Belgium July 29.

Dear Mother & Dad,
     Two more days and July
1945 will be no more. It
doesn't seem possible that
time could fly by so fast.
   I suppose everyone at home
is busy with the harvest
and all now. What is Harley
doing? I suppose he is
about talked out and don't
know what to do now, after
being so busy all the time.
   Since arriving back from
my furlough I have been busy
also. I guess they want to get
the work here cleaned up and
get everything ready to move
into our occupational area. I
guess we are going to a good base.

   We have been told we
would have plates to eat off
of and have beds and mattresses
again. It sure seemed good to
crawl down between sheets
at the Red Cross while I was
on furlough. I guess it is just
the common everyday things
that a person misses most.
    I had a letter from Ruth K.
the other day. She told me about
her wedding to be and then her
breakup. She didn't say what
was wrong.
   Received your letter and Harley's
the other day. Also one from
Lenore and Luella. They were
all so tickled to think Harley
was home. Luella said she
wanted to meet the train, but

due to gas rationing it was
almost impossible. Well when
I get around to get home, gas
rationing will probably be history.
   We had a very bad hailstorm
the other night. It has been rather
cool since then. Just cool enough
to make a person feel good.
   My buddy Pile is sitting outside
reading and keeps bothering me to
come and see an airplane flying
around. I've seen enough of them
for awhile. I can recognize a
plane by its sound.
   Well this is about all for
this letter. Please write when
you can. Did you find out
about the shoes I asked for?
                            Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on August 4th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is what I found about "occupational areas" in general:

For the occupation of Western Germany after World War I, see Occupation of the Rhineland and Occupation of the Ruhr.

German Reich
Deutsches Reich
Military occupation
1945–1949
The C-Pennant
Post-Nazi German occupation borders and territories from 1945 to 1949. British (green), French (blue), American (orange) and Soviet (red) occupation zones. Saar Protectorate (light blue) in the west under the control of France. Berlin is the quadripartite area shown within the red Soviet zone. Bremen consists of the two orange American exclaves in the British sector.
Capital		Berlin (de jure) Frankfurt (American zone) Bad Oeynhausen(British zone) Baden-Baden (French zone) East Berlin (Soviet zone)
Languages		German English Russian French
Political structure		Military occupation
Governors (1945)
•	British zone	F. Mar. Montgomery
•	French zone	Gen. Lattre de Tassigny
•	US zone	Gen. Eisenhower
•	Soviet zone	Marshal G. K. Zhukov
Historical era		Cold War
•	Surrender	8 May 1945
•	Allied Control Council	5 July 1945
•	Saar Protectoratea	15 December 1947
•	Federal Republic of Germany	23 May 1949
•	German Democratic Republicb	7 October 1949
•	Final Settlementc	12 September 1990
Population
•	1945 est.	64,260,000
•	1949 est.	68,080,000
Currency		Reichsmark (1945–48) Rentenmark (1945–48) Deutschmark (W: 1948–49)d Deutschmark (E: 1948–49)e Saar mark (Saar: 1947–48) Saar franc (Saar: 1948–59)
Preceded by Succeeded by Nazi Germany West Germany East Germany Saar Protectorate West Berlin
Today part of		Germany
a.	Joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) on 1 January 1957.
b.	Reunited Germany by joining the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990.
c.	German reunification took place on 3 October 1990.
d.	The western Allied zones of Germany and the western sectors of Berlin.
e.	The Soviet zone of Germany and sector of Berlin.
The four sectors of the Allied occupation of Berlin and exclaves.

Upon the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the victorious Allies asserted their joint authority and sovereignty over 'Germany as a whole', defined as all territories of the former German Reich which lay west of the Oder–Neisse line, having declared the extinction of Nazi Germany at the death of Adolf Hitler (see 1945 Berlin Declaration). The four powers divided 'Germany as a whole' into four occupation zones for administrative purposes, under the United States, United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union respectively; creating what became collectively known as Allied-occupied Germany (German: Alliierten-besetztes Deutschland). This division was ratified at the Potsdam Conference (17 July to 2 August 1945).^{[not verified in body]} The four zones were as agreed in February 1945 by the United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union meeting at the Yalta Conference; setting aside an earlier division into three zones (excluding France) proposed by the London Protocol.

