14 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

14 August, 1944        0900

My darling –

Two more letters from you last nite – Aug 3 and 4th. Think of that – only 10 days. That, however, represents the best time mail has made. I also heard from Lawrence – and I got a letter from Verna. The latter apologized for Irv’s not writing. I guess he’s pretty busy with his music, tutees and extra-curricular duties. Verna took it upon herself to defend Stan’s failure to write, dear. You may or may not remember – I wrote Irv some time ago that I couldn’t understand Stan, his not writing etc. – and wondered whether he resented my engagement. Verna wrote that Stan was “terrifically” busy; he was – after all – in charge of five stores; he was working very hard and Irv and Verna were hearing from him about once in six weeks; Verna had mentioned to Stan when he was in Boston that I wondered why he hadn’t written me and Stan said he would just have to make a point of doing – and to top it all off – and here’s the paradox to his whole busy state – his social whirl was terrific; he was being rushed by this Wilcoff person (whom Verna also feels I met) and other women too. She closed her letter by saying that after all – I knew Stan better than she – and there couldn’t be an “ounce of resentment in his whole body.” If I ever read a lot of poppy-cock – that letter was it – although it was nice of Verna to write. I’ll answer her and completely ignore the Subject of Stan. The thought of him running around and having a swell time in Washington – makes me kind of see red. Someday, sweetheart, I’ll tell you what was believed to be his real diagnosis when he was paralyzed. The fact is – there are a lot of men in the army now – doing hard fighting – who are in much worse physical shape than he – and he isn’t even doing anything approaching an essential job. How did he get away with it? Goddammit – I get so mad at times, darling – I’m sorry. I just can’t help it – when I see what’s going on here – and realize what some people are “putting” up with at home. Just think – in addition to Music I and the tutees – mind you – poor Irv has the glee club and a class in Harmony. Of course – Cambridge must be very hot this time of the year.

Well, forget it – darling. After the war – we’ll be the ones who will be sitting pretty. There are so many soldiers and sailors and marines coming home – that it will be a small group of men who won’t have something to tell about in reference to the war and I’m glad I won’t be with that small group.

Hell – dear – didn’t mean to get so bitchy. It’s Monday a.m. – but not a blue one. The weather is swell and the news so good – it’s hard to believe – even from here where we can see it develop right in from of us. Yesterday – several of us went looking for a shower point – couldn’t find it and got so dirty and dusty riding the roads – that we finally found a small river with a swimming hole and went in. It was the first swim in a year and it was wonderful – We had our soap, towels, fresh underwear with us – so we went to work cleaning up. The trouble is – once you hit the road – you’re dusty again in about 2 minutes. In the evening – we played Black Jack and I won about 185 francs.

I was glad to read about Bea and her living so close to you. It will give you a bit more diversion. And speaking of that – I was glad to read you went out with the girls and ended up at the Esplanade. Getting out more often is good for you, darling. That program – by the way – sounded very good. I like particularly – Brahms’ 4th.

Yes – we see the Stars here. I guess I don’t know many of the names – but the sky is beautiful here too. Too often however it is illuminated by dropped flares – which make it very eerie and then you can’t look anyway – you have to duck out of sight – because it becomes as light as daylight.

I was sorry to hear about Les – but I felt sure that would happen if he were with the infantry. I hope he comes in this direction – although a good many of them are going towards the Pacific.

Sweetheart – I’ll stop now. Your letters have been very sweet, darling and if ever a man wanted to come back to his sweetheart so that he could marry her – dearest, that man is I. Every day that chance is getting better and soon dear I know we’ll be together and living our lives as they were meant to be lived. Just keep praying, darling. For now – so long, love to the folks and

My deepest and sincerest love is yours –

Greg

13 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

13 August, 1944           0945

Dearest darling Wilma –

Last nite I received your letters of July 18, 19 and 28 and they sure were nice to get, dear. Before I can possibly digress, I want to answer a few things you seem uncertain about, darling.

