11 July, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

11 July, 1944

Hello darling!

Tuesday morning and a little sunshine. On 2 successive Mondays it has rained and the days were sort of blue. But things look pretty good today, dear.

Yesterday I was visited by a friend of mine – a Colonel in AA whom I knew with Col. Pereira on maneuvers last year. He heard we were around and he dropped in. We had a nice long talk and reminisced about our days down South in 1943.

This morning I’m going to go to a nearby Army hospital and ask the C.O. if he can use any help. I’ve talked with my Col. and he said it was all right with him. If I can do even part time work of any sort – it will be welcome. I’ll let you know later, dear, how I make out.

Other than that – nothing new and all is comparatively quiet here. My health is excellent darling – so don’t worry. Remember I love you and think only of that. Love to the folks.

All my love, dear

Greg

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

(A) St. Come-du-Mont (2 July, 1944) to
(B) Douville (11 July, 1944)
("Douville" was renamed "Donville")

The end of Page 23 from The Route of the Question Mark tells this:

page 23

July 11... Douville. The truck drivers cleaned the cables on their vehicles, and it was a common sight to see apple trees pulled over when this operation was in progress. We first became acquainted with Calvados here, we pitched horse-shoes, we painted stars and moons and other inscriptions on our movie tent, and CHEETY shot a cow for the kitchen.

Orchard in Donville (today)
as seen through a Hedgerow

10 July, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

10 July, 1944

Dearest Girl –

Got a letter from you yesterday telling about Les’s wedding, one from Florence B, and 3 from my brother – the last – a V-mail – dated 30 June – which is damned good. I think you’re probably correct about receiving V-mail quicker, dear. Lawrence seemed quite affected at the news that I was in this thing. I just hope that all of you are not worrying too much.

The wedding sounded swell – although I agree – too large. Give them my best wishes, darling, and I sure do envy them. Florence’s letter was very nice and it’s swell of her to continue to write. I also got a letter from my Dad thanking us for his gift. He told me of your staying at Winthrop, darling, and he says it thrills him to have you stay with them because you are now no different than any of his children. Gosh, dear, it certainly is swell to read that everything is so amiable and pleasant between you and my folks and I know that it will be the same between your folks and me – as soon as I can get back. You know – I think you and I really ought to hit it off well when we get married. What a way to talk! Well – as you say – I haven’t even seen my fiancée’s ring. But what of that – I’ve seen my fiancée and I know her – and I know she’s the girl for me! By the way – I love her, too. Love to the folks, sweetheart and

All my love for always

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Battle Casualties Sustained by VII Corps
6 June - 1 July, 1944

Unit                     Killed     Wounded   Missing    Captured         Total
4th Inf Division       844       3,814          788            6             5,452
9th Inf Division       301       2,061            76            0             5,438
79th Inf Division     240       1,896           240           0             2,438
90th Inf Division     386       1,979             34           0             2,376
82d A/B Div            457       1,440        2,571         12             4,480
101st A/B Div         546       2,217        1,907           0             4,480
Corps Troops            37          157            49          61                304
All Units               2,811     13,564        5,665         79            22,119

09 July, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

9 July, 1944

Dear Sweetheart –

I’m writing you a bit later in the day because I’ve been busy up to this moment. This morning I got a call to go to a nearby farmer’s house and found a woman in premature labor. She was between 6 and 7 mos pregnant and had been terrifically frightened by a recent shelling. Well – with what instruments I had, plus some towels – I delivered her. The baby was stillborn, of course – but she was certainly glad to get it over with. It’s been some time now since I delivered anyone – but it was just as natural as anything – except for the poor working conditions. One of my boys acted as a midwife – there being no neighbors around to help.

Perhaps the farmers house was outside of this town...

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Everything is going along fine here, darling. Didn’t get any mail yesterday – but should today. Hope all is going well at home, dear. There’s nothing to worry about from this point. That’s all for now except to remind you yet again that I Love You very much. Love to the folks.