At Potsdam, the United States, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union approved the detachment from 'Germany as a whole' of the German eastern territories east of the Oder–Neisse line; with the exact line of the boundary to be determined at a final German Peace Treaty. This treaty was expected to confirm the "shifting westward" of Poland's borders, as the United Kingdom and the United States committed themselves to support in any future peace treaty the permanent incorporation of former eastern German territories into Poland and the Soviet Union. From March 1945 to July 1945, these former eastern territories of Germany had been administered under Soviet military occupation authorities, but following the Potsdam Conference they were handed over to Soviet and Polish civilian administrations and ceased to constitute part of Allied-occupied Germany.

In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, United States forces had pushed beyond the agreed boundaries for the future zones of occupation, in some places by as much as 320 kilometres (200 mi). The so-called line of contact between Soviet and American forces at the end of hostilities, mostly lying eastward of the July 1945-established inner German border, was temporary. After two months in which they had held areas that had been assigned to the Soviet zone, U.S. forces withdrew in the first days of July 1945.^[1] Some have concluded that this was a crucial move that persuaded the Soviet Union to allow American, British and French forces into their designated sectors in Berlin, which occurred at roughly the same time (July 1945), although the need for intelligence gathering (see Operation Paperclip) may also have been a factor.^[2]

Belgium July 24, 45.

Dear Mother & all,
         Arrived back here in
Belgium today from my furlough
in England and I found beaucoup
letters from all of you folks
at home.
    From most of the letters I
take it, everyone is getting
homesick to see me. Well I
sure wish I could fulfill
you desire to see me, but
it is impossible to say when
I will be there. I suppose
Harley is home now, and you
all were glad to see him. Well
you can surely be about
three times as glad to see
me, because I have been gone
just about three times as long.

I had a grand time on my
furlough. I spent most of it
in London. It seemed wonder-
ful to get back and be able
to speak to everyone and be
understood. I arrived there
just one day after they had
turned the lights on. I never
thought they could light the
city up so bright. I have been
in London so many times when
it was blacken out that it
didn't seem as if the lights
should be on.
    I spent most of this furlough
resting up. I attended stage
plays and movies. I miss these
very much here on the continent.
    We flew over and it really
was a rough trip. Heavy winds

and the plane really rolled
around. I didn't get sick, but about
half of the fellows did. Today
flying back was one of the
smoothest rides I ever had. A
person could tell when he was
moveing until he looked at the
ground. It was a grand day also.
    It rained just once while were
over in England. It has been the
best weather I have seen over
seas. I am sure glad we had
good weather.
   In your letter you mentioned
Morgan Ford being a pall-bearer.
Did he wear his uniform?
I sure would like to see him.
I suppose he can tell you how
beat up Germany looks. I know
Harley can sure tell you some

things that probably will seem
as if they never could be true.
    The mail has been so slow
in getting here. I have been rather
lacks in writing also. Luella gave
me heck for not writing, but I
just can't find much to write about.
   Does it seem like a year since
I told you I made Staff Sgt?
It will be a year tomorrow. It
doesn't seem that long to me.
I guess time just doesn't mean
much anymore. We always remark
about every night. Wonder where
we will be a year from now.
I sure hope I will be home.
Well I must write to the rest tonight.
So I will close for this letter.
                           Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on July 29th.

Background Information (and comments):

• In researching about the blackout in London and the lights coming back on, I found the following 2 reports. 

Daily Herald journalist Mea Allan wrote those words in 1939 as she witnessed the introduction of universal blackout. From Thurso to Truro, from Hastings to Holyhead, Britain was plunged into darkness at sunset on 1 September, two days before war was declared. Street lights were switched off at the mains, vehicle headlights were masked to show only a crack of light, and stations were lit by candles. The nation endured this enforced darkness until 23 April 1945, 10 days after the liberation of Belsen, when the allied armies were advancing rapidly towards Berlin in a final pincer movement.

July 15, 1945 (Sunday)[edit]

• Blackout restrictions for the West End of London were lifted.^[9]

Sunday July 15, 1945

Dear Mother & Dad,
       Sunday and what a hot day.
We have really been having
some scorching summer heat
again. There is a good breeze
today so it really isn't as
bad it was yesterday.
     The first part of this week
I visited a German concentration
camp here in Belgium. It is
like the pictures a person
sees in papers and then says
to himself, "it isn't true, no
person could be so cruel and
do such horrible things." But
it is all true. It is hard to
believe it when it is right
there before you. Of course it
is all cleaned up now, but

the rooms, building and the
marks still remain.
     The last part of the week I
had a very nice trip up the
Meuse River Valley. It was
very pretty trip. I enjoyed it
very much. Next week, beginning
tomorrow I am haveing a furlough
in England. So I guess I am
getting my share of vacations
this July. We fly from here
to England and where we
hit England is right near the
White Cliffs of Dover. They
all say it is very beautiful
from the air so I can tell you
better when I get back from there.
     I suppose Harley is home
now, or will be shortly. I
would have like to seen him.

