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 1, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

3

Germany

April 1, 1945

Dearest Mother:

After a busy night I will sit down this morning for a few lines to you and also to tell you that I received yesterday your beautiful Easter card and enclosed note and clipping.  The clipping is very interesting.

My Easter spirit was more or less forgotten.  I thought of sending some kind of card but just completely forgot the whole thing.

So far have received all of your letters up to No7 which was received with the Easter cards I really like the numbering system and will keep my own straight from now on.

My Easter Sunday was rather uneventful and I spent all of my time in our quarters.  Attended services and communion in the morning, which was the first time I had been to church in some time.  The chaplain is no good at all where I was last.  I really like the one they have here and he is a real speaker.

We are in a real nice building here and are quite comfortable and life in general is rather nice.  They have a very attractive garden here which looks very nice to me from here and I shall investigate on a nice day.

I do not believe I have mentioned it previously but while at headquarters Col. Gay offered me the chance to apply for a battlefield commission, but my answer was NO for several reasons which are to lengthy to mention here.

Enclosed you will find two orders of our headquarters noting my recent team  changes.  You can put them away for me as they may be of uses some day.

April 7 – 2pm

I grew rather tired this morning so decided to get some more sleep.  Already this afternoon I have gone for a walk into the before mentioned garden and find it very attractive and there are some very interesting plants there.  The apple trees there are coming into bloom and are simply beautiful.  They of course have the ever present Rhubarb in abundance.  All of the vines are coming out into new leaf.

When I was in Maastricht, Holland they had some rather nice collections in their city park all arranged n different collections.  They also have a deer park with two types of deer and a very large bear.

When you mentioned Uncle Ned (---?) Mr. Matson did he know who he was at the time.

I was very glad to hear your opinion on the picture “Frenchmen’s Creek”.  I am in hopes of seeing it.

I am very glad to hear of Dad’s health improving and hope he is well again soon.  You have not mentioned your own recently.  Hope he does not have to return to the garage soon.

In regards to your question about Kupfer’s violin playing.  He plays very well and plays both by ear and music.  He just recently returned from a pass to Paris. 

Major Skinner is still with us and I saw him in January when I happened to be at the hospital he is located in.  Both he and Major Grubin are doing some beautiful work. 

Most of the last few lines are answers to your letters starting with yours of Feb 25.

The silver pitcher came from Fontainebleau, France and was supposed to have belonged to the Empress Josephine at one time.  Quite a unique story as to how I came into possession of it.

You have not mentioned the mine recently.  Are they doing anything on them or what are their plans?

The reason for our living in private homes while at the Evacuation Hospital was for lack of quarters.  The buildings used for hospital were just large enough for such purpose. We all lived in one place or the other.  We of course had all of our meals at the hospital kitchen.

Had I mentioned previously that I had received two letters from Joseph from last October.  They all had just 339 on them and no designation of organization on it.

In reference to my questions regarding the will, I was referring to Grandpa Matthews will.  I know of course from one of your later letters the answer.  What were the special bequests to other members of the family? Did Gladys get what she thought she would.

All troops here were issued sleeping bags according to WD directives.  Every once in a while they make a reissue of things such as new jackets as we are getting now.  They are a much nicer type, but not quite as warm.

I am glad to hear of you buying new records and tying them out on the phonograph.  That is the reason it is there for.  Your latest additions sound very nice and I am sure they are nice.  “Il Bacia” is very nice.  I saw a picture while in Maastricht regarding the life of Ernest Ball the composer.  The picture had a lot of very good music.  Have you seen “Rhapsody in Blue”” yet? Also saw “Mr Skeffington” with Bette Davis which was very good.  It was the last I saw which was a couple months ago.

Very pleased to hear of the apricot and avocado tree doing well, to(o) bad they can not be moved.

In regards to your question about the clipping regarding the furloughs after the ETO.  I do not know but the CBI looms ahead for some reason to me.

Received Nelson’s address and will write him soon as it may take some time for my last to be forwarded to him.

What happened that Don Finley went into the Navy? I should have imagined he would have be (en) exempted with family etc.

If you wish you may give one of the small plates (Delft) to Muriel.  And only give Thelma one large and one small one.

Your war stamp chain sounds interesting and I am looking forward to hearing more of it.

While we were in Holland I did not see many tulips as the season was wrong and they grow the large bulbs of them further west nearer the coast.  A little place called Heize was the fartherest North in Holland from Eindhoven. That  was way last year tho. That was the place the tents blew down.  Remember?

Well about all for now and thank you for the Air Mail stamps and the jokes which were very good.

(Note from transcriber: Strange ending for the letter… no page is missing that I have found.  Nothing else for this letter)

January 4, 1944* - Holland

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

Holland

January 4, 1944[1]

Dearest Mother:

After another uneventful day I will write you a few lines.

Decided to change my mind about the glassware as I do not think it to be of that much value.  Instead of sending that I will send you six pieces of rather nice Delft Blue ware which I think are rather nice.  I want you to give one large plate and two small ones to Thelma and tell her that I would have sent them directly to her only the packing would have been a little more different that way.  Also will be some books enclosed for myself.

Well about all for now and I will write a longer letter tomorrow.

All my love,

Stanley

---

[1] Typo - 1945

March 21, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

1

Germany

March 21, 1945

Dearest Mother:

Well write a few lines this evening to let you know that I received yesterday your well received letters of February 26 and of March 2.  And as you mentioned the former is the largest letter ever received from you.  I will not endeavor to answer your questions now other than the flower ones.

The Wastonias I do want you to take some of as long as they reproduce so rapidly Or think all of you wish.  The Fuchsias can all be left behind.  The Ivy you can take slips of but take none from the ground.  The cacti of course would all be nice to take along and repot at some future time.  I did not mention the Rhubarb since you I imagined would take such things.

Also in the mail yesterday I received a letter from Aunt Dell and a roll of film from Thelma which I will have to answer for soon.

Enclosed you will find two sheets of Dutch stamps which the boy at the house in Holland gave me while there.  These are all German printed and as I understand these are the entire set of those printed.  I think these are quite nice.

The other day while still at my last station.  I had the chance to go to one of the large mansion nearby and you can well imagine my delight at going over.  In the barn there were some very beautiful carriages, one in particular was black and all shined with red velvet cushions and interior and the thing really had good springs for a change.  The green box was full of rare plants and the house had a beautiful solarium full of plants such as azaleas, camillias, ferns, cyclamen etc.  The lace curtains at the windows were really beautiful as well as everything else in the house.

I have started once again to use the numbering system on my letters and will continue since I have a system now for keeping track of it.  This one will be No 1 again.

Well all for now and more again.

All my Love

Stanley

26 stamps enclosed

Dulken, Germany - March 1945 - 105th EVAC