July 9, 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 - 18

July 9, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Have here your letters 27, 28, 29 which I have received recently since my last letter home to you.

Have here your acknowledgement of the money order of June1. Another one is enclosed in this letter ($50).  I had intended to ask you if you had ever received the two sheets of Dutch stamps which were mailed some time ago.  I do not recall you ever mention them.

I gather that Maibelle would in due time get tired of her relatives if she moved up there so near to them.

Yes, I have been told all about Muriel’s new school and perhaps it will be of value to her, but my idea of models is not very good.  Most of them do not have too good a reputation.

Yes, the 9^th Army headquarters is on their way home.  We no longer belong to them tho.

Yes Neuhaldensleben was the nearest Berlin I got.  I was there on V-E Day at an Evacuation Hospital which took care of a lot of the returning Prisoners.  They were all very interesting to talk with.  They took care of several hundred of them.

Regarding our group here we know nothing other than hearsay and that has always been the same.  Washington has no idea of what the nurses really are.

The Edmond Dantes cell in the Château d'If

I can well imagine the Jacaranda tree from the rear porch and think how beautiful it must be.  One would be very nice in front.  Two would be too many.  It of course would be a lot of work to prepare the curb for one of them or anything else.

Yes I remember the boy who used to mow lawns around there.  He seemed a very nice there.  He seemed a very nice boy.  I believe once before you mentioned him being in the Merchant Marines.

I can well imagine the horse races and everyone out there blowing their money.  I quite often think of the last races we were all to at Ponoma. Remember?

I wrote a letter to the Dutch family the other day.  I also had their address here with me.  Thanks for the other one you enclosed.  I got the stamps from them.

Glad to hear of my mail making such good time after my arrival here.

Yesterday I returned from a trip to Marseille, and the Island “Chateau d’If”[1] (deef) which is not far from the harbor.  We took a small boat out and spent about three hours there.  The Island s where they kept Edward Dantes (count of Monte Cristo[2]) and also the Man in the Iron Mask [3]along with several other notable people in French history.  The Chateau was built in 1524 and has been used for a prison up into the 1800s.

Sorry to hear of you not being able to get all the cherries you wanted.  I will look forward to the pie tho.

Back again to yesterday trip.  The water was beautiful and around the island it was a beautiful green.  A very delightful and cool breeze was blowing which made the boat ride very enjoyable.  On our way back we stopped to see “Valley of Decision” the new Greer Garson picture.  Enjoyed it very much and think she done a wonderful job of acting.

You perhaps are suffering under a false picture of where I am.  You have the area night but this is certainly not the Riviera o what I thought the Riviera would be if it is.  Most of that is further east along the coast.  The army certainly could not have picked any place any nearer like Injo Kern[4] than this.  And conditions here certainly are none too favorable for a pleasure resort.  We can see the water from here but nothing ever comes from there other than dust.  Look on a mop and you will see what I mean.

Well all for now and I hope you all in good health.  Enclosed you will find seven more negatives and the money order.

All my Love always,

Stanley

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_d%27If

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_of_Monte_Cristo

[3] Contrary to common belief, The Man in the Iron Mask and Marquis de Sade were not prisoners at the château

[4] Inyokern, California - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inyokern,_California

March 8, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Germany

March 8, 1945

Dearest Mother:

A few lines this evening before going to bed.

Have had no mail from home for a few days but expect some soon as we are again settled.

I crossed the Roer the other day and was very much surprised as it was not what I expected at all.  The river was rather narrow but very swift.  Of course the land along the river was all inundated from the recent floods etc.  Well anyway we are one barrier further to our goal.

The news has come over the radio just now that the American First Army has crosses the Rhine.  Good news we all think.  The American soldiers (frontline) here all have blood in their eyes now so look out.

I am not doing any work just now so will have the chance to catch up on all my correspondence.

Have been over this evening to see a picture entitled Music over Broadway.  I have seen a lot of better ones bit it provides some amusement for a few minutes.  Had I mentioned previously that I had received a letter from Aunt Maibelle.  She tells of buying herself a little place and described her garden to me. Sounds like a very nice place.  She tells me that she misses Ed and Grandma a little now and then.

I suppose you are still getting more than your share of rain, that is if I know California rains.  But I am sure that the rain will do everything there some good.

Well I can think of nothing more for now and I am finishing by flashlight as the power has gone off.

