Telegram - Nov 24, 1945

WESTERN UNION
TELEGRAM
1945 NOV 24 PM 12 12

FROM: A.L Q 230 8 TOUR=CAMP MILES STANDISH MASS 24 1059A
TO: MRS E L REGISTER=


ARRIVED SAFELY BE HOME IN TEN DAYS LOVE=
KENNY.

I'm In France - Oct 26, 1945

France
Oct 26, 1945

Dear Mother,

I’m back in France once more. For a much shorter stay this time I hope.
I’m in the One Ninety Third field artillery battalion being processed at Camp Baltimore. The camp is about thirty miles from Reims.
We are living in tents and just about freezing every night. One thing we are thankful for is the fairly dry weather we have been having here. - So far -
We hope to move out of here next week for Marseilles. We will be there about two weeks and then a boat ride once more. From that port it takes a little longer crossing, so if nothing happens we should sight land about the first week in December.
I am having all mail sent home so it won’t do much good for anyone to write. All mail gets stopped at the A.P.O. and sent back.
You hold the home fort down and keep your fingers crossed - if nothing happens I’ll be home for Christmas.
Till then I’ll send my Love
Kenneth

Brrrr - Sept 30, 1945

Germany
Sept 30, 1945

Dear Mother,

Brrrr, I think it's going to snow. It's been raining now for over a week. This morning it stopped raining and turned cold, and we're just close enough to the Alps for it to start snowing about this time of year.
I received the pictures of your camping trip to the place. They are very good. Maybe I can help take the next ones - yes.

Oct 1945

That was very rude of them. Taking me away from my letter writing just to pull guard duty for a few hours.
Did I tell you about my present home? We are living in houses that were originally divided into four apartments. Each apartment having four rooms and a bath. Three of us live in this room where I sleep. We have some prisoners who clean up our room every morning, wash and iron our clothes, and if it's cold they build us a fire. If it wasn't for guard duty this would be pretty nice around here.
I'll have to say good-bye now and pleasant dreams to you. Here's an extra large bundle of Love for all of you
Kenneth

Guard Duty at Dachau - Sept 23, 1945

Germany
Sept. 23, 1945

Dear Mother & Dad,

It's been a few days sense my last letter, so now I'll tell you the whole sad story. Ten days ago I was transferred out of the Seventy-first Division. Supposedly to go home, but someone sent us to the wrong outfit. We got into an outfit peddling prison guards at the Dachau concentration camp. Instead of being on our way home we sit here and watch these SS troops. The officers claim we will be relieved just as soon as another outfit can be found to take our place. As yet none are available.
I expect to leave Dachau between the first and the fifteenth of next month. After that I'll be jumping around from place to place. So I'm going to ask you to stop writing until you hear from me again. Maybe by then I'll have some definite news.
I figure I've got good reason for being mad about this mix up on going home. Every day I talk to men going through here on their way home. They have sixty and seventy points. Here I sit pulling guard everyday. Of course I only have eighty-five points as of V-J days - so maybe I'm being unreasonable.
I guess that's enough crying for now -
Here's loads of Love
Kenneth

Went to a Show - Sept 11, 1945

Germany
Sept 11, 1945

Dear Mother,

Just a short note to assure you that I am still thinking of you and home.
By the by; how is everyone on this crisp September morn? I hope everyone feels as good as I do today.
How are Dad's salesmen progressing? Has he found a one for Peoria yet? Two more questions and you will think this is a quiz program.
I went to a show sponsored by the Red Cross the other night. It was put on by a group of DP's from the Baltic states. They sang some of their native songs also a few American songs they have learnt lately. They danced a couple of their dances. They were so much like our square dances that I had the urge to get out there with them. All together it made a nice little show, and was enjoyed by everyone.
Well you are probably busy today so send some more of this love I am saving up - and don't forget - if you can't be good be careful.
Kenneth

Hectic Week end - Sept 9, 1945

Germany
Sept. 9, 1945

Dear Mother,

This has been a hectic week end. I don't know if it's possible or not but I'll try to make my hand and eyes track together long enough to beat out this letter.
Friday night the company had a small party - with cognac, rum, wine, and beer. It shouldn't have been bad but they didn't have enough of any one to last out the night. So during the course of events a little of each was consumed. Boy oh boy! What that does to your head the next morning.
I received your letter of the third this morning. From the sounds of things the advertising business should be good for a while next year. It would be nice if Dad gets some good salesmen trained so he can help us get started producing again.
Things have been happening around Springfield, haven't they? It seems funny Junior with a baby. I wonder which one it will look like.
Too bad about Clifford, but maybe he will think twice before hoping trucks in the near future.
You know it's hard to think of Millie and Roy out of the restaurant business. I wonder will they stay out or is it just wishful thinking. I wish them a lot of luck and hope they can stay out longer than they did before.
Darn but time flies - sometimes. At any rate the rattle of mess kits says it's chow time. We have ice cream and cake today so I can't afford to be late.
So I'll say Good-bye with loads of Love.
Kenneth

Points, age and discharges - Sept 4, 1945

Germany
Sept 4, 1945

Dear Mother,

You should hear everyone talking about points, age and discharges in general. - Don't tell anyone but I think, now mind you just think and hope that I will be in the States by Christmas.
Don't go making any rash plans but it doesn't hurt to hope does it?
I thought I would have a nice quiet morning here to write this letter, but someone else thinks differently. They just brought in twenty pair of binoculars to be repaired. That's the way it goes - for a week we sit around and loaf and then bingo! they drop everything in our laps at once.
What is Dad doing - Taking charge of a group of men covering a large section? It sounds like they are pleased with his work in that case - Good for him and lots of luck.
Well I've got to dive into that work or I might lose my job (oh yeah)
So here is a river of Love flowing your way.
Kenneth

Here are some pictures we took in our walks by the river in Augsburg.