In the first place I think you know by now how fortunate I feel that I do have someone to come home to. Mind you, dear, it’s not the abstract idea that I feel fortunate about – but the fact that it is you I’m coming back to. You must always keep that clear. You almost accused me once of fitting you into a pattern. That is not the case. I’d much rather come home to no one than to do a thing like that. I feel lucky, darling, because everything I’ve wanted in a fiancée, in a wife – I found in you – above all personality, bearing, and background. Those things are important to me and sweetheart you have them. The fact that you are attractive and educated make me happy too – but in my mind those factors have always been secondary – because the Lord knows there are plenty of educated, good looking girls – without character. I know I don’t tell you often enough sweetheart how much I love you and what you really mean to me – although I suspect you really know the depth of my affection. Will I be affectionate when I get back? Just you wait and see. Even if a fellow weren’t – before becoming a soldier – he certainly would be after going through a war, darling – because there’s so little of it on a battlefield and you begin to realize that you want affection and want to return it also.

I know dear that there’s lots of little yet important things we never get a chance to discuss. It’s understandable, though. I think the most that letters can accomplish is to keep close contact between people and help exchange broad ideas. Intimate discussion is pretty difficult because so much time elapses between answers.

What I want from life together with you is first of all mutual love, affection and respect. I know we’ll have that. I want next to be able to provide for you and give you the things you’d like to have. That will make me happy. I want to have a family in the worst way, sweetheart – a few children anyway. I envy every couple who already have a family started. I love children and I hope we have them.

Well – what else? That’s quite a bit already, darling, and if we have that – the Lord will have been kind to us. I hope then that we can have a decent spot in our social community, that we have nice friends, that we can visit with people and have then visit with us, that we can get to Boston often enough to visit our folks, to hear concerts and see good plays. I want very much to stay as young as you are, sweetheart.

All that is quite a bit, dear, and quite rosy. It will take time. I’ll have a practice to build and a reputation to re-establish – but I’m not afraid to face that with you helping me. I have faith in your help – and I feel that if things are slow and perhaps dull in the early days of my practice – that you’ll give me the inspiration not to get blue. I know I can count on you, too.

One more thing, dear, before I change the subject. The one thing that never enters my mind as a problem is the subject of adjustment. That’s a psychiatric word that need not enter the sphere of two normal people. It’s the most natural thing in the world for a fellow and girl to become married and live together and why shouldn’t we be able to do what so many others have done before us? No – there need be no question of adjustment. I’ll come home to you, sweetheart, get to know you again in a very short time. We’ll get married as soon as possible, honeymoon somewhere and find a place for us to live in Salem. Salem, by the way, as you probably know – is from the old Hebrew “Shalom” – meaning peace – and darling – that’s where we’ll find it – and happiness too.

I guess I sort of wound myself up on that one – but I hope I’ve made myself clear, dear. If not – ask me again and we’ll discuss some other angle. I want everything to be as clear in your mind as it is in mine.

I’ll stop now, dear. It’s Sunday morning – and I have a few things to do now. I hope, darling, that from all this you can gather how much I love you. It’s a great great deal and you’ll know when I see you. Love to the folks and

My everlasting love –

Greg.

P.S. Of course a convertible!

Love

G.

* TIDBIT *

about Eisenhower's Message and
Bradley's Messy Decision

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

From the U.S. Army Center of Military History's "Command Decisions", Chapter 17 by Martin Blumenson, comes this slightly modified excerpt:

Attacking toward Argentan on the morning of 13 August, the XV Corps struck surprising resistance. The advance halted temporarily. But as the corps was preparing to make a renewed effort to get to and through Argentan, a surprising message came from the Third Army. General Bradley had forbidden further movement northward. General Patton had to order General Haislip to stop. Instead of continuing to the north to an eventual meeting with the Canadians, the XV Corps was to hold in place. Less than twenty-five miles separated Canadians and Americans - the Argentan-Falaise gap - through which the Germans tried to escape. Why Bradley did not allow Patton to let the XV Corps continue north and seal the Argentan-Falaise pocket is a question of debate.

The failure of the Canadians to reach Falaise more quickly made General Bradley's decision to halt the XV Corps appear in retrospect to many commanders, both Allied and German, to have been a tactical error, a failure to take full advantage of German vulnerability. It seemed particularly true because General Bradley himself had suggested and General Montgomery had accepted the idea of literal encirclement. So too had General Patton. If, as Patton said, the "purpose of the operation is to surround and destroy the German west of the Seine," as he understood it to be, the Germans had first to be surrounded so that their destruction would be inevitable. He envisioned pincers - the Canadians and the XV Corps on opposite sides - cutting through the German rear on relatively narrow fronts and actually encircling the enemy as a preliminary to destruction. Thus, he had given the XV Corps the task of making contact with the Canadians on the opposite Allied flank.

