April 10, 1945

Dear Cousin,

I got your letter several days ago but we have been on the move ever since and hardly stopped to sleep. I suppose you have read the news in the papers about the 7^th Army crossing the Rhine. Well that was us, and our outfit spear-headed it and have been [in charge] ever since. We are pretty deep in Germany now and are between the 7^th and 3^rd armies, they can’t make up their minds which one. It is a lot of fun while we are moving, you sure can see some sights hardly imaginable… towns that are level with your head and others burning so hot you can hardly go down the streets in trucks. The seigfried line was pretty strong and the Dragons teels were rough too. But the field artillery made short work of them. I guess there are still German soldiers in some of the Pill Boxes. They were asked to come out, but refused, so we called up the welding machine and welded the doors shut. I asked to go, but they already had the engineers, as it was their mission and not the Rcn.

We are in the mountains and there is a lot of nice scenery around. But as far as the rest of it, it is no good. All the houses and barns are built together and their manure pile is usually 30 or 40 feet from the door. Sure are some sweet smelling places.

In the daytime it is real warm. But at night it gets cool enough to sleep under 4 blankets.

We live in houses most of the time. We just drive up and tell the people to get out and that we are taking over. They take their blankets and clothes and go and stay gone till we leave.

I have got several other letters to write as I haven’t written to anyone except Dot in over 2 weeks and Dot only 2 or 3 times so she is raising plenty of cane over it. But that can’t be helped much.

Write when you can,

Your cousin,

Jim

(On other side)

Here is a little souvenir from the Germans, an arm band that they wear.

(Enclosed was a German State Service Armband)