Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976
5th Auxiliary Surgical Group
APO 339
c/o Post Master
New York New York
3
Germany
April 1, 1945
Dearest Mother:
After a busy night I will sit down
this morning for a few lines to you and also to tell you that I received
yesterday your beautiful Easter card and enclosed note and clipping. The clipping is very interesting.
My Easter spirit was more or less
forgotten. I thought of sending some
kind of card but just completely forgot the whole thing.
So far have received all of your
letters up to No7 which was received with the Easter cards I really like the
numbering system and will keep my own straight from now on.
My Easter Sunday was rather uneventful and I spent all of my time in
our quarters. Attended services and
communion in the morning, which was the first time I had been to church in some
time. The chaplain is no good at all where I was last. I really like the one they have here and he
is a real speaker.
We are in a real nice building here
and are quite comfortable and life in general is rather nice. They have a very attractive garden here which
looks very nice to me from here and I shall investigate on a nice day.
I do not believe I have mentioned it
previously but while at headquarters Col.
Gay offered me the chance to apply for a battlefield commission, but my answer was NO for several reasons
which are to lengthy to mention here.
Enclosed you will find two orders of
our headquarters noting my recent team changes. You can put them away for me as they may be
of uses some day.
April 7 – 2pm
I grew rather tired this morning so
decided to get some more sleep. Already
this afternoon I have gone for a walk into the before mentioned garden and find
it very attractive and there are some very interesting plants there. The apple trees there are coming into bloom
and are simply beautiful. They of course
have the ever present Rhubarb in abundance.
All of the vines are coming out into new leaf.
When I was in Maastricht, Holland they had some rather nice collections in their
city park all arranged n different collections.
They also have a deer park with two types of deer and a very large bear.
When you mentioned Uncle Ned (---?) Mr. Matson did he know who he was at the time.
I was very glad to hear your opinion
on the picture “Frenchmen’s Creek”. I am
in hopes of seeing it.
I am very glad to hear of Dad’s
health improving and hope he is well again soon. You have not mentioned your own
recently. Hope he does not have to
return to the garage soon.
In regards to your question about Kupfer’s violin playing. He plays very well and plays both by ear and
music. He just recently returned from a
pass to Paris.
Major Skinner
is still with us and I saw him in January when I happened to be at the hospital
he is located in. Both he and Major Grubin are doing some beautiful
work.
Most of the last few lines are
answers to your letters starting with yours of Feb 25.
The silver pitcher came from Fontainebleau, France and was supposed
to have belonged to the Empress Josephine at one time. Quite a unique story as to how I came into
possession of it.
You have not mentioned the mine
recently. Are they doing anything on
them or what are their plans?
The reason for our living in private
homes while at the Evacuation Hospital was for lack of quarters. The buildings used for hospital were just
large enough for such purpose. We all lived in one place or the other. We of course had all of our meals at the
hospital kitchen.
Had I mentioned previously that I had
received two letters from Joseph
from last October. They all had just 339
on them and no designation of organization on it.
In reference to my questions
regarding the will, I was referring to Grandpa
Matthews will. I know of course from
one of your later letters the answer.
What were the special bequests to other members of the family? Did
Gladys get what she thought she would.
All troops here were issued sleeping
bags according to WD directives. Every
once in a while they make a reissue of things such as new jackets as we are
getting now. They are a much nicer type,
but not quite as warm.
I am glad to hear of you buying new
records and tying them out on the phonograph.
That is the reason it is there for.
Your latest additions sound very nice and I am sure they are nice. “Il Bacia” is very nice. I saw a picture while in Maastricht regarding
the life of Ernest Ball the composer.
The picture had a lot of very good music. Have you seen “Rhapsody in Blue”” yet? Also
saw “Mr Skeffington” with Bette Davis which was very good. It was the last I saw which was a couple
months ago.
Very pleased to hear of the apricot
and avocado tree doing well, to(o) bad they can not be moved.
In regards to your question about the
clipping regarding the furloughs after the ETO.
I do not know but the CBI looms ahead for some reason to me.
Received Nelson’s address and will
write him soon as it may take some time for my last to be forwarded to him.
What happened that Don Finley went into the Navy? I should
have imagined he would have be (en) exempted with family etc.
If you wish you may give one of the
small plates (Delft) to Muriel. And only give Thelma one large and one small one.
Your war stamp chain sounds
interesting and I am looking forward to hearing more of it.
While we were in Holland I did not
see many tulips as the season was
wrong and they grow the large bulbs of them further west nearer the coast. A little place called Heize was the fartherest North in Holland from Eindhoven. That was way last year tho. That was the place the
tents blew down. Remember?
Well about all for now and thank you
for the Air Mail stamps and the
jokes which were very good.
(Note from transcriber: Strange
ending for the letter… no page is missing that I have found. Nothing else for this letter)
