Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

I never knew my father. I was only 8 months old when he was drafted and went off to war, never to return. My mother got on with her life, remarrying almost exactly a year after my father’s death. My mother never talked about him, so I had no idea what kind of man he was.

I was completely unaware of the existence of the letters my father wrote to my mother during the war until after my mother’s death in December 1970. The California earthquake of February 1971, caused damage in my stepfather’s garage, and as we pulled boxes out of the overhead, I ran across the letters neatly tied up in blue ribbons. I read a few of them, enough to know I wanted to save them for later review, but I was busy, first with child-rearing, then with a career, so never got back to them. My interest was rekindled when one of my cousins sent me some letters that my father had written to his parents. In her note accompanying the letters, she mentioned that she was glad of the opportunity to get to know her uncle through his letters. I had always had an empty corner in my heart because of the father I never knew, and I knew it was time to read his letters.

And so I decided to go through all his letters in chronological order and compile some of my father’s words, the better to know him. And the man I discovered was warm, loving, witty, intelligent, and, I might add, a hopeless romantic. He was head over heals in love with my mother, and not afraid to say it. He could find humor in most any situation and could describe things in such detail that you could almost feel you were there. And so, here are excerpts from my father’s letters.

Copyright © 2003 Dorothy N, Michel Fagg Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

July 20, 1944 Dear Dottie, Gee, honey, I’ve been a little bit worried about things. My affairs are just hanging in mid-air and I still am not sure if I’m being drafted or not. If I’m reasonably sure in a months time about the draft and can find an apartment I’ll be up to get you and our little honey. I’m afraid we won’t be able to get a terribly nice place at first but once you’re here and I have the car we can hunt for something a little nicer. I’ll be awfully glad to see you again and to have you here with me. Well, sweetie, I’ll close for now and wash up and I’ll just keep thinking and dreaming of you and little Dossie all the time. I’ve grown so attached to you both that it hurts to think of you as being so far away. Here’s love and kisses with

All my heart Georgie ****************************************************************************** July 21, 1944 Hello Sweetie, I’m still thinking of you and so much, too. I went to a show after work and now I’m sitting on the porch in front of my rooming house. A whole bunch of fellows and girls congregated next door to go on a weenie roast. They all fooled around and kidded and it made me feel so alone. I wished so hard that we could have been here together instead of just me alone. Maybe soon the war will be over and we can really settle down together and then what fun we’ll have. I’d like for us to have lots of friends that we could go visit and go out with.

Always your sweetie Georgie Porgie

1 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** July 22, 1944 Dear Dottie Virginia appears a little nicer each day as I grow to meet more friends and see a little more of it. How about you, Angel? I’m so hungry for news of you and Dossie and sometimes I think it may be longer before I’ll be able to have you down here. You see, there have been quite a few cases of infantile paralysis in So. Va. and about 3 or 5 in Norwalk. I’ll have to watch the papers and make sure everything is O.K. before we bring Dossie down. We don’t want to take any chances with her no matter how lonesome we are. Be careful with our little honey, Dot, she’s such a sweet thing (Just like her dear mama). Bye-Bye little chicken, I’ll see you in my dreams – (and when I’m awake, too) Sweet heart, George ****************************************************************************** July 24, 1944 Hello Sweet, It seems now like it’s such a long time since I last saw you that it seems like you must be somehow different and Dossie all grown up. Does she seem to miss her Daddy? She’s probably much too young to realize that there’s been a change at all. It will be so much fun when I can see you again and hug you and kiss you and bubble in your neck just like I used to. When you go to bed tonight, close your eyes and imagine I am hugging you and kissing you and blowing soft breaths in your ears and whispering –

I love you, darling Georgie

2 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** July 25, 1944 Dearest, When I got home, the Powells (My Landlords) and the fellows that room here were sitting on the front porch and I joined them and chewed the rag for a while. The Powells are awfully nice people – real hospitable. I’m so proud to show your picture and talk about little Dossie. It really seems like there’s nothing else in life for a fellow like me other than his family. Even though we’re apart my thoughts and memories are a dear treasure. Really, darling, there is nothing for me but you. I love you, sweet. Good night Georgie ****************************************************************************** July 26, 1944 Darling, beautiful, sweet, lovely, angelic, beloved, Dottie – Hello! I know of a kind of nice housing project where I can get an apartment for about $37.00 a month. They are putting in gas ranges and they have either refrigerators or ice boxes (I forget which). I’ll look into it when I get a fair idea that I’ll be staying. I bought a pair of working pants, a pair of non-rationed shoes and two polo shirts. The shop is kind of dirty and full of lathes and milling machines and I hate to wear my good clothes there. I have no news for you today but I can tell you that you are my everything and that I’ll always love you. Your sweetheart, Georgie ****************************************************************************** July 27, 1944 Hello, My sweet, I cried a little over your sweet letter tonight, cutie. It was so nice and it made me happy. I’ll go to bed now and dream of you – so sweet dreams and – Good night, my love, Georgie

3 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** July 28, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Today was one for great celebration. Two letters came from my darling for me. I read them both hungrily and felt so full and happy with my love. That sweet kiss was sure welcome and – silly me- I promptly kissed the paper where your sweet lips left their mark. Believe it or not, dear, so great is my affection and so true my love that my imagination really permitted me to enjoy the sensation of being near you. It may seem stupid – but I really did. Your adoring Georgie ****************************************************************************** July 28, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Many times, I feel a certain closeness of dearness that I can, beyond a doubt, recognize to be my own beloved Dottie. I really believe that God in his knowledge of our thoughts and feelings actually makes some sort of contact between two souls yearning for one another. Maybe it’s crazy, but I can’t help but believe it’s all true because it’s such a definite and strong sensation that it just can’t be denied. Do you ever experience this dear, or am I just nuts? Don’t stop wishing, darling, or stop yearning, for God will realize how necessary we are to each other and some day we will be able to be together with our little Dossie and maybe move in our own little house – our very own! I’ll see you in my dreams – Your George

4 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** July 29, 1944 Hello, my darling – Today is Sunday and with all day to loaf and sweat, I missed you an awful lot. I went to a nearby beach – just bumming – and walked about 4 miles along the shore of Chesapeake Bay and about a mile or two inland and then got a lift to a trolley line and finally got back to Hampton. You, my dear, you are my everything. I’d like to rub noses again and sweetly murmur “Icky-blick” to my love. I’d like to tease you and wrestle on the lawn again. I’d like to bubble your neck again and then watch the goose pimples rise. Oh sweetie, you’ll really catch “hell” when I get back – I bet you’ll enjoy it too – How is everything with you, dear? Are you disciplining Dossie so that she doesn’t get to take too much for granted? I don’t know why I ask you such foolish questions for I’m sure you can bring Dossie up much better without having her grumpy old man around to upset her. I wish I could hold her on my knee a little while this evening and play with her and hear her coo, for I miss her an awful lot too. Love, as always George ****************************************************************************** July 31, 1944 Dear Dottie – Well, as it seems, I’ll have to report Thursday and I’ll have to go to an army camp in Va. and go into the regular service – deferments are out, I suppose. Well, dear, that’s about the size of it and we can do nothing more than to hope for the best. Keep your fingers crossed, darling and be patient for I’m sure we’ll always get along somehow because we do have our love and our faith and that is, by far, more than this little bit of trouble and uncertainty can destroy. Even if I were to be shipped out without seeing you (Which is hardly possible) I would carry your love along with me and cherish it as I did when you were at my side. My dear, this outlook never fails to give me courage when all else seems to have left me. Love, with my whole heart Georgie

5 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 1, 1944 Hello, my Freckle-eyes, Oh, darling, I wish things could be better, but you know how it is – I haven’t got a darn thing to say about my life anymore. But you know – Michel – hell or high water – ice cream or s—t I’ll get back to you if I have to wade through the whole German and Japanese armies. Damnation – sometimes I get so mad at humans. I think I’ll leave them all flat and live with the gorillas. What fun to swing from tree to tree and pick fleas all day – The fleas I have but I don’t have time to pick ‘em or swing in the trees. Heaven knows I look enough like a gorilla to join them without them knowing the difference. Hah! I think I’d enjoy that. Can’t you picture me? I’d be about as graceful in the foliage as an old cow. When our alarm clock came from Mom, I wound it and it ran about ten minutes and gave up the ghost. I had to take it to work and give it a complete overhaul and cleaning. There was a worn part that was causing all that clanking so I hammered it and filed it to shape and now it’s running tip top without the “connecting rod rap.” Good night, dear. Love, George ****************************************************************************** August 2, 1944 Darling Wife, Mrs. Powell is here on the porch with her Daughter-in-law and grandson. He’s four months old and urps and burps and reminds me of Dossie and makes me feel like holding her and bouncing her and generally fooling around. She must look very sweet crawling around the crib – Gee, I must interrupt – there’s a beautiful double rainbow out now. There’s a fine rain falling like a drizzle and the sun’s shinning. It sure is pretty. Well to get back, I’m a right proud Daddy and I blow quite a bit about the wonderful baby and her beautiful Mommie. You are a wonderful pair – best in the world and I’m so thankful for you both. Right at this moment the little kitty from next door walked across the paper on my lap and looked at me and started chewing the end of my fountain pen. She’s sure cute. Well, my pet, be good and pray for me for I am yours alone. With all my heart, Georgie

6 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 3, 1944 Dear Sweetie, Well I’m finally on the train with a bunch of fellows bound for the induction center in Richmond Va. I have no more news for you – all I know is that I’m doing what I’m told. It’s an awfully hot day and the air conditioning is not working in the car, which makes it awfully sticky. I’m enjoying the free train ride though. Your adoring husband, Georgie ****************************************************************************** August 5, 1944 Dear Dottie Well I’m a full-fledged GI Joe now, honey. I have my uniforms and have been scrubbing barracks and parading along the field. It sure is as crummy as they say it is. The kids are a lot of fun and consolation but I sure miss you an awful lot. The fellows tell me I look like an old timer in my uniform. It’s pretty snazzy. They gave us a whole slew of clothes but we wear fatigues mostly. For dinner we have to wear our khakis. Ye Gods! I’ve been standing in more damn lines and working for more darn people than I ever have in my whole life before. Coming to camp we had to ride in the awfullest trains and got kicked around and filthy. From Richmond to Washington we had a half passenger and half baggage car and the fellows who were a little slower had to get stuck in the baggage section. At one station they spied a board and 2 milk boxes and made themselves a bench. The rest didn’t care and started a heavy crap game. Dollar bills and exclamations flew around like mud in an electric fan. This morning we had a minor physical and “short-arm” inspection and they pricked the end of our fingers for a blood-type sample. I called it “finger-pricking and prick-finging.” I’ll be dreaming of you darling from “Taps ‘til Reveille” and think of my darling all day long so think of your buck private who’s longing for you. I love you G.I. Georgie

7 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 6, 1944 Dearest Dottie, How is my sweet little darling today? Your darling Buck Private Husband is hanging around the camp shooting the breeze with the boys and we all take turns griping and crabbing. It doesn’t really mean much but a fellow isn’t a real soldier until he really gripes like the Old Harry. I went to a protestant service at the chapel this morning and had communion. I really enjoyed the service. The Chaplain was a rather good speaker and his teachings on the outlook towards religion was rather human and sensible. The chapel is built very much like most Catholic churches with a sanctuary enclosed with a railing and all religions (Catholic, Protestant, & Jewish) are conducted in this same little chapel. It is quite neat, simple and pretty inside and has a pretty nice sounding organ. Love Georgie p.s. I’ve sure been sleepy today. I served duty from 3AM to 6AM as barrack guard and have some more coming. It’s easy, though. I just have to sit around and keep my eye on things and keep the hot water furnace stoked. I love you, dearest George ****************************************************************************** August 7, 1944 Hello Darling Dottie Well, I’ve spent another day at Ft. Meade and am quite worn out with the novelty of the thing. Now it has become sheer army life. Of course the fellows have a lot of fun together but the fellows can be darned – I want to be with you. With all my heart Georgie

8 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 8, 1944 Hello darling, I have a more or less steady assignment now working for the camp orderly and though I know I have something to do every day, it is easy work and I know I shall not be assigned to any K.P. or clean-up detail. These are the things that fellows dread the most and everyone must take a crack at it unless he has some such special work as I have. Of course it’s dull but I do get sent up to see the big-shots once in a while but as far as they’re concerned, I’m not even there. Oh well, I might as well make the best of it. The post band was playing some jive on the bandstand after lunch today and a fellow with a very pleasing tenor voice sang a few songs. It was awfully nice to hear. It was the only entertainment I’ve had (outside of memories) since I left you and it gave me chills of pleasure and a great feeling of enjoyment. Be good my darling, I love you – Georgie ****************************************************************************** August 9, 1944 Dearest, We had a long parade and awarding of good conduct medals to a whole slew of guys and we had to stand & stand & stand. You know the high officers have to have some fun so we play soldier and march all over the damned place and make believe we like it. Gripe, gripe, gripe all day long and crab, crab at night. Luckily I offered to clean the latrine this morning and Bud & I are off tonight because of it and all the other fellows have to clean the barracks from top to bottom. So many times I think of you, dear. So often I wish I was with you and telling you how wonderful you really are. Ah, darling, it will really be a big day when I come home again to stay with you always. I adore you, sweet. All my love, George

9 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 10, 1944 Dear Dottie I am now chief barrack guard – ahem! It’s really a janitor but I am in complete charge of our barracks and must make the fellows clean & scrub and appoint fellows to stand guard overnight and on weekends. Because of this station I don’t have any K.P. or other details to do and I have a private room all to myself. I really don’t have to do a thing but sit around and relay messages from headquarters and see that fellows get out to their assignments. It’s kind of fun to be placed in a little authority over the fellows and order them around a little. I asked for volunteers tonight to stand night guard. No one answered. Then I mentioned that I’d need three for over the weekend and I was flooded with volunteers for tonight’s guard. It was all very funny to see the way they wanted to get in favor to avoid the weekend duty. I had to laugh. These kids here are all very funny. They kid around and talk silly and gripe but still they all take it in pretty good spirit. I suppose we all feel that there are no two ways about it and that we all must do as Uncle Sam says. Pretty soon we’ll get a mail call and I hope I’ll get something from you. I’m waiting rather anxiously for it because I’m dying to know what is happening at home. I love you always George

10 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 11, 1944 Dearest, I suppose you’ll be surprised to hear where I am. On Friday evening my right foot started getting awfully sore. I didn’t pay much attention at first but when I got to bed I started getting awful chills. On Saturday morning I decided to go on sick call for some advice and when the captain took my temperature, it was 101º and they quick jammed me in the hospital. I don’t know what’s wrong but two hard lumps have risen on the top of my instep and the whole top of the foot is sore & red. I did appreciate the pictures you sent and I want you to send a few whenever you can. You know what I would like dear? I’d love a nice small wallet portrait of you to carry with me wherever I may go so that I can look at it in my lonesome and enjoy sweet warm tears of sentiment. They have a lot of German prisoners around here. They work around the fort and hospital grounds. My German is quite rusty but I had quite a little conversation with one. They sure must feed them a lot of baloney in the Dutch army. He believed that the flying bombs were actually demolishing England as to make it unsafe for Americans. He also firmly believed that Germany would be victorious in about 5 months. He predicted that the buzz bomb would be perfected enough to fly clear to America and ruin our cities. I told him that even were that the case, they would be too inaccurate to do much in damage to property or morale. He was quite pleasant though and said that the American girls were nice and that he had been treated better than he expected as a prisoner. I asked him if he thought American prisoners were treated as well. He didn’t know but he thought not because food was poor & scarce in Germany. We asked him how he liked the American soldiers. He looked around at all the sergeants and corporals surrounding him and he smiled and said “I like them fine.” I had to laugh – it was such a silly question under the circumstances. I love you Georgie

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****************************************************************************** August 13, 1944 Hello my darling Dottie After this war is over we’ll get a nice little house and a car and maybe if we can manage well enough we can have a little boat to spend a few weekends on and enjoy some vacations on. It would be fun, wouldn’t it dear? I want to get you a washing machine, dish washer and all kinds of things to make life easy for you so that we can get the fullest amount of enjoyment from our spare time and give lots of time to our children so that they will grow up to enjoy us and love us. We’re still very young and perhaps it won’t be terribly long before our dream will be realized. Your lover Guess Who! ****************************************************************************** August 14, 1944 Dear Apple Pie, Congratulations angel – We’re on our 18th monthiversary and I haven’t even given you a black eye yet. I remember one fatal day in 1942 I stopped in front of a friends house in my super deluxe “Flying Petunia” called “Daisy Mae.” Unsuspectingly I looked at the scenery around the neighborhood and my eyes fell stunned upon a beautiful obsession in red. I stepped from my beautiful carriage & walked over the soft clouds for a closer look when a small sharp arrow pierced my chest and stuck deeply. When the little naked archer came to withdraw the shaft, the arrowhead became loose and remained fixed deep inside of me – I was marked forever!! Mistily, words floating on iridescent tunes to my eager ears. “This is Dorothy.” Was I to be allowed to talk to this heavenly body? I tried – she smiled and answered. Bells rang – the angelic choir sang clearly – heaven opened to me and I was engulfed in its serene peace and beauty for there I was with one of its divinities – Dorothy was her name! Ah darling, as dopey as this may sound, I really feel like that for my love is really strong and beautiful. No matter how far apart we are or for how long – there will never be any deterioration because I have found what I have always wanted – and more – after a long blind search. I’ll be thinking of you always and loving you, of course, because I’m a really lovesick jerk. With all my heart Georgie

12 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 15, 1944 Hello my Cup-Cake New day – same camp – same fellow – same foot – same old sh—, er stuff. Army life is sure wonderful – oh yeah! I have never met such a rough bunch of fellows as I have in the army. Swearing is such a commonplace thing. Every other word you hear is “f---ing.” No foolin, the army is really degrading a lot of boys. Oh well – I’ve been through worse and some of the fellows are awfully funny. We had a pretty good lunch today. I don’t know what kind of meat it was but it was in between calves brains and T-bone steaks – but it was good. I went for a second helping. I want to get an awful lot out of the government to make up for the darn small amount of “consolation money” that they intend to hand out every month. I love you Georgie ****************************************************************************** August 16, 1944 Dearest Dot, I was awfully sorry to hear how desperate you felt but from your last letter you seem to have improved a lot and I’m glad. It’s a whole lot better, dear, if you can keep your chin up – it makes it a whole lot easier. Today I was reading your letters and tears came to my eyes – I loved you so much. The kid in the bed next to me noticed it and kind of envied me. “Love is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?” He asked me. All I could whisper with a big lump in my throat was “Gosh!” He and others looked at your pictures and let out little yelps of delight, as fellows are wont to do when they see an exceptional girl. I’m so proud to show off the kiss marks on my letter & envelope. One fellow clutched at his throat and acted as though he was going to faint. It pleased me as you can imagine. Everyone thinks you are awfully pretty. After all, didn’t I find the richest gold in California? I sure did! Love, Georgie

13 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 17, 1944 Dearest Dot, I’m still in the hospital today and I suppose I’ll be in for a while for my foot is worse than ever today. I could barely hobble along on it to get my food and go to the latrine. It appears as though it’s developing to a point where it will blow up. I didn’t leave my bed all day today because I can’t bear to put any weight on it. I’ve asked for crutches but like everything else, they’re scarce and they haven’t been able to find a pair for me. It’s a hell of a thing when a hospital can’t even furnish a broomstick for a fellow to lean on. Love George ****************************************************************************** August 18, 1944 Hello, my irresistible one – I’m really a full-fledged GI boy now. Last night the fellows told me I was talking in my sleep and voicing my views on military life. At two different times I said “God damned Army,” which just goes to show that I have a subconscious mind (I didn’t think I had a mind at all) which voices my true views. With all my heart Cherub ****************************************************************************** August 19, 1944 Hello sweet & lovely! Great surprise today – I got your wonderful letter with the morning mail. Little Dossie is really getting along now – teeth and all. Remember how she looked when we first got her home from the hospital? She looked like a little red dishrag. It does my poor heart good to hear that she is coming along well and getting her teeth. I can just see her chomping on the spoon, her little teeth clicking like taps on the tin roof. At last, here too, the heat wave has broken. Last night it grew real cool and, of course, it was the first time I refused my blanket when they doled them out in the evening. Perhaps I should have refused it long ago and it would have gotten cooler. Your darling Georgie

