13 February, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

13 February, 1944       1100

Dearest sweetheart –

Sunday morning again and were we married now and living in Salem – I’d probably be all through rounds at the hospital and a couple of house calls – and back to the house to bother you in your attempts at getting dinner prepared. After several hugs punctuated by at least a corresponding number of kisses, you’d finally chase me off to the den or library (if we have either) to read a journal or something. Yet, darling, here I am all by myself in my quarters in England. It’s dull and gray today but my imagination is helping me. I will not allow myself to become blue, dear; I just can’t when I know that where you are right now – you’ll be thinking of me. Just that thought makes me feel better.

I got another letter from you, sweetheart, yesterday. This much has been amazing. I’ve got a letter from you every day, and although they weren’t in sequence, particularly, who cares? It’s almost as if you were only 50 miles away and I could expect a daily letter. I hope I haven’t been spoiled.

I’m terribly sorry about the reverse. From what you write dear – you heard from me on January 24th and then up to the 1st of Feb at least (your last letter) you didn’t hear again. I know this to be true; however, it was the same for everybody, because several of the officers had letters from home saying the same thing. By now, darling, you must have heard and you ought to have received a whole batch of mail.

So February broke out with a snow storm? You can always trust New England for at least one or two of them per winter. That part – I do not miss.

I know, dear, how you must feel when these girls have their husbands with them and you have no one in particular. I can’t give you much solace except to say that at least you’ll know I was physically sound in every respect – while those you see around – like Abbot, Irv and Stan – were not and furthermore – they’ll always have their disabilities. Furthermore – your husband will be a veteran and believe me, after the war – in one way or another it will be good to be on the side of the vets. And we’ll be able to tell our children about it, too.

I was sorry to hear about your mother’s tooth trouble and I don’t mind at all hearing everything that goes on at home, you know that, dear.

Again – Stan and Shirley pop into the picture. I didn’t know exactly what you meant by “I don’t know what he wants from my life.” I don’t know either, Sweetheart, but much as I hate to write this – I don’t trust him, somehow. I didn’t right after I first met you when he took you out and in dropping over to your house – implied certain things in reference to me that I didn’t like. Yes – your mother – in an indirect way – tipped me off way back last Fall. However – I’m not worried about it. I like Stan and on the whole he’s been a good friend, but then – so have I been to him. What he wants from you, I don’t know. He’s good company, I do know. However, dear, you don’t have to feel obligated because of me. His reference to Shirley and not mentioning his break-off – is the bunk – if you ask me. For one thing, I think he uses that as an excuse to see you i.e. – not being associated with Shirley, he can be free to call on you; secondly – if its embarrassment he wants to hide, I’m sure its his own because Shirley won’t marry him, for one reason or another. Certainly he has tried hard enough, as you well know.

Enough of that, though. Seems to me I’ve been writing about Stan many times now – but frankly I didn’t trust him in regards to you right after he took you out one night and never mentioned it to me. I still think that wasn’t cricket, dear, and I liked you much more – immediately – when you told me yourself. I’ve always liked your directness, sweetheart, and I hope you’ve liked mine. Certainly, as you write, that’s the only way – between husband and wife, and if you don’t start when its in the sweetheart stage – you don’t have it later on. You’ll always find me on the square, darling. Anyway – I couldn’t lie if I tried, because I give myself away too easily.

Sweetheart – there’s nothing bothering me that I don’t like – as you put it. You have been so sweet and lovable in everything you have written, how can I be bothered? If I’m not telling you enough, dear, I hope you don’t hesitate to ask me. I know that all sorts of things must run thru your mind – a soldier, strange country, no one checking on him, out with the boys, etc. etc. I can tell you this sweetheart; I’ve told you it before: I have never loved anyone the way I do you; I think only of you morning, noon and night – whether I’m in camp or not. When I’m out, I go out with fellows who feel the way I do about their Sweethearts at home; or with fellows like Pete – whom you well know is the sort of fellow who can have his girls or leave them alone. We leave them alone. I’m interested in no one but you, dear; no one. I want to come back to you, marry you, and carry out all the plans we’ve dreamed about. Never forget that, darling, about me. It’s only you I’m thinking of always! Do I make myself clear, dear? And Goodness only knows I’m not writing that merely to cheer you up. I mean it with such earnestness that you must by now realize that nothing can come between us to prevent our being married and happily, too.

Well – a long spiel – but it’s good every now and then isn’t it? I’m going to get ready for lunch now, Sweetheart, and then a nice quiet afternoon of reading, listening to the radio and relaxing. Honestly, I am not bored. How can I be with your picture near me, your letters to re-read and the thought of you waiting for me? Darling that’s all for now – and I’ll write again tomorrow. Be well, dear – and for now –

All my love

Greg

Best regards to home

Love

G.