Long after the event, General Bradley explained that a head-on juncture of Canadians and Americans would have been a "dangerous and uncontrollable maneuver." According to General Eisenhower, it might have caused a "calamitous battle between friends." General Bradley himself later considered the failure to close the gap a mistake, and he placed the responsibility on Montgomery. He recalled that he and Patton had doubted "Monty's ability to close the gap at Argentan" from the north, and they had "waited impatiently" for word from Montgomery to authorize continuation of the XV Corps advance. While waiting, according to Bradley, he and Patton had seen the Germans reinforce the shoulders of the Argentan-Falaise gap and watched the enemy pour troops and materiel eastward to escape the unsealed pocket. It seemed to him and Patton, Bradley remembered, that Dempsey's British Second Army, driving from the northwest, accelerated German movement eastward and facilitated German escape by pushing the Germans out of the open end of the pocket like squeezing a tube of toothpaste. "If Monty's tactics mystified me," Bradley later wrote, "they dismayed Eisenhower even more. And ... a shocked Third Army looked on helplessly as its quarry fled [while] Patton raged at Montgomery's blunder."

At least in part, the failure to close the Argentan-Falaise gap can be blamed on lack of communication that resulted from growing jealousies within the coalition. In Normandy, the Montgomery-Bradley relationship had been characterized by mutual respect and deference, but friction between the two staffs had increased with Bradley's rise to army group command and the corresponding growth in stature of the American effort within the Allied command structure. Given their successes, the Americans were less willing to accept a role subordinate to a British officer, especially one they viewed as arrogant and overly cautious. Montgomery had to defer to this growing independence while continuing to exercise responsibility for coordinating Allied movements until Eisenhower formally assumed command on the Continent. To complicate matters further, the French were already showing a dismaying tendency to go their own way on matters they considered vital to their national interest. In the cases of the Falaise gap, the liberation of Paris, the long envelopment to the Seine, establishment of boundaries, and debate over the single versus broad front, it is not surprising that coalition politics hampered the efficient exercise of command. Eisenhower's political skills as supreme commander have often been taken for granted, but they were certainly tested during the campaign for northern France.

12 August, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

12 August, 1944        0950

Good morning, Sweetheart –

We almost slept in a 15th century chateau last nite – but just missed out. Maybe it’s just as well – because the walls weren’t very thick. When we make a move – a reconnaissance party precedes us and picks a site – according to our tactical needs. If there’s a farmhouse or building at the spot – they take over. Then they radio us their position – and we meet them. Something went wrong. They had the beautiful estate all picked out – but when they returned – someone else had moved in. The French persist in saying “C’est la guerre” to that – which I guess it is, darling, although I always reply with every other French saying I can think of such as “Cherchez la femme”, “On y soit qui mal y pense” and Pauline La Fouef. Anyway – we picked another spot – and it was just as noisy, dear.

The nights here – I should say evenings – are beautiful, darling, and make me miss you horribly. I have lots of time to think – in the evening and the night – and it’s always about you and us, dear – and always satisfying. That’s what I like about it. Soon, I’m sure, our love will have a chance to be translated, sweetheart, and whether literally or figuratively – I sure am looking forward to it! All for now, dear. Love to the folks – and

All my love is yours –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about When the French Angered the Americans

On 12 August 1944 the population of Alençon awoke in the early morning in a liberated city. The capture of Alençon by the French 2nd Armored Division, which had arrived on Utah Beach on 1 August as Part of Patton's Army under French General Leclerc, had upset German General Eberbach's strategy to reorganize a front line south of the Falaise pocket. The 116th Panzer-Division had been assigned the mission to occupy the area of the Orne River. But the Germans suffered losses when they arrived at the north gate of Alençon, where the French had installed a defense.

