24 April, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

24 April, 1944       1100

My dearest darling –

Yes – nine months ago today I met you and little did either of us dream that we would end up becoming engaged. But then – lots of other people start out the same way – so we needn’t feel we’re too different. I don’t know what the statistics are concerning engagements by mail; probably not too high, but hell – anybody can get engaged the usual way. I shall insist on the latter, though, for our marriage, darling, for general reasons.

Well I got a good night’s sleep last night and feel quite chipper this a.m. I almost had to go on another business trip today but on studying the map, it seemed a little bit too far – so I’ve decided to transact my business by mail this time. I’ve just returned from the dispensary and am at the Castle now – waiting for a battery commander’s meeting at 1130.

Late yesterday I got a letter from you written on the 13th and one from my dad of the 12th. My folks are so tickled about us, darling, it’s wonderful. And they like your folks so much, too. I hope yours feel the same way about mine. In this letter – my father first alluded to Stan. You had mentioned that Stan had called my mother and that she was surprised. I wondered just what you meant. Apparently my folks know about what went on; my father said he was disgusted with the way Stan acted when he heard of our engagement. The whole thing is too bad because we were always – what I thought, at least – good friends; but chalk that up to the “you never can tell” department. I haven’t heard from Stan since we were engaged – but I suppose I will soon. I had no idea he reacted so badly about it all. Anyway – he’s probably sorry and as I wrote you before – as far as I’m concerned, I’ve forgotten about it. The fact is, Sweetheart, I do have you and that’s what matters most. Stan does have lots of good qualities, and it’s not strange to human nature for man to be jealous of another’s good fortune. I should probably be the same.

I enjoyed reading about your dream, dear – and the way you talk about a child here and there, “two already”, and the possibility of twins. I’d say off hand that prolific is the right word to use.

I’m glad, dear, that you are reading the Stars and Stripes and the Yanks I’m sending out. The SandS are old when you get them, I know, – but it’s a well done newspaper and does have a good bit of Army lingo. They’re widely read here in the E.T.O. and it is a good way to keep up to date on what’s going on. I’ll keep sending them along as long as I keep getting them.

I’ve got to go now. (11:25)

1255

Hello, dear –

Oh sorry – I have to leave again.

1635

Hello, again –

This is beginning to look like an appointment book. I thought I’d be able to finish this letter right after lunch, but I had to leave. I’ve just returned – and I’ll have to stop in a minute to go to a meeting. Boy – don’t I sound important – I mean busy! Anyway, sweetheart, I’ve got time to write you that I love you very much, all the time and everywhere I go – and I always shall. I’m never too busy to let you know that. That’s all for now, dear – except love to the folks.

All my love forever, darling

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Military Organization Terms

Greg mentioned he was going to a battery commander's meeting. This list of terms puts that meeting into perspective relative to the Army's organization. At the highest level was the Supreme Allied Commander of the European Theater of Operations,  General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Army Group — A tactical and administrative military unit, consisting of a headquarters, two or more armies, and auxilliary units. Greg was part of the 21st British Army Group, commanded by General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery.

Army — A tactical and administrative military unit, consisting of a headquarters, two or more Corps, and auxilliary units. At this point, Greg was part of the First US Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley.

First Army Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Corps — A tactical military unit of ground, combat forces, between an army and a division, and composed of two or more divisions and auxilliaries. Greg was part of the VII Corps, commanded by Major General J. Lawton Collins.

VII Corps Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Division — A tactical and administrative unit, smaller than a corps, but self-contained and equipped for long combat activity. Usually consists of three regiments, or four combat commands (armored div.), and attached units. At some time during the assault and drive across Europe, 17 different Infantry Divisions, 6 different Armored Divisions and 2 Airborne Divisions were part of the VII Corps. The 2 Airborne divisions were the well-known 82nd and 101st Airborne. Twelve Units were attached to these various Divisions.

Regiment — The major, tactical unit of a division. Divided into three battalions, each with four companies (or) batteries (in artillery battalions). Commanders are usually colonels.

Battalion — The major tactical unit of an infantry regiment. (See above). It also may be a separate, tactical unit, not organic to the division, which may be attached to a division during combat. i.e., the 438th. Battalion Commanders are usually lieutenant colonels. 

Crest of the 438th AAA
Automatic Weapons Battalion

Company — One of four, tactical units into which an infantry battalion is divided. Company commanders are usually captains.

Battery — One of four, tactical units into which an artillery battalion is divided. Battery commanders are usually captains.

Platoon — One of the tactical sections (usually four) into which the company (or battery) is divided. Platoon commanders are usually lieutenants.

