Herb’s WWII Letters–Europe

INTRODUCTION

My dad, Herbert M. Miller, finished nine weeks of basic training at Fort McClellan’s IRTC (Infantry Replacement Training Center) early in November 1944. Fort McClellan became an IRTC in 1943 and his training there included situations that corresponded to combat in Europe. Situations included training under live artillery fire and crouching in foxholes with tanks moving overhead, training just as he wrote about in his letters.

After his basic training my dad was home on furlough for about three weeks in November 1944. At the end of the November his sister Em and her husband Norval “Jack” Weitz took my dad to Lima where he boarded a train for the east coast. He was in Fort George Mead, Maryland, on 29 November 1944.

 

He spent three days at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts, before leaving for England. He crossed the Atlantic on the USS Wakefield and docked in England.

He crossed England by train, crossed the English Channel on an English boat, and landed at Le Havre, France, on 15 December 1944, just one day before the Battle of the Bulge would begin. He went to the Replacement Depot in France, close to Belgium, and was put into the 84th Division, 333rd Company, Infantry, on 23 December 1944.

During the winter of 1944-1945, Belgium and the surrounding countries experienced one of the worst winters they ever had. And my dad was there, somewhere in Belgium, in the frigid cold and in the deep snow, fighting with the Railsplitters in the Battle of the Bulge.

My dad was trained to be a replacement troop. Replacement troops were sent to units individually to replace soldiers who had been killed or wounded. The replacements were not seasoned soldiers like those who had entered the war earlier with their unit and who had been fighting for some time. As a result, there was a high casualty rate among the replacement soldiers. The seasoned soldiers often hesitated to make friends with the replacements right away because they were replacing their fallen buddies and because of that high casualty rate. It was hard to make friends with the newcomer when he was likely to be killed soon. It was probably a very rough time for my dad, considering the fighting, the comradery, and the weather.

He told me that he did not see the inside of a building for nearly a month during that time. Their clothing was not adequate for the bitter cold those soldiers experienced. He had the standard Army issue winter clothes: a wool uniform, sweater, and 2 pairs of socks, but it was not enough clothing for temperatures that ranged from 0 to minus 10-15 degrees and the knee-deep blowing snow. He said it was so cold they had to put their wet socks under their arms to keep them from freezing. And to make matters even worse, my dad had laryngitis and could not talk for several weeks during January of 1945.

His basic training at Fort McClellan could not have prepared him for these weather conditions, although it seems he was prepared for combat.

My dad’s family saved the letters he wrote home to them, to his parents Carl and Gertrude (Brewster) Miller, RR Willshire, Ohio, and to his sister Em and her and her husband Norval, who he called “Jack,” RR Rockford, Ohio.

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND

My dad wrote this first letter shortly after he arrived in England:

To Mr. Mrs. Carl Miller
Postmarked A.P.O. U.S. Army Postal Service
31 [?] Dec 1944
Return address Herbert Miller (35845400)
Co. G, 3^rd Platoon, P.P.O. 15665 c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y
Passed by U.S. Army Examiner 37373, censored by James W. Little
22 Dec 1944
Somewhere in England

Dear Mom & All,
I finally found enough time to write a couple of lines. It’s really been a long time since I have received any mail. I’m feeling fine. I bought some cigarettes ahead and haven’t had any trouble getting any as yet.

It isn’t so very long until Christmas. It will be an awful funny Christmas. I never spent any away from home before.

How are Vernie and the rest getting along in school? Is dad still working at the Central Soya Co? I talked to Joe (the Mexican who used to work for Stucky) the other day. I never expected to see him.

Can’t think of any more to write so I guess I’d better close.
Love,
Herbie

***

IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

By the end of December my dad had been assigned to the 333^rd, the Railsplitters, and was about to fight in Belgium.

U.S. Army Postal Service
2 Jan 1945
From Herbert Miller (35845400)
Co. L, 333^rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y
Passed by U.S. Army Examiner 38658
31 Dec 1944
Somewhere in Belgium

Dear Mom & All,
Well here it is the last day of the year. I was going to church this morning but it was called off until tomorrow morning.

I’m sending home some French money. It’s a 5 francs piece and is worth about 10 cents in our money. I ran across some Ohio boys in the outfit I’m in. Van Wert, Mansfield, Findlay, and some other places. There are a lot of them from Ohio.

The Army issues us all the cigarettes we want. They pass out cigarettes and nobody is left out. We don’t see any candy at all, only what we get in our ration cases and that is only a couple of pieces.

Am feeling fine and hope youins are the same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. I would like to have some home baked cookies and candy.

***

There were no envelopes with the next two letters, which were sent together.

Somewhere in Belgium
31 Dec 1944

Dear Em & Jack,
I finally got around to writing that letter to Mr. Purdy. I’m enclosing it. I want you to recopy it and put any corrections in it. I didn’t know whether or not it is called the News week or the News Letter.

I visited a little bit of Germany a while back. I sure have gotten around, haven’t I? I can’t think of very much to write. What I do know I can’t tell you.

I would like to have some home baked cookies and cakes and also candy and peanuts.

Guess I’d better close.
Love,
Herbie

***

Somewhere in Belgium
31 Dec 1944

Dear. Mr. Purdy,
I was wanting to write to you sooner but this is the first chance I have had to write.

I received the Rockford News Letter while I was down at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, and enjoyed it very much. So I thought I would write and say hello to the people at home and give you my address, so that I may continue to receive the newsletter.
Pvt. Herbert Miller

They could not write anything critical about what was happening in battle, where they were at, or what they were doing. Letters were read and censored and passed by an examiner. That is understandable. There was a lot at stake.

