April 7, 1945, France

This is Tom’s first completed letter in 5 days. He wrote a day earlier, but his entire letter was rejected by the censors. Even this letter has the adjective before “France” cut out of the letter. The reason for his not writing was that his squadron was moving (by air and train) to a new base, St. Dizier Airfield in Northern France.

417th NFS War Diary:

APR. 3. THE SQUADRON IS MOVING AGAIN. LEAVING BEHIND 26 OFFICERS AND 37 EM ON DS AT THIS FIELD, THE BALANCE OF THE SQUADRON WILL LEAVE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING FOR ST. DIZIER, FRANCE.

APR. 4. PART OF THE SQUADRON LEFT SALON, FRANCE BY RAIL AT 2300 HRS LAST NITE AND THIS MORNING AT 0830 HRS, THE MOTOR CONVOY LEFT. THEY TRAVELLED NORTH ALONG THE RHONE RIVER AND STOPPED OVERNIGHT AT A BIVOUAC AREA NORTH OF MACON. THE RAIL TRAVELERS (IN BOX CARS (40 X 8) ARE STILL ENROUTE AND PROBABLY WON’T ARRIVE UNTIL EARLY TOMORROW MORNING AT ST. DIZIER.

APR. 5. THE RAIL ECHELON ARRIVED AT 0500 HRS THIS MORNING AND DISEMBARKED AT 0830 HRS. IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVED AT CAMP SITE, THEY BEGAN TO SET UP TENTS AND OTHER INSTALLATIONS. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT THE RAIL ECHELON WAS DISEMBARKING, THE MOTOR CONVOY LEFT THEIR OVER-NIGHT STOPPING POINT AND COMMENCED THE BALANCE OF THEIR LONG DRIVE, FINALLY ARRIVING AT ST. DI2IER LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, COLD, TIRED, DUSTY AND HUNGRY BUT READY TO PITCH IN AN GET SETTLED.

APR. 7. THE AIR ECHELON ARRIVED AT ST. DIZIER TODAY.

Sat. night. 7 April 45.
France

April 7, 1945, France, Page 1
April 7, 1945, France, Page 1

My Darling, –

I have spent most of the evening shooting the breeze and reading the mail that finally arrived today. And Mrs. Tomas Cartmell not Mrs. Zoe Cartmell unless you have divorced me lets keep our return address as it should be, which is Mrs. Thomas Cartmell. Honey, your letters were swell and I was glad to hear you reassure me about John. I wrote last night but due to censoring and what I said I had to take it back and forget it, all of which leaves me very little to say other than I have missed you a hell of alot. I’d be satisfied just to be able to kiss you and I’d give anything in the world to be with you. Darling, I love you more than you could ever know.

I wasn’t mad at Jr. for not kicking sooner I was just wondering when she or he would start.

April 7, 1945, France, Page 2
April 7, 1945, France, Page 2

You asked if Andy was in my tent, yes. I was glad to hear about Bob, it sounds like he got a good deal. Lucky boy. Jean should be well informed after her trip home.

Also received the letter from the bank, will send it back tomorrow. Hope everything is about straightened out.

I also received a letter from Bill and he doesn’t say much to me about married life either. Maybe he’s playing dumb. He told me about Ben Brown being killed, rough on Jenny. The more you see of this damned war the less you can understand it.

Honey, you don’t need to send me any long underwear as we were issued some. And are they ever sexy. However food is always welcome and anything will be OK. You also might send a few vitamin pills as we have been living on C & K rations for sometime.

There isn’t much more to write about and strange as it might seem if you could see my sack it is calling me.

Goodnight Darling, remember I love you very much –

Forever,

Tom

In case you need to show anything to send a package, show this and send it.

April 7, 1945, France
April 7, 1945, France

 

A Young Man Went Off to War