Clifford to Folks

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last letter sent home by PFC Clifford S. Maxwell from his time in the service during World War II. January 3, 1946          3410          CF          Marseille, France Clifford writes the Folks but doesn’t feel like it – nothing is new – he is not on his way home yet and has heard nothing; still pulling guard duty – tiresome; has no regular schedule – gets up or goes to bed whenever; got their letter the day before Christmas; tells them not to believe the rumors; hopes to be back home in March; tells Winfred to go back to work before he is broke; he is pissed – would like to meet these brass hats after the war; tells all hello ; hopes dad didn’t work too hard over the holidays.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Clifford is still in the army waiting for his chance to come home. He is still stationed in Marseille, France but is now with the 614 Quartermaster Corp supervising a mess hall. Winfred, his brother, has been discharged and home for about 6 weeks. Winfred may still be looking for a job. He has also started seeing Patsy Merrill. November 27, 1945          3400          CF          Marseille, France Clifford tells the Folks he is still sweating it out in France; everything as usual; on duty tonight – has to make a midnight snack for GI’s; guesses Winfred is having the time of his life, or is he restless?; would like to get home before Winfred starts back to work; says he hasn’t worked in so long he is flabby; hopes they can get his new glasses okay – whatever the cost; doesn’t know what he will do when he gets discharged – has no experience in anything – wants to be his own boss – pretty tired of saying “yes sir”- may have been more successful if he had; carries a chip until he gets that paper he has been waiting for, for 3 years.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Clifford is still in the army waiting for his chance to come home. He is still stationed in Marseille, France but is now with the 614 Quartermaster Corp supervising a mess hall. Though his brother Winfred has been discharged and is home, there is no mention of him. But Clifford does ask about his old sweethearts at home. He wonders why the Folks never mention them. October 30, 1945          3390          CF          Marseille, France Clifford tells the Folks this is the second time he wrote them this week (don’t have the first letter); is fine; still supervising the mess hall – gets all he wants to eat; sees in the paper the point system may lower to 50 which he may have but many higher pointers get to go home first – starting 70 pointers there now; should get home by early spring; keep writing and will be okay; Patsy is in junior high – growing up – tell her hello – will remember her for Christmas; asks if mom and sis got the perfume he sent; asks if they got the last money order he sent; has a few women on the string over there; asks why they never mention his old sweethearts at home – did they marry? – Gladys is the only one who writes – what happened to Pat & Lou & the others? – hear any more about Rolla? – he may turn up; Bob Merril in the 4th Marines should be home now; does Margaret come home often; tomorrow is Halloween – should get this before Thanksgiving; write often.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Clifford’s first letter home since being reassigned to the 3169 Quartermaster Unit, which appears to be a Laundry Detachment. He has been with them now for the past two weeks in Marseille, France on the Mediterranean Coast. September 2, 1945          3370          CF          Marseille, France Clifford writes the Folks – it has been a month – kept thinking he would be on a boat; is Category 2 – will go to the Pacific through the States – but maybe not; the point system is being lowered fast – supposes Winfred will be out soon with a couple thousand dollars stashed away; doesn’t intend to draw on the money he has saved; got a letter from dad and thinks it would be nice to go to school and take a course in business or administration; has nothing to do except eat and sleep; swims daily; has a peeling tan; can pay for his schooling; has more than he deserves; hopes to follow this letter home. EDITOR’S NOTE: Today, September 2, 1945, is the day the official Japanese surrender was signed aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. WORLD WAR II is officially OVER!!!

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last letter home from Clifford while he was still with the 768th F.A. Battalion. It was written on August 2nd but not postmarked until August 8th, six days later. This is the only letter sent home from either of the boys during the month of August. August 2, 1945 (as the 768th F.A. Battalion is being broken up)          3360          CF          Rheims, France Clifford writes the Folks this will be the last time they hear from him in the 768th F.A. – it’s being broken up; is going to a quartermaster outfit – frontline combat is over – funny, as he’s always been in artillery; will know soon if coming home or not – hope so; feels fair but hates to see the outfit broken up – been with them for over 2 years; has 10 bonds but have 12 due – if hadn’t cashed 2 would have 14 – not bad for a P.F.C.; hasn’t heard from Winfred – must be on another trip; will send new address when he can; tell Winfred to lay off the furlough for a few more days – just in case; answer soon.

July 29, 1945          3350          CF          Rheims, France Clifford writes the Folks; received two letters from them today so morale is high; is feeling okay but wonders what he will do next; is positive his outfit will be completely broken up – whatever, he will still be in the Army; enjoys the county papers they send; news doesn’t look good about going to the Pacific; talks about a bomber that hit the Empire State Building; has no chance of getting home soon; is off guard duty tonight so signs off to go into Rheims and see a movie; wants them to send him a picture from when he was in New York; APO is 513.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Clifford’s first letter home since being released from hospital care in Nancy, France on July 14th and returning to what is now left of the 468th FA Battalion which had moved from Bad Sodden, Germany to Rheims, France. July 20, 1945          3340          CF          Rheims, France Clifford apologizes to the Folks for not writing sooner; is disgusted with the current situation; got out of the hospital six days ago; is with what is left of his outfit again in Rheims – about 100 of the men were transferred to the armored division – doesn’t seem like the same outfit; now pulling guard at different warehouses – French & Polish soldiers were doing that but too much stuff was being stolen so now we have to watch the guards; is on duty 4 hours then off 8; PWs (Prisoners of War) cook our meals, clean our rooms, make our beds; sometimes wanders off when he guards them so one will try to get away – they won’t though – I would sure like an excuse to shoot one – it’s an awful way to feel; tells Winfred not to wait for him to get a furlough – won’t be home this year; has gained some weight; feels swell physically; there are beautiful girls in France but hard to date one after seeing them with a negro – has caused some brawls over here – most guys says it’s okay over here but not back home; news is scarce so signs off; his APO is now 513.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Though Clifford mentions being busy training and patrolling, he is either still in the hospital, or convalescing in Nancy, France. His battalion is still located in Bad Sodden, Germany. It is also possible Clifford wrote the wrong date on the letter dated June 6, 1945 in which he informs the Folks he is in the hospital. June 10, 1945          3300          CF          Nancy, France Clifford writes the Folks he has been getting behind in writing again; been busy training & patroling + not feeling too well; would like to know what he’s going to do from here – could be anything; would like to see home before going any place; is using the fountain pen they sent & received the box of candy; hopes they don’t feel too bad if he doesn’t come home soon (been about a year – for others about three); doesn’t want out of the army until it is all over; hopes Japan is all we’ll have to fight – hopes Russia tries to get along with us – has argued about this before.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Today is the first anniversary of D-Day. Clifford was moved to a hospital in France; why is unknown. He will remain there for a few weeks. June 6, 1945          3280          CF          Nancy, France Clifford writes the Folks he is still okay – is in a hospital in Nancy, France; will start convalescing exercises soon; tells them not to worry – getting along fine + lots of pretty nurses; hasn’t received any mail so expects a lot when he gets back to his outfit; would like to get home but only has a few points; tells mom news is scarce; flew there from Frankfurt in a C-47 – only took 55 minutes.

June 4, 1945          3270          CF          Bad Soden, Germany (near Frankfurt) Clifford hasn’t written the Folks because he has been sick for the past ten days, 3 days in bed and a 2 day trip south to a little town 20 miles from Frankfurt; was changed from the First Army to the Ninth a week before the war ended (saw combat); won’t get a furlough soon; will either stay here – occupy & patrol or go to the South Pacific – only been over for six months; tells them to write often and wishes dad a happy birthday.