WWII Diary of Chick Bruns – 70 Years Ago

Dear Mother & Dad

I have been wanting to do this for some time but I never got around to it. I’m sending you and dad a little present. Not much but I never sent you anything for our Mothers or Dads day so here it is. Have a good time together on dads vacation. At least do me one favor, have a good time just for me. I hope by now you have stopped worrying about me. I’ll be home some day, so I guess all you can do is just keep hoping. There are too many men on the list ahead of me and they only send 1 man a month. The older aged fellows get to go first anyway. So I’ll make it just as soon as the war is over. I’d love very much to come home but with all the kids gone would soon make me feel funny. I know all of the gang here and as long as they can take it I can. Good bye and have a good time on your vacation. I love you both very much.

Your Son,
“Chick”

PS. Let me know as soon as you get this money order.

Dear Mother & Dad

This day use to be one of my favorite days when I was a kid, but now over here it’s just another day. We did have a good dinner though. Turkey and dressing. I was pretty full by the time I stop eating too, ha,,ha, but somehow or another I can’t seem too put on weight. I guess I’ll remain thin the rest of my life. Oh well who cares as long as I am never sick and stay healthy. One thing I have it on the fellows here, I don’t sweat as much as they do in hot weather like we are having now.

Here I got close enough to seep Paul and he had moved out. I also went up to see Herman Osterbur, but he had gone visiting himself so I didn’t get to see him. Remember that box I told you about. Well dad there is a gun in it to be claimed, but be careful as it is loaded. Take the clip out first, cock the bolt back and make sure it’s empty. Then taken the shells out of the clip.

What all did you both do today? Was it pretty quiet around home? Ha ha. I still have to laugh at me blowing the pants off of dad one fourth of July, ha,ha. Then went up town to get some medicine, Saw more firecrackers, bought them and shot them up before I came home. Boy that was the good old day and before belong or I should say another year and all of this mess should be settled.

I wrote Gee about the accident I had so there’s no use repeating it. I guess all of the prayers that you are saying for me at home brought me through. Ha ha. Any way I got a couple of days rest and a good bet to sleep in. Tell Gee to save any news clippings that come up. She remembers last year and how she missed out on my scrap book. Guess this is all for now. Goodbye to you both and I love you from the bottom of my heart.

Your Son,
“Chick”

Dear Mother & Dad

Little to write about but maybe this letter will help cheer you up a little. Had a letter from Snook the other day and he is Okea. I haven’t the slightest idea where he is now but maybe someday I will run into him.

Say I finally sent that package home so you should get it one of these days. They must be about 17 gifts for every one in there. I have the name wrote on all of the presents so will you please do the delivery for me. I hope they get home Okea because there worth a fortune. If you want too, you can open them all up and look at them. Just so the right people get them that’s all I Care. So when you unwrap them to be sure they don’t get mixed up.

The days are sure hot here, but the knights are sure cold, so we get two sleep good. One of the Fellows saw Herman Osterbur the other day so I’ll go see him, as soon as I can.

Say has Dad or Bernard been taking care of my guns. I don’t want them to get rusty as I’ll be home some day. Dad always be careful of a gun with a clip in it, it may be loaded, always take the clip out first. You never did say whether you had cleaned it or not. It was well oiled when I left, but I’m sure it was loaded so if you haven’t cleaned in it be careful. Has Bernard been using my guns any? If he has, make him cleaned them. Well I guess this is all for now so I’ll say good-bye. Write when you have time, and I love you both.

Your Son,
“Chick”