Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-06-01
THIS IS WAR

Ah1O 10 WAN
Well folks, I'm in German.
-. Beautiful country /. they
can have it though as far as
I'm concerned. I'm picking up
souvenirs for my friends-a
favorite G. I. hobby which we
think we have earned.
It's tough going here, but
I'm still glad to be here.
People back home cannot pos
sibly realize how Europe lives.
We in America, (speaking for
myself before getting in on
this argument) can't realize
the effect of war on this land.
No one escapes the results. I
don't see how they stand it.
I've talked to prisoners, labor
slaves and homeless people of
many countries, and it has
been an education to me.
GRATEFUL TO AMERICA
Men who have been prison
ers or labor slaves for years
are more grateful to America
than anyone could imagine.
Their eyes light up and they
smile from ear to ear when
they learn that we are Ameri-
can troops.
When Walter Murphy told
Melvin Schultz that Ameri-
cans really have it, he was
saying o m e h in G! We are
years ahead of Europe in liv-
ing conditions, discounting the
fact that they have been at
war. They need help and need
it badly, and only America
can lead the way. If it is not
done cannot see anything but
a repetition of what has just
taken place.
No matter what country the
prisoners are from Except
Germany Americans are their
favorites. This is even true of
the Russians, I believe.
SHERMAN WAS RIGHT
Sherman was right, but he
never saw the 1945 edition. I
think the war will not last
much longer over here, and
believe me, I'm hoping on my
part that the worse is past.
I certainly came close to the
Pearly Gates few times, but
the prayers of others as we'll
as my own must have been
answered. There aren't any
atheists in foxholes, believe
me! Having machine guns and
burp guns zeroed in on you
while running across open
fields is strictly for the birds.
I desecrated one of j. Strauss
favorite romantic streams by
sending my rifle to watery
grave while crossing hand
overland under fire. Boy, did
/ say my prayers! And a few
were less fortunate than I.
HOME SWEET HOME
Believe me, lots OF fellows
are going to really appreciate
"home sweet home" like never
before. They have seen, heard
and experienced more than
most of them can tell, more
than most of them even want
to talk about, and America
will look like a million bucks
to them when they get back
to it.
When a fellow is up against
the tough going it sets him to
thinking. You review your
life-from the time you can
first remember down to the
time you crawled on your
belly like a snake to get
chance to live while machine
gun bullets whined over your
head. What you think is-if
only I am spared I'll live a
lot different when l get home.
Yes sir, the boys really will be
glad to get home.
/ think a lot about the
Packard plant and wonder
about my friends out there. l
vas really sorry to hear about
he TX election going the way
t did, but believe that every
hing will come out in the
ong run.
One of these days when
ime permits I'm going to tell
bout my brother Bob who
vas a German prisoner whom
We liberated. I hope to be able
o see him tomorrow. A lot of
'ou may remember Bob when
le was on the Toledo police
orce. He was shot down over
Germany and was a prisoner
or five months.
Time prevents me from Civ
1g more details at this time,
ut one thing appears certain,
nd l hope it's true, this war
about over. We have had