Czechoslovakia

May 10, 1945

Dear Pudge,

Entering Czechoslovakia was like doing France all over again. Not since Louvigny du Desert have we experienced such wild enthusiasm. There were the same girls with flowers and children waving flags while standing proudly under hurriedly lettered signs "Welcome U.S.A." (one of them said "Willcome") or "Victory, U.S.A." Even the town loafer exerted himself so far as to raise up on his elbow from his prone position on the grass outside of town to wave a dirty green handkerchief at us.

Czech partisans were everywhere with their red armbands. They bustled about trying to look important, much like the Free French.

There were celebrations in the town square - music by a Czech band and later by an American band. Many of the Czech girls are extremely pretty and some put on their gay national costume to the delight of the GI camera fans. Loudspeakers placed throughout the streets blared out announcements in polyglot tongues as well as music. With the flags (American, British, Russian and Czech) swirling everywhere from buildings and on vehicles and the constant flow of people it looks like a miniature World's Fair.

The enthusiasm of these people knows no bounds. From what I hear of those few who had to be billeted in private homes, their hosts can't do too much for them. They wake up in the morning to find their shoes shined and their hosts press upon them various scarce items of food and drink. They rush around to get hot water for baths, escort them to their room at night and probably would tuck them into bed if they would permit.

One of my sergeants, however, was disappointed in the people. He felt he had been defrauded by artists and writers who conspired to present a people who do not exist. Like every traveler, he conjured up a visualization in his mind's eye which he label "foreigner". It came as something of a shock then to find that Europeans are just people. They look and dress about as we do and were it not for their speech there would be no great difference.

Their houses and streets, though they have a distinctive flavor, are very much like ours. This town with its sun-swept streets might be like San Bernardino. This region with its rolling hills might well be one of our Western States.

May 16, 1945

I was on night duty when I wrote the foregoing and fell asleep and put it away. I have just now caught up with it.

Your last letter has arrived (day May 4). It reminds me that I never told you about the popcorn balls as you asked. The box which I gathered was made from "store bought" popcorn came not too long ago. They were softer than the others and not quite so crunchy. I personally like the others better but people with soft teeth prefer the latter kind. However, they are all good but it is getting much too warm for them.

I don't have much use for foodstuffs as such, but you might send some more of those caramels as somebody sent once. I also need some more film as I have about used up what came with the camera. Although Momma wrote that Marnie enclosed two boxes of film, I found only one. Incidentally, what speed is it? I have never used Du Pont film before so don't know. Haven't had a chance to have any of it developed yet. These cartridges are made for only 50 exposures (25 normal size) so I have to tear the strip in half in order to use the whole role. You might also send some 120 film if you can get it. I have another camera which takes that size.

Incidentally, you can expect packages to take quite a while to arrive. The average time is 39 days.

I never heard from the woman who called Momma. Just as well, for I couldn't have given her any information anyway.

Love,

Bob