June 4, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Wiedenbruck, Germany  -  14

June 4, 1945

Dearest Mother :

After another short trip from Bielefeld to here at headquarters which took place on the 31, I will write a few lines this evening.  I wrote an unnumbered letter the day of my departure, since I had already packed my things.

I seem to be missing one of your letters, a number 18.  I have your letters 19, 20, 21 and 22 which I received today.

The other day I mailed home the water color I previously mentioned.  I mailed it between two sheets of plywood with the balance of the portrait pictures.  One of them on the sand colored paper is for you.  Some of them are awful.  The boys on Sgt Ryan X-Ray team made them for me .  Also mailed home was a box containing all my winter clothes with sleeping bag liners (sheeting) etc.  Also enclosed were some pictures you can put away for me.  There is a roll or two of developed film which if you want any of you can have made for yourself.  There is also another roll which is marked and you can have one print made of each for me.

In regards to me being heavier.  I my be some, especially after my recent life of luxury.

The porcelain I am glad to hear of reaching home.

The shoes were bought shortly before leaving San Antonio, and have only been worn over here in Paris.  I like them very much.

The porcelain came from a once beautiful collection.

Yes the Lantana was certainly a mess and I often had a mind to remove it but never did.  I would like very much to have seen the Nile lily in bloom, even tho I have seen them before.  They are quite an attraction.  Did the flies bother them any?

Have here the card in an envelope telling me of the subscription to Readers Digest & Time (Pony Edition) as coming from Dad and yourself.  You really should not do these things for me.  You have already done so very much.

Last Sunday they had here for the first time in eight years the “Corpus Christi” celebration and ceremony in the churches.  A Catholic thing, and as always very elaborate and colorful.  With the bishop under a canopy carried by church dignitaries.  The altar boys in their costumes, the sisters and all the little girls dressed in pure white with garlands in their hair.  The people of the church fell into the procession behind.  Some of the robes and banners were certainly nice.  There was a path of flowers down the street and garlands overhead.  The houses along the way had each one constructed an individual altar on their doorsteps.  Something very new to me and worthwhile seeing.

You are certainly right about the mixed up relations a lot of people are going to have with the return home of the soldiers.  Most of them had no business ever getting married to begin with.

Don Finley is quite lucky to be able to go on to school for the Navy. But it may be indicative of a discharge any or none too soon.

You sending me the picture was alright, but I intended you one for yourself.  I can always send this one to someone.  The picture was taken of myself with my fur jacket while I was still at Neuhaldensleben up near Magdeburg in March or April.

From time to time I will write of things in the past which I think will be of interest to you.

Yes, our group may move on rather soon as you mentioned in letter 20.  But as to the shortage of some, I often wonder.  We could get along very well without all of our nurses tho.  They have been nothing but excess baggage and trouble ever since our departure from the US.  For the good some of them are the rest offsets it.

Aunt Dell tells me in the last letter that Gertrude is back from Florida, but has been none too well.

The Amaryllis would perhaps be better if repotted in a larger pot but no great hurry.  They quite often bloom a little better if pot bound.

Yes the news of the Prentice separation.  As you say “Big Shots”.  Was no great surprise to me.

I wish Jay would say something to me about not writing him.  I always make it a point to answer his letters quite soon.  I could very well drop him and spend all my time on other letters.  He has his nerve.

Very glad to hear of Mrs. Miner hearing of Richard.  She told me in her last letter that she worried so much about it at times that she could not be still.  All of them were marched around away from the Russians.

The Avocado tree perhaps is quite useless and should be replaced by something else of more value.  I always wanted a Jacaranda in the parkway in front.  Why don’t you get a good fruit tree or shade tree for the place behind garage.  Of course it is too late for bare root trees now.

Perhaps sooner than expected I may have the chance of seeing Nelson again.  Distances are not so great for us.

Thanks for the Air Mail stamps enclosed in some of your last letters.  Received the correct number according to each letter.

Find enclosed a couple stamps for my collection.

Hope this find you all well and hope you remain so.  My next letter will follow soon as I have the time.

All my Love,

Stanley

Also enclosed one fifty dollar ($50) money order

May 22, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany -  13

May 22, 1945

Dearest Mother

After such a long time the censorship has been lifted and the idea alone inspires me to write a few letters today.

