I continue with the transcriptions of the letters my dad, Herbert Miller, wrote home while serving his country during WWII. The war was over by the time he wrote these letters and he was serving in the Occupation Force in Germany until he had enough time and points to be honorably discharged. [1]
Herbert Miller, Europe, WWII
During this time he worked at an Army post office in Weinhiem, Germany, a job he seemed to like. I remember that he mentioned quite a few times that he worked in the post office there.
The war was over and he seemed ready to get back home, back home to his family and the family farm in Mercer County. He enjoyed farming and always asked about the crops in his letters. I know he also liked to roller skate and square dance, two things he mentioned in one of these letters. Sounds like he may have even been a little homesick.
These letters were written to his sister Em ad her husband Norval “Jack.”
21 Sep 1945
Weinheim, Germany
Dear Em & Jack,
It is pretty late in the evening & since I’m C.G. it don’t make much difference. I ‘m here watching the post office tonight. I’m sort of worried about in the morning. I’m hard to awaken & the doors are locked. I guess they will have to pound pretty hard. I broke my habit of snoring or rather Trefran [?] did.
I’m here at the post office, I guess I’m going to be transferred into the outfit. It is a nice job, just like a civilian office job.
I received your package today. Thanks a million. How is everything coming along? O.K. I hope.
It is raining out tonight and really a miserable night, cold & everything else. I imagine it is getting fall around home, too.
We’re supposed to move to Bremen October 15 but it will be cold there. Tomorrow I’m going to Frankfurt with the truck to pick up mail. The Capt. is going to get me bonded so that I can carry or haul mail, order a money order or stamps.
Yesterday morning two guys picked up mail here for the play “It’s All Yours.”They were getting the mail for the rest of the guys and they had a wreck and both were killed. The M.P. picked up the mail and refused to turn it over because neither of the men were licensed to carry it. But it’s all straightened out, except two less GIs.
Must close for now.
Love,
Herbie
My dad’s siblings talked numerous times about my dad’s sleepwalking when he was younger, before he went off to to the. Evidently he snored, too. The Army broke him of his sleepwalking and apparently my dad thought he had also stopped snoring while in the Army. But he was wrong.
Herbert Miller, France, WWII
21 October 1945
Weinhiem, Germany
Dear Em & Jack,
It’s Sunday evening and I guess I’d better write a couple of lines to let you know that I’m OK and feeling fine.
I received two packages from youins this last week. Thanks a lot. Everything came in good shape.
The work down at the post office is really nice. I started out with casing mail and now I’m a clerk up at the stamp window. I work every other week selling stamps and the rest of the time I work in the back. I still drive the truck quite a bit.
How is farming coming along? I imagine it is harvest time, isn’t it? How did the baler come out? Did it pay off?
It’s chow time and I’m pretty hungry, so will close and try to write tomorrow night again.
Love,
Herbie
2 November 1945
Weinheim, Germany
Dear Em & Jack,
I guess it’s time I wrote to you. I received two packages (Christmas) yesterday and everything was in good shape. Things are coming along pretty good. Work isn’t so hard and a lot of guys signed up for another year. It might be OK for awhile. You get 60 days at home. If I’d sign up when I’d have over 12 months overseas I’d get 90 days at home. The one more year in the Army. Is it worth it? I don’t think so. If I knew I’d be in for 6 more months for sure I’d do it.
How is the farming coming along? Is the corn and all the crops harvested?
It’s about 10:15 and the National Barn Dance is on the air. They are singing a song about Ohio.
Do they still have those Square Dances at the Parish Hall? I sure would like to go to one now. Or to go roller skating.
Must close for now.
Love,
Herbie
Herbert Miller, WWII, probably in Paris.
5 November 1945
Weinheim, Germany
Dear Em, Jack & all,
Enclosed you will find a money order for $90 [?]. Use it to buy Christmas presents for the folks and the kids. Take $7 or $8 and use it to buy presents for you, Norval, Norval’s dad and mother. If you’re not able you can have Norval’s folks get the presents, if it isn’t too much bother.
I’ll be in the Army occupation for a while. I imagine it will be quite a while until I leave E & O. Maybe I’ll get out when I have 2 years in the Army.
Guess I’d better close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.
Love,
Herbie
To be continued…
[1] My dad, Herbert Miller, trained as a replacement troop during the fall of 1944, arrived in Europe in December of that same year, and was assigned to Company L, 333rd Regiment, 84th Infantry Division. The 84th was known as the Railsplitters. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and later in parts of Luxembourg, Germany, and France.
