3 Aug 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 - 21

3 Aug 1945

Dearest Mother:

As afore said, our mail has ceased coming, so I have not heard from you for some time.

The weather here has been nice for all but one day when we had a violent wind and a lot of dust all over everything as a result.  That day I took off for town and remained there all day but returned to find no difference.

Had intended on meeting Sgt Olson in town and going for a boat trip, but the sea was much too rough.  He was transferred from the unit here along with a few other high pointers and is stationed not far from here at one of the general hospitals.  Had I mentioned previously of him being a father shortly after the first of the year?

Have just about given up learning Bridge as there is no one here who really knows all there I about it.  Perhaps would be very interesting otherwise.

My friend in the Evacuation hospital which you may recall is on his way home after being here only since January.  They are being redeployed thru the states.

Kupfer and I are debating on one of two languages to take Spanish or Portuguese.  I am for some reason in favor of the latter.  It seems to appeal to me a little more.  It would be much easier for me and for him of two work together on something of that type.

Near here are some old Roman ruins which should be quite interesting.  I would like to go out there sometimes also.  This district is quite ancient in historic value.

There are districts here in Marseille which would put a person in mind of the motion picture “Algiers”.  The narrow streets and the steep narrow stairways.  I suppose the houses are a mass of walls, tunnels and doorways, the same as any “Casbah” would be.

Well this is about all for now so I close sending you all there my Love, from here.

Your Son,

Stanley 

1 April 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Germany

1 April 1945

Dearest Mother:

Have here your V-Mail (4) of March 13 and your letter No2. So far am missing your No3.  Will start out anew on my new series.

I finally got the box mailed off to you a couple days ago.  It included my civilian shoes and short sox and my anatomy book.  Also included were my Bavarian porcelain and the excess pictures I have been gathering along the way.

We have really been on the move recently.  I spent a couple days with Col. Mac Intyre’s hospital a few days ago and have been on the move ever since from one place to the other.  At present am in a cow pasture again.  I spent a little time in a former German slave labor camp and had the chance to observe and see quite a few things while there but there was too much filth there for  very long stay,  There were quite a few Russian, Polish, Italian and French people there.  The Russians interested me very much and very surprisingly they impressed me.  They were all quite happy and in the evenings would dance and sing their beautiful music and songs.  They always impressed me anyway.

At the Evacuation Hospital they had a very beautiful garden just full of interesting and beautiful things.  I took some pictures I hope turn out well.  They had espalier fruit trees in long harbors and beds full of bulbs which included daffodils, hyacinths and grape hyacinths.  A lot of fruit trees were in bloom and other trees coming into leaf.  Also was a nice collection of statuary of a religious nature.

I am looking forward to receiving some more mail today as I have received very little with all my moving around.

Enclosed you will find a money order for fifty dollars ($50) which you can deposit use or invest in more stock or something with whatever appears best to you.

Also you will find some more souvenir money for my collection. Some Russian and Polish which is something new and different.

I had a roll of film in my camera the other day which may have been some of the French film for it didn’t have numbers on the right side and just when I wanted to use it I was unable to, much to my disgust and I missed some good pictures.

I heard from Albert Chandler regarding Onas severe spell.  Very sorry for her.

 

Well about all for now as my time is short and I am rather tired.

All my Love,

Your son,

Stanley

1 Italian stamp

1-50 Zlotych Polish note

4 Russian rubles

1-3, 1-1,1-5,1-1 yepbehin (?) (10 rubles)

Note from the transcriber:

CODE : ACROSS

February 13, 1944 - Holland

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Holland

February 13, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Have here your two letters of Jan 25 and 29 which I received about four days ago.  There is a lapse of time between them and your last ones of January but I am like you in being glad to receive them no matter in what order.

Our team is now at work again and we are at an Evacuation hospital this time.  You have heard me speak of Col MacIntyre before.  He is Chief of Surgery here now.  We, for some reason, are the only surgical team here.  We are living in private homes and Saunders and myself are the only two living here in our house.  We find it quite a novel experience and interesting in some ways.  It is quite hard for myself to adapt myself to living in someone else’s home and going in and out more or less at our will.

I am quite sorry to hear of both Dad and yourself having so much bad health and I hope you both get well again soon.

Your mention of the blood reminds me to tell you regarding our use of it.  You are right regarding the east coast donations coming here. Anyway all I have used here has come from the East.  Some of it reaches here in about seven days.  There is perhaps other which gets here sooner, which I do not see.  The plasma I have never paid much attention to.

We have certainly had some rather messy weather here recently with all the rain which has followed the slush which we have had after the snow.  I would like to see the sun come out for a couple days drying everything out for a change.

The people here were saying that four years of English are required in the schools along with German, French and during the occupation Italian.  So you see, we do not have too much trouble getting around.

I believe I mentioned previously of receiving the pictures.  Some of them are very good while others were a failure.

How does it happen that Russell Morgan is again returning to business?

You have heard me mention Leonard Johnson previously.  He is now down in the First Army area at a Battalion headquarters of some kind.  He was in the recent breakthrough area.

It is all news to me regarding Marshall expecting to leave Portland at all.  For what reason?  I thought his location there was rather permanent.

I like the picture of yourself in your Jan 29 letter.  The glasses do not hurt your looks any and in fact make you look rather distinguished in a way.  I am very glad to have this picture and am always glad to receive them.

I understand they are cleaning up England of all misc. troops except actual maintenance groups such as Medical etc. Herb Burdick’s group is very likely considered now essential for England.

I can think of not much else so I guess I will bring this to a close and send you all my regards as always.

All my Love,

Your son