From my room here, which is a corner room on the third floor of a German civilian hospital I can see for some distance in places where the trees do not restrict my view.  The sky is overcast and has been trying to rain but perhaps eventually the sun perhaps will shine.

Another sergeant and myself are the only ones here, and that is only for the military portion of the hospital of which they have 200.  Our business is merely the Allied Administration of POW Hospitals and the last place I was doing the same work only the major was with me.  He is now across town at another hospital.  I only make rounds with him once in a while.

My last station was at Bad Salzuflen, which is one of the very beautiful little towns in the famous resort center of Germany.  The Wehrmacht turned it into a hospital center before their defeat and we have taken over and are clearing out all the sick POWs.  Our house there was surrounded by beautiful gardens full of trees, shrubs and flowers. We have gardens here but we are more or less in a hotel.  We had maid service there for everything including the serving of the meal.  We have the same here. And the beds here are the real thing for comfort.

You will find our location not far off the Autobahn south of Hannover in case you have a map there.

The last place had hedges (artificial) constructed through which the run water slowly, and when the breezes blew thru them the air became cooled.  They had a great number of them all about 30 feet high in various places around the hospitals.

The town here is quite torn up since it was a German Army headquarters and hospitals or not they had to get the headquarters.

You mention Iris being in bloom in your letter No15.  Here in the resort place which I am (at) they have been originated here and are really beautiful.  You should also see the Rhododendrons which they have here.  Nurseries are quite abundant here.  Pansies are certainly beautiful in the large beds outside.

You perhaps can tell from the outward appearances of things that I am very happy at present, despite the enclosed clippings which I have always known would more than likely happen, as I have told you previously that I did not expect to get out for some time to come, so the news does not affect me too much.  The MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) number of 861 is mine and the 225 is Sgt Ryan since he is a male nurse.  The doctors are all worried now since they are declaring us essential.  Ha Ha!

Has Mrs. Miner heard anything of Richard yet?

Received a very nice letter from Howard Kiel the other day.  Also others received have been from Thelma, Aunt Dell, Jay, Miss Mosher and Joe.

In your letters 16 and 17 you at the time were expecting something to happen.  I often before then had heard of things happening but that type of thing always take time. Conditions here with the Displaced Personnel such as the Russians is becoming impossible in more ways than one.  But enough of this for now as the time will come when I can tell you more.

Glad to hear of you getting the chickens.  You should save the best rooster of the bunch and have your own source of chicks hereafter.

Muriel’s birthday has slipped upon me without me knowing it so it you think of something she wants within reason, will you get it for her as a present from me?

You need not worry about replacing the money too soon.  If you need it for other things, do not fail to use it for such, as I am in no need of it here and perhaps will not be for some time.  No need of caching bonds for cash as long as you have my money handy.  You have invested in them so get the full value from them.

I had a notion some time ago to ask you for Mrs. Ohashi’s address, only I thought it would seem rather strange to him if not an insult.  You get it for me and I may be able to use it some day in the administration of Japanese hospitals etc.  Would be rather interesting.

Well about all for now and thanks for the airmail stamps enclosed in two letters and I hope this reaches you in good health and that Dad is well recovered from the accident.

All my Love,

Stanley

 

May 6, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany - 9

May 6, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Again on a wet afternoon I am going to write you a few lines and answer a few of your questions asked in letter No 14 of April 20.

We are still here and still have (been) hanging over our heads the prospect of returning to headquarters at any time, which is any time will be too soon for me in my present mood, regarding them.

In regards to the word we being used in letters such as Nelson’s.  Things will pass the censor quite often if the word I is used which would not be indicative of a unit movement.

It seems that the news of today noon’s was that the war is over, but one way or the other we do not or are not excited over it as in my present position I wonder why it has not been sooner.  Beyond me is the explanation of “things are on schedule”.   I cannot understand why armies wait at rivers etc.

As yet I have seen no Russian army members, have seen quite a few refugees tho.  We have even a few Indian ghurka troopers here in hospital and they are certainly characters.  They no longer have their turbans which were taken away from them because of them being (lousy).  They therefore wear bath towels.

I went to church this morning in the Prostestant Church here in town and the sermon was given by our chaplain here.  The church is the first protestant one I have seen here in Europe.  Very beautiful interior as well as quite old.  But even tho, it showed signs of the German race and their top heavy architecture.