***

SQUAD LEADER IS KILLED, 16 JANUARY 1945

In a book my dad had, The 84th Infantry Division in the Battle of Germany, by Lt. Theodore Draper, Viking Press, 1946,  there is a photo of a snow-plowed crossroad near the town of Laroche. The photo has the caption: “The capture of this innocent-looking crossroads was probably the turning point of the entire action. It deprived the enemy of the only two first-rate roads to the east, the Laroche Road and the Houffalize Road.” My dad wrote on that photo: “Sgt. David Uherka, Lakewood, Ohio, my squad leader was killed about ¼ mile form this crossroad.” 

This was Sgt. David Uherka, Lakewood, Ohio, Find a Grave memorial no. 55273528. His newspaper obituary reported the wrong division. Uherka was in the 84^th Division, according to his military grave marker, not in the 82^nd. Sgt. David Uherka was killed 16 Jan 1945 (aged 35) at Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium. See : Sgt. David Uherka, Find a Grave Memorial no. 55273528.

January 1945 was one of the worst winters ever in Belgium. Temperatures were below zero, the snow was knee deep, and the winds were blizzard-like. The winter clothing the soldiers had been issued was not adequate for the bitter cold they experienced. 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 “Jack.”

V-MAIL LETTERS

This next group of letters my dad sent home were V-Mail letters, short for Victory Mail, a mail process used to correspond with soldiers stationed abroad during WWII. 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 that 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 sent by my dad and they are small and are difficult to read. 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, with a date. One letter was dated 31 January and was stamped 1 March, so it took quite a while for a letter to reach home. I can’t imagine the family waiting every day to hear from him, not knowing where he was or how or what he was doing.

From Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400)
Co. L, 333^rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84
c/o Postmaster, New York, NY
To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
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

***

Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
[same return address as previous letter]
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

***

Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
[same return address as previous letter]
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

***

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
[same return address as previous letter]
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’s a little more to add to my savings.

How is Kenneth Ross? When 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

***

To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
[same return address as previous letter]
Passed & stamped by censor Peter [?]
Postmark stamped in red: Berne, Ind, April [?] 1945.
Undated letter

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 appreciated and looked forward to receiving home-baked goods. They had to be a real treat. Also interesting that he asked for copies of hymns. Lutherans love to sing!

***

IN THE NINTH ARMY

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
[same return address as previous letter]
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’ve been asking what army I’m in. I’m in the Ninth Army. 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.

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. The common everyday things that he once took for granted back home now meant so much to him. A Valentine scented with perfume. Home-made cookies, cakes, and letters.

WAR EXPERIENCE RECAP

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. By that time the war in Europe was over and my dad could give many more battle details. This letter seems to fit in here because in it my dad gives a timeline and synopsis of his WWII service during this time period.

To Mr. & Mrs. Robert Werner
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.
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 12^th and on the 19^th we landed in England. We got on a train right away and rode across England to the channel.

On the 21^st 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 22^nd and 23^rd I spent by riding in box cars across France. On the evening of the 23^rd we came to JeVaie [?], France, up along the Belgian border. That night the Jerries bombed and strafed the town and it was reported that the German spearhead was only 13 miles away.

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

That afternoon (Christmas Day) we moved to a Repple Depple 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 84^th that evening and we came down from division to regiment. There I spent the night. On the 25^th I and three of my buddies moved up to 3^rd Battalion. On the 26^th 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 back [?], 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 102^nd 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 28^th when the 1^st Battalion 334^th crossed the Ruhr and 335^th followed, then the 333^rd Regiment and some days later we came to Rheinhausen, across from Essen, Dosenheim, 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. He started the letter by saying that it would not be very interesting, but he was certainly wrong about that.
Definitions of some terms—
Strafe: repeatedly attacked with bombs or machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft.
03: Springfield 1903 rifle.
Repple depple: 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 18^th Replacement Depot at Tongres, Belgium, which was the direct support depot for the U.S. Ninth Army. Source: Replacement Depot, Wikipedia.com.
Dosenheim: possibly the village of Duisburg, Germany.

***

SOMEWHERE IN GERMANY

After the Bulge my dad said that he spent 5 days in Holland and then went into Germany. Below are two photos that he took that look like they were taken at the same time and place. However, one is labeled Holland and the other is labeled Belgium.

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
From Pfc. Herbert Miller
(35845400), Co. L, 333^rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84, c/o Postmaster, New York, NY
Postmarked [?] March 1945
Passed by 38658 US Army Examiner [stamped], signed [?] J Bennett [?]
Letter stamped Berne, Ind, 7 Apr 1945
12 March, 1945
Somewhere in Germany

Dear Mom & All,
It’s about 7:15 and I have time for a letter before I go to bed.

I received the box of candy Kate sent, sure was glad to get it. Thanks a lot. That was the only box I received from youins. I received one from EM and Jack, one from Homer Carrs, and one from Johnnie and Clara.

My mail is coming through good and I hear from Dot regular.

I received a letter from Kenneth Ellenberger today and answered it tonight. I also received the V-mail Vernie sent. He sure can write a good letter. A lot better one than I can. What is the matter with Kenny? You don’t mention much about him and he doesn’t ever write much. I’ll bet he is tickled to death to be able to work and make money.

I had to laugh about Vernie and Kenny shooting that rabbit then shooting him again.