Generals Jacques-Philippe Leclerc and Heinrich Eberbach
  

Without further ado General Leclerc launched his combat commands northward. The French armored column named "Putz" advanced toward Sées skirting east of Écouves Forest. The 5th American Armoured Division under Major General Oliver entered Le Mans from the east. American General Regnier's Combat Command A penetrated into Sées around 10 a. m. ahead of the Panzergrenadier Regiment of the 116th Panzer-Division. Without any tank or artillery support, the Germans were pushed back. One hour later the arrival of the "Putz" column caused a huge traffic jam and aroused the Americans' anger. Intervention by American General Haislip, who commanded the XVth Corps, was required to settle the disagreement.

11 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

11 August, 1944          0900

My dearest fiancée –

Here I am writing you a little bit earlier than usual. One thing about actually living under war conditions is the comparative freedom of our private lives. By that I mean – we’re under no training schedule as we were in the States and in England. When I stop to realize that while in England we used to be doing calisthenics at 0630 and the boys were making long marches daily – I’m glad to be over here – where 0900 seems early. We don’t have the inspectors or the inspections we formerly had to endure – either. And another thing, dear, we don’t have to worry whether our blouse and pinks are cleansed and pressed. I’ve had mine out of my val-a-pak once since leaving England – that was to air it in the sun one day – after a long rainy spell. It was a mess – as are all our clothes – but there’s nothing you can do about it.

Yesterday, Sweetheart, I got your V-mail of July 27th. In this direction there doesn’t seem to be much difference in the time to reach here – between V-mail and airmail. I’m still surprised to find that airmail reaches you earlier. They keep telling us to use V-mail because it’s quicker – but I don’t like it. I don’t mind getting them from you, though, dear. They are quicker and easier to dash off and as long as it’s a letter from you – I enjoy it. So don’t hesitate using V-mail as often as you like, darling.

I sure would like to see that shiny new red raincoat of yours. Is it one of those transparent types? You should see the one I have, dear, it’s an oilskin and about a size 46 or 50. I got it that way on purpose. I can wear it over my trench coat and it reaches down over my overshoes. So that when it really rains – I can keep pretty well covered. Incidentally – I can now tell you that I had plenty of opportunity to use it here in France.

What made you think of my clarinet – darling? I did bring it with me and on one occasion since being here I played it – while sitting in the back of the truck. It had been raining for about 7-8 days. There wasn’t a dry spot around anywhere. We practically lived in the truck and everyone was getting bluer and bluer. I dug it out and tried a few songs. It was a sad attempt. But the strangeness of a squeaking clarinet in a spot not far from a battlefield – made everyone laugh and we had a good time for awhile. I haven’t had the opportunity or inclination, for that matter, to play it since.

The German prisoners that worked at the hospital were quiet, well-behaved and good workers. They were guarded only at nite – sleeping together in one large tent. During the day – they came and went freely. In all the time they had prisoners – not one tried to escape. You see, dear, they were all first-aid men in the German army. They made bandages, cleaned instruments, helped carry litters – etc. They would keep a batch about 10 days and then ship them off to England. They hated to leave the hospital – by the way. Several of them told me they didn’t know what treatment to expect from the English or the Americans, and a good many were under the impression they would be emasculated. That was the reason, they said, so many of them fought so stubbornly. That’s the sort of rotten propaganda we have to fight, dear, and that’s why – among other reasons, of course, the Germans won’t give up but will have to be whipped.

And one more thing, sweetheart, I want to clarify. The day I went to the beach – was not a day of relaxation. I went back to the beach head where we had landed just to see what it was like. It was still bristling with guns, etc. that we had seen on our arrival. It was a beautiful day – the day I returned there, dear, and I would have loved to have gone for a swim – but there’s not much of that going on over here yet.

I got a letter from Lawrence yesterday telling me about his dilemma i.e. the Army not wanting dentists etc. Poor kind – he’s always running into problems. I hope this one straightens out soon.

Last nite I dreamed of you, darling. I was getting ready to buy you a wedding ring and I was darned if I knew what type you liked. As most dreams are – this one was hazy – and I never found out. I don’t believe we ever discussed it, dear. What type do you like? Incidentally – the part you played in the dream was very very nice. Wish I could dream more often. We sure did love each other – but then we do!! More and more I do, sweetheart – and it pleases me so to realize you feel the same way. Gangway for the explosion!!

