Dated Jan. 8, 1943
They called her gentil.
Showing off the family snapshots at a French dinner table.
Jan 8th, 1942
My Darling Wife
Some more mail came today—in fact huge quantities—but none from the only one I wanted to hear from—you. This morning I received a package,—the one from [Karl?] & Margie & [Marylu?]—with the carton of Philip Morris—Soap, P-nuts—some mints which are really good, chewing gum—and your items which gave some of the officers a good laugh—but which I want and appreciate—and will carry with me when other things are left behind—namely—Vitamin pills, aspirin, cough drops. [Pebeco?] tooth powder, corn stickers. You didn’t miss a thing honey. I also got a V-mail letter from Jo Harris written Nov 29, & several copies of the Newspress which have been thoroughly read by now.
As to cigarettes—they can be bought for 70¢ a carton—but the money must be sent to the company with my address—and they mail them in special boxes which protect the cigarettes from crushing. About 50 cartons came in today for the soldiers. Comprenez vous?
I was out on the range again today—and got a good steak dinner when I returned. Then I returned for dinner with that French family I wrote to you about I took a captain in the Counter-Intelligence Dept here to make the acquaintance of the lawyer in the family, and they …
… got along swell. He knows more French than I do. They had also asked whether I had a picture of you so I took that snapshot of you and Linda—and my other pictures of Linda. They oh’d & ah’d and remarked how lovely my wife was—and that my daughter was Shirley Temple. They called her gentil so I hope that is good.
The dinner lasted a couple of hours. During the meal we heard part of the broadcast from Berlin to the forces of the allies. It was a good program with good American dance music—with some propaganda cleverly mixed in.
Tomorrow I will write again—but after that I cannot promise as much. We expect to be busy. I miss you honey—and I’m missing those letters from you that have undoubtedly been sent. I love you, darling, and I wish I could hold you in my arms right now.
Bon Soir—Bon [Noire?] Mon [Cher?]
All my love
Your
John
About this letter
Dated Jan. 8, 1942, but the year is 1943, and it was probably written a day after his other Jan. 8 letter: that one says the French dinner was “last night,” and this one describes going back.
BERLIN CALLINGGerman radio aimed English-language programs at Allied troops: American dance records with propaganda “cleverly mixed in.”
“GENTIL”French for “sweet” or “nice.” Shirley Temple was the most famous child star of the day.
READING CLOSELY
“I love you, darling, and I wish I could hold you in my arms right now.” He closed in his new French: “Bon Soir.”
Jo Harris was his first cousin in Pittsburgh.
“Comprenez vous?” is French for “Do you understand?”
“We expect to be busy”: his Jan. 10 letter says they were packing to 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.
In this letter. Berlin broadcast English-language programs aimed at Allied troops; soldiers often tuned in for the music.