Germany
Dolph's Letter #87a
Dear Sweetheart -
How are you dear?
Gee it's been warm - I like it better than the cold.
Anyway the heat, plus the work - believe it or not I have been working hard - I am really tired when nighttime comes around.
I went to the movies, though, last night + saw "Objective Burma" with Errol Flynn. Aside from the usual Hollywood influence it was a good picture.
Honey, I sure hope everything is all right. How I'd love to receive a letter from you.
Shall turn in now dear - best not before I say I love you. I love you so much.
Your devoted husband,
Dolph
# Part V: Early Occupation
Letters 91-110 (May 13 – June 9, 1945)
Immediate Post-War Period
Germany
Dolph's Letter #87c
Dear Sweetheart -
Happy Mother's Day honey. And fun I wish I had made you a mother before I left. You know you will be a grand mother to our children, at least as successful as you have been a wife. Gal I love you Honey.
Hope you received my Mother's day gift all right.
I'd like you to know that while at the last place I was very friendly with John Drew Devereaux - the Barrymore family, you know. He was Pappy's 3rd lord in the original New York production of Life with Father - the oldest of the redheads. He is a swell fellow + has done himself proud in this war - a Captain (my division) with a Bronze Star + Oak Leaf cluster plus the Silver Star. Take my hat off to him. Well as I say we were very friendly for as long as he was in the depot 2-2½ weeks. We worked, ate, played + slept together; - also with another Irishman (did you know he was Irish?) + had a very good time. Naturally there was loads to talk about + I really enjoyed myself. We shall have to see him again he appears on B'way or wherever we shall go to theatre.
I also was friendly afterwards with a Russian officer who was a pilot - 25 planes to his credit - + had escaped from the Buchenwald prison of which you no doubt have read about. Well honey, it was very interesting talking to him. He only knew a few English words, so we conversed in German - altho mine is miserable, + more frequently another officer was along who speaks German fluently. Nick (Nikolai) is a grand fellow. Only 25 (a 1st Lt., 5 yrs service + bravery medal) with a wonderful sense of humor. You should have seen how he pranced around when the Allies linked, when Berlin was kaputt, + Hitler was declared dead. I really enjoyed being in the company of him. Being in Buchenwald for as long as he was, he could speak authoritatively. The "atrocities" are actual facts - no exaggeration. The "peace" must be hard for Germany.
Well sweet - that's about all for now. I hope you are well dear. I love you so very very much. Take good care of yourself.
Your devoted husband,
Dolph