Letter to Pfc. Souil W. Garner Ft. Myers Florida May 1 1944

This letter to Souil is from his brother Bill (Wilbur, Will) while stationed in England.....and is the last of the recently found 14 "War" letters....The original transposed letters continue on the Blog until April 1945, the end of "The WAR" where Bill found himself in Germany as S/Sgt G-1 Section, Headquarters of the XIX Corps, and married to Gwen who remained in England at the time, with a three month old daughter, my sister Carol.
He fought with the XIX Corps through out Europe during "The WAR." The letters from "The WAR" make for interesting reading and are identified on the Blog Archive chronologically, by year as I entered them at the bottom of this page.

S/Sgt Wilbur C. Garner , 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N/Y.

27 April 1944

Dear Souil,

Well how are you doing today Pfc? It seems as though I forget that you were promoted to Pfc. In fact, I think I still addressed your last letter as Pvt. Oh well someday soon I guess I'll be addressing them as M/Sgt. In the Finance branch, the promotions often come very quickly or overnight as to say. I guess Uncle Sam is keeping you very busy these days with paying the boys off. Well that is surely one thing that keeps the morale up.

I imagine this is a bit of news which will sorta take you by surprise, but you should know me by this time. Today I submitted application to the CO for permission to marry. Of course, over here it takes two months after the submission for the application before one can get married. I don't know where I'll be in two months so there is nothing definite about it. Merely contemplation, of course along the serious channel. It is the little WREN that I have been telling you about. She is very nice and very eager to learn the American way. I've got her saying Bath instead of Bawth and lots of other things along that line. Until I met her I wouldn't have given you two hoots for the English that I have seen. She is much different. Oh well that is life for you.

I haven't heard from you lately, but I have a few minutes and thought that I would write you. How is Harriet these days? I haven't heard from her lately but I imagine she is at the last out again. I'll bet that almost killed her being cooped up in that apartment for a couple weeks.

Well I'll close for now and hope to hear from you real soon,

Lots of Love and Luck,

Bill

Letter to Mrs. Souil W. Garner (Harriet) Baltimore, Md April 18, 1944

This letter to Harriet (Mrs. Souil W. Garner) is from Bill while stationed in England.....

S/Sgt Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578

G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps

APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

17 April 1944

Dear Mike, (Harriet's nickname)

I received your letter of the 5th last Thursday which was very good time. Seven days to be exact. I also received one from Souil, Jane and Bernard, and two from Mother. I'd say that is a very good haul. I surely was sorry to hear about you having Scarlet Fever, but I really had to laugh and then to think that Ann King was quarantined with you. Boy what a climax! ! ! 

So you are assuming that just because I visited a town, the name of which I can mention no more, you seem to think there is a girl mixed up in it. Well you are right there is and was. She is a WREN (same as our WAVES) that I met at a Red Cross dance one Friday evening about two months ago. I think you can see some pictures of her that she gave me to send to Mother. She is 21 years of age, about 5 ft 7 in, weighs 135 lbs and has sorta blonde hair, not an outstanding blonde but much lighter than Mary's hair. She is a VERY NICE girl and I'm not kidding.

I guess I have had as much to do as you have had so little. I've been working about three evenings out of the week until 10:30 and 11:00 PM. Well the only thing I can say is that it surely helps the time to pass by quickly. It really has flown too. It is hard to realize that in about two more weeks that one-fourth of '44 has passed.

Thanks for Jessie's address. I have wanted to write to them for sometime. I received a very nice card from them but have never written sue to the fact that I lost the address. 

Well I hope you are OK again by the time this letter reaches you.

Beeeeee Gooooood and don't work tooooooooo hard. 

Lots of love and here's hoping we'll all be home again soon,

 Bill

Letter to Pfc. Souil W. Garner Ft. Myers Florida April 18, 1944

This letter to Souil was written by Bill while stationed in England....

S/Sgt WIlbur C. Garner, 33377578

G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps

APO 270, C/o Postmaster, N.Y.

13 April 1944

Dear Souil,

I'll start this letter now and finish it later on. I've got to work tonight. Just one more night. I've been working day + night until about 10:30 or 11:00 about 4 or 5 days out of the week.

I received your letter of April 7th yesterday. That was really good time. Thank you for the letterhead.

Gwen (Gwendoline)  is saving them. Well so you want a description. Light hair or dirty blonde, height 5 ft 7 inches weight 135-140 and she has a lot of personality. I got a letter from Harriet today telling me to be careful of these English girls. I'll see you lata. I got to go to work now. 

