In the Trenches

April 2, 1945

My Dearest Emily,

I woke up this morning on a cold cot in a drafty tent in a foreign country where people want to kill me. I pulled out your picture and kissed it like I do every morning. I need you to know that I keep your photo in my left shirt pocket closest to my heart. You keep me going in the hardest times and I swear I’ll come home to you.

As this letter is being written I’m sitting here in a mud filled trench, my rifle by my side. My socks are soaked through and my belly is rumbling. The lieutenant says we’ll have to take the next hill this morning and we can expect heavy resistance. But I know that my love for you will carry me through. The thought of you keeps me sharp. You are my shield and my safety net.

It’s weird though: Germany, despite the nazis, is a beautiful place. There are castles and rivers and beautiful churches and villages. It feels strange to think that we are facing the ugliest war in history in such a lovely place. Yet, despite Hitler’s pogroms and the sheer horror of the Nazi party and its wish to destroy diversity and culture… I’d like to come back here some day after we win this war. There are so many things here I’d love to share with you.

My buddy Jim that I told you about got shot in the leg yesterday. It was horrible to hear him scream until the medic gave him morphine. Sarge says he might lose the leg but he was medevaced to the rear and will most likely be sent home. I don’t know whether to be sorry for him or jealous. I vacillate between wanting to be with you (MORE THAN ANYTHING) and the need to stay here to ensure you and ours are safe. I’d go through hell … well, I guess I am already :-) … to make sure you are not in danger. I dream of home and you. I want to picnic in the park and hold your hand again.

Hey, would you believe I met Jimmy Stewart last week? He actually enlisted and is fighting for his country instead of sitting in some glitzy Hollywood mansion. He’s a really cool guy and that drawl is real. It was cool. I told him how much my girl loved Mr Smith Goes to Washington. He said to tell you thank you and he signed your picture for me. I’ll give it to you when I get home.

How’s your Mom and your brother Tim? Didn’t he graduate this month? I hope he gets into college instead of a tank. Tell them I said hi and that I’m okay. Hey, Sarge is yelling for us to grab our packs and move… I’ll finish this after we kick some Nazi butt.

… …

We did it. One more hill taken for freedom. Our company lost ten guys. That sucks, but we kicked some butt. Don’t worry, I’m okay. I’m hunkered in another trench heating coffee in my helmet. I gotta get me some of this sterno stuff. It’s a gel type stuff in a small can that makes a really hot little fire. It’d be great for hunting trips with my old man.

You should have seen Bill… he charged a Nazi machine gun emplacement through a hail of bullets like he was made of steel. It was awesome. Somehow he got there and managed to throw in a grenade without even getting wounded. The LT says he’s a hero and will get a medal. Good for him. We’ll be moving back in the morning so shouldn’t have to be in the front lines for a while… Thank God for that.

So how are things at home? Did they finish that new Dairy Queen by the bowling alley? I hope so. I want to buy you an ice cream and knock down some pins. Maybe I can finally teach you how to keep score … Ha Ha. All kidding aside, I want you to know that you saying yes to my proposal before I got on that bus was the happiest day of my life. The only thing that could possibly be better is actually marrying you. I want to share my life with you. We’ll have three kids … two boys and a girl. Andrew Jr, Matthew, and Jasmine. … Don’t worry, that’s open for debate. :-) We’ll get a small house with a picket fence and a flower garden. I can work at your uncle’s garage. You know I’m a good mechanic. I fixed the sergeant’s jeep last week when he had a radiator leak. He let me off KP for a week. By the way, do you want a Chevrolet or a Ford? I lean toward Chevy you know, but I’ll get whatever you want so long as you’re in it with me. I can see us riding down the road with the top down and the wind in your hair. God I love you.

The Captain says this war is almost over and we’ll be taking Berlin soon. I hope he’s right. I can’t wait to walk down the streets of Berlin and see the allies plant the flag of freedom. Meanwhile, I’ll keep up my weapons, my equipment, and my spirits. My spirits are okay since I have your picture and thoughts of you to lean on.

I’m pretty beat right now. We fought hard to take this hill and then had to dig trenches and put up fortifications. I’ll have to pull guard duty later but I don’t think many of us will be getting much sleep tonight anyway.

Henry and Jeff say hi. I showed them your picture and their jaws almost dropped. Of course, I’m engaged to the most beautiful girl in Mississippi so that’s no big shock. I told them they were invited to the wedding. I hope that’s okay. They’re both really good guys despite being from Ohio. Ha ha. I think you’d really like them. Henry dropped out of college to enlist. He was majoring in engineering and is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. He’ll probably go to officer school after we win this war. I think he’d make a good one. Jeff swears his girl is just as pretty as you but he won’t show us a picture. Still, he always seems to have chocolate stashed away and he shares… so that’s okay.

Well, I’ve gotta wipe out my helmet and pack up this letter since it’s time for my guard shift. Just remember how much I love you. I’ll be counting every second until I can hold you in my arms and kiss you again. By the way.. stay away from Ted. You know he’s sweet on you. I’ll win this war for you and bring you back some German chocolate.

All my love now and forever,

Your fiancé,

Andy

P.S. Write me back. The letters eventually find us and reading them keeps me sane. I love you. :-)

————————————-

May 4, 1945

Dear Andy,

I got your letter today. My heart almost stopped when I read about you being in the front lines getting shot at. It’s so scary. I pray every night that you’ll come home safe. I love you with all my heart and can’t wait for you to come home and make me Mrs. Andrew McDonald. Please keep your head down and come home to me in one piece. Mom says she’s going to cook you a turkey dinner and apple pie. I know you’d kill for Mom’s apple pie… So, how about you live for it?

The Dairy Queen will be opening next week but I won’t go until we can go together. You owe me a Dilly Bar. Bowling will be fun too. By the way.. Ted offered to teach me how to keep score. Maybe I should take him up on that… Ha Ha. Just kidding. Actually, he moved to California last month. So, you don’t have to worry about him. Not that you have to worry anyway. You know I’m all yours.

I look at this ring on my finger and know that the promise it stands for will be fulfilled. We’ll have that picnic by the river and walk in the moonlight.. right after you kick Hitler’s Nazi butt. :-)

As for the kids… Andrew Jr is okay but I plan on one boy and two girls. Veronica and Michelle. So… deal with it. Oh, and a dog. I want a husky. Ha ha. Seriously, I just want you home in one piece so I can hold you and kiss you.

Please be careful and come home to me. The day I become Mrs. Andrew McDonald will be the happiest day of my life. I dream every night of you, and pray for you every day. Tell your friends they are welcome at the wedding… even if they are from Ohio. At least then we’ll have one smart guy there. *wink, wink*

That reminds me, is Tim going to be your best man? He was asking.

Mom’s calling. I gotta go help with dinner. I love you and I’m counting the minutes until you come home to me. Stay safe.

All my love,

Your fiancé

Emily. XOXOXOXOXO

P.S. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. I LOVE YOU.

P.P.S. If you charge any machine gun nests I’ll shoot you myself. :-)