With Uncle Sam's Nephews

Ernest Stewart Writes
From Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden, Germany
June 23 1945

Dear Ms Hinton:

   A few lines to thank you for the paper as I received my first copy today since leaving Fort Benning in February I haven't been over but a few months and haven't seen much combat but will undertake telling you about a few things that I've seen since leaving the states.
   One evening along the last of February at the New York Harbor I walked the gang plank for my first time and packed things away the best I could for the trip The next morning about 11:30 we waved good bye to the Statue of Liberty and were soon lost in the fog and foaming salt water Everything went nice for the first few days until one morning at 3 a m we hit a storm and the electric controls on a French aircraft carrier locked in a left hand turn causing it to hit us at top speed and taking the front of our little liberty ship off.
   Men in the front hold went to [into the] sea but the casualties were light considering the weather and time of day It happened Alter most of the men were picked up the convoy pulled off leaving a DE to escort us in to the nearest port.
   Moving along at 3 knots an hour for a few days we docked at the Ozer [Azure] Islands where we enjoyed ourselves until an English ship picked us up and gave us another ride to Liverpool I decided then I didn't want to be a sailor. Jumping [is[ safer.

    Boarded a Morden* train at Liverpool and dashed across England to South Hampton where we walked another gang plank for the ride across the Channel. Docked at La Harve the next morning ready for the Red Cross to feed us because we couldn't say we liked the English chow. We got another up to date train. Box cars, air condition on all ends and rushed across France to a replacement depot. There I was assigned to the 101 Airborne Division and got ready to get some new experience that I knew I wasn't going to like but everything turned out fine for things were pretty well going our way by that time.
  The 101 has the Presidential Citation and a cluster which I know they deserved altho I did only get in only a small part of It. I am enjoying a lot of sight seeing here at Hitler's hide out while waiting for a new assignment. Adolf's home is quite a sight to see but the Air Corp has demolished most of what he had built on top the ground.
   I left Germany a few weeks ago and went into Ram Sare [Ramsau] Austria where we did a little patrolling and rounded up a few SS troops which hadn't given themselves up.
   Moved back In Germany a few days ago 'and lived a life of ease while wondering what's next for us who don't have the badly wanted 85 points. We have received a Bronze Star for the campaign of Central Europe and of course was glad to get It.
   I expect it is about time for me to sign off for tonight so I'll thank you again for the paper and good luck to all at home.

As ever
Earnest (Pfc Earnest W Stewart)