An Old Letter - Part Three

These letters just touch my heart. Here is the third one....

April 10, 1945

Dear Louise,

Well it has been like summer here today and was lovely yesterday. Our magnolia is out in full bloom and is exactly a month early. The cherries are in full bloom also. I hope it does not turn very cold again as it certainly would do alot of harm now. We have lettuce and radishes up in the garden and doing well too.

Well we heard the particulars on Milton. His Sergeant wrote his brother who works with Ruth. Milton was doing his own work as a stretcher bearer and was wearing his red cross which should be all the protection they need, they had a wounded man on the stretcher and Milton just bent down to pick up his end of the stretcher and a sniper shot him in the head. His Sergeant saw it happen and rushed on the field and they rolled the other boy off the and put Milton on the stretcher hoping they could save him but by the time they got him to the First Aid Post he was gone. He did not suffer as he never knew what hit him. Afterward they found out it was one of two women snipers that got him and they got the women. Ruth will get his personal effects or should. We do not know exactly where it happened or where he is buried but if Bill is spared we will know some day. I know his Sergeant. He had been a friend of ours for quite a long time and feels terrible about it all. He says they have no mercy on women and children now. He also said Milton was a grand fellow and well liked by all the boys and that he and Milton were about the only two that did not drink and while the others were drinking they enjoyed their tea together.

It's nice to know he did not suffer and also that he was so well liked such a good soldier and he gave his life to make this a better world for all of us especially the children.

Dad is improving and so is Grandma. Grandpa is still upstairs but sits up a few hours each day. He really seems well but his arm and leg are not too good yet although they are coming. He can help himself a little more than he could.

Mother is very tired but will not give in. She has so much company too. I get over as much as possible but she will not let me do much but I save her a few steps. Ruth and Donna are both pretty good. Ruth is working every day.

- The rest of the letter is missing. I believe Marion also wrote this letter as the handwriting is the same. I am also thinking that perhaps Marion is Louise and Milton's sister. I hope to find the rest of this letter and hopefully some more of these letters on my next trip out to the house.

The picture above is of Sherman tanks of the Governor General's Footguards near Sonsbeck Germany on 9 March 1945. That is the day Milton was killed.

Blessings,
Liisa