Squad — The smallest, tactical unit into which a platoon may be divided. Number of men in a squad may vary from eight to twelve. Squad commanders are usually sergeants.

23 April, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

23 April, 1944

Dear Sweetheart –

It’s 2300 now and I’m just getting ready for bed. This has been the first opportunity I’ve had to write today. Yesterday – Saturday – we had the brawl we expected – and darling, temporarily at least – I consider I partly celebrated our Engagement. We started sipping beer at about 1500 and gradually worked into the Scotch, rum and gin. When that was gone, we went back to the beer and I really felt more gay than I have for a long time. If only you could have been here, dear, everything would have been perfect.

Today I slept late – and after lunch I had to leave and have been away most of the day – until a little while ago. There’s nothing else to write now, dear, except to say I love you and miss you terribly. I got a letter from my father yesterday in which he told me how happy he and my mother were – over our engagement. That makes it unanimous. I’ll write again tomorrow, dear. Love to the folks – and for now –

All my love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Operation Overlord:
Primary Missions of the Air Plan

Operation Overlord, the code name for the allied invasion of France, had built into it the movement of a total of 3 million men in 47 divisions, moved by 6000 ships with aerial cover provided by 5000 fighter planes. On April 23, 1944 the primary mission was set forth in the over-all air plan for Overlord. According to HyperWar: Army Air Forces in World War II: Volume III, this mission was defined as:

The attainment and maintenance of an air situation in which the German Air Force would be incapable of interfering with the Allied landings. In the first or preliminary phase, extending from D minus 50 to D minus 30, the stress would be placed on counter-air force operations and on reconnaissance. Air priorities for a second or preparatory phase, running from D minus 30 to D minus 1, were named in the order of (1) the German Air Force, (2) Strategic Railway Centers, (3) Selected Coastal Batteries, and (4) Airfields within a radius of 130 miles of Caen.

Summarizing, using extracts from HyperWar, the 4 priorities listed were well met:

(1) The German Air Force. The plans rested upon the assumption that the Allies would enjoy the advantage of overwhelming strength in the air. Beyond all expectations, by D-day British and American air strength amounted to 3,467 heavy bombers, 1,645 medium, light, and torpedo bombers, 5,409 fighters, and 2,316 transport and troop carrier aircraft against Germany's 3,222 fighters and bombers in condition for combat on the eve of the invasion.

(2) Strategic Railway Centers. The primary purpose of the transportation plan was to isolate the invasion area through extensive bombing of vital rail centers and repair facilities, since their destruction would likely cripple the entire system immediately. The battle against enemy transportation was a splendid success. On the eve of D-day, British-American aircraft had dropped a total of 76,200 tons (on rail centers 71,000, bridges 4,400, and open lines 800). Germany had been unable to move effective reinforcements into the Seine-Loire triangle at the time of the invasion, and its forces had been committed piecemeal rather than being deployed as units. Thus the Allies had won their premier objective in the transportation campaign: they were able to build up their forces in Normandy from across the Channel faster than the Germans could reinforce theirs from adjacent areas in France.

(3) Selected Coastal Batteries. By the spring of 1944 the Nazis had built a wall of intricate and ingenious shore defenses along exposed beaches in the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. This so-called Atlantic Wall was supposed to dominate the coast sufficiently to keep Allied landing craft from approaching the continent, thus rendering a seaborne assault impossible. The Allied planners were most concerned about coastal batteries along the Atlantic Wall, each of which held from two to six guns ranging in caliber from 105 mm. to 400 mm. Perhaps fifty of these batteries, it was estimated, would be functioning in Normandy by June 1944. The guns could command the sea approaches and inflict murderous damage on the assault craft. Camouflaged, cleverly located, and usually buttressed with steel and concrete, these coastal batteries would be exceedingly difficult to neutralize. The greatest pains had to be taken to conceal from the Germans the special interest which the Normandy batteries had for the Allies. Thus two targets outside the area were chosen for each one inside it. On the eve of D-day, 5,904 tons of bombs and 495 sixty-pound rocket projectiles had been directed at coastal batteries in the Normandy area, while 17,190 tons had been dropped on batteries outside the invasion sector. Most post-invasion surveys concluded that the bombings of coastal batteries before and on D-day destroyed comparatively few gun emplacements. But the unbalancing and dislocation of guns, the demoralization of their crews, and delays to the completion of the Normandy beach batteries were accomplishments of no small nature.