     I suppose he will tell you
all about his experiences. Gosh
I sure would like to get home.
Sometimes I get so discouraged
it seems like I will never get
home. This point system is
no good anyway a person looks at
it. A fellow that stayed out of
the army, married and had a kid
or two had twelve points
to begin with and I had to be
in the army a year to get that
many. We being in a rear
echlon aren't awarded any battle
stars. Headquarters has written
directly to the Sec. of War about
this matter. They want all
parents to write the congress
men about the fellows that have
been overseas over two years

and not enough points to get
 out. Sometimes I feel as if I
never will see home again.
It will be two years Tuesday
since I was in the U.S.
     The book you sent me has
finally arrived. Our mail has been
slow again. I hope to have some
mail today. I am writing this
at the shop. I am on the skelton
crew that is working today.
     We have a German Transport
plane here. They are getting it
ready to fly to the U.S. direct to
Patterson Field. It can carry
90 completely exquiped soldiers.
How I would like to steal a
ride on it. It is the biggest
plane I have every seen.

     Well I haven't any news to
write about. It is hard to write
anymore. I will write more after
the mail comes.
     Well as usual no mail for
me again today. It will be
 a week now before I will
be here to receive my mail.
It has been a scorcher of a
day. Those little oatbugs
are driving everyone crazy.
It has been so hot today
everyone is laying around just
with there shorts on. It looks
like a nudist camp. Tonight

it has clouded over and just
now the wind has started
to blow a gale. It looks like
we are in for a storm now.
     England has had one of the
worst storms in history the
last two days.
     Well mother, I won't write
to the rest of the folks until
after my furlough is over.
You can tell them all the
news. Goodnight for now.
                    Love
                         Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on July 24th

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is some information about the concentration camp that was probably the one Ralph visited.

World War 2 Concentration camp 20' drive from Brussels, Belgium

I guess most visitors to Brussels and Antwerp (or Belgium for that matter) come for the Grand Place, Bruges, beer and mussels (not forgetting our world famous Belgian Fries with mayonnaise). However there is a stunning piece of World War 2 history not even a 20' drive from Brussels (just off the A12 highway to Antwerp). Stunning in more ways than one. Tragic and sad to observe how cruel mankind can be and what atrocities they managed to inflict on other human beings but at the same time a reminder for our future generations (I took my young children with me) of the past.

The fort is easily accessible and the (DIY) tour (with a headset with four languages English, French, Dutch and German) is excellent with numbered markers along the way which you type into your set, which then triggers individual audio recordings as you go through the Fort.

There are cells, torture chambers, photos, videos, memorabilia of the villains, victims and their historical contribution to Fort Breendonk's dark history. The walk-about (follow the signposts and numbers) takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours is well worth a visit.... Please check out their excellent website as well http://www.breendonk.be. Family visits come in at Euro 25 including 4/5 family members, otherwise Euro 8 per person. Open 7/7 days. 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g1973658-d1806804-r169476494-Fort_Breendonk-Willebroek_Antwerp_Province.html#

•  Map of German concentration camps in France & Belgium

• Map of Meuse River Valley

• German transport plane and information:
  

Role	Heavy transport
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt A.G.
First flight	January 20, 1942
Introduction	1943
Retired	1944
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Produced	1942–1944
Number built	198
Developed from	Messerschmitt Me 321

• Information on Patterson Field (Dayton, OH) and a photo from 1943:

Patterson Field[edit]

Patterson Field named for Lt Patterson was designated on 6 July 1931 as the area^[specify] of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Fairfield Air Depot, Huffman Prairie, and Wright Field's airfield). Patterson Field became the location of the Materiel Division of the Air Corps^{[citation needed]} and a key logistics center and in 1935, quarters were built at Patterson Field^[3]:350 which in 1939 still "was without runways…heavier aircraft met difficulty in landing in inclement weather."^[12]:7 Wright Field retained the land west of the Huffman Dam and became the research and development center of the Air Corps.^[13]

Pre-war events[edit]