Love to the folks, darling,

All my everlasting love –

Greg

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

From Page 26 from The Route of the Question Mark:

August 11... Milly. Here the Nazis dropped orange chandelier flares on our field all night. Pvt HAYES acquired a pet duck that followed the Col's chicken around continually. We took sunbaths and rummaged through the rooms of a nearby chateau, and T/4 LANG and T/5 CONWAY rode a horse that had been abandoned there.

* TIDBIT *

about Montgomery's Message
and The Plan to Close the Falaise Gap

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

From the U.S. Army Center of Military History's "Command Decisions", Chapter 17 by Martin Blumenson, comes this slightly modified excerpt:

Allied commanders first discussed the idea of ensnaring the Germans on 8 August, the day after the German attack, when Bradley, in the presence of General Eisenhower (who was visiting Bradley's headquarters), telephoned General Montgomery and secured approval for a change in plan. His proposal was based on the fact that while the Allied armies in Normandy had fought hard during the first week in August against bitter opposition conducted from good defensive positions, American General Haislip's XV Corps had rounded the left flank of those defensive positions and was attacking through lightly defended territory. The XV Corps was well on its way to Le Mans. By capturing Le Mans, the XV Corps would have moved an enveloping Allied arm around the German left flank to a point 85 air miles southeast of Avranches. By turning the XV Corps north from Le Mans toward Alencon, the Americans would threaten German forces from the south. This action seemed doubly attractive because the First Canadian Army on that day, 8 August, had launched its attack south from positions near Caen toward Falaise, thereby threatening the Germans from the north.

The formation of the Falaise Pocket, from 8-17 August 1944.

It suddenly became apparent to the Allied commanders that the Germans in Normandy, by attacking westward toward Avranches, had pushed their heads into a noose. The bulk of their forces-two field armies amounting to more than l00,000 men-were west of a north-south line through Caen, Falaise, Argentan, Alencon, and le Mans. If the Canadians attacking from the north took Falaise and if the XV Corps attacking from the south took Alencon, thirty-five miles would separate the two Allied flanks and the Germans would be virtually surrounded. Allied possession of Falaise and Alencon, besides threatening the Germans with complete encirclement, would deprive them of two of the three main east-west roads they still controlled. If the Canadians attacking from the north and the XV Corps attacking from the south pressed on beyond Falaise and Alencon, respectively, and met at Argentan, or as General Montgomery put it, "If we can close the gap completely, ... we shall have put the enemy in the most awkward predicament." He projected a meeting of Canadian and American forces just south of Argentan, forming an encirclement of the Germans. The British Second Army and the First U.S. Army, pressing from the west, were to herd the Germans into the Canadian-American line and assist in the total destruction of the surrounded enemy forces.

On 9 August the Canadian attack bogged down in the Caen-Falaise corridor eight miles north of Falaise. But on the same day the XV Corps took Le Mans, and on the 10th it jumped off to the north. General Montgomery made a new analysis of the situation on 11 August and attempted to anticipate the probable consequences of the implicit juncture of Canadian and American troops. As the gap between Canadians and Americans narrowed, he estimated, the Germans could bring up additional divisions from the east, or, more probably, could move their armored and mobile forces eastward out of the pocket toward ammunition and gasoline supplies. If the Germans chose the latter course of action, they would probably operate in the Argentan-Alencon area "to have the benefit of the difficult 'bocage' country" there. Their purpose would be to hold off the Americans while they used the more advantageous terrain in that region to cover their withdrawal. Expecting, then, the Germans to mass stronger forces in defense of Alencon than of Falaise, Montgomery concluded that it would be easier for the Canadians to make rapid progress. The Canadians could probably reach Argentan from the north before the XV Corps could attain Argentan from the south. General Montgomery therefore ordered the Canadians to continue their efforts to capture Falaise and proceed from there to Argentan. Meanwhile, the XV Corps was to advance through Alencon to the army group boundary just south of Argentan.

Meanwhile, although the Germans had started on 11 August to withdraw to their salient at Mortain, Hitler was still insisting that another attack toward Avranches was necessary. In order to maintain the conditions that would make it possible, he ordered an attack against the deep left flank of the XV Corps.