I have met a boy here at the hospital who comes from Momence.  He knows Aunt Dell and family also Cousin Gertrude and sons in lumber business.  His name is Raymond Montgomery.  He says you may know a family by the name of Kelsen as it is his mother’s family.  Strange how small a world this is.  He states that the HESS family id the first family of Momence.  He used to mow lawns for Gertrude.

I must have been in a hurry to get somewhere or something else may have come up to distract me so as not to sign my letter you mention.  I usually am not that rattle brained.

In regards to my change of teams I can not tell you now but will do so later when the chance comes.  It is a long story.  I have requested them and thankfully have known the Col. Well enough to do so.

Enclosed you will find one of the afore mentioned pictures which I hope you will like.  I will inscribe one of the better ones and send it on later in a large card boarded envelope for you.  All my love,

Your Son,

Stanley

March 21, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

1

Germany

March 21, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Well write a few lines this evening to let you know that I received yesterday your well received letters of February 26 and of March 2.  And as you mentioned the former is the largest letter ever received from you.  I will not endeavor to answer your questions now other than the flower ones.

The Wastonias I do want you to take some of as long as they reproduce so rapidly Or think all of you wish.  The Fuchsias can all be left behind.  The Ivy you can take slips of but take none from the ground.  The cacti of course would all be nice to take along and repot at some future time.  I did not mention the Rhubarb since you I imagined would take such things.

Also in the mail yesterday I received a letter from Aunt Dell and a roll of film from Thelma which I will have to answer for soon.

Enclosed you will find two sheets of Dutch stamps which the boy at the house in Holland gave me while there.  These are all German printed and as I understand these are the entire set of those printed.  I think these are quite nice.

The other day while still at my last station.  I had the chance to go to one of the large mansion nearby and you can well imagine my delight at going over.  In the barn there were some very beautiful carriages, one in particular was black and all shined with red velvet cushions and interior and the thing really had good springs for a change.  The green box was full of rare plants and the house had a beautiful solarium full of plants such as azaleas, camillias, ferns, cyclamen etc.  The lace curtains at the windows were really beautiful as well as everything else in the house.

I have started once again to use the numbering system on my letters and will continue since I have a system now for keeping track of it.  This one will be No 1 again.

Well all for now and more again.

All my Love

Stanley

26 stamps enclosed

Dulken, Germany - March 1945 - 105th EVAC

10 January 1945 - Holland

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Holland

10 January 1945

Dearest Mother:

After a few days of running around all over the country and seeing all of the shows within a radius of several miles I will sit down and write you a few lines.

Sgt Ryan returned from the provinces, as we call them, with a mental breakdown and very much in need of a rest so we decided to see a lot of the sights.

First of all I want to tell you of a very nice picture we saw in our travels entitled “Rhapsody in Blue”[1], the life of George Gershwin.  They held the world premiere here and it was attended by full houses at all showings and the audience really enjoyed the picture.  A general attended the night I went. We have seen quite a few other shows and find that most of them are about the same old type.

A couple days ago I received a full handful of mail, the first in some time and will now have to answer all of them.  Received also a box from the Matsons and Miss Mosher, each including film.  Miss Mosher also sent a book and stationary and a very nice Christmas card.  The Matsons box also included some “Yardley’s English Lavender” soap.

Received a card and note from Cousin Gertrude telling me of her going to Florida again.  One from Joe, Aunt Dell, Muriel and Whitney.

Yes I remember when Ruth Wilde[2] was at our house on their return from Arizona.  Have they sold their sand business?

I found your Christmas card a very beautiful and entirely different one and I really think it very nice.

Yes it will be quite funny to see you in glasses but if you need them that is all there is to it.  Joe has mentioned this doctor several times.

Your day at the races certainly sounded quite interesting.  We shall have to go upon our return home.

Your telling of the delivery boy playing the piano sounds quite interesting.  A person would really be surprised at the number of boys who can play something of that type.  I am going to take something up on my return.

I really appreciate your Birthday message in your letter of December 5 and hope I can live up to it.

I am looking forward to seeing the points of the pictures and you perhaps will like some of them also.  You have prints made of the ones you wish at my expense.

The weather here has been quite cold with snow and ice.  They are skiing nearby and ice skates are being used quite a bit.