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****************************************************************************** August 20, 1944 Hello my sweet, Another Sunday passing uneventfully – didn’t get any mail today which makes it even more uneventful. My foot seems to be improving now. I can hobble on crutches without that severe infernal throbbing. Guess I’ll be getting well someday – imagine that. Someone called this an army hospital and that goes towards substantiating my recent suspicions. You know – I think I’ve been drafted! Just think I’ve been in this organization over two weeks now. Young Michel makes a poor soldier though - they haven’t even issued me a gun yet – I don’t suppose they trust me fully. Do you remember the wonderful 22nd birthday dinner you made for me? What a swell evening that was. You were so sweet. I can see you still with the candlelight reflected in your sparkling freckle-eyes. I remember our Christmas celebration together, too. How I used to enjoy our evenings together alone. We played pick-up sticks and cards – Gee it was fun. Just wait – when we have our family together and long evenings – we’ll have fun. When the kids get bigger we can have them bring their friends and we can let them dance and have a lot of good clean fun. Right now the guys are picking on “Dick,” the kid I spoke of who sleeps next to me. He’s only 19 and the older fellows just thrill on teasing the life out of him. They don’t bother me any though – I don’t say much and I’m not too puny so they don’t quite know how to take me. Well, I’ll manage but I always do feel sorry for the underdog when a bunch of big blowhards pick on him all the time. Silly but loving George

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****************************************************************************** August 21, 1944 Dearest – In all my aggravation with various Engineering depts. such as the esteemed “Engineering” staff at PS Co. I wish I had thought of the clever little crack which I came across in a magazine which tells of a sign in an Engineering office advising – “As a last resort – USE COMMON SENSE.” It sure tickled me – I’m going to have to mention it in my next letter to PS Co. I have been reading so many books lately that I actually feel literary. I still enjoy my old time sea stories with pirates and 50 gun broadsides – Yippie. The fellows always say – “Are you reading again?” Pretty soon they’ll be calling me the professor. I love you George ****************************************************************************** August 22, 1944 Hello – Fruit Cake Last night (like every night) before I dropped to sleep, I took your letter and touched my lips to your lipstick traces. The faint odor still present gave me a feeling of being near to you. Listen, darling, try putting a drop of some of your older perfume on your letters and I’ll see just what kind of effect it has on me. I’m sure it will be awfully pleasing to me for, as I say, it is the only way my senses can recognize you when we’re apart. Unfortunately, I can’t do the same for you, unless I sweated on my letters, but that wouldn’t be awfully pleasant! The war news lately has been sounding pretty good. If we could only keep up at this rate, it wouldn’t be long before we are together again. When all this is past and we are older, we will look back and it won’t seem so awfully bad to us. I am yours, Georgie

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****************************************************************************** August 23, 1944 Hello, my dearest, Sunday morning again – time sure flies, doesn’t it? I went to church and prayed for us this morning at the Catholic mass. I prayed so earnestly that we will be together and happy soon. Ah, sweetie, what else is there to pray for? I have everything I’ll ever want in you and Dossie – a gift from God in person. I’m so thankful for loving you that it makes every day a thanksgiving day. Yours, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Dearest Dottie, It would be so nice if this war were over soon. Just imagine all the fellows who will come home to their wives and sweethearts and – I will be one of them. Paris is now free – Berlin will soon fall, we hope, and then all our attention will be turned towards Japan who already is realizing that the few troops and battle machines presently against them now are more than a match for them. Figures on the radio said that in the severest battles, soldiers had an 8 out of 10 chance of not being even hurt. Out of those casualties about 57% will walk to the hospital and of the rest – 97% can expect to live. These figures are astounding really, and sure do a lot to help lift a fellow’s morale. The idea of being wounded is not so horrible when a fellow feels he will be in competent hands. I love you, my darling, Cherub ****************************************************************************** August 24, 1944 Dearest, beautiful, Dottie I’ve been sitting around this morning with not much ambition to do anything. I’ve grown rather tired of reading and looking at magazines full of girls’ legs. Dossie has been on my mind a lot since you described to me all the cute new little things she does. She’s going to be a lovely girl, I’m sure, and I only hope God will make me a good Daddy so that I can bring her up to be like her dear Mommie. Yours alone George

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August 24 – Hello you sweet things! [friends at Pacific Scientific Company] Happy was little Private Michel to receive those notes from the PS Co. elite. It’s quite a while since I left sunny California. For me, the army stinks, but as long as I’m in it, there’s nothing to do, but my damnedest. At “classification” I was recommended for “instrumental work” and all this high- class experience I’ve had will probably attain for me an extra special rating of “Buck Private” in my Uncle’s infantry. They seem to want me there because of my experience with infants – logical, isn’t it? My foot, unfortunately, is healing pretty well and my goldbricking days are drawing to a close. You fellows laughed many a time at my descriptions and remarks concerning “engineers.” Recently, I read in Readers Digest of a person who, having a very similar opinion, displayed a sign in the engineering department of a large aircraft concern which advised: AS A LAST RESORT – USE COMMON SENSE! This, I realized, said more in a few words than I have been able to put across ever since I knew what “engineer” meant. I’m really surprised to hear that the regulator stand hasn’t blown up yet – I must have miscalculated. I recently had a chat with one of the numerous German POWs at the post and after chewing back and forth he graciously informed me that Der Fruhrer would be victorious in 5 or 6 mos. At this, I demonstrated the more – shall I say shady side of my German vocabulary and ended up telling him he was verruckt. This, he debated, but we let the matter ride. I’m sorry to say that I don’t have anything sensible to tell you – I’m in the army, you know! I did, however, hear a story of a young Negro soldier who was cleansing his soul in confession to his dusky chaplain. In the middle of this sad, heart-rending tale, the chaplain was forced to stop the young penitent with “Just a minute now Private Jones – you is not confessin’ yo’ is braggin’!” Well, fo-fo-fo goo’ness sake, I’d better say – Love & Kisses, George

18 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 25, 1944 Darling Dottie, Yesterday I got a letter from Matt Stanford and one from Ma McKay which included short notes from Will, Abe, Charlie & Bob & Mario. You can imagine how pleased I was to hear from them. I answered them promptly with a ridiculous letter, of course – there’s never anything sensible to say about the army. I sure feel stuffed right now – I had two big flap-jacks for breakfast, coffee, milk, applesauce and bacon. One thing about the army is that you don’t have to pour over a big menu to decide on something that they’re probably out of. This business can’t go on forever. When we are together again, it will all be in the past and then we’ll have a good many years together to enjoy at home (won’t it be nice to have one?) Ah, Dottie, that is the day I live for. I’ll have a shop and a little garden and if we can afford it we’ll have, besides a washing machine, a dishwasher and all the nice things to make life easy for you. If fortune smiles on us, I’d like a lathe, drill press and a few shop machines. Dream on with me pretty Dottie, it will all come true some day. Love, George ****************************************************************************** August 27, 1944 Hello, dear Dottie, This morning will be inspection and we are waiting for it now with our ward all spic and span. I have taken to reading for want of something better to do. Reading is fun but to gobble up one book after another gets tiresome too. My life has been such a rich sweet story since I met you that I would rather live it for excitement than follow someone else’s adventures on paper. My foot is much, much better and I suppose I will be out of here shortly. I’ll be shipped before I can get a chance to come home. I’m sure glad you came down. I had felt as though I never had a chance to say good-bye and felt very blue about it. Yours alone, Cherub

19 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** August 28, 1944 Dearest Dottie Rich is leaving today. He expects soon to go overseas and looks forward to it quite a bit. I wouldn’t care if I never got to go – not that I’m afraid but if I stay here, the chances are so much greater that I’ll be able to live a good unmaimed life with all my body in one piece. I don’t know if you would call this cowardly, but I feel I am naturally opposed to killing and I really hate to think that I should have to go around shooting things. However, I suppose all I need is to have someone shoot at me and I’d have a much different outlook. Very often I think of it but I feel that I am a lot stronger than a lot of fellows and I should be able to take care of myself better than a lot of guys. I’m bigger, heavier, and stronger than the average soldier and that increases my chances of protecting myself. When you put all these things together, I really am luckier than most fellows in this respect. Even if I am wounded, I can stand to lose more blood than most boys and my physical condition has always been such that I heal rapidly. I’m not in such a bad spot after all. Don’t think I’m getting morbid, dear – I’m just weighing my chances if I should happen to get into the thick of it and I really think I have a lot of edge over many fellows. I feel that I have an awful lot to be thankful for, dear, and when I really get down to it I’m not in much of a position to gripe – though gripe I will! It’s good for the soul. I love you so much, George ****************************************************************************** Tuesday, August 30, 1944 Dearest Cookie, I’m a busy little boy this morning. I just got notice that I am being discharged from the hospital this morning and now I am dressed in my beautiful fatigues and packing my junk. Yesterday we fellows in S-11 had to go out and pull all the ragweed out that was around our building. I suppose the Colonel has hay fever. We all decided that it was probably tomorrow’s salad that we were picking. Your ever faithful hubby, Georgie

20 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Wednesday August something Dear Dottie, my love, My foot is about healed although the cut opens a little now and then. At one o’clock last night I was awakened by a bunch of rookies just coming in and someone recognized my voice while I was kidding the boys. It was another fellow from NACA. He tells me that they’re pulling a lot of guys from there now so I’m not the only guy who got gypped. These local draft boards are getting worse and worse. One fellow from Va. – a farmer – sure had a rotten trick pulled on him. He is 35 and got a deferment last spring and was almost promised he wouldn’t be called so he planted a big crop of corn, has about 300 chickens, 4 pigs expecting young, apples and God knows what. Suddenly on two weeks notice, he was drafted and had to leave his wife and 3 kids all alone on the farm with a potential of about $2000 going to pieces. Can you imagine the investment he has made in seed, labor, and feed that all stands to go to waste? I really feel sorry for him. I am told that a lot of plans are being made to start the soldier off in life again after the war. It may be better that I am in the army. There is all kinds of talk of bonuses and loans at low interest rates for veterans to help them buy houses and get settled. If this is the case, it won’t be so bad to have been drafted. Last night they had an informal quiz program at the show house sponsored by a candy company and I won a buck and 24 Baby Ruths by running to the platform and telling the names of the three states bordering on the Pacific. It was kind of fun and I passed most of the candy out to the fellows in my barracks. I love you, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Wednesday, August 30, 1944 Dear Dottie It just struck me today that I never smile anymore. When I try and think back, I can’t remember any particular time that I’ve smiled since I saw your radiant face coming towards me in the ward. Nothing seems to have any kick in it since I’ve been away from you. Oh how happy I’ll be to live with you again. I’M NUTS ABOUT YOU! Cherub

21 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Aug. 31, 1944 Hello, my darling, Your letter came to me today with the plan of that wonderful house. Oh, darling, it looks so wonderful and I don’t think it’s too much to aim for. After the war I’ll work just as hard as I can to get all of this for us. Gee, honey, our post-war world is going to be a wonderful one indeed. With all my heart Georgie ******************************************************************************

22 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

Friday, Sept. 1, 1944 Good Morning, dear Dottie I just got news that I’m being shipped out this morning. Of course I don’t know where but it’s along with other fellows so I guess its infantry. Give Dossie a big hug and kiss for me dear. Tell her about her Daddy and how much he misses her. Chin up, darling. I love you with all my heart. Be Good George ****************************************************************************** Sat. Sept. 2, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Well, here it is – instead of being on the way home to you, I’m way far away in the hottest hole in the whole world. We finally wound up at Camp Blanding, Florida. We lined up for shipment from Meade at 11:15 a.m. Friday and arrived in Camp Blanding at about 11:00 a.m. today. We were sent in a Pullman and although there was no air conditioning, we opened the windows and had a rather enjoyable ride. It seems like we have a really tough time ahead of us – 17 weeks of hard training. None of my hopes have come true at all. My group is a replacement group for the infantry overseas, so after my training I will get 10 days at home and then probably over! Don’t worry though, honey, I’m sure I’ll be able to take care of myself. I’ll take my training seriously so that if I go overseas in combat I’ll be in good condition and have a better chance against adversaries – if that should come. Oh darling, I miss you so much. I am thankful for you, darling, and I promise you I’ll never become sad. After going through all this heat, I think that maybe when the war’s over we’d better just go back to California to live – job or no job. I didn’t realize that these eastern summers were this bad. You’d like that wouldn’t you? Always and always, George

23 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sunday, Sept. 3, 1944 Dearest Dottie I had the craziest dream, last night, dear. I dreamed that I was home with you and holding you. I wasn’t asleep, but I was musing a few happy moments for myself. Just imagine, dear, when I get home, Dossie will be walking like a little doodlebug and probably talking a blue streak. I am so anxious to see her. I’m going to go to church this morning with a few of the fellows. I feel as though I need a little religion. It really does help a fellow over the tough spots. Here at Blanding, we are sleeping in little huts that hold fifteen men. We have had a lot of fun singing together. There are a few fellows that enjoy singing and we have gotten off a few nice numbers. I’m rather anxious to get my harmonica. Gosh, honey, remember how much I used to bounce around and never get homesick? I’ve really got a case of it now. I feel awfully glum sometimes at the prospect of being away for so long. They may say that a lot of fellows are going through the same thing, but from what I can see about most of the fellows in the army, they don’t mind terribly much. A fellow sure has to learn a lot of humility in the army. It’s ironical to think that we were once free citizens of the country and now (in spite of glorious speeches) we’re just about the poorest lowest things crawling. We take orders from a lot of fellows who might in ordinary life have polished our shoes. At Blanding there is a $10 penalty for failing to salute an officer. Isn’t it a glorious thing that a million hands can be put into our lousy little bit of pay for a thing actually so insignificant. I don’t know why I am so bitter – I don’t believe I’ll get caught at all but it’s the principle of the thing. Gee, I’ll be glad to get out of this army. Well, I’m in and I’ll do my best. When I am home I’ll look back at it all and laugh and then turn all my attention to you and do a full time job of loving you and making you happy. I love you Dottie George

24 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Mon. Sept 4, 1944 Hello Dot, dear, Darling, every hour I think of you more & more and wish that I could be with you. If letters are irregular you’ll understand that sometimes from now on we just won’t have a minute to ourselves but I will write as much as I can because I know how much these letters mean to you. I’ll write later, dear. I love you Georgie

25 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 4, 1944 Dear Dottie, The day is all done and I am sitting in the barracks and resting up from today’s drill and basketball and dreaming of my honey. After talking it over with the boys, I think I’d like to have that iron after all. It seems that I could make a lot of extra cash since the laundry takes a whole week and uniforms become wrinkled pretty fast. I can also save $1.50 per month by doing my own washing.

Dottie, my dear, each day more and more I think of you, love you, and pray for you for, Never before has my heart been elated. As it has been since we were first happily mated.

Shorter and shorter the time grows each day That must, e’re we meet again pass all away. Happy my heart will be Dottie of mine, When we shall, our lives, again share – for all time.

Without you, my spirits would fade away Thinner and weaker than arising pay. With you, who on me, make such an impression I’m happy, thank God, for my lovely obsession

My poetry isn’t so very artistic. With lovers it seems to be characteristic. Some night when the moon is full up above you Just think of this rhyme for the theme is – I love you.

Your Georgie

26 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Mon. Sept. 4, 1944 Dearest Dottie From the looks of things we’ll probably be on the field during Christmas but we all are resolved to make the best of it. We’ve gotten a few good singers together and we do enjoy our songs. When we get a chance we play basketball or volleyball. It’ll help to limber me up a little for the vigorous training. If you see any smudges on the paper, darling, it’s because of the heat. We haven’t been dry at any time during the day. We just get so wet from perspiration that rain is a pleasure. We stood in it last night in our underwear and it sure felt good. Then we had a songfest in the shower room for a long time, standing under cold showers. Honey, I’m sure glad I have you and Dossie to look forward to. It’s going to be a glorious homecoming when the war is over. Yours Georgie ****************************************************************************** Tues. Sept. 5 Hello, Dottie dear, The moon is low and pale this evening and my thoughts are with you – sweet thoughts too, darling and as always, I love you. Your sweetie George Hugs & kisses for Dossie ****************************************************************************** Sept. 6, 1944 Hello darling Dottie, This Florida weather is sure screwy. Almost every day we can depend on a little rain squall towards evening. We have had numerous rainstorms and lightening and today, a pretty rainbow. It always seems to rain with the sun out. The cloud formations are beautiful and the sky is the most beautiful shade of azure I have ever seen. Your Georgie

27 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Thurs. Sept 7, 1944 My dearest Dottie, Oh, happy me! I received your first letter today and I am a new man tonight. Today the Protestant chaplain requested singers for his choir and I think I’ll drop over. It may be some fun. I never let a day pass by without my wanting you. Remember when we first met how our eyes always found one another of us, how I used to eat with my elbows out so that I could enjoy the tingling sensation of touching your arm. Remember how we sat before the fire and gazed into the flames and then at one another? What a sweet courtship – what a delightful girl – what a wonderful world! Silly little things like wars can’t stop love, nor can they long keep us apart. Our daughter and the rest to follow will be brought up in an atmosphere of love and devotion and friendship and I hope they can all realize happiness as I have. Wouldn’t it be fun to take the kids to the mountains and play with them as though we, too, were again kids? Ever faithful Georgie

28 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 8, 1944 Dottie, my cookie – Each morning my day begins – each night my day ends with “I love you, honey.” In your letter tonight you say I sounded depressed. Perhaps I was, but don’t worry about it because with your first letter came inexplicable joy and comfort. It just thrills me to have you tell me all about your love and our love and about Dossie and how she is growing. Gosh, how I would like to see her and hold her up high and bubble her little fat tummy. Imagine the crust of this army. They had me out on the “Range” again today, cleaning up chopped down trees and general nonsense. I worked hard this morning, but kind of sneaked off towards the edge of the woods and did quite a bit of “gold-bricking.” At one point I saw a slight stir in the woods in the leaves close to the ground. I called another fellow’s attention to it and he proceeded heaving sizeable pieces of wood in the direction of the disturbance. Getting no reaction I proceeded stalking the “thing” and after some careful maneuvering I poked my head around a bush and there looked directly into the eyes of a sleepy fellow trainee. He looked scared to death lest I would be some sergeant on reconnaissance. It’s a good thing my redheaded friend had a poor arm or we would have had some casualties. I love you Your loving Cherub Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sat. Sept. 9, 1944 Oh my darling Dottie, We had a whole lot of nonsense today called “orientation” telling us how wonderful the army is and how stinking our enemies are and a few jokes and stories from various officers some of which were fair and some rather crude but it was enjoyable inasmuch as it kept us from menial labor. We also had an “eye test.” We read three letters from each eye but right or wrong didn’t matter. All those who could find the door without a cane were o.k. Love and kisses for you & Dossie George

29 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sunday Sept 10 Dear Dorothy Another Sunday has rolled around and I enjoyed the privilege of singing with the Chapel choir. It was a lot of fun. We used “Rock of Ages” for our “Anthem.” The boys are pretty nice singers and although many of them can sing only the melody, we do have enough “parts” singers to make it sound pretty good. You know, honey, I believe I’m starting to get used to this nonsense because I don’t find it going against my grain as I did at first. If a fellow can drop all pride and disconnect his will from his body he can stand it pretty well. I imagine, though, it will be difficult to get back to civilian life and learn to think for oneself all over again. I love you, George ****************************************************************************** Monday Hello, dear Dorothy – This morning we had the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. Colors ranged from deep scarlet to bright pink lighting up the clouds like frosted lamp globes. It was so strikingly beautiful and it reminded me of something. All I could think of to whisper to myself was “Oh Dottie, how I miss you.” Tonight we have an almost equally beautiful sky in all shades of blue, indigo and purple. Streaky clouds of grays and deep indigo frame the beautiful color design as though God had specially taken time to form them and display them as a note of His pleasure. I’m sure He can’t have too much pleasure in people these days but He must be happy in some of us. I truly hope that I can claim a little portion of the cause for His happiness for my heart and mind contain nothing but love and the decent things of life. You have brought all these things to me, Dot, with your devotion and sweetness as though you were sent to me by God Himself. They changed us all around today in huts according to alphabetical order – which broke up the whole company right after we had started making good friends. Gosh, I had no idea that there were so many hillbillies in the country. The accents are thick as molasses. If your honey comes home a-talking like a doggoned rebel, don’t be surprised ‘ cause we’uns all talk different from yo’all yankees. Lovingly Georgie