10 August, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

10 August, 1944      1000

My dearest sweetheart –

Zounds! Again ze V-mail! Excuse it dear – but always keep in mind I use it only when absolutely necessary. Blame it on the advancing Yanks. I read with interest your statement of being a bit frightened at the thought of actually leaving home and being married – etc. That’s natural, darling, and don’t think a fellow doesn’t feel a bit the same way – but I know we’ll be happy together, dear, and very content to be living alone.

You mention a Rhea White a couple of times, dear. Do I know her? You also mention the fact that you hope I like your mother as much as you’ve grown to like mine. You’ve had quite a head start on me, darling, but there’s no doubt in my mind at all that your folks will be my folks and that I’ll love them as I do my own – and that’s a great deal. I liked your folks from the first; they were always very nice to me at first and very lovable before I left. I’ll never be able to thank them enough for their broadmindedness in allowing us to become engaged, dear, I really owe them a lot.

Yes Mr. 5x5 was always that big. I could have gotten rid of him in the States – but he’s a good dental technician and a pretty good all around man. Sorry I didn’t think of that bracelet myself – and earlier – but I’m glad you’re enjoying it. All for now, dear. Love to the family and

All my love for now

Greg

P.S. Saw Pete yesterday.
        Sends his love.

* TIDBIT *

about The Fewest Pitches by a Single Pitcher
in a Single Game


"I'd rather be lucky than good." - Red Barrett

On 10 August 1944, Red Barrett of the Boston Braves threw a 58-Pitch Complete Game against the Cincinatti Reds at Crosley Field in one hour and 15 minutes.

From Baseball Almanac comes this:

In the new age of baseball, relief pitching can be the key to a championship. Teams pay top dollar for a good closer and proven middle relief. Starting pitchers are too high-priced to damage their arms by going over 100-pitches or finishing a complete game. Nowadays, it is quite unusual to see any pitcher complete more than 2 games in any season, but that was not always the case. In the early decades of the game, most pitchers finished what they started unless they got into too much trouble.

This was the state of baseball in 1944 when Charley "Red" Barrett played for the Boston Braves. Barrett was a career .500 pitcher during eleven seasons with the Reds, Braves, and Cardinals. It was on 10 August of that year, playing for the Braves against his former team, that Barrett made history. He threw not only the shortest night game in history at one hour and fifteen minutes, but also the complete game with the fewest pitches ever. Barrett needed only fifty-eight pitches to shutout the Reds 2-0 with only two hits and no walks.

09 August, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

9 August, 1944         1600

Dearest darling –

A hurried letter today, dear, because it has been a busy day. Chief among the things that has preoccupied the medical detachment – has been the “capture” of a small German vehicle similar in purpose to our jeep. It’s the cutest thing you ever saw and in good running order. The only trouble is that a recent order makes us turn in all such things. Up to then we were able to keep them. Anyway – we’re painting Red Crosses all over it – until such a time as we have to give it up.

Everything else is about the same, sweetheart, except my love for you which is one day older and therefore that much richer. Incidentally I loved your part-letter in French. It was well done and strangely enough – I understood all of it. It must be that “language of love” that they write about.

Haven’t heard from home yet about Mother’s visit to the hospital – and naturally, darling, I’m rather on edge until I do. I hope all is well. Love to the folks et al and to you, dear,

My deepest love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Some Photos from 9 August 1944

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

At Saint Manvieu Bocage, soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division
paint "USA" on a captured German Kübelwagen (jeep).
This photo belongs to PhotosNormandie's Flickr Photostream


Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division read Stars and Stripes.
This photo belongs to PhotosNormandie's Flickr Photostream


Saint-Servan, market town and fishing port on 9 August 1944,
and (below) as part of Saint Malo today.

Saint-Servan was then the market town and fishing port of three municipalities: Saint-Malo, Parame, Saint-Servan. This community was liberated by the U.S. 83rd Infantry Division on 9 August 1944. Quai Solidor is shown in both pictures.

08 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

8 August, 1944         1015

My dearest sweetheart –

I do love you more and more with each passing day – I know that. Your letters – our only medium of contact – make me realize it, too, darling – and I am happy. You say you’re concerned because I keep asking you how you grew to love me in only 4 months. You shouldn’t be concerned, dear. When I ask you that it’s because I can’t believe I was lucky enough to make you love me in so short a time. It’s a combination of ego and satisfaction. It is not doubt that you love me – not that at all, because, darling, I feel that you do. Sometimes you leave just a little suspicious note in a letter about my love for you. I imagine it follows receipt of one of my letters in which I didn’t express myself too well. Dearest girl – by now you must really know and feel too how much I love and care for you. In every thing I do – you are foremost in my mind and with success or not – I try to tell you that, dear, in every letter I write.

