03-12-1945 To a Poor Civilian & Germany’s Secret Weapon

Transcription

Somewhere in Germany
Mar. 12, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad:

I am writing this
letter principally to enclose some
clippings from the "Stars +
Stripes" that I would like to
save. As you know, the "Stars and
Stripes" is the army newspaper for
the European Theater of Operations.
One is a poem "To a Poor Civilian."
That poem tells exactly how I
feel. It is more truth than poetry.
The other clipping might also
interest you having been a
member of St. Michaels parish for
so long.

I am also going to enclose
a picture that I have. There is
quite a story behind it. When
I was in Luxembourg I became

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acquainted with a young fellow.
He could speak English as well as
I, having learned it himself from
books he bought. He told me that
in school he had his choice of
taking either Greek or English.
He decided to take Greek and
learn English himself. Well,
anyway, during the Nazi occupation
he was deported to Germany as
a forced laborer. He escaped
and made his way back to
Luxembourg where he lived
underground for years. He
lived in a cave in the forest.
Some friends of his lived nearby
and they would sneak out
food and supplies for him and
his friends. The picture I am
sending was given to me by
him. It was taken in the

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cave. My friend is the first
man from the left. I think
that the picture will make
a good souvenir.

Well, I guess that takes care
of it for now. Oh yes! I received
a letter from you yesterday. It
was dated Jan. 15. It took almost
2 months to get here. However, I
was very glad to receive it. I
have only received 4 letters since I
arrived in the E.T.O., three of them
were from you and one was from
Rendon. I should be getting a bunch of
them about a month from now
because the other day I wrote to
just about everybody except Tarpey,
Ella and the O'Tooles. If you send
me their address' I shall be
happy to write to them also.


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In fact, I was very dissappointed
because I could not find their
address' among my belongings. So
please send those address' plus
any others that you think I
ought to write to. So long for
now. I will write again at the
first opportunity.

Your Loving Son
"Oby"

P.S. Have you noticed the different
address.

Cpl. Robert Tighe (31264699)
Co. "B", 51st Armored Infantry Battalion
A.P.O 254 c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.


To a Poor Civilian

What do you know of War?
Have you heard the 88s
Come screaming through the air,
With their song of death and hate?
Have you heard the burp guns
chatter?
Have you ducked when Meemies
scream?
Have you heard the singing laugh-
ter
Of the rifle's deadly stream?
How'd you like a foxhole
With water to your knees?
Or an outpost on a mountain
With winds that make you freeze?
Have you ever made an all night
march
Through rain and mud and slush;
To meet the Jerries in the dawn
And beat him to the punch?
Have you heard the last soft whis-
pers,
"Tell mom I love her so.
Get word to Mary and the kid;
Promise! Will ya, Joe?"
Sure, we know it's tough; no sugar;
No meat or cigarettes,
And now it's no more gasoline,
Nor any racing bets.
But let me tell you brother,
You are a lucky guy!
You may not get that extra []
But you don't have to die!