Just a quick note here-someone kindly pointed out that I had made an error with regards to historical accuracy in one of DeEtta's letters by referring to President Roosevelt as President Eisenhower blushes I am embarassed that I actually put that in there, all I can say is my brain was thinking one thing and my hands were typing another. Anyway, I think it's all fixed now. Thanks to everyone for the kind comments and constructive criticism. Enjoy!
Dear Dick
I hope that you are doing as well as can be expected. Things back home are not going too poorly. I have heard that more and more soldiers are being shipped to the Pacific theater to fight. Please tell me you are not going. I am unsure as to whether or not I could stand not seeing you for that much longer.
Am still continuing my work with the Waves, though we are not as busy as we were during the fall. My days now consist mainly of filing papers and typing up handwritten reports from the officers. Aside from that, my life remains rather dull and ordinary.
Snowed again last night but it is not as cold as it has been. One can almost begin to sense the end of winter drawing near.
I want to write more, but the thoughts in my head just won't form themselves enough for me to put them onto paper. Do take care and know that I miss you as always.
Yours Always,
DeEtta
Dear DeEtta,
I was pleased to get your last letter, it lifted my spirits considerably hear from you. It is always nice to hear from those back home; it helps me to remember that such a place does exist and that the memories I have of it are true. I can only hope that I will be able to return sooner rather than later and hopefully in one piece.
Things have been quiet in town, though the term quiet is used relatively. Sent out a patrol several nights ago to cross the river and snatch any Germans we could to interrogate them for information. We managed to take two POW's but at the cost of one soldiers life. I don't feel that it was worth it, as neither one of the prisoners had any information that we didn't already know. However, what really bothered me the most about the whole business was that a second patrol was ordered the next night with the same objective in mind. DeEtta, I must confess to you I found myself doing something I never thought I would. I disobeyed a direct order from my commanding officer and refused to send the patrol. We acted as if the attempt was merely unsuccessful, but in reality it never happened. This has weighed heavily on my mind, but in my heart I just couldn't risk any more lives needlessly. I have had enough of death.
Tthe war in Europe is winding down. Neither side has much fight left in them any more. I do believe that all every solder wants to do is return home and see familiar faces and to be greeted with much needed and long sought after love and affection. I personally desire either to return home quickly or, as you mentioned in your last letter, be sent to the Pacific and get what needs to be done over with.
Either way, I can feel the end nearing and with it has come a feeling that somehow I have actually lived through it all and may yet return home.
Take care of yourself and I hope to see you before the year is out.
Always,
Dick
Dear Dick,
I cannot believe that you would actually desire to go to the Pacific. Don't you think you have already done your share work in this war? Why not step back, return home, and let someone else take your place? I miss you dearly and if something were to happen to you I don't think I could stand it.
If it eases your mind any, I am proud of you and your refusal to send the second patrol out. It just goes to show that there is still at least a shadow of the young man I knew left in you yet and that war has not changed you completely.
Talk of the war ending has been gaining momentum all throughout the states with everyone looking forward to seeing all the troops return home. I know you Dick, and know that you feel that you must always go above and beyond what the average soldier would do, but please, please don't do anything foolish and just remember that all the folks back here want to see you very badly.
I do not know if the news has reached you yet, but President Roosevelt died two days ago. I think the nation is in shock at suddenly not having a leader they have known for years and years.
I think I miss you more now than I did when you first left. Perhaps it is the knowledge that I could be seeing you soon that makes the waiting that much more difficult.
Well, I shall close here. Do write back when you have the opportunity. Miss you.
Yours Always,
DeEtta
Dear DeEtta,
We have continued our movement deeper into Germany. We now occupy a small but pleasant town in the countryside with little enemy contact for a change.
2nd Battalion made a discovery the other day that I am somewhat hesitant to write about because of the horror but will tell you about due to the fact I feel people back home should know what we have been fighting for and against these last few years.
A routine patrol had been sent out to check the woods surrounding the town we were occupying when a soldier came running into the CP, saying they had found something, something they couldn't describe. I, along with Easy Company and a few other officers went to see what was going on and what needed to be done. I don't think anything could have prepared me for what greeted us when we arrived. It was a camp, a work camp for all of Hitler's "unwanted" people. The conditions were inhumane with the bodies of the dead laying in the streets and the living looking like human skeletons. We tried our best to get food and medical attention to all those imprisoned, but I shall never forget that horrible scene for as long as I live. What is worse is this is not the only camp of its kind nor is it the biggest. I find it hard to believe that there are people out there who could actually do such things to others.
I will confess to you, DeEtta, something that no one else knows. Ever since the day of that discovery, I have cried myself to sleep in the darkness of the CP, unable to stop the tears that come with the realization that people can be so incredible cruel. Yes, I know now why we have been fighting, but with this knowledge comes an incredible desire to just return home, to be able to close my eyes at night and not see the desperate, pleading faces of dying men in front of me. I just want the horror to be over.
I miss you.
Always,
Dick