The Lavigne Letters
Chapter 5
SOME WHERE IN FRANCE
Lt. C.T. McEniry reveals in his writings that after D Day the AA continued in somewhat of a static defense of the beachhead area until June 25th with A Battery given the special mission of protecting Airstrip ALR 9. Then their mission was of providing AA defense for the City of Cherbourg immediately upon its capitulation. Positions within the town were hard to defend so most gun crews were actively engaged in small arms fire fights with snipers and patrols during the first day or two. Batteries began to bring in their first prisoners.
On June 28, the battalion was relieved of its mission at Cherbourg and shifted to Air Strip ALR 9, south of Omaha Beach. That same day, the battalion residue landed on Utah beach and joined the rest of the unit the following day. The main situation and tactical mission of the 197th remained unchanged from this time to 15 July.
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VMAIL Letter Undated
Dear Claudia,
I guess by now you know that I am somewhere in France and that I have seen combat. I am feeling fine, hope you all are feeling the same.
How did Ralph and Dad take the news? I bet Ralph never did get away from the radio that day.
Yesterday was Sunday, I attended mass in a little French community church. I went to confession and received holy communion there also.
Before I came into combat I received general absolution and communion too.
Incidentally the church I went to was built in 1879, from the outside it doesn’t look very nice, but the inside is quite lovely.
There’s one thing these people in this village are happy about, they say the Germans or Boschs as these Frenchmen call them, never did stop them from holding church services.
Boy you should see these little kids, they’re really cute, you don’t have to coax them to come to you, they just come rushing at you. They really feel free now that we are here and they really go for some of the chocolate bars we have.
Today I received four letters from you, two from Woody, one from Yolande.
Glad to hear from Woodrow, god that guy must hate to write, his letters are short, four or five lines and that’s all. Says he’s wearing his Navy whites now, I bet he hates to wash his clothes.
How are you getting along at the store, been busy these days? School must be out back home now, there will be many kids roaming the streets during the hot summer days.
How’s Yolande getting along, I received a letter from her a little while back says he still can’t swim. So long and lots of luck. Keep your fingers crossed. Here’s a big kiss.
Valmore
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VMAIL undated
Dear Claudia,
How’s the gang this fine June day, today’ s fish day at home, unfortunately for me there is no fish here so I had beans. Each gun crew is equipped with a good cooking unit so we can afford many a hot meal, a cup of good hot coffee in the morning really hits the spot. I managed to get a lot of vegetables from these Frenchmen, like today for instance I got some potatoes, they say (pommes de terre), onions, carrots and some lettuce. The day before I got some cabbage, so we had corn beef and cabbage for supper and it really tasted good too.
I finally received a few lines from Woodrow and Ginger. Ginger has sent me a whole carton of gum.
Our gun crew has knocked down it’s first enemy plane, wish they would send some more at us, if they do, we’ll pound the hell out of them, we’ll have a hot reception for them alright.
How is Daddy these days, please tell him not to worry too much, I’m feeling fine and I promise you that I’ll be coming home some of these days.
The scenery over here is somewhat like England, I’ll prefer Britain anytime. I dreamed I was bicycle riding with the other night, wish I’d dream like that every night. So long and good luck.
Valmore
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Undated letter
Dear Claudia,
Received a couple of letters from you today, one of them contained a snapshot of myself which was taken on the streets of New York on one of my twelve hour passes. Wow, what a sight, that picture is enough to make any German holler. I still haven’t got the pack which had the knife that Ralph had made for me, it’s been a long time since you sent it. I’ve almost given up hope of ever receiving it, I’m afraid it’s been lost at sea.
I see that Dad is still tumbling all over the place, I remember when he used to bump his toes on the foot of his bed and every time he’d go into the kitchen he’d always hook that chair next to the kitchen door with his feet. I also remember the time he reached up for a few dishes in the cupboard and all of a sudden, zooms, down comes his pants, boy, I never laughed so much in my life!
