April 9, 1945 - Somewhere in Germany

 Dear Sis:

Well, how are you by this time? I am just fine as usual. I am writing you this letter to tell you that I sent you a package today. Be sure and tell me when you get it.

Well, I wish I could tell you where I am tonight but I can't. But I can tell you that I was near Kassel the other day. And about a week before I was near Frankfurt.

Well at the present time I am feeling pretty high. We got several bottles and we are all feeling pretty high. Well, I had better cut this short as I can't think of anything else to write.

Be good and don't worry about me.

With all my love,

Bruce

PS - Tell Jake I couldn't send the rifle as yet but will send it later.

                                 A street scene in Kassel, Germany

March 24th 1945 - Somewhere in Germany

 Dear Sis:

Well at long last here I am again, and I am just fine as usual. Have been keeping plenty busy the last 3 or 4 weeks so that explains why you haven't heard from me.

I have received two boxes so far and liked them very much and I also received the very nice birthday card and thanks very much. And I also received the pictures of Jakes ball team. They looked good. And was glad to hear you won the sectional and better luck next year.

I received the newspaper clippings from Mom about Gib Burris getting hitched. It sounded like a big deal. And was very glad to hear that Tommy Dodson was home. Maybe we'll all be home soon. I read in the stars and stripes where Hitler was willing to give up if we would let him remain in power. Wouldn't that be a laugh?

I received a letter from Bob N. last week and he was just fine at that time. I am going to answer his letter tonight. But I never did hear from Gerald McGee. 

Well, I guess I had better close for this time and will write again as soon as I can.

Love,

Bruce

March 6, 1945 Somewhere in Germany

Hello Sis: 

Well how is my favorite sister by this time? I am just as good as ever. I received a letter from you yesterday and one today with one from Jack in it. (I am sure that my Dad was referring to my Uncle Jake but I don't remember Jake being referred to as Jack.) And I am always glad to hear from him. He asked me if I thought things looked any better over here. Well to me it looks like they are on the run. But we have one big job ahead of us and that is the Rhine. And if they last that long I don't think they will old out much longer after we cross it. 

I was glad to hear you won your first game in the Sectional and hope you win it. I guess you have been wondering if I received the packages with the juices in them or not. I have received one so far. I guess the others will be coming in soon. 

I was wondering if Jack would like to have a German rifle for a souvenir as we can send them home now. Be sure and answer this.

Well I guess I had better close for this time. As we have a picture show tonight and I don't want to miss it. I'll write again as soon as possible. Be good and don't worry about me. 

 Love, 

 "Bert"

Third Army - Through France and Beyond

 I decided that this would be as good a time as any to insert a historical video about Third Army and their war efforts across France and beyond. Interestingly every time that I watch one of these historical videos I continually look for glimpses of my Dad. Of course I have never actually seen him and I am sure that hundreds or thousands of other descendants of WWII soldiers do the same thing when watching videos such as this.

January 28, 1945 Somewhere in Germany

 Dear Sis:

Well at last, here I am again. And I guess it is about time. But I have been pretty busy as you probably know. I wrote Mom a short letter last night, and decided I had better write you tonight. Mom said you would feel bad if I didn't write to you.

I sent Mom a picture last night, but it didn't come out so good it is so dark you can't hardly make it out. but maybe you can have it made over so it will come out better. I had a picture taken about two weeks ago but it takes a long time to get them back.

You remember the guy I was telling you about, that was from Washington? Well I talked to him and he was telling me some of the fellows from Washington that are in his outfit, but they are in different Co. He said Bill Donaldson, Mack Eagle and Charles Burris and some other I didn't know. He told me Charles Burris CUT OUT FOR SOME REASON. I wonder if that is the Charles Burris we know? 

Well mail has been coming in pretty good but I didn't get any today. In one of your letters you said Jake wanted to know how much I weighed. Well I don't know as I haven't got weighed since I've been over here. But I think I have gained a little. 

Well I guess I will have to close as it is getting late and I can sure use some sleep.

Be good

Love

"Bert"

February 17, 1945 Somewhere

 Dear Sis:

Well here I am again and I am just fine as usual. Haven't received any mail from you for 3 or 4 days.

Well I saw a guy from Washington the other day but haven't had a chance to talk to him as yet. He is in a tank destroyer outfit that is with us now. I have saw him several times and I knew his face but didn't know his name. So I asked another fellow in his outfit if their was anyone from Washington in his outfit. And he told me there were several guys from Washington in it. The guy I saw, he said his name was Alaman and he named the others but I didn't know any of them by name. The guy that told me all this was from Vincennes. I guess I'll go see him tomorrow. Well I guess that is enough of that.

How is Jakes B. ball team doing by this time? I'm sure glad he beat Princeton.

I haven't received any answer to the letter I wrote to Bob N. Have you heard anything about him? I was thinking he might have got wounded or something. And I haven't got any answer to Gerald McGee's letter. But he just won't write I guess. I know he's not wounded. 

The last letter I got from you, you said you saw in the paper where I got the Combat Inf. badge. It isn't anything much but I get $10 more a month for it.

I thought you were going to send me some pictures. I am going to send you one before long, one of the fellows took it the other day but it takes a long time to get them developed.

Well I can't think of anything else to write so guess I will have to close. Until next time be good, and don't' worry about me.

All my love

"Bert"

76th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and Photo Album

 

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Even through I have already posted information about this important, turning point battle of WWII and this is not normally the day of the week that I post in Letters from a Foxhole, I thought this would be a good day to create an online photo album of the pictures that my Dad sent home during the war and also to take a few pictures of items that are in Geraldine's scrap book and some pictures of various mementos and awards that Dad brought home and/or received for his service.

The pictures in the album that I have created are in no particular order. Some pictures were taken several months after the Battle of the Bulge and during the final months of U.S. occupation. Most of the pictures include my Dad in them, but many are either pictures of some of his buddies during the war, or just pictures of the countryside.

There are several pictures of some sort of an "assembly" in some,

yet to be identified city. Dad appears in several of those pictures as a member of the "color guard." If anyone who views the album and recognizes the city, or knows anything about this particular assembly of troops, I would love to know more about it. My intention is to add any information that is gathered over time about each picture as I learn more.

If you are interested in looking through the Album please CLICK HERE