14 April 1944

Dear Souil,

Well I finished work last night at 11:00pm. Boy I've seen enough figures to last me a life time. What a life. I hope that is all for a while, but I doubt it. It seems like every night there is something else to do.

I guess you have been working hard lately. I imagine your hours are a little more regular than mine.

17 April 1944

Dear Souil,

You see how I have to write a letter. I've made up my mind that I shall finish this letter at this sitting. Well I went to see Gwen yesterday. I told her that I had described her to you as a pleasingly plump, dirty blonde. She said that she was going to have to write you  and put you wise. Well I guess you'll get the low down if she does that. I think she has written yo Mary. 

There is no more news now so I'll close and make sure that this letter gets out in the mail today. Be good and don't work too hard.

Lots of love and luck from your little red-haired brother,

Bill 

Letter to Mrs. Souil W. Garner June 14, 1943 Camp Polk Louisiana

This is the last letter in our files that was sent to Harriet and Souil before Bill's beloved Betty passed away in Baltimore. She had returned to Baltimore to live when Bill was transferred to Camp Polk.
Betty Sutton Garner, Bill's wife passed away at the age of 21, on June 25, 1943, when she went into a diabetic shock from an undiagnosed diabetic condition.  She had been married to Bill just shy of two years. She was laid to rest in Druid Hill Cemetery, (Groveland section) Baltimore, Md. Bill was notified of her passing by the Army and he spent 48 hours traveling on trains, trying to get back to Baltimore for her burial, which was handled by her parents. Having not slept in the past 48 hours, he arrived in Baltimore the day of her burial filled with sadness. (Not the jovial upbeat Bill who wrote the letter below just two weeks before her passing.)

 Cpl. W.C. Garner
HEADQUARTERS, III ARMORED CORPS
G-1 Section APO 353

Camp Polk, La.

12 June 1943

Dear Souil & Harriet,

Hello you hard workers. What's wrong? Can't you even drop me a line? How is Harriet's job coming? Tell me is she losing any weight on that job or is IT spreading. Lets hope it isn't spreading. Don't be offended my little chubby-wub. As long as we can still beat the pants off of Betty and her in pinochle everything is OK.

Well I guess you are anxious to know about my job. There really isn't much to it at present. I am working for a Colonel L. LeR. Martin who is in charge of G-1 section. I am supposed to be classified as a stenographer. I take dictation from the Colonel and also a Captain in this section. I know nothing about what rating I'll end up with or when I'll get it but here's hoping it isn't far off. As for maneuvers, I am supposed to go out for about 15 days and then return to the office for awhile.  As for the cadre; I don't know whether I'll go out on cadre or not. That just about sums up the military situation at home.

It looks like our boys will soon be giving them hell. The sooner they start blasting away at them, the sooner this thing will be over. I hope it won't be long either.

It has really been hot down here lately. I guess it is beginning to get hot at home too now. I would rather be hot at home than to be hot in Louisiana.

I hear Betty spent a very enjoyable evening with you and Harriet about a week ago. You didn't tell her any good jokes that I should know did you? I'm all ears if you have any.

Well be good and don't take and wooden nickels. I hope to hear from you all soon.

Luck to both of you

Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578,

Corporal, Hqs, III Armd Corps

Letters to Mr. & Mrs. Souil.W. Garner November 8, 1942

After more than a year of finishing the epistolary story "Dear Mary: Letters From the War" a few more letters from WWII, 14 to be exact, have surfaced that were in my sisters possession. She gave them to me some time ago to add into this blog but I just have not had the time to sit down and focus on the project until now.  These letters were addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Souil W. Garner, Bill's (who was also known as Will) brother, Souil and his wife Harriet. Unfortunately they will not fall chronologically, instead will be added over the next week or so. This first letter, being entered today, December 27, 2015; post the epilogue entry.
The letters to Souil and Harriet may not make too much sense as they are out of the story line, so if you care to fit them into the story line, see the Blog Archive at the bottom of the blog page to chronologically insert them into the story line.
So, to refresh memory Pvt. Wilbur C. Garner (Bill or Will) was our dad who had married Betty shortly before he was drafted into service for WWII.
These letters were written by himself and a few from his then wife Betty Garner to Souil and Harriet and reflect his time in service from Nov 8, 1942 til May 1, 1944.

This first letter to Mr & Mrs. S. W. Garner was dated November 8, 1942, Waco, Texas from then Pvt. Wilbur C. Garner 802nd Tank Destroyer Btn. at the young age of 22.