I have traveled from one end of the American lines to the other, it’s a pity to Se all those people whose homes have been wrecked by bombs or shell fire, but heck, you have to shell these places in order to win the war.
The young Nazi is the toughest opposition, he believes he’s the best soldier in all the world, we call them fanatics, he’ll fight to the bitter end, but when captured he cries like a little baby. We have no pity on them.
The boys have been picking up souvenirs such as rifles, bayonets, etc. Not me, I don’t want to have a booby trap explode in my face.
I managed to get a loaf of bread and six eggs for the boys this morn, we had eggs, bacon, fried potatoes and also coffee for breakfast. You asked me my weight, I guess it is around 168 lbs.
Oh yes I received two Brunswick Records, you should have seen me scan those pages, on the front page of one it showed an old familiar street scene, I keep the picture.
I got a letter from Mrs. Riley not so long ago, sure was glad to here from her.
I betcha any money if I should lay down in my own bed you couldn’t wake me up for days. I’m used to sleeping on rocks, my back is covered with bumps and bruises.
I see you sent to Spegiel for my watch, golly, the war will be over by the time I get it.
Did I tell you the pipe you sent me was busted, it was broken when I got it.
The Wellington girl mention something about Dad moving, is that true?
I’ve talked to a few French belles, they can’t beat good old Yankee gals, no sir.
Well, got to leave you now, until next time, lots of luck, I’m keeping my fingers crossed too.
So long,
Valmore
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July 6, 1944
V MAIL
Dear Dad,
Here’s hoping you are feeling fine, dad, I don’t want you to worry too much, I’m perfectly all right, couldn’t be in a better state of health. You can’t imagine what this GI will do next, some guys found a big barrel of cider, of course empty, so two of them their sleeping quarters, it made quite a nice bed, it kept them good and warm just like home.
We picked up a rabbit some time back and had him for a pet for about two weeks, got rid of him because he didn’t care where he did his duties.
I see that Verney Mills won a five inning exhibition gam 9-6, not bad. They will be without the services of one Tony Bagos this season as you know, Tony the tobacco chewer is now in the service. Please send me more packages, we jump sky high when we receive some mail. Woodrow is getting along fine, dad, he’s making a darn good sailor. Boy would I love to see you. The first thing we’ll do when I come back home is a long nice walk an then we’ll enjoy some good old Maine lobsters. So Long, the best of luck,
Valmore.
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July ?, 1944
V MAIL undated
Hello Dad,
Well, well, well, I see you are a clerk at the First National Store, how are you making out? Golly it must be hard on you feet, on which side do you work, on the can goods side or the other? I’ve been in France for a little over a month now, I’m feeling fine and hope you are too. Once in a while the Germans lob a few shells in our direction, when we hear the whistling round of the projectile coming through the air, we hit the old fox holes. I’ve been from one end of the American line to the other.
Ginger’s twins sure look swell the little girl sure has a smile. The National league sure trounce the American Leagues in the All Star game. I think the score was 7-1. How is the Verney Mills baseball team making out in the Western Maine league? I hear from Woody pretty often now. Please write more often, a post card will do just so I hear from you. Goodbye and lots of luck. Keep your fingers crossed.
Valmore
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VMAIL LETTER
July 8, 1944
Dear Claudia, This is the dawn of a new day, just came on guard duty a short while ago and since I got plenty of time before I get off I decided to drop you a few lines. The days are sure rolling by fast, here it is the sixth of July already. Received a letter from Ginger last night, says little Johnnie is crawling all over the place. I’m sure anxious to see what they look like.
I wrote a letter to Daddy yesterday, told him not to worry to much. I do hope he’s feeling fine and I sure hope you are too. Woodrow says he’s got six more weeks of training left then he’s going to ride the waves, he can ride them all he wants, I get to gosh darn seasick, give me good old Mother Earth.
By the way, did I received another war bond, I should have. What’s the latest news at home these days? Please send me a lot of your newspaper clippings, especially front pages of the Boston Daily Record. You can send more soap and candy and a few magazines and smoking tobacco.
