July 26, 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 - 20

July 26, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Having gone to Marseille yesterday I was not here when your No32 letter of July 12 came so found it upon my return home.  Was of course very glad to hear from you again for it was the first letter.  I have received in a week. Our mail was stopped here for a while.  I know not the reason unless they thought we would be gone by now.

Just finished had a letter started some time ago to Joseph.  My writing has fallen down a great deal here recently, especially with none coming in and nothing of importance to write of.

I liked the two pictures a great deal and I can now have a much better idea of the Lily.  The family group is an interesting one and there are none too many left in this branch of the family are there. You are not smiling any too much tho.

The clippings were amusing and especially the one regarding the piece of vegetables.  Thanks for the stamps.

It is hard for me to realize that Nina will be so old.  How does the time fly by so rapidly?  She is or was still quite attractive the last time I saw her tho.

Quite amused to hear of Jays latest deal on you.  He should certainly be taken down a notch or two.  Who does he think he  is?

I can see him getting away with that again.  He would certainly go without my company for a while if he pulled that on me.

Glad to hear of the jackets and parachute material arriving home.  It is a German cargo chute which was taken from the factory.  Some of the color fades out but remains still quite nice.  Ryan had some handkerchiefs made of it which were quite nice.  The lady washed them  when finished.  Some of the fellows here made scarves of them but of course are not allowed to wear them since they are not GI.

You had not mentioned previously Harry and Fred Kirchner.  What will be their next escapade?

Down in Marseille the other day I noticed in one of the windows a large dish of snails which they must have been preparing for their meal.  A person can get them in a restaurant once in a while.  They have a large foreign population in the city and it all goes to make the city a great international one.  Quite a few Chinese are around.

Ryan has just returned from the Riviera and he has enjoyed it very much.  I did not care to go on the type of a trip they went on as I felt I would not be able to really rest while there.  All that went seem to have had a drunken orgy from their arrival to their departure.  you know is off limits to US troops.  They say the former casinos are no longer what they used to be and no one there at all for pleasure.

Well all for now, and I hope you are all in the best of health.

Always,

All my Love,

Stanley

          Back: Wayne Safford, Edmond "Ned" Safford, Grace Safford, George Safford;
Front: Ella Safford (Edmond "Ned" Safford's wife), Leland Safford, Marie Safford

PS: The picture certainly does not show Marie has suffered any from raising a family.  Florence is certainly showing her age, very likely to her dislike, and Chet certainly looks bad, of course who can blame him.  Marie looks as tho she had not given up any too much for anyone.  She very likely has as much money or more, plus security which she did not have before her marriage to Leland.  She knew what she was getting into when she married a Safford, if not she was certainly a fool!  Or perhaps she was or is or she would not be where she is today.

 "Me" is Muriel Safford, Stanley's sister

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

 

April 23, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

6  

Germany

April 23, 1945

Dearest Mother:

On some of recently arrived stationary I will again write a few lines this evening.

The packages arrived, Plasma box and all the other day in very good shape. I am looking forward to having the shrimp and the jasmine tea.  Thank you a lot for sending them to me.  I really like the stationary and the envelopes.  They will come in handy as I am just about out of my other.

It does not seem as tho you have had the Buick three years,  How time flies by.

I was very glad to hear of the wooden shoes arriving home as now I can consider my obligations all taken care of.  The statue was made in Maastricht, Holland in their world famous clay and pottery factory.  They prior to the war made beautiful wall plates and I hope to obtain some of them in the future.  The little bottles you mention are different types of German sections, the same for the small boxes.

Regarding the “Readers Digest” renewal.  You go ahead and renew it for me.  I have no idea how long it would take me to get a money order here where I now am.  If she takes orders for anything else of interest such as Time, you can subscribe to it for me also.  That is the so called “Pony edition”.  The Digest has been coming thru alright.

Yes it does seem strange to me even, that I have seen so many places and things while over here.  Some of course have been very interesting and have given me the idea that I want to return some day again.

The last couple days have been very wet and cold and I am in hopes of it clearing up and drying out soon.

I have done nothing since my arrival here so wonder how long we will remain here.  There are few teams in this area with us.

The bulbs which you speak of are very likely “Muscari” or “Grape Hyacinth”.  They are exceptionally nice and they have a lot of them over here.

I see where your letter of April 2 was again returned for more postage.

In your letter of April 5, No11, the last I have from you, you enclosed a clipping regarding “Hitler’sHideout”.  I have heard of it but doubt if I will have the chance to see it.