30 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Tuesday Sept. 11 My Darling Dottie Today was a lot more interesting than yesterday. We were instructed fundamentally in first aid, gas masks, drills and grenades and saw a few pictures on sex hygiene. It turned out that we got a dandy platoon sergeant. He is apparently interested in his work and vows that of the 3 company D platoons, we will be the best. He gave us a little extra drill tonight but we all enjoyed it because he is pleasant and has a sense of humor and it makes our training seem more like a game. Be good, angel, for I’ll see you in my dreams. Lots of hugs for my little Dossie, too. You two are really a pair of gals worth having and I am indeed aware of my good fortune. Love, George ****************************************************************************** Wed. Sept. 13 Hello Dear Dottie, Guess where I am right now. I’m in the company latrine right now waiting for a hurricane and mother nature to act. The camp is under a storm alert and no one is being allowed out on the grounds. We took a 2 1/2 mile hike today plus drilling and marching around from one class to another. You know they couldn’t keep us at one place for two different wind sessions but march us all over the bloomin’ post. Then they gave us shots and vaccinations and drilled us. It was quite a dull and busy day and I feel doggoned tired from it. Oh Dottie! I love you, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Thurs Sept 14, 1944 My sweetheart, Gee, honey, yesterday we got “shots” and this morning we were let off rather easy and just sat at a rifle disassembly and cleaning class. We all had headaches and fevers and felt kind of punk in general. This afternoon we threw dummy hand grenades – some fun! When I get home, I’ll never leave you again – never, never, never. You are everything I love. Georgie

31 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Fri. Sept. 15, 1944 Dearest Dottie, I sure have been a busy little boy tonight. We had to clean rifles, scrub barracks and wash windows and all sorts of things all by ten o’clock when lights go out on schedule. Fortunately we have the day room, for here is the only place besides the latrine where we can go after lights-out. I think it is named mis-appropriately because the evening is the time that we get the most use out of it. I received another letter from your mother today. She included several jokes and cartoons for me to get some enjoyment from. She seems awfully anxious to have us back out there. I think perhaps we’d better settle in California after the war unless I have an especially good offer or chance somewhere else. I believe that I have grown to like it more having been away and I know you would like it and your mom and Mammaw would be overjoyed. I can imagine how those two gals must miss little Dossie, for they were so crazy about her. Time went so rapidly when we were together and now it drags so slowly – every day seeming like an eternity because I am away from you. Each day does, however, pass and bring us that much closer to our reunion. Cherub ****************************************************************************** Sat. Sept. 16, 1944 Hello, Sweetie, We had the dreaded inspection today. We all made out alright and now we have Saturday afternoon and Sunday to ourselves to sleep, loaf, or do anything we want. Several of the fellows seemed overjoyed at my harmonica playing. I played several request numbers. I also came across the little puzzles you sent me and brought them out. It’s funny to see how quickly a crowd gathers as soon as something interesting is brought to attention. You know, honey, I just wish I could at least spend these weekends with you. It would be such a dandy relief from this monotonous existence I’m leading. All I can do is pray that soon I will be home again for keeps so that we can continue our life of peace and mutual love as we started it. Your ever-adoring husband – George

32 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sun. Sept 17, 1944 My dear, beautiful, Dottie Sunday evening and your honey, on his day of rest, is now resting up from a real busy day. The first thing this morning I got up for breakfast and said hello to my sweetheart’s picture & played a tune for the boys on my harmonica. After that I went to church and sang in the choir and said “hello” to God and said several prayers for you and us in genuine fervor. After church I scrubbed a good many clothes and hung them up and then started ironing. I ironed all afternoon and evening at 25¢ per uniform. I’ll see if I can’t make enough to buy my honey a nice Christmas present. Darling, my heart is, of course, always with you and I try to tell you as well as I can all about the army life as I am living it. Sometimes my feelings are so strong that I feel sure that, even with the many miles between us, you must feel my emotion. Think of me, darling and dream sweet dreams. May all your hours be pleasant ones for I do love you so much. With all my heart, George ****************************************************************************** Mon. Sept. 18, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Well, honey, I finished all those delicious cookies today and I want you to know that they were the best cookies in the whole world. I am always glad to hear how well Dossie is progressing. She sure sounds like an intelligent baby – but then look at her mother. It will be swell to see you both again. Dear little Dossie will be so big I’ll need an introduction, for she won’t know me from Adam. I’m so glad she is doing well and I’m the proudest guy in the U.S. army. Love, Georgie

33 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 19, 1944 Dear Angel, Inasmuch as I have been complaining about the heat in Florida, I suppose I ought to keep my mouth shut, but actually I just about froze to death today. It rained all day today and, of course, being in the army it didn’t mean very much to our daily routine. Honey, the way you describe our post-war life – about the nuts and apples in front of the fireplace – the barbecue pit and our friends and our kids and their friends and all the peace, harmony and fun. It sounds so good. Really, dear, it gives me courage and hope. Yours alone George ****************************************************************************** Sept. 20, 1944 Hello Sugar Today, our dear Captain, sweet thing, had us all marched down to the lake for a nice swim. There were two companies and you could never see a happier bunch of fellows anywhere. We splashed and fooled around for over an hour and it was so much fun it seemed like two minutes. I’ll see you in my dreams, dear, so goodnight my love. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Thurs. Sept 21 Dearest Dottie Do you remember that St. Valentines day eve that we sat on the back lawn at your mother’s and we exchanged Valentine gifts? Little did we think that we’d be married the next day. It was funny the way you stole softly around and got dressed and ironed some things. After that you waited in my room while I went upstairs and dressed. How did you feel while you waited? I wonder what you were thinking about. I was so excited and anxious to get moving. What tender memories I hold of you and how dear they and you are to me. I love you dear and always will. With all my heart Georgie

34 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 22, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Darling, whenever you speak of all the things Dossie does, it thrills me all to pieces. To think that my own little girl can say “Daddy” and “Mommie” and walks and talks to her doll – well it’s almost too much to comprehend. I wish so hard that I could be there to help raise her. Perhaps I’ll be able to spend more time with little Georgie – huh? I think I was cut out strictly for a family man for, really, I want nothing but my wife and little baby. I’m going to make a home for you and maybe one or two more someday – you can count on that. This will be over before you know it and even if I go overseas I’ll be coming back just as I left. Perhaps a little thinner and a little older, but I’ll be the same old Goergie. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sept 23, 1944 Hello my sweet Dottie In your last letter I was tickled when you said that you were washing, ironing, mending, and washing dishes for I had just finished hanging out my clothes and mending or sewing buttons on for a fellow at 50¢ per button and was ironing a cap and looking forward to washing dishes on K.P. for I am slated for that tomorrow. You see, dear, our lives are running very much along the same lines. Lovingly, Georgie

35 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 24, 1944 Dearest Dottie Honey, it’s strange and nice that through every single thing I do I think so tenderly of you. Do you still remember what I look like? Can you picture my expressions and imagine just how my voice sounds? It’s hard isn’t it? It seems like it has been for so long since we were together – so very long. It would be so nice to hear the tinkle of your voice and look into your freckle-eyes again. I went to church this morning after breakfast cleanup and sang with the choir and enjoyed a nice service. I have been singing the tenor parts because we are usually short of tenors. I’ll probably shoot out a tonsil one of these days. Give Dossie a big hug for me and lots & lots of kisses. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sept. 25, 1944 Dearly beloved, Honey, I got both of your letters this evening and was overjoyed to find you in a much more cheerful mood. Your descriptions of Dossie walking in leaves and at the zoo are so good that I can just about see her. Really, angel, you should have been a writer. I always enjoy your letters so much and I don’t want you to apologize for them even if they are despondent. What are letters for, if not for portraying one’s thoughts. If you felt sad, how could you possibly try to act happy? I could see it in your writing just as I could see it in your face. I want you to write as you feel for sometimes it does good to one’s soul to get a little misery off his chest, especially to one as sympathetic as I am to you. You know, honey – life is a strange thing. To think how happy we were together. We both appreciated it, still I’m sure I never knew just how much you mean to me until we were torn apart. When we are brought together again we will know infinite happiness in each other. Could we ever possibly have realized the true extent of our love if we had never had the bad by which we could measure the good? Oh, darling, all I know is – I love you Guess

36 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 25, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Army life is sure a great builder upper. After a day’s training I still have enough strength to get to bed by my own power. Of course, I’m walking on my knees but I get there. We’re on the “Dry” range this week, aiming and pulling triggers of empty guns in kneeling, sitting, standing, prone, and headstands and all kinds of dandy positions. It isn’t so bad here, though. After judgement day, if God sends me to hell, I feel as though I’ve already served part of my time. I was disappointed, though, to find out that it is marked against a private’s service record to shoot a non-com. I was very sorry to hear it because I was looking forward with great eagerness to the days on “Wet” range, which means “live” ammunition. With all my heart- Pudgy ****************************************************************************** Sept. 27, 1944 My own – I sure wish we were back in California in our own little house and spending all our time together. I want to have the fun of raising Dossie and more (kids) and being my own boss again so that I can go out when I want and where I want and have only my conscience to answer to. We’ll have a nice back patio and play yard and have a home just packed full of enjoyment for our whole family. We’ll get along so well and have such a nice family life. Always your Georgie

37 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 28, 1944 Darling Cookie Well, dear, I’m still cleaning and scrubbing and breaking my neck to keep from getting in trouble. Some big shot general is going to visit the camp tomorrow and everyone is going nuts to get things in tip-top shape. We go out all day and get dirty as possible and then come home and clean and scrub everything in sight. I cleaned another guy’s gun for 50¢ tonight. Another little addition to my slowly increasing fund. I wish we could get together for a game of cards or pick-up sticks. Won’t that popcorn taste nice that we’ll make at our fireplace evenings at home with the kids. I can just see our living room with a nice thick rug – all the lights out except for the fire and my honey there, her cheeks all flushed and happy; the children with wide sparkling eyes and reflecting the lapping flames in the fire, all eager for the corn soaked in melted butter and salt. Your husband will be there too, proud and happy with his family and relaxing and drinking in the peace and harmony of it all. Goodnight my love George ****************************************************************************** Sept. 29, 1944 Dearest Dottie I went to a movie tonight with some of the fellows. It was the first recreation I’ve had all week and it felt good. I haven’t even been to the PX or even out of the company area, and it felt like a little vacation. Next week we’ll be marching about 5 miles every morning to the firing range and fire from morning until dark. Because of it, dear, my letters may be extra short but I’ll try my best to make them of some slight interest. It’s pretty late now and I still have to shave but I just would not let a day pass by without “talking” to my honey. Oh how I live in you. Remember all the things we’ve planned – scrapbooks – photo albums and popcorn? They’ll all be ours – such fun - such delight! With all my heart, Georgie

38 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sept. 30, 1944 Dear Dot o’my heart The moon is out brightly tonight and it seems to affect me in several ways. The one that I feel mostly always is the feeling of lonesomeness I get. Tomorrow I’ll sing in the choir. I went to the chapel this evening for a little while. We are going to organize a double quartet in which I shall participate. It gives a little enjoyment anyhow. Maybe some of these days I’ll render a solo – maybe - if I can work up enough courage. I’m going to hit the bug mat now, darling, so with lots of love for you and sweet li’l Dossie I’ll say “good night my love and sweet dreams.” Your darling, loving, adoring, worshiping, true, faithful, thankful, lucky husband – Georgie Porgie Puddin’ an’ Cherub

39 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** October 1, 1944 Dearly beloved, Peace & quiet and lovely thoughts of you Make my Sunday rich of depth and hue. Church and choir with music sweet resounding Prayers for you, you, you, my heart is pounding.

Who would think that in this hate and chaos Love blooms rich and verdantly about us. Tumbling along as fate and luck will be Three hearts – waiting and praying to be free.

Time will pass, at last I’ll come to you ‘Till then as always, I will be true to you. Our earnest prayers for reunion of we three Dorothy and Dossie and lastly – humble me.

I’ve just returned from church and I’m waiting for the noon chow bell. It was a communion service and I participated for our love and our little honey. This evening, I may get a chance to do some ironing. I’ve been washing, mending & ironing for some of the fellows and it keeps me pretty busy. Most of the fellows like to sit around and loaf in their spare time, but I know I would go crazy if I did. Even when I’m in church and am praying, big tears come to my eyes for I miss you so much. Your true love, Georgie

40 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 2, 1944 Dear Dottie We’re on the “wet range this morning. I’m lying on my tummy in the grass and pine needles and writing on the top of my mess kit. All the boys are lying around talking about the shooting, kidding and comparing notes. I’m enclosing the check. It’s all for you & Dossie – buy a couple of cigars on me – and be sure you get a nice warm coat. Take good care of yourself. Love – lots of it Georgie Porgie P.S. Don’t let Dos smoke her cigar all at once ****************************************************************************** Oct. 3, 1944 Dearest Dottie, I’m sitting just behind the 300 yd. firing line waiting to start firing and writing on my rifle stock. Gee, honey, I sure like your letters. They are such a comfort to me. Really, I look forward to them more than to my meals. I laugh at Dossie’s antics and thrill at your sweet expressions of devotion. Oh, darling, I dislike this life. All orders & filth and being away from you. I have such a dandy wife and the promise of a happy future, which I sure am going to make the best of. I love you Dottie – Georgie

41 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 4, 1944 Good morning Dottie darling, It’s 0845 in the morning and I’m sitting on a bunch of ammunition boxes (holding them down so they won’t explode) and enjoying an early morning smoke. You should see the firing range here. There are groups in columns of two going to the “stink shack,” some cleaning rifles after having gotten their (army expression #1) “asses eaten out” or “tail bone chewed” over the filthy state of their weapons, some are gawking, some seated at the ready line,. In the center of it all right in the middle of a big sandy waste sits one lonesome damn fool writing letters. Dottie don’t mind these quick changes of subject matter. I get called away unexpectedly so many time that I just get a few minutes at a time in which to write. Right now I am leaning against a portable field blackboard and scribbling away while some jerk on the other side keeps bouncing against - oh oh – he’s not anymore – they just took it away and I continue on my knee while soldiers mill around me. What a place. You lean on a table to write and the first thing you know, your letter and nose are in the sand and the table has disappeared. Your loving honey Dirty George

42 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 5, 1944 Oh my darling Dorothy, Note the new format in paper size. This is the new style GI “target range” or “field” model designed especially to fit your mess kit and helmet liner. The special credit goes to General N. Michel (N for nuisance). I felt good yesterday at a compliment from a couple of the boys. I mentioned that I wasn’t meant to be a soldier and one said that I looked like the real thing and another said I made a swell-looking soldier, a typical American GI. At another time two boys mentioned that I’d make a real sergeant, that I looked seasoned and rugged. I don’t know what it is unless it’s my heavy features and frame and the suntan I’ve acquired, but I can always impress newer rookies who don’t know who I am and I get a great kick out of it. At mail call the other day the fellows were being awfully noisy and from the rear I bellowed & scolded in as stern a voice as I could. Everyone suddenly shut up and turned around & looked. Then we all had a good laugh. Well, I’ll close now, dear, and wish you a real good night and a “God bless you.” I love you very, very much and I always will. You are my all – Your all Georgie ****************************************************************************** Oct. 6, 1944 Dearest, I finished off my firing today and officially rate a sharp-shooters medal. Unfortunately I missed the expert medal by only a few points due, mostly, to a little hard luck and oversight on my part. Of course it doesn’t mean much but I did kind of want the experts medal to send home to you. We are now completing our 4th week of official training. Time passes quickly and yet so slowly. I dread to think of all that is still ahead of us and still, somehow, we’ll get through it and then we’ll look back on it as just another experience. Love, George

43 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 7, 1944 Dear Dottie Just imagine, angel, I’ve finished 4 weeks of basic training already. It really hardly seems possible. That leaves only 13 weeks to go. I’ll be glad when this basic is over because it’s awfully trying. Camp Blanding is not building up men, it’s just knocking the poop out of them. Sometimes I feel pretty good but usually I’m so doggoned tired it hurts to stand. Oh, ye gods! I don’t know why I tell you all my troubles – you’ve no doubt got enough of your own. I’m going to pray hard again this morning for the war to end so I can come back because I want you so much. Ever loving, Georgie ****************************************************************************** October 8, 1944 Dear Dottie There are sure lots of strange things that happen here for I am right now at the servicemen’s club. Just “poof” and I am a mile away from the bathhouse at the lake. Just imagine! A lieutenant stopped in one of those officer’s cars and went into the latrine. I stood up and saluted him as he passed and when he came out he asked Phil (my friend) and myself where we were from. When we told him he offered us a lift to the service club whereupon we clambered into the back of an officer’s car and he drove us to his destination. I turned to Phil and said, “What do you think, General?” My only regret was that no one from Co. “D” saw us so that we could have returned their salute. It would have been fun. Your stories about Dossie are so enjoyable to me. I’ve been away for so long that it’s hard for me to realize that I have such a cute little hunk of me at home – something that came partly right from me. Gee, what a thrilling sensation it is. It makes me feel that even though I am in such a spot, I am rich in all the things of life and in those necessary to happiness. Heart & soul, Georgie

44 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Wed. Oct. Somethin’ Dear Dottie Well, dear, it’s now about 9:00 p.m. and it’s the first free minute I’ve had the whole day. We were issued long handled woolen underwear tonight and they sure are funny-looking things. The weather has very suddenly grown very much cooler and we almost freeze in the mornings. We are re-arranging the huts so that we can get the stoves in and we’ll welcome them. Tomorrow we’re going to fire the bazooka – some fun. I don’t know what we’ll shoot at but I hope it’s an officer or something. This week I expect we’ll fire the machine gun and some other junk. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Oct. 10, 1944 Dear Dottie I have been showing your picture to all the boys and, no foolin’, they all think you’re as cute as the dickens and wonder what the devil you see in me. Dearest, I’ll have to close now. I’d like to go on all day, but my rifle has rusted from the damp weather and I’d better get at it. I love you with my whole heart, always and forever. Your Georgie

45 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Thurs. Oct 12 Hello Dearest, I fired the bazooka today. We each got one shot at 150 yards at some old scrapped tanks and I smacked mine right between the door handles. It’s a beautiful weapon all right. We also used grenade launchers on our rifles which, when a blank cartridge is used, fires off an anti-tank grenade. It’s quite an effective weapon, giving an ordinary rifle the power to stop a tank at the closer ranges. The grenade of course is much heavier than a bullet and the same powder charge is used, giving it a kick like a mule. Some of the boys that didn’t hold the rifle correctly got black eyes or swollen lips when the rifle recoiled and hit them. I saw several go on their fanny at which, naturally, we would all hoot and laugh. We had a pretty good day and all the boys were happy for a change. We rode to and from the range in trucks which, in itself, was a welcome change. Our platoon sergeant came in our hut tonight and looked at your picture. He said you were awfully cute. He looked at it quite a while. I showed him my pin-up girls and he said you were really an artist. I always enjoy showing the pictures because all the fellows make such a cute fuss over them. It really tickles me. I had to play harmonica for him. He seems to like fooling around with the boys. Really we’re lucky in having such a good sergeant. The fellows are crazy about him and he gets more cooperation from them than anyone in the company. I know of several cases where he has covered up for some of the fellows so their mistakes wouldn’t get them in trouble. One can hardly turn around without breaking some infernal rule or other but the sergeant helps us out a lot. He’s a short fellow and as hard as nails and totally blind in one eye but a good soldier. If a fellow really wanted to make a good soldier – Sergeant Orem would make a good pattern. My little freckle-eyes, I’m going to bed now to pray for us and dream of you. Have pleasant dreams darling and think of the fun the future holds for us. Good night, my Love Georgie

46 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 13 Dear Dot o’ my heart, Camp Blanding has absolutely nothing that the civilians believe the soldiers have – in fact we have nothing at all. We are sometimes awfully hungry and can’t buy so much as a box of crackers or a box of candy. The other day we swiped a few carrots and divided them in the hut and then I got a few potatoes and baked them in the hot water furnace. They were pretty good, too, only the soft coals gives a rather funny taste to the skin. You know how good the skin tastes on a “mickey” baked in wood coals. I may ask for a pass this weekend. I haven’t decided yet for I hate to spend any money, and yet it would be nice to get away for a weekend. I’m not very anxious to get away or do anything special, though, for I need you to enjoy myself. Strange as it may seem, one of my favorite pastimes is in my writing to you. I look at it as a sort of conversation with my beloved one with whom my mind always is. I’m getting pretty used to army life by now and find that I am becoming a soldier in spite of myself. My salutes and obedience to commands are becoming rather automatic. It’s a sign of a good soldier if your mind is blank and your response is like that of a person’s in a hypnotic state. Happy as we have been together, there has always been hanging over us the threat of our forced separation. Now the threat has come and some day all this longing will pass away again and we’ll be one once more. I guess we’ll go back to California and settle down to a nice home where we can be our own bosses. It will be wonderful to raise our family when peace returns again to the world. I do hope people get a little good sense and a little faith so that we don’t have to repeat these atrocities any more. It’s too bad we have to be so greedy and malevolent. Your own George Love to the Chicken.