* TIDBIT *

about Women in the Marine Corps

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The first division to utilize women in wartime came in August, 1918, when Major General Commandant George Barnett requested authorization of the Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, to enlist a limited number of women reservists in order to free men from clerical duties for combat in France. Altogether, 305 women answered the call and enlisted as privates. Subsequently many earned promotions to private first class, corporal, and sergeant, the highest permissible rating. On July 30, 1919, they received honorable discharges and the coveted "well done."

Twenty-five years later, with a war on two fronts, the demand for manpower again led to personnel shortages. Although Marine Corps Commandant General Thomas Holcomb initially opposed recruiting women, on this date in 1943 he followed the example of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard and began a drive to “replace men by women in all possible positions.” The Marine Corps Women's Reserve (WR) was established, this time calling for not a few hundred but several thousands of women. The response was immediate. By June, 1944, the authorized quota of 18,000 enlisted women had been met and the majority of the total 821 officers had been trained and assigned.

In order to assist the Marine Corps in getting its women's reserve under way, the Navy made its training facilities for women, already established for several months, immediately available. The first class of 75 women Marine officer candidates reported on March 13, 1943, for training at the U. S. Naval Midshipmen School (WR) at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, and were commissioned May 4th. In all, 214 women officers completed OCC training at Mount Holyoke. [Note from FOURTHCHILD: Wilma was a student at Mount Holyoke College during this time!] The first class of enlisted women reservists, numbering 722, entered Hunter College, The Bronx, New York, at the U. S. Naval Training School (WR), on March 26, and completed its training on April 25, 1943. By July of 1943 the Marine Corps had had time to establish its own training center for women, and in that month both officer candidate's school as well as "boot" training were transferred to the Marine Corps Women's Reserve (MCWR) Schools at Camp Lejeune. In addition, several specialists schools were set up.

After being commissioned at Mount Holyoke College,
new MCWR Lieutenants pin on their bars, 1943.

Unlike their Marine Corps sisters in World War I, who performed chiefly clerical duties, women reservists in World War II took over an ever-increasing variety of military assignments. The original prediction of "more than thirty" kinds of jobs had, by February, 1944, one year after the formation of the MCWR, grown into more than 225 different specialties. More than half of all Women Reservists were engaged in clerical work — about the same percentage as in civilian life. But new ground was broken as women went to work as radio operators, photographers, parachute riggers, motor transport drivers, aerial gunnery instructors, cooks, bakers, Link trainer instructors, control tower operators, motion picture technicians, automotive mechanics, teletype operators, cryptographers, laundry managers, post exchange salespersons and managers, auditors, audio-visual librarians, assembly and repair mechanics, metalsmiths, weather observers, artists, aerial photographers, photograph analysts, chemists, postal clerks, musicians, statisticians, stewardesses, and writers. Women reservists were to be found on every major Marine Corps post, station and recruiting district in the continental United States. By the end of the war they filled 85 percent of the enlisted jobs at Marine Corps Headquarters.

How effectively women reservists lived up to their wartime recruiting slogan, "Free a Man to Fight," was expressed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the following message sent to them on the first anniversary of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, on this day 67 years ago, February 13, 1944.

The nation is as proud of you as of your fellow Marines - for Marine women are upholding the brilliant traditions of the Corps with a spirit of loyalty and diligence worthy of the highest admiration of all Americans. You have quickly and efficiently taken over scores of different kinds of duties that not long ago were considered strictly masculine assignments; and in doing so, you have freed a large number of well-trained, battle-ready men of the Corps for action."

Perhaps the most rewarding among all the beautifully worded praises of women Marines of World War II, is a simple statement from General Holcomb: “Like most Marines, when the matter first came up, I didn't believe women could serve any useful purpose in the Marine Corps. ... Since then, I've changed my mind.”

12 February, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

12 February, 1944       1235

Wilma, darling –

I notice that today is the 12th. That should make it Lincoln’s Birthday back home. Here it’s just another Saturday, of course. For that matter it wasn’t much of a holiday back home. And Monday is Valentine’s Day. The days slip by before you realize it. That’s the paradox of being over here; there’s little or nothing to do, time should drag and yet the months are slipping by.