Love,

Stanley

January 8, 1945 - Holland

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Holland

January 8, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Had promised you a letter of great length yesterday but was so wrapped up in the inventory of our equipment here that I have other things on my mind after hours other than writing.  Managed to see “The Merry Monahans”[1] the other evening and found it fair.  Received packages from Miss Mosher and Aunt Maibelle yesterday.  Fruit cake from Maibelle and book and stationary with two rolls of film and will now have to answer for them. So tomorrow after work you will be first on the list.

We have a beautiful scene of winter from our window this evening.  It has snowed all day and you have a picture coming up.

Love,

Stanley

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merry_Monahans  and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH4xOOvXn5U  and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QGNJP0XCRQ&feature=related

18 June 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

18 June 1944

Dear Mother:

Another week has rolled by and it has really been a hot and sultry one and perhaps another week towards our leaving here and the sooner the time comes the more I think that it will rather nice.  We have been here too long and should really have been gone long ago.  I never saw such a large amount of red tape and so many officers getting away with things as we have had here lately.  And the Colonel just sits there and smiles and never knows all that does go on.

I bought a sheet for myself the other day because they called in our mattress covers and pillows and I am not going to start sleeping on the bare mattress yet.  I will take it along with me and may find use for it in the future.

I believe that I forgot to mention receiving the package with the cup cakes and candy.  They were all very good an arrived here in good shape.  The candy had not melted.

I finally got the saber wrapped up and on its way to you, and you very likely will have received it by this time.  The government I understand will ship home things for us from here, so I will have a few things to send home and will but not just now.  We have to wait for our movement orders before we can have it sent that way.  As I understand it, this service is available for all from T/4 up.

Received the letter with Aunt Maibelle’s address the other day, and will now try and take the time to write her.

What did you think of the pictures of the airplanes taken from the windows of ours?  Yes that is me standing by the front of the truck.  I was eating when it was taken.

The unit next door is even more advanced towards leaving than we are.  They are a very highly specialized Laboratory Group and have thousands of dollars worth of microscopes, iceboxes etc.  They have in twenty three officers, 4 Lieutenant Colonels and one full colonel.

I have already been to the swimming pool this morning and it was really wonderful.  We were over about eight o’clock and remained there about an hour.  The sun is again out very bright and the fresh clear water cool which made the whole thing very nice.

Just now received Muriel’s Graduation Announcement and (I) think it very nice.  The picture was certainly or is a very nice one.

In answer to your question about our groups, there are no more in training and if they were to have one, they would very likely take the cadre from our group.

They are training smaller groups now and will use them quite a lot more.  You have heard me speak of Whitney. He was in a station hospital in North Texas, and he thought that they were ready to go several times.  But about two weeks ago they broke them up and are training them all over again at Camp Barkeley and after the completion of that they will be sent out as cadre for other groups.

Major Eskin while in Los Angeles said that he called a couple Saffords in the telephone but neither seemed to claim me.  His wife is staying there for the duration.

Well enough for now and I will write again soon.

All my Love,

Stanley

June 6, 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

June 6, 1944

Dear Mother:

Well I never thought that I would ever see France but it looks more so every day.  From the looks of the news there will soon be a lot of action over there and a lot of use for us.

I woke up this morning to hear a lot of noise and the papers were all out with “Invasion” all over the front page but not much else…

Our plans here for the future are that an advance party is leaving the tenth of June for POE and we will follow then some time afterwards.  Major Skinner is one of the three officers and we have not received definite instructions as yet but are quite sure it will be New York or at least the East coast.  The Surgeon General’s office has changed their strategy and are not sending this type of group West.  They are sending much smaller more flexible groups out there.  We are being prepared for warm clothing which is a good indication perhaps of our destination.  I can just see an evening in Paris.

You mentioning moving pictures reminds me of the picture I saw the other evening with Sgt Rapp and his wife.  They had invited me over for dinner and I took them to the show afterwards.  It was more for the reason of her wishing to see it than it was mine.  The picture was “Pin Up Girl” with Betty Grable.  As far as she is concerned I do not like her but the picture was quite beautiful and Hollywood in some places.  They had a couple very good seating numbers which were really quite nice.

Well the other day my OCS deal finally bounced back due to our dear unit here.

