April 7, 1945

Hal dearest,
Just put Pat to bed. She has another cold but I think it’s from the vaccination and teething. Nevertheless she’s breathing so heavily and is rather uncomfortable. No temperature tho’ so she’ll be o.k. She’s so good when she’s sick + takes any medicine beautifully. She loves aspirin – what a riot – and actually wants more.
Got 2 letters from you today – postmarked March 27th and dated the 24th + 25th. You wrote about the places you had seen + I had them pretty correct. We knew you were in Saalautern because on March 20th the Traveler wrote about the 65th capturing the lawn. On March 23 the New York Times placed the 65th at Neumkirchen and then 2 days ago the Same said you beind the tank drive so you must be well into Germany now. I get a great kick out of all your descriptions so keep them up if you can – even if they seem trivial + uninteresting to you. Anything you write is of insterest + gives me a very clear picture of what you see + do + that’s what I want to share in my small way.
You asked for slippers – Darling, you must have received the ones I sent or rather Pat sent you for your birthday. I sent them 3 weeks or more ago so you must have them. I hope so and also hope they’re what you want. Mother sent you a Life Magazine subscription for your birthday + hope you get it. I’m going to send you the Reader’s Digest as soon as I find out where their address is. I’ll do it within the next couple of days. This morning I put Doris to work + we cleaned up the apt. Mother came over for lunch + brought your 2 letters and a present for Pat that came to the house from Herb. It’s a beautiful white fur dog with black ears. She has so many stuffed toys now that the apt is full of them. That was sweet of Herb to remember her birthday tho’ + it’s a lovely stuffed toy. She got a present from Carl today too – a big plastic ball willed with water + a red fish to play with in her bath. That was so swell of him I think.
Mother brought along a letter she got from Bob this morning + he’s fine — out at sea tho’ + repeats it’s just a pleasure cruise + remarks it’s his third trip.
Kay came over after a wedding she attened + looked very nice. She said she sent you a package of goodies. She left with Doris about 4:30.
This morning Ralph Mann came over + he looks just awful – Remember his usual pallor? Now it’s twice as bad. He was just tranferred to the Cushing General in Framingham + they’re getting ready to do some bone grafting as well as skin grafting on his arm. His elbow was shattered by bullets + he got shrapnel in his leg. He was with the 104th division + was hit back in January + went from Aid Station to Collecting Co. to field Hospital to Gen’l Hospital in Paris + was then flown to England + came back on a hospital ship to Charleston, S.C. + on to Camp Pickett + then here. Paul is with the ATC in England + Irving is in Brazil.
Spoke to Alice today + Bob called yesterday from Chicago + will be in Calif. tomorrow morning. Janet called too + may be over tomorrow night.
Glad to hear you got a radio. Do you have it with you? Danny Kaye is now + funny as ever. His program is swell.
Haven’t a paper tonight so miss the comics. I was going over to see the Faeke tomorrow but if Pat’s nose is still running I won’t take a chance in taking her out.
Called Uncle Joe just now + we deduced that you were with the 15th Army + were transferred to the 3rd. Is that correct? You said Uncle Joe was correct in his deductions + he said he wrote that he thought you were in the 15th – therefore our deductions!
The Kaufmans just called + said they were coming over now so I’ll have company again tonight. I haven’t been alone at all since I moved in. Everyone has been so nice Ethel Weinstein has the play pen ready for me whenever Ican pick it up so I’m really all set. – – – –
A couple of hours have passed since my last sentence. The telephone rang + then Janet + Ruther walked in. Cynthia called + is fine + so are the Kaufmans + they all send love to you. Pat woke up + cried for a couple of hours straight + I just got her to sleep – but oh! am I worn out. She’s O.K. but is uncomfortable + didn’t feel like sleeping. Jan + Ruth didn’t find me a good hostess at all ’cause I was trying to quiet Pat all the time. She does’t have a temp. so I’m sure she’s O.K.
Elaine called + I had to hang up + tell her I’d call in the morning. She’ll probably be over tomorrow anyway.
For the past few minutes I’ve just been a-dreamin’ of that wonderful day whne we three are together again. Wonder where you are right this minute ’cause my heart is right there with you + I’d sure like to know where my main cog is. Just hope you’re well. You sound very optimistic + encouraging in your letters and I know very well that you’re trying to allevieate my worries. Guess I wear my feelings on my pen. I’m improving tho’, darling + don’t worry when I don’t hear. I won’t say I’m not anxious + diasappointed ’cause I am when the mail man passes me by – but you are too – perhaps not anxious (’cause you know I write every day regardless) but certainly disappointed.
Must get some sleep. It’s early tonight or rather earlier than usual – so I’ll take advantage. I miss you so, sweetheart + love you more + more + more. Pat sends a squish, a squeeze, a hug, + a kiss.
I love you forever, darling —
Len

June 9, 1945

Hal Darling,

July 10, 1945

Len darling,
I’ll start this now before supper, although I’m not optimistic about it’s being lengthy or newsy. It continues to be nice out, making three consecutive days that the sun has shone a new high for this part of the world- Hubert, the guide, was here this morning and is anxious to go hunting tonight. I told him to return tonight and I would see – it such a slow season for deer now that I’m a little reluctant to go although it’s the only for of diversion that I have.