Sunday November 8, 1942

Dear Souil + Harriet,
Well I got out again this week but there is not much chance next week. It is really hot down here today. Well Old Boy I never thought I see the time when I'd be glad to get back into those tents until Friday night. We had to pack up everything we own and be ready to move out in the shortest possible time. We pulled out about 7:30 p.m. No one but the officers in charge knew where we were going. About 10:00p.m. we pulled into a field. We thought we were stuck. It was just lucky that we went back to camp. We got back about 1:30 AM only to get up at 6:00AM. I don't think there were many of us that got to bed before 2:30AM as we were all assigned to different tents. Those tents looked good though. I called Betty today. It only took me about 30 minutes to make all connections which was pretty good. How is everything back home? Please don't feel badly if you don't get a reply to your letters promptly because I really don't get much time during the week. I will write you when I can though. Well I'll be seeing you.
                                                                                                                                        Love Will

Wilbur C Garner's last Furlough to England before returning to the states. August 1945

In August 1945,  Bill was granted a furlough to England before departing for home and returning to the United States on 14 September 1945.  

14 September 1945, was also Bill's 25th birthday! What a birthday present, but I am sure it was with mixed emotions when he left Europe for home, leaving his wife and beautiful baby daughter in England, uncertain as to when they would be reunited again. His furlough in England during the month of August was captured in these happy images. 

He arrived back on US soil on 23 September 1945. He was separated from service in the US Army on 28 of September 1945 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He served a total of 23 months, achieved a grade of Staff Sergent and his Military occupation was Administrative Non Commissioned Officer (502). He returned to live in his parents home at 2425 Calverton Heights Avenue, Baltimore, Md. He was reemployed by The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, Baltimore, Maryland. 
Having been an employee of the The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company before the war broke out, he was guaranteed a job upon returning from "The War".

He received the following awards for his service: Good Conduct Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 silver service star (Indicating five Campaigns) : World War II Victory Medal; Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII: Sharpshooter Badge with Carbine Bar with Machine Gun Bar.
From the French Government he received The Croix de Guerre with bronze star.

Number 8 Ty-r-sarn Road, Cardiff

Bill and Kate Hudman Wilkins

Bill, Carol and Gwen enjoying the English summer.

Letter #82 from Wilbur C Garner 19 April 1945

April 21, 1945 Soviets reach Berlin.

"Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge The treadway bridge over the Elbe River.
Built for 83rd Div. by 234th Engr. Bn. 1115 Engr. group-XIX Corps..." 
Bridge crosses Elbe River, Barby, Germany
by H.J. MacMillan;

Finally on the 30th of April, the 125th Calvary Squadron of the 113th Calvary Group moved out from the bridgehead at Zerbst, and made contact with the 1st Battalion of the 340th Regiment of the 121st Infantry Division of the RED ARMY at Apollensdorf.
The task of the XIX Corps was over then.......

Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945. 

XIX Corps was the first into Belgium, the first into Holland, the first to reach the Wurm River, the first to breach the Siegfried Line against serious opposition, first to reach the Roer River, and the first American troops to reach the lower Rhine. After a delayed crossing of the Rhine, troops of the corps were the first to reach the Weser, first to reach and cross the Elbe, and would have been first in Berlin, had it fallen to American troops in the Grand Strategy of the war to take Berlin. From the beaches of Normandy to in early June to east of the Elbe - over 800 miles - the Corps has been out of line only two days. XIX Corps had demonstrated itself, from Normandy to the Elbe, to be one of the outstanding fighting teams of this war.

 

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps,
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6 Minnesota

"Somewhere in Germany"
19 April 1945

Dear Sis, 

Well I received your letter of the 8th of April last night about 9:30pm and surely was glad to hear from you once more. In fact I had a letter from everyone in the family including two from Gwen. Yours was the latest in date by 5 days.

You mentioned Joe being at Camp Edwards, Mass, yes, Mother wrote and told me about him. She didn't mention a courts martial though. What type is it? General, Special, or Summary? I hope he does get a discharge. That boy is just not all there at times. The Army can't do him any good. I know. I've told Gwen to steer clear of him unless Mother & Dad are around if he does come around. I'd feel much more satisfied at her safety. I feel very peculiar towards him. I can't exactly express myself.

Well, how are you making out with that job that was dumped into your lap? I guess by this time you have either dug yourself out of it or you are buried 5 ft under it. Don't let it get you down, Sis.
Incidentally, thanks for getting those slips for Mother for Gwen and me. Mother wrote me saying that they were very nice. I'm glad she liked them.

So you are still in practice taking care of peoples children, well wait until you get back home as a civilian, Bernard and I will make sure you never spend a lonely evening. Ha! ha!
Say, have you heard any more form Henri? I hope he gets home as you stated he had hopes of. Boy I've got almost 1 1/2 years over here now! 2nd July. I never thought I'd make it and now I feel I'll be lucky to be home for Christmas of `46. It will seem like a nightmare to get back to the States once more. Well give Henri my regards when you write next.