In that connection we got notice today of furloughs for the men and leaves for officers. In the States – these were given every 6 mos. In the ETO apparently the practice is 7 days every 3 months and our time is approaching. Gosh how I used to look forward to time off when I was in the States. Now I can’t seem to get excited about it. I should be one of the first, dear, to get a leave because my last one was in June – and several of the boys had theirs after that. Where to go and what to do is the question. There’s really no incentive when you can’t get home – but the advice is to take the leave anyway because you don’t know when you’ll get another. Darling if only I could see you for a few hours – that would be tonic enough for me – but that’s impossible right now and I better stop thinking along those lines.

Edinburgh, Scotland, dear – seems to be the place where most soldiers head for. One of the reasons is that the Scotch are very friendly to the Americans; another is that it’s very pretty there. I don’t know right now and really sweetheart, it makes very little difference. It seems to me I should get my leave, barring complications, around the first week in March. I might go to Oxford or Cambridge just to take in some lectures. Or I might go to London and visit some of its hospitals. Whatever I do, dear, will be a very poor excuse for what I’d rather do.

I got a letter from you yesterday, darling, written January 30th. You had spent the day at my home – and I so like to read about that. It makes me feel very happy sweetheart, when you write about enjoying yourself with my folks and finding it natural to be with them. It makes you that much more close to me. You’ll really know them well when I get back. I guess I’ll have to catch up with your folks, though – won’t I dear? Well it won’t take long, I know. You know – when you visit with my family and get to know them – it makes me feel as if our courtship is going along in natural lines and not just by mail.

As for my folks being crazy about me, dear – it isn’t just I, it’s the same for all their children. They just happen to be perfect parents and children could wish for no better – I know, because I’ve known the parents of a good many friends of mine and they are in no way quite like my folks – but there I go boasting again, darling. The fact is – you’ll see for yourself, because when I marry you, you too will be their child.

You mention two pictures which you’ve sent me, dear. So far I’ve received the one I wrote you about – and that was a blessing. I’m looking forward to the other 1 and of course I want the ones your Uncle took – and as many more as you can get to send me. I’ve almost given up on trying to get a portrait of me to send you. They don’t even take recognizable passport photographs. Maybe if I ever go to Italy I’ll be able to get one of their artists to paint me. Seriously though, dear – I will continue to try to get one to send you.

Darling – one thing we’re bound to have in our home (yours and mine) will be dishes. That, anyway, I can guarantee you. Yes I know the Ranchero Style. I always liked it because it’s bright and gay. I hope your mother likes it, too, and I hope my father doesn’t over charge you!

Before I stop dear I want to tell you how touched I was by your likeness – depicted by you (free hand – no doubt) at the end of your letter. I was deeply moved, darling, when I realized whom I was looking at – it was sweet of you to do it. Honestly, though, I roared and in answer I am truly right, dear, there isn’t an English girl – or any other – that can hold a candle to you – and I mean that, sweetheart. I love you, dear, and I know I always will – so sit tight, darling. It will be a happy day when I can call you my wife. Until then and forever after – you’ll have

All my love

Greg.

Regards

Love

G.

* TIDBIT *

about a "Directive to Eisenhower" on this date

This directive was issued February 12, 1944, by the Anglo-American Combined Chiefs of Staff, formally authorizing General Dwight D. Eisenhower to implement Operation Overlord, the plan for the Normandy Invasion.

"1. You are hereby designated as Supreme Allied Commander of the forces placed under your orders for operations for liberation of Europe from Germans. Your title will be Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force.

2. Task. You will enter the continent of Europe and, in conjunction with the other United Nations, undertake operations aimed at the heart of Germany and the destruction of her armed forces. The date for entering the Continent is the month of May, 1944. After adequate Channel ports have been secured, exploitation will be directed towards securing an area that will facilitate both ground and air operations against the enemy.

3. Notwithstanding the target date above you will be prepared at any time to take immediate advantage of favorable circumstances, such as withdrawal by the enemy on your front, to effect a reentry into the Continent with such forces as you have available at the time; a general plan for this operation when approved will be furnished for your assistance.

4. Command. You are responsible to the Combined Chiefs of Staff and will exercise command generally in accordance with the diagram at Appendix. Direct communication with the United States and British Chiefs of Staff is authorized in the interest of facilitating your operations and for arranging necessary logistic support.

5. Logistics. In the United Kingdom the responsibility for logistics organization, concentration, movement, and supply of forces to meet the requirements of your plan will rest with British Service Ministries so far as British Forces are concerned. So far as United States Forces are concerned, this responsibility will rest with the United States War and Navy Departments. You will be responsible for the coordination of logistical arrangements on the continent. You will also be responsible for coordinating the requirements of British and United States forces under your command.

