Friday Night · Jan. 1, 1943
I am now their bon ami.
New Year’s Day at a French military prison.
Jan 1, 1942
My Darling Wife.
I returned from a very enjoyable day. just a short time ago. We went to the French military prison for an entertainment. Officers and their wifes and families were there as well as some of the soldiers. They had a little room fixed up as a theater with a stage at one end. When we got there they spent 15 minutes figuring out where everyone was going to sit. I was introduced to a french Commissioner who spoke a little English and he introduced me to the other guests. There were two attorneys (advocats) present—both women about 30 years of age. I believe their husbands are also attorneys. One of them spoke English and she was given the two of us (officers) to entertain—by explaining what was going on. A three hour show ensued put on by the prisoners. After the show they cleared us out while they set up tables for refreshments—wine. I sent back to camp for a box of cigars, carton of cigarettes, box of chewing gum and box of candy. It was quite a surprise to them and I am now their bon ami. If they leave it to me, I’ll have the French solid with us. They were very friendly to us and endeavored to make us at home. The candy and cigars were accepted as though they were gold
We sat for two hours drinking some excellent wine, and the variety show went on. Some of the acts were excellent, The play they put on was excellent, although I could not understand a word, I could follow it by their actions.
There is not much more to tell you since I finished my first letter. No mail came in today so there is not much to talk about. I’ll have to write another at the first opportunity—its late now and I’ve got to get some sleep. They have me on a job over Saturday and Sunday.
Honey. I love you. Its seems rather a bald statement, but I can’t express myself in any other way—and by deed—in writing a letter a day. Knowing me, that speaks louder than words for I have a definite aversion to writing. I don’t know how to send my hugs and kisses, but I would like to give you a lot of them right now—and some for the Princess too.
Goodnight sweetheart
All my love
John
About this letter
His second letter of New Year’s Day, written late that night. It is dated 1942 by mistake.
BON AMIFrench for “good friend.” Seven weeks after the French in Algeria stopped fighting the Americans, he set out to win them over with American tobacco and candy.
THE GUESTSA French commissioner, officers and their families, and two women attorneys (“advocats”). He was a Glendale deputy city attorney before the war.
READING CLOSELY
“Knowing me, that speaks louder than words for I have a definite aversion to writing.” He said this while writing to Ginny nearly every day.
That morning he called this a “minstrel show” at the “French Garrison.”
“The Princess” is Linda.
The “job over Saturday and Sunday” shows up in his next two letters as days in the field and a special detail.
The Big Picture
Waiting out the winter
The new year found the war in Tunisia stuck in the mud. Winter rain had stopped the fighting in the north, and both sides were bringing in more men. For now the Allies no longer outnumbered the Axis (Germany, Italy and their partners).
In Russia, the German army trapped at Stalingrad was cold and starving. On Jan. 8 the Soviets offered surrender terms. The German commander, Gen. Friedrich Paulus, refused. On Jan. 10 the Soviets began their final attack.
Where he was
Near Oran, Algeria, now on the 3rd Battalion staff as intelligence officer (S-2). The 1st Division was still training around Oran while British, American and French troops held a line in the hills west of Tunis, more than 500 miles to the east.