Well, how has the weather been lately? We've been having really swell weather. The sun has shone every day for almost 3 weeks now and it has been quite warm. All the fruit trees are in bloom. Over here in Germany they plant their cherry and apple trees all alongside the roads. They are very pretty. This is really beautiful country. Those Harz Mountains we came through were beautiful. The hills are heavily wooded; most of them with pine trees. They remind me of Louisiana but the country is not like people say the Germans are the cleanest people on earth. 
These towns are positively filthy. When we were in Blomberg I got bit up by a bunch of fleas. All the buildings are lousy. I don't know how these people stand the smell of them. The Dutch are by far the cleanest and neatest people. 

Well, Sis, there is not much more news here right now so I guess I'll close for now. That little daughter of ours is fine. I'll tell you more later. So long for now and don't work to hard.

Lots of Love from Gwen
Carol and myself'
Bill 

This is the last "Letter to Mary" from Bill that was saved by Mary from World War II. There will be subsequent posts of interest that will share Bill and Gwen and Carol's  journey to the USA.

Letter #81 from Wilbur C Garner 17 April 1945

"The bombing of Magdeburg--/April, 1945
2nd armored waits for jump off." Armored vehicles on road outside Magdeburg, Germany.
Ink sketch of jeep at lower left corner. by H.J. MacMillan;

The 2nd Armored Division moved on in its speed to take the great Hermann Goering Steel Works just south of Immendorf after a sharp fight, and on the 11th of April went its phenomenal course 57 miles in a single day, to reach the Elbe River, last natural barrier before Berlin, just south of Magdeburg. The 83rd was not to be outdone. They reached the Elbe River on the 12th of April at the town of Barby. Magdeburg showed signs of offering strong resistance, so the 2nd Armored immediately crossed the Elbe south of the city, and moved out with two battalions to form a bridgehead. The bridge that was begun here received such heavy artillery fire that it was abandoned to put all available bridging into the crossing that had begun opposite the foothold that the 83rd had by this time, also gained on the east bank of the Elbe.  
By the 13th of April the 83rd's bridgehead, reinforced by CC R of the 2nd Armored Division was seven miles deep and firmly held. The 2nd Armored's bridgehead was successfully withdrawn to concentrate all our forces in the southern bridgehead. There the XIX Corps held, on orders, waiting for the junction with the Soviets who were by this time not far away. An attack was launched meanwhile on Madgeburg, on the 17th of April, the 30th Division attacking from the north and the 2nd Armored from the south. By noon, the last resistance west of the Elbe in XIX Corps zone had been wiped out. While we waited for the Russians to appear, XIX Corps held the banks of the Elbe, and got down to the business of instituting military government over an enormous area, evacuating thousands of liberated prisoners of war, feeding and evacuating hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.

Wanzleben Germany 13 April - 8th May 1945

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps,
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6 Minnesota

"Somewhere in Germany"
17 April 1945

Dear Sis,

Well, Howdy, How are you these days? I haven't heard from you for sometime. I feel certain the mail is tied up someplace because I haven't even been hearing from Mother or Gwen. I did finally get a letter from Gwen today dated the 29th of March. You see how far behind Gwen's mail is. I guess it will catch up with us soon. I hope so anyhow. She had sent Mother a copy of the pictures I took of Carol while in Cardiff. I guess you have seen them by this time. What do you think of her? Isn't she the prettiest little thing you ever saw? Well I think so anyhow. 
She's the apple of her daddy's eye, and I'm not kidding, either. I know her Auntie Mary will be very proud of her also and will most probably spoil her to death. Well, I guess I've got to stop here. 

Some of these damn officers should be reclassified. I've typed seven letters for him right away and now he wants them typed all over again and right away. Well that old son-of - ——-can wait awhile. They must think we've got nothing to do.

It has been a beautiful day today and rather warm. A lovely day for the Air Corps and they've really done a good job today. I think summer is just about here, to stay, I hope. The Germans have cherry and apple trees planted all along the roadsides and they are really beautiful blooming along the roads. This part of Germany is very fortunate in the fact that we past through in such a hurry. Most of the towns right now though are being leveled once more, thank goodness.

Well, Sis, there is no more news now so I guess I'll close. So long and take it easy. I changed my mind. Take it easy and I hope to hear from you soon.

