Wendell Ralph Lutes and His Tour of Duty in World War Two Europe.

The following are a series of excerpts from letters sent home by Wendell Ralph Lutes (Tech 4, 6287603), to his wife in Fayette County, Ohio, USA, telling the on-going story of his service in the European Theatre during World War II. The original letters are in the collection of his daughter, Kitturah B. Lutes Westenhouser. I have excluded the salutation and signature lines and some personal details. hv

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W R Lutes, Tec 4, 6287603

Hq Btry, 775th FA Bn

APO #5384, c/o Postmaster

New York, New York

++Letter, 27 June, 1944:++

“…We are at a fairly decent camp – with trees [Camp Miles Standish, Taunton, Mass.]. I like that…They have a rather decent Service Club with good hamburgers and milk shakes.

“The heat here is also not so damn intense as it was at Beale and I frankly like the housing better…

“I know how you like to get letters from me when I’m away – and I know that each letter you get is going to leave you disappointed. But every time I think of something to write I say ‘What the Hell. The censor’ll only cut it out.’”

++Letter, 30 June, 1944:++

“I don’t think that I’ll be able to write for a while, however, don’t worry.

“Think that I’ll eat at the Service Club tonite and PX (Post Exchange) and shower good. I had my hair cut (darn near GI) this morning and look like a peeled potato. What little heat we have around here is sorely felt.

“The Sergeant Major has just stepped out to make a tour of the area. ‘To make a tour of the area’ may mean anything from stepping over to the PX for a beer, to getting a cup of coffee, or ‘to make a tour of the area.’ It’s one of the most over-worked phrases in the army and covers a multitude of sins…”

[Handwritten on same letter, July 1, 1944]: “Am aboard ship in the Eastern seaport – will write as soon as I can…”

++Letter, 20 May, 1945:++

“I left the states July 1st, 1944 from Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, and sailed from Boston Harbor on the SS Wakefield (formerly the liner Manhattan). (https://www.fold3.com/title/890/unit-history-uss-wakefield-records )

“We arrived in Liverpool Harbor, England, the 7th day and went by train to Chepstow, Wales where we were [put-up in] barracks at the Chepstow Race Course…”

NOTE: In a newspaper article from the “Jackson County Banner,” 9 August, 1944, p.4, it’s mentioned that Lutes is attached to a field artillery unit for two months. I believe this to be the 176th Field Artillery Battalion, which boarded the USS Wakefield on the same day (1 July 1944), 08:00 hrs., and landed in Liverpool Harbor, England (Wales), at 16:15 hrs., on 9th July 1944. It too, was billeted at Chepstow Race Course for the duration of its stay in England.

++Letter’s date censured:++

“FROM SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND

“Following arrival in this country we had a very enjoyable train trip [‘from Liverpool, England’ censured out] to our present station [Chepstow, Wales]. From what we are informed it doesn’t rain all the time in England but it does rain seven days a week. Naturally the grass and trees are all green. I have written to Marvin [Wendell’s youngest brother] and am going to try to get to see him, if I can – for a few hours.

“Soap is very difficult to get here as well as razor blades, smokes, matches, etc. However, I have plenty of every thing that I will need…

“As one of the officers said while we were still in [Chepstow, Wales, censured out] ‘Some of you men may get passes to go into [town name censured] I like that town. I like the way it is laid out. I don’t know how long it has been dead, but I like the way it’s laid out.’

“I feel a great deal that way about things around her in general.

“I’m feeling fit, am quite well. The country around here has at least one or more old medieval ruins, I am told. But they could ruin some of that medieval beauty with some modern plumbing and it wouldn’t hurt the damn place a bit so far as I am concerned…”

++Letter, 1 Aug. 1944:++

“…I’m quite well, still in Merry ole’ England, and last Saturday met Marvin in Bristol and spent some time with him. He’s looking darn good – has the Air Medal Ribbon on his chest with two oak leaf clusters as well as the Presidential Citation (another ribbon).

“We had our picture taken together by some ‘bloke’ on the street and he is mailing it home. It was a lousy picture but one can tell it is us.

“We are going to try to get together again before long…”

++From a letter dated, 20 May, 1945:++

“…On 20 August we sailed from Portland Harbor, Weymouth, England, on an LST boat [Landing Ship, Tank (LST)] and landed at Utah beachhead in Normandy, France 21 August (just Northeast of Carentan, France).

