France

September 16, 1944

Dear Mom,

This morning we had a fine breakfast of hot K ration, chopped ham and egg, one fresh egg, three pancakes and honey and jelly. The latter two items were captured stuff - but good. The honey is not clear like ours, but has a milky white appearance. It is tasty, nonetheless. Grease and baking powder are scarce items so we don't often have pancakes even when our chow truck is with us, which it usually isn't. The colonel's orderly managed to sponge enough from a neighboring unit to make pancakes for five of us. Our kitchen is not with us but the orderly managed to do a fine job on the wood stove where we are. We find many kitchen stoves now, most of them are wood burners. The fireplace cooker is less frequent.

Our men do about as well, buying and bartering fresh eggs, meat and vegetables. In towns that are friendly the natives still hand out fresh fruit but most of it is not ripe, neither pears, nor apples, nor grapes. There are some small plums, however, which are both ripe and delicious.

There are plenty of tomatoes and they look and taste about like our own. The cabbage is slightly different, but good. We had some onions the other day that were the strongest I've encountered. They were the large ones, not the little green kind. I'd take a bite and then would have to stop eating for about two minutes to wipe away the tears. We captured some home made pickles that Gracie would like. They really are fine.

I had opportunity to sleep late this morning and it was most enjoyable. We are not engaged at the moment and I lost all but two hours night before last while working on some orders.

A goatherd has just come down the side street leading his flock and blowing a clear and powerful horn. One dun colored ewe is scurrying back to the flock from down the main street and the goatherd is shouting angrily in French at it. Now a large brown dog has popped out of somewhere to harry the rear of the flock. The old man shakes his stick and starts threateningly toward the tormenter, driving him away.

The populace of these various places is gradually becoming more unfriendly. We receive many dark looks and sullen stares now instead of flag waving and flowers and cheers. We find Nazi propaganda everywhere in more abundance and evidently it has done its work. The forced laborers from Russia and Poland and Italy are becoming a matter of concern to us as they are being left behind by the retreaters. They are without work, without food, without homes. Many are living out in the woods until they are brought out carrying their worldly possessions in bundles which they bear for miles on their back without complaint. Old and young, men, women and children - all are here, wandering and wondering.

Love,

Bob