Loads of Love from Gwen, Carol and myself,
Bill

Letter #79 from Wilbur C Garner 9 April 1945

The Weser was a formidable military obstacle in itself, but on the 5th of April a crossing was forced and a bridge was built. By the next day there were three bridges, and the 2nd Armored had advanced almost to Hildesheim, the 30th on the left flank had taken Hameln, and the 83rd had swarmed across on the right of the 2nd Armored and advanced 17 miles beyond the river.
On orders from Ninth Army, these spearhead divisions halted and took the opportunity to reorganize while the attack continued behind them against the north and east of the Ruhr pocket. On the 9th of April, XVI Corps took over this western front and XIX Corps turned its whole attention east again.  
Now began a drive unparalleled in this war for speed and effectiveness. The 2nd Armored was to make 57 miles in one day, and the 30th and 83rd, by drive and and organization nothing short of miraculous, kept up with the armor on each flank. Screening the Corps flanks was the 113th Calvary Group that has been a versatile and hard fighting member of XIX Corps since the early days in Normandy. On the north the 30th Division advanced to Braunschweig where stiff resistance developed. In one day the city was enveloped and cleared, and the 30th had pushed on another 30 miles. The 83rd meanwhile had driven 30 miles to take Halberstadt, and seal off the east and north of another pocket in the Harz Mountains, center of much tradition of the ancient German gods. 

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps,
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6 Minnesota 

"Somewhere in Germany"
9 April 1945

Dear Mary,

Howdy, I received your letters of the 6th & 26th of March yesterday. Yes, Mary, I was glad it was a girl, also.
I've got her picture sitting right in front of me, too. Carol is the prettiest baby I've seen in a long time and I know her Aunt Mary will be proud of her as Gwen and I. I even think she is cuter than Bernard, Jr. Of course, I guess little girls are cuter than boys. I just got my set of pictures today. Gwen is sending Mother a set and getting more for you. So ask Mother to send you her set for a peek at Carol.
Say don't let these so called military authorities stuff your heads with the idea that the war is over. There is still plenty of fight in the Germans. I'll tell you the truth. I don't think there is anyone left to make peace with.

I'm glad you got your Easter gift OK. I guess Mother thought you could use the money better than anything else since you are in the Service.
You asked me how long before Carol would be able to stand the trip over. I've told Gwen to go as soon as she feels that Carol is OK and she can get passage through the Embassy. I understand they are paying passage right to their destination. That's just hearsay of course. I imagine Gwen will try about July or August.

Did I tell you I had 2 days in Paris on the way back from England? We were tied up waiting for a train. That town is lousy, capital LOUSY. Especially for a respectably married man. The actions of those Parisians are thoroughly disgusting. Of course, I guess it's a lot different in peacetime.

Well, Sis, I guess I'll close for now and hope to hear from you again real soon. So long for now. Take it easy and don't work too hard.

Lots of Love from Gwen, Carol and myself
Bill

Letter #76 from Wilbur C Garner 4 April 1945

April 12, 1945 Allies liberate Buchenwald and Belsen concentration camps: President Roosevelt dies; Truman becomes President.

 "Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge/ over the Elbe river--/Built by 234th Eng."; soldier stands at one end of bridge over Elbe River, Barby, Germany.
by Henry J. MacMillan

Great numbers of depots, airfields, factories, stores, rolling stock and dumps fell into our hands (XIX Corps) in this area; the roads began to fill with hundreds of thousands of Russians,  Jugoslave, Poles, French, Dutch, Belgian, Hungarian and Italians. 

After the sealing-off of the Ruhr, the Corps had two fronts, moving rapidly away from each other. To the northeast the 2nd Armored flanked by the 83rd and the 30th rolled toward Weser, the Elbe and Berlin; to the southwest the 8th Armored, the recently attached 95th, and the Regimental Combat Team of the 17th Airborne were reducing the Ruhr pocket. At one time these two fronts were 125 miles apart; but during the entire operation the units of the Corps were completely under its control, and the Divisions in good battle formation. It is doubtful if any Corps was ever faced with as many varied situations in such a limited time. The good order that obtained all through the operation, often under strong and sometimes unexpected resistance, speaks highly for the fine leadership, superior discipline, staff work and communications.
  
The 2nd Armored Division, attacking east in two columns, came up against the Teutoburger Forest on a long, high ridge running north and south all across the sector.  In the early years of the Christian Era, the German tribes had inflicted a decisive defeat on the Roman general Varus and his legions on this dark and bloody ground. Here the Germans of this day tried to stand and fight . The 30th and 83rd Divisions came up rapidly to where the 2nd Armored was engaged in the passes of this forest, and together these three veteran organizations broke through after several days of heavy fighting.
By the 4th of April the 2nd Armored had reached the Weser River near Hameln, of Pied Piper fame. 

