PFC Earl R Ambler 36294573
Service Co. 15th Inf.
APO 3  c/o P.M.   N. Y. City
U. S. Army

Pfc. George C. Ferber - 36613567
Fairmount, Illinois
Sept. 2nd 1945
Zeqenhiem Germany

Hi George

Well kid what are you doing these days? I sure hope you made it home you'll at least be in the states even if you don't get out right away. Nearly all of us got transferred out of the 70th and spread all over the 3rd Line 15th Inf. Green, Grice, and I are in the service company on D.S. with the 2nd prov. Trk. co. I don't guess will be hear very long. I hear we are going back to the service co in a couple of days. I haven't done a dam thing since I have been hear but eat and sleep. They made a dispatcher out of Green and a guard in the motor pool out of Grice - Ha They told the first Sgt. they couldn't drive - Ha. I never went near him so I don't do anything but eat and sleep.

The last I saw of Hilda she was still morning for you. You no I   believe she really thought the world of you. But you know these German women she isn't morning alone - Ha. But all she talks of is you while she is with him- Ha. She is going with a mess Sqt. Up at the hospital. But until I left he never got any thing but rid of a lot of rations - Ha. They aren't fools. They just act like it. The hospital fed them and we got the gravy. Mitsie said if I would write and let her no where I was she would come and see me. But that's no go. As I have turned over a new leaf. As I may be coming back to the states in the near future. And I don't feel like taking any more chances. So far I have been lucky and I am going to let it go at that.

I am enclosing Hildas letter to you she gave it to me some time ago but I didn't want to write till I got my new address. But as soon as I got there they told us to take Blankets and leave our duffel bag there so we were going to Le Harve after new trucks but when we got this far they said they had enough drivers so they kept us hear. And our bags was nearly a hundred miles away. We just got them yesterday so that's why it took me so long to answer your letter. I don't see any reason why we cant get to gather some time after we both get out of the army some time as I go to Ill. Once in a while as that's where my wife's folks live. About 12 miles below Jacksonville is that any whears near you? But for Gods sake and mine to, mostly mine, don't ever mention about us over hear or my name will be mud. You no women aren't very broad minded about such things - Ha.

I never read what you wrote or what she wrote as I am no hand at reading other peoples mail although I no you wouldn't care. Well George I must close for this time write again and I'll give you all the news over hear if I'm still hear. My home address is Earl R. Ambler/Woodman/Wis. If you ever happen up that way. There is no reason why we should forget a good friendship just because we leave the army and we did have a lot of fun the short time we new one another.

As always

Your friend Earl

March 20,1945 Somewhere in France (First Day of Spring)

Hello mom, dad, and the whole family. How are you all? I've been wondering if you've been having as nice spring weather as we are here. The last couple of days have been swell, warm and sunshiny. The kind of days that make you feel lazy all over yet glad to be alive and I am certainly glad to be alive.

I am listening to a radio program now and some popular melodies that sort of kicks me in the middle of the stomach, reminding me of home and the good times I've had there. Most of the tunes are favorites of Julia and we and they make me do some reminiscing.

Recently I had a short rest near Forbach which has been recently taken as you already know. It was swell. The food was super and we were entertained by a good orchestra, saw movies, attended a dance, and saw a good performance during which Marlene Dietrich appeared. My stay there was most enjoyable, relaxing and entertaining. The best thing...

(2)

...about it all was getting away from that constant artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire. That stuff is hard on you.

Yes, the rest was a dream but to every dream world there seems to be a realistic world and the realisms of the latter are always the undesirable type. That's what I'm sweating out now. War is exciting when you dream it out, and an adventure when you read about it in books and newspapers but the story told on the front in actuality is neither exciting nor adventurous.

You can't see a man die and call it adventurous nor can you see a man crawl through a hail of murderous machine gun fire to destroy the gunner and call him a hero when only blind courage and guts stir him on. That's not fun. Yet every story book, newspaper, and magazine adds glamour to war.

My story is different. I've lived it, slept it, and endured it thru and through and I find that real world - those realisms are hard medicine to take.

So I hope and pray that God will see fit to end this hell on earth for men soon so we can work on some of our dreams. Well mother, I'll say goodbye for a while.

History || Honor Roll