Last goodbyes...

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

July 19, 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 - 19

July 19, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Another eight days have gone by and I have not touched pen or paper during that time, so decided to finally put my mind to a few lines this afternoon.

During the past week I visited Marseille once and as usual came home quite tired as you know how I walk once I get started.  I visited the Cathedral there and was really quite impressed by it.  It stands atop a hill overlooking the entire city and the bay.  A person can se everything from the front portice.  Inside is some of the most beautiful mosaic work I have ever seen.  Most of it done with gold and silver with the other colors inlaid.  After the cathedral I went to the theater to see Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in “No Love”.  I did not think much of it.

The statue of Mary and child which is many feet high and weighs 5-6 ton atop the church is one of the most beautiful things I have yet seen.  It is all gold gilded and may be seen for a good many miles in all directions.  On a close bright day the statue glitters in the sunlight.

Receiving a letter from Jay telling me of a great triumph the dinner was etc, etc, but was very amused to hear your version of it.  I certainly do not envy you on such parties.

Sorry to hear of you having more trouble with the Buick after getting it from the shop.  Hope you are able to get it in good shape again.

Yes I can well imagine the neighbors and the garden which they will have in that run down place.  It has never had any real good care and it will take some time before they get any real results.  I am very much afraid that the neighborhood is going to the dogs.

Has Richard Miner said what he was going to do upon his return to the Air corps? They may keep him right there n the states somewhere.

Have received your letters 30 and 31.  The latter was received yesterday in very good time.

Was glad to hear that Dad had a nice birthday.  I had wanted to get him something but I am in no place here for that.

While in town I got some French “Greeting cards of no great value, but they are something to have for people o their birthdays etc.  Well have to get a couple off for Marshall and Joseph, or at least ready to mail, since I very likely will not have the chance when their birthday comes around.

It must seem very strange for you to have children around the age of Virdens.  It very likely does you a lot of good tho.

Glad to know what you think of Marshall and wife.  I rather suspected by reading between the lines of his last letter that all was not well.  George always said Marshall needed someone to cheer him up so maybe he now has his wish.  I sincerely hope Marshall will be happy and will not regret his marriage.  He may have decided that him being alone was no good so he may have decided to get married in a hurry.  He never liked to be alone.

I can just see you in the kitchen canning cherries, apricots etc just as you used to do.  Why don’t you low down a little?

I mailed a package yesterday containing some books.  One of which is a book of prints which Olson gave me.  The others are some children’s books which you can put away for me except for three of them which are inscribed on the inside of front cover to Jon.  I want you to take the prices off them and sometime while out that way take them in.  I think there is one large and two small ones for him. Then there is some picture postcards for my collection.

The weather here has been very hot and as always a lot of dust blowing around.  I wish we would have a real downpour.

Glad to hear of the painting arriving in goo shape, but have begun to wonder what has happened to parachute silk and jackets which were sent some time before.

Quite surprised to hear of you all being invited to Richard Miners wedding.  Really must be quite an affair.  Where are they going to live?

Perhaps it would be a good idea to again restock the rabbits and start again.  Better results perhaps would be had.

The combs, watch band etc were all in good shape and the olive spread was very good on some crackers Ryan had one evening.

The fuchsia very likely got too much water or not enough or some borer got into the stock.

I am looking forward to seeing the pictures you mention.

http://images-02.delcampe-static.net/img_large/auction/000/103/958/545_001.jpg

Col. MacIntyre is no longer with us and I hear that he is on his way home at the hospital he was at is being dissolved.  So all Good Luck to him for he deserves it.  A lot of the others have also gone and the group is not the same.

Well all for this time and I hope you are all in good health and do enjoy yourselves when you can.

All my Love,

Your son,

Stanley

Enclosed one (1) postcard of chateau d’If

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

 

May 13, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany  11

May 13, 1945

Dearest Mother:

After a very hot day, which I am told is very rare here I will write you a few lines to let you know I am still in circulation.

I have spent the day making rounds with the major on an inspection tour of former German hospitals in the surrounding territory.

Our team is no longer in existence.  The nurse has been returned to headquarters and the other technician is with the other officer.  In other words we are all over.  We arrived here yesterday from our last station much nearer the former front that here.  We came thru headquarters for lunch and then on back over the famous “Reichsautobahn” highway and had a much better chance of seeing some of the country than we had on our way up.  The country is now in its full Spring beauty and I imagine it is at its best.

The highway I speak of is four lanes, two each way with parkway dividing them and now crossroads.  All incoming road are either underpasses or over passes.

The 5^th Aux. Status is as yet as far as I know a deep secret which no one has as yet answered for us.  I am just as happy in my present place as I could be anywhere else, especially at headquarters which I want no part of at present or any time in the future as has been mentioned.  I am the only 5^th Aux enlisted man here and I am left entirely alone, so in the future I am going to get some writing done in my spare time instead of sitting around talking with others as previously done.

The gardens here are certainly very pretty. Found a lilac bush the other day with each individual flower in the spray about as large as a violet and in the same dolor.  That  was the first time I have ever seen like that.  Outside there is a beautiful blood red peony in full bloom which I had a desire to pick but it is much too pretty for that.

I have not received any mail from you for 8 to 10 days, but eventually it will come thru, I am sure.

3 hours later

After a long walk in the park I will finish my letter.  Noticed in the woods a lot of “Jack in the Pulpit” plants and along the path in one place a lot of “Lilly of the Valley”.  The stream is alive with fish after the mosquitoes.

Sgt Ryan is near here somewhere but I know just not where.  Strange to be so far from the others.

Well about all for now and more later when I have the time and more to write off.

As always,

Love

Stanley

PS:

We had a lot of released Air Corps prisoners at our last station and from them I understand they only had two Air Corps enclosures one in Pomerania and the other in Austria where Richard Miner perhaps was.  They are certainly being well take care of and are being flown out.

May 8, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany  10

May 8, 1945 VE Day

Dearest Mother:

VE Day is here and all is the same as it was yesterday and the day before.  Everyone has on his mind one primary thing “When do I go home”.  To me I am none too worried over that event.  Of course I am anxious but there is a lot ahead for us in my way of thinking and I may as well settle down and console myself to the thought.

The day here is indeed very beautiful with the sun bright and warm, and for a change things are getting a good airing and are being dried out.

Perhaps on Thursday or Friday I shall be returning to headquarters.  Most of the hospitals are taking care of liberated boys now, which is what we may be doing before long to occupy our time.  Headquarters is moving back into American territory as all troops are withdrawing into their own territory.  Part of Sgt Ryan’s team was up where they had their pictures taken in front of a sign which read 88km to Berlin.  That would really be a picture, for very few of us will get too much further to Berlin.

Outside the lilacs are in full bloom and the tulips are just about gone.  Have the apricot or avocado tree produced any fruit this year.  Perhaps in due time they may both be replaced for something else of better quality.  Has dad as yet enlarged the garage?  You now have a place where the son-in-law can come & live. Ha ha

I have waited for the last two mail deliveries for mail, but have received none and that takes care of five days, so with no mail to answer or questions to answer I will close now hoping to have more to say more the next time.

Take care of yourself.

All my Love

Stanley

Another picture enclosed