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, HQ XIX Corps
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6, Minnesota 

"Somewhere in Germany"
4 April 1945

Dear Sis, 

Good evening, Sis. How are things with you these days? In all the excitement with Carol and my 7-day furlough, I think I've forgotten to congratulate you on your promotion. I think it is really swell.
I got the pictures of Carol that I took while in England tonight and I've done nothing but look at it. She is really one pretty little girl and she surely has a couple of proud parents and I'm not kidding. I know she'll be spoiled a plenty.

Did I thank you for that picture you sent me of yourself. Boy you look like some debutante to me. It is really a very good picture of you. Thanks a lot. Gwen liked her picture also.
Well it has certainly been a very lovely day today the sun has shone brilliantly and it has been fairly warm. I'm certainly glad to see summer just around the corner.

We only let these German civilians out on the streets between the hours of 0900 and 1200 noon and then only one from a family. You should see them just hanging in the doorways waiting for 0900 to roll around.
You should see my bed. I have set up a canvas cot and used a large double down comfort as a mattress. I have a large down pillow. Boy can I saw wood on that! And how! I don't think I have stirred the last two nights I slept there. I'm glad we have stayed here a couple days so we can all get rested and get some much needed sleep. 

I hope you received my money order in time to send Mother some thing for Easter from Gwen and me. I know Mother received another one I sent her so I guess you got the one I sent you also. Would you do me a great favor. I had forgotten about Dad's birthday. I have just sent my spare cash to Mother. If you have any spare cash would you send Dad something for his birthday from Gwen and I. I'll send you $8.00 for it when I get paid the end of April. Thanks, Sis. I didn't get paid last month because I wasn't here to sign it so I'll get 2 months pay next month.

Well, Mary there's not much news here now so I'll say so long for now.

Lots of Love from
Gwen, Carol and me,
Bill

Letter #73 from Wilbur C Garner 30 March 1945

In the Allied plan for finishing the war, XIX Corps was selected to spearhead the Ninth Army drive out of the Rhine bridgehead after the crossing had been forced for Berlin. However, the corps engineer, Colonel Hubert S. Miller had command of all the naval and engineer forces involved in the great amphibious operation on the Rhine, and XIX Corps Artillery lent its fire power to the massive concentrations that covered the crossings. The Flak Suppression barrage that XIX Corps Artillery under Brigadier General George D. Shea fired on the southern landing area of the simultaneous airborne operation was so efficient that nor one friendly plane or glider was brought down by enemy antiaircraft fire in that zone.
On the night of the 23rd of March the great crossing began, and by the 29th the 2nd Armored Division of XIX Corps was across the Rhine and attacking east. The 83rd Division was motorized with the trucks of XIX Corps Artillery and given the task of following up the 2nd Armored's advance, to form the northern arm of the giant pincers movement which was to cut off the Ruhr district. The drive went on day and night.
All the bridges on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, the first of many obstacles, were found blown, but by the afternoon of the 30th of March the 2nd Armored Division had built their own bridges and were across and rolling again. A long, narrow, threatening armored finger was thus thrust deep into inner Germany. In the vicinity of Haltern to which the Corps Command Post moved, the 88s from the south kept the one road over which the Corps had to deploy all its divisions under almost constant fire. One Regimental Combat Team of the 17th Airborne Division held the Germans off to the south, while three divisions swarmed through the narrow gap. The 30th Division which had made the original Rhine crossing came back to XIX Corps along with the 15th and 113th Calvary Groups. A few days later the 8th Armored Division was added to the Corps. 
Then began the successful accomplishment of one of the biggest operations ever conducted by one Corps.  The 2nd Armored by-passed the great city of Hamm, leaving it to be cleaned up by the 95th Division, and angled south-east to Lippstadt where they met the 3rd Armored Division on the afternoon of the 1st of April to close the Ruhr pocket. Here the Ninth and First US Armies cut off and captured over 300,000 German troops, and the last remaining industrial area of Germany. Germany's doom was sealed!

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 section, Hq XIX Corps
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, SK1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6, Minnesota
AIR MAIL 

"Somewhere in Germany"
30 March 1945

Dear Sis, 

Howdy kid. I guess you figure by this time that I have forgotten you. You are wrong. I have been to England on a seven day furlough. Boy did those days fly by in a hurry. It seemed like a day. Well here's the story. I left Corps on the 8th of March and returned last night. When I arrived on the 14th in Cardiff, Gwen was still in the hospital. Boy I was worried then. Almost a month there. I found out that Carol had a substance on her stomach for about 9 days and wouldn't take milk properly. Carol was coming along fine by the time I arrived though. 

