MilColl_WWII_33_Morrison_Robert_R_Jr_Papers_B2F11_Corr_1946_003

7 January 1945
Hamberg, Germany

Dearest Mother,

Well, I guess you have read the news about the redeployment sit-
uation. Sure doesn't look too good does it? But most of the fellows
here seem to think It won't have much effect on my case. I have 54
points and was scheduled to move out either sometime the last of Jan-
uary or the first of February. I certainly hope they are right and
that I'll be on my way soon. Anyway, I'll be among the next to leave
from my outfit for I have one of the highest point scores and more
service than most of the boys. I might have known they would pull
a trick like that just when everything was looking so bright.

You'll never guess who I heard from day before yesterday. Ernie!
It was about time. But guess he had been pretty busy moving around
up til now. Sure was good to hear from him.

Me and one of my buddies spent the week end with that German
family I was telling you about. They sure do treat us like kings.
Especially the mother, she can't seem to do enough for us. When
I arrived Saturday afternoon a big hot tub of water was waiting for
me. After my bath we had supper. They have relatives in the country
so do pretty well, on the food situation. Then we passed the night
joking, playing and drinking egg-nog. Anna, the younger sister
speakes fair English and with the German I've picked up here and there
we get along fine. At 10:30 we had hot tea and cookies and by eleven
we had our beds turned down for us with bed warmers beneath the covers.
Didn't get up until 10 o'clock the next morning. All the family
sleeps upstairs and leaves the whole down stairs to me and my buddie.
Sunday afternoon we went for a walk along the river that passed through
the middle of town and took pictures. When we got back the mother
had a fire in the living room and we had strawberry short cake waiting
for us. (She ahd some strawberries canned) About eight oclock we
had supper. Potatoe balls, sour kraut, liver fried with eggs and
onions and coffee and bread. Sure was good. We left for home about
10:30. See what I mean when I say they "treat us like kings"?

Don't however, think I have for one minute converted and have
gone all out for the "good" Germans. They're not good, I know that.
I'll never forgive or forget all the suffering they have caused so
many people. But a very few are better than the average and this
family is the first I've really been able to feel "at ease" with.
But even then I always let them know how wrong they were and how silly
to think they were any better than anyone else! And if no other
Germans believes he or she made a big mistake, I'm sure this one family
does.