August 21, 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

August 21, 1945

Dearest Mother:

I suppose you are awaiting this letter as it has been some time since last I wrote you.

The war has ended and the so called "Peace” is just around the corner, I hope.

If and when it does get here I will be home, which according to present plans should not be far off.  This will be my last letter for a while and the next time you will hear from me by phone if all goes well in Tokyo. Otherwise by mail.

I will call in the evening so be on the look out for the telephone bell.

Well all for this time and a lot more later when we have a 30 day reunion.

As always,

All my Love,

Your son,

Stanley

 On the USS Ballou

USS General C. C. Ballou (AP-157) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Charles Clarendon Ballou. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General C. C. Ballou in 1946. On 1 March 1950 she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General C. C. Ballou (T-AP-157). She was later sold for commercial operation under several names before being scrapped some time after 1981.[1

General C. C. Ballou, (AP-157) was launched 7 March 1945 under Maritime Commission contract (MC #714) by Kaiser Co., Inc., Yard 3, Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. Harry J. Bernat; acquired by the Navy 20 May 1945; and commissioned 30 June 1945, Comdr. M. D. MacGregor in command.

Following shakedown off San Diego, General C. C. Ballou departed San Pedro 29 July 1945 for France via the Panama Canal. She arrived Marseilles after the Japanese surrender, and sailed with returning veterans 23 August bound for Hampton Roads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_General_C._C._Ballou_%28AP-157%29

August 12, 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

August 12, 1945

My Dear Mother

A few lines today to let you know I am still here and in the light of the present events, I may be for some time to come.  Who knows.

We here in the ETO wonder a lot about our future, but it always ends up with no wonder or decision on our part and in fact why should we as the army eventually gets around to us.

In regards to the present situation, I feel that they have sent Japan a very good answer to their question.  I certainly was not in favor of accepting them on their term.  We would be establishing a God in Japan, which I feel would some day again turn on us.  A good housecleaning is what they need there now and a few more months on my part and the rest of us here and there, I am inclined to think would be worth it.  We have had so much grief and discomfort, that I think they should pay dearly for it.  The strange thing is that a great many of us feel the same way about it.  I could go on for hours and perhaps a lot would not pass the cursor so I will stop here.

I feel that finally we have someone who can deal with our allies with a little horse sense.  Truman has surprised me a great deal and I think he is more capable of driving a hard bargain than Roosevelt around a Peace table.  He could perhaps be even a little more stern.  If we do not watch out for ourselves now, it will be too late at another time when there are no bones to be picked.

On another subject, the weather here, I can say it has been very strange.  The first few weeks here the weather varied very little, but recently it has changed.  We now have a few cooler days with clouds quite often and even rain at times, such as today.

Enclosed you will find a picture which Olson took of me while sitting behind a box taking care of Immunization records which we were still at Marburg, Germany.

Also find enclosed a newspaper clipping[1] from the Army newspaper here, which came out for interviews the other day.  They certainly made a mess of it too.  My original statement was much longer and quite different.  The others of our organization are underlined.

We are going to have chicken today and I hope it is better than it has been in the past.  They have trouble of not cooking things well enough here.

Well you can begin getting my room ready for my arrival home a year from now.

As always,

Love,

Stanley

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[1] Stars and Stripes, August 10, 1945

Aug 8, 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 - 22

Aug 8, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Sitting here in the doorway of the dispensary, looking out over the camp toward the water.  I can see a very beautiful sunset, which is quite a bit like a California sunset in a way.  Have been C2 here all day and have done practically nothing other than waste time.

Kupfer is going to the Riviera tomorrow along with some others.  It should be quite nice there, but perhaps a little warm.  I did not care for it as I want relaxation and a chance to get away from GIs for a change. And I could not do it here on a trip of that kind.  We have never really had any decent passes as other organizations have had and a lot of them have been here a much shorter time than we have.

Aug 9, 45

Well the news here today sounds quite interesting and it begins to look as tho the war may be shortened some. From where I sit I can still see no sooner release for me.

As the radio states, the main topic of discussion here is the Atom bomb[1].  Wild stories certainly start easily on something of that type.

The other day I went into town with another fellow here and we went out on the motor boat cruise around the bay.  It was quite interesting and it made it possible for us to see a lot more of the bay.  They have an extremely beautiful coastline here and it looks much nicer from the ocean.

The other night we had a very severe rain and lightning storm here.  It was by far the heaviest rain I have ever seen.  In a short time we had a stream running thru the tent.  It at least kept the dust down for a couple of days, giving us some relief from that for a while.

I have seen three or four fairly good shows recently.  One was “Together Again” with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer.  I thought it very good and recommend it to you for a good show.  The other was “Practically Yours” with Claudette Colbert.  It was a very amusing story and well acted.  The other, which perhaps you would not care for was “Salome When She Danced”.  Very colorful and very expensively produced. With  nothing else to do a show provides good entertainment in the outdoor theaters here, since we have no lights in our tents.  I grow weary of writing since we have had no mail for some time.

I can think of no more to write of so I will close sending my love to you all there.

All my Love,

Stanley

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[1] http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1945/1945-08-06a.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atomic_bomb_1945_mission_map.svg

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

July 4, 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 - 17

July 4, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Again this afternoon I will write you a few lines and let you know I am still here, and have not been blown away or covered with dust, which the air has been full of the last three days.  Everything from fine sand to particles of gravel have been in the air making everything miserable.

In regards to your questions about my preference of directions.  I think as you do that it would be better to go direct there than home.  It would be much harder the way home first.

Our unit is changing quite rapidly.  Major Grubin is gone.  Major Kuhns is leaving and a good many of the other familiar faces are going.  It will not be the same.

The candy covered walnuts are certainly good.  They have kept when all else has melted.

Received a letter from Muriel telling me of our recent school etc.  One today from Frances and a couple days ago one from Miss Mosher’s niece.

Yes, you are right about us seeing planes in abundance over here.  They have gone over for hours at times in the past, especially when we were near Eindhoven.

Tales are rampant over here whenever Patton is mentioned.  A couple o my friends here worked on teams with the 3^rd Army Hospitals.  He is quite a character.

Have heard no further from Ed Pfan(?) or Herbert Shaffer.  They both owe me letters.  One which I wrote while still at Ft Sam and Herbert was sent a Xmas card last Xmas.  I can no longer be bothered with that type of people.  So busy themselves.  And Jay is another one.  He can just wait.  I am in no mood to write most of the time recently.  Condition here are not at all favorable for writing.

I again giving lectures.  My first one was Tuesday, entitled “History of China”, others will follow later on Japan etc.

Muriel also tells me of Blair’s house being sold and to whom . Witzel really has his nerve.

I want you to send me my brown swimming trunks (short style) and a good pair of sunglasses, which you may have trouble getting.  You will have to pay a good price for them but you can charge to my account.  Polaroid are good ones. Use your own judgment of course.  Do not send until I ask again.

You should have received the 1 June money order by now.

I am going to make plans to see Lloyd Whelchel soon if possible.  I wonder is I will recognize him.  Tell you the details later.  Don’t you have his last address.

Enclosed you will find some negatives which you can have prints of each made and send them to me when I ask for them.  There will be more to follow these.  They are some taken at Bad Salzuflen and Bielefeld.

I am looking forward to getting another letter from you today, as I have not received one from you for some time.

I suppose Richard has reached home by now.  Give him my regards.

Well all for now.  Hope this reaches you all in good health and happy.

All my Love,

Your son

Stanley

10(ten) negatives enclosed.