(4) Airfields around Caen. There were approximately 100 airfields within 350 miles of the Normandy shore from which the German Air Force could operate. The master plan for Allied air supremacy depended upon three main programs: continued policing to keep the Luftwaffe in its reduced state; heavy bomber missions deep into Germany just before and soon after the invasion to discourage the Germans from removing their fighters to France; and wholesale attacks on airfields in France during the three weeks before D-day. By waiting until the last three weeks before D-day to bomb airfields around Caen there would be less danger of giving away the invasion secret and less time for those airfields to be repaired. By D-day, airfields in a 130 mile arc around Caen had received 6,717 tons of bombs. The principal purpose of the program had been attained. Because of the ruined air bases, the transportation chaos, and the danger of great British-American fighter fleets ranging over France, the Germans could not possibly move substantial Luftwaffe units to contest the invasion. Indeed, one of the most remarkable facts of the entire war is that the Luftwaffe did not make a single daylight attack on D-day against Allied forces in the Channel or on the beaches.

Click Here to read the full text of what was extracted for this overview.

22 April, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

22 April, 1944        1145

Dearest darling Wilma –

I’ll just start a few lines before lunch. How are you, dearest? I didn’t hear from you yesterday, but I ought to today, perhaps. A short while ago – after weeks of arranging – I got a photographer to come up to the Castle grounds and take a picture of the 3 officers and our medical detachment personnel. No darling, I could not get him to take one of me myself. They just don’t have the paper and they are not interested in taking single photos; they save the paper for group pictures. At any rate, we all got dressed up, posed and were taken. While we were all together – I got a few snaps of the group and I’ll try to have the pictures developed. I just got back one roll, sweetheart, and I’m having another set made. As soon as it’s back I’ll send you a set and my folks one. There’s so much damned red tape about photographs – but I guess these will be O.K. Gotta run now, darling – dinner bell is ringing –

1225

Hello again, dear –

As you can see – dinner wasn’t very much today. I guess it was really a lunch. But tonite we’re having steak and it looks as if the binge I mentioned is going to materialize. Some time this p.m. – after I clean up a little of my work – we’re going to start drinking beer (saving our Scotch for the last possible moment). We got hold of a piano – 10 shillings a week. Half the keys don’t work – but we gather around it and yell our heads off. Thru Special Service we get most of the popular songs.

Well – to date – I haven’t heard from anyone concerning our engagement, sweetheart – I mean from none of my acquaintances. I think I will soon, however, although it is conceivable I could come back from the war and run into a good many people who didn’t hear about it. But I’m interested in some of their reactions. I was reading your letter of April 2nd last night and it must have been great fun for you, darling, to have your old school friends etc. – calling you and dropping around to see you. Gosh it would have been so nice to be with you and meet them all. But it’s your family particularly that I want to meet. I keep thinking that I met so few of them – and I’m anxious to meet and know them all and have them approve of me.

I keep telling you I’m happy about our engagement; you can’t know how much because you’d have to see me and be with me to really know. I have so much to be thankful for, darling, that I find myself feeling very humble at times. First of all it’s because of you – and our love for one another; then – it’s because of your folks and relatives who have been so darned nice about things. After all – they don’t really know me or my characteristics – and you don’t go and get your only daughter engaged very often. I’m fully aware of it and that’s what makes me love them and their trust in me; and finally – it’s because of my own folks whom, I know, I’ve made very happy – and I’m so glad about that. They really are swell parents and I guess I had them a little worried at times. It’s a pleasure to feel that they’re genuinely in love with you and therefore happy for me. All in all, darling, I’m content with the world and what it has given me. My love for you, dear, is greater than I knew love could be. I hope only – that until you can see for yourself – you get some idea of it thru my letters. So long for now, dear – and love to the folks.

Yours forever, dear

Greg

21 April, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

21 April, 1944       1230

Wilma, darling –

Busy seems to be the word for things for me in the last couple of letters, but I’m doing my darn’dest to keep the mail going. I’ve just finished lunch and I’m up in my room. If I don’t finish writing now, dear, I’ll probably get a chance a little later.

I got one letter yesterday – a V-mail from you of April 9th. There was no other mail – but it has really been excellent these past 10 days or so.

Today, darling, makes 3 weeks that we’re engaged – but only 9 days that I know about it. I don’t suppose I’ll really get the real thrill of it until the day I actually see you again – but I know I am getting the maximum sensation possible – with us apart. It’s just such a satisfying feeling to know I have you, darling, and – willing to wait for me. You will be so nice to come home to – and just think of the real pleasure that awaits me – knowing that one day I’ll be heading for home and you. I wonder how much elation and joy a person can stand. Whatever the limit – on that day, Sweetheart – I shall approach it.