I’m going to send home some old German money as a souvenir to Kenny, Vernie, and Annie. They aren’t worth anything but the littlest one and the newest one is good. It is worth 10 cents.

Just heard Jack Benny over the radio. It was a good program.

Guess I’d better close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S Please send me a package of cookies, cake, and popcorn. (We can pop the corn over here.)

My dad seems to be rather hard on his little brother Kenny for not writing. That made me laugh. His brother Kenny would have been about 11 years old at the time and probably didn’t write a lot of letters at that age.

***

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
[same return address as previous letter]
Postmarked 18 March 1945
Passed by US Army Examiner 38658 [stamped], signed Peter C. Agaisse, 1^st Lt.
16 March 1945
Somewhere in Germany

Dear Mom & All,
It’s Friday afternoon and thought I’d drop youins a couple of lines. Have they started the farm work yet? Boy this winter sure did go fast. It won’t be long until spring is over with.

How are the kids coming along with school? Just a couple of months anymore and school will be over with. I’ll bet they will be glad.

I received the V-mail that Helen sent. Thanks a lot. The mail hasn’t come in yet today. I’ve been waiting for a couple of hours.

I imagine you wonder how Germany looks around here. The towns and city are very close together, not more than 2-6 miles from the next one. Then there are farm houses between the cities. Some of the small towns don’t even have a house torn down. The civilians in these towns would hang out white flags and their houses would be saved. Some of the towns, especially the larger ones, are really torn up.

We took shots today. I guess we never will get away from taking them.

Can’t think of much more to write so am going to close. I’m feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

***

FROM THE RUHR TO THE RHINE-OBSERVING COUNTRY LIFE IN GERMANY

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
[same return address as previous letter]
Postmarked 22 March 1945
Passed by US Army Examiner 33658 [stamped], signed Peter C Agaisse, 1^st Lt.
20 March 1945
Somewhere in Germany

Dear Mom & All,
Received three letters from youins today. Sure was glad to get them.

It just got dark so am writing this by the electric lights we have in this town. We even have running water here. The civilians are working in the fields and gardens around here. It sure has warmed up.

I was sitting on the steps watching the civilians plow. That ground worked up that way made me think of the farm. They do most of their work by oxen and horses. They have some of the biggest oxen I ever saw, about like elephants. They use two-wheeled carts, about half as long as our hay wagons and about the same height.

You have probably heard of the Cologne plain. It is just as flat as a board. If it wouldn’t be for the towns and trees you could see for miles. From the Ruhr to the Rhine we walked about 60 miles in about 5 days.

The buildings here aren’t like the wood houses at home. They are made of stone, brick, or cement from 1-2 feet thick. The house and barn are usually joined and surrounded by a high stone wall. About all of the farmers had some slave labor. And it tickles me to death to see them do their own work and being told what to do.

All of the German houses seemed to be pretty well supplied in meat, potatoes, and fruit. The fruit probably isn’t there anymore. Once in a while a bottle of wine or cognac is found.

On a lot of German prisoners you find American pistols and watches. I imagine they came off of our prisoners.

Can’t think of much more to write so I’d better close. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Lots of love,
Herbie

P.S. I’m going to send home my paratroopers’ knife I have, when I can.

My dad always liked to farm and work outdoors, so watching people farm in Germany in the spring was very interesting to my dad and probably made him long to be farming back in Mercer County.

***

One page of a letter, no envelope:
[stamped] Berne Ind, 12 Apr 1945
24 March 1945
Germany

Dear Mom & All,
It is evening and I have decided to write one or two letters and then go to bed.

You say you haven’t received the wrist watch yet. I had it insured and am sending the receipt in this letter. It is insured for $25 and the camp I sent it from is a secret P.O.E. in Massachusetts. I’m also sending a little French and some Belgium money home. You will also find a German postage stamp.

I haven’t heard from Dorothy for a couple of weeks. I don’t know…

Unfortunately, the rest of the letter is gone.

***

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
[same return address as previous letter]
Letter & envelope all in one
Passed by US Army Examiner 33658 [stamped], signed Peter C Agaisse, 1^st Lt.
28 March 1945
Germany

Dear Mom & All,
I received your letter tonight. Sure was glad to receive it. I really was surprised today. I received two boxes of Hershey’s candy today. Em & Norval had them sent. I also got the Standard today.

I’ve received about 4 or 5 letters from Kenneth Ellenberger but I got 4 of them in 1 day about a week ago and 1 today. I answered the others and am going to answer it tonight.

I went to a show tonight, the first one I’ve seen since December. I went to a USO show the other day but it turned out to be the Division’s band. It is really a good band.

I’ll bet the kids are glad that school will be out soon. Well, Willshire didn’t do so bad this year. I would have liked to see them go farther.

Must close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

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

***

V-MAIL 

Many of the letters my dad wrote from early-mid 1945 were the small V-Mail letters. My dad mentions his siblings Em, Vernie, and Ann, as well as Em’s husband Norval. The letters below were all written while he was stationed in Germany.

From Pfc. Herbert Miller (35845400)
Co. L, 333^rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84
c/o Postmaster, New York, NY
To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, Rockford, Ohio
V-Mail letter with no envelope
10 March 1945
Somewhere in Germany

Dear Sis, Jack & all,
How is everything coming along back Chattanooga way? I imagine the farm work is pretty well underway by now.

I received your box of Lady Wayne Chocolate today and I mean to tell you they were really delicious. The squad thought they were good, too. There are twelve men in the squad and they are all regular fellows. When we receive a box we share alike.

