Thursday · March 11, 1943
Everything was backwards.
A movie in the rain, watched from behind the screen.
March 11, 1943
My Darling Wife
It’s 9:30 P and I just got back from a show. The first picture was “Blondie Goes to College”. It was pretty good. The second was “The Devil & Miss Jones” I saw that before so I came home. We were out in the open sitting in the rain, & further there was no room in front of the screen where I could sit on my gasoline can, so I saw the show from behind the screen. Everything was backwards.
I didn’t feel so good so laid in bed most of day today. Tonight I feel a lot better, and tomorrow I’ll start on those Vitamin pills again. Rumor has it that tomorrow we will be paid for January. If so I’ll try to get a money order immediately and mail—if I can get the money order.
Our rest is just about over. The change has done us good and we’re ready for anything again. The men have finished up the wine tonight and they are still singing in groups around their camp fires. The redistribution of the wealth is about complete. Most of the officers have gambled away most of their pay. Some are now rich—others broke.
There is a chance that we will get more mail tomorrow—probably the last for some time. I therefore hope that there are lots of letters from you in the bags.
Darling—you mean more than anything to me—and I appreciate you more and more each day. This separation is rather brutal but it has taught me a lot of things I could never have learned in any other way. When I’m back with you and Linda, I’ll spoil and pamper both of you, trying to make up to you for what I’ve omitted in the past. Take good care of yourself and perhaps this nightmare will be over before we know it.
All my love
Your
John
About this letter
A V-mail, written at 9:30 at night after an outdoor movie.
THE V-MAILOne V-mail form in ink, signed “1st Lt,” 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry. His serial number and the home street address are blurred.
“OUR REST IS JUST ABOUT OVER”Six days later, on March 17, the 1st Division attacked Gafsa.
READING CLOSELY
“When I’m back with you and Linda, I’ll spoil and pamper both of you.” “This separation is rather brutal but it has taught me a lot of things I could never have learned in any other way.”
“Blondie Goes to College” (1942) was one of the Blondie and Dagwood comedies. “The Devil and Miss Jones” (1941) starred Jean Arthur.
“Probably the last for some time”: the regiment was about to move up for the attack on Gafsa.
The Big Picture
Getting ready for Gafsa
Patton’s orders for II Corps were to take Gafsa, a desert oasis town, and threaten the flank of the Axis army facing the British at the Mareth Line.
The 1st Division would lead. The men had a few more days of rest, movies and wine before the attack.
Where he was
In a rest area in central Tunisia, days before the 1st Division moved on Gafsa.
In this letter. The letter is signed “1st Lt.” On March 10 he wrote that his promotion papers had to start over.