August 21, 1945 - France

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Marseille Area, France

August 21, 1945

Dearest Mother:

I suppose you are awaiting this letter as it has been some time since last I wrote you.

The war has ended and the so called "Peace” is just around the corner, I hope.

If and when it does get here I will be home, which according to present plans should not be far off.  This will be my last letter for a while and the next time you will hear from me by phone if all goes well in Tokyo. Otherwise by mail.

I will call in the evening so be on the look out for the telephone bell.

Well all for this time and a lot more later when we have a 30 day reunion.

As always,

All my Love,

Your son,

Stanley

 On the USS Ballou

USS General C. C. Ballou (AP-157) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Charles Clarendon Ballou. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General C. C. Ballou in 1946. On 1 March 1950 she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General C. C. Ballou (T-AP-157). She was later sold for commercial operation under several names before being scrapped some time after 1981.[1

General C. C. Ballou, (AP-157) was launched 7 March 1945 under Maritime Commission contract (MC #714) by Kaiser Co., Inc., Yard 3, Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. Harry J. Bernat; acquired by the Navy 20 May 1945; and commissioned 30 June 1945, Comdr. M. D. MacGregor in command.

Following shakedown off San Diego, General C. C. Ballou departed San Pedro 29 July 1945 for France via the Panama Canal. She arrived Marseilles after the Japanese surrender, and sailed with returning veterans 23 August bound for Hampton Roads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_General_C._C._Ballou_%28AP-157%29