47 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

******************************************************************************

Hello Dottie – Just a little addition for tonight’s letter. We’re out at the transition firing range. You see, at any spare moment I think of you and want to “talk” to you. This weather is so nice and reminds me very much of some of the pleasant breezy days in Los Angeles. You remember how much I always liked the breeze. I can picture us in future years in our back yard with nice clean clothes from your streamlined washing machine with your hair dancing in the wind and your cheeks red and your eyes sparkling and happy. It is all so clear to me and you are such a pretty picture. I like to see happiness in your face because, after all, that has become my life’s devotion. There is nothing else I want to do or anything else worth while doing for I will find my own dreams come true in the happiness of my wife and children. Yours Cherub

48 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 14, 1944 Dear Dottie, Here it is 10 o’clock Saturday night and I have finished a big ironing and some washing by which I made myself a few dollars. I’m all done now and I’m sitting on my bed drawing on my pipe and it sure tastes good – reminds me of our evenings at home in our little house where we experienced so much delight. Gee, it has grown real cold here now. The nights are freezing and damp and all the boys have been sleeping in “long-handles” for it really gets cold in these little shacks. All that separates me from the open are a few 3/4” boards with large cracks between them and the breezes come through them like through lace panties. In view of this cold and our long hours in the open, I’d like to have you send me a few pairs of nice heavy woolen socks. If you love me, darling, you’ll get right at it or you’ll have a husband without tootsies and then how in the world could I tickle you at night in bed? Darling, if you ever run across some candy or a great big cake, please send it down. No foolin’, we fellows are just starving for some goodies. This hole has nothing and I’ growing tired of stolen apples and pears. Now that the hut boys are growing more friendly, the name on the package signifies only that the person named has the privilege of opening it. When someone in the hut gets a box from home, we all holler – “We eat” and scramble to the hut to divide the spoils. I love you so – Georgie

49 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 15, 1944 Dear Dottie Tomorrow evening we’re going to be in a dress parade in khakis. I don’t know what it’s all about but we have our orders. We’ll have three night problems this week. That means that we may be camping out. I’ll always do my best to write and get off my letters regularly but if you miss one or two, I’m trying my hardest.

We boys in the infantry, ‘tho much against our wishes Are frequently subjected to K.P washing dishes. Peeling spuds is never funny, And there isn’t any money In scrubbing floors and gutting stinkin’ fishes.

Around the camp we march all day, to backing from the cadre And feet get sore and shoulders ache from field packs drooping sadly. I don’t really give a damn, But what do they think I am To continually treat a guy so badly.

The fellows never gripe so much – Oh no!! I wouldn’t kid you. Don’t ever bitch a bit about the Sunday evening menu. For the army regulation With today’s administration Causes things at every moment to be snafu*

*SITUATION NORMAL – ALL F_____ UP. Edgar Allen Michel Your Cherub Hugs & kisses for Dossie

50 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 16, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Well, I’m still alive today after one of the busiest days we’ve had. Holy mackerel! We’ve been on the go since early morning and here it is 11:00 or so. They had coffee & cake for us when we got in and besides stealing a few extra pieces, I just had to fall on the end of the line again for a second helping. My hunger is pretty well satisfied now as you can imagine and after my nice hot shower (for a change) and a shave with really hot water, I’m at peace with the world again. A soldier grows so used to inconveniences that it really takes very little to satisfy him. It must be delightful also to be a hut-mate with a fellow such as I, who is such a master of locating and pilfering various delicacies such as fruit & crackers. I seem to have a natural nose for food and my “family” remains pretty well supplied – even such unheard of things as raw carrots and potatoes baked in the furnace have satisfied many a growling tummy. God, what the army is doing to your sweet innocent husband. I’ve become a tough, growling hunk of man and don’t run across much opposition. I never realized that I could get so rough but I found that if a fellow is afraid of you, half the battle is won. Since I have been here, I have found it necessary to challenge some yokels to the “gloves” which is the army method of settling arguments, but none have accepted so far, having chosen to comply with my suggestions little realizing that they could probably knock the stuffing out of me. I sure am a big bluff – but it gets me lots of friends. Some of the guys have gotten to calling me “mother” since I am usually sewing or ironing stuff for one or another of them. They say they would be sunk without me and wished I were twins. It’s hard to realize how many fellows can’t even sew a button. They all marveled when I tore my overseas cap apart and re-styled it to make it snappier looking. Last night I was playing “Casey Jones” and our chief hillbilly, Nash, would start to dance and I laughed so that I couldn’t play any more. When I could compose myself I would start in again and, Nash would hop out of bed or from whatever he was doing and start his hilarious dance again until I had to laugh & stop playing. This went on time after time ‘til we all had tears in our eyes. Even though we’re all homesick and in spite of the tough life, we sure do all go a long way towards being just as happy as possible. Good night – sweet dreams, for I am Your Georgie

51 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 16, 1944 Hello Dearest, I’m out on the range again today for more rifle shooting and we’re waiting for ammunition. It’s sure difficult to write on top of a helmet, but there is nothing else hard around here. While waiting some of the boys have started a football game using a helmet liner for a ball. I see your face before me all the time and my love is rich and pure for. Devotedly Georgie Porgie – puddin’ & Cherub ****************************************************************************** Oct. 17, 1944 Dear Dottie Here I am again late in the evening after all my chores are done except for shaving and dreaming of my honey. Some day we will be all happy together again when this foolishness stops. We’ll meet people with whom we’ll like to go out and have fun – other people with our ideas and outlooks – with children who will be friends for ours. We’ll have a nice home and we’ll go to a nice church and perhaps sing in the choir and thank our dear Lord for bringing us together again. I have wonderful visions of our future life with harmony surpassing the beauty of Brahms and the other “greats.” I love you, Dottie, for always & in all ways. Love – Georgie

52 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** October 18, 1944 Dear Dottie The company had to fall out without the honor of my presence this morning. Our first sergeant is having trouble with his car and I’m going to take a look at it for him. Angel-of-mine, I miss you all the time. I wanna’ come home to my sweetie and the nasty old army won’t let me. Aren’t they a bunch of stinkers? When this dopey war is over I’m going to be the best husband you ever had – no foolin’. I’m going to be sweet and gentle to you and always be nice and considerate and sentimental. I’m so nuts about you & Dossie that I’ll probably try and get a few stars out of heaven for you to wear in your ears. How do you like this new sized paper? I bought this tablet last night in our candy-less P.X. because it’s size makes it fit just right in my fatigue shirt pocket. I’ll be able to jot down a few lines to you when I get a chance. I think of you all day long and once in a while I like to say something to you. Honey we are waiting for another hurricane now. We’ve taken in everything loose and have orders to pack full packs with all our valuables and be prepared to move to the more permanent buildings when and if the thing hits. I have my harmonica and your picture so I’m all set. Ah I love you so much! Your own darling Georgie

53 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Thurs. Oct. 19 about 10:00 Weather – raining like hell and blowing like all hell has turned loose. Hurricane expected this afternoon according to latest latrine rumors. Our little hut is leaking from stem to stern – bilge to main – peak with old clothes stuffed in unused stove-pipe openings in the ceiling and cots scattered in an unruly fashion to avoid spray and leaks as much as possible. Clothes are wet and spirits high for we are restricted to company area and training today has been postponed for the rain is falling in sheets and blocks with water running ankle deep in many parts of the area. I love to watch the violence of the storm for it is a thrill to see how mighty the elements can be miniaturizing man to an insignificant degree. I wish I could just take a look at you now, Dottie, just to see your warm sparkling eyes and loving smile. I’d like to look at Dossie and see her pat-a-cake and smile with “So big is Dossie.” It would be so nice to see her toddle a few steps towards me, hold out her little arms and murmur “Daddy.” Gee how that would boost up my morale. I feel as though it would enable me to go out and finish up this war all by myself. I love you Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Fri. Oct. 20, 1944 Dear Dottie, Our hurricane was a big fake as far as Camp Blanding is concerned. It did do some damage in Jacksonville but it never really hit us. A few rotten trees went down, but there was no damage at all. We were restricted to a more permanent building made to accommodate about 20 men and there were 100 of us. We laid all over the floor from about 1:00 p.m. Thursday until about 1:00 a.m. Friday. I played my harmonica and we all sang. Some played poker – others shot craps and spirits ran pretty high. It’s just midnight now and all the boys are discussing different things including various latrine rumors, which sometimes reach the most alarming and stupid proportions. No foolin’ – I thought women were bad, but these boys have an old maid’s sewing circle stopped a mile. Well, darling, give li’l Dossie a hug and slews of kisses for me. All my love, Georgie – your boy

54 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sat. Oct. 21, 1944 Oh you angel! There seems to be big goings on today. I believe they’re going to separate the physically unfit from the rest today or at least soon. It doesn’t mean anything to me but it’s a welcome relief to have something happen a little different from the ordinary. I just heard that we’ll have to attend a show at 0930. They’ve shown us some pretty strong propaganda movies, showing how horrible Hitler and the Nazis are and why we’re fighting this war but I don’t think I need any reason. You are always with me in spirit because I can always see you before me, prettier and prettier all the time. I enjoy my memories of you and little Dossie and many times I try to visualize just how she must look now at almost 11 mos. I try to imagine her little reactions to her dear mamma’s talk and how she reaches up to her daddy’s picture. Gee, she must be awfully cute and I wish so much that I could see her. I’m so glad you sent me a package. I’m sure it will cause quite a rumpus in the hut and I get a kick out of the way in which the fellows carry on. Last night I really went to the dogs with myself. We had coffee & cake after the night problem, as usual, and I went through the front door of the mess hall and out the back and in the line again. Of course, each time through, I had to stop in the storeroom for a few apples. One of the more timid boys followed me through every cycle just to see how I so often managed to get something to eat. You know, we take the “To the victor belong the spoils” attitude. Just imagine, I finished 6 weeks of my cycle and now have only 11 more weeks. In spite of the fact that it seems like years, those years have passed pretty quickly in some respects, haven’t they? It won’t be so terribly long before I get my furlough and after that the war will pass quickly and we will be together again. Your adoring husband Georgie the Cherub

55 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 22, 1944 Dear Dottie St. Augustine is a very pretty and quaint little town. It was there that Ponce de Leon first landed in his quest for the fountain of youth. I visited and went through the old fort. It surely was interesting. Dottie, many a wife is sweet and kind to her husband and does nice things for him, but the thoughtfulness that went into that package I got from you today, surpasses all the most wonderful things that any other woman ever did. Honestly, angel, I just cannot see how in the world you did it. That was the most beautiful collection that ever came into Camp Blanding. Wow! What a wonderful, wonderful gift. You should have heard the fellows when I opened the box. Such things as “God” – “wow” – “For Christ’s sake” & “What a woman.” One boy said, “Now I know why you rave about your wife so much.” Always, Georgie ****************************************************************************** October 23, 1944 Hello, my darling, We wasted a beautiful day today with a whole bunch of nonsense that we could have learned in fifteen minutes. We’ve also started learning bayonet and dirty tactics in hand to hand combat. What a shame to take cute, innocent boys like me and teach them all kinds of foul play. I hope they’re all going to forget them as fast as I’m going to after the war is over. Rejoice all ye who love me for tomorrow I’m to be queen of the May. I have had bestowed upon me the honor of being made supreme ruler and cleaner-upper of the latrine. Such an award. Forever yours George

56 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Tues. Oct. 24, 1944 Dearest dearest, Today was undoubtedly my best day since I’ve been in the army. I gave the latrine a darn good cleaning and disinfected everything in sight and cleaned out the furnace. I had always wondered why we never had much hot water and why smoke always poured out of our hot water furnace and today I found the flues through the hot water jacket were completely plugged with soot. After I cleaned the flues and the pipe as well, the fire just started roaring and we had good hot water in just a few minutes. Most fellows have no resourcefulness at all. That furnace was bad since we came here and of all the latrine orderlies we’ve had, no one had enough sense to figure out how the furnace was built and where it needed cleaning. The day room went in half darkness for two weeks and all the boys huddled under the few lights that were burning in order to write. One night I went down to write and saw that a fuse was missing out of the fuse box. I went to the supply sergeant and got a fuse and screwed it in. They all gaped open-mouthed at the miracle I had wrought so simply. I had to laugh at the dumb expressions on their faces. It is a standing joke in our hut about the way I always talk about you. The first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, I always say, “Gee I’ve got a wonderful wife,” or “I have the sweetest wife in the world.” They all could understand it too when they saw the packages you sent me. Your own Georgie ****************************************************************************** Oct. 25, 1944 Dearest Dottie o’ mine It’s now ten o’clock and I am writing in our hut on a table I recently stole from the day room. It’s really a handy little thing. I write, iron, and do just about everything on it. Just at this moment we had a jam and Ritz cracker interlude and the boys are all agreeable to the fact that you are awfully wonderful. It sure is nice to have a little snack in the evening. The boys even get up out of their nice warm beds to get some. They never forget me, though. Tonight crazy Red brought me a breaded pork chop and a block of ice cream. He had been on K.P. and thought of me. I think & talk of you so much the fellows all tease me, but they envy me nevertheless. Be good angel and God bless you. Your Georgie

57 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Thurs. Oct. 26 My Dottie I just got your letter with all the nice pin-ups in it and I am as pleased as punch. My thoughts of you are always so sweet and tender and my heart yearns to be with you. The way I feel now, I would be content to be alone with you for the end of time – just you alone. You are beyond doubt the most wonderful, angelic, radiant, delightful thing on the face of the earth. Gee, I’ve run out of adjectives but I haven’t half reached the magnitude of my feelings for you. My heart tonight, as always, is with you darling. Good night dear one – I am – Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** October 27, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Darling, you make our post-war world sound so enticing that it makes me real happy to read your letters. After being apart so long, we are certainly going to make darn sure of making up for all the happiness we’re missing now. It just thrills me to pieces to think of how grown Dossie will be when I get my furlough. It will be so good to get home again – you can’t imagine! I just live all my days for that few days during which we’ll live an eternity. Our love is so deep and sweet that we can cram a lot more in a few days than most people can get in a lifetime! Your loving sweetie, Georgie

58 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 28, 1944 Dear Mrs. Michel When you talk about little Dossie I get such pangs of longing to see you both again. I can hardly believe that she can already say a few little words and take a few steps by herself. She was only a little baby but now she sounds like a real little girl and I am so proud to be her papa. There are times when I get actually destitute in spirit until I think of your sweetness and I feel rich and full of life again. When I awake in the early cold mornings I grumble until I see your picture on my shelf and I start singing “Oh what a beautiful morning” and shout “What a sweet, wonderful wife I have!” I love you now as always, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sunday Oct. 29 Dearest I got your picture today and really I think it’s divine. I was so happy to get it and you and Dossie make such a pretty pair that I couldn’t restrain the tears that came to my eyes. I took in a little washing today and I have a few orders to take up on pants legs from a few fellows. We played some softball today against company “C” of the 198th and we shellacked them 11 to 5, although I didn’t do a heck of a lot to help. It was a lot of fun though and I realized that a Sunday spent in camp can be just as enjoyable as one spent outside – and a lot cheaper too. Tomorrow I am going with the company on a long hike and we’ll spend two nights on bivouac and get back Wednesday. I don’t know what we’ll do once we’re out there outside of pitching pup tents and pooping in “cat holes” and all manner of silly stuff. We may have some combat tactics and lessons on how to sleep out without getting sand in one’s teeth. That in itself would take a college degree to master. Love Georgie

59 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Oct. 30, 1944 Hello Darling, It sure is bright and sunny today although it was really freezing this morning. We marched about 5 miles to a machine gun range and we’ll be camping here for tonight. Darling if my letters sound disconnected it’s because I am just writing in short bursts whenever I can sneak a few moments. While we were marching this morning I had to take my wallet out a few times and look at your picture. After that I would be good for another stretch. This camping out is sure a dirty life. The sand is so fine that it raises up in a huge cloud of dust when disturbed and you can imagine a fellow eating and sleeping in it. At the end of the cycle we’ll have two weeks of it straight and I’ll be one happy son-of-a-gun to get that over with. I have been thinking of you constantly darling and I am very lonesome for you. I will be happy when I am home again so that I don’t have to depend on your picture for a thrill. Your loving Georgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 1, 1944 Dear, sweet Dottie I am still on bivouac and I am dirtier, I think, than I have ever been in my life. What we are learning in the army is nothing much more than to become hoboes. We’re shooting hoboes, of course, but nevertheless – hoboes. I don’t believe we’ll be eating any more “C” rations this trip and I know we’ll all worship our mess sergeants from now on. I’m all through with my machine gun fire and had to add to my score (like all the rest) by diligently punching the target with a spare round while waiting on the line to have our scores recorded. It sure was funny to see all the boys bending over their targets punching away. Did I ever tell you that I love you with all my heart? I wanna be home with you. When I get back, we’re gonna tear out to L.A. and get us a nice house and raise 20 kids – well, maybe three or four anyway. I love you, my dear. Love, George

60 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Wed. Nov 1, 1944 Dear Dottie 1:30 – I don’t know if I’ll ever get this letter off to you or if I’ll be blown away with this terrific breeze that has just sprung up or washed away with the rain that threatens. However I’ll start. If you never get this letter you’ll know what happened. We’re on a machine gun battle condition range. Targets pop up from different bunkers and the shooters have to mow them down. At 800 yards they look awful small and with our guns of Civil War vintage the fellows feel proud to keep them in the ranges. Remember I love you. Your Georgie

61 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 2, 1944 Good Morning, Darling We marched in last night and arrived in the Co. area at 8:00 p.m. The mess hall had been newly painted and the tables were all set for a special mid-cycle party. There was as much beer as we could hold. We were dead tired but soon forgot about it and started to sing and make merry. I was called on to sing and give my imitation of Hitler and Mussolini which they all seemed to enjoy for they cheered and laughed and called upon me all evening for some of my little specialties. Several of the fellows expressed that they enjoyed my entertainment and it made me feel good. We have one fellow in the company who is of the particularly rough and ignorant type. He is always messy about his person and around the area and many of the fellows have become quite annoyed with him. Well, the other day, he came into our hut with a few beers behind his belt, while we were enjoying the jelly and peanut butter you sent. We didn’t say a thing when he just dug into our snacks because usually a fellow is welcome – it’s sort of a standing rule. Well, he started eating and talking loud and presently deliberately kicked over one of our butt cans strewing rubbish all over the floor. Well I gave him hell right off and he got snotty saying that he would kick over one of our butt cans any time he pleased. A few hot words ensued and I was forced to ask for his sudden & immediate absence. He told me to make him go whereupon I picked him and threw him but I missed the door with him and he landed against a bed with a great crash. I jumped at him but my natural kindness for dogs made me refrain from hitting him. He was a lot meeker but still refused to go so I picked him up by his arms and pushed him out the door flat on his fanny. I am still receiving congratulations for my service to the company. 1:00 p.m. and I’ve just finished chow. The sun came through shortly after I finished writing the first section and has been playing hide & seek with graceful clouds all day. A balmy breeze comes in short playful blasts. I filled up my point on the firing line with ammunition boxes and instructed the boys how they were supposed to take it themselves and bring it up to the gun. Then I stretched out on the sand & slept. This went on from about 9:30 to 12:30 and I got up only twice to replenish my stock – then back to sleep again. If you have ever wondered if a person can sleep with a machine gun popping in his ears, well, he certainly can. It lulled me off to sleep, in fact, like water quietly lapping on the banks of a placid lake, or like bees and bugs droning monotonously in the quiet summer air.

