12-Aug-44
Darling,
Things are going along well with us. Order is gradually coming out of chaos as we have had a couple of relatively light days to help get the hospital routine organized. Our cases have been serious and interesting. Yesterday I resected the third portion of the duodenum and did an end-to-end anastamosis, no easy feat. The day was also marked by one starting event - a French woman in obstructed labor was brought in. Lew did a Caesarian section and produced a 6 lb. healthy boy baby. Mother is doing well, and is being cared for by French nurses from the neighboring village. Thus was there life amidst death - the cry of a new-born babe mingled with the groans of the wounded.
It's getting downright civilized around here now. They moved an Evac. up to within two miles of us, and occasionally some infantry are in evidence. For a while, as I told you, we were 160 miles in front of the nearest hospital, and 100 miles ahead of the infantry. Several of the ambulances were captured the other day, but released after a few hours. We have evacuated all our prisoners, except a few to help on kitchen details.
The weather has been lovely here of late, bright warm sunny days with clear cool nights. Our only plague is an abundance of a great variety of insects - flies, fleas, yellow-jackets, mosquitoes, etc.
My French is gradually improving, and I can make myself understood on most subjects without too much difficulty. My German has almost entirely escaped me.
I miss you darling, - the days are stretching out into weeks. Why can't the Nazis see how inevitable is their defeat, and stop this useless sacrifice of life?
Lots of love, darling
H