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April 28, 1944

As reported earlier, unbeknownst to René, on January 28, 1944, Yvette Baumann Bernard(his second cousin) and her husband Jean-Guy Bernard were arrested by the Gestapo in their apartment in Paris. Both held senior positions in the Resistance, and Yvette, who was 25 years old, was 8 months pregnant. Alone in her cell, three weeks later, […]

April 27, 1944

April 27, 1944No. 19 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,             It’s really a wonderful feeling to be absolutely up-to-date with letter writing for the first time, I think, since being overseas. I don’t owe a bloomin’ person a thing right now – or at least I won’t after I answer Henriette and Spiro’s sweet letter that […]

April 25, 1944

April 25, 1944No. 18 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,            Nothing new except the deluge of V-mail pages that I received from you this A.M., so, while I still have time I figured that I better answer them pronto.             I was interested in Lois’ letter to you, Bobsy. I haven’t heard from her in a few […]

April 24, 1944

April 24, 1944End of No. 17 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,             We had a feast the other night. My pal, Eddie Accomando really dished up a swell one! We had real live, honest-to-goodness steaks, fresh off the fire, cooked to the taste of each individual concerned, as we went through the mess line.             It […]

April 22, 1944

April 22, 1944No. 17 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,           We had an excellent U.S.O. Show out here the other night and it certainly went over with a bang. Act I: Blond songstress who hails from Whittier, California by the name of Rose Marie Meyers. Her most popular song was “Take Me Back To the San […]

April 18, 1944

April 18, 1944No. 16 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,             Things are really beginning to be “Springy” around here now — the blossoms are coming out, the flowers are beginning to bloom “tra-la, tra-la,” and some of the men have even taken up Victory Garden planting. One of the boys, the fellow who runs our showers, […]

April 14, 1944

April 14, 1944Un-numbered Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,           Our Officers Club and Bar is still a popular hangout and Pete Joseph keeps the varied liquor supply always plentifully on hand. Besides the usual local drinks of cognac, vermouth, brandy, etc. we even go in for such funny things as Planter’s Punch, Crème de Menthe frappe, […]

April 9, 1944

April 9, 1944End of No. 15 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,               Last night we had a big party in celebration — or really in mourning — for our beginning our third year as a unit. The committee that arranged the party did an excellent job, but the credit has to go mostly to Wally Greene. […]

April 8, 1944

April 8, 1944Continuation of No. 15 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,               Surprise!! Last night I attended Passover Services. There were services in one of the local churches and then a Seder dinner conducted at the Red Cross. Went with Liz Liss and Martha Morris and two non-Jewish officers who just went because they were interested. […]

April 7, 1944

April 7, 1944Continuation of No. 15 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,                     This seems to be turning into a continued story and I do not seem to be able to get it done in one sitting. This week, you see, has been one of more activity than most of the previous ones. To continue with the […]

April 6, 1944

April 6, 1944No. 15 Palermo, Sicily Dear Folksies,                       Well, here it is our Second Anniversary – just two years since the 59th was activated!! Day after tomorrow there is to be the big celebration. The recently appointed Majors are giving a cocktail party late this afternoon, however. The reason the big party is to […]

April 1, 1944

No letter from René today, so here’s an excerpt from the journal of Dr. Philip Westdahl, written around April 1, 1944… April 1, 1944              During March several groups of officers took recreational trips around the island of Sicily. Chuck Schwartz and I took the trip together, which included five days. We started east along […]