I’ve now gotten the Combat Infantryman’s badge. I get $10 more per month. Now with $4 more for P.F.C. and $10 for overseas. That makes my paycheck $74 before deductions.

Well Jack I’ve got myself a Luger now plus a German paratrooper’s knife. They will make nice souvenirs.

I received the Rockford newsletter today. It’s got quite a bit of news in it. Must close for now and thanks again for the candy. Tell Mom not to worry. I’ll write tomorrow and hoping to see you soon.
Love,
Herbie

***

MEETING UP WITH  MILTON SCHUMM FROM WILLSHIRE

My dad ran into another soldier he knew from Willshire during the war! Milton Schumm was my mom’s cousin, although my mom and dad had not even met at that time. Milton also graduated from Willshire High School and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

V-Mail
25 March 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
Well today is Palm Sunday. It is about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I slept till noon, ate dinner, then went to church.

I received a box yesterday from mom and a box the day before from Ruth. I sure was glad to get them.

I haven’t heard from Dorothy for quite a while now. I imagine she is busy or something.

I talked to Milton Schumm a couple of days ago. I still haven’t seen Rev. Arne’s [?] boy.

I imagine Norval is working in the ground now. The weather is just like summer over here now.

Guess I’d better close for now. Am feeling fine and hope that you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

***

NOTES MADE AFTER THE WAR

A note he made after the war, found in one of his WWII books. I am not sure what town he was referring to below. It looks like Verdiene but that name does not appear to be a town.

Started 3:00 p.m., 12-24 by another battalion,
But Lost Verdiene [?] at about 9:30 P.
We started to fight for Verdiene.
At 1:00 A. we entered town.

***

RED CROSS VISITS & BACK HOME ZION LUTHERAN PARSONAGE BURNS

Soldiers were not allowed to write about any information that would tell their position or battle plans. Their letters were read, censored, and approved by an army examiner. As a result, the letters say pretty much the same things over and over. My dad was curious about family and farming back home and was very appreciative of the packages with food items. It is no surprise that the home baked goods he received were so tasty because his mom and sisters were all very good bakers.

Envelope postmarked 11 April 1945
From Pfc Herbert Miller
To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
Inspected and passed by an Army examiner
1 April 1945
Germany

Dear Mom & All,
The mail just came in so I decided to answer a few letters.

Today is Easter Sunday. Went to church this morning. The chaplain really had a good sermon.

The other day I received two boxes of candy bars from Em and Norval and today received another box from them, cookies, cake, popcorn, candy and nuts. They sure were good.

I imagine school is almost out by now. Say, Kenny is doing pretty good in school, so are Ann and Vernie.

Tell Vernie and Kenny that if they work real hard I’ll try and bring them a present or send them one.

I never did get to send the flag or knife home. I’ll send them as soon as I can.

Well, it won’t be long until chow. I’m getting pretty hungry. We had creamed chicken for dinner and fried eggs, sunny side up, for breakfast.

The Red Cross comes around every once in a while. I sure am glad to see them come. They have donuts and coffee and the Red Cross girls are the only American girls I’ve seen over here.

Has the preacher’s house been started yet? That sure was a tough break for them.

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

That letter contains some good information and gives a time period concerning the parsonage at Zion Chatt. The parsonage was a frame structure that burned in the spring of 1945. The parsonage was rebuilt as a brick structure and is still in use, occupied by our current minister at Zion Chatt. From this letter we learn that it was probably rebuilt in 1945 or 1946.

***

FLOWERS FOR MOTHER’S DAY

V-Mail, postmarked 3 May 1945
From Pfc Herbert Miller
To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
Inspected and passed by an Army examiner
20 April 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
I’m sorry I haven’t answered your letters sooner. I have been pretty busy.

I imagine you have the spring work well started and on the way. How does Norval like his John Deere tractor? I never had a John Deere. Maybe he can show me how to drive one of them when I get home.

I’ve been receiving packages and letters regular. But the newspapers aren’t coming through. But I can’t expect to get all of my mail just now.

I sent mom a double bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day. I didn’t get to send her any for Easter. I sent Dorothy some for Easter and that was all I could get then.

Must close, will try and write more later.
Love,
Herbie

The bouquet my dad had sent to his mother for Mother’s Day 1945.

***

SOLDIERS LOVE FRUIT CAKE

V-Mail, postmarked 6 May 1945
To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller
From Pfc Herbert Miller
Inspected and passed by an Army examiner
26 April 1945
Germany

Dear Mom & All,
I just came in from the holes [?] and they said we could write letters, so I’ll try and write a couple tonight.

The weather is getting pretty nice again. It was pretty rainy here for a while.

I received the box youins sent and the one that long fruit cake was in. Boy, that was really good. The best I ever tasted. Could you send another just like it. All the guys in the squad thought it was delicious. Those crackers and dried beef and cheese were good. The K-rations have crackers in them but very seldom do you get any salted crackers. I’m going to put in another package. I don’t know why, but everybody over here likes fruit cakes. I used to crave ice cream but I don’t even care for it any more.

Must close for now. Am feeling fine and hope that you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a package.

My dad did get his taste for ice cream back. As long as I can remember he absolutely loved ice cream. We always had ice cream in the house and we enjoyed experimenting with creative toppings.  

***

WAR SOUVENIRS SENT HOME

V-Mail letter, typed
From Pfc Herbert Miller
To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
Inspected and passed by an Army examiner
16 May 1945

Dear Emilene and Jack,
Decided to write a couple of letters this morning. There isn’t more to do. I received your letter that you wrote the 7^th of May. That was the day before V-E Day. I also received a letter from Dorothy yesterday, the first letter I’ve received from her in about three weeks.

