Week 3 of 2025's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is "Nickname."
My grandmother Helen's ex-boyfriend, Charlie Knight, wrote this letter to my great-grandmother Blanche "Tiny" (Laberge) Ladd while he was stationed in Germany during WWII. Several family members wrote to Charlie during the war. In this letter he mentions Blanche's health. She was hospitalized and had surgery during the war, though I'm unsure why. He also asks after "Dana Dee," Blanche's husband. Dana, Helen, and Charlie all worked at the S.D. Warren Paper Company. It's unclear in his letter what sort of trouble Helen is in. The paper company was a complete gossip mill, and it sounds as though people may have been gossiping about Helen.
Somewhere in Germany
Jan 13, 1945
Dear Tiny,
It has been ages since I sent you a few lines but don’t think it’s because I’m not thinking about you. As I have said so many times before, “I’m wishing you a gain in health so that the day may come when once more you’ll be able to enjoy your home and life.” Tiny, you have been through a lot and it seems to me I should partly know for I knew you before it all started, when you were so fat. I watched you lose weight and go downhill wishing I could help but there was nothing I could do. Whenever you would ask anything I always tried to do it. May this year find you in the best health you’ve had in a long time.
Many thanks for the Christmas card and package. I couldn’t send cards this year but did intend sending a note with the Seasons Greetings but from the news you’ll fully realize what was going on over here at that time. As I write this, I’m wishing you the best in 1945, and may this year hold within its allotted time The Day for which so many have been praying.
It has been cold here, 15˚ above with plenty of snow and twelve inches of frost in the ground. It’s sure hard digging a hole now.
I was right in with all the news you have been reading or hearing about. The Krauts hurled everything they had at us, tanks, artillery, railroad guns, buzz bombs, and plenty of planes. I counted twenty-three of them overhead one day.
I’m beginning to feel like a woodchuck in the ground so much, but when 88’s or anything else comes whistling over it makes you feel a little safer below the ground level. One time we had a big tent up and I counted twenty-two shrapnel holes in it. Then like a crazy bunch of G.I. we laughed and joked about it.
Is Dana Dee still working in the machine shop? He’s sure tight with his coffee, always had to go up and see Ben before he’d give you a cup. Don’t forget to say hello to him with my best wishes.
Sorry to hear the news about Helen, as I know you never liked it. As you have said so many times, it will always cause trouble, but you have done more than your part. Seems it must be as it always was – too darn many saying, “do this, do that.” You can’t please them all, and some will only say the things they do to later turn and laugh behind your back. I tried to make her see what they were trying to do, but it did no good. Well I guess one must repeat the old saying, “all things turn out for the best.”
Well Tiny, here I am and I’ve seen plenty since the invasion, many of which I do not care to see over.
We had some turkey Christmas, even if the Jerris did get ours, as another division divided up with us. The Krauts captured about quarter of a million Christmas packages that were headed this way, also six thousand being sent back to the States. I have three I know of that haven’t come yet.
Guess I know the house sister and family are living in. It was, at one time, the big gray house on the left going down toward the mill just before you came to death valley. Had a letter from them to-day and they all seem so happy or pleased with it, even the children.
Now don’t you worry about writing, as I realize how hard it is for you. Once in awhile you can find someone to drop a note letting me know how are, that everything is okay.
This seems to be all for now so from a fox hole somewhere in Germany, I’ll sign off with best wishes for the new year.
Chuck
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