62 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

Remember there was a World War I and after it was over things finally came back to normal. Men came home and took up a civilian life again and we kids were never really conscious of the fact that there had been a war except through our history books. It’ll be like that this time too. Everything will be peaceful again and little Dossie will be vaguely aware of the fact that Daddy was a soldier once but that will be all. I just did my machine gunning and sprayed bullets all over the range except where the targets were. It’s almost impossible to hit anything with those beat up putt-putts. One boy said he’d like to have one after the war to sow bean seeds. I love you with all my heart. Your Georgie Porgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 3, 1944 Dear Angel I really got a good laugh out of your “Halloween” letter. I sure would have enjoyed seeing you run around with the kids. There must be a lot of life in the old gal yet. I don’t know what to think about your running around knocking on people’s windows and playing all those pranks. All I can say is that I’m jealous as the old Harry, for if I were there I sure would have liked to go around with you. It has been a long time since I enjoyed being a bad boy and raised a little hell. Well, dear, I’m going to get a little shut-eye before I go on duty so I’ll go to dream of you now. Always yours, George

63 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sunday Nov. 5 Dearest Dottie This should really be Saturday night’s letter but I’m afraid it’ll be late since I left for Jacksonville last night and haven’t had a chance to write until now and it’s already Sunday afternoon and I’m in a U.S.O just yearning as ever for my honey. Jacksonville, as far as I know, has no particular points of interest. It’s just like any other large city with some very nice stores and restaurants. “Little Red” and I ate dinner last night and brunch this morning in a nice place and it really feels good to use manners and napkins again. Red is a nice kid. He’s about 19 and very small and frail but he’s the quiet type with nice manners and thoughts. The poor kid is so clumsy though. He’s forever getting in trouble for dropping his rifle and tripping over things. They even had him up to the hospital to recheck his reflexes to determine if there was anything wrong with him. I think, though, that he just thinks of home and his girl and becomes forgetful of things about him. I like him, though, because he’s such a pleasant, unselfish kid and just minds his own business. I’ll have to try to get back early today because I have some washing to do. Yesterday I shortened several pairs of pants for fellows at 50¢ per pair. You’d be surprised at how well I can do it too! Fellows often ask me if I was a tailor in civilian life because I do so much ironing & mending. I just tell them that I was once a bachelor. That’s enough reason for knowing how to sew on a button. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sunday Nov. 5 1944 Dearest Dottie Freckle-Eyes We must be getting along pretty well in our training now for we’re going to be carrying full field packs most of the time now. They have been gradually adding weight on to our everyday equipment and now all we have to add is our gas masks. I understand we have a lot of bayonet practice ahead of us and combat tactics, etc. I think our training will begin to get less dull with a smaller amount of theory and more active practice. Darling, I’m going to bed now to dream of you, I hope, and I’ll say a nice sweet prayer for both of us. Love, Georgie

64 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sunday, Nov. 5, 1944 Dear Ma McKay & Mamaw You have no idea how pleased I was to receive your packages. Evening snacks are so important to all the fellows and eats are always so welcome. Our training has been very intense and rigorous and long in hours. We have fired rifles, automatic rifles, machine guns, bazookas, rifle grenades, hand grenades and mortars. It makes me feel a little bad to think that, in spite of the teachings of my mother and the church that I am being forced to forget human kindness and apply myself diligently in the art of the destruction of human life. Sometimes pangs of remorse strike me when I think of the cruelness of the whole world that could be so peaceful and comfortable, and still it appears to be my duty to kill and destroy though a painful one. I have a great deal of faith that I shall come back for God has shown me much favor in my meeting of you folks and in His granting me Dottie for my wife, for there was never a wife more true and considerate and just plain sweet than Dorothy. Love, George ****************************************************************************** Mon. Nov. 6, 1944 Dear Sweetheart, We had a lot of combat tactics today, taking enemy gun emplacements and patrolling, etc. It’s a lot more fun than our work heretofore and reminds me very much of the way I used to play soldiers when I was a kid. I got some pretty bad pangs of homesickness today. Once in a while it gets me down in spite of my best efforts to keep my chin up. It won’t be long now, I suppose, that I’ll be getting anxious to be getting overseas and get it over with for the waiting and expectation sometimes becomes very hard to bear. I sincerely feel that I am altogether out of place here. It seems so natural that we two, in love so deeply, should be together that it is terribly hard for me to adjust myself. Be good my sweet – Your sweet, Georgie

65 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 7, 1944 Dearest, I was on K.P. today and, strangely enough, I didn’t mind it a bit. I worked with a very cooperative bunch and we really got work done in record time. I introduced a new system of washing silverware and the mess sergeant was forced to comment on how clean they were. The cook said that we were the best K.P.s that he’s had yet. Of course it doesn’t mean anything but it did make us feel good. They didn’t push us or yell at us all day but were very pleasant and gracious. They chatted and let us eat anything we wanted and we all chose our own work. It’s surprising how much easier harmony can make a job. We boys continually talk about the day of peace and I gave a demonstration in sound effects just how Times Square would sound on that great day. Goodnight my love. I am always your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 8, 1944 Hello, Angel, I think it would be a good idea to send you off to Los Angeles after I get my furlough. I know you and Elsie must get along well but Brooklyn is not like your part of L.A. I realize how nice it is to have a lawn and back yard. I like Los Angeles now and I think I’m going to forget Bendix and settle down out there and get whatever work I can. Industry will be a big thing out there and I certainly believe that I can do as well there as anywhere else. I have so many happy memories of that region that I really feel like I want to make it my home. It will be nice to settle down in some pretty little town out there like Alhambra or Pasadena, won’t it? Love, Your Cherub

66 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** November 9, 1944 Dearest Dottie, The great pleasure came to me today of meeting a singular character called “Rosie the Riveter.” A more beautiful picture I never saw. I got a big laugh out of it and so did all of the fellows. You are sure a clever little girl and I am awfully proud of you. I always look forward to such pictures from you and I wish I could do something as interesting in my letters. You know, dear, most wives are sadly lacking in spirit and novelty in their writing. Sometimes one of the fellows will show me a letter from home and they are invariably full of spelling and grammatical errors. Yours are always so full of nice thoughts and are so pleasantly expressed that it gives one joy to read them. I like the way you form your sentences and phrases. You don’t even make a bunch of mistakes (like some do) that are so glaring as to actually detract from the pleasures of reading. A person reading your letter would immediately recognize poise and good control and intelligence. Yesterday we fired on a “combat” range. We have 12-man squads including one B.A.R. man – I was that. My squad made the highest score and I scored the most hits on the target of any of the automatic riflemen. Our sergeant said “Nice shooting” with a proud gleam in his eye because for some reason or other, he favored our particular squad. Those crazy little things give me a great deal of enjoyment. I feel good to be recognized by most of the fellows (according to what they say) as being the friendliest and still one of the toughest guys in the company. Really it’s gratifying to hear them say I ought to be an officer for I’d make a good one. I know that there isn’t a chance but it is nice to hear the fellows say it. Good night sweetheart – happy dreams. Your Georgie

67 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 10, 1944 Dear Cutie We had a terrific night tonight. We fooled around with mortars today and they had to be absolutely spotless tonight before we turned them in. You can imagine how little grooves and cracks get filled with sand down here. If you can’t – just imagine rolling around on the beach with an oily toasting machine and then trying to get the sand out. Lights will go out soon, dear, so with all the love in my lonesome heart I’ll say, “Good night and sweet dreams.” I think of you with every breath I take and no matter what happens I am always – Your Georgie

68 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 11, 1944 Dearest Angel of mine, It’s bright and early Sunday morning and I’m in the day room writing and shivering. I had a rather busy day yesterday. It was my regular turn at table waiter and I had charge of a dozen fellows who had to clean the mess hall. When we got through, there was just enough time to see a show so I took off with the rest and saw “Brazil.” We were not supposed to leave the battalion area last night because Co. “D” was the weekend’s fire guard but we went anyhow. One of the boys suggested setting fire to the show house so that we would have an excuse for being there but we considered it an unnecessary precaution and left it standing in good order. Yesterday, after another grueling rifle inspection, our platoon sergeant decided that I should be the acting corporal for my squad so I was awarded an armband with two stripes on it signifying that I was such. I was rather loath to take it for it means nothing but extra work and responsibility and there will be times when I’ll have to tell the boys what to do and very often they don’t like taking orders from one of their own class. However, I was a little pleased in having been chosen if for no other reason than for my having been “on the ball” so to speak (that’s a very much overdone army phrase) and to know that they realize it. I had a glorious time at breakfast this morning. My friends were all table waiters and after having finished two deliciously fried eggs and some corn flakes I went to the storeroom and filled a bag with select apples and oranges and cookies and deposited them in my hut. I then returned through the kitchen and got me a few more eggs and sat around bumpin’ my gums with a few of the boys. It was really fun. The fellows, growing more accustomed to army life are learning to provide for themselves when it comes to extra food. Some of the boys go out on passes each weekend & bring back a few loaves of bread and peanut butter. We can always manage to reef something from the mess hall too and have become more brazen about it. If we are caught, the only punishment is a little extra K.P. and then we can eat all we want. We have one boy here that they just can’t threaten any more for he thinks K.P. is worth the work for all the extra food he gets. Your Georgie

69 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sun. Nov. 12, 1944 Dearest, Dearest, Dearest! And you really are my dearest! After having received the most beautiful package ever presented in Camp Blanding. I don’t know why God gave me such a sweet wife as you although I don’t ask any questions because it must have been a mistake and I don’t want to call it to His attention. One of the fellows got a mandolin from home and I have been having a lot of fun playing on it. I find the plucking rather difficult to catch on to and the frets and longer finger stretches kind of screw me up but I’m gradually getting to knock a tune out of it now and then by nothing else than sheer fighting. Darling, if you only knew how much I talk of you to the other boys and how I praise you, you would surely be certain of my love. The whole darn company knows how I love my wife. Now and then someone sings out, “Hey, George, do you love your wife?” Then I have to holler, “oh boy, I sure do!” and they all smile. When they look at your picture they all tell me that they can understand why I’m so much in love with you. You and Dossie surely do make a wonderful picture here on my shelf. I get lonesome and just look up and there you are smiling at me. Your loving Cherub ****************************************************************************** Monday Nov 13, 1944 Dearest Dottie, I assumed my new post as squad leader today and I guess I might like it pretty well after a while. I sure am getting to be a real GI Joe now. Just imagine, all this time the other leaders have been waiting in the mess line with all the rest. I only started today and by my suggestion it was arranged today that we all eat before the rest. That gives us a whole lot of extra time to ourselves, and a whole empty shower room. You see, I’ll have to go to an extra class 4 nights every week and I’ll need all the extra time I can get. The classes deal mostly with leadership of men, etc. Well, be good my darling and pry for your poor simple loving husband for he always prays hard for you and his li’l gal. Adoringly George

70 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 14, 1944 Hello again Darling, I’m so happy with the locks of hair you sent. Dossie’s hair is really getting a reddish tint to it now. Gee, she’s going to be a pretty girl. Can you picture her all grown up? We’re going to bring her up gracefully so that everyone will say, “That Dorothy Michel is really a lovely girl. - It’s no wonder, though, for her mother is such a sweet woman.” That’s what they will all say, darling. We’ll have a house full of laughter and clean happiness all the time. Oh, darling, we have so much to which we can look forward. I can just see yours and all the kids’ glowing faces around the fire or in candlelight on our special holiday and birthday parties. I want our house to be filled with squeals of mirth from happy children. I’ll be a firm dad, I guess, but I’m going to be my kids’ pal. It’s 10:00 p.m. dear and I’d better close before lights out so I’ll say goodnight and sweet dreams. Love, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 15, 1944 Dearest Dottie, I really have my hands full trying to keep these fellows on the ball without being too bossy. We have one of the best huts in the company and though the fellows are inclined to get a little sloppy, I try to get them to keep it as clean as possible. I have started a kind of work- points system. When the hut needs sweeping and mopping, which is every night, I assign a few fellows and give them a point. Some other special jobs might get more points according to my judgement. In this way I can keep track of things to see that no fellows are required to do more than their share or others to get away with anything. We all think it’s pretty fair. Through all this training and work, I have your vision before me constantly and think of our future life. Though I am lonesome, I can’t say I am either sad or happy for I realize that I have been assigned a duty and all that remains to be done is to see it through. Still I have the comfort to know that between we two, there exists a love that dwarfs all our troubles and hardships. Love, Georgie

71 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Thurs. Nov 16 Darling Dottie You know, honey, I’m awfully conscious of you. Sometimes it even seems a little strange to me, but so often, right in the middle of something engrossing, I suddenly feel your presence near me. It seems so real and nice my heart goes pitter patter to think that you are my wife. God has worked in strange ways, but always for my own good. Even now I can’t help but think that I am in the army for my own good. Now with the war so nearly over, I may be in the service only long enough to benefit by the post-war help that will be given to servicemen. It’s a rather comforting thought anyway. Gosh, this army isn’t so bad that a fellow can’t stand it. Of course, dear, it will take some pretty patient and concentrated effort on your part to rehabilitate me and make a gentleman of me again. You know what? I’m anxious to look through your idea book for our post-war home. I have a lot of pretty pictures in my mind as to the way it will look. I’ll take care of the lawns and digging and you can get the flower seeds and come out with me after dinner and we’ll plant them together. We’ll have a few nice fruit trees including an avocado tree or two so that we can have lots of halved avocados filled with salad dressing. A nice orange tree would be nice. I can get good literature from the government on the care of these things. Pop did that and the info. they furnished has been a great deal of help to him. It seems to me that the post-war world should be a good one. So many new and convenient household devices are just on the threshold of production just waiting to be released to the public. We were on an ammunition detail today and had some chalk and started chalking each other’s uniforms with bars & eagles & stars, etc. It was dopey but it was some fun. I sit here with such pangs of love for you that my tummy is all full of butterflies. I told our whole love story to a couple of the boys today while they sat enchanted. They advised me to write a novel on it because it was such a lovely affair. I think I have made several boys feel like getting married because they see how happy I am. I’ll be seeing you in dreams. Your own loving Georgie

72 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Friday November 17 Dear sweet Dottie Just after finishing doing a super GI job on our hut, I am sitting down to take it easy for a little while and talk to you. The fellows all pitched in with a will and it was gratifying to see them scrub the floor and the beams under the windows. I daresay I have one of the best squads in the company. It’s nice to be a leader when the led are cooperative. We have finished ten weeks now – or will tomorrow – and it won’t be very much longer before I will get to come home for a spell. You are so sweet and such a comfort to me. I want to make you happy, dear, for I am all – Yours, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sat. Nov. 17 Dearest Dottie It was a nice chilly morning this morning and now the sun is out and the weather is just comfortable. My heart always cries out for you because you are its only joy. The army, the war, and all these things that separate us are big stinkers and I’m going to get it over with quickly, believe me, because I’m tired of wasting time. These stinking Japs and Nazis can’t do this to us – I’ll fix ‘em! Someday I’ll make a nice home for you and try to be just as kind and understanding as I can. I want to try and give you all the nice things you so richly deserve because you have been so nice to me. My letters must get rather tiresome at times but nothing appears very interesting to me here and it doesn’t give me much to say except that I love you and that is everything to me. Give little Dossie a great big hug and a kiss for me. I’ll bet she is getting big and cuter every day. No matter how long I am away, remember that I’ll always love you and be true – always. Your loving Cherub

73 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sunday, Nov. 19 Dearest Dottie-pie I lie in my bunk each night and think, “What a wonderful blessing I have in Dottie and Dossie.” The world goes on in its strife and ridiculous chaos but my love goes along as well in the same tempo waxing more strongly at each tender thought. I am lonesome, dear, but think of the poor soul who has no love at home to strengthen him and give him life. But for you I would have been like all the rest, blindly struggling and striving for – I know not what, finding nothing but new and more complicated problems. I can see my way clearly and fully so that I can accomplish my duty and come home to you and begin a new life without hesitation. Well darling, I’ll sign off now but don’t forget – you are all mine and I am All yours Georgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 20, 1944 Dear Honey, 11:30 p.m. Well, darling I’m back from my night problem. It didn’t amount to very much to me for, because of my German, I was to be an enemy in an outpost. The patrols were to sneak up on my sentry and try to take him with no noise so that they could “take” the hut I was in. If they did, I was to let them have “valuable enemy info.” which were a few maps, etc. All I had to do was sit by the fire I built in the hut and talk in German to another fellow so that the patrols could recognize us as Germans. I relieved my sentry a few times and “shot” some of the patrols to pieces that thought they were sneaking up on us. It was rather fun. It’s pretty late now and I’m really tired so, darling, I’ll cut this short much as I would like to talk to you. Even through all our night problem you were with me every moment. If I go into battle I know it will be you who will see me through. Goodnight, angel. I love you. Yours Alone, George

74 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** November 21 Dearest Dottie We have a few hours “off” because of our night problem last night so we have all been working like dogs for the whole morning cleaning the huts and company area. A general is going to be around and the place will be clean. We have a new commanding officer in Co. D now. Capt. Harrison has left for overseas duty and we have a 1st lieutenant Simmons, who is awfully nice. He is very un-military and that just suits me fine. I mean that he is not GI when it’s not necessary. Capt. Harrison was very West Point and it seemed stupid to me. Some of these officers are just like little boys playing soldier. Here it is almost Dossie’s birthday & I haven’t had a chance to even get her a card. I’ll have to try to draw one tonight but I’m afraid I’m not half as clever as you are, but I guess it’s all I can do. Dear little Dossie. She must be awfully cute. I am so anxious to see her again. Little children change so rapidly that I hate to miss it all. Always Yours Georgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 22, 1944 Dear Dottie The end of another day of mortar firing – this time with the real thing. As usual I have so much to do that I think I’ll soon be a sec. 8 case (section 8 is the nut house). I have to write a life’s history in an application for assignment in counter-espionage for the army. This is not spy work but is more an investigation man for all types of problems arising on the battlefield. I believe it might be interesting if I could get something in that field. I’m just back from my class and I’ve decided that I’m not going to bother with intelligence because I’m afraid of this mustering-out business after the war. Probably it is best not to get a career in the army for fear of becoming indispensable. I have lots of work yet angel so I’ll cut this short as much as I hate do so I’ll say, “Goodnight sweetheart.” Give little Dossie a great big hug and a kiss for me and I’ll see you in my dreams. Lots and lots of love Georgie

75 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 23, 1944 Dearest Dottie I hate to tell you every day that I have to make it short but it never seems as though I have a spare minute. Nevertheless I think of you each moment no matter what takes place. We had a crazy speed march today. I don’t know when I was ever so exhausted in my life. My big, fat, legs ached over every inch until I said to myself, “Dottie dear, help me – give me courage – give me strength.” I’m not fooling, darling, but my weariness left me and I found a broad, defiant grin on my face. The fellow next to me said, “What the hell are you so happy about?” It’s really true dear that with you behind me there is nothing that I cannot accomplish. Love & Kisses George ****************************************************************************** Nov. 25, 1944 Dearest Dottie, Well here I am finally – and at last. I’ve been a busy little boy and felt very badly that I couldn’t get a letter off to you but it was really impossible. I got a new duty tonight. I had to get all my boys to clean their rifles and then inspect them. This squad leader business is a pain sometimes but still I enjoy it because it gives me the feeling that I’m doing a little better than most of them. I told one of our lieutenants that my squad liked me for a leader because they’re all farmers and are used to walking behind a horse’s ass. Today I was picked out of a bunch to help clean some machine guns. When I found out I said, “What! General Michel clean machine guns?” I looked up and there stood Lieutenant Parker grinning broadly. I grinned back and cleaned guns. Well, darling, I’m going to take it easy for a little while now before bed and just sit and meditate over your picture. Oh how I miss you tonight darling. Awfully lovingly Cherub

76 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** November 26, 1944 On the first one Happy Birthday, Li’l Dossie!

This is the first of many to come, And love and good wishes flow out to you from Your Daddy who has to be far from your side, But knows that your Mommie will care of his pride.