All my love for now

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The Allied Taking of Caen

The Second World War 60th Anniversary (No. 4) booklet entitled "The Drive on Caen, Northern France, 7 June - 9 July 1944" (Crown copyright 2004), written by Lloyd Clark and Dr. Stephen Hart for the Department of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, contains an excellent summary of the Allied taking of Caen. Here are excerpts:

Caen is the ancient capital of Lower Normandy, situated 148 miles NW of Paris and 74 miles SE of Cherbourg on the banks of the River Orne. It was a vital road and rail junction that the Allies needed to capture before they could advance south through the excellent tank country of the Falaise Plain. Because of its strategic significance, Hitler had ordered that Caen be defended to the last man by the well-prepared and resolute German defense that included fanatical SS soldiers and the potent 'Hitler Youth' Armored Division. The Royal Air Force played a crucial part in the Drive on Caen with more than 1250 aircraft, operating from bases in Normandy and Britain, destroying numerous tanks and armored vehicles as well as attacking railway traffic bringing reinforcements into the area. The British Second Army sought to capture Caen while the American First Army aimed to seize the port of Cherbourg. General Montgomery had hoped Caen might be reached on D-Day itself, but northern Caen did not fall until 9 July.

In the days immediately following D-Day, in Operation "Perch" (9-14 June), the Second (British) Army found themselves in a series of fierce actions against determined enemy resistance. In the first three days, they managed to push the front line only a few miles further south while incurring heavy casualties. On 12 June Lieutenant-General Bucknall learned there was a weak spot in the German line five miles SSW of Bayeaux. He ordered his 7th Armored Division (known as the "Desert Rats") to swing west around the resilient German defensive line, and audaciously thrust west to seize the high ground at Villers-Bocage, thus threatening the rear of the elite 12th SS Hitler Youth Armored Division. They were able to capture Villers-Bocage by the 13th of June. Unfortunately, the commander of an SS Heavy Tank Battalion - and one of Germany's leading tank aces - responded by launching a series of rapid counter-attacks using 13 Tiger heavy tanks supported by infantry. The British forces in Villers-Bocage were caught by surprise and within two hours were mauled, losing 53 armored vehicles in the process. Wittmann lost four of his precious Tigers.

In the aftermath of the setback at Villers-Bocage, the Second (British) Army mounted small-scale attacks, compelling the Germans to commit their newly arriving armored reserves to shore up their hard-pressed front line. Montgomery felt that this fulfilled his original intention of aiding the American advance towards Cherbourg by tying down German resources in the east. Meanwhile, Operation "Epsom" was developed for the next major offensive against Caen (25-30 June). The aim was to cross the River Odin in the close hedgerow countryside to the west of Caen, push beyond the Orne and seize the high ground that commanded the southern approaches to the city. If successful, this advance would compel the Germans to withdraw from Caen. Over 700 guns, 600 tanks and 60,000 troops (with little combat experience) were available for this campaign. Waiting in well-prepared defensive positions was the potent German 12th SS Hitler Youth. The 2nd SS Armored division and II-SS Armored Corps were moving toward the area to launch a major counter-offensive against Bayeaux that would throw the enemy back into the sea.

The great storm of 19-22 June upset preparations for Epsom, and denied the British the planned preliminary aerial bombing raid on the German positions. On 25 June a preparatory attack failed even though the RAF flew 525 sorties to prevent Luftwaffe operations over the battlefield. Close air support was also disabled by the weather, and, in spite of massive artillery support, enemy fire poured into the British from three sides on 26 June. Still, British tanks attempted to push down to the River Odon. Several thrusts were stopped. During the night of 26-27 June, help from reinforcements allowed the British to cross the Oden and establish a bridgehead to its south. On the 27th, the Germans received orders to attack the British on the Odon and after much give and take, pushed the British back across the Odon by the 29th. However, weather now permitted British aircraft both to intervene in Germany's attempt to bring in reinforcements and to keep the Luftwaffe out of the ground battle. Tenacious British defense and accurate artillery fire fragmented German attacks. But caution kept the British on the defensive, and Epsom was concluded prematurely on 30 June, having cost the British some 4020 casualties, 58% of which were within the 15th (Scottish) Division.