Back here it’s been reports and reports and running around – but I’ve welcomed whatever busy days or nights we’ve had because time does go faster – and that’s what I like. This town, though, still has me captivated with it’s quaintness, age – and nice class of people. Last Sunday, I forgot to mention to you, dear, the old housekeeper took Bruce and me through the locked portion of the Castle. I’ve been taking care of her arthritis – and she promised to show me around – as a reward. Well, sweetheart, it took most of the afternoon and you can’t imagine the store house of treasures that this place has. Before the war – every room in the house was in use and it wasn’t unusual to have 100 men on a week-end of a hunt – stay up here. Well all the furniture, lamps, clocks, draperies, rugs, oil-paintings are in one wing of the castle and it was like going to an auction or a gallery – seeing it.

Other than that there’s nothing new. For the past several Saturday nights we’ve tried to plan an old-fashioned 438th brawl – but always something has turned up to prevent the officers from being together. But at this moment, dear, it looks as if we may be able to have it tomorrow night. We’re going to have a special supper – which will include ICE CREAM. I’ve had that delicacy about 4 times since I’ve been in England. And best of all – we’ve rounded up some liquor. For the bar – we’ve got about 18 bottles of Scotch, rum, gin – together and in addition we’ve been able to get some Black Market liquor. I haven’t been ‘drunk’ or anywhere near it for so long – that I bought a bottle of John Haig Scotch (and lucky to get it too) for £3 ($72.00) and I’m going to tie one on – as they way in the U.S. I owe myself an Engagement Party and this may be it – if something doesn’t turn up. I’ll let you know, dear.

Meanwhile, darling, I love you and miss you more dearly than I can write about and it’s in the knowledge of our future happiness that I keep my spirits up. I know we won’t be let down. Love to the folks –, dear and

My love is forever yours –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about John Haig Scotch and "The Pinch"


1944 UK John Haig Scotch Whiskey Ad
"Dimple Scots" and "Gold Label"

Greg did not say which bottle of Haig Scotch he purchased, but the price may mean he bought The Pinch. The Pinch, known as "The Dimple" everywhere except in the USA, is the fourth most popular Blended Deluxe Scotch worldwide. Dimple Blended Scotch Whiskey contains a high percentage of malt whiskeys including Glenkinchie and Linkwood.

The story of Pinch is reflected in the spirit of over 350 years' of whiskey distilling and blending experience. In 1655 farmer/distiller Robert Haig was summoned before the church elders for operating his still on the Sabbath (Sunday). This marked the earliest documented reference to a distillery company which is still operating today. The art and craft of whiskey distilling were passed down through generations of the Haig family dynasty, and Robert's descendants operated distilleries in Scotland, England and Ireland. One of them, John Haig, opened a distillery in 1824 at Cameronbridge in the fertile and historical Kingdom of Fife, which lies across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh. Around 1870, his son John was the first Haig to use the newly developed practice of blending. The deep understanding of product and their long tradition of whiskey making was realized, to perfection, in the early 1890s with the creation of Pinch.

According to marketing material, this deluxe blend of exceptional distinction is found in the world's most exclusive bars and elegant homes and is enjoyed by those who appreciate rare quality. Pinch is said to be the perfect international companion when friends meet in smart surroundings. In recognition of the consistent high quality of Pinch, the whiskey was awarded a gold medal in 1987 in the Deluxe blended whiskey category of the International Wine and Spirit competition.

Pinch is distinguished even further by its famous triangular, dimpled bottle wrapped in wire net. The whiskey has been bottled in this attractive container since its creation in 1890, with the hand-applied wire mesh originally designed to prevent the cork from coming out during export shipments through rough seas. The Pinch 'decanter,' after the precious contents have been enjoyed, has been put to decorative use around the world. To protect its exclusive use, the Pinch bottle was the first bottle to be patented in the United States, in 1958. It is a fitting and unique container for a whiskey that is said to have no equals.

For connoisseurs, it is described this way: At the first whiff of the nose of The Dimple Pinch, a bit of pepper and malt unrest the senses. Then comes hints of honey, fruits, and peat smoke. The light golden blend then finishes with notes of vanilla. The flavor brings back to mind some of the aforementioned scents, but the fruit becomes much more pronounced. After the initial peppery bite, heavy apple and pear flavor takes over the palate moving to a smooth smoky sweetness in the finish.

