Combat! is owned by ABC TV. This story is meant only for the enjoyment of Combat! fans, with no intention to infringe on any copyrights, and no monetary compensation has been received.

This is a short story to honor and remember Susan Rodriquez on what would have been her birthday, Nov. 21st. It's followed closely by Jack Hogan's birthday, Nov. 24th.

Susan was a good friend, even though we never had a chance to meet face to face. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a deep love for the series Combat! Having a soft spot for Jack Hogan and Kirby, Susan wrote a large number of Combat! fanfiction stories as kirbysbabe. You can still read her stories today.

Susan was my inspiration to write myself. She encouraged me and guided me. Without her prodding, none of my 50+ stories would have ever left my imagination and made it to print.

So, this little story is for you and Jack, Susan. Thanks for everything. You're truly missed. And a special thanks to Donna Rothrock for suggesting it.

This story picks up where Dollars to Donuts left off. So, if you haven't read it yet, I highly suggest that you do. You will most certainly be lost without the background story.

With no one overseeing the fanfiction site, I have no idea if anyone is reading it. If you have an account you can try to PM me if you want to contact me. I'll probably be switching sites.

THE LETTER HOME

CHAPTER 1

Kirby stoked the fire under the small cauldron and checked its contents. Even reheated, the steaming coffee smelled wonderful. Originally fresh-brewed, it beat the coffee packets from their rations by a mile.

"Coffee's hot if anyone wants some," Kirby called out to the others as they finished up their rations.

"Sure glad those Donut Dollies paid us a visit," the BAR man said as he ladled out the coffee. "But dollars to donuts we'll never see them again."

With a faint smile, Saunders took his steaming cup of coffee. "I think I'll take that bet, Kirby."

Holding out the sack, their sergeant said, "Anyone want a donut?"

The entire squad broke out in broad grins as they came over, reached in and grabbed a donut. When everyone had taken one, Saunders looked into the sack and pulled one out for himself.

Leaning against the wall, he picked up his coffee and pointed to the sack of donuts by his side. "Plenty left if you want more."

Littlejohn smiled. "Told you…we made a lot of donuts."

Nelson took a bite of his donut and grinned. "We made a lot."

Caje sipped his coffee and took a bite of donut. "I think I'll save one for breakfast."

Brockmeyer sat forward and winced, holding his side. "Good idea, Caje. It'll make those breakfast rations go down a little easier."

He held out his empty cup to the medic. "Could you get me more coffee, Doc?"

The medic reached out for the cup and handed it over to Kirby.

"How you doing, Brock?" Saunders asked with concern. "Maybe you should have gone back to Battalion with Henry and the others."

"Nah," the soldier replied, rubbing his side gingerly. "I'm good."

Not taking his word for it, the sergeant turned to their medic.

"Doc?"

Doc handed Brockmeyer his cup of coffee.

"He'll be ok," he reassured their sergeant. "Morphine's probably wearing off. It's gonna hurt for a while, but it's clean. Not even bleeding anymore."

Satisfied, Saunders sat back to finish his donut.

CHAPTER 2

Setting his coffee aside, Kirby rummaged through his haversack and pulled out a pencil and blank V-mail. He stared at it for a moment.

"Hey, does anyone have paper and an envelope?"

"You got a V-mail right there, Kirby," Littlejohn replied, pointing.

"I know," the BAR man answered, waving the V-mail. "But I wanna write home and tell everyone what happened today. Don't think it'll all fit in one V-mail."

"Write real small," Billy suggested.

Kirby shook his head. "My mom won't be able to read it. She really needs specs but ain't about to admit it. And won't spend the money. Gotta write bigger."

As Kirby looked on hopefully, the other men checked their belongings.

"Here, Kirby," Doc said, pulling out an envelope and a paper folded neatly in quarters.

"Thanks, Doc," Kirby replied, taking them both.

"Take this," their sergeant added, holding out a worn book. "You'll need something to write on."

The BAR man took the book and settled back on his bedroll. "Thanks, Sarge."

"Don't take too long," the sergeant warned.

Kirby held up a hand. "I know. The fire goes out before it gets dark. Don't worry. This won't take long."

As everyone quieted down, Kirby began to write.

CHAPTER 3

Hi Mom, Dad and Ruthie,

I know I just wrote you, but don't worry. This is good news. I want

to tell you about the great day we had today. It really all started

last night. We got to shower for the first time in a long while. And

Brockmeyer cooked us up a terrific hot dinner with fresh vegetables

from a French garden. Caje even came up with a couple bottles of

great French wine. Then we got the whole day free today to take it

easy.

But none of that is even the best part. You won't believe it, but we

got visited this morning by four lovely Red Cross ladies. Came

right up here to the front to say hi to us guys.

They're Donut Dollies, but they said they like to be called

Clubmobile Girls. We always thought the Donut Dollies were made

up by some GI's as a joke. But they're real. And they're nice. Real

pretty, too. Kinda like the girl next door look. Know what I mean?

Nice ladies.

Anyway, they came to make our platoon fresh coffee and donuts,

but our squad was the only ones around. Everyone else was on duty

so we had the ladies all to ourselves. Littlejohn and Billy decided

they wanted to make the donuts, so the girls were free to talk and

stuff.

They brought a Victrola with them and some great records, too.

We put on Harry James, Glenn Miller and lots more. Then we all got

to dance.

