Nothing to do at all today. One squad went out to sweep for some mines. Played cards and wrote letters.
Your Son, ‘Chick’
February 12, 1945 – Monday
Letter Home – February 11, 1945
Dear Mother & Dad;
Your mail is coming through swell now. I have some letters hear dated Jan 24,25,27,28,30th.
Move so all in answer a few of your questions. Well I received a letter from boy that you wrote for my address. I went through training with him at Leonard wood. He is from Danville. He has come home on a furlough from the south Pacific. He was their 32 months. Well mom thick book would cause a lot of whirring so it’s better if no one looks at it. Just put it away. I’m glad you’re meeting new people at Holy Cross. I knew a lot of the boys but I have been gone so long that I have forgotten them. I know their names though. So dad is working on the basement again. 
Ha, ha. He has to be doing something. I bet he’s sowing grass seed already. But when the time comes he has the best looking house and yard in the neighborhood.
Today is Sunday, and I went to mass at the 15th infantry. It’s not bad now, that the pocket is finally will cleaned up. There is little to do but no place to go. They have a show here for the infantry boys so we usually sneaked in the show also.
Guess this is all I have to say now so I’ll bring it to a close. By by and I love you both.
Your Son,
“Chick”
PS. put this recommendation sheet in my scrap book.
February 11, 1945 – Sunday
Went to mass this morning. First time, for some time. Had to make out some requisitions. Went to a show tonight.
February 10, 1945 – Saturday
Worked on my books today. Kept busy all day long. Wrote a letter home.
February 9, 1945 – Friday
Did a few odd jobs. Went up to the front to pick up the Dozers. Pretty quiet. Played some cards and wrote a letter.
February 8, 1945 – Thursday
Rogus Weichert
Not much to do, about the same as yesterday. Went down to the battalion. Played some cards and went to the show.
February 7, 1945 – Wednesday
There is little to write about. The Division is just holding and are dug in along the Rhine river. Germany threw a few shells around last night. Must have been a tank. Went to a show at the 15th Inf.
Letter Home – February 6, 1945
Dear Mother & Dad,
Received a few more of your letters, they are beginning to catch up with me. These were dated Dec 30, Jan 5, 10, 11, 13th, 22nd so now I’ll take time to answer them. I had to laugh when you said it was colder here than at home. Maybe it was at the time you wrote the letter but now it has warmed up and has started raining. Now we have the mud to contend with. Snook and I surely get a kick out of you and Gee trying to keep track of us. I haven’t been with the 7th Army since Christmas. We have been with the French. Hope we do go back to our own army soon or get relieved. I don’t know where Snook is but he can’t be too far from me as his mail comes to me within a few days. Boy I can’t 
imagine Bernard weighing 190 pounds. I’m still the same. Last time I weighed was Strasbourg and I weighed 140 pounds. Not much but as long as I’m healthy that’s what counts. Maybe I’ll get fat some day. Ha ha. I’m starting to get a bald head. All of us fellows are either getting gray hair or their hair is coming out. I don’t care though. I know my Mom and Dad loves me if no one else will, ha ha. I have a letter here that I want you to keep for me. It’s to one of the fellows that used to be in the company. He was one of the fellows that was hurt when we had the accident last year. I’m also enclosing some propaganda leaflets that the Germans throw at us. Some baloney, eh? Also here is a picture of our “tank dozer” put it in my scrap book. You can keep this letter for a request if you wish. Send me any thing 
you want to I’ll eat it. By By and I’ll write again soon.
Lots of love
Your Son,
“Chick”
P.S. Mom will you please think Mr.Fist for the card he sent me.
February 6, 1945 – Tuesday
Not much to do. Did a few odd jobs. Went down to battalion and picked up some TNT. They brought in a battalion of Krouts that surrendered. Went to a show at the infantry HQ Co. Wrote some letters and went to bed.
Local news paper features ‘Chick’
Videographer: Heather Coit News Gazette
The News Gazette is a main stay in the local press for central Illinois. Today on the front page they featured one of their own, Charles ‘Chick’ Bruns. Chick worked at the News Gazette for 39 years after his service in World War II.
Read the News Gazette Article
The article is a prelude to the upcoming ceremony to be held honoring Chick with the French Legion of Honor award to be presented by Vincent Floreani, Consul General of France / Chicago. This award ceremony is open to the public and will be held at 1:00pm February 27th, 2015 at the VFW 5520 Hall in Champaign, IL.
Along with the article, a nice video featuring chick and a synopsis of his WWII Service.