Encoded for the Veterans History Project, September 23, 2021.
All letters in the Henry Walker McIver collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by Veterans History Project staff. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
114
[[At the top of this page is a pencil illustration of three soldiers in a jeep who appear to be flummoxed by the large number of signs, mostly in French, they are stopped in front of. Two of the soldiers appear to be looking at the signs while a third has his head buried in a map.]]
March 8th 1945
Dear Folks -
Months roll by and I still can't parley française very well! Better than I could, true - and I think I could pass some of those old regents very easily now - but the improvement has been very slight as compared with the opportunity. Upon first arriveing [sic.] I had the jump on several fellows, knowing the basic expressions - but a good many, to whom languages seem almost natural
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pick it up fast. It just isn't one of my features however - for ten months in Italy didn't teach me much more than "arrive dieci." Oh well, once this is over with I'll be perfectly willing to remain among English speaking people!
Speaking of linguists - your letters have arrived speaking of Len Morey being assigned to Cherbourg. That should give him some very different experiences from what he's had in South America. Just what were the circumstances of his studying in France before - was he an exchange student? Diplomatic services seems to be right up his line - but for my tastes - anyone is welcome to it! Any job which entails living in a foreign land for any great length of time seems like a screwy way to plan your life.
March 9th
A couple more letters have drifted in from 202 - and it sounds like the winter, THE winter - is beginning to relent.
It has turned noticeably milder around here - and the sun is picking up a little
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more bite.
To shake out some of the lethargy from recent months - for although riding about, walking - and the various work we have to do can be tiring at times - it lacks any fast action - we've been hitting the baseball around some. The first turn out the coordination and alertness that have long been dormant were visibly lacking. Betting enough fellows free at one time for any sort of games has been unsuccessful - but just fooling around feels good. The civilians that are about watch with a certain amount of interest - but no great enthusiasm is shown for our national sport. The kids around are often playing soccer, and if a baseball ever comes in the direction of a Frenchman, he will stop it no matter what the height - with a foot rather than use his hands!
Another sport the Frenchman seem to like is wheeling the cars they still have at breakneck speed with the
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horn playing an insistent blare. And an amazing fact is that the same country produces such nonchalant, indignant pedestrians. When we first landed in France I thought "just wait till these streets have been full of jeeps and trucks darting about - and convoy moving through - just wait a few weeks and they'll either learn to stay on the sidewalks or they'll all be dead!" But months have gone by - and they've survived miraculously - yet persist in tormenting all drivers! On side streets in particular they seem to have an adversion [sic.] to the sidewalks - and steer a straight course down the center. What's more the approach of the obviously noisy GI trucks doesn't move them to any evasive action, but they wait for a personal message by hour. Bicyclists are also center-of-the-road addicts. A horn warning for one won't take care of a couple more half-a block along - thus driving through a crowded town or city takes a patient man.
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The news from the northern end of the line hit a high note today as reports of the initial Rhine crossing fill the air. Hope it can all follow in a [like tour?]! We're enjoying our same quiet routin [sic.] - and I guess I've covered it all for the time being so -
So long for now - à bientôt
Love,
Hank
I'll hold you to that meat-pie deal or two of them, Mother!!
Cpl H W McIver 12130759
6828 Signal Detachment
APO 758 c/o Pm NEW YORK
Mrs Henry W McIver
202 MILBURN STREET
ROCHESTER 7, NEW YORK