Luxembourg

March 3, 1945

Dearest Helen,

Your V-mail of Feb 14th tells me that you found 9 letters waiting for you when you returned from New York – all of which made for a nice welcome back to the grind – though I assure you that if I’d been there to welcome you in person, the windows for blocks around would have been broken – and the week-end vacation would have been extended.

A letter from home tells of the receipt of still more cigarettes from you – so besides lifting their spiritual morale you are gratifying material desires. Come to think of it you’ve always been adept at both of these pleasant virtues – this, I’ve known for a long time. However, the difference is, that when I get back, you won’t be doing it with cigarettes.

I have an interruption. Ed Phillips just strolled by to shoot the breeze for a few moments. Noticing to whom I am writing by a casual glance – he immediately wanted to know where his million dollars is. In case you’ve forgotten, back at Ft. Meade, on a Sunday afternoon in the Service Club, you told him his fortune, which involved making a large sum of money in a short time. So, he asked that I inquire as to the whereabouts of the lucre. So think fast – your soothsaying reputation is at stake. Incidentally, Ed is our PX man and supplies us with our weekly ration of cigarettes, chocolate, etc. – Last night, for the first time since I’ve been overseas – I had a Coca-Cola! – Rationed to one bottle per man, mine disappeared in almost one gulp – hardly enough to even tell whether I’d forgotten the taste or not – what little touched my palate tasted odd – but pleasant in an atavistic sort of way.

Our Spring weather seems to be disappearing – getting a little colder and some snow flurries – but I doubt whether it’ll last long. Perhaps it’s just Winter’s last gasp – may it also be the Germans’.

I’m going to try to read “Crazy like a Fox” tonight – not all of course. Even if I had time I wouldn’t, because it’s too rich to digest all at once. Wish we could both be laughing over it together – for in that way I would be gaining the fullest benefits.

Regards to the girls and the folks.

All my love,
Ted