July 14, 1944

France

July 14, 1944

 Dear Mother & All,

              This afternoon I did a small washing and cleaned my rifle up. I have been out hiking around three or four miles from camp nosing around shooting tin cans with my gun – some fun. I finally got to where I could hit a can even if it did take thirty rounds to do it. I would sure like to have my rifle and shells at home to hunt deer with. I just had to take time out to sign the payroll, I never mind that. There is a French kid standing here watching the boys play ball. I just gave him a stick of gum and he said thanks in French. Darned if I don’t like these French people better than the English. I’m sure getting tired of laying around so much. Seems like that’s about all I’ve really done since I’ve been in the army and I have had my fill of it. The French doesn’t have any coins for change, it is all bills. They have little tiny 2 franc, 5 franc, ten and twenty and so on. I’ll send you some soon as I can get a collection of them. I haven’t seen any of their wine so far, but they have cider by the barrels full. Apples are about all they seem to raise here except for small gardens and a little grain. I guess I’m just going to have to quite writing at all until I start getting mail again. I have the damndnest time from one letter to the next trying to cook up a line to give you. The news is sure looking good lately. This will all be over before you know it. I will be nearly as big a change coming back to civilian life as it was getting into the army, but I can make out I know.  I’ve run out again.

Love to all,

The Boy Scout
Max