a decision out of him for months. The uncertainty of never knowing what you’re going to from one day to the next is maddening.
Sept. 29, 1944
Well, well, The sgt is in the other office and working.
Last evening was most interesting. Col. Smith, I mentioned before & Dave Kennedy and I had a bore-ass. We used up about a pad of paper and had a regular old engineering session. I think we came out with a fairly sensible answer—also some new ideas for future references. I was so mad yesterday I just stayed out of the office all day and did essentially nothing.
Honey, I love my little Marfy, but please write something. I haven’t had but one letter in two weeks. Cy
Enclosed is an example of occupation money used in France. Don’t draw the wrong conclusion as it “taint so.” Hey! Did you ever get any of the Italian, Egyptian or French currency I have sent you? You never mentioned it. It should be mounted in scrap books with “stamp hinges” to prevent damage. Any hobby shop selling stamps can show you how.
Dave Kennedy and I have been having a hell of a lot of fun working out [illegible] theory problems. The OM isn’t too dumb, Marfy. Maybe some day, I’ll amount to something. You’ll like Dave. He is much like Chocolate.
No mail yet. It is hard to write with nothing to answer.
We have an ex G.I. and a hibrain west pointer here who spend all their time trying to show up the others in the office with their superior knowledge of everything. I’m about do a little chewing.
How are you? I wish to hell I’d get some mail. We haven’t had any for some time.
I am on a tour of France at present, in a C-78. I guess I don’t mention the organizations I see or the purpose of my visit, I won’t be violating any of the rules when I mention some of the things I’ve seen.
UC-78 Bobcat
I flew most of the way up the Rhone valley one day. The lower half is much like parts of Pennsylvania, factories lining the sides of the river. I didn’t realize it before, but the factories are the first I’ve seen in operation for a matter of years. It made me a bit nostalgic. The C-78 is a hell of an airplane, but nevertheless I parked it on the tree-tops all the way, and really got a good look.
I tried to do some Christmas shopping in one of the large cities, but I didn’t see more than a few things I would buy, and they were about ten to one more expensive than the same thing would have been in the States. My Scotch ancestry decided me against any purchases (Except your Christmas present. It is not silver, but pretty). I did sleep in a modern hotel, though, with a hot bath, clean sheets, a bed with springs and no bugs, and a nice eiderdown comforter to keep me warm.
Later in the trip I had to fly through some soup. The hills made it necessary to navigate the railroad way, and my navigator got a bit screwed up. He had us turned down a little feeder line. After following it for a minute, I realized that it was the wrong one, so I hauled around in a 180 turn. It was a good thing for I saw an American four gun battery of 105’s firing just below us. I went out there in a jeep the following day and found the damn place to be about 2 miles from the Jerry lines. When in doubt, always turn back, I’ve always said.
The next day I flew back here trying to get through to another city. The weather man was a little off, and when the ceiling got down to 50 feet off the trees, I decided I would lower my wheels and land. I found a field 800 feet long and put the Cessna in quite nicely. The field was a Cub Liaison squadron jobby and they were quite amazed that I could get it in, since they considered it small for the Cub. I was a little amazed myself.
This morning I bought four pipes made out of cherry, of which I shall send two to you. Let Dad pick out the one he wants for Christmas, and you can either give the other to him to give to Charley Flint and some of his friends, or you can send them to some of the people we know who might like one. They probably aren’t too good, but they are typical of the country here.
I take back my slanderous remarks I’ve made of the French. I’m afraid I’ve passed judgment on the lower city element. The average person is more than friendly, industrious as all hell, and a solid citizen. Until you have seen the countryside here, you haven’t lived. You’ve just got to make a trip over here with me.
Much to my amazement I can get by in France with what little know of the language. I heard there was a cheese factory in the neighborhood so I went out to look for it. I bought 5 kilos each of Gorgonzola and Swiss. Boy, is it luscious. I am going to try to send some of it home.
That’s about it, but I shall try to pick up some more interesting stuff on the rest of the trip.
I’m so damn much in love with you that it is pitiful. It’s the only solid thing in a very transient type of life.