During 1–2 July, the II-SS Armored Corps continued to probe and bombard the Odon Valley and the British tried to improve their own positions, but neither side launched major attacks. It was not until 8 July that the next offensive against Caen, code-named Operation "Charnwood", was launched. To soften up the German defenses prior to the attack, as well as to limit the enemy's ability to resupply their forces, Montgomery requested a massive aerial strike. During the late evening of 7 July, 443 British Lancaster and Halifax heavy bombers dropped 2,276 tons of munitions on Caen. Because of concerns about the risk of friendly-fire casualties, Montgomery's staff asked Bomber Command to strike the rear portion of the German defensive zone, located along the northern fringe of the city, four miles behind the front line. Unfortunately, the bombing instead inflicted heavy losses on French civilians and only modest casualties to the enemy. It also left the battle area severely cratered, thus hampering Allied ground operations. Finally, the Allieds left a 5-hour gap between the bombing and the ground assault which gave the enemy time to recover. The major benefit was that stray bombs destroyed several of the city's bridges thus hampering the enemy's resupply efforts.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Northern Caen Smolders after Attacks by Allied Bombers

Just before midnight on 7 June, massed Allied artillery initiated a powerful bombardment that continued until the ground attack began four hours later on 8 July. With the Germans temporarily stunned, the initial attacks went well. By dawn, the initial phase of the operation was complete. The Allies had advanced 1-1/4miles deep into the German position. Next, British fighter bombers struck dozens of enemy positions, followed by 250 American medium bombers softening up the enemy in preparation for the second phase of the offensive. By nightfall, three concentric divisional thrusts had reached a line less than 950 yards north of the city. During the night, the Germans began to withdraw their heavy weapons and some of their now exhausted troops from the northern half of the city, defying Hitler's express order that Caen be held to the last man. On the morning of 9 July Allied forces fought their way painfully through the rubble morass that had once been Caen, their progress slowed by German snipers, booby traps and mines. In two days of savage fighting, First (British) Corps had incurred 3500 casualties but had captured northern Caen. Not much remained of Caen on 10 July 1944.

Rue de Bayeux, Caen after Bombs of 8 July 1944


Rue de Bayeux, Today

08 July, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

8 July, 1944          0950

Dearest darling Wilma –

This is Saturday morning and as always, I have to submit my weekly report. That having been done I’m now ready to write you. Yesterday was the banner day for us since arriving in France. I got two letters from you – June 21 and 22 – and one each from my father and yours. The latter thanked me for remembering him on Father’s day – and his letter in general was very well expressed. I was glad to hear from him. My father’s letter was written on June 21st and he hadn’t received his gift yet. He told me about being in Winthrop and that my mother missed my not coming home week-ends. Well – I do, too, darling – although as I remember it, once I met you last summer, I spent precious little time at home anyway. Boy – last summer seems like a dream from where I’m sitting now – but I know it was and is reality. Both you and my dad express satisfaction at my being in England as late as June 8th – as my father wrote. I hope you didn’t worry too much, dear, shortly after that. By now of course – you’ve heard from me in France. I’ve tried to give you as accurate a picture as possible – but I can’t go into tactics, sweetheart, for obvious reasons. And the fact is – that outside of a discussion of tactical changes from day to day – there’s really nothing to report. There’s such a world of difference between training or living in garrison as we did in England – and the real thing.

