Ready to Leave Poor Italy
In a letter home, Flo writes of the strain of waiting
My Mother and Audie Murphy Ch. 25
Naples Italy, August 24, 1944. “We are in the process of waiting right now and it is very much of a strain, particularly since “our boys” are fighting and we worry so much about them. War is hell when you “sweat out” an invasion and it becomes pretty grim when you hear that someone you knew well and liked a great deal has been wounded or killed. We hope to be with them before too long.
“I have just started to comprehend Italian and will soon have to struggle with French, but I’m sure I’ll like it much better.
“I’ve gained at least 5 pounds, I am nut brown from outdoor life and feel excellent. The last two days I’ve had a sore throat and am now horse as a crow, but fine otherwise.
“My “Love life” is taking time off, too, as the boyfriend is having a little argument with the Jerries right now. I hope he will “come back” but there is always the tragic possibility that he won’t, along with hundreds of others.
“The war advances are encouraging, though to us, not as encouraging as to the folks back home. I am afraid it will still be quite some time, but about that no one can tell for sure.
“It is as hot here as it must be at home in August. We didn’t mind it when we were in the country, but in the city it is very enervating and we notice it considerably.
“I love my job and I am fond of my coworkers, so I’ve never been sorry I came over. In fact, I feel as if I’ve really been doing something.
“Waiting around is hard, but we have even a bigger job ahead of us, as well as new scenes and new adventures.
“I will be just as glad to leave Italy — it has been fun here, but the people are very disillusioning– their whole standard of living is so far, far below what I expected and they seem to have no leaders, no particular ambition or initiative. Like much of Europe now, it is dirty and poor. We have very little to do with the natives and I am more often pitying them than not, but that is wearing. The poor children — there is no health standard and very little good food — the next generation will really suffer.
“Ruth (her sister), If you get a chance, please tell Mom to send me some combs — long ones. They have nothing but cheap short ones in the PX here and I’m destitute. Some Italian stole my two pair of dress shoes, so I’m completely dependent on those horrible black oxfords. Only one package has reached me from home as yet.”
Ch. 26: https://medium.com/@tradeswomn/a-demon-enters-my-body-613f65389839