You may have some pictures (Studio) of me coming up soon if they turn out well.

Louise Ingles mentioned Bernard entering regular grade school.  News to me.

About all for now and I will write again soon.  Enclosed find a clipping and some more stamps.

All my Love,

Stanley

CODE: LIMBERG (=Limburg)

 

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhapsody_in_Blue_%28film%29

[2] Ruth Wilde was Stanley’s cousin. Their common ancestor was Isabella Griswold who married 3 times.  Ruth is also Clarences sister.  They were born to George Henry Wilde, grandson of Charles H Wilde who was the 2nd husband of Isabella, while Stanley was issued from her first marriage to James Hartwell through their daughter Cora. Isabella later married William Henry Matthews who survived her and with whom she had 2 sons: Ralph and Elmer Matthews.

April 10, 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

April 10, 1944

Dear Mother:

I had better get this letter written off to you or you will begin to wonder if I am ever going to write you.  We are engaged now in the classification of our enlisted men and that is a huge job.  We are also starting a few more carts etc for a forthcoming inspection this weekend.  It seems that we are no sooner done with one when another one comes along.  I get rather tired of the entire mess since a few of us get all the work and the balance of the company lay around with nothing else to do.

The weather here has taken a very sudden change. Where we previously had a lot of cold damp weather we have the beginning of the extreme heat.  Saturday afternoon when I was visiting Sgt Ryan at the hospital a very sudden lightning and thunderstorm started and it started a fire on the other side of the Post.  And it just poured for a while and after it let up it cleared off and it has been nice ever since, in fact too nice.

Sgt Ryan will be in the hospital from 6-8 weeks.  He has t(h)ree fractures of the face and they have his mouth wired shut for traction.  He tells me he is going to take a vacation while he has the chance.

Received the very delicious box of candy and the attractive Easter card.  The candy is all very good and to my opinion you have not lost your touch for candy making.  The card was very nice. Received cards from Miss Mosher, Aunt Dell, the Chipmans and others.

Also received a nice letter from Joe.  I got the pictures off to them about a week ago.  So very glad to have all of that done. Received a nice letter from Mrs. Matson and the picture back from Jay.

He was telling me about the other friends of Nina’s being there.  He seemed to think that “Duke” had been given the seat of honor at the table but said that it did not bother him.  Don’t repeat this or he may hear of it. So I autographed the picture and returned it yesterday.

I received a card I guess from Muriel also.  The envelope had not even been sealed and she had not even signed her name. Where was her head when she mailed that?

I hope you have received the money orders by now.  I am out on a campaign to save money.

Does Aunt Maibelle have any chickens of any kind now?  She, as you say, will not have patience to keep from working.  She has to keep busy.

I should hear from Marshall soon as he should have received the picture by now.  I suppose George does get very lonesome all by himself down there.  It certainly surprised me to hear of Marshall’s marriage.  I just never thought of him as getting married so soon.  But he of course is old enough.  I am no longer so very young myself.  I guess I judge others by myself and there are a lot of people getting married younger than myself.  Do not let this worry you and make you think I am contemplating marriage now.  Ha! Ha! About half the company here is married and more of them engaged every day.  And the families are quite numerous.

Have Marie and Leland gotten moved into their house as yet?

While mentioning Leland reminds me to ask if the tennis racket of his is still there at the house?  I may want to use one if I can get a hold of one.

Part of our unit is in Fort Worth on a Bond selling mission and I would have liked to have gone but no suck luck for me.  I remain here.  I would like to see Fort Worth.

I imagine that the company will be all gone by the time you get this letter and you will be rather tired.

Not to change the subject but I really like the tie which you sent and it will be a nice one for summer wear.  We are going to start wearing khaki tomorrow, although the wool has not been quite as hot as it was prior to going into khaki last year.  The tie is almost an officer’s color but will go well with my own shirt.

Major Skinner flew to Chicago in the middle of the week and he will be back in two weeks.  He is flying both ways and has a good priority.  He was able to save so much time with the slow and poor trains.

Major Kuhns is back on Detached Service now and most of the others are also gone.  So I guess that we will sit here for a while this summer and enjoy Dodd Field.  Most of us (officers & em) would much rather be here than in India or elsewhere of that type.

Well enough for tonight and thanks again for all the nice things and I will write again soon.

All my love,

Stanley