July 26, 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 - 20

July 26, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Having gone to Marseille yesterday I was not here when your No32 letter of July 12 came so found it upon my return home.  Was of course very glad to hear from you again for it was the first letter.  I have received in a week. Our mail was stopped here for a while.  I know not the reason unless they thought we would be gone by now.

Just finished had a letter started some time ago to Joseph.  My writing has fallen down a great deal here recently, especially with none coming in and nothing of importance to write of.

I liked the two pictures a great deal and I can now have a much better idea of the Lily.  The family group is an interesting one and there are none too many left in this branch of the family are there. You are not smiling any too much tho.

The clippings were amusing and especially the one regarding the piece of vegetables.  Thanks for the stamps.

It is hard for me to realize that Nina will be so old.  How does the time fly by so rapidly?  She is or was still quite attractive the last time I saw her tho.

Quite amused to hear of Jays latest deal on you.  He should certainly be taken down a notch or two.  Who does he think he  is?

I can see him getting away with that again.  He would certainly go without my company for a while if he pulled that on me.

Glad to hear of the jackets and parachute material arriving home.  It is a German cargo chute which was taken from the factory.  Some of the color fades out but remains still quite nice.  Ryan had some handkerchiefs made of it which were quite nice.  The lady washed them  when finished.  Some of the fellows here made scarves of them but of course are not allowed to wear them since they are not GI.

You had not mentioned previously Harry and Fred Kirchner.  What will be their next escapade?

Down in Marseille the other day I noticed in one of the windows a large dish of snails which they must have been preparing for their meal.  A person can get them in a restaurant once in a while.  They have a large foreign population in the city and it all goes to make the city a great international one.  Quite a few Chinese are around.

Ryan has just returned from the Riviera and he has enjoyed it very much.  I did not care to go on the type of a trip they went on as I felt I would not be able to really rest while there.  All that went seem to have had a drunken orgy from their arrival to their departure.  you know is off limits to US troops.  They say the former casinos are no longer what they used to be and no one there at all for pleasure.

Well all for now, and I hope you are all in the best of health.

Always,

All my Love,

Stanley

          Back: Wayne Safford, Edmond "Ned" Safford, Grace Safford, George Safford;
Front: Ella Safford (Edmond "Ned" Safford's wife), Leland Safford, Marie Safford

PS: The picture certainly does not show Marie has suffered any from raising a family.  Florence is certainly showing her age, very likely to her dislike, and Chet certainly looks bad, of course who can blame him.  Marie looks as tho she had not given up any too much for anyone.  She very likely has as much money or more, plus security which she did not have before her marriage to Leland.  She knew what she was getting into when she married a Safford, if not she was certainly a fool!  Or perhaps she was or is or she would not be where she is today.

 "Me" is Muriel Safford, Stanley's sister