That’s you! Daddy ****************************************************************************** Nov. 26, 1944 Dearest Dearest Dearest Dearest Dottie Some day we’ll be brought together again and the world will have a much better appearance. Today I said to Bill, “It’s a great world – but what people we have in it.” A weary voice behind me said, “You’re not foolin’.” It is a great world, though, as long as I have you at home to reflect my love and prayers. I am a lucky fellow no matter what they do to me because I have the best wife in the world. It is amazing to think that in all this world I had the luck to be sent to Los Angeles where the girl of my dreams was waiting for me. Keep waiting for me, dear, for I’ll be back again some day on a white charger to sweep you off your feet again. Won’t it be fun? I love you Georgie

77 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 26, 1944 Dearest Dottie We had a lot of combat tactics today with mortars and some rugged physical training that wore me out pretty well. I’ll be glad when all this training is over and I do hope the regular army will give us a little more time than we have here. It never seems as though we accomplish very much but the time flies past just the same. I really consider myself the luckiest fellow in the world even if I can’t be with you for now. It will all be over soon and then I will be home and take up the life again that was once so dear to me. God bless you, and a big fat birthday kiss for my little year-old Dossie. I love you both. Georgie ****************************************************************************** Nov. 28, 1944 Hello Dear Dottie Honey, I miss you so much tonight. It’s one of those nights that just make me feel all alone and especially in need of you. I wish so much that I could be with you and dear little Dossie this Christmas. It’s such a beautiful season and feels so Godly, doesn’t it? Do you remember what a nice Christmas we had last year? You made it the happiest one I have ever known. Some day we’ll have more nice Christmases together with the prettiest tree in the whole world and all kinds of nice things for the kids. Oh, darling, even though I’m all the way down here. I’ll be with you on Christmas Eve and if you listen closely you will hear me whisper in your ear, “Merry Christmas, darling.” You were the greatest present that was ever given to anyone and I am so thankful for you. Dream of me, angel, and pray for me to come home soon so that we can create the life God meant us for. Love, Georgie

78 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

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Nov. 29, 1944 Dearest Dottie This morning I’m on sick call with a little athlete’s foot. Yesterday Lt. Parker said that all fellows with athlete’s foot should go on sick call this morning and half of the company has fallen out. Well darling, it’s night now and I’ve just finished driving the boys into scrubbing the hut floor like it has never been scrubbed before, and I am sitting at my little table with a canteen full of beer and trying to get a little enjoyment out of my meager existence by talking to my honey. This next week will be a tough one. We’ll have bivouac for a few days and the “infiltration course” in which we will crawl under live machine gun fire and then the two weeks following will be the big dreaded bivouac. The rainy season is due to set in now and it’ll be a perfect hell in tents for two weeks if it rains to any extent. Those shelters hold water for a while but eventually they start leaking and I can imagine how uncomfortable it will be. Well, Gen. Fales has ordered that there be good weather but somehow I don’t believe the weatherman has been drafted yet. I continue to pray for and love you two sweet girls every moment. From my heart, there goes out to you all my heart, my thoughts and my – Love Georgie

79 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Nov. 30, 1944 Dearest Dottie – Christmas will not seem the same without you around. I’m afraid I won’t be a terribly happy boy here with a jerky bunch of fellows. We fired mortars today on a big long range after the speed march, which, incidentally was a snap, for the road was blocked most of the way by other companies, which forced us to march more slowly. After we were all through, Lt. Parker sent me with my squad out in the woods to put out a fire started by the explosion of one of our projectiles. There was an area of about 5 acres around the edge of which the grass was burning. I and my Jr. fire fighters got to work with pine-branch switches and soon had it under control. Lt. Parker is very nice towards me and lays a little responsibility on me once in a while when something has to be done that requires a little care & common sense. Oh, darling, I am so crazy about you. I enjoy looking at your picture so much. I’m glad you sent it, because it sure helps out a lot when I get lonesome. We were kidding about our furloughs today and I told the boys that I was going to run the last block in my underwear, heh heh – I’ll be a mean man. We’re going to be out in the field all day tomorrow and until 2:00 a.m. Saturday. If I can I will try to write a letter but at best it will be a day late so don’t be too disappointed. Pray for your honey for he is always loving you and thinking of you. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sunday, Dec 1 Hello Dearest, Just a very few minutes this evening to say a few words, the first of which are, as always, “I love you.” When we got here this morning, the grass was covered with ice. The air is so moist that each blade of grass and each leaf is covered with a smooth coating of ice as though they were varnished. It’s getting dark now and we’ll be getting off in a minute, so I’d better say good night and sweet dreams. Remember while you are in a nice warm bed, I’ll be out here in the cold loving you and wishing I were with you. I am always, Yours alone Georgie

80 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 2, 1944 Hello, Darling Dottie Oh, darling, I am at the nicest place I have been since I have been in the army. Here in Gainesville is the swellest service club you could imagine, with a big dance hall, free snacks for soldiers and the most pleasant church women to see to the boys needs. Gee, it has lifted me up so much and I really felt in the need of it. I am sitting in a pretty mezzanine with shelves full of books and lots of writing tables. We have already registered at the Masonic Temple where we will be kept free for the night and fed breakfast in the morning. Gainesville is a pretty little town and has wide streets and a big square with a town hall that reminds me of some of the towns around L.A. A fellow is playing the piano so nicely and the whole atmosphere is so serene that I feel as a part of the good side of the world again. I can feel your nearness about me. Darling, I always connect beautiful things with you for you, yourself, are beautiful music. The piano is breathing “In the Blue of Evening” and my heart is lonesome yet light for in the bright future, I can see you before me. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I’ll spend in the woods again so I’ll not be able to vouch for the mail again, but, as usual, I will try my best. I like to write to you and I feel as though my day is incomplete if I have not had a chance to write to you. The time is really growing short now. Only five weeks left to finish and then it shouldn’t take long for my orders to come through and I will be home to see you and my little Dossie. I just keep hoping that time will fly by until I can get home. Ten days will be a short time indeed but we will make the best of it won’t we? I’ll be loving you – Always Georgie

81 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 3, 1944 Dear Dottie, Here it is a bright snappy Sunday morning and my heart is light because people have treated me kindly over the weekend. Red & I slept in the Masonic Temple. They have slews of double bunks for the servicemen and we each got a nice clean sheet & pillow slip. Between 8:30 & 9:30 we had a breakfast of beautiful golden-brown hotcakes and thick syrup. They kept coaxing us to eat more until I thought I would bust. They do this every Saturday night and must accommodate at least 200 boys and do it all at no charge. I couldn’t imagine people being so nice. Here at the service club the ladies are so sweet and congenial that it just makes a fellow’s heart happy. I’ll be thinking of you constantly, darling. Remember your dear husband who is still, and always will be Your Guy – Georgie ****************************************************************************** Dec. 4, 1944 Dearest Dottie, I got two letters from you today out in the field and they made me very happy. The sketch you enclosed is awfully good and I’m going to add it to my treasures. I’m just finished with supper now and I’m writing by the light of our campfire. The evening is chilly and the fire feels so good and as I gaze into the tongues of flame I can see the sparkling of your eyes as they reflected the flame in the fireplace in L.A. You always looked so pretty by the fire and it was there that I learned to know you and love you. How earnestly I prayed to God that you would be mine alone. He answered my prayers, didn’t He? I feel confident that He will hear my humble requests again and soon bring me back to you so that we can continue in our love & happiness. My love and my hope burn strongly and steadily and with this strength nothing can conquer me. Always, Georgie

82 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** December 6, 1944 Dottie Darling, Gosh, what a day we had – started at 5:30 a.m. and ended about 11:00 p.m. with hardly a rest in between. I’ll bet we covered 10 miles or perhaps a good deal more on the sandiest roads you can imagine. I’ve been running, flopping to prone – dodging & hiding and springing up again on all kinds of battle problems. Being a squad leader I have to do it right and don’t get a chance to take things easy. I’ll tell you more tomorrow – I must get some sleep. I just wanted to tell you – I love you Georgie ****************************************************************************** Dec. 7, 1944 Dearest Angel This is really the anniversary of an awful event. Just imagine – three years of strife and horrible killing. Oh my dear – I wish it were over. I want to be with you. I have built up such a terrific hate, in my normally peaceful heart, for the army and men in general. They want men in an angry frame of mind but I would just as soon kill anyone at all as a Jap. My nerves are standing on end and I can’t take any guff without boiling into a wrath. Well, I guess I’ll be able to control myself no matter what – but I do so much want to come home. Getting close to the end of the cycle, I yearn more & more to be in your arms and have you in mine. I’m going to hit the hay and dream of my darling. Be good angel and love me always because I need your love to bring me home again. Your loving, Georgie

83 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 8, 1944 Dearest Dottie I really shouldn’t be here right now – I should be out marching nine miles but I materialistically cashed in on Catholicism for once. Aren’t I naughty. You see, angel, tonight is the feast of the Immaculate Conception and they announced that the Catholic boys could go to the services and get out of the “practice” march. I sure did jump at the chance and now, after enjoying the mass, I am at our service club. Today we had some more combat training in our own individual squads. For the first time, they really let the trainee squad leaders direct things for themselves and I got my squad into action. The supervising lieutenant told me that he had never seen a better or more organized advance by trainees and when it came time for the “critique” he had absolutely no criticism to make. I haven’t an ambition to be a particularly good soldier but I always try to do things right and if I do say so myself, I have this bunch of farmer boys on the ball. We were all happy to get such good compliments. We’ll be leaving for bivouac Sunday evening and then my writing will be likely to be very unsteady. Of course, you know I’ll try hard, my dear, because I enjoy writing to you. It’s the only way I can get a lot of things off my chest and make an urgent attempt at trying to make you feel how much I really love you. Well, angel, there is still my rifle and my whiskers and with all the love in my lonesome old heart, I’ll say goodnight. Your Honey, Cherub

84 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 9, 1944 Hello Darling – I have a lot of packing to do to get ready for bivouac. I’m glad the time has come for I am so anxious to get this all over with. My heart is always with you, sweet, and life is worth nothing to me when we are apart. Thank God the war is almost over and it won’t be too terribly long before I come home for good. I know things look hopeless sometimes but the allies are advancing everywhere. I’d give my right arm to be home with you and Dossie this Christmas and celebrate it right. Do you remember how we went window shopping last year in downtown L.A? We’re going to do it again too, sweet – maybe even next Christmas. I suppose I’ll be away a long time but that is inevitable. We’ll both have to pull our heads into our shells and wait for a part of our lives to slip by and pray for the future. I love you, Georgie

85 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 10, 1944 Dottie of mine, It’s Sunday morning – cloudy and chilly and all our preparations are being made for bivouac. It’s going to be a cold hard two weeks and we will pretend that we are under actual battle conditions all the time. It’s going to be especially tough on the squad leaders because we’ll be responsible for our squad to see that they get up and do not get lost. I know I’ll be yearning for you all through the whole thing just as I am yearning for you at this moment as I sit in the day room with my feet against the stove. You know, honey, everyone here, including me, feels as though he is getting in on the tail end of the war. If I am sent to Western Europe, I look forward to marching down the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin. It can’t be long – at least I can’t see how for Germany is on her knees and we are poising for the final blow. Of course, there is a lot of power in the enemy yet but, comparatively speaking, it is weak to what it once was. Yes, dear, your Georgie is going to put a quick finish to all this nonsense and come back home and really take up living again. After learning a lot of things about combat tactics I feel pretty certain that nothing is going to happen to me. There are so doggoned many dumbbells in the army, I can see “CASUALTY” written all over some of them. Of course a stray bullet could hit me, but if I walked all over New York and never got hit by a cab, I have a darn good chance overseas. I can usually figure out what the score is and act accordingly. Some of these fellows walk around in a daze even in training and I pity some of them in combat. You don’t have to worry a bit about me, darling, because I’m going to take a personal interest in Pvt. Michel and see to it that nothing happens to him. I’m going to miss you this Christmas and I hope I can spend the next one with you. We’ll enjoy the future with all the comfort and nice things democracy can bring – pretty homes with nice kitchens and living rooms with fire places and rosy-cheeked children happily running around and giggling. It makes a pretty picture doesn’t it? It helps me to go along if I keep such pictures in my mind. Darling bear with me – better days are ahead. Love as always, Georgie

86 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 12, 1944 Dearest Dottie You’re going to have to forgive the poor mail service on my part for we are being rushed around like nincompoops until I am literally going crazy. After finishing our 18 mile hike with full equipment (about 65 lbs. worth) I was more worn out than I have ever been in my life. The last few miles were almost plain torture. The payoff was that as soon as we arrived in the bivouac area we had to dig foxholes & pitch our tents. After lunch we march 3 miles through sand and set up a defensive line and sit and wait for the enemy to appear. It takes about an hour to dig a good foxhole here in Florida and while we dug a mess truck came out and we ate a squad at a time. We didn’t get very much but I had a can of stolen C rations with me which I ate cold after chow. I slept in my foxhole until about 2300 (11 p.m.) when I was awakened by rifle fire. I saw a shadow walk up from “enemy” territory and “shot” him to pieces with blanks. It turned out to be Lt. Parker. I’ll close now dear, its evening, mailman’s here. I love you always, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Thurs. Dec. ? Darling angel of mine, A few minutes before chow and I wanted to talk to you some because I am so lonesome. Our bivouac so far has turned out to be pretty horrible. It’s been terribly cold here and while I have managed to sleep well, the mornings are a torture because of the damp cold. We had a frost this morning again and I don’t know when my feet have been colder even in ice skating and skiing or sleigh riding. Spirits are low and tempers high. Its amazing though, how fellows here, in spite of how unhappy they are will find a little fun and laughs during the most trying circumstances. Man seems to have an inborn desire for humor and frivolity that is not easily stifled. I myself have my pretty dreams and memories of home with you and the baby. Love – Georgie

87 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Friday just after lunch Hello Dearest Dottie Your darling husband is patiently seated in the sunshine enjoying, for a change, the Florida climate. This is the first time that I have seen a day comparable to those in So. Cal. Florida is just full of lakes and swamps. In fact, I believe the lakes are nothing more than extra-wet swamps. I got three letters from you last night. Your letters, somehow always get me out of the dumps and back on my feet again. It simply thrills me to read about the way Dossie is walking around and “gabbing”, as you so cleverly term it. She must have changed so much since I last saw her and I am so anxious to see her again. I am Yours, Cherub ******************************************************************************

Fri. Nite Hello Dearest If you could see your darling husband now you’d get a good laugh I’m sure. I’m lying in a pup tent in my fatigues, woolen cap and overcoat and writing in the light of our “furnace.” The boy I am bunking with tonight had a brainchild that really works. He bought some candles in town and we light one and put a steel helmet over it so that just a crack is open at the bottom. It is by the light of this that I am writing. It’s not at all visible from outside and it’s surprising how much heat it throws off. The weather is a little warmer tonight and the weather was very clear all day though brisk. We were lucky enough to find enough pine needles to make a good thick mattress. They are much better than Spanish moss. I just finished up your cookies tonight. Honestly, dear, you have no idea how I enjoyed them. Dossie must surely be getting big now judging from her hand you modeled in the cookies. Good night and God bless you. I love you so much. Georgie

88 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Sat. Hello Honey, Here I am all packed and fed and waiting to start on a 7 mile hike again to our new bivouac area for the second week of horror. We’ll probably have an air raid soon and then fill up our foxholes and take off. Darling, thanks for yours and Dossie’s sweet Christmas cards. It gave me a thrill to realize that another Yuletide is almost here and that my two darlings are thinking about me. Each day that passes brings my furlough a little nearer and I am so anxious to see you again. Heart & soul, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Sat. Hello Honey Do you remember the first time we met? You were cutting flowers in the front yard when your Dad and I drove up in Daisy Mae. Mac had never told me that he had a pretty daughter and I was so surprised when he introduced me to “My daughter, Dorothy.” You struck a new spark in my heart that flared up so suddenly that I was dumbfounded. Darling, it is now Sunday afternoon and I am sitting in the warm sunshine all clean and comfortable. As you probably surmised we arrived at our new bivouac area and set up last night. It is near another lake and we all went down to bathe today. The water, as you can guess, was ice-cold but it felt so good to get clean that we didn’t mind. I am wishing I were with you, darling as I sit on a log outside of my tent while my tent-mate is inside cooking some stolen “C” rations over a little fire he has made. We don’t get much at chow time but with my criminally warped mind I find it a simple matter to sneak down to the mess tent at night and “borrow” a loaf of bread as a sort of interest on my war bonds. There are a lot of unpleasant things about the life in the infantry but my most prevalent gripe by far is the fact that I must be away from you and Dossie. In all the world I could never have found anyone else as sweet and gracious. Think of me, dear, for I am – Your Georgie

89 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Monday Dearest Dottie I do write to you from the strangest places. Right now I’m in a dugout adjoining a machine gun emplacement. I have just finished a supper of cold C rations and we have orders to keep down as the “enemy” is expected to attack at 6:00 or shortly after. The sun has set and it is rapidly growing dark so that I won’t have very long to write. I was selected for this shooting because, as the sergeant says, it requires someone with a little intelligence so that no one gets shot to pieces. Although this letter can’t be mailed tonight, I’ll just make believe I have just spoken to you so, “good night and God bless you.” I love you so much and will be yours – Always, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Tuesday My beloved Dottie The display last night was really a sight to see with about 15 machine guns and about 1000 rifles blazing away with tracers to say nothing of flares, rockets and shell bursts. It was beautiful but ominous. It’s too bad that my sweet little Dossie has to go through her first learning stage without her Daddy. No matter how much of a punk I am, my little sweetie should not be deprived of her dear Daddy. I would like so much to be able to come home and have my share in her upbringing. A father needs his children too. My prime aim now is just to get out of the army and come home to you for good. I’m a home-hearted man, and when I come – look out – I’m comin’ a’ wooin’ (Remember?) It’ll be starting all over again. I love you dearest. All yours, Georgie

90 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Wed. Hello my Darling! My dream is always of you, sweetheart, all day & all night you are in my heart. I think so often of our post-war home – of my cookie jar and our fireplace. When God gave you to me, He also placed a desire in my heart to be good and righteous and since then I have always tried my best to be nice. I always want you to think of me as a swell guy and I always will try to live up to it. I want little Dossie to say to her friends “Let’s go over to my house, my Daddy likes to have us there.” I want all my kids to think of their Daddy as a real swell pal and companion. We’re all going to go out a lot together. We’ll go swimming and horseback riding, and to nice parks and auto trips to Yellowstone Park, Sequoia Forest, Yosemite, and all the most attractive places out west. If finances permit, maybe we can even go to Mexico, So. America & New York once in a while. It would be fun in a family group wouldn’t it? We have a lot of time ahead of us in which to lead a good, wholesome, happy life and, by gosh, I’m going to make the best of it. After I come home from the war I’m going to get started at work as soon as possible and we can start thinking about a real nice house for ourselves. I want it to be just the way we’ve dreamed about it all this time. It sounds so good. Can you hear the front gate creaking and slamming shut above the sizzle of the steaks on your nice white range? Do you hear Dossie shouting “Hello Daddy” above the barking of the dog? I see the pretty white tablecloth, the family sitting down to eat – all spirits gay, hearts light. Oh, honey, what a dream, and still it will all be true before very long. I pray to dear God so much for these simple things. Keep praying, darling, for it will all come true. Your Georgie

91 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec. 22, 1944 Dearest Dottie, As you can tell by the ink, the great bivouac is now over and I am one glad little boy. I have been looking forward so much to my furlough and it will be wonderful to hold you in my arms again. You can’t imagine how anxious I am to see the baby. It hardly seems possible that she can toddle all over by herself already. It doesn’t seem so terribly long ago that I left and she was so tiny then. It’s too bad I can’t be around to watch my little honey grow. Well some day the war will be over. Won’t that be a glorious day? I love you sweetie – always did – always will. Love, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Thurs. Dearest Dottie All the boys are talking furlough and train tickets. It sounds so good and we can all hear train whistles in our ears. My heart jumps when I think about you because the cycle is coming to a close soon and I will again squeeze you tightly in my arms. Loving Cherub ****************************************************************************** Dec. 31 Dearest Dottie I landed in Meade after a good long day of typical army delay here & there. I think of the swell four days we had together and that we may not see each other again for a very long time. They apparently are not losing any time in getting the boys out and I wouldn’t be surprised if we went in just a few days. The place here is one bedlam with guys going in and out and the Lord alone knows where. All I do is follow the crowd, take what is given to me and sign what I am told. Be good sweetie, I love you very much. Love, Georgie