6. Coordination of operations of other Forces and Agencies. In preparation for your assault on enemy occupied Europe, Sea and Air Forces, agencies of sabotage, subversion, and propaganda, acting under a variety of authorities, are now in action. You may recommend any variation in these activities which may seem to you desirable.

7. Relationship to United Nations Forces in other areas. Responsibility will rest with the Combined Chiefs of Staff for supplying information relating to operations of the Forces of the U. S. S. R. for your guidance in timing your operations. It is understood that the Soviet Forces will launch an offensive at about same time as OVERLORD with the object of preventing the German forces from transferring from the Eastern to the Western front. The Allied Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Theater, will conduct operations designed to assist your operation, including the launching of an attack against the south of France at about the same time as OVERLORD. The scope and timing of his operations will be decided by the Combined Chiefs of Staff. You will establish contact with him and submit to the Combined Chiefs of Staff your views and recommendations regarding operations from the Mediterranean in support of your attack from the United Kingdom. The Combined Chiefs of Staff will place under your command the forces operating in Southern France as soon as you are in a position to assume such command. You will submit timely recommendations compatible with this regard.

8. Relationship with Allied Governments - the re-establishment of Civil Governments and Liberated Allied Territories and the administration of enemy territories. Further instructions will be issued to you on these subjects at a later date."

11 February, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

11 February, 1944       1335

Dearest sweetheart –

I’ve just finished lunch and here I am imagining I’m talking with you again. I hope the ability to do that never leaves me, because it makes me feel very close to you. After yesterday’s snow and sleet, today is clear and dry and not cold. There’s no trace of snow on the ground.

This morning I didn’t go out to the gun sections at all, dear, but once and for all decided to finish dictating the history of the medical detachment. It’s a good thing I’ve been with it from the very start because our movements and changes in the States were so many that a newcomer could have had a whale of a time trying to piece things together. Well, darling, shortly before noon I finished the darn thing and now it has only to be typed by my sergeant and then submitted. So that’s one more piece of work out of the way. It’ll be nice if I don’t have to write another year’s history, won’t it dear?

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Members of a gun section man
antiaircraft guns like this 40 mm Bofors.

By the way – I like the variety of your stationery. You must find mine dull by comparison. I thought you were going to stick to the nice wide type which enabled you to get my address on one line; then – the very next day you surprise me with a royal blue trimming! But it makes very little difference, sweetheart, as long as I hear from you – and that – I have. I guess you are the most constant correspondent a guy could ever have. If any mail comes into the battalion at all – I’m pretty sure to hear from you – and often when very few others get letters, sure enough – there’s one from you. Yesterday was such a day – and I was the only officer receiving a letter. This week has been just about perfect with a letter every day. That makes the day complete and no matter what else occurs – I’m satisfied. I’m sorry though that you’re having delay in getting mine. They go out of here daily – I know that – but there must be some hold-up farther along the line.

In your letter of January 25th – you tell me about leaving your job. I surmised that in a later letter. I suppose you find the same trouble when my letters get mixed up. I’m glad you left, dear, because it seemed like an awfully hard job – physically – and there’s no sense in getting exhausted. It was nice of you to write you’ll be dissatisfied with everything until I come back. I feel the same way, too, dear. Everything else except you seems so inconsequential.

Your tendency toward stubbornness according to the fortune teller’s book does not worry me at all, darling; and determination is a good quality. As for loving with passion and vigor – I know that, without the book, too. Did you look mine up also? I hope it jibes with my feelings. I love with passion and devotion, darling, in case the book doesn’t say it – i.e. I love you that way.

I’m glad you’re keeping in contact with Irv and Verna. What you say about her is true – but she’s fundamentally a good kid. Talk about stubbornness – though. If she doesn’t want to leave her job, she won’t – come hell or high water. What you wrote about Diana was strange. Does she have to leave Boston or does she do her work there? Have you ever met the Hoffmanns? They’re a nice couple. I don’t know how Bud has stayed out of the Army so long – but he ought to be a good G.I. man when he’s through his training. Oh well I’ll start from scratch and pick up some loose threads here and there. One thing I’m not afraid of Sweetheart – and that’s the ability to make patients and once made – to hold them. And that’s what you need in practice. I still get letters from patients telling me they’re waiting to let me be their doctor when I get back – and that’s encouraging.

Darling – with you as my wife to help me – I can’t miss. And the one good thing about Salem is that even though you have to stick around in the early days – i.e. to help the older doctors – there’s so many things we can do – and still be in Salem on call. Of course – just being with you, dear, by ourselves – will be just a novelty and thrill – you’ll have to drag me out of the house. God – why can’t this thing be over with so that people can go back to live as was meant for them to do? It can’t last forever, dearest, and I’m willing to wait even that long for the opportunity of calling you my wife. Anything less than that is manna from heaven – and I’m angling for a front seat. So long for now, darling, if we keep our courage up we can’t lose. Best regards home and you have

All my love

Greg

P.S. Will you please send me some hair-restorer?