We can tell a little more about our location and some of the battles we were in. Did you see the German paratrooper knife that I sent home? I got that off of a paratrooper at a town by the name of Haerte [?] coming from the Ruhr to the Rhine River. That German flag has the name of the town on it. The German rifle I picked up on the other side of the Elbe River the day we set up with the Russians.

So Norval really likes his John Deere tractor. Dad said that he put in for a new John Deere tractor. I was wondering if he has it yet. I imagine it will take quite a while for the papers to come through. I imagine by the time you get this letter it will be about time to set out the tomato plants. Tomatoes always take a lot of work but they really pay off good if the weather is good.

The way your letter read you are going to quit your job and become a farmer. Can you drive the tractor yet? I would like to see you plow corn. I’ll bet you could really plow is out.

What are some of the names of the songs on the Hit Parade? Are there any good movies out now? I sure would like to see one. It has been quite a while since I have seen a show.

Guess I’d better sign off for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbert

P.S. Please send a package of candy and [?]

The Nazi flag, from the town of Dulken. He wrote the names of his Army buddies on the flag. I assume they were from Co. L, 333rd, 84th Division. Dulken is located in north Rhine-Westphalia, part of the municipality of Viersen.

Army buddies’ names on the Nazi flag:
S/Sgt. Larry Broderick
Pfc. Tommy Towbridge
Pfc. Dick Timmons
Pfc. Matt Trefun
Pfc. Herb Miller
Pvt. Frank Bailey
Pvt. John Groves
Pvt. John Proctor
Pfc. Ira Terry
Pvt. Max Trigillo
Pfc. Carrol Ketzenbuger

***
Postmarked 29 April 1945
To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
Stationary inside the envelope postmarked 25 May 1945. [A mistake?]
26 April 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
Just a few lines to let you know that I’m OK and feeling fine. I’ve been wanting to write for a couple of days but never got to it. But I guess it is “better late than never.”

I received the comic books you sent and also the hard candy. Thanks a lot. I’ll put in a request for a box in this letter.

So Norval has most of the plowing done and ground worked up. How is the farm work coming along anyway? I sure would like to be there and help, mostly for the nights, not the work. Remember how we used to go skating or go to the show on Sunday night? Those were the good old days. I sure hope it isn’t too long before I see those days again.

Must close for now. Write soon.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a package of peanuts and cookies.

***

MEETING RUSSIAN SOLDIERS

A type-written letter, no envelope
To Em & Norval “Jack” Weitz
7 May 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
I guess it is about time I wrote a few letters. The mail hasn’t been coming in very good lately and I can’t find very much to write about.

How is everything coming along back home? OK I hope.

What do you think of the war by now? I saw some Russian soldiers the other day. Our company made contact with them and I went across the Elbe River with the rest of the guys to shake hands with them. They were those Russian horsemen that you hear quite a bit about. Then that night we had a party—one that I never will forget.

The Jerries are really afraid of the Russian soldiers. Swarms of Jerries were on the other side of the Elbe wanting to cross to surrender to the Americans. A lot of them came over and when the Russians came in sight some of them stripped and swam in the Elbe. The water was really cold. Even some German WACS and Civilian women did the same. What a sight.

One of the guys found a poem in a typewriter. I’m going to enclose it in this letter.

The mail just came in and I got a box from you. So I’m eating and pecking away with one finger. I don’t know how to type very well yet but I think I can pick it up if I keep pecking away.

Guess I’d better sign off for now. Am feeling fine and hope that you are the same.

Your brother,
Herbie

My dad said that he shook hands with some Russian soldiers, which makes these photos even more interesting. I believe this is the poem my dad mentioned. It is on the same type of paper and appears to have been typed with the same typewriter, but this one was sent to his parents on 4 May:

LOVING A SOLDIER

Loving a soldier is not all play;
In fact there’s little of it gay.
It’s mostly having but not to hold;
It’s being young and feeling old.

Loving a soldier is not all cream;
It’s being in love with a misty dream.
It’s getting a card from a southern camp,
And sending a letter with an Air Mail stamp.

It’s hoping for furloughs that can’t be;
It’s wondering if he’s gone overseas.
And when he comes it’s laughter together,
Unconscious of people, of time, and of weather.

It’s hearing him whisper of his love for you,
And answering his whisper that you love him, too.
Then comes the ring and a promise of love,
Knowing you’re watched by the Father above.

And loving a soldier’s goodbye at the train,
And wondering if you’ll see him again.
Reluctantly, painfully, letting him go,
Indies you’re crying for wanting him so.

Then you watch for the word he is well
And wait for a long no-letter spell.
And your feet are planted in sand not sod
And you’re living strength comes solely from God.

Loving a soldier is undefined fears
And crying until there are no more tears.
Hating the world, yourself, and the war,
And so discouraged you can fight no more.

And then giving up and kneel while praying,
And really mean the prayers you are saying.
And when the mail comes you shout out with joy;
You act like a kid with a new shining toy.

You know very well he’s an ocean away;
You keep loving him more every day.
You know very well living’s no fun
With a man in the Army to shoulder a gun.

Then you grit your teeth and put on a grin;
He’s gone to war and you’d better help win.
Then your birthday comes; you’re older today;
You feel just the same as you did yesterday.

But you’re not, you have changed. You’re wiser and stronger.
You can weather the war if it’s twenty years long.
You’ll sweat as you work all through the day;
Your job will be hard, you’ll earn your pay.

