By the time you receive this letter, you will be aware that my postal address wil change such that instead of writing “England” after my date, I will be writing “France”. The papers should have…..the invasion news about, and I can visualize your feelings when you read that an Airborne Invasion has taken place. We just have been given the liberty of divulging the fact that for the past 2 weeks, we have been in a transit camp, awaiting our plane ride to meet the “Foe”. I have no doubt, that by now, I should have met him, and more of his kind. What a feeling – it is strange, that here in the actual it is only 24 hours away from you (This should all occur tomorrow night) and yet still seems far away. I hadn’t intended writing anything, except vague hints, which I hope you would be able to read in between the lines of my preceding letters. I dare say, you have , ----but tonight, the entire camp has been told that we were at liberty to say all, except the objective we were to take (if we do).
Please don’t picture me in the vain-glorious role of a hero. Many’s the time, these past days, fitting chutes, priming grenades, cleaning weapons, that I felt the qualms associated with an invasion. I have no doubts, that tomorrow I will reap the full rewards of all this.
I usually give way to my sentiment, but I think I will keep my decorum this time. I don’t want this news to affect you—after all. I am one of the possibily 3 million others. You should look at it in this light.
My mind has been buzzing with all kinds of thoughts since we have been first briefed. Telling us what our jobs were, and how much it would affect the course of the beachhead. You don’t help but feel these little pangs of pride in you, and when as now, this letter is being typed to the ribald singing of some night club canary, who is screeching her lungs out to provide entertainment at large, you can only feel the calmness that all this is being carried out to. Millions of people know that tomorrow’s great events will take place,and yet, it is only in our hearts, that we know it will happen. This letter is being repeated countless of times throughout the entire country, millions of soldiers, no doubt, feel as I do, and are writing as I am. Whatever they are thinking, I am sure, is also no different from what their neighbor is.
We all want this war to end – no one more than the other, and whatever qualms, we will naturally feel, will be quite orderly, and to be expected. The news from Italy is encouraging, very much so, why can we not expect the same from Fortress Europe. I am sure it will be. All I will ask of you, is to take this letter as it is being written. I am looking at things level-headedly, and am certain that nothing has been left to chance. We are a healthy fighting body of men, and have no doubts that we will take good care of ourselves, and give any hun a fight for his money. Your continued, steady writing, is all I ask for. It is the best medicine any person craves for, especially those with invasion nerves.
I don’t feel that there is much more to write at present – rest assured that I will give a good account of myself.
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