5/11/44: The Americans and British begin their fourth major assault on Monte Cassino.
5/12/44 Italy V-Mail
Hi Snooks:
I shall try to fill this one up single spaced. When I write every day, like I have been, there isn’t too much to say. Today I got five letters from you, which sure did help. I haven’t had one from you for some time. The change in address is finally clicking and I should have no more delays.
I shall answer your letters in order. Burt will get his letter, although I don’t think I owe him one. Maybe he figures 1 visit is worth the ten letters he owes me. Well, I guess that is right. Alice and Eddie sound interesting. I shall enjoy meeting them. The gifts for the Gozland’s sound swell. It may have been $50, but it would have cost me $200 for my leave. Honey, when people are rationed the way the people in Africa are, and yet take you in and feed four off of a ration of three, money or gifts can’t repay it. On top of that, their hospitality is a thing of record proportions. I am sure that the gifts will be loved, for even if I only sent them a couple of handkerchiefs, they would enjoy it. But the value of things from the states over here is past all comprehension. The same things would cost anywhere from $300 to $1000 here! Thanks for taking such pains. Someday you’ll meet them, and see what I mean.
So you like the brooch and bracelet! Honey, I don’t particularly like cameos, but those appealed to me and are supposed to be pretty good. The whole business was made from materials which I assembled and furnished, and was not “store bought.” The black dress sounds purty. Personally, I prefer dark purple slips—or do you remember? The coral necklace (have you gotten the bracelet to match it yet?) should be along with an unmounted cameo I sent about the same time & should also go well with the black dress. Boy, would I like to have you in that outfit to parade around the officers club tonight.
What the hell did Nena do now? Or is it too long to write?
Say, I got a letter from Betty Hitchcock today and she is home on leave. Why not call her up some night, as you will certainly enjoy her. Address is:
E.F. Hitchock, 8368 Waterman Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Also got one from Helen Paetz Phillips. That’s another little gal that you would really get along with. On account of you, she still remains the only girl I ever dated and couldn’t kiss. She had just gotten a letter from you when she wrote.
I’ll bet you can’t guess who I saw yesterday? Andy Anderson, my instructor at Brooks. Gosh, it was good, he hasn’t changed a bit, and I as most flattered to find that he had spent a good deal of time trying to locate me over here. Things are tough all over. He is a Major, and was a 1st Lt. when I first met him! Actually, I was glad I was only a Major, for I wouldn’t have felt at all comfortable any other way. He remembered the whole flight (stroud, sorensone, starbuck, and stacher) and remarked that he never had a screwier bunch of students in his whole career. Well, it’s a small world. And I did fill the page.
Honey, you just about the sweetest little thing I can think of, and one of these bright years I’m going to get sent home for good. Bob Paul sends regards.
All my love, Cy.
Post Views:
28