I liked your letter written on Red Cross stationery – particularly the telegram work sheet part which I believe I would have filled out in just about the same manner. I’m indeed glad you’re not bored – and I believe you when you write it; I also believe that you really like my folks and that, darling, is a very comforting thought – because I’ve seen so much of the opposite. This I know – they’ll never interfere in anything you or I want to do. I don’t mean active interference – but passive interference – which is the aggravating kind. What they want most is for us to be happy and we won’t let them down I know.

Yesterday p.m. I visited some of the gun sections of one of the batteries. In so doing I had to pass through a small town. I got the urge to eat some potatoes and meat – so I had my driver scout around the town. In reality – the town was off limits to the troops – but with a large Red Cross painted on the hood – and waving a R.C. flag – the M.P.’s don’t bother us much. Well after a little questioning here and there I found a source of potatoes and was able to buy 40 kilograms for 100 francs. A kilo – in case you don’t remember dear – is 2.2 lbs. Everything here is in kilograms for wt. and kilometers for distance. I then found a butcher’s which hadn’t been entirely destroyed by shelling and bought something that looked like steak (it tasted like leather) and bought 14 pieces – one for each officer in Headquarters – and I paid 100 francs for that also. (1 fr = 2 cents). To finish it off – I got some onions – brought it all back and we had steak, french fried potatoes and fr. Onions. What a treat! It was the first potatoes and fresh, uncanned meat we had had since arrival. The pay off is this: some of the liquor we had been given – remember I told you about it – still remained – and it consisted of 5 bottles of champagne! Well we killed that too. Now how’s that for living in the field?

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Near Carentan, Normandy
June 1944
My driver - Sgt. Shoup and Sgt. Kirby
Apparatus on side - besides entrenching tools
is a splint-set for the leg.

What else? Well I must remind you again darling that I love you most sincerely, constantly and deeply – and – to put it awkwardly, the farther away I get from you, the more I love you! Boy! That’s grounds for a break in relationship – but I’m a sucker for a “bon mot” – as the French would put it. At any rate, sweetheart – no matter how far away I get – my love for you grows stronger and I’ve been away long enough now – to know what I’m writing.

Postcards of Carentan from Greg

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Hôtel de ville


Hôtel de ville de Carentan today


Notre Dame Church


Mass is Celebrated in Notre Dame Church in Carentan
for 101st Airborne and other Allied Soldiers
Photo Owned by PhotosNormandie's Photostream


Notre Dame Church Today


Rue de L'Isle


Rue de L'Isle Today

I’ll have to close now, dearest. Don’t work too hard, don’t worry too much, don’t stop loving me – and – don’t you think that’s enough for now?

Love to the folks and

All my love is yours, dear

Greg

07 July, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

7 July, 1944

Hello darling!

Well last night, believe it or not, I saw a movie – right out in a field – but under an apple tree. The screen was rigged up in such a way as not to show any light. Unfortunately the picture was terrible – Gloria Jean in “Moonlight in Vermont” – if you can imagine such a thing. But you’ve got to give our Special Service Officer credit for arranging it. The relaxation was wonderful for 1½ hours.

This might have been the field and apple
tree where the movie was shown.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

July 1944 - Normandy - South of Carentan

No mail yesterday, Sweetheart – but there should be some today, I hope. Everything has been going along well and I’m not complaining. There seems to be a certain optimism around these parts that the Jerries can’t possibly fight very long. The power we have is terrific and even the fanatical Hitler-Jugend that are being captured – say they never faced anything so terrible.

