MS 984 - Byron Armbruster World War II Papers Transcripts (March 1945)

March 1, 1945

France
1 March '45

Dear Folks -

To-day I received a letter from each of you, dated Feb 19th and 20th. I also received a letter from Stan and Eleanor. Mother, you want me to request something for you to send. I thank you just the same, but just continue to send me your weekly letters and I'll be more than satisfied. Your a dear for being so faithful. I'd be lost without your weekly visit, by mail.

It has been nearly four months since I last have had on my blouse, or in other words since I have been dressed to go on a pass, altho I expect to get a pass in the near future.

I have wired home another hundred dollars or five thousand francs. Mother, let me know what the status of my bank account now it. I know what I have in Postal Savings, just let me know of my bank account. When I get home, I expect to spend of couple of months, just resting.

Everything here is O.K. we are now back where things are quite, altho we are quite busy. It wasn't quite so quite on my birthday.

With All my Love,
Byron

P.S. Received a letter from Helen and Herald.

March 6, 1945

France
6 March '45

Dear Mom -

I haven't time to write to nite but I want to get the enclosed gift on its way, so that you will receive it by Easter. I hope you like it. wishing you and dad each a Happy Easter.

With Love,
Byron

P.S. Please give the other one to Frida.

March 6, 1945

Belgium
6 March '44 [45]

Dear Folks -

Just a note at this time. I am spending a short leave here in Brussels, and having a fine time. A group of us came in and we are staying at something like a rest camp. You often see pictures of similar settings in the Life magazine. I had my choice of going to Paris or Brussels. I'll go on to Paris later.

The boys are ready to scram, so I'll write more later.

Love,
Byron

P.S. Have you seen Sgt. Bernth?

March 11, 1945

France
11 March '45

Dear Folks -

This is Sunday, but worked the entire day. However its now nine o'clock and I just returned from a USO Show, starring Marlene Dietrich. It was just a fair show.

Cpl Phillips and myself are now living in a large warehouse connected to our office. We built a small room under the building, just large enough to be comfortable for two and have a little privacy. This evening we mopped the floor and built shelves. I covered my shelf with a piece of red parachute and set out some pictures, including the one of Eloise and myself, Frances Mary, and the one of you mother, where you are holding the pictures of Kenny and myself. I had dads picture from one of the Cards pasted to the wall. I just have no more room for anymore. It certainly adds a homy tough.

Yesterday I received a letter from the Hughes and Wayne Spencer. Today one from Eloise and Emma. I received dads a couple days ago.

Hoping you have seen Sgt. Bernth by the time you receive this letter.

Love to All,
Byron

March 16, 1945

France
16 March '45

Dear Mother and Dad -

I really haven't much news, but my thoughts have been with you so much to-day that I just must write. I am indeed busy since Sgt. Bernth left, as I am doing my work, plus trying to fill his shoes. One of the other fellows in our section, Price Underwood, went to the hospital just a few days after Sgtt. Bernth left and hasn't returned, as yet.

Last nite we had a company party with all the trimmings, a fine orchestra, champagne, ice cream, cakes and plenty of women, WAC's, British ATS and French civilians.

Mail is certainly off schedule now as I haven't received any for three days. The V-mail is the only mail that goes by air now. Regular air mail letters now go by ship.

I'm taking a quite a few pictures now but I'm not allowed to send any home at this time. You always tell me to request something, but we get plenty of candy, gum and etc. with our rations now the only items you might send, if you wish, are pop corn and vacuum sealed nuts.

With All my Love,
Byron

March 18, 1945

France
18 March '45

Dear Folks -

I've received the letter bearing the sad news and I indeed received a shock. I hardly know what to say. She was such a dear one. It won't seem the same, when I return. It was certainly nice that Eleanor and Stan were home just a short time before.

We now have a Lutheran Chaplian, who holds a special Lutheran service each Sunday, after the other services. I attended this morning. I worked this afternoon and went to the show, after supper, with Sgt. Hould. After the show he came with me to my quarters and Cpl Phillips, he and myself popped corn. We are trying to listen to the news but our radio isn't much good. We can only get two stations and the reception is poor.

What will Higgins do now that grandmother and Charley are both gone?

I haven't been receiving much mail here of late. It must be tied up somewhere.

Love to you All,
Byron

P.S. Another Easter in the Service.

March 21, 1945

France
21 March '45

Dear Folks -

Mail has been very scarce. Yesterday a letter from you mother and to-day an Ester card from the Reiters with a snap enclosed. Thanks for the pictures of yourself, the Mohlers and the deep snow. They certainly make me wish that I was in Ohio.

Tomorrow morning I am going into Paris, on business. I perhaps shall be there for about three days. It sounds fun, but its never as good as it sounds.

How has Eloise been since grandmother passed away? That certainly was a shock. Did they realize that she was that ill?

A French lady does my laundry and I have just received it. I'll now put it away, listen to the news, do a little reading and then retire.

With all my Love,
Byron

March 26, 1945

France
26 March '45

Dear Folks -

I suppose the airborne landings had you worried once again. Well so far, so good.

Mail certainly seems scarce, maybe its just my amagination. I hope by now, that you have seen Sgt. Bernth. If you have, you perhaps received some real first hand information. He's certainly a swell fellow, isn't he? What this outfit needs is a few officers like him. I dare say his standards are much higher than many of our officers, with a few exceptions, of which fortunately my company commander happens to be one. I think our company commander is the only officer that holds the respect of every enlisted man under his command.

Tell Eloise that Joan (Mrs. Ulrich) is quite put out that she hasn't written to her as yet.

Is dad farming the farm that he bought last year or is he renting it out? How many farms is Clarence taking care of now that Dwight has joined the navy?

Marcille and Bert are certainly fortunate, in getting home so frequently. Does he expect to be stationed in California very long?

Its now 9:30 P.M. and Cpl. Phillips and myself are writing letters while listening to the improvised radio that he has rigged up. We have a fire on the stove and tonite we picked up a little dot and she is streached out infront of the stove. The magpies are makings lot of noise outside our window. I don't believe we had magpies in the States, do we? Emma would know.

I received nice long letters from Mother Brinkman and the Hughes. Rev. Hughes insists that I just have to pay them another visit before returning to the States. I hope I will be able to. Next Sunday is Easter (April fools day) and believe me I'm not working that day, as Sgt. Ulrich, Cpl. Jeschke and myself are planning on taking communion. There is a special Lutheran communion that day. We three are the only Lutherans in the company that I know of, especially of the Missouri Synod. Sgt. Bernth also is Lutheran, Missouri Synod.

I was fortunate is buying several films for my camera while in Brussels, so I'm taking a few pictures but heavens only knows when I'll get them developed.

Enclosed are a couple snaps taken almost a year ago. Remember the three prominent wrinkles I had on my forehead? There are a few more there now.

Well, I think I've raved on and on enough for one nite, so I'll close. I had some teeth filled a week or so ago and today one of them fell out. I'm telling you - - - well, Napoleon never was like this.

With Love,
Byron