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"

July 13, 1945 Obergunzburg, Germany ???

 (I had a hard time figuring out the name of the town in Germany Dad was in when he wrote this letter and Obergunzburg is just a guess. He must have been in a hurry to get going to Paris! LOL Also Included in this envelope was another document dated Jun 28, 1945 that lists several names of people who are being given the Good Conduct Medal...including Dad...which I have also scanned and include in this post.)

Dear Sis

How are you by this time? I am just fine as usual. Well I finally got a pass to Paris. I am leaving tomorrow. I will write and tell you all about it and will probably send you something from there.

I haven't heard from you for 3 or 4 days. I guess it is because of our move. This place is only about 50 miles from the last place we were in. And it is a little bigger. We haven't been doing anything in the last few days just laying around taking it easy.

We have had 3 or 4 parades in the last week to give out Silver Stars and other decorations. There is going to be a big one Sunday but I won't be in on it, as I will be gone. It is going to be the whole Division.

Well I guess I will close for this time, as I can't think of anything else to write about. I will try to write soon again.

All my love,

"Bert"

July 2, 1945 Babenhausen, Germany

 Dear Sis:

Well here I am again and I guess it is about time. How is everything going with you...fine I hope. I am just as good as ever.

We are still in the same place I last wrote you your from and we are getting used to the town now. You see it is a farm town and it stinks like cow shit, but we don't mind it now. HA

I got my two front teeth all finished yesterday and that German Dentist sure did a good job. He didn't want to take any money for his work, he just wanted the money for the stuff he used. It was $6 but I gave him $10. It would have cost me $75 in the States. I am going back tonight and let him see if I have any other bad teeth.

I got a letter from Bob N yesterday. He is just as good as ever. He doesn't think he will have to go to the C.B.I. to fight the Japs. I will have to answer his letter soon.

I am enclosing some pictures we took around here. And I guess that's about all for this time. Be good.

Love, 

"Bert"

June 18, 1945 Babenhausen, Germany

 Dear Sis -

This will just be a short letter to let you know I am still O.K. I have enclosed several pictures I thought you would like to have. I don't know whether I have the right month on the back of the little ones or not but it is pretty close.

I have been receiving your mail pretty regular. But you don't seem to be getting any from me, maybe its because I haven't been writing any. (HA) but I am going to try to write more often than I have been. Well I'll have to say so long for this time as I have a dental appointment at 3 O'clock. I am getting my front teeth fixed.

All my love,

Bruce

(There were no pictures in the envelope or I would have posted them too. I have a box of pictures that Geraldine saved, some of which I have already posted in previous posts.)

June 6, 1945 Somewhere in Austria

 Dear Sis

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still O.K. You have probably been wondering why I haven't written sooner. Well I just got back from the hospital. I was there about 2 weeks. But I am just as good as ever now. I had an abscess on my right hand, and a big boil on top of my head. This was the first boil I ever had. And my hand was swollen up about twice as big as it should be. 

Well, we are still wondering what they are going to do with the 3rd Army. We hear new rumors every day. Mom thinks I am coming home now because she hasn't been hearing from me. But I haven't heard anything yet. I am now in Bad Ischl, Austria. I don't know whether you can find it on your map or not as it is a small place. And before we moved here we were in Gmunden about 25 miles from here.

I have several pictures I am sending you. And will send some more later as the lady that took them is enlarging some for me. I received the 6 pictures you sent and linked them very much.

Well I guess I had better say so long for this time. Will try to write again very soon.

All my Love

"Bert"

May 18, 1945 Somewhere in Austria

 Dear Sis:

Well I think it s about time I was writing you a few lines. Its been so long since I last wrote you I almost forget your address. I don't even remember the last letter I wrote to you, and I'm sorry for not writing more often. Well I guess you would like to know what I have been doing since the ware ended. We have been taking it pretty easy. We were going to a lake for rests a few at a time, but now the whole outfit has moved to a big lake. It is really nice around here. Some of the fellows have motor boats, but I have a big blister on each hand from wowing. I have some pictures I am inclosing that were taken around here. They didn't come out so good but I have the negatives and can be made better at home. I can't send them in the mail.

I guess you are wondering what the German writing means at the top of this paper. Well I don't know either (HA) all I know is the last word. It is the name of a town we were in a few weeks ago. Me and some of the fellows took some pictures of the Nuremberg Stadium, you have read about it haven't you? That's where Hitler used to make his big speeches. But they (the pictures) didn't come out as it was to dark.

I received a letter from Bob N. the other day. I will have to answer it tomorrow. And I also have two more money orders to send to mom, my bank roll should be getting pretty big.

In one of your letters Jake put T.S. on it about the rifle I promised him. I guess I waited to long. I can't find any good ones now they have all been broken up or burned. But I have two German pistols and I'll give him one of them when I get home. It will be better anyway. Bot the fellows over here that haven't got any will pay almost anything for them. And by the way did you ever get the package of German "junk?'

Well I guess I had better say so long for this time as it is getting late. But before I do I just remembered something else I wanted to tell you. I guess you have been hearing about the point system, well I only have 41 points so it looks like I'll be seeing some more of the world before long. but we are hoping for furloughs, and I think we will get them. That is all for this time.

Hoping to see you soon.

Love, 

Bert