Thursday · March 4, 1943
Back for a rest.
A shower, mail, and a barracks bag with ink in it.
March 4, 1943
My Darling Wife
We got back today for a rest, a shower, got some mail and hope to get a lot more. I got your letters of Jan 17 & 19, and V-Mail of Feb 4, 1943. I also received a letter from Kitty of Jan 19, a letter from [Hetty?] of Jan 19, and—a letter mailed Nov 10th enclosing your travel allowance for $118.00 plus. I have endorsed the same and enclose herewith.
My barracks bag—with candy etc—just came in but it is too dark to see which one it is. It has candy, cigs, soap, etc in it so I should be re-equipped O.K.
I don’t know whether I told you about the hike we had a few days ago. We walked from 6:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.—up the side of a mountain steeper than the San Bernardino mts—the entire distance was 30 miles but equivalent to 50-55 miles on the road. Altho tired I felt pretty good and was quite proud of myself.
It looks as though the two shirts will never get here.—However I do hope to get the box of cigars George sent—they haven’t arrived yet.
I hope Linda is well now—fully recovered from that fever she had. From all I hear she …
… is a dream and I wouldn’t have anything happen to her for the world.
Kitty wrote something about you enquiring about State Bar dues. I don’t have to pay any while in the army. Last year I got a refund and then while in England I wrote and made sure I wouldn’t have to pay any for the duration.
I’m sorry to hear that food is so scarce and high priced—I hope they get the rationing going so that you get your share of the meat and other foods. Rationing provides at least an equal distribution.
My barracks bag just came in—dry—I found I hadn’t left much but gum in the bag so I don’t have much to eat.—however I did have some ink.
It’s getting late and I didn’t get much sleep last night—so I’ll have to get to bed early tonight. I love you honey and want to hold you in my arms again while I tell you so. Give my princess a kiss from her daddy.
All my love
Your
John
About this letter
Two pages, written in ink the day his battalion came off the line.
THE RESTHe later recalled that after Kasserine the 16th had a few days’ rest before it was sent to take Gafsa.
RATIONING AT HOMEPoint rationing of canned foods had just begun at home on March 1. Meat, butter and cheese followed on March 29.
READING CLOSELY
“I hope Linda is well now. From all I hear she is a dream and I wouldn’t have anything happen to her for the world.” Linda was two and had been sick with a fever.
The march is the same one he described on Feb. 26 (35 miles there, 30 here).
George is his brother, the B-17 pilot.
This scan appears to be made from a photocopy.
The Big Picture
Learning the hard way
The Germans pulled back, and on Feb. 25 American troops took Kasserine Pass again.
The battle showed what was wrong. American units were spread too far apart to help each other, and soldiers dug foxholes too shallow. Gen. Omar Bradley later called it the worst performance of the U.S. Army in its history.
The Army changed its tactics, its training and some of its commanders. British Gen. Harold Alexander now led the Allied armies in Tunisia.
Where he was
Pulled back from the line for a rest, in central Tunisia. He later recalled that after Kasserine the 16th had a few days’ rest, then was sent to take Gafsa.
In this letter. Ginny’s food worries fit the home front: point rationing of canned goods began March 1, and meat, butter and cheese were added March 29.