Post by floydragsdale on Oct 23, 2013 10:40:21 GMT -5
Hello everyone.
Connie has been busy doing some volunteer work. She asked me if I would keep you-all entertained while she is occupied doing something else. - - - So, following is a letter I wrote home from France in 1945. - - - I added a foot-note to it about a year or so ago. P.S. Betty was my sister-in-law and Gene was my brother. Both have been deceased for several years now. - - - My Mother saved all the letters that I wrote home while I was in the Army. Reading them now is like looking at a history book. When I wrote that there was "Nothing to do in Paris" it was true if one was broke. However, the French Government allowed a G.I. to ride the trains, any where in France, at no charge and if a Soldier stayed at an American run Red Cross it was also at no charge. Thus, even if a Soldier was broke, he could travel in France and see the sites.
Floyd
15 September 1945
Choise du Bak, France
Dear Mom and Betty:
Just received your birthday card in today’s mail. Many thanks, it was a nice card.
I pulled thirteen continuous hours of guard duty today and I’m kind of tired tonight.
I got your first letters saying that Gene was home but they came a bit too late. Something is wrong with the APO (Army Post Office) here and I wish I knew what it was.
Boy, these tents are damp as heck. My clothes are getting wet and there’s nothing I can do to dry them out. Don’t worry about me getting sick cause I think I can take anything after last winter.
I think I’ll go to Mayan in the morning just to get away from this place.
We have a bunch of British Americans taking basic training here. They were just drafted from England. What a sight they are. I hope I didn’t look like they do when I came into the Army. It’s all I can do to look at them. They look bewildered and I can see why.
About 300 WACS are moving in next to us in a day or two. Well It looks as if I’ll be here for Christmas and maybe the next one. It will not be as bad as the last one. That day my only meal was a piece of cheese I picked up off the road. In fact it was the only meal I had in five days. The war is over. I don’t know why I write these things. No one will ever understand except those who were up there(front lines).
I may go into Paris sometime next week on another pass. There is noting to do in Paris but anything to get out of here.
Well It’s bed time so I’ll close for now.
Love,
Doug
April 2011
We (our Battalion) had a Xmas dinner 12/25/44, however it was ice cold when we got it; turkey, mashed potatoes etc. I recall picking up the piece of cheese, on fresh fallen snow, and eating it. That was my only meal that particular day. There were times when the only thing we had to eat was whatever we could find at the time. I do not remember which day this was, yet it was during the Battle of the Bulge Campaign.
Floyd D. Ragsdale
Connie has been busy doing some volunteer work. She asked me if I would keep you-all entertained while she is occupied doing something else. - - - So, following is a letter I wrote home from France in 1945. - - - I added a foot-note to it about a year or so ago. P.S. Betty was my sister-in-law and Gene was my brother. Both have been deceased for several years now. - - - My Mother saved all the letters that I wrote home while I was in the Army. Reading them now is like looking at a history book. When I wrote that there was "Nothing to do in Paris" it was true if one was broke. However, the French Government allowed a G.I. to ride the trains, any where in France, at no charge and if a Soldier stayed at an American run Red Cross it was also at no charge. Thus, even if a Soldier was broke, he could travel in France and see the sites.
Floyd
15 September 1945
Choise du Bak, France
Dear Mom and Betty:
Just received your birthday card in today’s mail. Many thanks, it was a nice card.
I pulled thirteen continuous hours of guard duty today and I’m kind of tired tonight.
I got your first letters saying that Gene was home but they came a bit too late. Something is wrong with the APO (Army Post Office) here and I wish I knew what it was.
Boy, these tents are damp as heck. My clothes are getting wet and there’s nothing I can do to dry them out. Don’t worry about me getting sick cause I think I can take anything after last winter.
I think I’ll go to Mayan in the morning just to get away from this place.
We have a bunch of British Americans taking basic training here. They were just drafted from England. What a sight they are. I hope I didn’t look like they do when I came into the Army. It’s all I can do to look at them. They look bewildered and I can see why.
About 300 WACS are moving in next to us in a day or two. Well It looks as if I’ll be here for Christmas and maybe the next one. It will not be as bad as the last one. That day my only meal was a piece of cheese I picked up off the road. In fact it was the only meal I had in five days. The war is over. I don’t know why I write these things. No one will ever understand except those who were up there(front lines).
I may go into Paris sometime next week on another pass. There is noting to do in Paris but anything to get out of here.
Well It’s bed time so I’ll close for now.
Love,
Doug
April 2011
We (our Battalion) had a Xmas dinner 12/25/44, however it was ice cold when we got it; turkey, mashed potatoes etc. I recall picking up the piece of cheese, on fresh fallen snow, and eating it. That was my only meal that particular day. There were times when the only thing we had to eat was whatever we could find at the time. I do not remember which day this was, yet it was during the Battle of the Bulge Campaign.
Floyd D. Ragsdale
