John Shaw Archives - WW II Love Story, Letters from Buddy

1944 June 4 Letter from John Shaw to Nena

6/4/44: In Italy, the Allied forces take control of Rome. At this point the priorities shift to the European advance on the Germans, while the forces in Italy are primarily charged with engaging German forces there in order to keep them from helping out in France and Germany.

“As General Clark’s Fifth U.S. Army moved into Rome on June 4, 1944, the D-Day landings in Normandy, scheduled for June 6, took priority over the Italian Campaign. Six Allied divisions were removed from Italy to support landings in southern France. Further Allied advances in Italy were slow and hampered by heavy autumn rains. The Allied High Command ordered that priority be given to pinning down as many German divisions as possible for the duration of the war, rather than pressing the Italian offensive further. Allied soldiers had pushed across the Po Valley in northern Italy when German forces in Italy finally surrendered on May 2, 1945, two days after the collapse of Berlin.” https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/italian-campaign

6/4/44 England

From John Shaw to Nena Shaw

Hi Honey:

Well another quiet Sunday evening so I will get down to writing. I suppose back there you are about now having your second breakfast or lunch. Wish I could be there to have a cup of coffee with you even though I have had a Sunday evening dinner of corned beef and a delicious cup of tea! But really I am getting to like it better, but keep the coffee supply up for when I get there.

I am glad you are getting along so well and have good hours for a change be sure and take advantage of it and have a little fun while you can. Just take time off to write once in a while as I have not been getting much mail. I haven’t heard from the folks for over a month. I wrote them once since then but maybe they didn’t get it and are waiting to hear from me, so mention it next time you write.

I got a letter from Mommy yesterday. Tell her that it is good to know she is getting alright again and enjoying the good weather and that she is welcome to the Sox and can take over the shoes too if she desires to. I don’t think anyone could do better.

In answer to Chuck’s note I know how he feels about his love but better go easy for a few yrs till he can get back to really devote his whole time to it without being interrupted in having to be away and let her heart grow fonder for somebody else but anyway have a hell of a lot of fun while he can for when he gets in this thing good times are few.

Well will quit for now. All my love yours John.

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1944 July 15 France–John Shaw takes a break during the battle of St. Lo

Note: July 9-18 was the battle of St. Lo in Normandy. July 17 was the first date that Napalm is used by U.S. forces in battle.

7/15/44 France

From John Shaw to Nena Shaw

Hi Honey:

Will take time out to answer your last few letters. Have had about 4 this week so far also one from Opal but time is going by so fast it seems I don’t get around to answering but will try to do better.

You lucky dog having a 3 day vacation, yesterday was a French Holiday about the same as our 4^th but somehow we did not get a vacation. Guess we don’t belong to the right Union or have the right connections.

I saw a very interesting piece in the paper today it seems the army is not going to take men over 30. Remind me if we have another war that I don’t have to go.

I thought of you the other night. While you were having your beer there and enjoying it I was sitting here sipping my Coniac (probably spelled wrong but you get what I mean). It was not too good tasted like Ten High or some of that other whiskey that we had to take when I was home last.

I will be sending more money home now when we get paid. Can’t say how often that will be for we sure don’t need money here. All cities are off limits if we did have time to go. So far I have not spent a franc as yet. By the way we sure draw a hell of a big pay here as the Franc is only worth about 2 cents our money. It seems strange to have thousands in your pocket and not be able to spend it, but if we save it now we can have a hell of a time when I get back and that will be a lot more fun don’t you think.

Well there is no news so will quit for now. All my love, yours, John.

Author’s historical notes: Mid July–U.S. forces launch “Operation Cobra” near St. Lo, breaking through German defenses. The counter-offensive fails and within a week the U.S. forces have met up with British and Canadian forces near Caen.

“Although not involved in D-day operations, the 92nd Chemical Battalion soon participated in the Normandy fighting. Attached to XIX Corps and supporting the 30th Division, the unit first saw action in the opening days of July along the Vire River. On 8 July the 92nd supported the 29th Division which was spearheading the XIX Corps drive on the centers of German resistance around St. Lô. This and one other attack proved unsuccessful; fourteen days and two attachments later the battalion was poised for the breakthrough operation.