How is Yolanda these days? I received letters from Henry regularly, he still can’t swim, he says they gave up on him, he sure must be scared of the water.
Well, got to leave now, thinking of you all the time, good luck.
Valmore
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VMAIL
July 9, 1944
Dear Claudia, Received a letter from you a few minutes ago and I am answering right away. I am feeling alright and hope you are too. I got the package of gum which Ginger sent me, it didn’t last long, everybody helped himself to a full pack. I see you are spending quite a few evenings with Florida.
Golly you must be buying war bonds every day. Is there many G.I.’s in Brunswick? I read in the record that the soldiers in town gave a good helping hand in putting out the Eagle Hotel fire.
I saw the picture Lassie Come Home, It’s a real nice show.
How was the Fourth of July at home?
Tomorrow’s Sunday and I bet you will be going to the high mass, wish I could go with you.
If you should happen to have chicken for dinner, eat a piece for me. I’d give anything for a good loaf of American bread, we’re sure tired of the dog biscuits we have, we can hear a guy chew them for miles. I bet my civilian clothes don’t fit me any more. Tell Ester not to push too hard on the lawn mower, pretty old you know. Ha ha. Today is Saturday, wish we could listen to the hit parade. Well so long, don’t take any wooden nickels, keep your fingers crossed. Lots of luck.
Valmore
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VMAIL
July 10, 1944
Dear Claudia,
Well, well, well believe it or not I finally received the package that contained the knife, I thought I’d never get it, everything was intact. Thanks a whole lot for the rosary beads in fact, thanks for everything. I also thank Rose for the swell candy. I got another record today too. I bet Dad listens to those presidential election speeches day after day.
I see Ralph is trying to get a release from his present job, he’s hoping he gets it and that he lands a better job, I know the present job makes him real sick. I guess the smell of the iron causes him to be sickly.
You know, I’m catching up on my French now, there was a time when I realized that I couldn’t speak French anymore, but it’s all coming back to me now. This is Parisian French here though, it’s a lot different than ours.
You say Dad doesn’t write often because he is lost for words, well tell him to drop me some postcards instead with some scenes of the old home town. Is he still working for Julien, seems like I can hear Julien’s loud voice right now.
I dropped a letter to Calvin last night, I wonder how he’s getting along now. I told him not to serve the boys too much stew.
Well I guess that is all for today, good bye and good luck and lots of kisses.
Valmore
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VMAIL undated
Dear Sis,
I have been in France a little over a month now. I am feeling fine and know you are too.
We’re used to ducking German shells, once in awhile jerry lobs one over our heads, when we hear the whistling sound of the projectile we hit the fox holes.
I have received your four Brunswick Records in the last couple of days. I see that Dad is now an employee of First National Store in Bath, how does he like to be a clerk? I bet he looks good in a white apron, maybe he could make a good meat cutter. And how about you, aren’t you sick of working at the store. I got a picture of the twins yesterday, boy, are they cute. The little girl has a smile a mile wide. And that picture incidentally has the boys calling me (uncle Valmore), how I hate that.
Did you finally go to Old Orchard Beach after all, I bet you had a swell time. Is everything the same in the old home town? Don’t forget, send me a lot of news paper clippings. Well, so long lots of luck, here’s a big kiss.
Valmore
* “Jerry” a nickname coined by US forces, was a slang term for Germans.
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Lt. C.T. McEniry writes:
“On 15 July the battalion was moved further south, this time to Air Strip ALG 12, just east of Balleroy.
The battalion headquarters area was subjected to severe enemy shelling on the night of 20 July, the medical detachment taking the principal casualties. Tree bursts riddled the aid tent and emphasized the necessity for digging in deep.
My Dad’s next letter appears to be August 3rd, a VMAIL letter. So I will close chapter 5 and chapter 6 will start in August of 1944. It will start in Northern France.
