October 21st 1944 Letter from Dad, Luther Murkins Winsor

October 21st 1944
How I did enjoy your letter of Sept 4th on my return to Teheran last night! It was longer on the way this time so I'm anxious for further word- Guess there will not be any time that is free from anxiety until we are all safely home again. Anyway I'm thankful that you are taking it with your chin up in the good old way that you have learned so well. And I know that you will be cautious and not have an accident as one of our Sergeants did here the other day when he fell and exploded a mine he was about to put in place as protection against thieves. It is terrible at best to lose our boys in battle but accidental deaths make us feel even worse.

I think I know the kind of rifle you have acquired. The Germans were here a long time and they left their influence on the local Army. Their rifles are good and they shoot straight as I have repeatedly proved. However, my hunting is only hit and miss while traveling with caelry escort. I'm saving the real hunt for a time when we can enjoy it together-God hasten the day. e
I have the kind of Luger you have been

been looking for. It was assigned to me by the local army. It is a wonderful gun. Shoots like a rifle and does not seem to jam. 'Nuf sed 'bout guns. They make me shudder and I am now a long long way from the battle front, except that we still have to be on the alert when out on duty in the mountain country. That is one of the difficult phases of my work here.

I'm surely happy that Pauline is safely thru her very severe ordeal and that she and Jim have a fine son. What a change indeed, our family personnel has made since you and I parted that August morning so long ago. And what a glorious re-union we shall have, or should I say what a wonderful get-acquainted party it will be.

It is comforting to contemplate an eternity with such a family as ours promises to be. May our Heavenly Father be kind and mindful of us and help us to be united here for a long long time to fill the measures of our creation is my faith and constant prayer-
God bless you my boy-
Your loving Dad--

Comments

Journal Entry March 27, 28th And Battalion history

March 27 Crashed B-24 March 28 Put in mike base-taped-Jeep broke tape at road intersection. Put in flash OPs. Picked up Helmet, leather. Battalion History: On 28 March, headquarters of the Barnstorming 16th crossed the Rhine, followed the next day by the Letter Batteries. With advancing armor taking the fight out of the Germans, the 16th found itself scouring the woods around Henmethal --- for prisoners, souvenirs and eggs. Souvenirs and eggs were more plentiful than prisoners. From Ray Hight's book: By the time the 285th crossed the Rhine toward the end of March, much of the area was in American hands and things were moving so quickly we hardly had time to set up. The German forces were pulling back, and there was very little opposition as we crossed the southern part of Germany almost up to the boundary of Czechoslovakia.

Journal Entry March 4th- New jacket and boots

Lu in June wearing field Jacket 1945 issue Combat Boots 1945 issue Field Jacket March 4 Got Laundry. Got ready to move. Red cross girls serve chow. Surveyed in rain. Oh yes, got new field jacket & combat boots.

October 20th, Friday-Movie, steak and fries

10/20/1944- Wrote Wes and Deane and Bud- Saw "Cassanova Brown" with Garry Cooper, Terresa Wright-in St. Vith. Fried Steak and French Fries in evening. Packed to leave on D.S. Cliff Hope from his book: Within the next week we drove to Luxembourg City and back twice. The scenery was beautiful, the terrain honeycombed with small, swift streams. On the second trip, we returned by way of Arlon, Belgium, stopping there for about an hour. Arlon was a clean, small city. The stores resembles those back home. I bought postcards, maps, steaks, three scarves, a buffet piece, and, most important of all, a small dish of ice cream. It was the first ice cream I'd had since Fort Bragg. Along the way we checked out the farm girls of the region. Some of them looked strong as oxen. I saw a girl pulling a four-wheel wagon. They had to be husky. Some of the men sized them up as "13 ax handles wide" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casanova_Brown Cass Brown is about to...

Winsor War Notes-Luther Snow Winsor's WW II experiences

Search This Blog