Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-01-01
FoIke Melinder
Writes to Editor
Somewhere in Germany.
Dec. Is, 1914.

l guess you're surprised to hear
from me, but decided to write you
a few lines after receiving the first
copy of Svenska Poster, dated Oc-
tober 6, today, since I left the
States. She sure looked good to
me up here on the front. Been up
here now for 80 days looking the
ID Jerry in the eyes and TAX
ing and ducking his 88s. But man.
what he's got to take in return
Had my first pass yesterday for
a few hours and it sure felt good
to see a few unchanged houses
and streets and look at some good
looking gals. It's the first women
and civilians I've seen for long
time. Was in a small town in Hol-
land and got my dirt off and a hot
shower and that sure was some
thing! Saw enc CT. show, had six
doughnuts and two coffees and
read some papers, and then back
up again. But the best of all was
to get way from the stink and foul
air, the bombing and artillery and
mud.
Up on the front the German
country is cold, gloomy, depress-
ing place, all shot up. There isn't
one whole house left wherever you
look Everything is in shambles.
No civilians around-for which we
thank Adolf, because you can't
trust one of those BIDS, not even
an innocent-looking youngster. Our
artillery is terrific and without
mercy. pounding them day and
night, snow or rain, and the Jerry
is cutting in now and then with
his sS's in sporadic bursts like he
is short of ammunition. He is a
bid with his mines and BOBBY
traps, but we always have some
thing better up in our sleeves.
His pillboXes are many and heavy,
but we blast them just the same.
But he is retreating steadily, some
times slowly, and he hasn't a
chance in h.
Don't know where we will spend
our Christmas, but hope it is in
some warm, dry hole. I guess you
folks had a nice time over the hol-
idays. Could use some of that good
gl0gg now in this cold weather.
We have pretty good clothes and
shoes, fair grub, poor coffee, five
packs of cigarettes a week. and
if man can just stay healthy"
he is OK. Just wish the nights
were shorter and the days longer.
Don't hear anything from Sc
attic, but get letters sometimes
from the Skindlos. Sorry couldn't
see you last summer on my fur
Tough, but never got down that
way.
Sending you 100 francs invasion
money-that's $500; and if you
can't cash it, hold onto it till
come home and I'll make it up. Did
my voting over here and noticed
that all my men got their jobs.
Remember that guy that mar
ried Helga Johnson? Met him over
here. He has been with the 2nd
British Army, but is now with the
9th Army. Funny, eh? Well, have
to cut this and crawl into my
sleeping bag Hope this is over
soon so l can see you fellows in
the near future. Say hello to ev-
erybody and give my greetings to
your family. Don't expect you to
write because l know you're busy.
Sincerely yours,
MEL.
P.S.: Before I crawl in I'd like
to tell you something. The ferries
lust opened up with their SIS.
Counted IL shells in about 80 sec
onds and 9 were buds. There
c m e ii and IL buds. Twenty
buds out of 25 shells. Wonder
what that means? Some good Joe
behind the lines has monkeyed
with the fuses. Like to shake that
guys paw. I'm down in a base
ment, but this basement shakes
when the buds land around us.
Don't you think we are thankful?
l hope they keep up with that kind
Of sabotage. 1 don't think it's any