Monday November 5, 1945

 Dear Sis:

I received your letter today asking about buying our old house. Well, I wouldn't want it if it is in the same condition as when we left it. Did Myers have it remodeled in any way? Or is it still the same old junk heap with a pretty coat of paint on it? I will go half on it with you if you think it is a good buy. You will have to be the judge.

I haven't been doing anything since I last wrote to you but lay around, and I enjoy it very much. The "Checks" had a big celebration the other day, and we had to be in it; they gave us a "Check" flag. I was color guard by the flag and got my picture in the paper. 

I will send you the pictures the fellows took and maybe one of the papers.

Did I tell you about sending the box home the other day? Be sure and tell me when Mom gets it. And I have two more I am sending this week.

Well, I guess that is about all for this time I will try to write again this week. 

Be Good

All my love, 

"Bert"

October 25 - Hello Sis

Hello Sis

How are you by this time? I am just fine and having it very easy. We are not doing anything but keeping our telephone lines in working order. I don't think I told you but I'm not driving the jeep any more. I only drove for about 5 days the last time. I went to sleep when I was supposed to be awake. HA So I am a wireman again. And it is much easier as I had to do a lot of work on the jeep. And now I am just taking it easy, waiting for my ship to come in. And I think I'll have a pretty long wait.

I was glad to hear you got rid of one at; why don't you have Jake get rid of all of them at once? Isn't there a river close to where you live? HA And can't you have that damn drown cat cuh, or something. (Know idea what this means. RGD) I guess you liker her to much to put in a sack and throw in the river. HA

I sent a box home today. It was just a bunch of nice "junk." I will probably send another next week.

The mail is coming in very bad. And I guess the few I write are coming in bad too. But I don't guess you could tell if they were coming in slow or not, as I'm so slow about writing.

I guess that's about all for this time. I will try to make myself write again very soon.

All my love

Uncle Bert

P.S. - I hope it's a girl

September 30, 1945 - Kraslice, Czechoslovakia

Dear Sis:

Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive if you have been wondering. We are now in Kraslice, Czechoslovakia. It is about 275 miles from Landsburg, and I don't like it here. The people are most all Germans, but they are different. They all speak German, and they all have to wear armbands to show that they are Germans. And boy! there are plenty of girls, but they aren't as nice as the ones in Germany. You asked me if I had ever been out with any girls over here and how we talked to each other. Well, I'm getting so I can a pretty good conversation in German. And you can make them understand with your hands. HA

Well it doesn't look like I will get home this year so you can send the packages if it's not too late and I don't care what you send I can use anything but there is one thing I have in mind. I would like to have some good American fire water. HA So, see if you can get away with it. And if you don't think you can, do this...get some hair tonic bottles and fill them up. And be sure the bottles are up to the top, so they don't gurgle if someone shakes the package. That's how the other boys get it sometime.

Well, I guess that's about all for this time. I'll write again very soon. (Did I say that in the last letter?)

All my love,

Bruce

September 13, 1945 - Lansburg

 Dear Sis:

I guess it is about time I was writing to you, as its been about a month. I wish I had someone to make me write more often but, I just can't seem to make myself do it.

We are still in Lansburg, and we are having it pretty easy. I am back driving a jeep and am keeping pretty busy. I went back so I wouldn't have to be on guard all the time.

Well, there aren't very many old men left around here now. The men with high points have gone to outfits that are leaving for the States soon, and the low pointers have gone to occupation. All that are left have from 45 to 65 points, and the latest rumor is that the 80th will leave in November.

I received a letter from Gerald McGee, and he has 80 points, so I guess he will be home soon. I haven't heard from Bob Neidig for some time; I don't remember whether I answered his last letter or not.

Well,, as I said we have it pretty nice here in Lansburg. We have movies every night and some stage shows about twice a week.

I guess that is about all for this time. I'll try to write a little sooner next time. 

Until then, all my love.

"Bert"

August 22, 1945 - Buchloe, Germany

 Dear Sis:

At last, here I am again. I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, but I have been out on a 14-day problem, and I couldn't find any time to write out there, and even if I had, I couldn't have mailed it.

Well, I guess the Jap's have quit, and I guess that was the best news I have ever heard. We didn't (do) anything for a celebration. It was 2 o'clock in the morning when we got the news so we just laid in bed and talked about what the people were doing back home.

When we got back to Buchloe, I had about 10 letters here for me and was glad to get them all. I have some more pictures to send you, but I think I will send them in a little package. As I still have all the negatives from the other pictures I sent.

We are moving tomorrow or the next day to Lansburg and I think It will be better than here as it is a bigger town. And they say there are a lot of girls there. So guess we'll have a pretty good time there.

Well, I guess that is about all for this time. I will write as soon as we get settled in the next town.

All my love,

"Bert"

July 31, 1945 - Germany

Dear Sis:

How are you by this time? I am just fine as usual. We have moved since I last wrote to you. We are now in Buchloe. It is about 50 miles from where we were before. It is a much better town than the other, as we have a swimming pool and a club where we can buy drinks and they are going to have dances later on. We are living in civilian houses here. I have a very nice bed. There are two men in each room and we have 2 bath rooms in the house.

I haven't heard any more news as to when we will come home but I hope it will be November instead of December as I think I would be home for Christmas then.

I was glad to hear Jake got a school for next year. But I wish he would have got a coaching job instead. But maybe he will get one yet.

Your mail has been coming in slow as I told you in the other letter most of the air mail is going by ship. Vmail still goes by air but I would rather write a little longer and get a good letter.

You probably wonder what we do in the day time. We haven't been having any training since we have been here but next week we are going on a problem. I don't know whether I will have to go or not as some of us have to stay here and keep the houses.

Well I guess that's about all for this time I will try to write again the last part of the week. Until then be good, and don't work to hard.

All my love,

Bert  

July 24, 1945 - Germany

 Dear Sis:

How are you by this time? I am just fine as usual. I have gotten back from Paris. I had a very nice time. I saw all the big buildings. Went to see several shows. Paris is just like it was before the war, I guess the people sure love our cigs. They will pay 70 Francs a pack for them, that is $1.40 in our money. And $1.00 for a bar of soap. I got a couple of souvenirs I am enclosing in this letter.

We are still in the same town I last wrote to your from but we are going to move this week. About 50 miles I guess.

Well your mail isn't coming in now. I guess it's because they quit sending it by plane. They say about half of the air mail goes by ship now.

I am sending Mom some maps. It will show you everywhere I have been so far.

Well I guess I will have to close for this time as I can't think of anything else to say.

Be good and I am going to write more often.

Love,

"Bert"