To Lieut. (jg) Wallie Barlow, who has just received one of the swellest assignments in the entire United States flying services by his selection to be co-pilot of the big transport plane which carries Secretary of the Navy Forrestal and his staff on inspection tours of naval bases in various parts of the nation and throughout the world.
The giant plane, a neatly appointed Douglas C-54 Skymaster, consists of several large compartments, including kitchen, sleeping, and lounging quarters. It is powered by four huge motors.
Wallie, who was recently appointed to the Atlantic Wing of the Naval Air Transport Service with headquarters in the nation's capital, entered the navy air corps early in 1942 while attending the University of Wisconsin. After receiving his wings, he became a flight instructor and continued in that capacity for 22 months until his assignment last fall to special air transport flight training which included three weeks of pilot experience with Pennsylvania-Central Airlines. From PCA the local young man stepped into the Naval Air Transport Service.
Monticello is proud of this honor that has come to one of its native sons and Wallie should be proud of it, too. It is an honor which naturally embodies heavy responsibilities, but these responsibilities are in themselves a high tribute to the piloting skill and other qualifications which won this important assignment for Wallie over a field of outstanding pilots.
Here's the very best of luck to you, Wallie! And here's hoping that
you'll share with the rest of us the colorful experiences you are sure
to have in your air travels to the far-flung fronts of this vast global
war by writing regularly to the Drizzler. I'm depending on you, old chap!
"IF THIS KEEPS UP, I'LL SOON BE A WALKING JUNK YARD"-
So says S/Sgt. "Bob" Blumer, the well known Sage of the Siegfried
Line, in commenting on the fact that he has now been wounded twice and
that, altho he submitted to operations both times, the surgeons did not
remove the metal fragments. "Bob" was wounded in action "Somewhere in France"
on Sept. 8th when he was struck in the right shoulder by German
mortar fire, causing him to be hospitalized for several weeks. His second
"taste" of enemy fury came during action in Luxemburg Jan. 22 when a piece
of exploding Ratzi shrapnel tore into his leg. Latest word from "Bob" is
that, although his leg is still quite sore, he is able to be up and around.
Before I leave him with the wishes of all of us for a very speedy recovery,
here's a few pregnant observations from the Sage of the Siegfried Line:
"I've been overseas for 35 months now, and if I don't get back to the states
pretty soon, I'll have to take out citizenship papers over here somewhere."
. "Imagine things must be getting pretty tough in the ol' U. S. A. Some
of the folks better take it a little easy cracking open their eggs for
breakfast 'cause they're liable to get "shell shock." . "Am writing this
letter by electric light. Sure seems strange to me without a flickering
candle or complete darkness."
It's "Rambling-at-Random" time again, boys and girls, so let's hoist
anchor and start navigatin': S/Sgt. "Bill" Bontly, the old "Oklahoma
Kid," who saw 28 months of overseas service in England, North Africa, and
Italy in an army air corps ground force unit, dropped in on his Monticello
friends the other day. "Bill," who is something of a midget because he
stands but a mere 6 feet, 4 inches tall, is the son of Wilbert A. (Hooch)
Bontly, the master mind of Lake View Sanitarium near Madison and one
of the local hamlet's paragons of sartorial elegance 25 or so years ago-which
was somewhat before another distinguished citizen of our little community,
Sir Cecil Frederick Jordan, began setting feminine hearts aflutter
with his more advanced conceptions of fancy masculine toggery. "Bill" regaled
his pals here with his story of how he had once dug a foxhole to protect
himself from German snipers. The digging was pretty tough, and since the
job just didn't appeal to him, he dug only a shallow hole. Apparently Bill
must have grossly underestimated the depth required to safely protect a
lanky chassis like his because, even though he repeatedly deepened his
refuge, the German snipers' bullets kept zipping and zinging right over
the top of his head. "And believe me!" drawled the sergeant in his delightful
southern drawl, "I kept right on diggin'." Bill's back in Oklahoma now,
expects to be sent to some camp in California. . . Cpl. Paulus Roth,
for a number of months stationed at Camp Stewart, Ga., has been transferred
to a German prisoner of war camp at Homestead, Fla., where he is finding
his new assignment as interpreter an interesting experience. . . Recent
promotions: Lt. Leon H. Babler, Hdq. Sq. 1st Bomb. Div.,
with headquarters in England, to Captain; Pvt. Karl Freitag, Co.
L, 137th Inf., 35th Div., to Staff Sgt.; Pvt.
"Boob" Kissling, Co. L, 309th Inf., 78th Div.,
to Sgt.; Sgt. "Bob" Blumer, Co. F, 11th Inf., 5th
Div., to Staff Sgt. Hearty congratulations, gentlemen! . . Cpl. Olin
Mitmoen has just arrived at a North Carolina army camp for reassignment
after a several day's furlough in the old home town enroute from Hamilton
Field near San Francisco where he was stationed for over two years, most
of the time as a military policeman. Civilians now guard Hamilton Field,
replacing the MP squadron which has been broken up and assigned to various
branches of the service. Mrs. Mitmoen, the former Norene Barlow,
employed at the Hamilton Field branch of the Bank of America, accompanied
her husband here to visit relatives until "Olie" receives a definite assignment.
. . S/Sgt. Wilbert Marty is back in the old groove instructing in
gunnery at Rapid City (S.D.) Air Base after two weeks of hospitalization
at Rapid City and Sioux Falls due to the back injury he sustained playing
basketball. Say, Sarge, don't you sorta miss lolling in bed and "watching
the nurses go by?" Only don't think you were spoofin' me or any of the
rest of the fellows when you said in your last letter that you just merely
watched 'em go by. I can just see you putting on a nice little act, pretending
to be writhing in terrific pain every time a comely little nurse comes
down the line just to make sure she'd be sure to hustle over to your bedside
to feel your pulse, take your temperature, and probably caress those wavy
black locks of yours. . . When the Ratzis unleashed their big counter-push
in December, S/Sgt. Debbie Moritz's outfit was forced back into
Belgium and here he enjoyed the pleasant hospitality of an aged Flemish
couple. The old gentleman could speak German fluently, but he rarely spoke
that language because he detested the Germaniacs so intensely for all of
the terrible crimes they had committed against his countrymen. . . Frederick
Voegeli, until recently at Bremerton (Wash.) Naval Base, is now at
Oceanside, Calif., where he is slated for eight weeks of strenuous training
in the amphibious forces. He is learning everything from semaphore (signaling)
to hand grenades, but he is still basically a hospital corpsman. Frederick
will be attached to a beach evacuation unit. So it's sandy, not sunny California
where you are, eh, Frederick? Better go easy on that stuff, Fritzie, or
the California state chamber of commerce'll be suing you for slander. I
understand it never rains out there, either. It just merely pours!
LET'S LISTEN TO THE LEJEUNE LOLLAPALOOZER-
Gather closely around the Drizzle microphone, lads and lassies, because Plt. Sgt. "Cece" Wirth, that dynamic, magnetic personality of the Marine corps, who spent 28 months on 14 different islands in the South and Central Pacific prior to his return to the states June 23rd and his subsequent assignment to the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, New River, N.C., is tuning up his vocal chords preparatory to giving us a little pep talk. "Cece" is an instructor in fire direction, dealing principally with heavy field artillery pieces. All right, sergeant, the mike's yours:
"Greetings to the elite of the armed forces, those stalwart, brainy (?) sons and daughters of Monticello. I've had the pleasure of getting back to the old home town for a couple of weeks and now fully realize just how many of us are gone. Course the town is probably considering itself better off, but we'll be back!"
"The Royal Rambler of the Skyways, Lt. Wallie Barlow, certainly should be in his prime now and contacts with far-flung native sons shouldn't be hard if Secretary of the Navy Forrestal follows their leads. They'll keep him jumping, though, no doubt.
"Boob, Eddie, Debbie, and the other fellows on the continent should keep things buzzing at a lively clip, tho I wouldn't go so far as to say what, for those lads are quite unpredictable. Would advise "Bob" Blumer to come back to the states as leader of a scrap metal drive. With all he has collected the past few months, he could easily be top man in such a project. Best of luck, Bob, but knock off that type of collecting, please! "Bo" Woelffer probably is rubbing his hands together just thinking of all the medicine he could shove down your throat about now. If Eddie Loeffel, Schmitty, and Red Pearson continue to team up with those navy lads like Lt. Ed Klassy and "Bud" Wirth, by the time I get back there again, all that will be needed is a clean-up detail to police up Japs and the other garbage. Wonder what Whitey Hill does to keep all those women away from him now." I'll bet all those lovely nurses just can't keep their hands off that crisp blonde hair while Whitey screams, "Let me at 'em!"
"Camp Lejeune is calling so I'll shove off. By the way, the latest communiqué
from Training Command describes Lejeune as bordered on the east by the
ocean and the other three sides by restricted areas. Interesting spot!
DRIZZLE DISPLAY OF WAR SOUVENIRS-
A few Drizzles ago, I suggested that all of you send me a war souvenir
for public display here at home. Well, "Bob" Blumer and Lloyd
Deppeler, those two doughty sergeants, have taken to the idea with
a vengeance. Already one package has arrived from them and it includes
a large Nazi flag, German officers' belts, caps, canteen, German pipe,
and jewelry box. And another parcel is now on the way. The display, in
the south front window of Bill Blum's Merchandise Mart, has created
much interest and comment. Tommy Brusveen is also sending The Drizzler
a souvenir, and if the rest of you boys and girls will fall in line, the
Drizzle will have a display that's really a dandy. My sincerest appreciation
to "Bob" and Lloyd-and to all of the rest of you, too.
Leo Felts is back in the states after nineteen months at a Marine
Corps Base in Cuba. A 1st class pharmacist mate in the navy,
he reports to Chicago March 15th for reassignment. Leo hoped
to get to Monticello, but his prospects aren't too promising. His brother,
Pvt. Lennie, is still in France, possible in Germany by now. . . Sgt.
Clarence (Bab) Babler, the Georgia Peach, has been transferred from
Robin's Field at Macon to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. . . Gertrude
Hoesly, M. H. S. '39, who graduated from the Madison Academy of Beauty
Culture the next year, is now in the WACs. She is at Fort Des Moines, Iowa,
and likes it a lot. Prior to her entry into the service Gertrude was manager
of Thelma's Beauty Shop in Madison. . . T/Sgt. Kenny Holcomb recently
returned to Romulus (Mich.) Air Base from a plane ferrying trip which started
when the crew boarded a B-24 at Willow Run, then flew to San Francisco
via Madison, St. Paul, and Des Moines. The return route was over Long Beach,
Dallas, San Antonio, Augusta, Ga., and Louisville, flying different planes
picked up and delivered along the way. . . Lt. Dick Schoonover has
probably landed at an army base "Somewhere in the Pacific" by this time.
He was last heard from at San Francisco about Jan. 15, having arrived there
from Camp Wood, N. J., where he had been stationed prior to his departure
for the coast. . . And here's the latest on the whereabouts of the three
Babler brothers: Capt. Leon, who had been flying as lead navigator
in a Flying Fort with the 8th Air Force in raids on the European
continent from bases in Britain, now has an administrative job in England.
. . Carl's with Co. K of the 381st Infantry and he saw
action on Leyte in the Philippines. Quite possibly he's moved on since
then. Say, Carl, what do you think of the ol' tail gunner and his smooth
technique with the nurses? Don't you think he's playing possum? . . "Art"
is "Somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands. How's tricks these days, Art? Do
you ever hear from that letteriting sensation of Cardiff, Wales-Sgt.
C. Jacob Dick? Well, neither do I. . . Karl Freitag, who set
some sort of a record for speed by landing in France in less than six months
after his induction, did some more fast stepping recently when he was promoted
from private right straight up through to staff sergeant. Speaking of his
first "sample" of combat against the Ratzis, Karl says, "I don't know if
I got any Krauts or not, but we sure scared hell out of 'em." . . Bud
Wirth, with Commander Transport Division 33 of the Navy, participated
in the initial landing on Lingayen in the Philippines, and although Jap
planes attacked their ship day and night, their assaults were unsuccessful.
The ship's anti-aircraft batteries knocked down several Nip planes. One
day a lone Jap bomber came roaring in at them in a desperate suicide dive,
but the boys in blue threw everything at him but the kitchen sink and the
plane fell in flames into the ocean. . . Way over there in far-away Iran,
where Cpl. Wendell Miller has been stationed for months helping
in the transportation of thousands upon thousands of tons of supplies to
Uncle Joe Stalin's Rampaging Russian Ramblers, the weather in January
was nice and clear and sunshiny much of the time-ideal football weather.
And listen to this: There's a Polish camp nearby and among the inhabitants
is a nice little Polish girl whom "Windy" gets to see quite often. I don't
know how serious the affair is, but anyway, the corporal now has a fairly
good command of the young lady's native language. Mostly words, I presume,
with a romantic inclination. Am I right, or wrong, Windy? . . Cpl. Jim
and Helen Knoblauch are here from Camp Shelby, Miss., to remain until
Mar. 1st, spending part of their time with Waukesha relatives.
The former scoring ace of Barney's Barging Bearcats, isn't too keen about
Camp Shelby where he now belongs to the 72nd Chemical Mortar
Bn. of the 2nd Army, having been transferred from the 560th
Anti-Aircraft Bn. Nov. 30. Jim has high praise for The Drizzle and says
that a number of his buddies read it regularly. Which reminds me that many
of you lads thruout the states and the world have said the very same thing.
I'd be very happy to hear from some of these "strangers" and if any of
them know of any little yarn with a touch of humor or human interest about
their cronies from Monticello, send it along and I'll try to crochet it
into an interesting piece of literary lace. Come, on, gentlemen, don't
be bashful. Whip out those pens and pencils!
If you don't, I know a guy that does. Many of you know him, too, because
altho he's not a home town boy, he's been around Monticello a good deal
the past eight years with P. W. Ryan & Sons highway construction
crews. That's right! He's "Cheerful Charley" Golickson, a tank driver.
And why does he believe in miracles? Well, Charley was one of those "Battling
Bastards of Bastogne"-as he calls 'em-who held out for days in that
little pocket of the Belgian bulge against hellish Ratzi aerial and artillery
bombardment. Some weeks ago, Charley wrote back: "If a shell or bomb ever
hits our tank, there won't be a chance in the world for any of us." During
this epic battle of Bastogne, his tank was blown up by enemy action.
Three crew members were killed, but Charley escaped with only a head wound.
"I guess that Norwegian head of mine was too tough for the Germans," he
chuckles. And what a thrill it was to see their dwindling supplies replenished
from the air and then to see Patton's tanks and motorized infantry break
thru the Ratzi ring of steel from the south to relieve them. So if you
don't believe in miracles, just ask Charley. He's seen 'em-and he's felt
'em, too!
SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR APART-
When the U.S.S. Abner Reed was struck by Jap bombs and then sank in
seven minutes during the Leyte operations at Luzon in the Philippines,
Vinal Jorgenson, a Monroe young man formerly employed at the Farm
Bureau there, was one of the survivors. Many sailors were killed by a direct
bomb hit, and while the survivors were climbing into life rafts, Jap planes
roared in low overhead, strafing them and others struggling in the water.
