Well, today is another nice day for
which I am thankfull. You can't appreciate
how important good weather is until you
are forced to live out in the open. Then, the
weather becomes a major problem, something
to be anticipated and worked about. However, if
things keep up the way they are now, it won't
be too bad at all.
Each time I write, it becomes increasingly
difficult to find something to write about.
There are so many things that can't be written
and so few that can. However the main
purposes of these letters is just to let you
know that I am all right. I think that is
what you want most of all.
I had my picture taken yesterday. I'm
afraid that it wasn't very flattering. I was
dirty and grimy and eating stew out of a
tin can. When we get the finished prints
which should be in 2 or 3 months I will send
it to you. I am also going to send a
clipping from the "Stars & Stripes" and some
pictures of the city of Luxembourg. I don't
know whether the censor with let
them go by. However, I see no reason why
he shouldn't. Luxembourg is a very
picturesque city as you shall see from
the pictures. It was at one time a
medieval castle and the walls and
battlements can still be seen throughout
2
the city. I spent a very enjoyable day
there just poking around.
You have heard the expression "It's a small
world." Well, I certainly found that true
in Luxembourg. The American _____ (The
cry has just gone up, "Hitler count your
men.") Well, as I was saying, the American
Red Cross has a big club in Luxembourg.
I wandered in there and who should I
meet, but about 4 or 5 boys from the old
299th. You remember the first company
I was ever is in, in the army. Boy! It was
good to see them again. We had a swell
time talking over told times.
Boy, I'm telling you folks, the fellows
here are really jumping for joy. The Air
Force is really going over. I can't describe
it. You would have to be here to see it.
We all know that they are making our
job a heck of a lot easier. Oh, I wish you
could see this. The boys here are actually
shouting with joy. The sky is filled with
planes. "Jerry is really going to catch
hell somewhere and in just a few
minutes to. There doesn't seem to be any
end to this. There still coming as far
as the eye can see. Oh! Its great.
Well folks, I am going to cut this short
and watch the show. So long for now.
Your Loving Son
"Oby"
Description
Describes difficulty in writing when not allowed to divulge too much information. Had his picture taken eating stew out of a can. Describes pictures of Luxembourg he included with the letter.
The city of Luxembourg was originally a medieval castle and the city grew out of the fortress. He describes how the original walls and battlements can be seen throughout the city. He also describes meeting up with old buddies at the American Red Cross Club while he was in Luxembourg "poking around."
Luxembourg was a major U.S. Army administrative hub in 1944-45 and served as a rest and staging location.
His story, however, gets interrupted by fellow soldiers starting to shout out, as was described in a previous letter, "Hitler count your men". The US Air Force was flying over head, and they just kept coming and coming "as far as the eye could see."
I looked to see if there were any major air raids on this date. I could not confirm any. It was the date, however, American troops were crossing the Moselle River, which opened the path for Patton's armor to break free into the heart of Germany. There was likely air support for their advance.
The Luxembourg pictures: there were no labeled pictures of Luxembourg, but there were a series of what looked like purchased photos of the city, which AI confirmed were of Luxembourg. Apparently it was common for GIs to buy picture packs or such. He clearly was enamored with the city. So, I took some time to explore and identify some of the things about the city he might have witnessed and enjoyed. Some of the photos were easily confirmed. Others, who knows. I shared them with some guesses as to what they are of and where in the city they might be for context. [corrections welcome]