COBRA, the offensive to break out of Normandy, began on 25 July. The VII Corps, with three divisions abreast, led the attack. Companies A (John Shaw’s company) and B, 92nd Battalion, were firing preparatory missions in support of units of the 30th Division when Allied heavy bombers droned in to soften German resistance. To the dismay of the American troops, about 3 of the planes dropped their bomb loads within friendly lines. Nearly 200 bombs fell in the 92nd Battalion area alone. Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, Army Ground Forces commander, was instantly killed while observing the action from a point just in front of Company A. Battalion losses were 5 dead and 23 wounded. Company A lost 9 mortars, half of its ammunition, and all of its vehicles. Company B fared better, managing to salvage 8 of its 12 mortars. On the following day Company C relieved Company A and the latter unit drew back to reorganize; three days later Company A, in turn, relieved Company B. By 3 August all units returned to the battalion area for rest and refitting.”

Patton’s tank columns begin pursuing the retreating Germans on August 1, keeping them on the run. By August 20^th, the Normandy campaign is over and thousands of German troops are captured. The Allies drive on towards Paris.

Source: http://tothosewhoserved.org/usa/ts/usatsc03/chapter12.html

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1944 September 3 From John Shaw–A lazy Sunday

9/3/44 From John Shaw to Nena Shaw

Hi Honey:

And a good morning to you. I hope you are up by now as it should be about 9 AM there. I have had a very lazy Sunday so far. Did nothing but exercise this AM and this afternoon have had a bath, hair cut and done my washing, so I feel very much better. By the way you would like our bath room. It is very large with a nice green carpet, the ceiling is sky blue with a few clouds and the walls are, on the west a barb wire fence, and the others are very much open except for a few apple trees, jeeps and pup tents. It is very well ventilated, in fact a bit cool at times when the sun is not out.

I received your letter of the 22^nd today, also the 9^th, 19^th & 21^st yesterday. They are the first for the last couple of weeks and no package so far but guess things are moving too fast now for it to catch up but should get them later–maybe after this is over, which can’t be too long according to the news reports on the radio.

I hope you have noticed the big moon. I couldn’t help thinking of you when I saw it this morning for it was about the time you would be getting home if you were out.

I have at least done one of the things I most wanted to do over here that was see Paris. From what I saw it sure must be some town in normal times. Even now there is plenty of life there, but it was too soon to buy much except some drinks the Jerries didn’t take. Beer, wine, but no whiskey. Will tell you more when I see you.

It is about chow time so will quite for now. Oh yes, keep on getting fat, you know that is the way I like you—fat and healthy & happy.

So long for now. I do love you a hell of a lot.

Yours John

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1944 September 6 John Shaw–“We have been doing very good with the people here”

9/6/44 France

From John Shaw to Nena Shaw

Hi Honey:

Only a few days since I wrote to you last as I have time will do so again. Have not received any mail for the past few days but suppose it is on the way. By the way did you ever get that $50 I sent you in July and $40 in Aug. You have not mentioned it in any of the mail I have received, so would like to know. We have not been paid for Aug. as yet so have not sent any more home.

We have been doing very good with the people here.* They have brought out coffee they have been saving for 5 years, in celebration and it sure is good–more like back home than what we have been getting.

Say, how about sending that camera I had down at Crowder with all the film you can get. I think by the time it gets here there will be a lot of pictures I will be able to take and if it should not get here it would not be too much lost. If you do send it better put it in a wooden box so it won’t be smashed.

Well there is no news so will quit for now. Remember I love you.

Yours John.

*Author’s note: At this time, John’s battalion was camped at about 30 miles northwest of Paris. “We spent three days at Evecquemont helping the townspeople celebrate both the liberation of Paris and the memory of the French dead of the First World War. We made a provisional trucking company which made a trip to Belgium to transport infantrymen in their pursuit of the fast-retreating Germans. Some of the more reckless officers and enlisted men violated orders and visited Paris, fraternized with the liberated Parisians, and forever bragged about it. C’est la guerre!” Source: “92^nd Chemical Mortars” by Lt. Col. Ronald L. Martin, Cml.C.

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