Saturday, August 19, 1944

Dear Mom –

It’s been several days since I’ve written and I’m sorry that I’ve let the time slip by – We’re not so terribly busy now – I just had a lot of other things to do –

I received your package and Anne’s the same day – and needless to say the contents was highly enjoyed by all – I still have some left in fact which we keep nibbling at from time to time –

Believe it or not we have had some ice cream! And who made it – no one else but yours truly! It surprised me as much as any one else when it turned out good – To date I have made “six delicious flavors” – Plum (plum jam) – chocolate (cocoa) – coffee (you know what) – cherry (cherry jam) – grape (grape drink flavor K ration) and Maple nut (from maple flavoring used to make pancake syrup) – your son has become a cook! I make it with condensed or powdered milk in the refrigerator we have for keeping blood, serum etc. I just this instant got up to stir my cherry ice cream – The patients like it a lot – not to mention yours truly –

The other day I went on a trip as I used to in England (supplies, etc. you know) – Wish I could tell you the route we took but that of course is impossible – Neither can I tell you of the towns we went there and what I saw – you’ll have to take a look at the news reel and the magazines and newspapers – Suffice to say that I have seen a good bit of France – We passed a rosebush on the side of the road – thick with dust from passing traffic (retreating Germans and advancing allies) – That’s the way France is now – a rose covered with the dust of war – but it will bloom again – into a fresh fair blossom –

I received several of you letters lately – also one from Aunt Kate a couple from Bobbie Gregory and Charlotte Hawthorne and Elizabeth Dodson – Maybe I can get some of them answered tonight if things are quiet –

I carved a few more little trinkets from plastiglass which I am sending herewith – The heart, diamond, club and spade might make good charms for a bracelet – Maybe you could have a jeweler put little fastenings on them if you think it’s worth it – I made several rings too but will want to send them with some other mementos

I wrote Gene a while ago but haven’t heard from him since – Hope he is O.K. and that it’s a little warmer in his section now – It must be plenty cold from what he says –

I turned in on a German broadcast last night (in English) – It was odd to hear the news given from their point of view – an funny to hear their idiotic propaganda – The news last night was good – (Our version I mean) – We all gather at the radio and tune in on Radio Algiers which gives a very good comprehensive analysis of the days happenings – We have a map to follow the advance and it’s really moving now – The new beach head in the south of France seems to be progressing well – I pray each night for this thing to be over – and I hope it will be soon –

I made arrangements to send you $20.00 for this month – I will try to send as much of my pay as I can – I need very little here – We have little to buy except a little fresh food now and then and a few air mail envelopes and that’s all –

We have a good supply of everything now – food, cigarettes, candy, toilet articles and so forth – So there is no need to send anything – It would probably take years to get here anyhow – It I do need anything I’ll let you know – Please tell Anne for she has written several times and said she’d like to send things. It really isn’t necessary now – and it will save shipping space for some thing badly needed –

Its midnight now and I started this letter before lunch – I’ve had a thousand interruptions – I’ll get it mailed tomorrow – Write soon and often – and tell me the news of Gene for it looks as if our communication is pretty well bogged down –

Love,

Jack

Attached letter:

Somewhere in France

July 12^th

Dear Mom –

Here’s a little souvenir – I carved this from the plexiglass windows of a glider – Keep it for good luck

Love,

Jack

(attached trinket)