So loving a soldier is headaches and tears;
It’s living a life full of sadness and undefined fears.
Loving a soldier is really not fun,
But it’s worth the price when the battle is won.      (Author unknown)

V-E Day was 8 May 1945 and after that time my dad was able to write a little more information in the letters he sent home. His division, the 84th, the Railsplitters, was to be sent to the Pacific next and he probably would have been sent there had the war with Japan not ended.

***

COMBAT & THE TANK INCIDENT

Letter in poor condition with several holes & missing words; no envelope.
From Pfc. Herbert Miller (35845400)
Co. L, 333^rd Infantry, A.P.O. 84
c/o Postmaster, New York, NY
To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
21 May 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
I guess I’d better write a couple of lines. It’s been quite a while since I’ve written.

I’m on guard at a sawmill here at Bad Nenndorf, a town close to Hanover. There are a couple of German gals over here, flirting, but it was probably their brother or fathers that have been shooting at us.

I sent some snapshots home to mom and them. I have a camera. Say, have they got that rifle I sent home? It should be there before long. Also the canteen and other things I sent home.

The rumor that is going around is that the 84^th Division is going to the States. It sort of looks that way.

We have come about 110 miles closer. We’re moving back toward the Rhine. It makes a guy feel sort of funny to pass back through some of the towns that you fought in and the first thing that you think of is the shells flying around and about the guys that didn’t quite make it to the end or those wounded.

Back in the Belgium bulge we were dug in on a ridge and a Germany shell happened to hit the hole next to the one I and Trefun was in. The assistant squad leader of the squad got hit. From his belt up he was full of holes from shrapnel. He didn’t even know what hit him. He and I used to be together a lot and we got to be good buddies. In civilian life he played in one of the well-known orchestras. I can’t think of it just now. He knew Benny Goodman, Guy Lombardo and the rest of the leaders. The same time he got hit a piece of the same darn stuff busted my wristwatch.

On the way from the Rohr to the Rhine another buddy got hit. He used to be an anti-aircraft gunner and volunteered for the infantry about a week before. We were moving into the town of Harten [?], a town where the Jerries landed some paratroopers to try to stop our drive. We were spear-heading at that time. The 1^st squad, 1^st platoon went first, as usual; and I’m in that squad in the A.R.  team at that. The Jerries let us walk in town and then opened up. We all dived for houses and proceeded to clean out the houses that we had entered. We made all of the Jerries that we took prisoner walk out in the streets. There were tracers flying everywhere. We tried every way we could think of to get back a few houses. We were in the ?? house up on the right side of the road.

[?] Krauts about 10 yards in front of us. All twelve of us were in that house, or I should say beer garden and there was plenty of beer.

We were pinned down in there about three hours and it wasn’t so very long until dark. We had everything planned to fight for the finish. About that time some artillery began to come in—the only thing it was theirs.

This guy was a grenadier. He and the bazooka team and Lamb, the platoon guide, were upstairs in the window trying to knock out a machine gun nest they had spotted when a burp gunner opened up on them at the window. Jack was hit through the neck, arm, and chest and Lamb got a bullet hole through his helmet just nicking him. We carried Jack down in the basement so that he’d be safe from shrapnel. That made us pretty mad so we lay down a barrage of hand-grenades and made a dash for the next house. We surprised them and got about 30 Krauts prisoners we had quite a few pistols, but that was the last of our thoughts, we just had ourselves in deeper. We were about to see what the situation was there, when we heard a tank coming. We didn’t know if they were ours or not so they got the bazooka team ready to fire on it. When around the corner comes two American tank destroyers—hell-bent and fire. The rest of the town was duck-soup and the T.D.s saved the day. We were going to bed down for a good night’s sleep when they got us together to go out and try to defend the town.
Your Brother
Herbie

PS If you want to give the letter to Helen and correct it to put in the youth council paper.

This letter is particularly interesting because he tells about some of the combat he was in. I remember my dad telling the story about the tank destroyer. They heard a tank coming but didn’t know if it was friendly or not. It would have been very hard to see your fellow soldiers get hit and I am sure it is something my dad never forgot. He really never talked about that part of the war. He mentions the name Trefun. That would be Pfc Matt Trefun. They were probably in the same squad and Trefun’s name is one of the names written on the Nazi flag my dad brought home.

My dad also mentions the shrapnel that hit and busted his wristwatch. This story was printed in The Willshire Herald on 12 July 1945:…”Pfc. Herbert M. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Miller of south of town, has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained while in action in Germany. He was hit by a shrapnel, which broke his wrist watch and injured his thumb. His buddy was killed by being hit by the same shrapnel. The Purple Heart has been sent to his mother.” A very close call for my dad.

My dad also gives some indication of where he was and where he fought in these letters. Sometime I may plot it all out on a map.

***
To Mr. & Mrs. Wavel Reef
RR #1 Willshire, Ohio
From Pfc Herbert Miller
May 23, 1945
Germany

Dear Aunt, Uncle & Grandmother,
It’s about 8 o’clock in the morning and I am going to try and write a couple of letters. They have been keeping us pretty busy around here, drilling & guard duty & etc. We have a schedule about like basic training.

I started to write you a letter last night & can’t find the envelope & paper I had started on so I’m going to write a V-mail.

I imagine you have a quite a few of the crops out. How has the weather been, dry or rainy?

I don’t know what they are going to do with this Division. It will be either Army occupation or the Pacific. These are Rumors going around that we are going to the Pacific, ? we do will probably go to the states first.