Very glad to hear of you going to the desert for a change.  How are the fruit trees doing that Dad took up and planted?

Yes, Jay is quite strange with his predictions. Without a doubt I will go out to further places before returning home.  Either here or elsewhere.

Will you send me my watchband and a bottle of Vicks Vapor rub salve when you get the chance.  Also a bottle of Listerine.  I have been unable to get anything of that type over here.  Not too large a bottle of Listerine.

Well I can think of nothing more for now so will close for now, bidding you all good night.

All my Love,

Stanley

PS: Thank You for the Air mail stamps

November 14, 1944 - Holland

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Holland

November 14, 1944

Dearest Mother:

Here again this evening the time has come around for another letter to you, but I find being stationed here in headquarters as we are I have not too much news.

Have received letters from Aunt Dell telling of not receiving any letters from me, and I just mailed one a short time ago and then again the day before receiving hers.  I fail to understand the mail situation.  Also a letter from Mrs. Matson, Miss Mosher which by the ay will not be opened until 5 December.  Received a V-Mail from Thelma Chapin telling me of a package on the way.  Another from Jay which is already answered and on its way.

I am sending a few antique Delft tiles to a few people such as Mrs. Matson, Jay and Thelma, which I think they will like, at least I hope so.  I have part of them and will obtain the balance and get them on their way.  They are quite nice and are about the only thing I can think of anyone would care for and there is really nothing much here that one can get.  As you know we are not even allowed to buy anything to eat here other than fresh fruit of one kind or another. I am very fond of the apples which they now have here for sale.  Things in the way of wearing apparel are all rationed.

Was very glad to hear of your receiving the silver, which by the way I was beginning to worry about.  The silver spoon by the way was a gift so do not think I was cheated because of its condition.  The salt cellar was one of an original three, all of which were on a small silver tray.  The pepper was one of two, but the other one was rather battered and of poor appearance and balance.  Hope you are able to use them.  When you get the cards you will know more about them and the real history was made by me taking them from England and how they finally reached the shores of France.  They really worried me for a while.  Your letter telling me of their arrival really made good time, mailed 30 Oct and reached me two days ago.  Faster for a change.

Have seen two pictures recently, the first in months.  One of which you mention, “Gent of Barbary coast”[1] with Wallace Beery and the other “Marriage is a Private Affair”[2] Lana Turner.  Liked the former but could have gotten along without the latter.  They have them in an old opera house here which in its day has been a grand place.

In one of your recent letters you mention passing under the Arc de Triomphe.  Well as a matter of fact, no vehicles pass under it.  The Tomb of France’s Unknown Soldier is buried under it and the Eternal Torch burns there.  Pictures can be taken after the vehicles have gone around the star or “Etoile” and are leaving the Arc so that they look that way.  People can walk under, in fact troop do.  The size of it is immense and really surprise me.  I have some post cards of it which I am going to send home soon in fact will enclose one in this letter.

The sweet potato crop on the lot sounds very interesting, but the soil there should be very rich and ideal for them.

The venison does sound very good and I would enjoy some of it.

Well about all for now, and will write soon again.  Hope this reaches you all in good health and hoping you are taking care of yourself.

All my love,

Stanley

---

[1] “Barbary Coast Gent” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Coast_Gent

[2] http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/139002|0/Marriage-is-a-Private-Affair.html

1 June 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

1 June 1944

Dearest Mother

I am worse this week than ever before in writing, but I hope that you will understand that we have really been busy here the last few days and there is no sign of it becoming more slack as time goes on.

I am quite glad to hear of you getting the chance to rest a little during Dad’s absence, and you should do it a little more often.  It will do you good.  Give you the chance to rest a little more because I am sure you become more tired every day of the same old thing as I do.

Well we have had our clothing showdown today which means that we turned in a lot of things that are worn and will be issued new for them.  A person never realizes just how many clothes he has until one of these.  I have a huge pile of things to be turned in.  I wonder what type we will be issued?

I received a letter from Jay today or should I say a short note.

I am quite pleased to hear of the grapevine having such an abundant crop of fruit.  Perhaps the Amaryllis could be transplanted into a larger pot for next year.  Had the Cymbidiums shown much growth as yet this season, keep them quite moist.

The weather here has been terribly hot and I just about fall asleep here every afternoon when it gets so warm.

