On the left and below

  Letter written by Hugh F. Ingalls to a friend in the United States, on November 7, 1944. 

  The letter is passed by an army examiner on November 14, 1944. 

  Only five days later, Hugh F. Ingalls will be Killed In Action during an assault on a Fort of Metz...

  Below is written the copy of the letter.

Nov. 7, 1944

Hi Frenchie :-

  Hey, man, haven't heard from you for over a month...haven't even heard from your Mom for several weeks either. 

  Sad situation, but then maybe the mailmen are screwing the works around again. (Recently received a letter from Mabel that took two months to get here…).

  I am not sure exactly what I wrote you in my last letter which always helps matters !

  What the hell’s the latest ‘round Alhambra ? Had a lengthy letter from Suzy -Written ‘bout a month ago- and she said you were taking her out… but outside of that your life’s been a mystery. Hear tell Cogswell, and Stevens, were home !

  Had a letter from Don the other day – written in England – that took 2 ½ (monthes)  weeks, just to come from there to here. He was damn lucky to hit England ! Most of the boys lately have been hitting France direct.  Brunhoffer’s been in France (never hit England) ‘bout a month and a half now. Floren is also here – his Division’s had about the same set up as mine. Alhambra High School (AHS) will have a reunion here yet...

  Have had a couple close calls… but as long as they don’t get any closer I’ll be happy! Am rapidly becoming a very agile “88” dodger. Merely, have to hear one of the things whistle and – zoom – Ingalls has himself a 30 foot foxhole  dug complete with air conditioning, electric lights, and pin-ups on the wall (free floor show every third Thursday) ! Am thinking of going into business after war… “Ingalls Inc. Foxhole Constructor”. ‘Course, to do any business, I’ll probably have to bring along my own artillery barrage… However that’s a mere detail that can be worked out later! 

  Frenchie, I’m a disgusted character ! These damn medals don’t mean a God damn thing!! Hell, I’ll come back as decorated as lots of guys who came in D-DAY. The “Purple Hearts” a joke. I laughed when I learned that guys who got “frostbite” on Attu were given the award. Brother, that was nothing… Friend of mine recently got one for a slight scratch. Required a little iodine, but no bandage. Three days later you couldn’t even see where he was hit. “Purple Hearts” are handed out at the Aid Station. ‘Tis really getting to be a joke…

  This joint here is really the ultimate in rumor manufacturing plants! Have never lead such a confused life in all my life. It’s getting funny…

  Mud still makes up most of the scenery. Takes an jour or two each day just to scrape it off of me and equipment.

  Haven’t had a haircut in 2 ½ monthes. Result : a luscious pachuke that would put any joe in L.A. to shame. “Junior”, the moustache, is rapidly reaching maturity too ! Combination of the two is very snarky, but leaves me kinda unrecognisable.

  As per usual ‘tis rainy and cold out. This hunk of literature is being written from a two-man slit-trench or with a shelter-half thrown over it. Shelter halves are wonderful, they sift the water and that’s about all.

  As a rule, writing time isn’t too common. However, I try to write home at least every other day. Therefore, give ’em a buzz any time you have some spare minutes, and they can give you the latest dope. OK ?  

  My main ambition right now is to hit Southern California again, and lay around on the beach all day. Luscious sunshine beating down all over the place. Gals, gorgeous gals, gorgeous American gals spread all over the landscape. Portable radios blaring out with Al Jarvis or other assorted genuine jive. Hamburger, malts, and orange juice if you want ‘em. Ocean to swim in. (Have had on shower… very feeble… in a month and a half. Manage to get my hands washed about once a week. Clothes I have not been off of me for a month with the exception of sox, which I rotate spasmodically). Anyway, so Cal. is true heaven! What say a group of us joes rent a cottage or something for a month or so, when the war ends ?? ‘T Would be very snarky…

  Nothing to do with your money here. Some of the boys were shooting craps for $100 per throw yesterday ! Game’s too “expertized” for me… I’ve been sending my dough home.

  Could get ‘bout any type German souvenir I wanted, but there’s no way to send the things home, and I already have enough stuff to lug around with me. So… Ingalls goes souvenir less! (Did manage to recently send home one of the propaganda leaflets dropped by the Allies to the Germans though… Interesting !)  

  “Sinatra” has become the idol of the 95^th (along with this joe who walls himself “Gen Hershey”). The boy’s definitely getting rugged… “To hell with my career I want Roosevelt!” Ah, yes, rugged Sinatra…

  ‘Tis rumoured that we are going to be issued sleeping bags, (which, quote “Yank’ of 6 monthes ago, “are issued to all men at POE’s, along with combat boots”)… by January 15. (Not even a rumor regarding the boots!)

  Hear tell that patriots – “won’t write letter to Ingalls” – Mc Carthy is coming home. Give him my “hi’s” and “hello’s”…

  You see all kinds of genuine characters over here. Saw a joe, rapping along in a tank, wearing a nice shiney silk hat, the other day! Wouldn’t even surprise me to see a General come putting along in a convertible V-8, with red leather upholstery, tin pots, and a pain of pipes!

  Hey, what do you think of this sexy stationery ? Strictly the latest in eliteness….

  Whatever, happened to “Rap” ? Air Corps or Infantry ?

  Well, ‘fore I use up all my ink or run out of paper, I’d better end this splurge. So… Here’s the ending period.

  So long for now, Frenchie.

WRITE (soon and lengthy, huh)

Frenchie II

 P.S. Time’s really whizzing… Been away from the states 3 monthes already !

20 March 1945

Germany

Dear Mrs. Ingalls:

   Received your nice letter today and want to thank you for writing me and also for the copy of Hugh’s letter. I’m sending it home to save. He certainly could write letters. I remember how he’d stop and take notes in London every few moments. I see now it was worth while.

   Yes, the day when Hugh was killed was the first attack we made. It was on the west side of Metz and we were attacking an old Maginot Fort. Hugh and I and our squad fought our way successfully to the Fort, and were firing on the Fort when a sniper got Hugh, and he passed on instantly. I was right beside him and was so shocked and sorry and scared that I never thought of getting any of his personal things. I hope they were sent to you. We retreated from that Fort without taking it, to another Fort where we were surrounded for five days without food, heat, or covers; and very little water. 

On the 6^th day we attacked and with the 5^th Division took Metz. After that, we went on to the Saar River, and on December 7^th our Battalion crossed the Saar and for two months we fought for and won Saarlautern. After that we had a fine and much needed rest in Belgium and after that the 95^th fought for and took a 10 mile sector on the west bank of the Rhine. It all took a pretty heavy toll on the men.

   It is, as you said, hard to believe Hugh is really gone. Often when I see or hear something which appeals to the type of sense of humor Hugh had, I find myself thinking “I’ll have to tell that one to Ingalls”. I’m sure that he’s somewhere else now, laughing as he always did. I won’t ever forget him. I remember how he used to chuckle at the chastising letters Robin wrote to him, because she thought he wasn’t writing to her often enough. She sounds like a fine girl, and Hugh was very fond of her and spoke of her often.

   I’m looking forward to seeing you all, when I get back. I want to go to the University of Washington and will stop in to see you. If I don’t go to school there, I’ll come out with my father who goes on business trips to Los Angeles and Hollywood rather often. I’m 20 years old and graduated from high school in 1943 as did Hugh. He was at Carnegie Tech and I was at Pitt. I didn’t meet him ‘till “the Gap” tho.

   Thanks again for your fine letter, and my best to Mr Ingalls and Robin.

                                          Sincerely,

S/Sgt John J. Bonn

Co. A   379 Inf.   APO95