Croix de Guerre

Ben is 18 years old.  He is at the University of Connecticut for the Army Specialized Training Program.  He’s hoping for his first  furlough.  Ben's photo in this letter on the web site is out of order.  We see now that it is really at the time he returns from the war as we learn from his December 2, 1945 letter he writes home, "A few days ago, the 104th was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government.  Another ribbon and a fourragere to wear."  In the photo the fourragere is displayed over the shoulder of his jacket.  The National Museum of American Jewish History confirms that the fourragere is still attached to his jacket.

December 21, 1943
Monday Night
 
Dear Folks, 

At last I can tell you something definite about the Christmas furlough.  I just came back from a talk with the C.O. & he told me that I would be able to get home from Thursday night until Sunday night but wasn’t at all certain about the regular furlough.  I’ll arrive home sometime Thursday night or Friday morning, all depending on what time we get out.

I really feel sorry for our C.O.  As I told you before, he’s a young handsome lst Lieutenant.  But he’s limited service because of something wrong with his eye that can’t be corrected with glasses.  And just recently in the Gilbert invasion, his Dad (a Colonel) was killed while leading his men forward.  I can imagine how he feels when people stare at & wonder what he’s doing up here in the A.S.T.P.

Don’t forget to have some good meals & please don’t faint when you see how fat I am.  I couldn’t help it up here.

Ben