A sailor right behind Vinal was badly machine-gunned and died the next
day. The U.S.S. Leary, on which former County Highway Police Chief Nathan
Burgy is a first-class machinist, picked up these survivors, but the
two Monroeites didn't know they were "so close but yet so far apart" until
they discovered the unusual coincidence through correspondence later on.
Vinal's at San Diego now for reassignment, but "Nate," whose family is
staying in Monticello for the duration, is apparently still "Somewhere
in the Pacific" where he has already participated in some of its hottest
battles.
Cpl. George Wittwer, here recently after 34 months in the Southwest
Pacific, has been assigned to the 1624th Service Command Unit
at Camp Ellis, not far from Peoria, Ill. . . Cpl. P. F. Blumer,
stationed at Bangalore, India, reports that he is getting along fine and
that they are having nice, sunny days and cool nights. P. F. is in the
quartermasters corps of an army air force unit. . . In a convoy bound for
the Philippines, Lt. "Ott" Blum, G6-NABU 6, pens a few lines to
say he was looking forward to the thrill of seeing civilized people and
cities instead of native villages with grass huts. "Doc" would like an
assignment in China, but sees no immediate prospect of getting there. He's
been overseas 15 months now. . . Also in the Philippines is Capt. "Doc"
Youngreen, Co. B, 115 Med. Bn., who writes: "We are situated in a beautiful
coconut grove where the ground is covered with grass just like a carpet.
It's an ideal bivouac area. During the day the Filipinos stream thru in
droves, looking for anything we may want to give them or wanting to trade
eggs and chickens or to do our laundry. Sometimes it looks like a carnival.
The climate is quite nice here, much cooler than New Britain and it gets
quite chilly at night. Have been sleeping in buildings the last few nights
and I must say it is an improvement over a foxhole. It's nearly 30 months
since I left the states so I should be getting back before very long."
(We'll be looking for you, Doc.)
What man? Why, Whitey Hill, of course! Now, don't try to tell me you don't know the chap. You don't!" Hmmm! That's funny. Well, if you knew Whitey like I know Whitey-say, wasn't there a tune once upon a time that went something like that? But that's besides the point. The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that Whitey's back in the good ol' U.S.A. and darned glad of it-and so are all of the rest of us. He crossed the Atlantic on a hospital ship which was 20 days on the way. Incidentally, did I ever tell the rest of you that Whitey got to Gay Paree during his stay on the continent? I don't know if the alluring lieutenant arrived in time to liberate the French capital single-handed. But I like to think of you as "The Great Liberator," anyway, Whitey, because I know you must have liberated a lotta lovely ladies from loneliness while you were there.
During his Atlantic crossing, Whitey kept a graphic day-by-day account of his impressions and experiences. It is a most delightful diary and The Drizzler is very sorry lack of space prevents "publication" of more than the following very interesting excerpts: "The ship is a stark white."
"We are lit up like a Christmas tree at night, making no pretense of blacking out. There are two huge red crosses on either side of the ship with spot lights playing on them all night. We trust to God that the Germans live up to the rules of the Geneva conference. "Practically everyone seasick.
"A plane-sea patrol-flew over us this morning and a huge convoy passed between us and the snow-capped mountains of Ireland.
"Was playing pinochle with three other officers in our mess hall last night and at 7 o'clock they held protestant services in our gambling den so we just folded up our deck and became pious for 45 minutes, after which we continued the game.
'We're becoming slowly civilized. First it was ice cream, then napkins, and now we've been exposed to cokes. They bring in fruit, such as apples and oranges, or something to drink twice a day and then before we hit the hay.
Six days at sea. Gradually the metamorphosis to life as it is in the U.S.A. takes shape. Why? Because they gave us fresh milk for breakfast. You don't realize how much you miss the little things you had back in the states 'til you're away from them for a while and then they're brought to your attention.
"Sad, sad day. Just learned we only made 171 miles from noon yesterday to this noon.
"The days are beginning to drag.
