Wednesday · March 24, 1943
A box seat.
El Guettar: “We took everything they had.”
March 24, 1943
My Darling Wife
The other night just after I sealed my letter to you I received some more mail. Your letters of Jan 31, Feb 8 & 14th plus a V-Mail of March 2—and a V-Mail from Kitty of about the same date. I had to destroy the V-mail letters because they have my unit on them & I could not just destroy the envelopes.
Yesterday I had the privilege of sitting in a “box seat” for one of the biggest and deadliest shows on earth. I watched the might of the German army pressed against the Americans—with the Americans top dog. The show cost the taxpayers a couple of million dollars but I’m sure it was worth it. We took everything they had and knocked the hell out of them. Read the papers re: activities yesterday—and I think you’ll get a good picture of the “show.”
Just in case you haven’t received my other letters I’ll repeat that I mailed you a check for travel pay $119.00 and a money order for $90.00 both in February. We haven’t received February pay yet and March pay is almost due—However I won’t get much in March because you get an increase of $25.00 in your allotment,—which you should have received by now.
Gil is about [a mile?] from me and I’ll try to see him if I can get over that way. The news is good and maybe it won’t take much longer over here—I hope so.
Darling—I can only repeat that I love you ever so much—and that I can hardly wait until we’re back together again. I miss my sweetheart & princess more than words can portray
All my love
Your John
About this letter
A V-mail written the day after the 10th Panzer Division’s attack at El Guettar was beaten back.
THE V-MAILOne V-mail form in ink. His serial number at the top is blurred.
WHY HE DESTROYED HER V-MAILSHer V-mail forms carried his unit’s name. At the front, anything that could identify a unit if captured had to be destroyed.
READING CLOSELY
“We took everything they had and knocked the hell out of them.” On the German armored attack at El Guettar, March 23, 1943.
He wrote “1943” with the last digit unclear; the content (El Guettar, March 23) confirms 1943.
The Big Picture
Stopping the tanks
On March 23 the German 10th Panzer Division attacked the 1st Division near El Guettar. A minefield trapped some tanks. American artillery and tank destroyers (armored vehicles with big guns, built to kill tanks) knocked out about 30 more, and the Germans pulled back.
It was the first battle in which American troops beat experienced German tank units.
On March 26 the British got around the end of the Mareth Line. By the end of March the Axis armies were retreating north.
Where he was
El Guettar, Tunisia, the day after the German 10th Panzer Division attacked down the valley toward the 1st Division and was stopped.
In this letter. On March 23 about 50 German tanks struck between the 16th and 18th Infantry. American artillery and tank destroyers knocked out about 30. He later wrote that this attack “was featured in the picture Patton.”