Thanks, darling.

Love

G

* TIDBIT *

about "AAA AW BN (Mobile)"

Antiaircraft Artillery [AAA] is the branch of the U. S. Army dedicated to protecting ground forces and static elements (aircraft on airfields, harbors, etc.) from concentrated aerial attack. The AAA battalions [BN] were organized as either gun (equipped with the M1 90mm AA gun) or automatic weapons [AW] (equipped initially with a U.S.-designed M1 37mm gun, but later almost wholly re-equipped with the famous M1 40mm Bofors-designed gun, and with the M51 or M55 quad-mount .50 caliber machine gun). AAA automatic weapons battalions were "Mobile" if attached to an infantry division and "SP" (self-propelled) if attached to an armored division. The automatic weapons battalions of all types were organized with four firing batteries, lettered A to D, an H&H (Intelligence and Reconnaissance) Battery, and a Service Battery. 

10 February, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

10 February, 1944      1400

Dearest darling Wilma –

It’s a dark, gray day today and I’ve seen snow falling for the first time in a long, long while. Remember, dear, I was South on maneuvers last year and saw no snow then. Actually here – the snow is melting as it falls and so there’s no accumulation. I am now in my quarters, it’s windy and cold outside, but really quite comfortable here, darling.

This morning it was quite clear out and instead of riding around to the various sections in a jeep, I thought I’d use the bicycle. As I once told you, dear, everyone uses the bike in England and the American soldiers have taken it up too. The reason for this is that bicycles are made available for almost anyone who wants to use it. So I have one for my own use. Naturally, they’re all of English make and darned good. The brakes are applied by hand levers and the bikes are very speedy. I covered several miles this morning with very little effort. I thought my legs would tire, darling, but they didn’t. I must be in pretty good shape. No wonder though, – plenty of sleep, good food, plenty of fresh air, plus exercise. Sweetheart – if I should embrace you now, there’s no telling what would happen (you can interpret that in any way you like, dear).

CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE THE HAND BRAKES

8th Bomber Command, B-17 Flying Fortress
ground crew on English bicycles.

Well last night – as the night before – I received a letter from you. This one was dated January 28th and although you said you felt blue – your letter was swell, darling, and made me feel very good – so you really weren’t too blue for me.

I’m glad you finally got the little book I sent you. It wasn’t so much the story – which incidentally was light and amusing – as the title that attracted my attention. I try, darling, in as many ways as I can to tell you how much I love you and miss you. When I can get the aid of a book which blazens forth I Love You, I Love You, I Love You – I couldn’t help but use that too.

I’m glad, too, that you’re receiving Yank now. I wondered if it would get to you. As you see, we get it weekly, and some of the items are interesting. I thought it would help you project yourself a little bit more easily into our environment. You’ll get to know and like “Sad Sack” who exemplifies the Army “Ne’er-do-well”; I find “Mail Call” particularly interesting. It concerns the enlisted men mostly and they discuss, or try to – any and all subjects – not always in the choicest language either. When I get back, darling, I’ll expect you to understand my G-I talk completely. Incidentally the newest in the Snafu, Sasfu series is Fubar which stands for ‘fouled up beyond all recognition’.

Cover of Yank - The Army Weekly
9 January, 1944

Anyway – having received the book etc. – I feel that anything else I might want to send you ought to get to you. And by the way darling – you remember I promised you a Zippo lighter. Do you still want one – or does anyone in the family want one? If so – I can get one. They’re different over here – in that they’re black – for camouflage purposes – but it’s the same good lighter. If you don’t want it, I might send it to my brother. Let me know, dear. They’re just as difficult to get here – as in the States.

In a letter of a couple of days ago, dear, you mention the possibility of being at my house for Passover. Gee – I hope you can make it. I know though how you must feel about Grandma B. – and I can’t blame you. Maybe you could get over on one of the nights; it seems to me they celebrate on two nights. Your presence at my house for one of the Sedars would be very symbolic to me – as I always pictured no one but my wife or wife-to-be at one of those Jewish Holiday things. I’m glad anyway, darling, that my folks want you to come because it shows me how much they think of you, dear – that they want you to be present at anything resembling an intimate family gathering.

Sweetheart I know my folks love you – and since I do too, everything will work out fine. I love you, dear, – I can’t tell you often enough – because I want you to know how much. Do you?

