May 16, 19, and 21, 1945

In his letter dated May 16, 1945, Johnnie finally shared with Lucile a little of what he had been doing during the war over the past eight months, though he refrained from providing specific details. This was the first time he had been able to communicate this information.

My Dear Darling Lou,

I received a letter from you yesterday that was mailed the fourth of this month with you talking about not hearing from me in a good while. Well, that’s the first letter I have had from you in a week. One reason you are not hearing from me here lately was that we started this last drive that finished up the war over here. Three weeks I wasn’t able to write you but two V-mails. But here lately, I have been writing you at least every other day. So, you shall be hearing from me pretty regular soon. About me coming home now that this war is over with. I can’t really say but things look good so far. I am hoping if I do have to go to the Pacific that I go by home for a thirty-day furlough. A lot of guys will get them before they go there or maybe I might stay here for Army occupation. I can’t say as yet, lets hope for the best, OK? Yes, I bet that baby of Bob and Nell’s is growing. You talk about Dot and Drex being down at the home. What about telling them to drop me a line. Long time no hear, Ha Ha. O’yeah, I didn’t want to tell you what my job is but now that things have quieted down over here, I will. I had myself transferred out of a rifle company to the machine guns about eight months ago. I am the gunner. I was in charge of the section. But the guy came back from the hospital he still wanted me to stay in charge. But I told him that job wasn’t for me. The reason I got in the machine guns was they throw more lead than any other weapon and they will stop a lot of Germans when they were making attack at our position. I can tell you, it’s really a good weapon to have around when there is a lot of Germans coming at you. I shall know. Well honey, I will have to close to now. Tell all the folks hello for me. And write. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Robert (Bob), Nell, and their daughter Judy

The photos below show Johnnie and his friend James Lamb after capturing Germans and their machine guns. He explained to his son Randy that they used these German guns because they were superior to the ones issued by the U.S. Army. According to Johnnie, the German guns were more reliable and did not emit smoke like the American guns did when they were overheated. The absence of smoke made the American soldiers less conspicuous targets. Johnnie was vigilant—when his gun started smoking, he promptly moved to avoid becoming a mortar target. On the back of the partially damaged photo, Johnnie wrote ‘Love, Johnnie. In case you don’t know, this guy is me. Taken right after we captured twenty Germans. That is a machine gun. …’ 

Johnnie

Back of photo

Johnnie’s ‘buddy,’ James Lamb—taken the same day

Back of photo

The bayonet and case in the photo below were removed from one of the captured Germans mentioned above. Johnnie’s son, Randy, was not sure whether the German soldier was dead or alive, but he knew that his father was not inclined to take items from deceased individuals. After returning home, Johnnie gifted the bayonet to his brother-in-law Earl Stacks. Earl held onto it until around 1993, when he passed it on to Randy.

Bayonet and case from a captured German

On May 18, 1945, an additional 1,600 troops from the 73rd Corps were evacuated. On May 19, 1945, an explosion at the German ammunition assembly point in Mas resulted in one American soldier killed, two wounded, and 20 German casualties (half of whom were killed).

In his May 19, 1945 letter, Johnnie began crafting secret plans for his homecoming. His desire was clear: he wanted Lucile all to himself.

Dear Darling Lou,

Just a few lines hoping that this finds you in the best of health. As for myself, I am OK. You say Robert is in England. It looks like he would be able to tell he was if he is there now that the war is over. We won’t now. We don’t have our mail censor no more. I am at the present about forty miles from the country of Austria border. But still in Italy. All we are doing at the present is guarding German prisons and resting up. We have a nice hotel to stay in that the Germans had and as far as that we are pretty costly at the present. O yeah I sent off those guns I was telling you about in one of my letters yesterday. Also sent you a blanket which is new. It is a German blanket and I sent a German purple heart and compass which I want you to put up for me. You shall receive all of that stuff in about a month, I hope. I still haven’t heard from you in a good while now or anybody else for that matter. O yeah do you think you could get me a good pencil and a few stamps? This pen I have now isn’t mine and the guy I have been borrowing it off of is getting tired of me asking for it all the time, which I don’t blame him. I have been using it more than he has lately. See what you can do about the situation, OK? O yeah, just in case I do come home one of these days, which I have my hopes on, we are going to take off. I want you to myself for a few days anyway. I know darn well what its going to be like when I do get back. We won’t have one minute to ourselves because everybody will want to see me and talk to me and if we don’t take off for a few days people will even be at the house all night just talking. Where all I would have on my mind is you. Don’t you think it will be something like that? Let me know your opinion. Well, I guess that’s enough on that. Let’s just hope and pray I will be seeing you soon. How is Mom Stacks? Has she ever finished that letter to me, Ha Ha? Give her my regards. Tell all the rest of the family hello for me. Well Darling, I will close for now. Hoping to hear from you soon. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie was near the border of Italy and Austria when he wrote his May 19 letter
(somewhere in the vicinity of the blue star on the map). Image provided by:
Library of Congress, Washington, DC, Geography and Map Division.

After learning from Lucile that his stepmother had breast cancer, Johnnie confided in her during a letter he wrote on May 21, 1945. He expressed having many questions about women and other personal matters.

My Dear Darling Lou,

I received two letters from you yesterday. Also, one from Mom Stacks. Sure was glad to get them after not hearing from you in twelve days. So glad to know you are alright. I was sorry to hear about Dad’s wife. Honey, you said she had a growth on her breast and they had to take it off. What I want to know is were you talking about the growth on her breast or the whole breast. Or better known to me as the tits. I didn’t know a woman could live with one of them taken from her. But of course, there is a lot I don’t know about the female sex and other things about women. You don’t know it, but there is a lot of questions I want to ask you when I get back about such things which I thought I knew. But I have heard the fellows here in my outfit talk about women and sex. I found out I don’t know half of the things about such. And I am sure you can answer such questions for me. OK? O yeah, a friend of mine got a letter from his wife the other day saying that she was getting ready to have a baby. He has been over here about as long as I have. He went and had her allotment stopped and wrote her that when he did return, she better be many miles away from him because he would kill her just like he had killed the Germans over here. Boy, this kid really went out of his head when he read that letter she wrote him. And I don’t blame him either, do you? Well, I guess thats enough on that. But things like that just burns me up. When guys like him have been over here fighting and going through hell for nothing. Well honey, I will have to close for now because we are getting ready to move to another area. By the way, since the first of this month, six fellows have left to go home. I still have my hopes up. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

On May 21, 1945, 1,500 troops from the 73rd Corps were escorted to Bassano. Then, on May 25, 1945, several thousand captured horses were handed over to the Army remount service, and the 600 troops with service trains completed the evacuation of the 76th Panzer Corps and all enemy troops in the regimental zone. At 2 AM, the regiment was relieved of all military duties as elements of the Italian Folgore Group took control of the zone

Throughout the rest of the month, the regiment focused on light training, emphasizing athletics and recreation. Additionally, all battalions held solemn memorial services to honor the men who sacrificed their lives during the Italian campaigns.