Letters To Home - March 24, 1952

Schweinfurt, Germany
March 24, 1952

Joe and I got back "home" Saturday evening about eight o'clock after a very wonderful leave. It was so good that we're thinking of going back in June or July, if we're still here then. The weather wasn't so good during the days, but it seemed always to clear up early in the evenings. It snowed a few times, got cold just one day, but warmed up again. Spring in Germany seems to be quite mild.

Munich is a very nice place to spend a leave. We did quite a bit of sight-seeing around the old town, which is pretty-well bombed out. The old town still has its old fort at each end and its big draw-bridge, even though it isn't used anymore. We went to the circus as often as possible, also went to the zoo.

We found a little night club that I believe would go quite well back home, especially in Youngstown. It was located in the basement of a large building. You went down a flight of stairs, and walked right into the bar. Off the bar was a room that would hold, probably, 40 people. There were huge wine casks scattered around the room, about ten of them, I guess, with doorways cut into one side. Inside each cask there was a table for four. On the table there was an empty Four Roses bottle, with a candle stuck in the neck. That was the only lighting for your table. The juke box was wonderful; Red Nichols and Muggsy Spanier and lots of American big band swing. Better than anything I ever saw in the states.

One night there was a small band playing; a vibraphone, bass and drums, but it was good. No singers, thank heavens. The place seemed to be open all night, though we never stayed beyond midnight.

On our last week in Munich we found an Italian restaurant, with the best spaghetti I've ever eaten, so that's where we ate most of our meals. The prices were very reasonable, too. That's the first spaghetti I've had since I've been in the army, believe it or not. We never get it in the mess hall.

Regards my income tax refund, if you can get it cashed there, do it. If you have to, you can send it over, and I'll sign it and send it back. We have a pretty hard time getting checks cashed over here.

That's about all for now. Tomorrow, back to the old routine. I feel rested, though, so it shouldn't be too bad.