All for now, dear. Love to the folks and

All my love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Hitler-Jugend

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Hitler Youth Recruitment Poster
"Youth Serves the Leader"
"All 10 Year Olds into the Hitler Youth"

The Hitler-Jugend (HJ) (Hitler Youth) was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party which existed from 1922 to 1945. It was made up of the Hitlerjugend proper, for male youths ages 14–18; the younger boys' section Deutsches Jungvolk for ages 10–14; and the Bund Deutscher Mädel for girls. The HJ were viewed as future "Aryan Supermen" and were indoctrinated in anti-Semitism. One aim was to instill the motivation that would enable HJ members, as soldiers, to fight faithfully for the Third Reich. The HJ put more emphasis on physical and military training than on academic study. Many HJ activities closely resembled military training, with weapons training, assault course circuits and basic tactics. Some cruelty by the older boys toward the younger ones was tolerated and even encouraged, since it was believed this would weed out the unfit and harden the rest. By December 1936, HJ membership stood at just over five million. That same month, HJ membership became mandatory for Aryans, under the Gesetz über die Hitlerjugend law. This legal obligation was re-affirmed in 1939 when membership was required even if it was opposed by a child's parents. By 1940, it had eight million members.

In 1943, Nazi leaders began turning the Hitler Youth into a military reserve to increase manpower which had been depleted due to tremendous military losses. In February 1943, the 12th SS Panzer (armored) Division Hitlerjugend, under the command of SS (Protective Squadron) Brigadeführer (Major General)  Fritz Witt, was formed. The Division was a fully equipped Waffen-(Armed)-SS Panzer division, with the majority of the enlisted force being drawn from Hitler Youth boys between the ages of 16 and 18. By 1 September 1943, over 16,000 recruits had completed their six-week basic training. Many of the recruits were so young that they were supplied with sweets instead of the standard tobacco and alcohol ration.

The Hitlerjugend Division was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the long-indoctrinated Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally experienced veterans of the Eastern Front. The division, with 20,540 personnel, first saw action on 7 June 1944 when deployed against the British and Canadian forces to the north of Caen. During the following months, the division earned itself a reputation for ferocity and fanaticism.

06 July, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

6 July, 1944          1015

Dearest sweetheart –

Another day, another letter. Again I believe I have been able to write 3 letters in a row without resorting to V-mail. I much prefer this because I don’t feel cramped. I got another letter from you last night – written the 20th of June at the Clark’s. If I can get one a day like that, dear, I’ll be happy. Getting 14 letters from me in 2 days should impress you with at least one thing, if nothing more, – and that is that I’m writing to you. It’s too bad they have to come bunched like that though.

Well I’m glad my check arrived, sweetheart, and I hope you didn’t have to go to too much extra expense to get what you did. And I hope the gifts were enjoyed. It is absolutely impossible to think in terms of things to buy in France. It was bad enough in England – where a shortage existed because 1) lack of manufacture or import and 2) American troops having bought up everything after being in England for two years. In France – the Germans bought up everything usable a long time ago and whatever appears now is black market and worthless. Incidentally everything is priced in the hundreds or thousands of francs and that seems to be the effect of the tremendous amount of francs the Germans printed. They flooded France with it and as a result – our money is just as cheap. As a matter of fact – a storekeeper would much rather have a pack of cigarettes or some GI rations – than the francs – because he can’t buy anything with the latter, anyway.

I had occasion to be in Cherbourg and of course I can’t tell you much about the place for many reasons. As is usual with my outfit – or at least with me – whenever we get anywhere – I manage to see about every part of the place – and so with France, so far. I’ve run into a couple of fellows I knew slightly at Edwards and I don’t remember if I mentioned it to you already – but I did see some evidence of an outfit’s being here that you mentioned in one of your letters – the brother of a girlfriend of yours from Portland, I believe, is in that outfit. Seems to me I may have told you this already – but it’s easy to forget things here.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Cherbourg (Manche) Postcard
Le Quai Alexander III


Cherbourg (Manche) Postcard - Front and Back
The Beach - Before the Invasion!

8 July 1944
Hello Dear! I can't write when I was here -
But I guess I can tell you -
It didn't look like this and I didn't go swimming.
Love, G.

And sometime after the invasion...

Well, darling, I’m proud of you. Eighty-eight percent is a high mark in any type of exam. What comes now? Are you through your training period, do you wear a uniform – and what else?