"Weather is blustery and cold after some nice, sunny days.
"Less than 300 miles to go and one can feel the increasing tension among the men as we near our trip's end. Some of the lads really will be happy to see the states again as it's been two or three years for many of them.
"Land! Lights along the shore! Right now we're going up toward (deleted) and one can see the lights on both sides. It's 21 miles or so up the river to where we debark tomorrow morning. Right now everyone is up on deck looking over the rail at the wonderful sight-land, the U.S.A."
Whitey's present address is Ward E-9, O'Reilly Gen. Hosp., Springfield,
Mo. He's slated for a thorough examination of his left thigh Saturday and
he may be sent to a hospital in Colorado later on. You will recall Whitey
was wounded in France on Friday, the 13th of October, shrapnel
striking his thigh and severing the main nerve.
Calling Sgt. C. Jacob Dick of 348th Station Hospital,
Cardiff, Wales: Weren't you surprised to learn that our old friend, Fritzie
Marty, is an ambulance driver evacuating our wounded from Germany back
into Holland. Remember the fun we used to have when little, lively, bright-eyed
Fritzie used to come into the office? . . Marine Corp. Joe Gmur's
now said to be in the Hawaiian Islands where he continues to make good
use of his tonsorial talents. Joe is one of the more recent local "departees"
for overseas. . . John Marty, husband of the former Irma Baebler,
is stationed at Great Lakes where he is now in this third week of boot
training. . . What do you think of this, fellows? "Squirt" Wittenwyler,
that fearless and dashing beau brummell of Fort Knox, Ky., is now taking
orders from a corporal in the WACs. How come? Well, he was wed to Ruth
Poor, also of Fort Knox, whose home is in Morgan Park, Ill., on Feb.
7. Congratulations, Harris, and here's wishing you and Ruth loads of happiness
and prosperity. . . Orville Anderson, patient in McCaw Gen. Hosp.,
Walla Walla, Wash., recently had 22 pieces of bone removed from his shoulder
which was struck by a German machine gun bullet while he was on guard duty
in France. With no anesthetic! God! Orville, how'd you stand it?
HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS, EVERYONE!!-
Because I am about to introduce that renowned gentleman and scholar, that former poet laureate of Alaska and the Aleutians, and still regarded the greatest whale hunter in the history of the North Pacific-ladies and gentlemen-I give you none other than that sensational savant, that king of the cue-Capt. "Hoppe" Babler, recently of Kelly Field at San Antonio but now of Dallas. (Aside to the captain: How'm I doin'? Did I leave anything out that should'ave been in?) Okay, Hoppe, old toppe, start heavin' that heavenly hash."
"Dear Roz: Have you heard from the "Camp Callan Casanova" (Fritz Haldiman) and his entrepreneur, Erv Spring? I understand they have the entire state of California in a turmoil. MGM and Warner Brothers, so I hear, are after them to play opposite roles in a sequel to "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Their vast dramatic experience, which was accumulated in the Aleutians doing 6 a.m. curtain calls in front of a quonset hut, is coming in handy.
"I think they should also ring in the South Pacific in the person of one "G.I. Pillroller"-Doc Youngreen. I am sure he would add plenty of South Seas sarong glamour to the production. However, I am doubtful if the Youngreen "Ubangi approach" would attract the box office as well as the Hollywood and Vine kids in old California are used to.
"Harv Trumpy is at Las Vegas and I have sent him your dope and requests. I guess he is pretty busy out there figuring out winning grips on slot machine handles and flying BTs to get in flying time.
"I want you to know, Roz, that the wife and I surely get great enjoyment reading the Drizzle so keep it up! Ever, Hoppe."
"P.S.-I wonder if "Bob" Blumer has found any "Kraut pool tables"
like the one he and Squirt Wittenwyler and I used to spend many
happy hours on down at Joe Broger's pool palace. Hope "Bob" can
have plenty of luck like he used to have playing "misery" back in those
days.