Last night was pay day night and I was kept awake until about thru this morning by the drunks coming in and making their noise.  I hope that will be more quiet tonight.

We have about all of our nurses and are housing them here on the post.  They are as I have predicted already becoming a problem, and will be more of one before we are done with them.

Doc Skinner told me of his plans to retire and from the clippings in the letter he has had quite a long history in the school system.

You mentioning Dad’s teeth reminds me of my teeth and the time I have had from them and about them.  Ever since the OCS examination (last one) I knew I had a couple cavities so asked Major Kuhns to check them and he found one in the upper R3 (will enclose a Dentist form later).  After he got in he found a small one in the next tooth. Neither one of them were very large and can not be seen from the front.  He then took an X-Ray of the lower one and found a small cavity there.  While in Xray I asked him to take a picture of one of my left lower wisdom teeth which ha(ve) become quite slanted.  So he did and the picture was shocking.  The roots of the tooth are almost straight back and the tooth in impacted.  I decided to have it pulled and made the appointment but had to cancel because of the big Service Command Inspection we had the following day.  So will some day have Major Grubin remove it.  He tells me it may mean a couple weeks in the hospital. So when we get over I will have a lot of time for such things since it is not bothering me any.  A picture of it is like the drawing here

Yes, Sgt Rapp’s wife has been here for about three weeks and I am invited over to dinner this Sunday.

I have been going to go up here and play at golf with one of the boys here but have never gotten around to it.  Doubt if I will at this stage.

I am still and was quite surprised to hear of getting the money in from the Income tax.  You may use the money to pay yourself whatever I owe you for telephone stock etc and deposit the rest and buy some more stock when and if it get(s) lower.  You may soon get so much each month from me in an allotment which I will send you the details of later.

One of the new officers we have here is from S F and is about 6’8” and wears a size 14 shoe.  He is certainly a card and tells me that he thinks that he will not make a good soldier.  I asked him what he thought of me as one.  He told me that he thought I was a very good one and was quite the person here. Ha ha.

As for your coming down, I see the same picture as you do regarding the unpracticability of the whole thing.  It of course would be very nice and I would enjoy it so very much. But to my way of thinking it would be more trouble than it would be worth.

Enclosed you will find a few pictures you may like and I will have a few more of them here if you want some of them.  There are also a couple of the Galveston bivouac which may interest you.  Will send more of them later to avoid making this letter too heavy.

 Heard from William Orum, often longed to hear from him.

Well enough for this time and will write again soon.

As ever

Your son

Love,

Stanley

21 May 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

21 May 1944

Dearest Mother:

Again it is Sunday and another uneventful week (has) rolled by so therefore is not too much to tell.

I went to see “Song of Bernadette” this afternoon and thought that it was an excellent picture and you should not miss seeing it if you have the chance.  It, of course, was slightly religious, but not too much that way.  And what surprised me was that there were several Catholic nuns in the audience and I did not know they ever went to theaters of any kind.

Well the “Fourth Auxiliary Surgical Group” has arrived at their destination and I will tell you when I find out as it is of great importance since there is one allotted to each full active army in the field. As I mentioned before there are already three in the European area.  It is also quite significant of the number of American troops we have there. An Army may have as many as 400,000 men.

The weather has been quite changeable here of late and hot as can be one day and raining cats and dogs a couple of hours later.  Last night was a good example of it.  It was unbearably hot yesterday and last evening but when I went to bed all of the curtains on the tent were up and I had only one blanket over me. About three thirty this morning a very cold strong wind came up and I barely had time to put the curtains down when it started to pour and I do mean pour, with a heavy wind to accompany it and was still going strong a half hour later but when it stopped I do not know as I want off to sleep.

Received your letter of the 16 May and also the papers with the pictures, yesterday.  Say, how did my pictures get in there with them?

I recognize quite a few of them.  It is really surprising to find out how many there are that I know.

I will have to write Nelson a letter now that I have his address.  I hope that this one will be a more permanent one for him.  Did he receive the Schick injector blades which I gave you to send to him?

We are having quite a time about our nurses and as you know we only have four of the great many we are supposed to have and there seems to be no signs of getting any in the immediate future so the WD tells us as there is a great shortage of them and we may not get all of even when the time does come around.

I wrote a short note to Jay today in answer to his letter of two weeks ago.

I received a letter from Enid Norris, guess Lawrence and Nathan did not escape the draft.

Well I have run out of news by now so will close send(ing) you all my love and telling you to take care of yourself.

Love,

Stanley