92 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dec 31, 1944 Dear Angel The last evening of 1944 is here and I am in the day room practically alone with the radio and my thoughts of you. How I long to be with you tonight. A fellow just put “You and I” on the victrola and it pains me to think that it will probably be a long time before I can hold you in my arms again and tell you all the nice things that I enjoy telling you. I wish I could tell you how very much I enjoyed our wonderful few days together during which I completely forgot about the army and the general situation of things today. To look at you again, to hold you and kiss you again was so wonderful that I am still riding the clouds far above this stinking world. I wouldn’t feel so desperate but the uncertainty of the length of time that must pass before I can be with you and little Dossie again makes me feel a little funny sometimes. I try so hard to be coldly realistic, but the realization of how happy we were together puts everything else to the rear, and so I have given up attempts to kid myself and just love you in my heart and pray for a speedy end to the war and a long, long, sweet peace in which man will again learn kindness and consideration for his fellows. The army tries to teach hate and cruelty but they just can’t kill the desire to do good that God seems to have placed in my heart. There is so much beauty laying all around us and we have to go and hide it all with hate and violence. It’s just not right, is it? Honey, our future home will be really something to help us forget all this lonesomeness and longing. We’ll just settle back and relax and watch our kids grow and try to teach them and ourselves to guard against wars and trouble that are liable to break up homes and families. Well, dear, I am always with you and will be with you tonight at midnight. Happy New Year – Darling. Your Georgie

93 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Jan. 1, 1945 Dear Dottie You should see the awful weather we’re having. It rained real hard today and the packed snow was slippery as the deuce with the water running over it acting as lubrication and fellows were slipping and falling all over the place. They looked like a bunch of penguins taking little steps and slipping sideways down little slopes as they tried to walk forward. Well, dear, I have something to do so I’ll close for tonight and, I promise you, I’ll be dreaming of you an awful lot because I really love you. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Jan. 3, 1945 Darling Dottie, How are you faring through this cold snap we are having right now? Being a So. California girl you are probably frozen stiff. I have definitely decided that we’d better settle down in Los Angeles after the war. That climate beats anything I have seen all over the states. Gee honey, I miss you an awful lot. I did have such hopes of seeing you and little Dossie again before I leave but I suppose it’s no use to hope. I’ll just be thinking of you all the time I am away and just live completely in the past and future. Perhaps, by the grace of God, the war will be over before too long and we can again take up where we left off. That’s all we have to think about now. Well, angel, I’ll write every day to you that I can. Hope and pray with me and millions of others that it’ll all be over soon and we’ll all be back home soon. I love you Georgie

94 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** In the Atlantic Hello Dear Dottie I’ll bet you’ve been anxiously waiting to hear from me. Well here I am, a long, long way from you and the baby trying my darndest to write against the vibration of the ship’s engines. We have had, so far, a not too unpleasant crossing. It was fairly rough part of the time and with the swell hitting us broadside the old ship rolled pretty much. A great deal of fellows were sick but in spite of my fears, it didn’t bother me at all and I ate all my meals except when I had so stuffed myself with candy that I was unable to eat chow. Darling, the ocean is so beautiful and I wished so many times that this could be just a trip that we were making together instead of one that carried me farther from you at every moment. It just thrills me to see the big swells with little breakers foaming at the top. The water is so clear that you can see right through the crest of the wave and see water breaking on the side away from you. Wherever the sea churns, it assumes the most beautiful aquamarine I have ever seen. I have never seen an artist capture the beauty from this angle or come anywhere near the color. It was especially beautiful when a bright afternoon sun causes the whole thing to sparkle and glisten. The other evening I sat by the after railing and watched a beautiful sunset. The whole thing just captivated me and I found myself so lonesome and so much in love, darling, that it was hard for me to choke back a few tears. We fellows spoke of our homes, wives and children, and I, of course, gave our sweet little love story, which I never tire of telling. How wonderful it all was and how remote it all seems from this. The sun was getting low and there were long low banks of soft streaky clouds all lit from the rear giving a beautiful gold color to them. Far above there were fluffy clouds of a snow white while towards the horizon the various cloud formations blended into a haze of deep indigo and purple. Of course, I can’t make it seem anything like it appeared, but I watched old sol disappear far into the twilight and then as it grew chilly I went below. Darling, I know it will be a long time before I come home again – but wherever I am, I will always carry you with me. Be good, darling. I love you so much. Love Your Georgie

95 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Jan. 16, 1944 Dearest Dottie Dull day – nothing much to do. I guess we’re just waiting here while they juggle with our fate but we don’t care. I’d be content to stay here for the rest of the war. I’m staying in a squad tent with 10 other boys and we’ve got quite a set-up. Leon, our little French boy gave me some straw from his barn and I gave him a few cigarettes. They go crazy for them here and I am told that the black markets get two bucks for a pack. We have to be awfully careful of French kids stealing our equipment. My bed is made now of a nice thick layer of straw and some quilts and blankets. I feel like a cow when I go to bed. Give little Dossie lots of love from her Daddy and tell her to give her Mommie all her Daddy’s love. Gee, I’m crazy about you two. I’ll close now and look at your snapshot for a little. Be good, dear All my love Georgie ****************************************************************************** Jan. 16, 1945 Dear Mom & Pop I arrived safely in So. France after an interesting trip across the Atlantic. Naturally the accommodations are not luxurious for troops at sea but, as usual, I tried to make the best of the situation. I have made some friends, of course, and we keep our spirits up by fooling around and committing all manner of nonsense. I have spoken to some French people and got along fairly well by using my hands and the little bit of French I learned in school. Love, George

96 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dearest Dottie It doesn’t seem so very long ago that I held you in my arms for a very brief few days and now I suddenly find myself about 4000 miles away in Southern France. Everything surely does go fast these days. The army can send a fellow all over the world before he realizes what is going on. Well, I hope they can ship me home again as quickly as I came out. I have had a chance to practice up on my French in talking to Leon, a local boy. He seems very nice – hated Germans as a proper Frenchman should. I got along fairly well, although I guess I used more sign language than French. I dreamt about you several times on the way and almost felt as though I were actually with you for a while. Give little Dossie a big hug and kiss from her Daddy. Love, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Jan. 17, 1945 Dearest Dottie I wonder what you are doing right at this moment – I sure wish I were doing it with you. My bedmate and I talked all evening about our respective wives and the things we used to do at home that made us so happy. There’s nothing in the world so nice as a happy home with a good wife and nice children. Boy, we are going to be happy when we settle down after the war. I hope it won’t be too long before I see you again for I love you. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** January 19, 1945 Dearest Dottie Day is about over and I am writing by candle light after a long day of K.P. They even had to grab me right off the bat here in France. I haven’t heard any war news lately, but the rumors tell me we are still progressing. I love you very much, Dottie dear, and I say lots of long prayers for the three of us every night. I thought of you last night – my bedmate teased me for running my hand over his tummy and chest. Love, Georgie

97 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** January 19, 1945 Hello Cookie – How are you today, darling? I had such a nice dream about you again last night. I was just holding you around the waist and talking to you. It’ll be a long time before I speak to you again, I’m afraid, but I’ll wait forever if I have to. No one else could take your place in my heart and until I walk with you I’ll walk alone – or with a few hundred GIs. I took a walk around the countryside again this morning. It’s surprising to see how old and poorly kept these houses are. Darling, knowing I have you at home waiting for me and taking good care of our little darling gives me an awful lot of courage. I’m so thankful for you both and think of you always for I am – Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** January 20 Dearest Dottie You should see me now, sweetie, sitting in a room in the Red Cross building with long French windows reaching to the floor overlooking the square and the cathedral. I always heard Ma say this town was quaint and I can see what she meant. Most of the French people don’t seem to like the Germans very much. I can’t say as I blame them. I suppose, of course, there are some collaborationist but on the whole the natives are very openhearted to the doughboys and, of course, their money. Darling, I yearn for you so much, all the time. I like to talk of you. This business of forgetting home and love to make a good soldier is a lot of bunk to me because my home & love of the future are the only goals towards which I strive and to forget them would mean to give up the cause, and a soldier without a cause is a poor one indeed and since a good soldier is one who comes back, I want to be a good one. Some must die, of course, but usually they are the careless ones, or the heroes, and since I’m not inclined to be either, I have great odds in my favor. Dossie will be quite a big girl when I come home again, I guess. Gee, that will be a happy day for all of us. I am doing so much planning for the future because I feel so confident that there will be a rosy one for us. Love, Georgie

98 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Jan. 22, 1945 My Darling – A nice sunny morning and my heart is light because it is filled with you. Sometimes I become very sad and lonesome, but I get strength from the realization that I have you and once this is all over we will be together again for always. How is little Dossie? I was so amazed at how she had grown that now I keep trying to imagine how she is progressing. I’ll sure have a lot of loving to make up to both of you when I come home. Love, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Dearest Dottie Hello, darling – how is my sweet wife tonight? I dream of you all the time and I am happy with the thought of you. I went to the church services and prayed real hard for us. My life is not a real thing since I have been away from you. Have you heard the song called “I love you much too much?” It really gets me. Listen to it sometime and catch the sentiment. I heard it today and I wished so hard that I could sing it to you. Remember how I used to sing to you? I must have sounded pretty punk but I like it because – I love you Georgie ****************************************************************************** Jan. 23, 1945 Dearest Dottie We fellows have been pretty elated of late at the news of the splendid Russian successes, as were, probably, the folks at home. Of course, lots of things can still happen, but the news is encouraging and it is human nature to look for the silver lining. I realize that I haven’t seen any combat but I don’t believe that there is any man who wants to go home any worse than I do. Our home and our love is still too fresh in my mind for me to think of much else and my one prayer is that this will all be over soon. I had a long talk with some of the guys last night as we lay in our “beds” with a cheerful fire burning in our oil drum and told them all about our meeting and our sweet love affair. It is such a pretty story that I never tire of telling it nor do I tire of reliving it in my mind. I love you, Your Georgie

99 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Jan. 25, 1945 Dear Mom & Pop, Greetings again from France. We fellows are staying, at present, in squad tents with 15 men to a tent. We were lucky enough to get an old oil drum which we have improvised as a furnace and live a comparatively luxurious life. I try to make the best of each day as it comes along and do not think of the next and I manage to have some rather enjoyable moments. Love, George ****************************************************************************** Jan. 26, 1945 Dearest Dottie We’re headed into France now, for what or where I don’t know, but I have some good ideas. These French trains are sure a laugh, they’re so rickety and small. When we make stops along the line, fellows pile out and try to buy bread and wine from the people and all along the fellows throw sugar cubes and a few cigarettes for the railroad workers. How are you and little Dossie getting along? I suppose you’re starting to think of getting back to Los Angeles pretty soon. Well, I guess you’ll enjoy it there for these severe, snowy winters are pretty tough. Pray for me, my dear for I am always with you in spirit. Love, Your Georgie

100 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** January 29, 1945 Hello My Darling Right at present, sweet, I am enjoying a peaceful moment to myself – at last. Today I started out on K.P. but went on sick call for a sore throat and chest. I was running a slight fever so the doctor gave me a slip asking that I be relieved so that I could rest. I could have kissed him for that for I felt pretty punk. I feel much better now in my room in a large building in a town in France. The Germans had used it for barracks once. There are many signs around bearing the swastika. Now our army is using the building and I am sitting on a folding cot in front of a German stove (that I helped locate & set up) and drinking a bottle of Jacob Ruppert from dear old New York. I sure do wish that I could get a little mail from you but I don’t look for any for quite some time. I suppose it’s hard for the army to keep track of replacements since they have no permanent address but could wind up almost anywhere. Oh, honey, I’m a lucky boy indeed to have a wife like you and a sweet little girl like my Dossie. So often, I take out my wallet and look over the snapshots of you and the baby and I feel a new hope rise within me. I’m not afraid to go to the front because I have such a good reason for coming back in one piece. I have been dreaming all along of the little home we’re going to have after the war. I have been longing so much to get my hands on a lathe or milling machine again that my mind is constantly on the workroom. I can see you now as I turn away from my bench. You are making some pretty little dresses for my Dossie or crocheting a nice doily. Dossie is painting with watercolors. My love for you is so rich and deep that it can never be stopped by any separation at all. Oh honey, if I could only really tell you – I talk, babble and carry on but when I read it over, it doesn’t express the way my heart really feels. My sweet, give little Dossie lots of hugs and kisses from her Daddy. As for you, you angel - I am all yours – heart and soul – nothing will ever change that. God bless you, dear. Your Georgie

101 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** January 31, 1945 My Darling – Yesterday I had a little visitor in wooden shoes come clomping into my room. He said he was Julius but pronounced it “Yooleeous” just like My Pop would have said it. I spoke in the heinie tongue to him and got a big bang out of it. The little devil spoke a lot of baby talk but we had a nice little chat. When he had made up his mind to leave I waved him a goodbye and he, mistaking my sign, returned a nice big nazi salute. I laughed! These kids speak French fluently as well for I guess they learn it in school. I wonder if these people will ever decide whether they are German or French. Oh honey, you’re such a help to me. Little did I ever realize that I would be the chosen one to marry the sweetest girl in the whole world. Honestly when I met you I thought I would never come down out of the clouds – in fact I never did as far as we two are concerned but the army has shown me some startling realities that have shaken my reveries once in a while. Well, dear – enough of this baloney. I have to consider the third party, you know – the censor. He must get pretty sick of reading this stuff but I’ll never tire of writing it because I love you and will always be Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Feb. 2, 1945 Dearest Dottie Greetings to you angel from the chateau of something-or-other which is housing the fellows while we wait for our assignment to an outfit. We have a rug on the floor and a swell fireplace in front of which I sat and dreamed of our courtship as I gazed at the licking flames. How are things with you and the baby, darling? I wish I could get a glimpse of you once in a while just to see how things are going. I know Dossie must be growing rapidly and getting cuter every minute. We’re going to have a lot of fun when I get home. Love Georgie

102 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 3, 1945 Dearest Dottie Notice my new address – I’m connected with an outfit and have a sort of “home.” My company is staying for the moment in some damned little French town where a fellow can see very little besides horses – big Belgians – cows and piles and piles of manure all over the place. I never knew people could live like they do here. There is no difference between houses & barns. You can walk through a hayloft, vegetable bin and presto – you’re “home.” We have a public toilet in the center of the square, next to the public water fountain. Darling, you are on my mind constantly. I love you so much and long each minute for the moment when we are together again. Your Darling Georgie ****************************************************************************** Feb. 6, 1945 Dear Dottie – and I do mean “dear” Do you remember the nice breakfasts we had and how I loved to sit and look in your eyes until I would be late for work unless good old Ma Widget was on the ball and got me out of my trance in time. Gee, she was funny when she tottered through her yard and cried, “George, are you ready?” She always takes such tiny steps. You know, I have really grown to like your Ma. She certainly has been nice to us. I suppose I grew a little impatient sometimes but I guess I didn’t fully understand her. You’d be surprised to know how much I miss her and California – yes even Temple Church. I never thought Temple made an impression on me one way or another but I’ll even be glad to get back to those functions that used to tickle me. I always thought it was funny the way the old dowagers would make nervous speeches and hold long dull conferences about who was going to bring the mustard for the ladies’ circle weenie roast. Darling, I’m going to come home one of these days and we’re going to settle down and have the time of our lives. Popcorn and wieners at the fireplace, singing and laughter with the kids and love galore will be the essence of our existence. My heart is always with you and my love and devotion for you knows no bounds. I love you, sweet – sweet dreams. Your Georgie

103 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 7, 1945 Dear Mom & Pop I’m thinking of home. France may be pretty but it certainly doesn’t look like much in the eyes of the infantryman. My outfit is staying in a little French village filled with horses and cows and chickens and is, consequently, strewn from one end to the other with manure which, when mixed with goodly amounts of water and mud, makes a pretty smeary substance. We don’t care about it much, though, for we are living in spare rooms of the townspeople and are enjoying it while we can. We all hope that this will all be over soon. I sure want to come home badly, but who doesn’t? Love, George ****************************************************************************** Feb. 7, 1945 Dearest Dottie A pass – a short hitchhike and I am in another French town enjoying the privilege of the A.R.C. writing room. France is indeed a muddy place in the spring thaw. The mud mixed with all the manure makes a real slippery surface and the squish and suck of ones shoes can be heard for a long way. Darling, there is one thought that is always on my mind no matter where I am or what I am doing. Oh, dear, it won’t be so very long, at that, before I return. Pray like anything honey for I am with you and I love you. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Dottie Darling Tonight I am yours as well as all the other nights. Gee honey, I dream of you all the time. All these strange things around me – mud, strangers, poor living conditions make me really appreciate home and the cute little house we had in L.A. Didn’t we have a lot of fun there in the evenings listening to the radio or playing cards? I used to enjoy taking you out to dinner once in a while too when we didn’t feel like fussing with cooking and dishes. Sweetie, our 2nd anniversary will be coming soon. I can’t get a card or buy you a nice present but I want you to get yourself something nice and kind of make believe I got it for you. You can be sure that I will be there – right next to you in spirit and with all my love. I will put my arms about your slender waist and kiss you and whisper “happy anniversary.” Darling – I love you – always did – always will. Listen hard – you’ll hear me. Love, Your Georgie

104 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dearest Dottie How tenderly I think about you and little Dossie and our sweet married life. We sure did have a lot of good fun in our own personal heaven. I spend most all of my spare time planning for our future and what a pretty picture it is. The first thing when I get home I’ll try and get settled at work and buy some kind of inexpensive car. You know, I can make an old crate run as good as a new one. Then we’ll see about a house in a nice section somewhere around Los Angeles. Honey, won’t it be fun to actually start ahead in building our house. I’ll be glad to work at it – planting bushes & plants and making it pretty all over. I want a nice house for there’s really nothing too good for my baby. Dottie, dear, we have a beautiful life ahead of us after the war is finally over and I think I have learned just how to make the best of it. You are always in my heart, cutie, every single minute for I love you a bunch. Your sweetie, Georgie ****************************************************************************** France Feb. 9, 1945 Hello, my darling – Just imagine, dear, we’re almost upon our second wedding anniversary. It’s too bad we can’t be together to celebrate it but I have a pretty good hunch that we’ll give ‘er hell twice as hard on our third and, by gosh, we’ll have fun. I have so much to look forward to when I get home. It’ll be such a luxury to sleep in a bed – just to come in the house to get warm and dry and take a hot shower. Do you remember how I was so fussy about clean underclothes each day? I’ll bet I haven’t had clean ones for three weeks. Right now we are having a pretty tough time but we are closer than ever before. I love you, my Dottie. Please give little Dossie lots of hugs & kisses from her Daddy and tell her that it won’t be very long now. Let’s keep on praying – Love, as always, George

105 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 12, 1945 Hello, my darling, Just a little pause in my artistic culinary practice of hammering out a few fried potatoes for a bedtime snack. I wanted you to know that I love you very very much. I've been told that I’m allowed to tell you that I’m in the 42nd division better known as the “Rainbow.” I’ve been lucky inasmuch as I have been assigned to a squad composed of a group of nice fellows. Pardon the writing and blots – I’m getting pushed around a bit. My squad leader is a really pleasant boy and we all get along very well. I could have been assigned to other squads that I would not have liked nearly as much. I’m sure I can fight much better with guys that I like to begin with. It makes things so much easier. Give my Dossie lots of hugs and kisses and remember, you have – All my love, Georgie ****************************************************************************** Feb. 13, 1945 My Darling War is sure a crummy thing, isn’t it, to keep kids like us apart. I look forward to an end pretty soon – I hope I am right. Last night as I lay in my sleeping bag I was thinking of the evenings at home when we were preparing to step out. I’d step out of a nice hot shower and put on clean underclothes, a nice white starched shirt and my gabardine slacks and herringbone sport coat that my honey picked out for me in L.A. Gee, I sure do like that outfit. We looked pretty sharp, didn’t we, all dressed to kill and doing Hollywood together? It was always a nice evening’s fun to dance at the Palladium or have dinner at the Brown Derby and a show at the Pantages. Do you remember the Russian dinner at Bublitebakis Café? That was really a pretty little place. We’ll have to go there again when I get back. Wait for me, cookie. I’ll be seeing you. With all my love, Georgie

