Had a lot of back book work to catch up on so I was kept busy all day so I had little time for anything else. Popped some corn and had beer to go with it.
Your Son, ‘Chick’
February 21, Wednesday
February 20, 1945 – Tuesday
Spent the day straightening things up. We are right next to a brewery so there’s plenty of beer to be had. We just sat around and talked all evening till bed time.
February 19, 1945 – Monday
We were ready to go early, but as usual you have to wait and go by convoy. We left at 11:00. The first large town to pass through was Colmar. We went through Baccarat, St. Die, Luneville, Nancy and stopped at Pont-a-Mousson. We put up our stove and beds, washed and went to bed.
February 18, 1945 – Sunday
Finished packing today. Loaded the supply truck and cleaned up around the camp. The 15th and 7th have both pulled out. We leave in the morning for the other side of Nancy.
Letter Home – February 17, 1945
Dear Mother & Dad,
I have been pretty busy lately so haven’t had much time to write to anyone. Every time we come out of combat they always start throwing inspections at us, and getting us re-equipped again. Well we are in combat everyone just Carries what he wants to and throws the rest away. So now we are getting re-equipped again. We had an inspection yesterday and it was really swell. I took some pictures of it and will send them two you some of these days.
The old 3rd. Division was cited by the French army with the Croix de Guerre. Not much but it’s another battle stream are attached to our flag. If we are cited twice, we are entitled 
to wear a cord around are shoulder. But we will probably never get it again. I have a little clipping for my scrap book so would you please put it in for me.
Had a close call the other night. The German tank was firing harassing fire from across the rhine the other night and he put one right through our building. Ha, ha, it went through the roof down through the floor ran along under the floor and then hit something hard and back up in the attic again. We dug it out the next day. Lucky it was a dud. Funny things sure happen. Just wasn’t our time I guess.
I have three letters hear dated Jan 31, Feb 1, and 2nd. So I will answer your questions. I think I will be able to see Bud 
& Eddie Hart pretty soon. Yes, Mom the letters are coming much faster. ( say while I think of it, please send me the comic magazine of Dagwood and Blondie I’d get such a kick out of him ) too bad about Jimmy Ayers, but that’s the way it goes. So your writing for me to fix the kitchen. Well I have forgotten all I ever knew so maybe you had better get someone else, ha, ha. Guess this is all for now. I received a package of film & the funny papers with the printing paper in it.
By By for now. All My Love
Your Son,
“Chick”
Posted in 1945, Letters
Tagged Bud Eddie Hart, Jimmy Ayers
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February 17, 1945 – Saturday
We started loading the trucks up and getting things ready to leave. Worked most of the day. Wrote a letter and played some cards.
February 16, 1945 – Friday
Chick
Had to make out a lot of requisitions today. Took them down to the Battalion and turned them in. On the way back we lost two of our rear wheels, so I had to hitch hike back to the company and get a mechanic to fix it. Wrote some letters and went to bed.
February 15, 1945 – Thursday
Today is inspection. Everything is in tip-top shape. The inspection went off swell and the Major said it was very good. Which really means something as he has never told a company that before. After inspections we put everything away. Went to the show tonight.
February 14, 1945 – Wednesday
Work, work, work, boy we have really been busy, getting ready for these inspections. I have to get all of the property books into shape, and that’s really a job. Went to a show tonight and played some cards.
February 13, 1945 – Tuesday
Boy, we really had a close call last night. The krouts started shelling us, and one shell went through the top of the barracks we are in, down through the floor, ran along the hall way, threw a desk, then struck something solid and went back up above, and lodged itself in the attic. That wasn’t bad, but when we got it down and looked at it, it was high explosive. If it would have went off quite a few of us would have been killed. We all had to work pretty hard to get ready for the coming inspection.