On the 15th I went to the hospital and brought Gwen and Carol home. I went right into the hospital just as soon as I got home and found out that Gwen was still in the hospital. Was she excited and happy to see me. She just shook all over. We had beautiful weather while I was there. I took about three rolls of pictures and Gwen is sending Mother a set. We'll have more made for you. In the meantime, ask Mother to send you her copy and let you see them. She (Carol) is the prettiest baby I've seen in a long time. (I'm not prejudice either).

Here is a picture of me at Korneliminster, Germany in January. Not too good but "Combat". Say Gwen should see the picture you sent her of yourself. I didn't recognize you. What a debutante. Mother! Watch that girl! When I returned to Corps your letters were next in size to the pile I had from Gwen. About 10 letters from you. Thanks a lot. Also a package containing the cheese and sardines. Thanks! Thanks!

While in Cardiff I reported Carol's birth to the U.S. Consulate. The papers go to Wash. for checking and then returned to Cardiff. It will take about 2 months so Gwen probably won't be able to get over until maybe July. You mentioned the fact that Gwen would have to spend some time at Ellis Island. No Gwen goes through all of that at London. When the boat docks she just gets off and catches the train so there would be no delay. I don't know whether Gwen could notify you as to when she would arrive or not, due to secrecy of ship sailings. 

I know it would be a big help if someone could met her in New York. I understand now that U.S. furnishes all transportation right to the city of destination so I guess they would look out for her. I'll let you know as soon as I find out anything.
Well, Sis I guess I'll have to close for now and hope to hear from you soon again. So long for now. Take it easy and give my regards to Henri.

Lot and Lots of Love
from "We Three"
Bill, Gwen and Carol

Letter #72 from Wilbur C Garner 4 March 1945

 

Bills image captured crossing the Roer River

Bills image captured entering the City of Julich in rubble.

Bills images captured entering Julich after crossing the Roer

Letter #70 from Wilbur C Garner 27 February 1945

"Bailey being constructed across Roer River/ Julich..."
3 soldiers work on construction of bridge over Roer River, Julich, Germany
by Henry Jay MacMillan

The Corps Artillery moved up close, and had their targets zeroed in when the jump-off came. There was some fire for awhile on the bridge sites, but by the time the bridgehead started expanding,  the Corps Battalions had silenced every enemy battery, and the attack was started in full momentum. They showed their power when the 30th Division reported a counterattack on the other side of the Hambach Forest. We fired all the Division Artilleries, and the complete Corps Artillery, 20 battalions, in a serenade. When the smoke cleared a full German battalion had been wiped out, and six to ten tanks.
Text: Captain Fredric E. Pamp Jr (Public Relations Officer XIX Corps 1945)
 

"The Bailey bridge across the Roer Julich, Germany"
Soldiers work on & underneath bridge
by Henry Hay MacMillan

S/Sgt Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps
Apo 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W, Garner, SK2c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, Minnesota 

"Somewhere in Germany"
 27 February 1945

Dear Sis, 

Howdy! It's me again. Well how are things with you these days? I received the package of nuts you sent me on January 8th and a package from Mother & Dad dated 28th of January. They made fairly good time, I think.

Well I guess you are waiting for the word. Well you thought Jane had an elephant, Gwen gave birth to a baby Girl, weighing 8lb and 8oz on the 17th of February at 7:40 in the evening. It's name is Carol Ann. Both baby and Gwen are doing fine and Gwen is very happy. Can you imagine, a girl. So the Garner family is getting some young ladies in it. I wrote Mother last night but couldn't write any more than two letters so I figured I'd write the rest tonight. Everything went off just fine and no trouble at all.

Incidentally, Sis, thanks a lot for the nuts. They are really good. They certainly have nice ways of packing them. They aren't quite as broken up as they were when in one big box.

Well the weather here has been rather cloudy the last couple of days. It hasn't been very cold though so that is something to be thankful for. I haven't heard from you for a little while now. I hope that everything is OK with you. I guess Souil & Harriet are now at home for a short while. I hope they have a nice furlough because I've got a hunch it may be his last in the U.S. for awhile. 
I hope not though for his sake.

Well, Sis, I guess I'll close for now and hope to hear from you soon again.