106 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** February 14, 1945 My Darling Freckle-Eyes Well, sweetheart, today is one of the big days in our life – Happy Anniversary! Just imagine it was two years ago that we drove to Los Vegas in the middle of the night because we wanted to be Mr. & Mrs. Oh honey, what a sweet happy life I’ve had since I tied up with you. I am happy with you – even though I am so far away. My thoughts of you are so heartening – you always give me courage and strength to go through all the unpleasant things that war brings. I just live for the day that I shall come home again and learn to know my little daughter and let my dear wife of 2 years pamper me and rehabilitate me for the future happiness that will be ours. You’ll never know, dear, how much you mean to me – how you have made life worth living for me. Do you remember going ice-skating? We had made lots of plans to do lots more of it but we never did get much chance to try it again, did we? Well we’ll do a lot of that when I get home and really get to enjoy our life to the fullest. Your mother and Mammaw will be glad to have us home again. They liked to go out with us so much because they didn’t have much chance to get around otherwise. The poor old gals must be awfully lonesome for you and little Dossie and will just go crazy with joy to see you again. It’s really going to be a happy world when all the fellows come home again and start construction instead of destruction. I am enjoying my thoughts of you tonight, cookie, because they are so real & pleasant. I relive many of our days together and I enjoy them all over again. I don’t like it here, naturally, but in spite of it all, I am happy because I have you and my pleasant thoughts. God bless you for your sweetness, dear, and may He grant you all the good things you so richly deserve. Wherever I am, I shall be with you in heart & soul. So on our day I want to wish you from the bottom of my heart – Happy Anniversary – From Your Georgie

107 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 15, 1945 Dearest Dottie Freckle-Eyes Gee, honey, I got a regular anniversary present yesterday. For one thing, the weather was beautiful and clear and it was so nice to see the sun shinning through again. Late last night our rations that the officers had been able to procure came and I got a few cigars, a bottle of beer and there – just imagine - there were whole, nickel-size candy bars. That was like heaven to me. As luck would have it, two of them were “Oh Henrys” and I really go for them. It seems hard to realize that once a fellow could go into a candy store and merely buy a bar if he had the nickel. In those days, we were just patronizing a candy company and now a fellow would just about slit throats for some good old American candy bars. It surely doesn’t take a heck of a lot to make a soldier happy since most of his conditions are so crummy. Ah, I hope it’ll all be finished soon so I can whisper in your ear just how much I love you. I do think an awful lot of you, sweet – don’t forget it. Love, Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** My Darling Dottie I’ve just returned from a pretty good bull session with our hosts over which we sipped “beaucoup” wine. Of course they rattle off a good deal of French that sounds like a jumble to me but I patiently and hospitably nod and agree “oui, oui.” They’re pretty nice people and treat us in a very friendly manner. One woman gave me two eggs yesterday. “For you, the American soldier,” she told me. Usually they are pretty generous if they think the Americans will be grateful in the customary manner and repay the kindness many times over. Well, you can’t blame them, I guess. Oh darling, it’s all very new and interesting but I miss you so much. I wonder what you are doing this moment. How I would like to be able to see you and the baby soon. You are surely a swell pair and I am right proud. Love, always (kisses too) Georgie

108 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 19, 1945 Dearest Dottie, Here I am and there you are, but there I am, at least in spirit. I had some crazy dream about you and my Pop’s boat. It was all screwed up but it was nice to see you again. I wonder when mail from you will finally come through. I am really anxious to get some – just to see your handwriting again or get your pretty lip prints. Do you remember how we used to sit on the floor in front of the fireplace and gradually our heads would come closer & closer until I could feel the warmth of your cheeks? Then I would put my hand on yours and you would smile so nicely with the fire dancing in your eyes. What wonderful days – they’ll return again soon. I love you. Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** February 20, 1945 My Dearest Freckle-Eyes Each one of these long, lonesome days eventually drags to a close. It is a day well spent because it has taken another 24 hours from the time that must pass before we are together again. Being away from home is so much like a dream to me and it would seem perfectly normal if I were to awaken some morning and find you there smiling at me. We will be happy again, cookie, for I feel so sure about it. I have prayed and prayed and I feel so sure that God will not refuse me. Things look better each day now and unless there is a sudden letdown, all will soon be peaceful again. Keep your fingers crossed, honey, and remember I love you – With all my heart Georgie P.S. Lots of hugs and kisses to Dossie from Dad

109 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 21, 1945 My Darling I have quite a great deal of time sometimes to merely sit and think and of course you know exactly what is on my mind. Sunny California looks so good in my reverie and I can see our little house with pretty green ivy climbing up the latticework, roses, hibiscus and all kinds of pretty flowers & bushes. It looks so pretty gleaming in the warm Cal. sunshine while the big bumble bees buzz around gathering sweet nectar. That’s how it will appear when I roll in from work on Saturday afternoons and start up the walk and the little white gate clicks shut behind me and locks me in our little heaven where real love blooms and happiness reigns supreme. After a nice wholesome lunch made as only my honey can make it, I’ll take a nap, perhaps, or do a little work in the garden or maybe a little maintenance business – who knows? Look at my picture – isn’t it pretty? Lots of love, Your Georgie

110 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 21, 1945 “Hello my Dottie ,” from far away Comes a greeting to you in profound display Of love and devotion from a lonesome guy, Who wishes each day for the time to fly And the war to end without delay.

How many times I think of home That lies like my heart far o’er the foam, And my wife who yearns for days to be To sit by the fire alone, with me In the shadow of the nearby mountain dome.

I dream of our trips through rocks and rills; Through San Fernando & Beverly Hills. We asked to eat peaches from the valley of sun While Dossie, behind us, would relish the thumb And caused us – proud parents to look on with thrills.

I love you my Dottie, don’t ever forget! Though long as it seems, these days will end yet. And being apart has caused us to know That absence can make true devotion grow. Soon we will be happy as when first we met. Love, as always, Georgie

111 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 23, 1945 Good evening, darling The sun is setting behind the trees and a hush falls over the countryside and everything seems quiet and peaceful. I sure wish it really was peaceful all over the world. It’s mostly at quiet moments like this that you come into my day with the greatest intensity. I suppose it’s because all my evenings used to be full of you and it will never get out of my blood. I have been dreaming an awful lot lately. The other night I dreamt up a regular show. As much as I can remember, it was an awfully good one. I only wish I had jotted down the script. It would have been worth money. I woke laughing aloud. The fellows told me I had been laughing quite a bit as I lay there and slept. They must have thought I went crazy. Well, it’s a good thing to be able to laugh sometimes, even if it is in one’s sleep. I’ll sure be doing a lot of laughing when I am home in your arms again for we always have a lot of fun together. Gee, that’s all I live for now. You’re a perfect angel and I’m nuts about you. Squeeze Dossie for me. Love & Kisses Cherub ****************************************************************************** My Dearest Dottie (Note the Pfc – Oh boy!) Whoopee! I got a letter from you today dated Jan. 21. Was I ever tickled silly! So little Dossie helps you dress her now, eh? It won’t be very long before she starts trying by herself and she’ll come proudly out to you with a dress on upside down and backwards. I love you cookie, and now I can look forward to your letters. Love Georgie

112 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 24, 1945 My dear Dorothy I have just decided this morning that army life is much more bearable with a few goodies on hand once in a while. That Nestles chocolate mix is an ideal morale builder when the nights are cold and the spirits low. Packages from home are a godsend to the boys overseas since supplies are so limited and the French don’t even have enough to feed themselves. How are things at home, honey? I suppose little Dossie is still progressing rapidly so that I won’t even recognize her when I return. She’s going to be a real sweet little girl – just like her dear mama. I want so much to be there and watch her progress. I feel like I am missing some of the best times with her. I’ll bet she is talking quite a bit by now and raising plenty of hell around the house and tipping everything over that gets in her way. Ah me – I’ll be a happy fellow to see you both again. Gee, sweetie, I’m crazy about you and think of you all the time. It’s a consoling thought to know that you are back there waiting for me and praying for my early return. I’ll be seeing you soon, dear. Be good. Love, Georgie

****************************************************************************** Feb. 25, 1945 Dear Mom and Pop – There isn’t very much I can tell you about France and Alsace. The country is rather pretty but the towns and cities are pretty dirty. Naturally, everywhere I go is just filled to capacity with soldiers and army things, so I can hardly judge the country for its own true worth. To me, of course, there is only one place and that is the U.S.A. Perhaps I’m prejudiced but we do live a far cleaner and more comfortable life than most of these people. I hope you are both well and happy and enjoying the fullest in life - Lots of love, George

113 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 25, 1945 Dear Cutie Pie, Don’t mind my writing, sweetie. If you can’t understand it, just lay it to cold fingers. Well, dear, the war isn’t over yet, I see, but I’m waiting. Heinie must be getting in pretty bad shape from the papers descriptions and judging from the waves of bombers that so often pass over our heads on the way into the Vaterland to deliver some “Air Mail.” I have been using those nice mittens you bought for me for standing guard these cold nights and have done a little improving on them by sewing in a liner of wool blanket scraps that I salvaged. It really helps to keep my hands toast-warm. I showed your picture to a fellow yesterday and he says (mmmmm-mmm) you have it with a capital “I.” I’m inclined to agree. The deeper I get into the army the less I like it. Such an outfit – Oi! Now, if I could develop a complete lack of consideration for other people’s feelings, I’d probably make a good soldier but rather than change I’ll just sweat it out and look forward eagerly to liberty and you. All my love Georgie

114 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Feb. 27, 1945 Hello, Cookie How’s this crazy old world treating you and Dossie? Some of the fellows here got a few packages recently which they generously shared with me and I was so pleased to taste some salted peanuts and chocolate candies again. As I write this letter, I’m chomping on a pork chop bone from today’s lunch. It’s getting to look pretty white and clean by now but the memory lingers on – crunch – crunch. Gosh, honey, do I ever get some jerky ideas about our post-war home. You know how I like little tricky automatic gadgets – well, sometimes I lay awake for hours and think of all kinds of knick-knacks to make our little nest more convenient and interesting. It’ll really be fun when I have my shop all set up and I can spend some pleasant evenings puttering around while you sit there and mend or read a book and – from time to time – haul a few little snacks from the kitchen. I always was an incurable chow-hound. The fellows tease me because I’m forever talking about good food and desserts. Last night I made a complete review of our sweet love affair and courtship. Boy, it still sends me. I can still feel the warmth of your cheek and the soft fur on your coat collar when I – er – ahem – gulp – first kissed you and muzzled in your neck – Yeow! Oh honey, you still give me the whim-whams – pretty powerful love I call it when it stretches this far. Just like a pre-war girdle. Well, sweetie – enough for now. Just keep pulling for me and we can’t miss. Love, as always, Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** Mar. 1, 1945 My sweet l’il Dottie – Nothing new has come up that makes today any different than yesterday. I still love you, I’m still lonesome, and I still hope the war will be over soon. Spring comes early in Alsace and it is gratifying to get a fairly warm, sunny day once in a while. It seems strange, though, when I have just received a Jan. 23rd letter from you which says that it is snowing. I saw enough snow coming up from Marseilles. I’ll be looking for more mail, dear, and eventually, I hope, a package or two. I love you, sweet – Your Georgie

115 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Dearest Dottie, I guess little Dossie is still too small to miss her Dad – but I’m sure she looks for a dad, since all little girls seem to enjoy playing with their “Daddies.” I certainly do miss her too for all Daddies need their little girls to play with. Well honey, I still have lots of hope – and lots of love too – all for you. Georgie ****************************************************************************** Mar. 3, 1945 Hello sweetie I’ve had a sort of little vacation today – they sent me to town to a class connected with field artillery and while I got a little smarter, I enjoyed the change from the ordinary grind. I went on pass just yesterday and saw a movie with Abbot and Costello and got a good hot shower and clean clothes. You know the plumbing here is not very complicated, in fact, only the wealthy folks have a hand pump in the kitchen. Such a country! I swooped through an abandoned glass factory and found inside a very extensive supply of undamaged stock. Some of the crystal was beautiful and if I had had a way of sending it home, I could have picked out a set for you. Some of it was so absolutely beautiful that it affected even me. Remember how we searched in the States? I never saw a thing that really appealed to me. I did here – but perhaps I’m just comparing it for beauty with my canteen cup. Yours Alone, Georgie ****************************************************************************** March 4, 1945 Dearest Dottie Brr – It’s cold today! March is making a last stand against spring and we had some wet snow, which, though pretty in normal times, looks awfully gloomy to me. Boy, am I gonna tear out to L.A. when they turn me loose. That’s the climate for me – no foolin’. Each day I am so anxious to hear more good war news and am always afraid lest there be a new setback. I think pretty soon I’ll get your mail direct to this address. Your letters are so nice – they always make me feel better. Is it any wonder that I look for them so eagerly? Well, sweetie, be good – and pray like the dickens for I love you with – All my heart, Georgie

116 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** March 7, 1945 Dear Dot o’ my heart, Night falls again and by the flicker of candlelight I sit down to spend a little time with you. You know, Dottie, I enjoy these moments. Even though we are so far apart I can feel you close to me for when two hearts beat “each to each,” thousands of miles can’t keep us apart. My mind and thoughts are focused on you and our little baby. It’s wonderful how God binds true love by a little child which is derived by contribution from both of us so that we have a real tangible thing in common that cannot be divided but must be shared. I am so happy with what we have, dear. For now we can’t really enjoy these things, but soon we will again be able to. I look forward with so much hope and anxiety that sometimes I can hardly contain myself. Love, Your Georgie ****************************************************************************** My Darling, Gee, honey, you can’t imagine my pleasant surprise when I got a package from you yesterday at suppertime. It was the box of Whitman’s you sent to me on Jan 3rd and has just now caught up with me. I’m glad they just caught up because they are much more valuable now than they were before since candy is so scarce. I shared them with the squad, naturally, as they share their packages with me, but you know how I go for chocolate – so I managed to get my fill before they were all gone. What I would ever do without a wife like you is beyond me. Be good, sweet I’m all – Yours, Georgie ****************************************************************************** March 8 My Sweetie! Another evening and all is quiet. I was playing my harmonica and singing a little tonight. It’s funny how my thoughts all turn to you as soon as I sing. After the war we’re going to take some nice trips and visit the west. I have found it so inexpensive to travel the way we did on our trip east that money problems would hardly stop us, would they? Well, dear, I’m off to my dreams. I get to sleep the whole night through tonight so I’ll have a long time to dream of you. Sweet dreams dear – God bless you. Love, Georgie

117 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** March 10, 1945 My Darling – Sitting in the kitchen of a French house after just having eaten some army rations that I heated up. I look around at the stove, china closet and sink (filled with dirty dishes from waves and waves of GIs) I am reminded so much of home and you that I become very, very lonesome. I always did enjoy puttering around in a kitchen, only here it is all old fashioned and you, above all, are missing. The china closet is an affair like my mother’s kitchen closet but is painted a dark green with a red trim and the panels have been adorned with hand- painted flowers and grain stalks in gay red, blue, yellow, and pink. The painting is crude but the desired affect is there, for it all lends a huge amount of gaiety to the theme. It has been hard for the Alsatian farmer, I suppose, for he has been drifting around with the tide – never sure whether he would wake up the next a German or a Frenchman. It just amazes me the way war has toyed with lives of people. Those couples that were not too happy drift farther apart, while others, like ourselves, are drawn closer. I love you above all else, dear wife. I give you myself – for now it’s all I have. With all my heart, Your Georgie

118 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** March 11, 1945 My dear Freckle-Eyes I’m just passing your picture around again. I’m so proud when the boys tell me you are pretty. I wish they could see you in person – would I ever throw out my chest. I have been bunking with a little shrimp by the name of Fagan and he is such a funny little squirt. Some of these guys are really funny. Some are a pain in the neck but we don’t pay any attention to them. I like a fellow who just acts like himself and does not put on the dog as though he were a general or something. Ah, well – it’s nothing to me. The war will be over soon and they’ll have to come down a few notches – or else be darn good fighters. Today some damn fool started the rumor that the armistice had been signed last night and we were a little peeved over anyone starting such a rumor. Barma said that we’d know when the war was over for they’d issue us burlap sacks and sticks with a nail in the end and say “O.K., men, get going.” That struck me funny. I could just picture us walking all over France cleaning up rubbish – and believe me there’s plenty of it. Well, sweetie, I wonder how soon your reservations for L.A. will come through. Judging from your mother’s letter, she’ll certainly be glad to have you and the baby back home again. I’ll be glad to see you back there again too, for you will be home again. It has been an experience for you, though, to go east. I’m glad you met my family and they you, but after all, Cal. is where you belong – me to! I love you an awful lot and I am always – Your dear Hubby – Georgie

119 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** Mar. 12, 1945 Dear Mom & Dad I was awfully glad to receive your letter with your birthday wishes just one day before my birthday. It’s a strange way to spend a birthday but, God willing, the 25th one will be spent in a different and more pleasant manner. Right now I’m billeted in a little German- speaking town in Alsace and I have had the opportunity of chatting with our very pleasant host. Those old Bismarck-type moustaches are still very predominant in Europe. Only the other day I saw an old townsman and family returning from a funeral. He was bedecked in very good black overcoat (still with traces of mothballs and folding wrinkles), shinny black shoes and a very distinguished black silk top hat. He was quite a picture. I know that in about 15 minutes he would be in overalls shoveling cow manure. I don’t imagine life has changed a bit here in the past 20 years. It is so different from home. I hope you are both well and happy. Regards to all. Love, Georgie ****************************************************************************** March 12, 1945 Dearest Dottie Do you know what today is? I guess you do. Just imagine, I’m already 24 and it doesn’t seem very long ago that you made that nice meal for me in our furnished room for my 22nd birthday. Gee, honey, hasn’t the time flown since we were married? It is all as fresh in my mind how we decided to elope and not wait until June. Thank you, dear, the whole thing was so much fun – our room – our cottage and baby. We’ll get back to it again soon, I’m thinking. I hope I’m right. We are staying in a new town again and have pretty nice quarters. It’s amazing how well I can rest in any kind of horizontal position. Last night the hardwood floor felt as soft and comfortable, but maybe I was just extra tired after a 5 mile trek with about 60 lbs. of stuff. I’ll see you in my dreams, dear. Your loving Georgie

120 Letters from My Father WWII through the eyes of George W. Michel

****************************************************************************** My Darling, Every night about this time – oh how I miss you. Gee, that song has been going over & over in my head all day long – I don’t know why, but I guess it’s because I do miss you so much. Sometimes I get pretty sad when I start wondering when it will all end; however, a letter from you always makes me feel better because I know that even if it did take long, you will wait. In years to come we’ll look back at it as just another tough time and we’ll be happy because it’s over with. It seems as though everyone is in earnest about finishing it up now and the drives are progressing well. At least I still have my God with me and I “talk” to Him very often. He has been good to us so far and the thought gives me “new courage.” After all, I could have been drafted long ago and never had the chance to marry you. I love you, darling. Your Georgie

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HEADQUARTERS 222D INFANTRY REGIMENT Office of the Commanding Officer APO 411, c/o Postmaster New York, N. Y.

March 26, 1945

Mrs. Dorothy Michel 1345 Decatur Street Brooklyn, New York

Dear Mrs. Michel:

As commanding officer of the Regiment in which your husband served, please permit me to convey to you the mutual sorrow and sympathy which the officers and men of this regiment share with you in the loss of your husband, Private First Class George W. Michel, 33 857 964, who was killed in action in France on March 17, 1945, while fighting as a member of this organization in the campaign against Germany.

Perhaps it will give you some solace in your sorrow to know that your husband was properly and reverently buried in a military cemetery in France and that a Chaplain of the Roman Catholic faith officiated at the burial.

Although I realize mere words cannot decrease your sense of loss, I write this letter to assure you that your husband died bravely and that his regiment deeply mourns the loss of a soldier who so courageously gave his life for his country. Through your sorrow we hope you will understand our pride in his heroism and devotion to duty.

Sincerely,

Henry L. Luongo Colonel, Infantry Commanding