The infantry by passed the fortress city and went all the way to the Rhine. They have search lights up on the Rhine now so the Germans can’t cross at night. They are completely cut off now, but yet they keep on fighting. The walled city surrendered today. Played some more cards. Not in the mood to write.
Germans are holed up in a walled city. There is a moat around the city, also three walls. It will be a tough nut to crack. Germany has been throwing a few shells back at us but not much. Played some cards.
Note: The town is Neuf-Brisach
We moved this morning to some German barracks outside of Kunheim. The front is about 2 miles away, but it’s pretty quiet with an occasional machine gun fire. God the dead that’s stacked up along the side of the road. There’s Germans and Americans laying all over. Must have had about 20 of them in a pile along the road we passed. Heads blown off, arms, legs missing. It was raining so I didn’t take a picture of it. Went over to pick up a pair of over shoes, but the guy’s legs were still in them so I left them. Wrote a letter and went to bed.
Dear Mother & Dad;
Well today it is “Ground Hog Day”, and I’m sure he will see his shadow here. Did he see it at home? Mail is really mixed up here, and late to. I’m still getting Christmas cards, and here it is February. Received a few letters from you that were dated Dec 19, Jan 8,9,14,16th. So all in answer all of your questions. Yes, Mom and Dad I know its Rita and me for it, and I still think she should write more often. Lazy or not lazy. Ha ha, I have to laugh when you think I might marry one of these Gals over here. Don’t worry your head about me. There is a reason why I don’t want anyone to read those papers I had tied up. Someday you can read them, but not until I say so. That break I wrote Rita about was when 
we were on the defense at Strasbourg. I have told you before, but I received 39 packages for Christmas. I also received a package yesterday with one can of soup, catsup & candy. Well Mom you told me how all my letters came home and I know I wrote to you more than that. They must have been lost somewhere along the line. No mother, we haven’t a chaplain with us. They are all with the infantry. Once in awhile we are near where they say mass and I always go when I can. There must be about 7 Catholic Chaplains in the Division. No mother Rita’s letters just don’t take a long time to get here, she just doesn’t write. Yes, I received the package, Mrs. Nelson had the olives in. I have the stove & pots, but I haven’t any use for them right now. It will come in handy someday. Yes, the Breunig boy payed me for the 
pictures.
Say you know I never did write & tell you much about these people here. They don’t claim to be French or German either one. They say their Alsaca. They speak a mixture of French and German together. Most of these people wear wooden shoes. That doesn’t hold true for the people in the big cities. They dress Okea. I have taken a few pictures of girls in the Alsacian Costume. They only wear them for special occasions and dances. You should see me dance over here, ha ha. They do nothing but twirl and about the second dance I’m finished. Now don’t get me wrong and think we get to do this all the time. We went to some dances at Strasbourg while they celebrated their liberation. Had a lot of fun.
Well she’s warmed up a little here now, and the snow is melting. Boy I hate to think of it when it it really thaws out.
Say Dad, you remember Don Brown that worked up to the store. He was in the 28th Division. Well I saw a boy out of his outfit and he told me that Don was missing in action. You know he was up north and must have got trapped when the Germans broke through up there. Well maybe he was captured. Hope so anyway.
For the first time this winter were out in the woods for a bivouac area. We usually stay in buildings but the buildings are either blown up or burnt down. When the Germans leave a town, they either burn or destroy what’s left of the town.
Guess this is all I have to say for now so I’ll say good by two you both. I’ll write again when I have time. By By, and I love you both very much.
All my love
Your Son,
“Chick”
The company put in another foot bridge. Germany was over with his air force today, bombing and strafing. They had some jet propelled planes that went so fast you could hardly see them. The ack, ack wasn’t even close to them. Wrote a letter to mom and dad.
As a result of this WWII diary, dad and I have developed some new friendships. One such friend, Alban Bagy whose home town is Saint-Hippolyte in Alsace, eastern France.
The post on December 25, 1944 showed Chick and fellow soldiers with their Christmas Tree. Alban recognized the building in the background and forwarded pictures he took of the building as it is now. “As you can see, it has’nt changed too much since Christmas 1944.” Alban said in his letter.
Uttick, Brueing, Oliver, Swanson, Wellman, Chick
As the 70th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe approaches, the community of Saint-Hippolyte plans to host an exhibition for the V-E Day holiday, May 8, 2015.
Not much to do. It has warmed up and the snow is all melting. It even rains a little now and then. Couldn’t sleep last night as there was artillery all around us. And they fired all night. Played a little cards and wrote some letters.
The infantry is still moving but they are flanking Colmar. The company has been putting up a lot of foot bridges as there are plenty of canals to cross. We moved this morning to a new area. For the first time this winter we are out in the woods. There are no towns left standing around here as they are either destroyed by artillery and bombs or the Germans burned them when they left. The town of Ostheim was completely burned out.
Don’t know how the attack is coming. Some say the French are going to take Colmar and we are going around it. Hope they get Colmar soon so we can move in.
We had to get some more boats today. The attack starts at 9 tonight. The artillery starts at 8:30 pm. We had to go after another load of boats and take them up to the canal. God the artillery is sure letting everything fly. Haven’t heard anything like it for some time. The roads were all jammed with traffic, and as usual the French had everything jammed up. We saw a lot of prisoners coming in. Got in about 12 o’clock.
