(Note: The following is a newspaper article from the Bloomington (Indiana) World-Telephone dated October 26, 1944, which relates a letter from Walter McElvain to the newspaper)............................
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WALTER MCELVAIN TELLS OF RUINS, DEVASTATION IN FRENCH TOWNS......................... Corporal Walter W. McElvain, former city editor of the World-Telephone and more recently taking part in the great military adventure as the American forces whip back the German troops into their homeland, writes an interesting letter from somewhere in France in which he tells of the ruin and devastation of war as seen at first hand. He says:
Quite a few things have happened to me since I last wrote you about the life and times of a struggling G.I. In fact, events have been happening so fast in the past few weeks that I find myself slightly in a whirl, wondering whether this is all reality or just another wild dream that comes after a hard day of work.
Not long ago I awoke and found myself tossing about on the waves of the mighty Atlantic and afflicted with a strange old malady sometimes known as shiprail sickness. It was quite uncomfortable for a while, but there I was, tagged, vaccinated, and stamped with the Staging Area's seal of approval, bound for unknown destination. Sometime later I was in the troubled land of France.
The first thing that struck me was the utter devastation that was has brought to this great nation. Great buildings are in ruins, and in some places entire villages have been laid waste, and nothing is left but fallen stones and ashes. How many people are still buried under all the debris no one knows. I think the miseries that France have suffered have been underplayed to the American people. You cannot appreciate it in full until you have seen it. Take the city of Bloomington and pound it from the air for months, then turn the artillery loose on every building and home that is left and you have an idea of how some of these places look to us now.
I was particularly interested in the people, that is, the ones that are left. You notice as you ride along the roads, that the people look old beyond their years and their sagging shoulders carry many silent griefs. But, as they stand there in their clumsy wooden shoes, they can still smile and wave at the incoming American doughboys who have come at last, even if a bit late. For the French peasants, many of whom still wear berets and ride bicycles, if they were able to hide them from the Nazis, are a friendly people. They raise their potatoes, apples, and various vegetables in their miniature gardens and bundle them off to market via the old mule and cart.
This is a hard war and possibly a good way from being over yet. Casualties here have been heavy. What we fear most are the booby traps and the various anti-personnel mines which the Germans have left behind. These dangers lurk in every field and hedge, every road and house. The toll of lives taken in this way is heavy, even among the French civilians. Most of the spots we bivouac in have been cleared as far as the hedgerows. Then there are the enemy snipers still working behind the lines and dressed as French civilians. They are a clever lot and hard to distinguish from the Frenchmen.
Haven't received an issue of the paper since I arrived here but am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first copy. Ross Bartley assures me that things are going well back in the home town. One other thing -- too much cannot be said about the great work the Red Cross is doing over here. This organization can be called the best friend of the overseas soldier.
Hoping to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Walter McElvain
September 30, 1944
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