I was glad to read that Betty and Les were finally married. Those two really “sweated” it out. It’s going to be mighty difficult for her when he goes overseas, though – and that he will – I feel pretty certain – particularly if he’s in the infantry. I’m sorry to read though that she didn’t graduate. She’ll always regret that fact, especially later in life. Somehow or other I feel that was Les’s fault and had he insisted more strongly – she might have stuck it out.

Sweetheart – that’s all for now. It sure is great hearing from you again and I’m glad the reverse is true. I love you, dear – and hearing from you is my only satisfaction these days – but there’ll come a day! Love to the folks – and

All my love is yours, dear

Greg

La Presse Cherbourgeoise, 5 July 1944, Number 3
"First Newspaper of Liberated France"

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

05 July, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

5 July, 1944         1000

Dearest sweetheart –

I received a letter from you last evening written by you on the 19th of June and mailed on the 20th. Although that made it two weeks old, it sure seemed up to date to me, darling; and as I exclaimed, jokingly to the boys around me when I finished reading it: “She still loved me as recently as the 19th of June!” But it really was good to hear from you and to read that some of my mail was beginning to reach you, dear.

No – I haven’t heard from Stan I can say – literally – for months and I certainly am thoroughly disappointed in him. He never did let me know if he received the lighter – by the way. As for his having ‘found’ a girl – I don’t know. Stan gets strong likes and dislikes – and how long they last depends very often on how long the person is enchanted by his line. Anyway – with the man shortage in Washington – he must be having one heluva time for himself. Apparently he has no self-consciousness whatsoever about being in civilian clothes. Boy – it would do some of those boys a lot of good to get out here and live close to the ground for a little while; to perspire freely after digging a fox-hole and not be able to change their clothes; to find their shirt-collar getting black and grimy – and just go on wearing it; to go 3 or 4 nights in a row without removing their shoes and stockings; to just ache for a bath or shower and finally – regardless of the weather or the water – to bathe by repeatedly filling a helmet with cold water and sponging, sponging and sponging. It would do them a lot of good, I repeat, and might make them appreciate the simple convenience of life a bit more – let alone the luxuries of night clubs, dinner and dancing. I never before resented anyone’s being out of this thing, but you can’t help but build that feeling up in you after awhile. Perhaps it’s because up to France – I wasn’t really in the war, dear – just marking time – and believe me – the difference defies description.

Excuse me, darling, I didn’t mean to get off on that tangent. Incidentally when we take a bath as described above – we say we wash down as far as possible, we wash up as far as possible – but we don’t quite wash possible. Excuse that, too. I liked the enclosed prayer, dear. Thanks for sending it and thank Mary, too. The thought is excellent! I forget so often these days that I am a physician. The fact is the amount of medical work I have to do is practically nihil – due to our setup, and there’s no doubt that if I ever want to do surgery in the future – I’ll have to have more training. But I’m not worrying too much about that now, sweetheart. What I want most of all is to return to you in good health and to find everything and everyone just the way I last saw it. I’ll worry about other things later. I feel certain that one way or another I’ll be able to provide for us in respectable style.

I’m glad you’re spending time with my folks, dear – and I hope you get a chance to do some swimming in Winthrop – this summer. By the way – how is your Mother feeling these days, dear? Your mention of bridge seems so distant. It seems like ages since I last played and I guess I’ll have to learn all over again – but that too doesn’t worry me very much darling. All I want is to make you my wife and the sooner I do, the better I’ll like it.

The enclosed Stars and Stripes is the first issue – as you can see – in France. There were very few put out – but I managed to get one. If you can, dear, save it – for sentimental reasons.

Well – that’s all for now, dearest. I’ll close now – but remember, sweetheart – I love you deeply and miss you more than I can say – Love to the folks – and

All my love for always

Greg

First "Continental" Edition of The Stars & Stripes Vol. 1 No. 1
Pages 1 (top and bottom) and 2 (top and bottom)

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE