Jan 26

Dear Mom & All–WWII Letters from Herb (part 14)

My dad, Herbert Miller, was trained as a replacement troop during the fall of 1944. In December 1944 he shipped out to Europe, to parts unknown, and was eventually assigned to Company L, 333rd Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, known as the Railsplitters.

Pfc Herbert M. Miller, c1944.

By the end of 1944 he was in Belgium fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. He fought and survived the rough terrain of the Ardennes during what was one of their very worst winters in history.

Belgium, 1945.

Belgium, 1945.

Somehow, during all of that, he managed to write some letters home. They were not permitted to disclose their location or battle details in their letters and, just to make sure of that, their letters were read and censored.

My dad apparently did not write many letters during the first couple months of 1945 and that is understandable. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge would take most of his time and energy.

My last blog post ended with a letter written the end of January 1945. I continue his letters with a letter he wrote the end of February 1945. I added some footnotes to these letters in order to explain a few items. I have also inserted some photos my dad took during the war. He even labeled them!

A soldier from the 84th in Belgium, 1945.

House & barn in Belgium; soldier from the 84th, 1945.

Soldiers from the 84th in Belgium, 1945.

Postmarked 15 March 1945, to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR #1 Willshire, Ohio; from Pfc. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. L, 333rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. Passed by 38658, censor Peter C. Agaisse [?]. Airmail.

27 February 1945
Dear Mom & All,

Well I finally got around to writing youins a line or two.

You been asking what army I’m in. I’m in the Ninth Army. [1] Ever hear of it?

How is everything coming along at home? Helen still working? Say did she get the money I sent to her? I’ll send some more after pay day. Maybe in a couple of months I’ll have her all paid off.

We just had dinner and a couple of the guys got an old graph-phone [?] working so we have music. The only thing it’s German music.

I received the Valentine you sent. It sure is nice. I have it in my pocket and take a whiff of the perfume every once in a while. When I opened the envelope up all the guys smelt the perfume and wanted to know which girl it was from.

Can’t think of any more to write so I’d better close. Am feeling fine and hope that you are the same.

Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send me a box of cookies and cupcakes.

It is easy to see that the common every day things that he once took for granted back home now meant so much to him. A Valentine scented with perfume. Home-made cookies and cakes. Letters.

Belgium, 1945.

Town in Belgium, 1945.

The next letter is out of chronological order, written by my dad in October 1945 and sent to his oldest sister Ruth and her husband Bob. I am including it here because in it my dad gives a timeline and description of his WWII service up to that time. The war in Europe was over by the time he wrote this letter and apparently he could now give some battle details. I posted this letter a couple years ago but it is worth re-reading.

From Pfc Herbert M. Miller, A.S.N. 35845400, Hq. 84 Div. Post. Sect., A.P.O. 84. c/o PM. N.Y.,N.Y. To Mr. & Mrs. Robert Werner.

30 Oct 1945
Weinheim, Germany

Dear Ruth and Bob,

This letter isn’t going to be very interesting, but you wanted me to tell about some of my experience. I don’t care too much to write or talk about it. I’d rather be friendly with everybody.

I went to Ft. Meade, Maryland, and from there went to Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts, on Dec. 11. My Co. boarded the USS Wakefield-“the Old Manhattan” luxury liner. We sailed on the 12th and on the 19th we landed in England. We got on a train right away and rode across England to the channel.

On the 21st we crossed the channel and loaded ”LST” to land at Le Havre, and landed the same day. I spent that night in Le Havre. The 22nd and 23rd I spent by riding in box cars across France. On the evening of the 23rd we came to JeVaie [?], France, up along the Belgian border. That night the Jerries bombed and strafed [2] the town and it was reported that the German spearhead was only 13 miles away.

The next day they issued us 03 [3] because they were out of M-1 rifles.

That afternoon (Christmas Day) we moved to a Repple Depple [4] just set up in the woods. There they split up the outfit into the different divisions. Some went to armored division. But most went to [an] infantry division. I went up to the 84th that evening and we came down from division to regiment. There I spent the night. On the 25th I and three of my buddies moved up to 3rd Battalion. On the 26th we were assigned to our companies. I was the only one out of the four of us that went to “L” Company.

I joined the Company at Hotton, Belgium. They just came back out of Verdenne and were on a rest. We were shelled every night. Then on New Year’s Eve the order came down for us to dig in around the town. They thought the Jerries were going to attack and we were to be secondary defense. All night there were tracers and shells coming everywhere.

The next evening we moved out and they told us we were going to go into the offensive instead of defensive. So we moved into a town that the second armored had taken a couple of hours before. We were the front lines and no one was in front of us except Jerries. The next morning we were shelled for about an hour and there was a counter-attack. It didn’t last long, thanks to the second armored.

Then at 1:00 we moved out in the attack. It was a little over 7 days until we pulled back to where we could have our first warm meals, warm drinks, dry clothes, or sleep anywhere except in the fox holes. It was a barn full of hay and the best sleep I ever had. We were there 1½ days and moved up on line again. There wasn’t anybody in front of the infantry. The tanks were behind us, the engineers. The next attack lasted about 7 days. And another 2 days rest. Then the third attack lasted almost 6 days.

We then went to Holland after the Bulge was licked. We were in Holland 5 days and on a beautiful rest. We had houses to live in and hot water.

Then we started back. Some of the guys started mack [?], for a lot of us we were going for our first time into Germany. On the third of February we walked to Brachelen and relieved the 102nd  Division. We were ready and waiting to cross the Ruhr. The Germans blew the dams and flooded the valley. We moved back to high ground and waited until the 28th when the 1st Battalion 334th  crossed the Ruhr and 335th followed, then the 333rd Regiment and some days later we came to Rheinhausen, across from Essen, Dosenheim, [5] and Düsseldorf.

A couple of weeks later we crossed the Rhine in the British Bridgehead. Then we came to the Elbe. All the time from December 24 until May 12 we were under shellfire or within range every night. That stuff is really hard on your nerves.

There is a heck of a lot that I left out and I could write 1000 pages on it but it isn’t worth it.

All we could think about is that as soon as the war is over here and in Japan we’ll go home right away. If a guy knew he’d be here this long he’d have had a different feeling.

Must close,
Love, Herbie

What an informative letter! With so many details. And he started out the letter by saying that it would not be very interesting! He sure was wrong about that.

Farm wagon & Sherman tank, Belgium, 1945.

Sherman tank & half track, Belgium, 1945.

To be continued with more WWII letters.

[1] The Ninth Army was activated eight weeks before the Normandy landing in June 1944 and was one of the main U.S. Army combat commands in Northwest Europe in 1944-45. Source: Ninth United States Army, Wikipedia.

[2] Strafe: repeatedly attacked with bombs or machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft.

[3] An 03 was Springfield 1903 rifle.

[4] Repple depple was a slang term used during WWII for a replacement depot. A replacement depot is a staging area for replacement soldiers. There were several in Europe during WWII and Herbert Miller was likely at the 18th Replacement Depot at Tongres, Belgium, which was the direct support depot for the U.S. Ninth Army. Source: Replacement Depot, Wikipedia.com.

[5] Probably the village of Duisburg, Germany.

Jan 23

Tombstone Tuesday–Minnie C. Schaadt

Minnie C. Schaadt, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Minnie C. Schaadt, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

MINNIE C. SCHAADT
1907-1931

Minnie Christina Schaadt was born 1 February 1907 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, the daughter of David and Ida C. (Sealschott) Schaadt. [1] Her father was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, and her mother was born in Hopewell Township, Mercer County. [2]

Minnie’s father David (1873-1964) was the son of Adam (1846-1895) and Mary Anna (Koch) (1850-1926) Schaadt. Her mother Ida (1879-1960) was the daughter of Philip (1844-1894) & Matilda (Heffner) (1850-1930) Sealschott.

Minnie never married and lived her whole life on the family farm in Liberty Township, south of Chatt on Frahm Pike.

Minnie died 28 March 1931 in Liberty Township at the age of 24 years, 1 month, and 27 days. She died from tubercular pleurisy, tubercular peritonitis, and tubercular meningitis. Basically, from tuberculosis of the respiratory system. She was buried on the 31st and S.S. Egger was in charge of the funeral arrangements. [2]

Minnie was survived by her parents, three brothers, and a sister.

Minnie Schaadt’s siblings were:
Matilda (1899-1904)
Henry (1902-1970), married Edna W. Dailey
Victor W. (1904-1995), married Opal Strabel
Glenn Cornelius (1913-1987), married Roxie Mae King
Edith Lawrena (1917-2005), married Roland Lime

Minnie’s parents are buried in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Chatt.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Minnie C. Schaadt, 1 Feb 1907; Liberty Township, Mercer County Births, Vol. 4, p.134; FHL microfilm 914953.

[2] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Minnie Christina Schaadt, 28 Mar 1931; Liberty Township, Mercer County, no.19033; FHL microfilm 1992426.

Jan 19

Charles “CJ” Schumm Family, 1914

Today I am taking a little break from my dad’s WWII letters to post a nice picture postcard of the Charles “CJ” Schumm family in 1914. The photo was taken in the fall of 1914 in front of the Brumback Library in Van Wert, Ohio.

In the photo postcard below is Charles “CJ” Schumm (1875-1954), husband and father, driving the car. In the very back is CJ’s wife Jeanetta (Bury) Schumm (1875-1916). With them are their two children, Donna Doris Schumm (1900-1950) and Charles Robert Schumm (1914-2007). Charles Robert was born 29 April 1914, about 6 months before the photo was taken. CJ and Jeanetta had another son a couple years later, Joseph “Frederick” (1916-1996), who was born about two months before his mother Jeanette was killed. Two other children, Carl Arnold Schumm and Oral Schumm died young, both in 1912.

Charles “CJ” Schumm with wife Jeanetta (Bury) and children Donna and Charles Jr, in front of the Brumback Library, Van Wert, Nov 1914.

This postcard was sent to Jeanetta’s sister Etta Mae (Bury) McLaughlin in Michigan. It is postmarked from Rockford, Ohio, 16 Nov 1914. Jeanetta writes:

Hello how are you all
we are well
Jr was 6 mo old
and weighs 18 lb
he is growing
and well yet I can’t
gain very fast in weight [?]
Jen S

Reverse side of postcard written by Jeanetta (Bury) Schumm to her sister Etta Mae (Bury) McLaughlin, 1914.

I would like to thank Susan in California for sending me this postcard and some other related photos and clippings. Susan’s connection to the Schumm family is through the Burys. Her paternal grandmother was Etta Mae (Bury) McLaughlin (1883-1973), a sister to Jeanetta (Bury) Schumm. Jeanetta was the wife of Carl/Charles “CJ” Schumm. CJ and Jeanetta lived west of Rockford and Jeanetta died at their home when she was electrocuted while doing laundry. She was only 40 years old and left three children behind, two of them under three years of age.

What a nice postcard and it is great to be able to identify exactly where the photo was taken and when. That is also a very nice car, which I assume was the family car. I would imagine it was quite a nice car in its day.

Jan 16

Tombstone Tuesday–Richard Carl Andrews

Richard Carl Andrews, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Richard Carl Andrews, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Richard Carl
ANDREWS
May 1931-Jan 1939

Richard Carl Andrews was born at home in Elkhart, Indiana, on 16 May 1931, the son of Victor Earl Jr (1906-1977) and Beatrice Alice (1908-1977) (Esterline) Andrews. The family resided at 1240 Johnson Street in Elkhart and Richard’s father was a dairy truck driver. His mother was a housewife and this was the second child born to the parents. Richard’s father was born in Liberty Township and his mother was born in Pioneer, Ohio. [1]

Richard died in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 29 January 1939 of lobar pneumonia. He was 7 years, 8 months, and 13 days old. [2] Zion’s records indicate that he also had an enlarged liver, pneumonia, and heart trouble. The family was living at RR #1 Rockford at the time of Richard’s death.

Richard was buried on 1 February. Ketcham’s was in charge of the arrangements and Egger was in charge of the embalming. Richard was survived by his parents, a brother, 3 grandparents, and 4 great-grandparents.

Richard’s brother was Victor Earl Andrews Jr (1928-2015) and a third child, Roger Paul Andrews, was eventually born to the Victor Sr and Beatrice Alice.

The surname Andrews was originally spelled Andres in Zion Chatt’s early records. According to the church records Richard’s father Victor Earl Sr was confirmed at Zion Chatt in 1921 but had been baptized at St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township. Richard’s father Victor Earl Jr was baptized at Zion Chatt in 1942.

 

[1] Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940, Indiana State Board of Health, Vol. 36-40, cert no. 19504, Richard Carl Andrews, 16 May 1931; Ancestry.com; microfilm, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[2] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Richard Carl Andrews, 29 Jan 1939; Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, reference no. 6913; FHL microfilm 3023676.

Jan 12

Dear Mom & All–WWII Letters from Herb (part 13)

Last week’s blog post ended with the letter my dad, Private Herbert Miller, wrote home to his sister Em on 31 December 1944 from somewhere in Belgium. What a way to spend New Year’s Eve.

Herbert Miller, 333 Reg, 84 Div, “Railsplitters”, WWII

My dad had been home with his family on furlough in November 1944 and left by the end of the month to be assigned somewhere. His brother recalls that my dad did not know where he would be sent. It could have been the Pacific, Europe, or even somewhere in the states.

He was sent to Europe. After landing in England he was sent on to France and finally to Belgium to fight in the Battle of the Bulge at the end 1944.

My dad was a replacement troop and was put into Company L, 333rd Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, known as the Railsplitters.

The Railsplitters Emblem.

January 1945 was one of the worst winters ever in Belgium. Temperatures were below zero. The snow was knee deep. The winds were blowing. The winter clothing the soldiers had been issued was not adequate for the bitter cold they had.

The Battle of the Bulge was the largest land battle ever fought by the U.S. Army and it was a very important battle. My dad said they were constantly on the move, walking and moving forward during the day and digging shallow fox holes to try to keep warm and to get a little sleep at night. He said they stood in water in the fox holes for hours on end.

I don’t know how he had the time to write home, but he managed to write a few letters to his parents and to his sister Em and her husband Norval, aka “Jack.”

This next group of letters my dad sent home were V-Mail, short for Victory Mail, a mail process the soldiers  stationed abroad during WWII used to correspond back home. It was created in 1942 to reduce the space and weight required to ship soldiers’ letters home. V-mail letter sheets were a combination letter/envelope and they formed an envelope when folded. Soldiers wrote their letters in a limited space and added the name and address of the recipient on the special stationery. V-mail stationery was about 7 X 9 inches and no postage was necessary. Each letter was first read by a military censor before it was copied to microfilm and reduced to thumb-nail size. The rolls of microfilm were flown to the U.S. and developed at a receiving station near the addressee. The letters were enlarged and printed on paper at about 60% of their original size, about 4¼ x 5¼ inches, before being delivered to the addressee.

I have quite a few V-Mail letters, which are small and are rather difficult to read.

V-Mail from Herbert Miller, 10 March 1945.

There is an additional postmark on some of these V-Mail letters. It is stamped right on the letter with a red stamper and marked Berne, Ind, and has a date. One letter was dated 31 January and was stamped 1 March in red, so it took quite a while for a letter to reach home. I can’t imagine his family waiting every day to hear from him, not knowing where he was or how or what he was doing.

The next group of letters my dad sent home:

To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, RR #1 Rockford, Ohio; from Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. L, 333rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. Passed & stamped by censor Robert W. [?]

Postmark stamped in red at the bottom of the V-Mail: Berne, Ind, 1 Mar 1945

17 January 1945
Somewhere in Belgium

Dear Sis & Jack,

How is the farming coming along? How does Jack like his John Deere tractor? I’ll bet he can hardly wait to get to try it out in the spring.

Say Jack, how is the tire and gas situation coming along back there? Can you get all you want for the farm?

I got me a Heine flashlight. It doesn’t make a very bright light but it works. A lot of the guys have German P-38 and Luger pistols. They are OK but I don’t care too much for souvenirs. Can’t think of much more to write. Tell Norval’s folks I said hello.