Must close for now, am feeling fine & hope you are the same.
Love, Herbie

PS My camera takes B-2 film. Please send some. 

Mr. & Mrs. Wavil Reef (Johnny & Clara) were Herb’s aunt and uncle. His paternal grandmother Christena (Kessler) Miller lived with Johnny & Clara.

***

28 May 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
I have a picture to send so decided to write a couple of lines. From what I hear youins have been having pretty bad weather. Do you have any corn out yet? Wait a minute. Speaking of corn, about a week ago our squad was detailed to guard a distillery which contained about three thousand gallons of corn liquor. We had the guard for about two weeks. Some fun!

These pictures I’m sending home I developed myself. The pictures were taken by a couple of other guys and Portor and I developed the smaller prints.

Must close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are thee same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a package.

This may be one of the photos he talked about in this letter. This is one of my favorite photos:

The same photo, digitally colorized:

***

The next letter was written on the same Railsplitter stationery, written to his parents. He wrote the letter 30 May 1945 and the inner post stamp is Berne, 25 Jun 1945.

30 May 1945
Germany

Dear Mom & All,
Just came in from retreat and rifle inspection. They showed another show today, something about Blondie and Dagwood.

I now have five more points. Tonight at retreat the company commander called seven of us guys up to the front of the formation and presented the Purple Heart to us. I imagine it is for the time when the shrapnel busted my wristwatch. It did cut a gash in my thumb.

I now have 36 points. That is just about ½ enough. But I’ve been in the Army only eleven months and most of the guys that have over 85 points have been in the Army three or four years.

How is everything coming along on the farm? Do you have any corn out yet? They last I heard it was still pretty wet around there.

You asked if I received the Celina Standard and The Willshire Herald. Yes I receive both of them and have been for quite a while. I thought that I mentioned it.

I received the fountain pen. Thanks a lot. It really writes good. I am using it now.

Must close for now. Will try ad write often.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a box of cookies and home-baked fruit cake. That real good kind that you have been sending.

P.S. #2 The picture enclosed is of my platoon guide S/Sgt. Lawrence Broderick. He used to be my squad leader. (20 years old)

Unfortunately, I do not have the photo of Lawrence Broderick, but the photos shown below were labeled Germany, 84^th Division Award Ceremony:

***

IN THE OCCUPATION FORCES

Although the war was technically over, my dad had to accumulate a certain number of points before he could be discharged. During that time, after the end of the war, he was a member of the Occupation Forces in Germany. He spent part of that time working in the post office.

1 June 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack
This letter won’t be so awful long but a few words are better than none. I imagine by the time you have mom and them will have received the Purple Heart I sent home. You didn’t know I had one, but I’m almost as good as women when it comes to keeping secrets.

How is farming coming along? Do you have all of the corn out yet?

I’ve written quite a few letters tonight. I wrote one to Don Hoblet and I’m getting so I don’t know what to say, so I’d better sign off.

Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a package.

Like so many of the WWII veterans, my dad did not talk a lot about his service and did not talk about his Purple Heart. He did like to read books and accounts of the Battle of the Bulge and of WWII. He loved to receive packages with home-made goodies and he often asked his mother and sisters to send more. He seemed to especially like their fruitcake. I should try to find the Miller fruitcake recipe.

***

These letters, while serving with the Occupation Force in Germany, give us an idea of what things were like for him during that time.

My dad mentions possibly going to the Pacific in the next letter. It was rumored that if the war had continued, the 84th would have been sent to the Pacific, but the war with Japan ended in September 1945.

To Em & Jack Weitz
V-mail from Pfc Herbert Miller
19 June 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
It’s about 4:30 in the morning and just got off guard duty. Only have 1½ any more so it isn’t any use to go to bed.

How is everything coming along around Chatt? Do you have all of the crops out yet? I don’t have the least idea where I’m going to be sent but right now we are doing the job of occupational troops and if we stay here 6 months that means 6 months less in the Pacific. The town we are in now is about the size of Celina. These German towns are very old and historic. This particular town has a castle that was built sometime in the 13th century. It is half in ruins, not from the war, and sits right on top of a hill. From there you can see for miles and miles. Oh, yes, the ground is very hilly around here, something like Alabama.

There are very few passes given out. Four men out of forty got passes in the last 6 months. The passes are for Paris, Holland, and Belgium. You don’t need a pass in Germany. You can go into town any night or every night but you can’t associate with the German farms [?] homes [?].

Must close for now.
Love,
Herbie

***

SCHRIESHEIM CASTLE

In the previous letter my dad was very likely referring to the ruins of Schriesheim Castle, where he took these photos.

***

To Em & Jack Weitz
V-mail from Pfc Herbert Miller
30 June 1845
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
It’s Saturday afternoon and decided to write a couple of letters. How is the farming coming along? OK I hope. Are there any ripe tomatoes yet? How about the corn? Is it up yet? I imagine it is and is getting pretty tall. They don’t raise any corn at all around here or anywhere in Germany. They raise lots of beets and grass [?]. Where I’m at now is way up I the hills, just about like Alabama, hot in the day and cool at night. I’ve had two baths [?] at American bases since I’ve been over here.

Today was pay day. I’ve been sending $15 home every month until the last two times. I’m going to save it for when I go on pass. It will probably be quite a while yet.

I’ve been in the Army a year now. Sure does seem like a long time. In 12 more days I’ll be over seas [?] months.

I must close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Herbie

***

My dad complains a little in the following letter, a little unusual because he did not complain much.

