This is the last letter I have from Dad's war years. It was written by
his best friend Cpl Robert Cunningham in their outfit - the 206th MP Co.
Bob & my Dad had been through it all together from N. Africa to Germany.
They were a team & looked out for each other & shared whatever food they
could scrounge up & anything they recd from home.
My father had enough points to go home finally in mid March 1945 and
Bob remained for the last push into Germany.
Bob's letter is dated May 27, 1945 from Innsbruck Austria and his penmanship
is impeccable (another lost art). He addressed the envelope to: MR. Frank
Howard with "MR." underlined 
, as my father was no longer "Sgt Howard",
but a very happy civilian instead. Dad didn't get his "ruptured duck" pin and discharge
till after VE day. As I understand the "point system" - you got 1 point for every month of
service, 1 point for each month overseas, 5 points for each award recd, 5 points for each campaign star, and 12 points for each child you had. You had to have 85 points to
go home. I don't think my grandparents understood the "point system" and expected
the Army would surely send Francis home right away since he'd been gone since '43.
It didn't quite work that way. Pity the poor fellows that didn't have enough points
and had to contemplate being sent to fight the japanese! Thank God Harry dropped
those bombs & saved so many lives!
Maybe somebody can tell me: Did everyone going home to the states leave via
troopship from Le Havre? How long did the trip take? Where did the ships arrive?
Bob wrote:
Dear Frank,
Received your letter of April 22nd, and was very happy to hear from you!
Chet received a letter from Shrader yesterday and he told us the good news
about you fellows getting discharged. We were all very happy to hear it because
we knew how much it meant to you.
Say! Your description of the good Old United States sounded very good and only
wish we could be ther with you. During the past week and a half we have sent
about 15 men home to be discharged. Some of them were Raubison, Phaff, Atkinson,
Patty Valenti, Buckhart, and Fitzwater etc. Pat Geary and Russell Owen are supposed
to leave sometime next week. It won't be very long and Chet will be on his way also.
Everything around here is getting back to garrison. We stand reveille in the morning and
have our regular saturday morning inspections. The Deputy Chief Of Staff inspected last
week and he liked the men and quarters very much. We really have a lovely place here
and it is the best we ever had. It has runing water, hot showers, electric, a big gym
to play basketball in and a large sun roof to take sun baths. It really is wonderful.
Frank, remember the pictures we took in Bruyeres? Well, I still have them so here is the
set I promised to send you. Sorry it took so long!
Say, by the way Old Boy, how is Trudy? Are you going to get married or are you going
to satisfy ALL of them?
Thanks a million Frank for going to see my wife. She really enjoyed your visit very much.
She was very happy to know that everything was alright.
See the messenger coming with his papers, so will sign off for the present.
Write again soon! Hope to be back in Boston by September, I have 84 points.
Till later Frank, Lots of good luck & happiness!!
Your old buddy,
Bob