At 0800 of the 24th, the bn was alerted for a move across the river. At 1000 the Bn Liaison Officer at CCA reported that the enemy front lines had been pushed back some 5,000 yards from the bridgehead. At 1600, all elements of the CC with the exception of the artillery, the engineers, and the trains had crossed. The bn continued firing in support of the forward infantry elements of CCA and also received the additional mission to reinforce CCB now moving through CCA in the general direction of Melun. Btry RO’s were with the Inf. Bn FO’s were with the tanks. Liaison planes continued observation and liaison with supporting corps artillery was maintained. 235 rounds altogether were fired. At 2130 the long awaited order to cross the Seine arrived, and after crossing at Tilly, the battalion went into leaguer for the night at 0200 of the 25th.
At 1300 of the same day, the battalion received orders to move a few thousand yards to a firing position in support of CCA outposting northwest Melun. At 1500 further orders came to move east in the general direction of Provins. At 1900 the battalion fired 157 rounds support of leading tank elements and were most effective in neutralizing the anti-tank and machine gun fire.
24 Aug 44
France.
My darling;
I tried for quite a few days to write you but there has been more things happening and more work to do and it has been impossible. I even thought maybe I would get some postcards and send you one of them each day I wasn’t able to send you a letter. How would that be? I sure wish I could do something to let you know that I was all right.
Well enough of that. I’m still not allowed to say much so will not mention anything about the war. Last night I put up my shelter a few yards from my vehicle and thought I would be safe from any rain that might come. Will just before it started to rain, the wind came. The bed-roll is completely soaked this morning. I slept in the vehicle sitting up all night. So I’m not a bit rested this morning. Larson rides in the same vehicle with me and his stuff is just as wet as mine.
Received letters yesterday of July 29, Aug 11., 3., 1, and July 12 and 27. Really a assortment if you are writing every day like you say. Betty you will never realize how a person feels here. Your mind is on home like it always is, you're thinking of the things you would like to do. Yet you don’t have any idea of time. One day is just like any other day. Last Sunday went by and I did not realize it was Sunday even though the Chaplin did his services. I sure will be glad when this is over so I can sneak home to you again. For sure you will never get away from me again. And we sure are going to start our family. Betty I honestly miss you terribly. Be good and don’t worry I’ll be ok.
Everyone is picking a date for the war to end. The invasion started on John Doyle’s birthday, the war should be over on Mom’s. Be sure you remember her for us. The best I’ll be able to do is to send a letter.
I'm waiting for your package. I sure do wonder, however, if I will ever get it. It seems to take packages a very long time to get here.
Betty I don’t save any letters over here. I burn them up. From a military stand point that is much better to do. I hope you understand.
Another thing it is awful hard to answer your letters. I receive them in every possible order and sometimes one letter is based upon another. So I don’t quite understand it always.
Well honey that is all for today. I sure wish I could be home with you. I sure appreciate a clean bed with sheets when I get them. I expect you to sleep with me too. Be good darling and don’t run around to much at evenings. It sure seems you are on the go all the time.
Betty I will always be thinking of you. I’m hoping for this war to be over.
All my love,
Jack