DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | Helen Fox Angell letters to Bess Peebles Fox, April-September 1945 | 1945-05-24 Helen Angell to Bess Peebles Fox Page 1

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Helen Fox Angell letters to Bess Peebles Fox, April-September 1945

1945-05-24 Helen Angell to Bess Peebles Fox Page 1

Ciney, Belgium
May 24, 1945
Dear Mother,
If my letter seems a bit peculiar it is because I am writing it on the big table in the craft shop at the chateau and there are about a dozen helmeted guys roaming around painting wooden shoes, making bill folds, singing off key and smoking smelly cigars. Besides, I have to comment favorably on each step of each project and estimate how long it takes to do everything. Although they may have days and days to spend here yet, they work like mad to get things finished in an hour or so. Mixed in with every few sentences I have to do some coaching in French, such as how to say "Will you come to the dance with me Sunday night?"
Now to get to answering some letters and relaying some news. I've received letters forty (two of them) to fifty four, and two packages, I think thirty eight and forty. Anyway, the ones with Betty's present in and the ripe olives and cheese, crackers, muffin mix, Baby Ruth bar, book (very good).
I sent Mme. [Houis?] a box at once with the Kraft cheese, about five candy bars from my ration, gum and Life Savers. They needed food so much that I could

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Ciney, Belgium May 24, 1945 Dear Mother, If my letter seems a bit peculiar it is because I am writing it on the big table in the craft shop at the chateau and there are about a dozen helmeted guys roaming around painting wooden shoes, making bill folds, singing off key and smoking smelly cigars. Besides, I have to comment favorably on each step of each project and estimate how long it takes to do everything. Although they may have days and days to spend here yet, they work like mad to get things finished in an hour or so. Mixed in with every few sentences I have to do some coaching in French, such as how to say "Will you come to the dance with me Sunday night?" Now to get to answering some letters and relaying some news. I've received letters forty (two of them) to fifty four, and two packages, I think thirty eight and forty. Anyway, the ones with Betty's present in and the ripe olives and cheese, crackers, muffin mix, Baby Ruth bar, book (very good). I sent Mme. [Houis?] a box at once with the Kraft cheese, about five candy bars from my ration, gum and Life Savers. They needed food so much that I could