They were never enthused regarding it so therefore gave me no cooperation.  Major Grubin was quite mad about it and told me that it was practically all their fault in the personnel office and the colonel’s. So I got back the entire affair all under one cover, excepting a couple letters which were removed for some reason or the other.  I, my hands are washed of that for now.

We have been swamped here the last few days with all the 70 nurses coming in and the rest of our officers.  And I have this dope in here that is no good at all.

I am going to soon be rid of him as soon as the Major gets back.  He has been sick for two days and I was up to see him today and done some work with him.  I had lunch with his wife, son and daughter and they are all quite nice.

I have made out a $25 allotment to become effective in August and to be taken from my pay, of course we get 20% increase for overseas so I will then be drawing $41.25 and even then may have too much.  The government will send 100Lbs of things home for me so I will put all of my things into a locker and mail it all home at one time.  I am making out an elaborate will and power of attorney which you should receive in the next couple of days.  The power of attorney is to you.  The will you can put it in the safe deposit box for me and leave it there.  Find out if it is necessary to file a copy there in the courthouse.  I never dreamed there was so much to a will or the other stuff of that kind.  They tell me I should have had one made out at home.

Major Eskin, who is one of our officers who is in LA now to leave his wife and family there writes back and tells us that there writes back and tells us that there is no place like it.

Sgt Ryan is now back in the unit and is feeling quite well, only the doctors tell him he will not be able to have too much bad usage of his jaw for some time.

How is Maibelle getting long these days? Do you know her address?  If so send it to me and I will try and write her soon.

I feel that if they think enough of me to keep me from OCS they can do a few favours for me soon and give me some consideration and take this dope out of here.  It will be more work but rather do it myself than to have him swooping around here and having to be shown how to do everything.  And that is not all they are going to do for me either before they are through with m. I am going to get all I can, I have made up my mind to that.

Well enough for now and I will write again soon.

I remain as ever,

Love,

Stanley

April 4, 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

April 4, 1944 (enveloped stamped May5)

Dear Mother:

I decided to try and write you a few lines this evening and perhaps catch up again to my two letters per week at last. 

For the past three days I have been going up and helping Sgt Rapp clean out his house on the post and get it ready for his wife who is coming down in a couple of weeks.

We are cleaning all the floors and wood work and are going to hang curtains etc.  He tells me he is quite glad to have my knowledge of home making with me.  He tells me he has never had anything to do with that sort of thing before.  I will go into details of the house at a later time.

I received your letter of the 28^th telling me of Richard’s missing over Austria and I shall have to write Mrs. Miner a letter soon.  It is certainly too bad and I am sorry to hear of it.  It very likely hit Mrs. Miner quite hard as she has already been quite sick of his being over there, let alone the fighting.  I hope there is the chance that he may be in enemy hands as a prisoner.  I am the same as you regarding the control of emotions when it comes to subjects of this kind.

We have heard nothing but bivouac for the last few weeks here in the offices and they have talked of flying both going and returning by air to such places as Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Great Lakes, etc.  But we will very likely end up by going up here to Marfa, Texas or Hot Springs, Arkansas, at least I hope so.

The other day we had a very nice hike with a swim afterwards during which time one of the Majors helped me with my swimming.  I often wonder if I will ever be able to swim.

Received a letter from Jay the other day and I will have to return him a short note.  I send him short ones in answer to his short ones.  He tells me that Aunt Nina and Uncle Bill are just his friends.

I am going to go to Fort Worth one of these weekends on a three day pass to see the Botanical Gardens there which should be very nice now.  Mrs. Tedesco tells me that the roses are very nice there now.

It would make a nice trip for me and some relaxation.

The weather here has been none too good the last couple days.  A cold wind combined with rain all day today and rain all day yesterday and the day before.  And this office was like a barn all day and I had to wear my field jacket all day and my raincoat when I did not have the jacket on outside.  We have been having some spectacular lightning storm here also and the tent would be as bright as day at times during the night.  The frogs are really coming out and they are making their noise all night.

The Medical Laboratory next door (is) giving out blanket furloughs so they will very likely be on their way soon.  A person would really be surprised to see the great number of fellows which I have known in the posy, back here at Ft.Sam Houston in the reassignment antic who have already been overseas and back already for some reason or the other.

Well I am tired now so will close send you my love and asking you to take care of yourself.

What is Maibelle’s sons name?  Jerry what?

Love,

Stanley

Hope you can read this…

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