September 8, 1945

Lyons, France

My Dearest Darling Sweetheart Dolly:

No I’m not on my way home honey. I am down at west center. I thought it would be better for my nerves-one day you’re here you may go home in a few months, then you read or hear something that makes you believe you won’t be home until next spring. That was the latest one, they were going to keep 400,000 over here besides the occupation troops. So it looks like I will be getting out on my age before I get out on points. So my lovable darling, have patience and your little roaming Jew or Dutchman will get home to you. I’ll love you always and always.

I’ll tell you how this deal came up. They called me down to the office, and asked me if I wanted to go to a rest camp. It sounded silly to me; all I was doing was sitting there in Heidelberg, doing nothing. So I said I would go and here I am, and I wish you could be with me. We stayed in a stopover place for seventh army last night. It was a great big swell hotel, nice big hotel tub- with real hot water, and I could look out my window at a big golf course. They called this place the Saratoga of France. We took a walk around the grounds. I kept thinking how much you would have liked the whole place- the hotel I am in now isn’t very nice, but it is clean. I have a nice big bed with inner spring mattress and sheets. I’ll get my taste of civilization, then hope and pray I get home soon. I don’t want you to be making a bed on the floor for me . I wished I was on my way home honey. If I could only say in a few weeks I would be coming busting in the house, and get a hold of you, and trying to collect all the kisses you owe me. I love you so much honey. There should be a law against keeping me away from you. I’ll get home sometime.

It was a rough trip coming down here, in the back of a G.I truck. I always say never again. My back feels like it was broken, and I’ll never, never get in a truck again. I told you what I could see from the window of the hotel of the stopover. Do you know what I can see from the window of the room here; a freight house platform, now what would you call that?

If I can find some film for my camera, I’ll see if I can take some picture of this place. It is on the Rhone River. Do you know that I have seen more of Europe than I have the States and I would trade the dirt I have under my finger nails for all of Europe. I don’t want you to think I don’t keep my finger nails clean. I don’t like any part of this country or any of them. They are always trying to cheat you someway. Some French man came up to me, I was looking in the window of a novelty shop. He wanted to know if I had any cigarettes to sell. It makes me sore, so I told him Nix Feistay. I just finished selling my K rations for two dollars a box. Can you imagine paying that for a little can of cheese-crackers and 4 cigarettes? I’m going to buy you a birthday present from here. I have five days to shop for it, and I hope I can find something nice. They have a gift shop in the P.X here, and I can’t get in there until Monday.

Well honey. I’ll be saying good night for now. I’ll write you a nice long letter tomorrow. I’m going up and getting some sleep, see if I can get the aches out of me from that ride. I love you Dolly. Millions of Kisses- and I’ll love you always.

Your Ever Loving

Giles