I’ll stop for now, darling, and I’ll write again tomorrow. Until then, so long and be well. Keep your spirits up, dear – we’ll be so happy when we’re together again that this sacrifice now will not seem too hard.

All my love, dearest –

Greg.

* TIDBIT *

about "Sad Sack"

"Sad Sack" was the creation of Sergeant George Baker, a cartoonist who had worked for four years at Disney Studios contributing to Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi. After being inducted into the Army in June of 1941, he spent his evenings drawing cartoons of Army life using the "Sad Sack" as the bewildered civilian trying to be a soldier. Yank magazine, which was then forming as a magazine written entirely by enlisted men, invited him to join their staff. In his three and a half years with Yank, he was sent at various times to five overseas bureaus, in Panama, Italy, the Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan. A humorous, interesting and brief autobiography of George Baker can be read at: Sad Sack - George Bakers's Autobiography.

Many examples of "Sad Sack" as it appeared in Yank can be seen on the official Sad Sack web site. Here is an example from there:

CLICK ON COMIC TO ENLARGE

09 February, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

9 February, 1944 1030

Dearest sweetheart -

At last the pieces are coming together and as the mail trickles in, dear, I’m learning about your job, its problems etc. Today – a little while ago I received three letters from you from the 9th, 11th and 12th of January. I really can’t figure the mail out at all. Sometimes it’s so rapid and other times – it takes a month for airmail. I don’t really care, though, because as long as I hear from you I’m happy.

I also got two cards from you, dear, my Birthday card and a swell Valentine card. Both were perfect, darling, and I’ll put them up on my shelf on either side of your picture – just in case there’s any doubt in any one’s mind who you are, dear.

By the way, you are much prettier than the girl portrayed under the apple tree – but the sentiment throughout could not be any prettier, sweetheart, – and I believe you. In that connection you mention in your letter of January 12th that you’ve had no desire to go out at all – and how about me? I guess by now you must know how I feel about that – but there’s no harm in repeating myself on that score. Darling – you don’t have to go to a pub for the opportunity – as you put it. You can find it on the streets of any town or city in England. Actually it’s disgusting to me – and even if I had the desire (which I assure you I don’t, dear) I would hesitate to have anything at all to do with any one of the girls that float around. The status of disease among the British, incidentally, is appallingly high. No, sweetheart, I have had nothing and don’t intend to have anything to do with any of them. When we do go to a pub – and it isn’t often – I find it pleasant to talk with some middle-aged British couple, who are usually very friendly and like to ask a lot of questions about America. Most of the time, as you know, I actually spend my evenings in camp, writing, reading or listening to the radio. Although I’m naturally lonesome, darling – I am never bored and I never miss the company of girls – except one. That’s the truth, sweetheart, and I know I won’t change. I’m saving myself for you exclusively, and no amount of time, travel or change of position will make me feel differently.

Well – Maggie – by now you may not even be working on the job – but you’re still very magnetic as far as I’m concerned – and it was a good choice of names.

You mention Stan in one of the three letters I got today – and again there’s that recurrence of his telling you one thing, and everyone else – another, in respect to him and Shirley. His reason for that I don’t know – but in his last letter to me he made no mention of it at all. He said that Shirley had received my letter and he thanked me for writing to her. I don’t get it at all, dear, but then it’s none of my concern. The fact is that we understand each other and that’s what I’m really interested in.

I haven’t as yet told you about my attendance of the Conference on War Medicine. I got to London Sunday evening, checked in at a Hotel and had a few Scotches in the lounge. The hotel is a quiet one, with a few soldiers and mostly civilians. I read and relaxed and retired early. In the a.m. I proceeded to Wimpole and the Royal Society of Medicine. The building is much like our Mass. Med. Society building in the Fenway.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Once the Massachusetts Medical Society
8 The Fenway, Boston, MA USA


Royal Society of Medicine
1 Wimpole Street, London, UK

The meeting started at 1030 – went to 1230 and then we had a buffet lunch. There must have been about 150 MD’s there from the U.S., Britain, Free France, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Poland, Norway and a couple of other places I can’t remember. All the officers in this country who are from occupied countries wear the name of their country on their sleeves and that’s how we know them.

The meeting reconvened at 1400 and closed at 1600. The subject matter, darling, is classified as more or less secret – so I can’t discuss it. I got to the Station and headed back here.

Yesterday – as I’ve mentioned – we had a big Medical inspection of our own men – by a visiting team. They questioned them on basic, technical, tactical and practical problems. The boys came thru with flying colors and I’m certain we’ll get a good grade on it.

