October 24, 1943

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Ft Sam Houston

Texas

October 24, 1943

My dear Mother:

Here it is again Sunday and I have accomplished not so very much other than washing of my head and the taking of a shower and I did get a letter written to Marshall which I have been wanting to get written for some time.  And I well get this one written and then will go to bed.  I also have read the large part and finish of a book so I have not fared so bad today.

Well the highlight of the week was that they have brought in the prisoners for the prison camp[1] below us here.  And let me tell you that they were not what I had expected to see.  I expected to see a last remnant or something of that type, but they were not.  They marched them from the upper post with an escort of 250 guards with machine guns etc.  They came in, in large blocks with guards all around each group.  They all carried their own barracks bags or foot lockers or what else they had without any help or any signs of overload. And they were walking as proud and straight as they must have done a long time ago in Berlin.  They all looked in the best of health and about 3/4ths of them I would be willing to say are not over eighteen years old.  Well anyway they all wear shorts and about three of them will run around doing work with on guard and while working they will talk German and the other day Sgt Ryan had occasion to have a couple of them talk to him in English so they are at least able to understand English.

While down there the other day I had occasion to be standing there while the Major General’s car pulled up on a tour of inspection and out he stepped and I had occasion to salute him.  Also a chance to talk with his chauffeur, while he was waiting for his return.  He said that he was quite nice to work for, but I have seen him when he was not so very nice and he can really carry on when he has a notion to do so.

Has Richard Miner gotten home yet or is he expecting too?  I am still planning on sending Ann the little pottery Piggy bank.  I think that she will like it.

I am also planning on sending Jon Matson one of them.  It seems that I never get around to do all the things that I plan on doing and getting done.

How is Aunt Nina getting along these days?  She should soon be able to go home from the hospital.  I can well understand how Bill[2] feels with everything a big mess around him and then Nina having this trouble.  Things are the same here and are not improving any.  They were all ready to go when I came back. But they are beginning to settle down now and adapt themselves to a nice long siege here and spending the winter here.  They are also beginning to think of sending some boys away to school for three months which of course may be recalled at any time.  So you see the set up here at the present time and very likely for some time to come, unless of course they, may at any time, change the organization and cut it down and send us as we are at the present time.  And I hope when they do the cutting that they exclude me and Sgt Ryan from it.  They could very well have us sent elsewhere that we would both enjoy and perhaps get a little farther ahead.

Tomorrow we are really going to have some fun out on our little hike.  The plans from the 88^th Division are going to fly over us and drop some small sacks of flour on us and see how we are going to be able to flee and hide without being hit and also to see how well they aim their little sacks of flour.

Well I had better begin thinking of closing now and getting on with my work since it is the next day and after lunch.  I have made this letter all one only writing it on two days.  I wonder if it will make any sense to you when you do read it.  The Service Station attendant (First Sgt) just blew in and out again in his big shot way seeing how many airs he could put on.  Well enough for now and as always take care of yourself.

Lot of love,

Stanley

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[1] http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM31VV_Fort_Sam_Houston_POW_Camp

[2] W.A “Bill” Baker headed the Denver Tramway Corp and the onetime DS truck line, became president and CeO of TIMe-DC Inc, one of the US’s largest coast-to-coast motor carriers