On 27 Sept, we reached our destination of Cothom near Hasselt, Belgium.  On Sept 28th, the battalion received orders to move north to a Division Assembly Area in the vicinity of Deurne, Holland.  

There sure is a lot of air activity today.  Someone is sure catching hell and I’m glad it is not me.

Betty you don’t know how lucky you are to be an American girl.  Women over here have no morals, and they work like dogs.

I sure could go for a good meal and believe it or not a bath and a good sleepover with you.

On the 16th of Sept, the battalion moved out towards the river at 0715.  The Moselle was crossed without incident in a heavy smoke screen.

I sure don’t know what I’ll sleep in tonight because everything is wet.  Reminds me of Tennessee.

A little French girl has been over a dozen times yesterday.  I gave her everything I got I didn’t want.  This morning they brought over a pie.  I gave her four packages of cigarettes for it for her papa.  She left all smiles.

The night was exceptionally misty and the roads greasy with mud from a downpour in the late afternoon

Honey I’ve been so darned busy all the time getting stuff or taking care of myself.

I’m okay, and still doing fine.  Maybe losing a little weight, but that is all.

Mr. Atkin sent me a form to fill out for a Chicago ballot.  I thru that in the basket.  I don’t want that much to do with Chicago.

The battalion fires called for forced the enemy to keep under cover and resulted in the withdrawal to safety of the crew of nearly all the knocked-out tanks.  

Yesterday some Germans got behind me and I took one tank and 30 men and started after them

Betty if you remember how to play hide & seek well that is war without shooting.

Everyone in the unit is ok.  It rains every day and we do get wet.  And the last five nights it has really been cold.  A little frost this morning on the ground.

September 3 to 5th were spent in the open fields about Bras in much needed maintenance work on all equipment.  

Well the tent and me were both picked up and dumped into the slit trench.

The other day I got a German supply train.  I brought home 252 quarts of Cognac.  I also got a rabbit lined jacket, which is surely warm.

In the early morning hours of the 27th, a German PX supply train of 23 vehicles blundered into our assembly area and was completely annihilated.  

I’m lucky if I get two to three hours sleep per day.

What I want you to do is keep a bank balance of at least $500.00.  Maybe a little more.  That is for use in case you get sick, etc.

Borcherding just said we are moving again.  So I better close for now.

My grandfather engages the Germans south of Paris.  

An unusual incident was the capturing of 12 snipers, a platoon of anti-tank guns, many bicycles, weapons and documents in a cache located in the battalion area.  

Well to end it up, my tent lays in the ground and the bed-roll is completely soaked this morning.

One day is just like any other day.  Last Sunday went by and I did not realize it was Sunday even though the Chaplin did his services.

On August 9th the 489th Battalion arrived at Omaha Beach.  

After a short stiff fight the town was cleared of all but rear-guard sniper action.

I bet you have been worrying about me, especially as we were not allowed to write any letter for a period of a couple weeks.

Betty the French people are a thousand times nicer to you then the English people.  Each and every town we go there we collect flowers, cider, wine and even bread.

Nally got a hold of some liquor last night and per usual was no good to anyone again today.

Received your pictures honey.  Here is my impression.  I hope they don’t shock you.

You will have to excuse the pencil again.  My pen is still dry.  I’m going to have to find some ink someplace tomorrow for sure.

... where we boarded LST's for the journey across the English Channel...

"It has been cold here the last couple days.  If this keeps up I’m going to need a fire twenty four hours a day."

You claim you never dream of me.  I’m usually so tired I never dream of anything"

"There has been two little English children here in my office this afternoon.  They are such beggars."