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

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 

December 26, 1944 - Holland

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Holland

December 26, 1944

Dear Mother:

Surprise! Another note just to let you know that I am still here and so far am enjoying myself a great deal while I have the opportunity.

Today Sgts Kupfer, Olson and myself started out after lunch and saw a little of the town and again I saw some things which I had not seen on previous trips.  We stopped in at the Red Cross doughnut and coffee shop for coffee and doughnuts which were delicious since it required an overcoat outside and also my new scarf which I find quite comforting here.  There was ice on the canal and ice on all the small puddles which remained there all day.  After the coffee etc we went further and discovered they were having a concert with a choir and they were having a concert with a choir and soprano soloist, so we had to take that in also and found it quite enjoyable and a lot of good music which has been my first since leaving the states.  After the concert we came back and had a snack made up of our Xmas presents.  We had not had enough gadding then so decided to take in another stage show and found it very good and a lot of good amusement there.  We are now all back and have settled down to letter counting etc.

I wrote a letter last night to Mrs. Tedesco, Nelson and Whitney who is now in France somewhere.  My letter writing is all caught up as the mail I have received of late has been very little.  In fact none of us over here have received any great load.  We have received our package tho in fairly good order.

You know that while I was in bed I received the same care as is routine for the other ward patients which included 240,000 units of penicillin divided into a total of 12 shots plus a lot of sulfa every 4 hours (q 4h). You can figure up the cost in civilian life at 20,000 units per shot.  Amazing the things they do here.

Well this is about all for now and I will write again soon.  I expect to have the time.

All my Love, your son

Stanley

Enclosed find an article you may be interested in.

November 19, 1944 - Belgium

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Belgium

November 19, 1944

Dearest Mother:

As you again see by the heading and also my new stationary.  I have moved and once again I have been able to reach one of the well stocked Belgium stores for this paper.

Our team has again changed locations and are now located at a different Field Hospital which is not in action at present.  Only this time we do not have Col MacIntyre with us.  The Colonel has been replaced by another Major while the Col has to remain in headquarters at his duties.

Have before me here your letters of Sept 26 and October 30, the previous one received yesterday contained the clipping of Geo Dewey’s Los Angeles speech, so now I have received two of his speeches: Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.

As I believe I mentioned in my last letter.  I was certainly glad to hear of you receiving the silver, but the stamp disappearance is still a big mystery and I am rather mad about it in fact.  Anyway the important thing is that you have received the thing.

No I have not take to smoking and in regards to your question as to when I get them.  They are given to us in rations and in England I could buy them at the PX.

Sgt Kupfer and myself saw a couple good shows while in headquarters and went to town a couple of times together.  Sgt Ryan is stationed not too far from here but I have not seen him since leaving Paris the first time.

I am going to try and see him some time soon.

We do not have bicycles here and would not have the time for them f we did.  England was in a way a pleasure resort for us.  And you certainly hit the nail on the head when you said being unsettled gets on my nerves.  I could do so much more if we were settled somewhere.

As to your question regarding the casualties.  Yes much different than Brooke General, otherwise no answers.

It seems surprising to me to hear of horse racing in the states while we here are in such a different world.  The horses we see here are the huge big percherons[1] with docked tails which they all have for farm work, and once in a while a smaller horse hitched to a carriage, and they are few and far between here.  They were thick in Paris.

I took a ride into the city yesterday on one of their trolleys which have resumed operation again in most parts.  We (soldiers) do not pay a fare as they tell us.  “The Bosch” (Germans) did not pay so neither do you have to”.

Whitney whom you have heard me mention is now in France with a General Hospital.  Received his change of address card one day and a letter the next.

Have spent most of the day doing a washing and am therefore tired, so will close now bidding you good night and asking you to take care of yourself.

All my love,

Stanley

November 21, 1944

Dearest Mother:

Hoping this reaches you all in one envelope and hope you like it. 

I sincerely wish I could do more for you, but all that will have to wait until another day.

The handkerchief is not a very nice one but you may wear it with your latest suit.  It would not stand close observation to well as you can see.

The cards are from England and Belgium. I thought the latter one very nice, so thought you would also.

In to town yesterday and came home with grapes (greenhouse) and delicious pears.  Also had ice cream  which was my first since the states.

Well all for now and more will follow.

All ways,

Stanley

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[1] http://ivancedeo.ifunnyblog.com/belgianpercheroncross/#