Sunday · Jan. 3, 1943
A fellow in another battalion also has a big head.
The wrong overcoat, a hangover, and second lieutenant’s bars.
Jan 3, 1942
My Darling Wife
Another hectic day. I was on a special detail which kept me busy all day. Then when I got home, I worked myself into a little extra work. We had purchased more P-X supplies than the men wanted so I rounded up some customers among the French. They were tickled to get the stuff—especially the soap and cigars. We only had a little candy of a brand the men would not buy and they took all of that
I have accumulated too much soap—about 15 bars of Lifebuoy, ten bars of Palmolive and some laundry soap. I’m going to try to find some French families to give it to sometime in the next few days I can’t be carrying all that stuff with me
Its surprising how fast things accumulate. I started out from England with a bedroll and handbag. I ended up here with 2 barracks bags, a handbag and bedroll. As I can’t take that much stuff along with me I have been judiciously disposing of excess baggage—and the French people can use lots of stuff. It took me several hours last night to sort the stuff—but the dirty deed is now complete.
Lots of interesting things have been going on over here but I guess you’ll have to be satisfied with what you read in the papers
No mail came in today—and several days without mail leaves me without much to say. I hope some gets here in the next two or three days—so I won’t [be?] back to writing monologues.
There is some rumor to the effect that we are having a dance here tomorrow night The Bn Comdr just thought it up tonight so it can’t be much of a success. We’re going to try and drink up the remainder of our mess stocks, I guess
I got a new pair of shoes yesterday and I expect get two more pair & some [tees?] tomorrow. I got the clothing just as I did at the Gap. I also have one of those heavy G.I. overcoats the men wear. I just found out that I got the wrong overcoat (short coat) when I left the dance New Years Eve. The mixture of gin, whiskey & cognac must have had me going. I don’t have too clear a recollection of much except trying on the hat, a 7 3/4—and it fitted. They put us in our truck—presto we were home
I thought I was reasonably safe in assuming that the hat & coat were mine with a hat that size—but a fellow in another Bn also has a big head. I woke up the next morning with a hangover and second Lt’s bars on my cap. Incidentally, I don’t think the outfit has ever been as drunk before as it was that night. However, it is the only relief we get from this damn army life and I guess its a necessary evil.
Darling, I hope you don’t think your husband is becoming a sot. I at least know when I have had all I can hold and I don’t get sick or start fighting. I love you too much to disgrace myself and you too.—Honey I wish I could put my arms around you and love you to death. I miss those moments so awfully much—just as much as I love you
Goodnight sweetheart
All my love Your John
3–8 days · Barracks bags will not be taken · Squad rolls of blankets
7 Days Rations: 1 on man, 2 on kitchen, 4 on B. Train
Move out of here in.
Officers bedrolls & 1 piece of hand luggage. All shortages in by 5th or 6th.
Every man explained—that he will be a deserter if AWOL.
A sheet of his own notes, kept with this letter.
About this letter
Four small pages, dated 1942 by mistake, plus a sheet of his notes from a briefing about the coming move.
THE MOVEHe came from England with a bedroll and a handbag and now had two barracks bags too. The order says barracks bags will not be taken, so he gave away what he couldn’t carry.
THE NOTES“Move out of here in” is left blank. Units did not write down movement dates. “B. Train” is the battalion supply train.
READING CLOSELY
“I love you too much to disgrace myself and you too.” The last page is his own checklist for the move: seven days’ rations, no barracks bags.
“The Gap” is Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, the Division’s last post before shipping overseas.
John was a first lieutenant. The cap he took home had a second lieutenant’s bars.
A “sot” is a habitual drunk.
“Shortages” were missing equipment to be reported and replaced before the move.
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.