October 7th, Saturday- 1944 Letter to Mom

Somewhere in Belgium

October 7th 1944

Dearest Mom,

Sorry to be so long in writing but I haven't had the opportunity. It's just as well though I guess 'cause until yesterday censorship was so tight that they'd scarcely let us sign our names let alone write an interesting letter.

I'm enclosing a post card of the little town of Lesneven on the Brittany Peninsula. That's the town where I got your "coiffe" mom, and where we saw the movies, etc. in the Auditorium of the College of St. Francoise.

So I can't lay any claims to have made a complete tour of France, but I enjoyed what I caught a glimpse of. Only the parts of France that have been torn to shreds by war are depressing and even the people in those areas were a lot more cheerful than their circumstances warranted.

I met Bill Richards near the little town of Plougastel not far from Brest and after we held services for an infantry outfit one Sat. evening I left the chaplain for awhile and went down to the tip of the Daoulas Peninsula where we could get a good look at Brest in its' last stages of resistance. That wasn't such a pretty sight.

Something much nicer was our ride through Versailles and Paris- Both cities are a mixture of moderne buildings and old historic ones and it was truely a sight. We got a good look at the palace of Versailles and the airfield Lindberg landed at after his Atlantic flight and we got a fair view of the Eiffle tower and the arch of Triumph. The people of Paris seem to be once more on the gay side again- sidewalk cafes are open, though they don't have too many customers or much to feed them.

One thing that struck me as odd was the horse's head displayed over butcher's shops selling horse meat. It's required by law and they really get out some elaborate images.
I'm certainly hungry for some news of home. The mail seems to be all snarled up someplace. I've had only two letters from Leona in the past two weeks and no others. What's new on pictures of my daughter? I certainly would like to see what she looks like.

My love to all-

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