Regensburg, Germany

September 17, 1945

Dear Marn,

Your letter came at an opportune moment just as I was writing to wish you a Happy Birthday! If my account is as large as you say, you ought to be able to get yourself a suitable present out of it. Knowing your interest in diamonds I window-shopped while in Paris. For very tiny stones, the cheapest items started at 25,000 francs ($500) and went on from there. Needless to say I didn't purchase any!

Now for your questions:

1. No I did not see the gold found by the Division. I was too busy at the time to get down there and within a day or two following the unsealing of the chamber, we were 50 miles beyond there, leaving a unit behind to guard it.

2. For the same reason I did not see the art treasures which were also in the mine. They were all crated and only one or two were opened for examination. Within a few days both art treasures and gold were loaded on trucks and sent to Supreme Headquarters. Our unit then returned to us. We were by then some 100 miles beyond.

3. a. Months in Service - 55

b. Months overseas - 18

c. Battle Stars (five) - 25

d. Decorations (one Silver Star, One Bronze Star, One Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star) - 15

Total - 113 points (This is my new score which was just checked today)

4. I still have only one Distinguished Unit Citation. The one proposed for the Div has never been awarded. Note that this award like the Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Invasion Arrowhead which I also have do not carry any points.

5. To the best of my knowledge all Divisions used their Division number as their APO number. We were APO90. The 45th Div was APO45. The 9th Div was APO9, etc. With troops attached to an Army however as Anti-aircraft Bns, etc. the situation is different. They all use the Army APO number.

6. Both Corps and Army have APO numbers which indicate their status. The exact system I am not familiar with. It is somewhat similar to the system used to designate units in which the number tells the type of unit, branch of service, etc. Again, I am not familiar with the system, having no need for the information.

7. XII Corps like any other Corps is an intermediate headquarters between Army and Divisions. Its composition varies according to the tactical needs and situation. Generally it includes a group of troops - engineers, medics, artillery, etc. who support the operations of the attached Divisions. Usually one or more infantry or armored divisions is attached to the Corps. There is no fixed rule. Our Division, for example, was in VII Corps, VIII Corps, XV Corps, XX Corps, III Corps, VIII Corps and XII Corps depending upon where we were. Notice that Corps are always written in Roman numerals. In short, a Corps is higher than a Division and lower than an Army.

8. I had a week in Paris. Actually eight days.

9. My time for taking pictures has been practically nil. I still have my cartridges loaded with exposed film.

Love,

Bob

P.S. I made my application for discontinuance of my allotment effective 30 Sept.