Dearest Folks!

Here it is! The first un-censored letter in over eight months. Yes indeed! Today begins the end of censorship regulations. From here on out (over here in the E.T.O) there will be no censoring of mail.

I never allowed the censor to interfere too much with my writing. Unlike many I wrote to you and not the censor. Naturally, however, there were a few things I could not write about since they undoubtedly would have antagonized the censor and you can believe me when I tell you I was in no position to antagonize anyone. When it is a matter of life and death this boy knows how to be diplomatic. And, if I must say so myself, I played my hand very well.

Now that it is over I can tell you the exact nature of my work and what I was continually sweating about. I was a litter bearer working from Battalion Aid and we went out to where the going was the roughest, (because, naturally, that was were the casualties were) many was the time that the Krauts opened up on us and had us pinned down from anywhere from one hour to twelve hours. Also we have sweated out "beaucoup" artillery barrages. Whenever a large patrol was sent out, we went with them (that is if they expected casualties) Whenever a jump off was scheduled we jumped with the rifle companies and went into the attack with them (one little team to each company) Yes your little son has been through plenty and has witnessed some heart-breaking scenes. Also, like all others unfortunate enough to be in the infantry, I have lost some very dear friends. One fellow in particular who joined the outfit a week before I did. He was a young fellow (22 yrs. old) from Rhode Island and he and I hit if off from the start and became fast friends in a short time (when death is constantly lurking in the background friendships are formed much fast than otherwise) He was sent up as an aid man to a heavy weapons platoon February 10th and March 15^th was killed in the 7^th Army jump off. (which incidentally we spear-headed) I had seen death and misery before but his death hit me harder than any of the others. We had talked about our families, our past, our plans for the future and everything else that a man thinks of when he is on the line. Seeing him lying there was enough to make me forget about all else and forget my fear of death. When you witness something as tragic as death (especially to a close friend) you just give up and adopt the "Oh Hell, what’s the use", attitude. His lose was felt more severely by me than anything else this was has done. As much of a blow Normie’s death was to me it still seemed unreal and a long way off. However, when you talk to them on minute and tell them to take care of themselves and see them lying dead fifteen minutes later if no longer seems unreal. Their hopes, prayers and ambitions are lying out there and you can see with your own eyes the body of your friend. There is no describing it – it’s just beyond description – Hell is the only word that one might use.

In the beginning of this letter I said: "Now that it is over I can tell you the exact nature of my work and what I was continually sweating out." I have told you of my work and will now tell you what I continually feared. All the aid men were picked from the litter bearers and although my job was no picnic it was 100% better than the lot of a poor aid man who has to live with the riflemen through all the hell they encounter while we merely go up when there are casualties. We go into it when it’s hot as hell but after we got our man we come back while the aid men have to remain. The day I joined the outfit (with one other fellow) the officer told us we would both go out as aid men in the morning. Where I thought of it I don’t know but at that moment I said "It is on my service record that I have night blindness however I don’t expect and special consideration because of it." The officer said nothing but in the morning the other fellow went out as an aid man and I remained. Things remained that way for three months and all that time I had heart failure every time the door opened and the Sgt. or Lt. walked in. All that time I did everything I was called upon to do and stayed clear of the aid station (where the boys with the brass balls were). Eventually the appreciated my work and eventually took me off of this squad I was on and gave me three men to use as my squad. All that time aid men were being sent out and they were picking them from all around me but not hitting myself and three others. (Eventually we had the inside track because so many of the litter bearers were yellow under fire and froze every time it got hot.) It went on that way for about two months. (the first month I had nervous prostration every time the door opened but by the end of the 1^st month I saw what the lay of the land was and didn’t worry too much). (At least like not like before.) Then one fine day the door opened and this officer (M.A.C.) announced the fact that an aid man was needed in a heavy weapons platoon (machine gun) and that he was afraid to send up any of the other little beavers because of their intestinal fortitude. So he said it would have to be on of the four of us who had been running the squads. It was decided the only fair way would be for us to draw cards and for the low card to go to the company. So we did that and the low card was my friend Johnny’s and so on Feb. 10^th he went out to the company – I have already told you what his fate was. After Johnny got it I replaced him and stayed with the heavy weapon platoon for two weeks until a replacement came to the outfit. During that time I had the lord with me because we ran into no hot fire fights and had no casualties in that time. After that I came back to the aid station and went back with the little beavers. And it was with them that I made the dash across Germany.

I imagine while I am spilling all I ought to tell you that I was hospitalized for about three weeks because an artillery shell hit too close to me and almost ruptured my ear drum. That was from Feb. 20 to March 12^th. I was back in a convalescent hospital and it was there that I met Victor Baum who I wrote you about meeting. It’ll be perfectly frank with you and tell you that I bucked like hell to get a re-classification but to no avail. I managed to get back three days before the jump off. Incidentally there was no after effects because of it and I left the hospital as healthy as ever and much more rested.

So there it is folks you have the whole story – Told straight from the shoulder. The only conclusion one can reach is that I was a very, very lucky boy and I had all the (this?) luck with me –

May it be so in the Pacific!

Love,

Bob

Latest rumor has it we are to parade in New York July 4^th – strictly rumor however!