July 9, 1945

July 9, 1945 Monday
Len dear,

Received three swell letters from you today postmarked June 30, July 1 + 2nd and a letter from Bob postmarked June 27th. Sure swell to get that mail.

Last night I went to bed real early for a change – was in bed after 10 P.M. and after reading for awhile went to sleep (almost immediately instead of the usual 1-2 hours of tossing and restlessness)

This morning I was up by 8 A.M. – It’s going to be tough to get use to regular hours again. I usually don’t roll out of bed till 9:30 or 10 A.M. but I’m not particularly concerned about it as I belive I can adapt myself very easily to civilian ways again. After sick call, I drove over to see Major Gautsch. he expects to leave here about 13 July and was packing. It seems taht a multitude of officers and enlisted men are going to the 9th Inf. Div. Major Gautsch has 96 points but it doesn’t make any difference in his case as he is regular army — Supposedly the 9th Inf. Div. is Army of Occupation. Practically the whole division staff is leaving including Gen. Rheinhart + Col. Eppes (Chief of Staff)

Col. Carl, the division surgeon, has left already – Major Gautsch was anxious to leave this division but is so disappointed that the 65th staff is going to accompany him – he thought that he was going to get away from all the children in this outfit – I’m sorry to see him leave – I learned to like him very much – For all practical purposes the 9th Inf. Div. will be that only in name, but will be composed almost entirely of 65th personnel – And reciprocally, the 65th will have all the high point 9th Inf. personnel, who undoubtedly will be sent home after a few months + be inactivated. Meanwhile those of us that still remain are waiting impatiently to receive orders for where or what we do not know. Three Lts. in this battalion were alerted today and are suppose to fly home Friday for 30 days + some undisclosed assignment – Boy, oh boy, what I wouldn’t give to fly home would be home in 2 days-

This afternoon I sat inside and read some magazines and the N.E.J.M. I was called across the street to see a sick lady – she delivered an 8 lbs. girl last night and was quite weak today. You begin to appreciate how kind mother nature is and what wonderful machine the human body is when you see how some of these people fare without medical attention – Dr. Schwary, the local doctor who has been practicing here for 30 odd years, is a quack who knows no medicine whatsoever – This I learned from the various civilians I’ve treated in the aid station and if I didn’t discourage their coming to me (tell them that my aid station is for American soldiers + not civilians) I would be overwhelmed – The people dislike their doctor but there is nothing they can do about it as he represents the only medical attention they have for a radius of many many miles. This woman I saw this afternoon was delivered by the midwife in the town here – a common practice. The midwife looked about 75 years old and I’ll bet in her lifespan she has delivered more babies than the late Dr. De Lee. It was the woman’s 7th child, in addition to two abortions — she’s 39 years old. I spoke to the midwife + found her interesting – they use no anesthesia at all – this labor <del>I<del> was about 4 hours long + the delivery took 15 minutes — the woman was

complaining of pain in her chest, appeared emaciated + very anemia -looked bled out – I had no medicine for pregnant women in my aid station, so I gave her 500 cc of plasma – she’s feeling better tonight- While I was there, I was asked to look at another woman who delivered her baby 3 months ago – she had severe pain + swelling of her left breast since the child’s birth – I examined her and honestly she had the worst – the largest abscess of a breast I’ve ever seen – how she could tolerate the pain she must be having, as long as she has, I can’t imagine. I made arrangements to take her to Linz to the hospital in our ambulance tomorrow-

These people all look healthy though it’s sy of medium stature + husky – In Linz, a large city, the women dress very modern, appear neat + clean + are attractive – but quite obviously they are all diseased with some venereal disease- It’s such a common story for me to hear “I can’t understand it, doc, she looked so clean”- as the boys come in to see me with V.D. the old saying I tell them —

“You can’t judge a book by the cover” V. D. is still a major problem.

Tonight there was a variety show here in town for the G.I.- Irv + I went – It was an exceptionally good show for a change – Austrian performers – dancers, singers, comedians, etc – It’s very humorous at tiems – invariably some performer will sing or play an American song – the band tonight played American songs, almost exclusively, and obviously they have learned that the G.I> looks his jazz + swing music – boogie-woogie- so they try to imitate – they do fairly good but it does sound funny- It’s like a good classical musician trying to play jazz – it just doesn’t sound right. Their impression of American music is that everything is set to swing – two sisters and a man with good voices sang “Indian Love Song” as it should be sung and then swung out on the 2nd chorus – I thought it was sacreligious but there was a very receptive audience and the applause was deafening –

I’m so glad to hear that Pat ate her meal by herself. Your patience and teaching have been rewarded and I know the satisfaction it must give you and don’t blame you for being so excited + pleased – that’s a personal triumph- She must be a honey- Bob’s letter was all about how wonderful she is. You mention something about Pat’s black eye – I didn’t receive the letter yet describing how Pat acquired the discoloration. I assume that it was nothing serious.

I’m so glad to hear that Re is pregnant – just hope that nothing happens as I realize how anxious they are for one – She’s foolish to go about broadcasting as she is, ’cause if anything should happen she would be inconsolable as you say. It sounds like you are having a tropical summer back home – wish I were home to suffer with you – Sorry to hear that Mrs. Pollak feels so badly about Carl’s girlfriend – I’ll bet that she is a nice girl-

Well, darlin, Bob got 3 packages from home today, including a birthday cake (his birthday was June 19th) so we are about to indulge in some niceties-

Enclosed is a money order for $70.00 – This, my darling, is towards your anniversary gift – I want you to get yourself something nice from me – It’s unlikely that I shall be home to celebrate this one – but one can never tell-

Goodnight, my wonderfuls, all my love for ever + ever. I love you more and more every day.

All my love,
Hal

P.S. Love to all