Social customs prevailing here.

Dec 14, 1942

My Darling Wife

Yesterday, I wrote you about everything there was to tell. However a couple of things happened today not in regular routine. This afternoon the General gave out the medals for heroism at a special parade. I didn’t attend but it was supposed to be very impressive.

Today I was attached to one of the special units of the regiment for special training—when I get through I am supposed to go back to the company and instruct them about the tactical use of such unit. I move lock, stock, & barrel—and am living in my pup tent in a new area. This evening I have come with the officers of the company to their clubroom—a room just behind a little bar in the village …

… near the camp. We have the room to ourselves—the men staying out at the bar. There are two French girls working on the bar. They are both knockouts and extremely nice girls.

Talking about the girls, there is a profound difference between this country & England and the U.S. In the U.S. & England, the fellows eye & flirt with the girls, and vice versa. It is very easy at home to date bar girls or any of the girls, as a rule. They may be particular, but if you are a nice fellow they will give you a date. Over here the girls do not look at you boldly, flirtingly or at all. They walk past as if you were a light pole. The girls are either very good or bad. There are very few in between as most girls are in the states. In the states fellows take girls out alone. Here if they are nice girls, a chaperon goes along if they are nice kids

The Capt. of the company here has attempted to date one of the girls for weeks—but poppa says no. They stand for no funny work from the soldiers and if they get fresh, the girls swing on them. As a result of this rather distinct difference from home, the men go to town to the houses of prostitution. In the big city near by, lines form in the street sometimes a block long—and get drunk in bars. It’s rather tough on the men not to be able to get around and meet nice girls. The few who speak French or Spanish have been more fortunate and after making friends with parents, get introduced to the daughters, neighbors etc. Of course they only see the girls they do meet thus in company of chaperons. Well I guess that is enough on the social customs prevailing here.

Needless to say, I admire beauty, as usual, but that is sufficient. The knowledge that I have anyone as precious and lovely as you to come home to satisfies me—and the …

… wolves can have what they can get. I’m getting rather a reputation for being conservative: no gambling, drink little, no women—don’t violate too many ideas. If I didn’t go to the dances they would probably think something was wrong with me—but I danced as much as the rest of them—when I attended all of our two dances.

No more mail today, but there everyday can’t bring a lot. I miss you honey and love you, love you, love you—oh so much. Give my precious little princess a hug & kiss from her daddy—and squeeze yourself real hard. You better do that often to get ready—in condition—for when I get home.

Goodnight sweetheart

All my love
Your John