July 18, 1944

France

July 18, 1944

Dear Mother & all,

                 I was one happy guy today. I got fifteen letters from all over – I mean every one. All of you at home, Kenneth, Bertie Mae, Naomi Foster, Rosalie, Eleanor, and Ruby. Quite a selection. Now I’ll have a hell of a time answering them all. I just finished a letter to Kenneth. He is most likely in England by now. His letter was of the 25 June and from the East coast. No, I haven’t heard from Bruce Jothyan yet and probably won’t see him now, although I may. Damn you Dad, I didn’t send you that money for you to put in a bond for me – it was for your benefit. You would make a hell of an insurance salesman. I can just picture you doing that. Oh say, of you haven’t’ already sent me a knife, don’t I found a good one the other day. All the boys are in hog heaven here now. We found three thousand gallons of apple cider in a farmer’s barn and they go around half shot all the time and will until the cider runs out or we leave, ha. The was a jinney burro running loose out here. A couple of G.I.’s caught her and tied a ten gallon cog of cider on her and went jack assign it off to their fox hole. These darn guys will stop at nothing. I ran on to a Mexican and a New York sergeant starting on old engine used to pull a grindstone. Each had a bottle of this cider and were feeling right pert. They put gas in her and damned if they didn’t have it running in no time. They were sure happy. I am still doing the same as I always have – no change. Yes I have my old buddies here with me. Well I must stop for now and write Rosalie a note before dark. I got four letters from her and four or five from you.

Love to all,
Your son,
Max