May 7, 1945

Dear Billy:

            I received your letter of April 30th this morning.       

            When the news came over the radio this morning that Germany had surrendered unconditionally, everyone thought that it was V-E Day, although it had not been officially announced by President Truman, and acted accordingly. 

            At about 10:30 this morning, Mr. Rudolph took me up the roof and into a snowstorm of paper, ticker tape, etc.

             I think that maybe inwardly I was a little hysterical this morning, because I had all I could do to keep from crying. I was so happy to think that the end of the war in Europe brings a little nearer the time when you, Heltie, and all the rest of the boys will be home for good.

            I went over to mass at lunch time, as usual, and the church was crowded. Every devotional light in every stand was burning and they kept taking them out of the stands, setting them down on the floor and putting in new ones.

            When the word came over the radio that the news still wasn’t official, that “Shaef” had not authorized the release, etc., things sort of calmed down a little.

            They now say that president Truman will announce the news at 9 A.M. tomorrow, so there will probably be quite a bit of excitement.

            I’m so glad your pictures came out all right and we’ll be anxiously awaiting them. Heltie said he expects some films from the Kodak people up on Boston, as soon as they come in. This is the system—when anyone in this county receives a request for films from overseas, the letter containing the request is given to the Kodak people and as soon as they have the films requested, they send the person who gave them the letter a card to that effect, and then the person comes and picks them up. The Kodak people stamp the letter to the effect that the order has been filled so that the same letter can’t be used twice.

            Your new clock sounds purty, all right. I shall go to a couple of the better jewelry stores and see if they have any, and then let you know the cost.

By for now, honey lamb. Let me know if you want anything special.

                  Squeeze