I was elated beyond description last night, darling when I received a batch of letters: from you – the 5th, 6th, 7th, 24th, 25th, 26th of July; also a letter from Dr. Finnegan, and one from Lil Zetlan. It sure made a good night’s reading – believe me. And you can see why I kept writing I wasn’t hearing from you. Those letters filled in a lot of spots. By the way, though, dear – there’s been no mention of your being away on vacation. How about that? I really wish you’d go. I think it would do you a lot of good. And before I forget it – how about this dieting business? And who ever told you I’d like you thinner? I liked you – every bit of you – I might add – the way you were, dear – and I don’t want you to get sick – dieting. I do think that weight can be kept level though by judicious eating and see no harm in cutting down on excessive sweets etc. But don’t overdo it!!

You’ve been very sweet and considerate in writing me about my mother and I love you for it. I’ve always loved my mother in a quiet sort of way. As I’ve written you before, I’ve seen other fellows’ mothers and I don’t think they can hold a candle to mine in honesty, simplicity and sincerity. There’s no doubt about it – she lives for her children – and you are one of them now – I know. To feel that you are so close to her dear – is very comforting. I can imagine some young girls feeling that a mother like mine is too old-fashioned and plain to have much to do with. Well – maybe she is, but that’s the way I like her and I’m glad my wife will feel the same.

Frankly I’m worried about her going to the hospital. She had held out so long – she must have felt quite low to allow herself to be persuaded. Yes – I had wanted her to go in for some time – but that was when I was around and could keep in touch. I just hope and pray that nothing seriously wrong will be found.

Speaking of gifts, sweetheart, again I wish I could send you something. I’m a hell of a fiancé. I should be buying you nice things, taking you places and doing things for you. Is there something you’ve wanted, dear, that you just quite haven’t gotten around to buying for yourself? Really – I wish you’d be honest. I would feel better if I could get you some sort of gift. What do you say?

I wondered about your remark about Irving looking tired – and after his vacation. I still don’t understand his set-up with Verna. Maybe he’s worrying about getting into the services. His case used to come up every six months. And why, darling, were you so sure I’d know the Wilcoff girl because she was someone Stan had been taking out? The fact is that I got back from Manuevers – a year ago June. I had been away – since the previous November. Between June and July 24^th – I did not go out at any time with Stan – see?? You were the first date – sweetheart – and I had seen enough. Oh – no – I’m all wrong. Boy! How one forgets! I did go out with Stan – about two or 3 times. I’m sorry, darling – I took more than one look – but I knew when to stop looking. You were the girl for me and I believe I told you so in a very short time.

I’ll have to stop now – dearest. Remember that you’re the only girl in the world for me and that I love you more than anyone or anything. Always remember that! Love to the folks, darling - and

All my love to you

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The German Counterattack Failure


A U.S. soldier moves cautiously across a narrow road under tank cover .
The tank is fit with a hedgecutter,
and its gun is set to shoot while moving.
This photo belongs to Photosnormandie's Flickr Photostream.

The Germans, who had lost approximately half of the 145 tanks engaged in Operation Luttich, continued their vast counter-attack. But the surprise effect had passed, and the Americans now have seven divisions - including two armoured - attached to General Collins's VII Corps to counter the troops of the Seventh German Army of General Hausser.

During this time, Operation Totalize was fully engaged. The 1st Polish Armored Division took part in the offensive and attacked towards the East against the 85th German Infantry division. Allied bombers attacked the sectors of Bretteville-sur-Laize, Haut-Mesnil, Cauvicourt and Saint-Sylvain in the southeast of Caen. The 2nd and 53rd English Canadian divisions attacked in the West through the Forêt de Cinglais, and the 4th Canadian Armored division recorded a strong progression along the Caen-Falaise road.

General Bradley noticed the surrounding of the German Army and, seeing a unique opportunity to precipitate the end of the German Army in the West of France, proposed a new operation to Eisenhower.