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August 31, 1943

August 31, 1943 Continuation of No. 52 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,                        I have been rather on the punk side the past few days. Friday the 27th, I felt only fair, but not bad. The next day, however, I developed a constant mid-epigastric dull pain, which lasted all day. My temp. began to climb in […]

August 27, 1943

August 27, 1943 No. 52 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,                       Since my last letter, I’ve been kept plenty busy. After the first several days of running around at various headquarters, arranging for medical corps prisoners to work in the hospital, etc., things slackened up, and as the hospital was awfully busy, I was put in […]

August 25, 1943

Here are excerpts from a letter that Lois McFarland wrote to family back in California. August 25, 1943Palermo, Sicily Dear Gang,            I’ve been trying to write to you for ages, but, golly, we’ve been so, so busy. I never do anything but work, eat and sleep. And the whole night – from 7 to […]

August 17, 1943

August 17, 1943 No. 51 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,                       Yesterday I had a “first” — you know, doing something for the first time. The Colonel wanted some pictures taken of our area just as he had done in Casablanca, and as a consequence, someone was needed to make the arrangements and to take our […]

August 16, 1943

August 16, 1943 No. 50 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,                       Before I get started, thanks oodles for the birthday presents – received the soapy wash-rag or whatever you might call it, and it has been put to good use several times already. ‘Tis really swell. Also got more photo paper and more films. Have several […]

August 11, 1943

Between August 1 and August 15, René doesn’t write any letters to his parents. Fortunately, we can follow the activities of the 59th Evac. Hospital through the entries in the journal kept by Philip Westdahl and photographs from René’s albums. Below is Dr. Westdahl’s journal entry for August 11, 1943 Palermo, Sicily           […]

August 7, 1943

Between August 1 and August 15, René doesn’t write any letters to his parents. Fortunately, we can follow the activities of the 59th Evac. Hospital through the entries in the journal kept by Philip Westdahl and photographs from René’s albums. Below is Dr. Westdahl’s journal entry for August 7, 1943 Palermo, Sicily            […]

August 6, 1943

Between August 1 and August 15, René doesn’t write any letters to his parents. Fortunately, we can follow the activities of the 59th Evac. Hospital through the entries in the journal kept by Philip Westdahl and photographs from René’s albums. Below is Dr. Westdahl’s journal entry for August 6, 1943 Palermo, Sicily              During […]

August 5, 1943

Between August 1 and August 15, René doesn’t write any letters to his parents. Fortunately, we can follow the activities of the 59th Evac. Hospital through the entries in the journal kept by Philip Westdahl and photographs from René’s albums. Below is Dr. Westdahl’s journal entry for August 5, 1943 Bizerte, Algeria               We start […]

August 1, 1943

Between August 1 and August 15, René doesn’t write any letters to his parents. Fortunately, we can follow the activities of the 59th Evac. Hospital through the entries in the journal kept by Philip Westdahl and photographs from René’s albums. Below is Dr. Westdahl’s journal entry for August 1, 1943 Bizerte, Algeria            I take […]