So there you are – sweetheart – up to date with me. I’m glad you find my letters “newsie” – as you put it. I’m trying always to let you know what my activities are – so you can imagine what I’m doing all of the time.

Darling – as far as beds are concerned – believe me, it won’t make any difference to me at all. It will be your choice entirely, and that goes for anything else you want, too. I’ll be glad to help you – and I think you’ll find me cooperative.

I got a letter from Dr. Finnegan today – bringing me up to date with Salem. Apparently everything’s about the same; also heard from Dave Becker – whom you don’t know, I believe. He manages the Kay Jewelry Store in Salem. He mentioned that a former patient of mine – a Mrs. Mary Walsh – was in the store some time ago. She’s expecting a baby and stated she wished I was around to deliver her. I was glad to hear she remembered me. Darling – some of them are bound to come back to me – you’ll see.

I better stop now or I won’t be able to get this into an envelope. Sweetheart – again I tell you I love your letters – and the things you write in them. Maybe it’s because I love you so much. But keep it up, dearest, your spirit is excellent and everything will turn out as we want it to. Best regards from Pete and Charlie who ask about you often. Regards to your family and for now – so long.

All my love, darling

Greg

08 February, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

8 February, 1944       1600

My dearest sweetheart -

You are so sweet to me I don’t know what to say or write. What you make difficult for me to understand, dear, is how I made you love me, so earnestly and sincerely in so short a time. I still find it hard to realize that I’m so fortunate in having so lovable a girl interested in me. Darling, believe me when I say I appreciate it. I always will, and that no amount of attention and love that I show you when we’re finally together again, will ever repay the warm feeling of satisfaction and comfort you give me when I read your letters and thank the Lord that I have you and am able to hold you – even though we’re so far apart, even though our courtship was so relatively short, even though – I must confess – I wondered whether you would continue to love me after I left and the months slipped by. I wanted you darling – more than I told you, wanted you and yet I honestly feared I couldn’t hold you for myself and yet leave Boston. I knew you were attractive, desirable, very datable – and I was afraid of the competition. None of this is written to belittle my estimation of your avowed affection, sweetheart. I believed you but felt that I hadn’t been around long enough to cement our feelings. Being older I was surer of my own. Your courage and ability to instill courage in me are unbelievable – and when I read a letter of yours, straightforward and with spirit – why, dear, I just don’t know what to do. Were I near you, I could show you, do things for you, send you flowers, call you – and in as many ways as possible show you how much I really loved you.

It’s so maddening to feel all these things, to read your letters, to look at your picture – and yet not be able to embrace you, hold you tightly to me and say nice things to you that you could actually hear. The fact is, darling, that when I write the word, it seems so cold and matter-of-fact. It’s just there on paper and no amount of effort seems able to convey to you my actual emotions. You must remember then, dear, that I love you and cherish you as I have no other girl; you must always remember that no one exists for me in my future but you – and you must have the patience to await my return until I can prove to you that I was worth waiting for.

No matter how long the delay in getting my letters – you must – and I know you do – feel that I’m writing you constantly – and thinking of you even more than that, if it’s possible. I was sorry to read in your latest letter that a week had passed without your hearing from me. By now you no doubt have – Why there should be that much delay, I don’t know. Your last letter – which I found waiting for me when I returned from the Medical meeting late last night – was written and mailed January 31st, dear, and that breaks all records for me for delivery. It means it arrived on the 6th of February and that’s almost too good to be true. There are several letters between the 21st and 31st that must be on their way.

Your good wishes on my birthday, sweetheart, were wonderfully expressed and I’ve already re-read that letter several times. Whatever you wished, dear, will be for both of us, and I know we’ll deserve it all.

I still can’t get over the fact that we grew to care so much for each other in so short a time. But the how, the when and the why are immaterial. The fact is we do and I thank God for that.

I’m pretty tired right now, darling, and I’m going to stop soon. I’ll tell you about my trip to London for the Medical Meeting tomorrow. Today – was the day of our inspection – and it seems as if I’ve been tearing along at top speed ever since Sunday afternoon. I’ve just come back from the inspection and all went off slick.

For now, Sweetheart, I’ll stop – but I do thank you, in every way I know how, for your swell birthday wishes. I’ll write again tomorrow – and until then – my sincerest love is yours.

All my love

Greg

Regards to the family.

Love

G.

* TIDBIT *

about Medical Proficiency Training

Along with an inspection, Greg had been training his men for First Aid Medical Proficiency testing. The three main areas to be covered consisted of Application of Drugs and Compounds, Application of Dressing and Bandages, and Application of Medical Forms. There is a very detailed list of items and their usage at the WWII Medical Research Centre site. During training, medical department troops would have been familiarized with the majority if not all of the materials used for these applications, since they may soon be called upon to use any of them.

