Ghost Army Legacy Project
  • Home
  • News
    • The Latest From Us
    • Ghost Army in the News
  • Gold Medal
    • Overview
    • What Can I do ?
    • Letters of Support
  • The Unit
    • Overview
    • Soldiers >
      • Rosters
      • Veteran Bios
      • Bio of the Month
      • Photographs
      • Honoring the Dead
    • Selected Operations and Maps >
      • Operation Brest
      • Operation Bettembourg
      • Mapping The Ghost ARmy
    • Sonic Deception
    • Secrecy and Leaks
    • Links
  • Archive
    • Archive Overview
    • Official History
    • Selected Interviews
    • Curtis Collection
    • Nussenbaum Scrapbooks >
      • Nussenbaum Book 1
      • Nussenbaum Book 2
    • Dahl Letters >
      • Training in the USA
      • Overseas
      • Back in the USA
      • Postscript: Love and Loss
    • Katz Letters >
      • Training in the USA
      • England
      • France
      • Luxembourg
      • Germany
      • Back in the USA
    • Tompkins Diary
    • National History Day
    • Selected Documents
  • About Us
    • Board
    • Contact
  • Donate
  • Multimedia
    • The Ghost Army in Color
    • WWII Museum Exhibit
    • Tintype Photos

Letters from Theodore Katz

August 4, 1944

PictureTed's sketch of a man with a dagger ... one of the German souvenirs?
August 4, 1944
 
Dear Helen,
 
Your letter today told me of receiving the watch. Frankly, I didn’t think you’d received it so soon – by soon, I mean, a month and a half or so. Glad it arrived in good condition, except for the dirty face – and I’m sure it’s glad to get back to a normal life.
 
Right now, I’m sitting on the edge of a hay field, while some French farmers pile the hay high on a wagon – a very peaceful scene. However, the cities and villages and farm houses have all but been flattened. Ho [sic] see, any structure without scars is unusual. It’s a common sight to see a family sitting in the doorway of their roofless home (also minus a wall or two) watching the endless columns of trucks and troops and continually waving their arms. – And as long as there is a window left, it is always occupied by the everpresent pot of geraniums.
 
The Nazis left this area in such a hurry that they’ve left it strewn with their equipment – a souvenir-collectors holiday. However, as I’m sure you’re not interested in German helmets, bayonets, etc. – I shall wait until I come across something appropriate and send it on to you.
 
By now, I can imagine that you have a good tan – I think I have too, - but sometimes I can’t figure out whether or not it may be just diet and dust. After a short trip on one of these roads one can easily pass as an end man in a minstrel show.
 
Though the news is good and gets better every day, I’m waiting for word that this mess is over. Only then will I be satisfied. I can hardly wait to get my watch back. Fooled you!
 
Time to retire – so again, goodnight – on paper – most unsatisfactory – n’est ce pas (to lapse carelessly into French). I’ll have to go some to catch up. (I don’t mean on my French).
 
Regards to the folks and the “admirers” and –
 
Love to you,
Ted

  • Home
  • News
    • The Latest From Us
    • Ghost Army in the News
  • Gold Medal
    • Overview
    • What Can I do ?
    • Letters of Support
  • The Unit
    • Overview
    • Soldiers >
      • Rosters
      • Veteran Bios
      • Bio of the Month
      • Photographs
      • Honoring the Dead
    • Selected Operations and Maps >
      • Operation Brest
      • Operation Bettembourg
      • Mapping The Ghost ARmy
    • Sonic Deception
    • Secrecy and Leaks
    • Links
  • Archive
    • Archive Overview
    • Official History
    • Selected Interviews
    • Curtis Collection
    • Nussenbaum Scrapbooks >
      • Nussenbaum Book 1
      • Nussenbaum Book 2
    • Dahl Letters >
      • Training in the USA
      • Overseas
      • Back in the USA
      • Postscript: Love and Loss
    • Katz Letters >
      • Training in the USA
      • England
      • France
      • Luxembourg
      • Germany
      • Back in the USA
    • Tompkins Diary
    • National History Day
    • Selected Documents
  • About Us
    • Board
    • Contact
  • Donate
  • Multimedia
    • The Ghost Army in Color
    • WWII Museum Exhibit
    • Tintype Photos