Got to tell you, I think I'm in love. Her name is Susan. But don't

get too excited Mom. Cause I don't even know her last name or

where she's from. Nothing. Don't know how to get a hold of her. I'll

probably never see her again. They said they weren't supposed to

fraternize with the troops. But they didn't say nothing about after

the war's over.

Susan was just great. Really special. We laughed a lot. She's

got my kind of sense of humor. Danced every dance with her. Good

dancer. Even the jitterbug.

The girls stayed most of the day just talking and dancing. They've

got this big book that's filled with names of all the GI's they've served.

I saw a couple of guys in there from Chicago, but I don't know them.

Made sure I put my name in and I squeezed my address in there too.

I'm hoping Susan will see it and look me up sometime after the war's

over or when she gets home. Sure hope so.

Oh, they brought boxes full of candy too. Not the kind of hard

chocolate the Army gives us. This was the good stuff. Three

Musketeers, Chunky, Snickers, Heath Bars. All the great candy that

Mr. Lieberman used to sell in his store when I was a kid. I remember

that store like it was yesterday. Smelled great. I been eating a little

at a time to try to make my pile of candy last.

Anyway, before we knew it, the girls were packing up to leave to

head farther up the front. But Sarge wouldn't let them cause it's too

dangerous up there. So they headed back to Battalion. We helped

them put everything away and had to say our goodbyes. I started to

miss Susan before their truck was even out of sight.

Kirby paused in thought.

"Hey, guys. Ya think I oughta leave out the part about the krauts attacking the girls and the supply truck?"

"Folks back home don't want to hear that kind of stuff," Littlejohn replied. "They worry enough about us just being here."

"You sure don't wanna tell your mom about Henry getting shot," Billy warned. "Or Brock."

"Mine's just a scratch," Brockmeyer countered, rubbing his side.

Kirby thought for a moment once again. "I get it. But I wanna say how we saved the girls, ya know?"

Saunders took a sip of his coffee. "Just keep it simple. Leave out the details…and no Henry."

"I can do that," the BAR man responded with a nod. "Thanks, Sarge."

The sergeant set his coffee down and pulled his blanket up. "Whatever you do, hurry it up. That fire has to go out soon or we'll be targets for the krauts."

"Ok," the soldier replied. "Just a couple more minutes. Almost done."

Kirby leaned toward the fading firelight and continued.

CHAPTER 4

Just when we thought the Donut Dollies were safely gone and we

all started to settle down, we heard lots of shooting. The girls' truck

was being attacked by a bunch of krauts.

But don't worry. We ran out there to their rescue and chased

those krauts half way to Berlin. Bet they won't be back any time

soon. We were worried about the girls, but they were all fine. Not

even a scratch. Can you believe those lousy krauts? Shooting at

a bunch of Red Cross Donut Dollies.

They finally got back on the road, and I'm really missing Susan.

So if you get a letter or hear from someone named Susan, be sure

to get her address.

"Kirby!" came a growl from their sergeant.

"Ok, ok," Kirby responded, and quickly wrote:

Your son Bill.

Kirby started to fold the paper but stopped and wrote:

PS. Ask her if she's got a phone and be sure to get her number.

Folding up his letter, the BAR man slipped it into the envelope. Standing up, he began to kick dirt on the dying fire. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around the still hot cauldron handle, and then poured the last of the coffee on the remains of the fire. He watched the rising billows of smoke and listened to the dying embers sizzle until he was satisfied that the fire was completely out.

Setting the empty cauldron back on the dead embers, he stuffed the handkerchief back in his pocket.

"I'll clean the pot out tomorrow morning in case we wanna use it again."

Picking up the book, Kirby held it out. "Here ya go, Sarge. Thanks."

Saunders took the book and tucked it back into his haversack. He held up the donut sack. "Anyone want another?"

"I like Caje's idea," Billy replied. "I'm gonna save mine for breakfast."

"Me, too," Doc agreed.

"They're gonna be stale by then," Brockmeyer reminded them.

"Even stale they'll be better than rations," Littlejohn said.

"That's for sure," Kirby laughed as he slipped his letter and pencil into his haversack. "Besides, that's what coffee's for. Stale donuts are great dunked in hot coffee. It'll make that Army coffee taste better too."

"Your loafing off is over," Saunders called out, lying back on his bedroll as dusk settled in around them. "We're back on duty tomorrow."

The sergeant smiled and looked at his men as he tucked himself back under his blanket. "0600."

Brockmeyer pushed his haversack under his head, wincing as the bandages pulled at his side. "That was a great day off."

"Having the Donut Dollies here sure made it special," Littlejohn agreed.

Billy lay back and sighed. "Kinda wish they were still here, ya know?" he added wistfully.

"You can say that again, Billy," Caje said as he took a last sip from his canteen.

"Gonna miss them," Doc added.

Putting his hands behind his head, Kirby stared up at the first twinkling stars, picturing Susan's laughing smile.

"Me, too."

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hopefully you'll read or reread some of Susan's stories as kirbysbabe. She'd be thrilled to know her stories of Kirby and the squad live on.

As I mentioned, I might be switching over to Archives of Our Own since no one seems to be at the helm of Fanfiction anymore. So do check both for any future stories. I have several in the works. PLEASE do a review even a short one. It's now the only way I know anyone's reading anything.

Since I'm publishing this so close to Thanksgiving 2023, anyone reading it around now might enjoy reading or rereading my earlier holiday story Giving Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.