Here are a few examples of what the men needed to know:

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Burn Injury Set (Sulfadiazine Ointment [5%]
Use wooden applicator to spread ointment evenly
over burned surfaces or onto dressing
which is to be applied to these surfaces.


Bandage, Gauze Compress, 2 x 2 Inches:
For dressing small wounds.


Field Medical Record Jacket:
Used for enclosing the field medical card, emergency
medical tag and any other clinical record of value.
Note the substantial metal eyelet and string
structure for securing the form to the patient.

07 February, 1944

No letter today. Just this:

* TIDBIT *

about the Inter-Allied Conferences on War Medicine

While in London, Greg attended an Inter-Allied Conferences on War Medicine. The conferences were convened by the British Royal Society of Medicine and included the following three topics: medical organization techniques in connection with paratroops and airborne troops, personal experiences as a prisoner of war with special reference to dietetics, and operational strain (psychological casualties in the field). There were a total of 11 speakers, some British and some American, each speaking for 10-20 minutes followed by a question and answer period. Lunch was served at 12:30 pm and tea was served at 4 pm. The agenda is shown at the bottom of this post.

The first speaker, Captain Alexander Lipmann-Kessel, a 29-year old South African surgeon, later proved himself a hero and was a recipient of the British Military Cross.

Alexander Lipmann-Kessel

This text of his award was copied from the website Pegasus Archive.

Captain Lipmann-Kessel commanded one of the surgical teams of 16 Parachute Field Ambulance which established a Dressing Station in the Elizabeth Hospital, ARNHEM, after the capture of the main bridge. The hospital was subsequently recaptured and came under German control. Captain Lipmann-Kessel must have saved many lives by his skill as a surgeon working under most difficult conditions. On several occasions the hospital came under both German and British fire. The windows of the operating theatre were blown in and, apart from these difficulties, the Germans often interferred and attempted to remove the personnel from the surgical teams. Later when most of the wounded had been evacuated, Captain Lipmann-Kessel was left behind with 30 seriously wounded cases. He continued to perform his duties as a surgeon with the greatest skill and, at the same time, forestalled the Germans in any attempt they made to interfere with the working of the hospital. Finally, Captain Lipmann-Kessel showed great initiative in escaping from captivity. This officer has a great reputation for his gallantry, skill and devotion to duty while carrying out his work under the most difficult and dangerous conditions on many occasions. I, Brigadier Lathbury, recommend him most strongly for the immediate award of the Military Cross.

British POWs at Arnhem

Captain Lipmann-Kessel was taken prisoner when the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Arnhem, was occupied by the Germans on 18th September 1944. Following the evacuation of the lightly wounded, Captain Lipmann-Kessel was one of a small rear detachment who, whilst they were unguarded, were not asked to give their parole. In addition to his medical duties, Captain Lipmann-Kessel found time to organise a "transit camp" for evaders in the area. It was due to his efforts that a wireless and a quantity of Machine Guns and detonators stored in the hospital reached members of the Underground. On 13th October 1944 the remainder of the patients and staff were removed to Apeldoorn. As the majority of the wounded had already been sent to Germany, Captain Lipmann-Kessel received permission to escape, and two nights later he left the building unchallenged, with 3 other members of the R.A.M.C. After marching North for two nights the 4 escapers came into the hands of friends, and were hidden for a month until an evacuation of a large number of Allied personnel had been arranged. Captain Lipmann-Kessel acted as interpreter to the expedition, which unfortunately was not entirely successful. When he and two officers found themselves alone after an encounter with Germans, they returned to the Otterloo - Barneveld area.

Captain Lipmann-Kessel made two more efforts to reach safety before he finally met a British Unit near Lage-Ewaluwe on 10th February 1945 after a very hazardous journey.

This officer's work in keeping lightly wounded personnel on the 'danger' list, in order to give them a chance of escaping, has been warmly praised by Brigadier Hackett.

In 1958, Lipmann-Kessel wrote a book of his experiences, Surgeon at Arms, under the pen name of Daniel Paul. The book was reprinted in the 1974 under his real name. Lipmann-Kessel died in 1986 and, at his request, was buried in the Netherlands close to Arnhem, to be near his airborne friends.

Grave of Alexander Lipmann-Kessel in Arnhem, The Netherlands

Here is the agenda for the meeting at which Lipmann-Kessel spoke first.

CLICK ON AGENDA TO ENLARGE