I am feeling fine and hope you are the same.

Love,
Herbie

V-mail in envelope, 1845.

To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, RR #1 Rockford, Ohio; from Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. L, 333rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. Passed & stamped by censor [?] Kuhn [?].

31 January 1945
Dear Em & Jack

How are things coming along back Chattanooga way? Is Hank’s Place still there? Yep, it’ll be a great day when I’m able to sit in there and not worry about formations or chow. Ah chow; now we’re getting somewhere. That’s something to look forward to—that is if you don’t have a sample of C rations or K rations tucked in your pocket for the next meal.

I imagine Norval and his dad are getting things ready for spring. Did they get their cement stables and stanchions and electric milker? Those modern stables sure do make a difference.

I sure would like to get some news from home, but the mail is so slow. I would like very much to have a fruit cake and cookies. Thank you.

Guess I’d better close for now. I think youins know you can’t send packages overseas unless they are requested.

Love,
Herbie

Service Flag at Carl Miller home for Herbert Miller, WWII.

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR #1 Willshire, Ohio; from Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. L, 333rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. Passed & stamped by censor Robert W. Velard [?]

18 January 1945
Somewhere in Belgium

Hello Mom & All,

I guess I’ll have a little time to write a few lines. I’m writing as often as I can. The weather really is cold and the snow is about knee deep.

The time really does go fast It’s past the middle of January already.

Is Helen still hearing from Red? Where is he at now or don’t youins know?

How is the farm coming along? Who is going to do the farming? Johnnie I’ll bet. Johnnie really likes his tractor. You know I’ve decided farming is the best life after all. I think I’ll go back to the farm after I get home.

Guess I’d better close for now. Am feeling fine and hope youins are the same.

Love,
Herbie

US Army, 84th Infantry Division, 333rd Regiment, WWII, Battle of the Bulge.

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR #1 Willshire, Ohio; from Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. L, 333rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. Passed & stamped by censor D.J. Kuhn [?]

31 January 1945
Dear Mom & All,

Here’s another letter and I hope it finds you all well.

I got paid last night, 1895 Francs or $3.75 as I sent $30 to Helen to go on the $75 I owe her. Just like I told her when I borrowed it for the car. If I went to the Army I could send some to her. Maybe I can have it paid off pretty soon, but I ain’t worried about it.

I got a five dollar raise, that a little more to add to my savings.

How is Kenneth Ross? When was I was home on furlough his sister said he was wounded.

They tell me most are back on rations again and lettuce is pretty high in Pairs. Well I sure could go for some fresh fruit. We’ve been getting canned goods and canned meats most of the time. Once in a while we get chicken. That’s when I go around for seconds.

Guess I’d better close for now.

Love,
Herbie

WWII Letters

Undated letter. To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, RR #1 Rockford, Ohio; from Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. L, 333rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. Passed & stamped by censor Peter [?]

Postmark stamped in red at the bottom of the V-Mail: Berne, Ind, April [?] 1945.

Dear Em & Jack

How are things coming along around Chattanooga and vicinity? I hear Bud Oakley is in 4-8 again. I’ll bet that makes him mad. I can’t tell where I’m at neither can I give the date. I think they are military secrets.

I’ve been receiving my mail pretty regular but still no taxes. I sure would like to have some of those home baked cookies and cakes. I get pretty hungry for ice cream and malted milks but will have to wait till I get back to the states to get anything like that.

I received the copy of the song “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” yesterday. Thanks a lot for sending a lot of songs like that one. I’ve tried to sing but couldn’t remember all the words

Today for dinner we had baked beans, rice and meat balls, pears, bread and jam and coffee. This morning we had French toast and syrup cereal, and coffee.

I wrote mom and dad yesterday and decided to write youins today. I’m hurting pretty bad for stationery or I could write more often. Guess I’d better close for now.

Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send me a box of home baked cookies, hard candy or peanuts, and stationery. Thank you.

My dad sure appreciated and looked forward to the home-baked goods. That had to be a real treat. He also appreciated having the hymns to sing. Lutherans love to sing! He also was looking forward to returning home to the farm after the war, when his life would return to normal. You have to have hope.