France

August 10, 1944

Dear Mom,

The unfortunate thing about getting letters from all of you is that mostly they come about the same time with some long gaps in between. I got yours and Gracie's and Pop's all about the same time. Thanks anyway.

Had a letter from Joe Jana the other day. He's a major now, down in Italy and likes it there very much. He's been there about five months. He's not married incidentally.

Joe wrote that he saw Al Willing. Al got shot down on his 49th mission. Took him several weeks to get back but he made it and got sent home anyway for a rest. Or perhaps he went to Miami. Anyway he got married on July 10 while he was in the States. I gather that he's back again flying.

The clippings about the battle were amusing but scarcely authentic. Its distortions made it sound as if I were the lone soldier who won the battle for the Division. Actually, I had little to do with it other than my own job as Operations Officer for the Battalion.

You'll probably see more and more stories about the Division for it has finally been released for press notices. We were 42 days in combat before announcement was made that we were here.

We came in on D+2, (Part of the Div came on D+1). We started fighting on the 10th of June and stayed at it ever since.

The Saturday Eve Post will have an article in it soon called "Diary for Dorothy" by a sergeant in one of the other regiments. It doesn't cover our own part but will probably give you a good idea of what went on. I haven't read it so I can't definitely say.

Had a letter from Joe Landers which I am enclosing.

Love,

Bob

Did I tell you that Lt. Josendale is now stationed in London?