Two days after receiving the “Dear John” letter from his girl, Marilyn, back home, Phil and his men were still on a respite break. Phil had sorely needed the time to rest. On September 27, 1944, Phil wrote a letter to his mom and received an uplifting letter from his commanding general.

On September 27, Phil wrote this to his parents:

Most of my men are sitting around, shooting the bull  with each other. Mostly a lot of dirty jokes. They feel fairly good now. They have had a hot meal, and for the first time in six days, they are dry and warm.

The last two weeks have been hell. I know now what the soldiers of the last war mean when they cuss the rains of France.

That evening, the officers were given a copy of a letter from General Truscott, which Phil read to his men:

In thirty-eight days, you have traversed 500 miles and have defeated a desperate enemy at every stand. 

You have forced a crossing of two major rivers. You have overcome every obstacle that a resourceful enemy  could devise. You have…managed to move yourselves, your weapons, and your supplies over distances almost logistically unbelievable.

You have, by your successes, not only contributed immeasurably to the advance of the northern Allied Forces by preventing the movement of reserves against them but have eliminated the German Nineteenth Army as an effective fighting force.

Your operations have been a most vital factor in clearing the enemy from almost all of France.

Your country has reason to be proud of your accomplishments and grateful for the services that you have rendered.

This campaign will stand as a monument to you Americans of the VI Corps—a tribute to your training, initiative, ingenuity, aggressiveness, boldness, determination, and fighting spirit and to the leadership of the officers and non-commissioned officers of all ranks.

With respect and pride, your Commander salutes you.

General Lucian K. Truscott

Phil folded up the letter and looked over his platoon. “And I salute you too,” he softly said as he stood to attention and saluted his men, who immediately rose to attention and snapped salutes in return.[1]

~~~~~

[1] Larimore, At First Light, 153-154.

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