To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
From Pfc Herbert Miller
Letter inside stamped Rockford, Ohio, 31 Aug 1945
10 July 1945
Schriesheim, Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
I received your letter tonight that you mailed July 2, that is 8 days, not so bad. The mail situation is really terrible, when we complain about it they tell us the folks back home have probably stopped writing. There were 14 letters for 160 men. Not very good is it? The day before there were 6 letters and the day before 48. Then they wonder why we feel blue. We were having 3 shows a week and now there is only 2. The theatre is just a small one and only half of the men can go in it. Nobody to talk to. Today for chow we got 1 hot dog, a little sauce on top of it, one biscuit, and a cup of ice water. They are nearly starving us. Then we have 8 hours of training a day. Such a life.

How is farming coming along? Are the crops coming along OK?

Johnie’s [Herb’s uncle & aunt, John & Clara (Miller) Reef] asked if we had a refrigerator. I’ve seen two since I’ve been in Germany. The German bread is black and you could leave it sit for a month and it would be just as hard as fresh. They don’t have any fancy food like we do. When we were moving from the Ruhr to the Rhine and from the Rhine to the Elbe, we were moving so fast. We would come or move so fast that when we would clean out a house they would be cooking a meal and it would be on the stove.

I haven’t received a box for quite a while so I am going to request one.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a box of food.

***

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl F. Miller
Envelope postmarked 13 July 1945
Letter inside stamped Berne, Ind, 3 Aug 1945
11 July 1945
Schriesheim, Germany

Dear Mom & All,
It’s noon, just came in from an 8 mile hike, and it is really raining. I hope we don’t have anything this afternoon, but I don’t imagine the rain will keep us in.

We don’t get much mail at all. I received 2 letters in the last five days and when we’re up in line I used to get four or five a day.

In your next letter would you send a plastic cigarette case and some flint and wick for the cigarette lighter. One guy went back on pass and I asked him if he would get me one in France. When he came back he said they were only half as big as ours and they cost $50. Things are really high in France. That black leather one you got me when I was home, I lost it and that red and black cigarette lighter in a fox hole in Belgium. I also lost that trench knife I bought at Fort Meade. I lost it in the town of Haardt [Hardt]. A couple of machine guns had this platoon pinned down on a hillside and we made a dash for a tree but the knife blade caught on a fence and it stayed there.

How are the crops coming along? Have you cut any wheat yet? The company commander said that we would be in Germany till January. We usually have a show on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. But we didn’t have any last night.

I traded 7 candy bars to a guy in the squad that doesn’t smoke for a carton of Lucky Strikes. We get 20 candy bars for a month, so I don’t need any cigarettes. There are 14 men in the squad here and two don’t smoke. Of these 14 men there are 6 men who have been wounded in action and these have all come into the outfit since I have.

We have night problems, 8 mile hikes and maneuvers here, just like Basic Training.

Can’t think of any more to write so I had better close. I am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a package.

***

That is the last letter I have that my dad wrote to his parents in 1945. The next letter I have that he wrote to his parents is dated March 1946. However, I still have some letters he wrote in 1945, letters to his sister Em and her husband Norval “Jack” and I will continue with them.

TRUMAN VISITS THE TROOPS

In the next letter my dad writes about an event he attended, something I had never heard about. I can’t believe my dad never mentioned it.

To Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz
From Pfc Herbert Miller
31 July 1945
Germany

Dear Em & Jack,
I received your letter yesterday and sure was glad to hear from you. I also received a box from [part of page missing]…thing coming [part of page missing]… very delicious.

So Norval is kept pretty busy.

Life over here is easier than farming. I mean now. All we do is training and the officers who give the classes are the same officers we had in combat. So they don’t think much of it and give us a break.

President Truman inspected the 84^th Division the other day and they took a newsreel of it. If you ever see the newsreels you will find me standing along the road. We stood at a 4 yard interval on both sides of the road and the President drove between us. I’m the 8^th man this side of the overhead railroad bridge.

Now we didn’t get to see very many movies. About two a week in all.

We had a [part of page missing]…the other day for [part of page missing]… One of the guys got [missing] bag of sugar and had it [part of page missing]… The whole Co. is allowed only 50 pounds of sugar a week and there are 165 in the Co.

It is raining out today and has been raining all morning. I was on guard from 03:00 to 04:00 and on barracks ordering today so that gives me a chance to write some letters.

I imagine the corn is too tall to plow now.

Must close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie

P.S. I have plenty of razor blades. Can you get flints for the lighters?  We can’t.

That certainly was some interesting information! He probably never thought that his daughter and others would be looking at that newsreel some 80 years later. I never knew that my dad saw President Truman or that he was filmed, standing there as the President drove by.

There are several websites that show the newsreel my dad mentioned and this is a link to one. The portion my dad mentioned he is in is about 1:03 minutes into the film:

Harry Truman, WWII, Inspects 508^th Inf Reg 26 Jul 1945, Criticalpast

Truman inspected the troops on 26 July 1945 and, although the film goes very fast, you can see the troops lined along both sides of the road and you can see the overhead railroad track my dad described. I wish I knew which side of the road and my dad was standing on, but I know he was there, along that road when President Truman drove by. Something pretty awesome to consider.

President Truman is in the convertible, the car in front of the sedan.

On that day, 26 July 1945, President Truman inspected the 84^th Infantry Division, the 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82^nd Airborne Division, and the 3^rd Armored Division, all at Frankfurt, Germany. Evidently General Eisenhower was also there, at least at the inspection of the 3^rd AD between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. Maybe my dad saw him, too!

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More letters to come.