The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-03-30

March 7, 1914
Dear Folks, l..:
Seems that it has been some
time since last wrote you but l
have been7pretty well. occupied
of late, and time has passed in a
hurry: I haven't heard from you
in about two weeks but I hope
all of you are well. I think I told
you that got the fruit cake and
it was really a treat compared to
the c rations we had BEEN eat
ing-compared to anything as a
matter of fact. The Red Cross
has followed us pretty closely and
has set up some doughnut ma
chimes next door. They send sew
eral thousand to the front lines
every day.
suppose by the time this letter
reaches you, you will already
know that the old Third Division
is on this coy but lively little
beachhead. Talk about a grand
stand seat, it's such a situation
here that we see waves of the
big bombers go over to the lines,
draw the Jerry Anti-aircraft fire,
drop their loads, and turn around
all in our plain view. But it
takes more bombs to make a dent
than one would think. The city
of Bizerte, Tunisia, for instance,
was supposed to have been about
the most bombed city in the world
but I found it easy to see what
the place was before the terror
raids. The docks and railroad
yards get plenty of pounding in
air raids but it takes more than
anything ever released yet to COM
pletely pulverize a city beyond
recognition Speaking of air, in
spite of the terrific effects an air
raid in full scale is about the pref
test thing war time has to show,
searchlights, small gun tracers,
ack ack tracer bullets, and flares
dropped by the enemy all blend
ed into one make the best fire
works possible. But I will be
glad when there are no more such
shows.
1 wouldn't be knowing but every
one else is making predictions so
I as we'll predict that the invasion
of France will relieve pressure
here in early May. I heard from
Stan recently and he says that we
of the European theatre were Sc
heduled to go to Asia when this
part of the world folly is over so
he said that he hoped to be seeing
me before too long. told him
that I would like to meet him in
that continent but not till after
they have finished the war there
He says he hopes they don't put
him to duty in India, but I don't
know of any other place he could
be placed except Australia and
that's long way off. I Think the
people in that country of India
must live about like the Arabs in
Africa, only more so.
hope Chick had a good fur
Tough, however, it was evidently
a short one. What's this business
about a girl for him? I though he
would be up in the gym playing
has ketball or something during
leave and here I am told that he
was chasing the fair sex. Seems
that lots of people get bitten by
the love bug during war time but
must have hard time doing any
thing about it. I'm still looking
for one of those medals Mussolini
gave for large families whereby
after the number seven tot, the
family paid no taxes at all. ]
handle all kinds of military medals
here in the office but I can't find
that particular medal.
These two towns here on the
beachhead are really pretty anc
have been more so before we came
I must admit. I guess the people
here are mad at us for picking
this spot to land on but we hac
to have something to furnish oul
dugouts with. I saw a beautiful
china closet yesterday but it does
mt do any good to tell Nom abou'
it. This section seems to have
been full of good fat Fascists anc
. from the cooks of many home:
here it evidently made a lot Of
people poor in other sections Of
Italy. This is good farming sec.
ton and it's amazing how so many
meat animals get murdered in the
confusion, but I certainly enjoyed
that steak yesterday and the goose
cooked here in the office a few
dave o0n I xxyoc %irAI 1f nofinc