Engineering and flight activities of the two installations after the designation of Patterson Field included numerous aviation achievements and failures prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor:

firing at ground targets with a new synchronized-through–the–propeller machine gun.^[15] Patterson's grave and memorial arch is at Woodland Cemetery and Aborateum in Dayton, Ohio.^[16]

World War II[edit]

National Park Service marker for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

The area's World War II Army Air Fields had employment increase from approximately 3,700 in December 1939 to over 50,000 at the war's peak.^[17] Wright Field grew from approximately 30 buildings to a 2,064-acre (8.35 km²) facility with some 300 buildings and the Air Corps' first modern paved runways. The original part of the field became saturated with office and laboratory buildings and test facilities. The Hilltop area was acquired from private landowners in 1943–1944 to provide troop housing and services. The portion of Patterson Field from Huffman Dam through the Brick Quarters (including the command headquarters in Building 10262) at the south end of Patterson Field along Route 4 was administratively reassigned from Patterson Field to Wright Field. To avoid confusing the two areas of Wright Field, the south end of the former Patterson Field portion was designated "Area A", the original Wright Field became "Area B", and the north end of Patterson Field, including the flying field, "Area C."

In February 1940 at Wright Field, the Army Air Corps established the Technical Data Branch (Technical Data Section in July 1941, Technical Data Laboratory in 1942). After Air Corps Ferrying Command was established on 29 May 1941, on 21 June an installation point of the command opened at Patterson Field.^[18]:144 The Flight Test Training unit of Air Technical Command was established at Wright Field on 9 September 1944 (moved to Patterson Field in 1946, Edwards AFB on 4 February 1951). Two densely populated housing and service areas across Highway 444, Wood City and Skyway Park, were geographically separated from the central core of Patterson Field and developed almost self-sufficient community status. (Wood City was acquired in 1924 as part of the original donation of land to the government but was used primarily as just a radio range until World War II. Skyway Park was acquired in 1943.) They supported the vast numbers of recruits who enlisted and were trained at the two fields as well as thousands of civilian laborers, especially single women recruited to work at the depot. Skyway Park was demolished after the war. Wood City was eventually transformed^[when?] into Kittyhawk Center, the base's modern commercial and recreation center.

In the fall of 1942, the first twelve "Air Force" officers to receive ATI^[specify] field collection training were assigned to Wright Field for training in the technical aspects of "crash" intelligence (RAF Squadron Leader Colley identified how to obtain information from equipment marking plates and squadron markings.^{[citation needed]} In July 1944 during the Robot Blitz, Wright Field fired a reconstructed German pulse-jet engine^[19] (an entire V-1 flying bomb was "reversed engineered" [sic] by September 8 at Republic Aviation.)^[20] The first German and Japanese aircraft arrived in 1943, and captured equipment soon filled six buildings, a large outdoor storage area, and part of a flight-line hangar for Technical Data Lab study (TDL closed its Army Aeronautical Museum). The World War II Operation Lusty returned 86 German aircraft to Wright Field for study, e.g., the Messerschmitt 262 jet fighter, while the post-war Operation Paperclip brought German scientists and technicians to Wright Field, e.g., Ernst R. G. Eckert (most of the scientists eventually went to work in the various Wright Field labs.)^{[dubious – discuss]}

The Army Air Forces Technical Base was formed on December 15, 1945, when Wright Field, Patterson Field, Dayton Army Air Field in Vandalia and Clinton County AAF in Wilmington merged. After the USAF was created, the base was renamed Air Force Technical Base in December 1947 and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in January 1948.. The former Wright Field became Area B of the combined installation, the southern portion of Patterson Field became Area A, and the northern portion of Patterson Field, including the jet runway built in 1946-47, Area C.AAF and USAF base[edit]

Belgium July 8.

Dear Mother & Dad,
       July 8th already, gosh how
the time sure flies lately. Fourth
of July was a quite [sic] day for me.
We didn't have to work so
in the morning I just slept
and laid around our tent. In
the afternoon I took a trip
by plane down to Rheims
France. We can get a ride
in a plane almost anytime
we wish to take a ride now.
I can go almost anywhere
on the continent in a plane.
    Fourth of July I received a
letter from Harley written June
28. He said he was at
LaHavre France. So I decided
maybe he would still be there.

