World War 2 letters from U.S. Army Captain in Belgium to his wife in Michigan.

1157 rounds were fired and with this expenditure, the 489th moved past the 75,000 mark, total ammunition expenditure since debarkation on the continent.  

I’m going to tell you about my jeep.  It got hit the other day by artillery and did I ever lose a lot of stuff.

The whole place is in ruins.  So with the 12” of snow and cold weather it sure makes it miserable for everyone to sleep.

The enclosed material covers an important part of my life & a very important battle in WWII.  Some day you may view this as I do my grandfather's part in the Civil War.

Letters from U.S. Army Captain in Europe to his wife in Michigan.

The trip was anything but an easy one -- the roads were in great part narrow one-way trails through thick fir woods and across swamps the shoulders were in deplorable condition, the snow concealing a multitude of pitfalls for the unwary, snow packed into ice-coated hills.

This is going to be a short letter as I’m very tired.  I haven’t got much sleep in the last few nights.

Today we heard the write up that the division got for Saint Vith.  At the end they said after five days the Division withdrew to a rest area.  Well honey the rest area was about ten miles back and we were in action just six hours after we left there.  Do you call that a rest area?

Letters from U.S. Army Captain in Europe to his wife in Michigan.

On January 7th, an unusual incident took place when a buzz-bomb fell in the Service Battery area.  

This has been a terrible day.  A typical Michigan snow storm.  There is about six inches of snow on the ground and the road is a sheet of ice.

P.S.

This time I’m requesting

Letters from a World War 2 U.S. Army captain in Europe to his wife in Michigan.  

The 4th dawned cold and gray and before the battalion had time to pull out the heavy snow started to blanket the ground.  The next few days were spent in very necessary programs of personal and vehicular maintenance.  

Personally honey , the last four days I been as jumpy as one could be.  Everything seems to get on my nerves.  Even the slamming of doors gets on my nerves.  I’ll be okay as soon as I get some sleep.

Received another box of candy from mom, she sent it 21 Sept. and it sure was in good shape and sure could stand for some more.  Schwartz says to mention sending some Boston Baked Beans.

Letters from U.S. Captain in Belgium to his wife in Michigan.

On the last day of the old year, the sector was very quiet.  Exactly at midnight, as the old passed into the new, a special TOT was fire, the artiller's own way of sending New Year's Greeting to Jerry.  

I’ll also be glad to tell you about many things.  You have got some wonderful stories but if you only knew the truth.  Your husband feels different.  We haven’t said because of censorship.  Things have been different.

By 0600 of the 25th, the bn closed in at La Fourche, but circumstances made this Christmas a dismal one.  

Xmas, what a day.  I had K-rations this time.  The only thing that turned out nice was I received five packages.  I made up a Xmas supper from these packages so at least I had a little Christmas with you.

Details from the Battle of the Bulge from a battle journal of the 489th Armored Field Artillery Division, 7th Armored Division, U.S. Army.  

The 20th saw continued heavy German attacks.  The battalion was extensively reorganized for defense.  There wer reoccurring rumors of help coming from both north and south.  

They were surprised and scattered by an enemy column led by an American Sherman Tank.  

The 489th Armored Field Artillery Division, 7th Armored Division, leaves Germany and enters Belgium to engage in the battle.  

It was rumored -- more vaguely -- that there was some sort of trouble.

Overhead there was a recurrent spluttering roar every fifteen minutes and through the clouds, the evil-looking plane-like buzz-bomb darted on its way west.  

Our immediate situation did not look too promising.  

Letters from U.S. Army Captain in Germany to his wife in Michigan just as the Battle of the Bulge begins.  

Well honey it finally happened.  Yes from now on you can address my letters Captain.

Yesterday was my birthday and we had a little party in my tent.  I had a bottle of Vat 69 Scotch that I got in Holland.  And we drank all that.  Also played a little cards.  Really had fun and won about $17.00.  I’m sure to be a drinking rounder when I get home.

World War 2 Letters from U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant in Germany to his wife in Michigan.

There was a heavy round haze on the ninth, and intermittent rain and snow turned the roads into rutted, muddy traps.

Sometimes this damn war gets so much on your nerves that you are willing to volunteer for any kind of a job.  Well all I have got to do is stop and think about home with you and that gets rid of all my crazy ideas.

This new guy, Hayes, sits in the corner, with his wool net cap, which he never removes, he even sleeps in it.