Loads of Love from Gwen and me,
Bill

Letter #69 from Wilbur C Garner 23 February 1945

 

"Alligators at Roer"; solders on 2 amphibious vehicles cross Roer River,
Julich, Germany; ruins in background. by Henry Jay MacMillan

 

"The first bridge completed across the Roer at Julich";
soldier walks across bridge over Roer River, Julich, Germany
Pontoon float at bottom left; by Henry Jay MacMillan

"Launching the Bailey"; soldiers construct Bailey bridge over Roer River
Julich, Germany; damaged pontoons in foreground.
by Henry Jay MacMillan

After a delay of almost two weeks, forced by the German's blowing of the spillway of the Schwammenauel Dam, the crossing of the Roer River was made on the 23rd of February, before the Germans expected it could be done because the flood had not yet subsided. Here the Corps Engineer units did an amazing job. They built a total of fifteen bridges across the racing flooded river which brought down debris to smash them time after time, besides the fire of artillery, machine guns, and mortars that harassed the operation. Many of the crossings had to be made not only over the river itself, but also over hundreds of feet of flooded area on both sides. One bridge was built and rebuilt nine times. The Corps Artillery covered the assault with a total of more than four hundred tons of shells. The crossing was made by the 29th and 30th Divisions, soon followed by the 2nd Armored and the 83rd.

Colonel Miller said that the dams held a hundred million metric tons of water. If they let it all go it could flood the Roer Valley a thousand yards wide for twenty miles down. All those months of fighting got control of the Erftalsperre, but the lower one was still in Germans hands. And the Germans blew it. When we started it was still racing and flooded, but Corps Engineer had said they could put in the bridges, so the 29th and 30th went ahead. The 1104th Group handled the 29th bridges opposite Juelich. The anchors wouldn't hold at first, and then the cable was shot away three times in a row, and they changed the location once. But they got across under the eye of the Corps Engineer himself. To the south, were the 1115th put the 30th across, it was tougher. There they used alligators at first for the assault across more than 1000 yards of flooded land on each side of the river. And the washed-out roads had to be rebuilt for 1500 yards on each side. The Chemical Warfare Section had the Smoke Generators working and they put down a perfect screen. The enemy artillery landed 1000 yards downstream from the bridge site. When they found an unexploded bomb on the far side abutment they were going to use for the bridge, and their anchors were swept away, it seemed often that they'd never get this bridge in. But it worked, and it was finished - along with bridging a 60 foot canal on the other side - fifteen hours ahead of schedule.

The Corps Artillery moved up close, and had their targets zeroed in when the jump-off came. There was some fire for a while on the bridge sites, but by the time the bridgehead started expanding, the Corps Battalions had silenced every enemy battery, and the attack was started in full momentum. They showed their power when the 30th Division reported a counterattack on the other side of the Hambach Forest. We fired all the Division Artilleries and the complete Corps Artillery, 20 battalions, in a serenade. When the smoke cleared a full German battalion had been wiped out, and six to ten tanks.5 The Corps wheeled up the AA to support the attack too. The 459th AW Bn supported the 29th and the 30th with their Bofors guns, and laid streams of fire on strong-points across the river.
(Text: Captain Fredric E. Pamp Jr (Public Relations Officer XIX Corps 1945)

 

S/Sgt Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner Sk2c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6, Minnesota

"Somewhere in Germany"
23 February 1945

Dear Sis,

Howdy! I received the fountain pen tonight. Thanks a lot. I'll tell you what. I'll send my pen to you and see if you can get a point for it. I didn't know you were using this pen until I received the package from you. I dropped my other pen back in December and it stuck into a wooden floor and bent. It almost looked like a pitchfork. I've straightened it out but it writes like a needle. If you can get it fixed you may use it.

Well, I'm really burned up with the mails and also the damn Red Cross. I haven't received any word from Gwen since the 6th and she was scheduled for the hospital on the 8th. I'm very anxious to know what's going on and if everything is OK. I get so darn mad sometimes I could really tear my hair out but it doesn't pay to say much now. I sure wish I'd meet and have some of these people under me after the war is over. I'd show them what it's like to be human. Well I guess that is life.

It has been another nice day today. I hope we have a couple weeks of it with the way things are popping now. Well tomorrow will be another busy day and I'm not kidding.

I got your letter of the 8th yesterday. It was good hearing from you once more. I'll be getting some pictures in the next couple of days and if they are any good I'll send you some. How about a couple of snaps of yourself, Kid?

Well, guess Souil is home by this time once again. How long has he this time? I hope it is at least 15 days. I wish, I thought we would be home by this time next year. I'd be satisfied to sweat it out. It seems to me that most of the people back home think this thing is almost over. Don't kid yourselves. It's still a long road. 

Well, Sis, I guess I'll close for now and hope to hear from you soon. So long for now and take care of yourself.

Loads of Love from Gwen and me,
Bill