The Pinch is bottled by United Distillers (or UDV as they've become known). The distilling company is currently owned by Diageo. Also produced by Diageo are: Jose Cuervo (#1 global tequila), Bailey's (#1 global liqueur), Johnnie Walker (#1 global scotch whiskey), J&B (#4 global scotch whiskey), Smirnoff (#1 global vodka), Guinness (#1 global stout), Captain Morgan (#2 global rum), Tanqueray (#1 US imported gin) among other spirits, as well as Don Perignon and Moet & Chandor champagnes, 6 more wines and 8 more beers.

Diageo says that many of their brands have stories...  Click here to read some.

20 April, 1944 (to her Dad)

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 c/o Postmaster N.Y.

England

20 April 1944

Dear Dad B. –

I got your letter of April 2nd – yesterday and you certainly make me ‘feel at home’, so to speak. I sincerely hope that all your wishes came true, for all of us – and certain it is that my one ambition is to get home well – to marry Wilma and really get to know my other folks. It will all come in due time – I have not doubt about that.

As for being pals – I guess you can count on me – and I look forward to having some great time together. Meanwhile – I’m very happy about our Engagement – and all in all, considering circumstances etc. – I think I’m a pretty lucky guy. Love to the family and so long for now.

Love

Greg.

20 April, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

20 April, 1944       1330

My dearest sweetheart –

I’m at the Dispensary right now and if it stays quiet long enough I’ll try to get a letter off to you. I’ve got quite a few of your recent ones to re-read and answer because it seems to me that you mentioned a few things here and there that require some comment.

In the first place, darling, your trip to the Boston Public Library was very amusing to me – even if you did get drenched. I can’t tell you very much, dear, but you aren’t far from wrong. You know, though – what surprises me more than anything else is the speed with which you receive my mail – and on the whole – how regularly. I think it’s swell that you do and it seems to me that Air-mail must be arriving ahead of the V-mail. Again I must warn you though not to expect it to continue indefinitely that way. The chances are that there will be delays – and also – that there will be days when I can’t write at all. I don’t think it is breaking censorship rules to write that; I am merely implying that I expect to be busy –

Your having lunch with Shirley F. interested me – when you mentioned that Stan’s name didn’t come up at all. Apparently she means to forget him completely. I don’t know when she wrote me, by the way, but as yet I haven’t received it. And about a call from London – if it is being allowed, I’m sure it is from London only. If I get there again – that’s the first thing I’ll try to do, believe me. It would certainly be worth it to me to be able to actually tell you I love you and have you say the same to me. For the time being, darling, it will have to wait.

Your letters, sweetheart, re-iterate that you like your ring. You’ve really got me curious as to what it looks like. I’m so glad that you’re fond of it and I hope you’re getting as much kick out of telling people that you’re engaged as I am. My audience is so limited, though – just the officers – who, by the way, found it hard to believe, except for those few who really knew about us. I owe them all a drink – and maybe it’s a good thing that hard liquor is almost impossible to obtain here.

You make a very correct statement, darling, when you say that we owe our folks a great deal. The spirit with which they went right ahead and got things done to make us happy – was wonderful – and I shall always be thankful to them for it. When we first started writing about the possibility of an engagement, I honestly wondered how it would ever work out – not our being engaged – but the steps leading up to it. I too have never been worried about us – ourselves. It’s really wonderful to be so confident that things will work out well between us. As for providing for you – I guess I just don’t worry about it. We’ll go back to Salem, I’ll open my office, and people will just naturally want to see me when they’re sick – well, some people.

Sweetheart – I’ll stop now. I have a little job to do on one of the soldiers and he has just arrived. Remember, dear, that despite our separation – I’m constantly happy and contented now that you are my real fiancée. Love to the folks and for now –

My sincerest and deepest love

Greg

19 April, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

19 April, 1944

Hello Darling!

I haven’t taken much advantage of V-mail before but I have to today, dear or I won’t be able to get anything off to you at all. The plain fact is we’re quite busy and my days are full.

Yesterday I got your letters of March 31 and April 3 – very important ones to me, sweetheart, because I now have a pretty complete story of what was going on a few weeks ago. You certainly were happy and I guess you know you’ve made me that way.

I also received some swell letters from your Dad – our Dad, I mean, Jeannette Berns, my brother-in-law Irv, and my sister Ruth. All were congratulations, and very sweet and made me feel quite important. The first chance I get I’ll start answering some of them – but it will be a few days yet before I can do it.

Incidentally, Charlie and the boys got back yesterday and we’re all together again – and so I’m a little less lonesome. It doesn’t seem like a holiday at all here today – just another work day and a busy one at that. But I’d much rather be busy then to have to sit around. That’s all for now, darling. Love to the folks – and

All my love

Greg