We worked all day around the supply room. The Division is to be relieved for about 10 days, and then back to the front we will go. A helluva place to be relieved. The Germans can shell you any place on the beachhead. Germany came over and strafed a little.
Went to work on shortages all day today. Kept busy all day long. Three of us was put in for either the Silver or Bronze star. Kubik, Iacuzzi and myself. Doubt very much if we get it. It was for our work on the baily bridge while they were throwing mortars at us. Popped some corn and went to bed.
We dug on the supply room hole for a while until it rained. After dinner we finished and put up the tent. Dug on our dug out and went to bed.
We had to dig in the supply room today so we worked pretty hard all day. Tried to work a little on our home, but we were to tired. They had a little air raid and a few “Anzio specials” lit in the area. Wow but they’re big babies.
My Dear Mother & Dad,
Well I have just come home from a two day rest at the rest camp. Not much of a rest, but it does give you time to take a shower and cleaned up. I hate to say it but it’s my first shower since January 21, just before we landed here. It was really nice there and we did get away from that continuous banging going on. We got to see three shows also. I also found the Service Company that Snook was in there but ‘Snook’ was out at that time. Who knows, I’ll see him one of these days yet. It’s pretty hard to find one another during combat. Well guess this is all I have to say for the present so goodbye and I love you both very much.
Your Son
“Chick”
It was raining today so they decided not to move. Not much to do around the supply room. I wrote a few letters and then cleaned a few guns. The weather cleared, and we loaded the supply truck. Tore down our dugout and moved back to another area. Pitched a tent and went to bed.
We had hot cakes for breakfast. A swell treat. Went to the show and saw Kathryn Grayson in “As Thousands Cheer.” It was very good. Ate dinner, had an inspection and stood a retreat for our new General, O’Daniels. I found out that “Snook’s” outfit was about 200 yrds from where we were staying so I thought I would get to see him, but he was up front and I didn’t get to. So close but so far. We left right after supper to come in. Rolled out my bed roll in our dugout and went to bed.
We arrived at the rest camp at 6:30pm. We pitched our tent and then went to the show. We saw Bill Powell and Hedy Lamar. We ate breakfast at 8:00am and then went to the show. This time we saw Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne in “A Guy Named Joe.” It was really swell. This was a nice rest camp. Big pine trees all around. Looked like a big park without the benches. At least it was quiet for a change. Weichert and I came in for the rations, and when we got back we both took showers. Gee but the water was swell. First bath since Jan 21st on the LST before we landed here. We went to the show again at night, but they had the same show and so we came back and played cards. Jerry planes came over and bombed the harbor so we had to quit playing cards and went to bed.
Well today is our 59th day here. It tops our last record. Badali and I picked up a few odd mines that were strung all over and cleaned up the scrap laying around. I was told I was going to the rest camp for a couple of days. God, now I will get to take a shower. Boy but it will feel good. We leave at dark.
Chick honored by French WWII Reenactment Association
Organized in 1991, the Rock of the Marne Association aims to bring together collectors of uniforms, equipment, vehicles and other equipment used in the U.S. Army and specifically the U.S. Third Infantry Division during the second World War. Located in eastern France, currently there are 25 active members in the Association, some members are from Switzerland.
2014 Rock of the Marne
Association Members
The Rock of the Marne Association participates in official ceremonies, reenactments and the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Epinal American Military Cemetery. During this ceremony a wreath is made to commemorate the memory of those young Americans who came to fight for their freedom, many loosing their lives in France and Europe. The Association also has a color guard with an official flag of the 3rd Infantry Division that was given to them by the division commander when the unit was stationed in Germany.
The Certificate that Chick received states:
ASSOCIATION ROCK OF THE MARNE
Honorary Member
The active members of the Association – Rock of the Marne –
held a general assembly in Holtzwihr,
have voting unanimously has appointed
Charles F. Bruns
Veteran of the Third Infantry Division
the capacity of honorary member of their association
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