Unconditional Surrender Germany
May 9, 1945
Dear folks,
There is no better time than the present to write you, I am sure. Along with about 5 million other soldiers over here, I am very happy. The unconditional surrender of all German armed forces brought on large scale celebrations here ... as well as in other parts of the world, I am sure.
My outfit personally didn’t celebrate due to the fact that we were restricted to our quarters here in a town on the Saar River. For some reason that I was never informed of, we were restricted while other organizations all over town celebrated. Tomorrow is a holy day of obligation, so I will celebrate then by going to mass downtown. I just finished reading two late editions of the Stars & Stripes. It looks as if I’ll end up going to the Pacific, after all. I’ll probably be among the few that won’t get a furlough in the states, either. ... I haven’t gotten my money order as of yet. I should get it tomorrow, though, and then I’ll get it in the mail. In return, you can send me a big box of something to eat. ...
I had me a German rifle I wanted to send home, but they took it away from me. In place of it, I got a German flag with the swastika on it. I’ll send it home with a few other things I’ve picked up one of these days.
I must close for this time as I’ve already written more than my limit. Answer soon.
Love,
Harold
Excerpts of a letter written by Harold Francis Swords, submitted by his daughter, Pattye Swords, of Midwest City .
