News From Home
Note: Joe's wife, Anne, wrote this letter two days after Joe was wounded on February 8th. She did not yet know of Joe's injury and was anxiously searching the newspapers for any news of his Fifth Division because no letters from Joe had been received in quite a while.
----------------------------
February 10, 1945
Dearest Joe,
Hello honey, how's everything with you? It seems so long since I've seen you. I miss you an awful lot, Joe dear. Not getting any mail makes it seem even longer. And I know it must be twice as hard for you when you go without mail. I wish you could get it more regularly.

Yesterday morning on the train going to work, I was reading the News. I came across an article about some trouble getting supplies to combat troops. It didn't interest me much until I saw the Fifth Division. Well then I read it very carefully. It was about some Yanks cut off and badly in need of supplies. It was near Echternach and heavy flanking fire made daylight crossings of the Siere River difficult. It told how the Cubs made it by dropping supplies at tree top height. It mentioned Lt. John Walsh of 39 East 31st St (note: This was a neighbor of Joe's) as an assistant air officer who checked operations or something.

When I got to work I called your father to see if he had read about it but he hadn't. He had gotten the night edition of the News and it wasn't in it. He phoned Mrs. Walsh and told them. They were all excited. They hadn't seen it in their paper either. They ran out buying all the papers and finally found it. They were thrilled because their last letter from him was two days before Christmas. Of course they were worried about him. But after reading that they knew he was OK.

So when I heard they hadn't had any mail in so long, I felt better too. Your father and mother felt better too. We probably won't hear from you until you get to a rest area.

You sure are making news over there, honey. I guess this big push now is the beginning of the end for Hitler. You'll be home soon, sweetheart. Just keep your chin up and keep looking forward to the happy days we have in store for us when your job over there is done.

Don't forget another thing, honey, if you have to stay over there after the war for a while, you said Helen and I could come too. So we'll be on the very first boat over. I can't wait to see you again honey but you sure are well worth waiting for. I'd like to bet we'll be together before the summer. I just have that feeling. I hope it's true.

Helen is having a grand time here playing hide and seek with Pat (note: Pat is Anne's younger sister). She thinks she is as big as they are. They taught her to go and hide but she always gives her bunk away by laughing. She's a riot. You ought to see her play ball with them too. I told you I bought her a little piano. She plays with two hands, mind you dear. She thinks she's wonderful. She sure is worn out at night when it's time to go to bed. She raises so much devil all day long.

Last night I went to a military Bridge with your mother, Margaret McQuire and her sister. I had never played it before but enjoyed it. We both felt down in the dumps but decided to go anyway. Your mother sure is swell to me, honey. I guess I like her so much because you're just like her. I can see you in everything he does. I sure know who you take after.

You know I love you an awful lot, Joe darling, more and more every day. Hurry up home to us sweetheart. We're waiting and praying for you.

Goodnight sweetheart. Lots of hugs and kisses and all my love.
Your loving wife,
Anne

Next Page