My father, Dave, was young, in love, and in the army during World War II. He quickly learns how to deal with army life and the war going on around him. The content of the letters reveal so much about his experiences and his feelings. After censorship was lifted, Dave wrote what he could not write earlier. When the events of the war were inserted among Dave’s letters, it gave new meaning to what he wrote. Dave tookphotographs and sent home “souvenirs”. The computer CD includes the book and images from the two photo albums, the scrap book and these “souvenirs”. Writing the letters and receiving my mother’s letters probably helped keep my father alive. It’s like reading his diary! Excerpts from some of the 594 letters and cards:

August 29, 1943: “Well darling, I slept in a sleeper last night, but I had a troubled sleep. I guess it’s because I’m so far away from you.”

October 6, 1943: “ I’m in a Maintenance Engineering group. They have swell machine shops on trucks.”

January 24, 1944: “I do not like that ‘V’ neck dress at all.”

April 11, 1944: “This whole damn Army is nothing but politics thru & thru...”

June 11, 1944: “Honey, I am writing every minute I can, ...I can’t explain everything as I’d like to...chin up... with all my heart, Dave”

June 30, 1944: “Honey, what do you think of the G.I. bill of rights that passed recently?”

July 15, 1944: "...my favorite little red dress.”

August 17, 1944: “We’re living really with nature now - and my bed is mother earth and a fox hole near by.”

November 8, 1944: “I’m not living hon-I only exist ... All I think of is in the past and the future.”

January 9, 1945: “No matter how blue you sometimes feel ... Keep going - chin up ... Dave”

February 13, 1945: “No one knows the meaning of the word ‘war’ until they see even a little of it.”

May 16, 1945: “...You say you received a statement as to my income tax. ... It beats me how they figure I owed them anything in the first place...”

June 18, 1945: “ - but I’m still nervous a little. ... When I first got back from Antwerp I almost jumped out of bed one night when a big wrecker passed by. The noise of the motor sounded just like a buzz bomb.”

July 6, 1945: “They are the best buddies I’ve had in the Army. ... You’d actually be surprised how perfectly we get along - each one kidding the other about his funny ways...”

August 7, 1945: “... the new atomic bomb. ...I’ve seen what havoc just ordinary bombs do. Its almost fantasy to comprehend what that atomic missal can do. ... its ghastly to think of.”

August 15, 1945: “Wars are caused by the few - not by the masses that are controlled by the few...”

September 14, 1945: “I’m starting this from the shop - on Army time. I don’t care if the General comes in, ... I took some pictures again, of the convoy, and my shack, ...”

October 28, 1945: “Today I spent an interesting day hon, I toured the concentration camp of Dachau, and floated about the town of Munchen. I don’t now where to begin, ...”

November 3, 1945: “I may sit and think and seem as tho I’m far away, ... but I’ll get over it ... I’m not sick but my mind has been under tension.”

February 22, 1946: “I’m coming home to you with love and kisses that I’ve saved for two years. I’ll be in your arms not so long after you get this letter - so keep your chin up and keep smiling.”