The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-07-05

A local boy-EdWin V. Williams
wrote a most interesting letter to
the Washington County Letter
League last month from his base
in Langen, Germany; in which he
expressed his deep appreciation of
the leagues monthly letter and sug-
gested that a new library, or an
auditorium, would make a suitable
war memorial. The letter follows:
Gentlemen:
l wish to take the opportunity
at this time to thank you all for
the splendid monthly letters from
my home town. The news that
they contain exceeds by far, what
l could get from an ordinary news
paper. l appreciate most of all the
list of names of the casualties and
also those who were prisoners and
have returned home. 1t will be
much easier on me upon my return.
It will eliminate the possibility of
bringing more sorrow to the ones
who have paid the price. / am
greatly in favor of suitable me-
mortal to the men of Hagerstown
and county for what they have
done. I would like to suggest an
auditorium of some sort, rather
than a mere stone monument. /
am sure the citizens of the town
would freely give toward a me-
mortal. 1 would go so far as to
suggest a Memorial Library" much
larger than the present one. l am
sure that it would be worth the
price in comparison to the price the
men of the county have paid.
l am sure glad to know that Ha-
gerstown is still out in front on the
Seventh War Bond Drive. Since
being in combat, 1 have actually
seen what it costs to destroy an
enemy. 1 have wife who in my
opinion has done her part in this
war The part played in this war
was not heroic, but l can at least
return home with clean mind.
have seen everything. These peo-
pie over here have been conquered
and now they realize the mistakes
they made.
We are fortunate to have modern
homes for our battalion. With all
the conveniences we have, it more
or less makes us feel like we are
living as civilians. Our freedom is
limited, but that is necessary in
order to maintain military law. In
this town, Langen, we are fortunate
to have large swimming pool
Also nice hall for various recre-
ations. Most all the homes have
radios and we keep up with the
outside world in that manner.
l was glad to hear that some men
have returned home after being
prisoners here in Germany. A lot
of those were good friends of mine.
1 guess you have heard plenty
about this division (the Third Army
"Spearhead" Division). I am afraid
that l will not be home any time
soon. My critical score is way
low, but l believe l am able to
carry on while longer. You may
have heard lot of rumors that we
celebrated a lot on V. E. Day. r
am sure that is wrong as, to us it
was just another day in the army.
The twenty ninth Division really
did its part in this war. l can
still remember the day we sup
ported them during the break thru
at st. Lo. Since then we have
spearheaded on thru to the Rus
slams. am not Dragging, but
merely telling you point that this
outfit has been thru. Religion has
played big part in my personal
life thru combat. My one ambition
is to return now to normal civilian
life. Keep on sending the letters.
They give to me picture of what
the old town is like. Please ex-
cuse this writing as my mind is
not on writing news. / appreciate