1 November 1944

November 1, 1944

I think I can tell you now our very small part in the invasion of Holland. We were at the field when they took off before and long after, sweating out each and every mission with our coffee and doughnut brigade... I wish I could describe adequately that green field, the air strip, the atmosphere of waiting, the anxious eyes cocked at the ever-changing weather. And our boys, sweating under their equipment, though it was a cold morning. It was an awesome sight, which I'd just as soon not see again. First, the planes, then the planes with gliders joining the armada overhead.

Red Cross girls carrying fresh doughnuts from an
improvised kitchen to waiting clubmobile units which
will carry doughnuts and coffee out to for bombers'
crews who have just returned from a long mission.
Photo by, Farm Security Administration - Office of War
Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)

November 5, 1944

Well, last night Larry took me to the local civilian dance. Have I told you about him? 2nd Lieut. From Younkers, N.Y. and under happier circumstances and better years, I can imagine nothing better than burning the toast for him. He is a darling, really, but I've seen too many ETO involvements to let myself get intense about him.

November 9, 1944

Larry left here this morning and I am very sad, needless to say. My affairs always end in farewell scenes controlled by elements far out of our hands and I hate to think of him going into what he is going. We both know that we'll meet again some place - I hope so - for he's a wonderful guy, and I am quite infatuated...

November 24, 1944

Life over here seems to consist of one long series of goodbyes - nothing is permanent, nothing is sure, not even tomorrow's mail. At present, we are subsisting on K rations and the novelty has worn off. Before that, we were eating like kings and yesterday, being Thanksgiving, Uncle Same came through with Turkey and all the fixings - even pumpkin pie.

March 2, 1945

We finally left Paris - in a fine cloud of dust and amid much tooting of horn.... 12 of us live in a house on a hill overlooking a wonderful view. We run a fleet of four Clubmobiles, 2 jeeps and a sort of enclosed station wagon. We also run our own mess (with rations from the army), seven French servants, a doughnut kitchen and an attached G.I. detail.... Our house is nice, sort of a junior chateau... I can't describe the destruction - the woods are still full of mines and our kitchen is on top of a temporary graveyard which the French are now rearranging. Thank God most of their rearranging was completed by the time of our arrival. But I gathered that donuts and opened graves didn't mix.

May 7, 1945

It's all over now, so says the BBC and, therefore, this is a sort of paean of Victory and rejoicing. We've been waiting this official declaration for at least four days and if it weren't for the radio, we would not know the difference - no whistles, no bells, no parade. I just gave our waitress a glass of Benedictine and the rest of us are sitting around, drinking a toast to the future. It's a sober armistice and this time, we are fully aware of the responsibilities of the victor...

May 10, 1945

The planes are already coming in, so I must corral our forces and leave. To give you some idea of the amount of work we have at that one place along, we served over 400 galloons of coffee yesterday afternoon from 1:00 to 5:30. As a whole, they are looking better than the first groups we had, but their better is not good.

May 14, 1945

Elizabeth has taken to the air in a big way and after flying, other means of transportation seem dull, indeed. My first ride was in a Piper Cub over LeHavre, the harbor and the sorry ruins. My second, yesterday, was to Reims, along the Sienne and cross country... This morning by various and sundry means, I got a C-47 back to LeHavre, along with about thirty released prisoners... The Piper Cub is to my liking, soaring low on the Sienne, climbing over the neatly wooded hills and looking down on the toy villages and the scars of two wars.