I pulled a few strings and
got traveling order down there.
I got there Friday night and was
informed he had sailed July 2. I
sure would have liked to see
him. I don't know what his
hurry was. He should stay here
awhile. Seems like he just got
here. I am glad though he was
able to get home. Maybe someday
I will get lucky.
       I guess I am going to get a
change of scenery soon. I am
suppose to go into Germany.
I guess it is where Harley
just left.
     Today I received four letters.
One from, Luella, Lenore, Freeman
and Donna Staup. I sent Donna
some pictures and she thinks

I still look the same. Well I guess
I am. I still weigh the same. I
don't suppose you will see much
change in me, as I will probably
see more in the folks back there.
     Tomorrow I am going on a short
trip to visit a German prison
camp. I will tell you about it
in my next letter. I try to see
as much as this as I can.
All I know about this war is
what the air war was like. Now
I have a chance to see what the
people had to go through. I suppose
Harley can tell you plenty, because
infantry saw plenty of it.
     I can't think of much more to
write for this letter. I suppose
Morgan Ford was glad to get back
home again. I sent a letter to him.


The next letter will be posted on July 15th.

Background Information (and comments):

• The letter ended abruptly; I'm guessing the final page was not returned to the envelope after it was read.
• Rheims is the old spelling. Both Reims and Rheims are used in English, although Reims seems more common.
• The distance from Louvain Belgium to Reims France is about 300 km (186 mi.) by roadway. These are the cities Ralph flew between on the 4th of July.
• The distance from Louvain Belgium to Le Havre France is about 429 km (267 mi.) by roadway. These are the cities where Ralph was located on July 6th and where his brother Harley departed from on July 2nd.

Reims

City in France

Reims is a city in northeastern France's Grand Est region. It's the unofficial capital of the Champagne wine-growing region, and many of the champagne houses headquartered there offer tastings and cellar tours. For more than 1,000 years, French kings were crowned at its Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. This grand cathedral is known for its stained-glass windows and Gothic carved portals, including the Smiling Angel.

Le Havre

Commune in France

Le Havre is a major port in northern France's Normandy region, where the Seine River meets the English Channel. It's joined to the city across the estuary, Honfleur, by the Pont de Normandie cable-stayed bridge. Following WWII, Le Havre's heavily damaged city center was famously redesigned by Belgian architect Auguste Perret. Today it features many landmark examples of reinforced-concrete architecture.

Belgium July 1, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad,
    Received you letter of June 19
a few days ago. I am glad you
have received my letter telling of
my experiences. Of course I can
go into detail much more
when I am able to see you
inperson.
     Well after finding out where
Harley was at I receive a letter
this week saying he had
moved to Bamberg Germany. The
way his letter stated it didn't
sound like he would be there
long. I really don't know where
he will be at anymore. It
took his letter 20 days to
reach me.
     Yes, the picture I sent you

of myself was taken when
it was cold. It was below zero
when it was taken. After the
plane left us it was sent to the
bomb group. It was on its
first mission after being repaired
by us. It went down or was
just shot to piece in the air
over the target. Many of the ships
I know about have gone through
a lot.
     Well this year of 1945 is
half gone already. It really don't
seem possible. Time really does
go by fast over here. To fast. I
am getting to darn old.
     I must write to Audrey soon.
It seems as if I never can
find anything to write about
anymore. I have told you

about my travels and what
I have been doing. I guess it is
just routine business all the time.
     Gosh I won't know the neighbor
hood when I get home. You folks
have remodeled the house. All the
buildings have been painted and
a new building put up. Now
Fred's painting his buildings.
Sliker will probably have his
tenant house torn down. It
will seem strange to get home
again, but it will be grand.
     You asked me if I could under
stand the Belgium language. They
speak French around here. I do
hear a little Flemish spoken. But
with what phrases I know I
get along ok. Lots of English is
spoken in Brussels anyway.

   Everyone's letters seem to come
in a group lately. The other day
I received four in one day, and
then a week goes by before I
get anymore.
    Well mother, about that phone
call from New York. I doubt very
much if you get it this year. They
really have a bunch of men over
here to get rid of. When you can
drive through camps for twenty
miles and just see tent and
men it takes a lot of time to
move all of them and there equipment.
I doubt very much if I will go
to the Pacific though.
I can't think of anymore for now.
Goodnight.
                        Love Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on July 8th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Fred (King) was a neighbor across the road from the Brown homestead. The Sliker family had a house at the corner of Silberhorn Highway and Yankee Road when I was growing up. However, I think the house at this location was built years after the war. As far as I know, all 3 houses are still standing.
• The distance between Bamberg,Germany and Brussels, Belgium is about 600 km (373 miles) by road.