Late March 1943 (Undated)
If wishing would come true.
Taking it easy, seeing Gil, and hoping to go home as an instructor.
March 1943
My Darling Wife.
The last two days I have been sitting around taking it easy. During the day it has been getting exceedingly hot—and cold at night.
Last night I dropped over a short distance and saw Gil for a short time. He was OK, but said he was getting hell from home about the mail situation. Apparently they make no special effort in his unit to get out the mail. Our bat. executive is only interested in himself—and that includes sending & receiving his mail regularly. Therefore we incidentally benefit by sending out mail when no one else takes the trouble.
I shaved today—and the shave cream & water dried up on my face before I could complete shaving—The coat of sand—and sunburn skin came off too.
Honeybunch, I think of you so often—and if wishing would come true, I’d be home with you today. I’m just hoping that after we finish this deal, I can find some way of going home to be an instructor. They are sure to take a good many and my immediate hope is to be among that group. I love you sweetheart—ever so much
All my love
Your John
About this letter
A V-mail dated only “March 1943.”
ABOUT THE DATEHe left the day blank. Hot days, a visit with Gil a short distance away, and “after we finish this deal” suggest late March, after El Guettar. On March 24 he wrote that Gil was nearby and he hoped to see him.
THE V-MAILOne V-mail form in ink. His serial number at the top is blurred.
READING CLOSELY
“If wishing would come true, I’d be home with you today.” “They are sure to take a good many [instructors] and my immediate hope is to be among that group.”
“Bat. executive” is the battalion executive officer.
He did not go home as an instructor; he stayed with the 1st Division through the end of the war.
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
Probably near El Guettar, Tunisia, in late March 1943, during a lull after the battle. He later recalled the regiment resting in “a huge, beautiful oasis” after El Guettar.
In this letter. His hope to go home as an instructor was common: the Army did send some combat veterans home to train new divisions. He wasn’t one of them.