The daily exodus of men from this division continues in large numbers and soon there will an almost complete turnover of personnel – some are flying directly to the Pacific yet but I don’t know what fate of their men who are being transferred will be when they arrive at their new organizations. A Capt. friend of mine came in this afternoon – he has 90 points and is flying home this Friday – he may be discharged or retained in the states as an instructor-

This afternoon I wrote to Bob, read the N.E.J.M. and topped it off by having my hair cut – isn’t that an exciting way to spend an afternoon. I receive your letter of 26 June today which held the key to the mystery of Pat’s black eye-

Hello again, dear, just finished supper – Decided not to go hunting tonight but shall stay in read and listen ^to the radio. Pat’s eye sounds as though it were a honey. Be sure you tell me everything that happens, good or bad; you said that you weren’t going to tell me about Pat’s black eye and I would have felt terrible to know that you were holding anything back from me. What a doll she must be – seems to be precocious in everything except walking. I’ll bet that you could eat her up when she says “come”- I think that it’s wonderful that she goes to the john by herself – When I get home (I’m warning you in advance) you’ll have to excuse me if I spoil her for the first few weeks – I just know that I’ll shower her with attention + affection – Of course I plan to save a little for you but I’m sure that you won’t object too strenuously – Boy, oh boy. I’ve got plenty of affection stored up and when I get home there’s going to be a storm of love and happiness in our household that will be unparalleled in the history of mankind-

That $2083 sure is our lump sum which I didn’t anticipate- a most pleasant surprise – I think that your suggestion of putting most of it in the saving bank is the most practical thing. If we had a lot of ready cash I would say unhesitatingly to put it all in bonds but after the war we’ll need cash for the period I’m in the hospital interning and it would impractical to have all our money tied up in bonds. Incidentally, what is the box score on our financial status, including total assets v liabilities – total bonds, cash in the bank.

I’m anxious to know if you are going down to Helene’s. Remember, don’t stay home on my account because everything is so indefinite – I can imagine that travelling accommodations are very hard to obtain now which is to be expected with all the troop movements taking place now. For that reason I would say not to go to Florida unless absolutely necessary. If Mrs. F. is going to be there than I think you should stay home; if Helene is going to be alone, then by all means, go –

Well, my sweets, I’m sorry this turned out to be the brief letter I promised earlier in the letter, but that’s all the news I have-

Goodnight, my loves, I adore you + love you with

all my heart + soul
Love to all
All my love, forever + ever
Hal

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

July 5, 1945

Thurs. July 5, 1945
Len dear,

It’s shortly before supper and Irv + I just returned from our mew location which is about 45 miles from here – We left at 9 A.M. and came back about 4:30 P.M. – an all day affair – The town is a small one, but slightly larger than this one. However the problem of finding a place to live is always an unpleasant job. Now it is necessary to find public buildings for billeting the men before you resort to private homes- i.e. public buildings as schools officers and “gasthauses” – This town has many “gast hauses” but the majority were dingy, dirty and small. One is almost always sure of finding Nazi collaborators no matter how small the town populace, and their homes are naturally nicely furnished with all modern conveniences – We found such a “gasthaus” – very clean, huge rooms, electricity, running water, tile bathtub + shower, flush toilet, and very nice furniture – a jewel in a tarnished setting – We always also looked at two nice private homes which would have housed my men + all the officers very nicely – I was very reluctant to take it for fear that the Col. would want to move in too. Instead I showed one of the houses to the Col’s billeting officers + he is reserving it for the Col. + his stooges. There we found a beautiful dental office with all modern equipment – 2 dental chairs, x-ray, etc. – obviously a Nazi sympathizer – It’s funny to go into a little farm town where the main street is cluttered up with cows, oxen, horses, pony  and the smell of cow flaps + manure is prevalent and find an elaborate, modern dental office such as you could expect to see in a large city in the states. There is also a beautiful castle with 40 well furnished rooms owned by a Graf Corte – the Nazis used it as a “mutterheim”- for pregnant femmes of the SS men – However Service Co. has it – they had priority on the buildings – The Graf is living in a small adjacent building – apparently formerly occupied by his servants but in which he + his family, in laws, etc, now live – Irv + I went through his home and what wonderful furnishings he has – hand carved furniture, ornate clocks, etc – china, silverware, etc- and antiques – you’d of had a picnic there-

Hello again, darling, I decided not to go deer hunting tonight – I felt tired and also a little guilty as I have been monopolizing the best guide, Hubert – thought I’d give somebody else a chance with him – Irv, Bob + Rick went out and should be back soon – I’ve been reading the past hour or so, after a delicious supper – Maria made “buckburgers” from the buck – that’s the last of the poor buck – but it sure was swell while it lasted.

I saw Major Kelman today and on my way through Linz and his orders have been cancelled and he is to remain with the division but he doesn’t know for how long. It’s common knowledge now that this outfit is breaking up eventually and most of us will be transferred to other units – just a question of when.

I don’t know when we are going to move to this new town but tomorrow I’m going to start moving some of my aid station equipment and other furniture which may add to our comfort – plan to take a few radios, the frigidaire (it’s working fairly good now), some easy chairs, some beds, a nice sliding table for eating As I’ve related the dentist who lived in this house was a high Nazi official and is now a prisoner with his wife in Mauthausen (?): Consequently I have no compunctions about what we remove from his house for our benefit – If this new town didn’t have a dental office, we were planning to move out the entire dental outfit, x-ray machine, dental chair and all, to our next location- The nice dental office there has made this unnecessary-

The Col. doesn’t know yet that he isn’t going to live with us  – He’ll be quite disappointed. I’m sure, ’cause he’ll miss Maria taking care of him.

I received a letter from you today dated 27 June – nothing new in it except that you have been doing a load of reading – How’s Bob enjoying himself- I wish he’d write to me and describe some of the places he’s been to and some of the experiences he has had. How’s Larry? Does he know what the Army is going to do with him yet?

Well, my loves, nothing more to write for today so I’ll say “Goodnight, pleasant dreams”- I love you + adore you with my might, heart and soul. A million hugs + kisses.

Love to all-
All my love, forever + ever,
Hal