To these Drizzle donors: Earl Zwickey, Albany; Mrs. Sam Wittwer,
Mrs. Florence Babler, Madison; Pat Schoonover, P .J. Babler, Mrs.
Si Crouch, Jr., Monroe; Mr. and Mrs. Matt Marty, Mr. and Mrs. E.
J. Marty, Clarence and Herman Marty, Alice Holcomb, Clara Janes, Mrs. H.
Duerst, C. M. Stauffer, Mrs. V. Christen, Mrs. C. F. Jordan, I. B. Pierce,
Casper Blum; Anonymous; E. G. Voegeli, O. H. Babler, H. E. Babler, Mrs.
E. Schwers, Aug. Burgi, Dr. Horne, Helga Nichols, Dr. Clarke, Lorena Holdrich,
Mrs. Ed Buehl, Ruth Zentner, Bessie Youngreen, Emily Jordan, Mrs. L. Krauer,
W. E. Blum, Bertha Klassy; _lie Howard, Belleville; J. L. Aultman,
Lora Dick, Rudy Switz, D. Legler, A. Schuler, Al Knobel, Mrs. J. Baehler;
Marv Babler, Appleton; Al Witt, John Dick, F. C. Karlen, Mr., Mrs.
H. C. Hefty, John Stauffer, Edna Babler, Marion Zimmerman, Mrs. A. Richard,
E. Robert, Jr., Mrs. T. Runkle, Delma Roethlisberger, Harry Klassy, Wilbert
Stauffer, Mr., Mrs. Stillman Huntly, Lydia Wittenwyler, A. B. Carroll,
Mrs. W. Keener, Bud Soper, Fred Deppeler, Bob Feller, Mrs. A. Duerst, Anna
G. Blum, Irma Baebler Marty, Mr., Mrs. J. J. Hefty, Hilda Mohns, Bremerton,
Wash; Mrs. Robert Naylor, Jake Burgy, A. Friend, Melvin Blumer, Mrs.
J. Wild, Jr., Mrs. A. Holcomb, E. W. Marty, C. Rufer, Kay Steinmann, Edwin
Schlittler, Robt. Zimmerman, Mrs. Fred Studer, Mrs. T. Voegeli.
A few lines from Morgan Phillips, 603 T. D. Bn., 6th
Arm. Div., 3rd Army, who says he's fine and enjoying every issue
of the Drizzle. . . "Boob" Kissling was recently awarded the combat
infantryman's badge. He's back in the thick of it around Aachen again after
his second trip to a rest camp behind the lines. . . Grim repercussions
of war: Johnny Zimmerman, who had the distinction of chauffeuring
for Winston Churchill on the latter's visit to Italy several months
ago, now has a pet dog, "Junior." One evening Johnny brought "Junior" a
ham bone and left the dog in front of his tent, gnawing industriously on
the bone, while he went after his jeep and to work. As he passed his tent,
he was startled to see "Junior" wagging his tail dejectedly and gazing
wistfully up at a poor, haggard little Italian boy, who had wrested the
bone from him and was chewing it himself. . . Melvin Elmer, veteran
of 30 month's service overseas, is now at Miami Beach for reassignment
after spending 21 days at his home near here. He was on 11 different islands
in the Pacific, saw action on four of them including Leyte, never was wounded
or missed a day of battle. . . Fritz Haldiman and Erv Spring
are back at Camp Swift, Texas. . . Lt. Howie Steinmann, 5th
Div., and Eddie Loeffel, 4th Div., are believed to be
in on the flaming battle now raging on Iwo Jima. . . The "Sage of the
Siegfried Line" does some reminiscing in a delayed letter just received.
Speaking of the assaults on the Ratzi fortresses around Metz, "Bob" says,
with a vigorous flourish of his pencil, "That was a hard nut there, all
right. Them bastards were 11 stories below the ground in one of the main
forts." . . . This's All. "Til March. Loads of Luck!