“We went southwest that day through the towns of Carentan, Coutances, Granville, Avranches, St. Hilaire, Louvigne and pitched tents in the Chateau grounds at Landivy France late in the evening of 21 Aug.

“On the 23 of Aug we left Landivy and went south through Fougeres, Vitre, then east thru Sable and bivouacked just outside the city of La Chartre, France the nite of 23 Aug.

“The next day (24 Aug) we motored east thru Vendome and thru Fontaine and bivouacked at Orne just outside the city of Orleans, France.

“The next day (25 Aug) we went thru Orleans, north thru Pithiviers, then east to a spot about one mile south of Montacher (a small village a few miles west of Sens).

“The 26th we went thru Sens and camped about 1 m. west of Dierry St. Peirre (a small village a few miles west of Troyes).

“The 28th of Aug we motored north east through Arcis (Arcis-sur-Aube) to St Quinton-sur-Colle (south of Chalons, about 8 miles), the 29th we moved to Longevas (east of Chalons about 5 miles).

“The 31st Aug we moved east to Vermancourt (about 15 miles NW of Bar-le-Duc, France.

“The next time I write I’ll continue on from here and try to give you my moves from 31 August 1944.

“Unless you have a very good atlas you may not be able to find these towns but on second thought, I’m cutting a strip out of my map which I used until 19 Sept to get me to Blenod-les-Ponta-Mousson. I’ll send a strip cut from another map in my next letter. (Save these map strips – they are the only record I have been able to keep).”

++From an undated letter:++

“The school I was attending was the Infantry OCS and we students were housed in the buildings, which, in France’s heyday, were a part of her artillery school and were used by the Germans during the occupation as barracks.

“I am now in the barracks built in the heart of the city of Fontainebleau by Henry IV for his guards.

“Just before I was eliminated, we went out to a camp near Milly for 10 days and then spent 3 days in the Chateau of Cardinal Richelieu at Fleaury-En-Bieure – just a few miles from Fontainebleau.

“We left Fontainebleau 25 May 1945 and came thru Paris to Luxembourg City (arrived the 26th) and then southeast 23 miles to Theonville, France, to the 332nd Reinforcement Company, APO 545.”

++Letter, 11 Sep. 1945:++

“By the time this letter reaches you I will have left this camp at Rothenbach b. Wolfgang and will be at the 90th Reinf. Bn. at Schwabach, APO 873, c/o PM, NY, NY.

“This camp, and battalion, has been disbanded and the Bn Sgt Major, the Classification Sgt Maj., the Personnel Sgt Major (the last is me, believe it or not. I’ve been that for the past 3 wks. now), plus one truck driver and 2 officers are the only ones who remain here. We also will leave as soon as we can get things straightened up.

“…Frankly, I expect to be in America within the next 2 or 3 months at the most. As you know I have 75 points with the prospect looking very good of having 5 more – which would make - [rest of letter missing].”

++Letter, 14 Sep. 1945:++

“I am enclosing some pictures taken in Nuremberg of the Hitler Stadium & city. Everywhere in the stadium that a swastika was, formerly, now is a large 3rd Army ‘A’.

“Only four men and 2 officers are left at the 93rd now and Monday or Tuesday we will go to the 90th (so – I am using that address).

“Mail – has once more stopped coming incidentally.

“I was told today that I should be on the November quota to leave for the states. Surely – I will be home by Xmas…”

++Letter, 26th Sep. 1945, on ‘American Red Cross’ stationary:++

“I am writing from my new location in former German Army barracks just outside the city of Schwabach (still 13 kilometers from Nuremberg).

“I expect to be sent from here to the 53rd Reinf. Bn., APO 873 within a week or two. The fifty-third is in the city of Bamberg about 57 kilometers from Nuremberg.

“From there I will probably be sent to the 19th Reinf. Depot or to one of the redeployment camps for shipment to the States.”

++Letter, 6 Oct. 1945, on ‘American Red Cross’ stationary:++

“We leave here Wednesday for some other battalion for shipment to LaHarve where we catch a boat.

“I, of course, do not know how long we’ll have to lay around waiting at the other battalion for transportation, or – how long we will have to wait in LaHarve for a boat.

“We’re told there is at least 5,000 or 10,000 men there now who have been waiting for 4 or 8 weeks and there are no boats to ship them on.

“However, granted – we make immediate connections all along the way I should be back in the States within 5 or 6 weeks – with exceptionally good luck.

“This may be the last letter I can write for some time…”

++Letter, 11 Oct. 1945, on ‘American Red Cross’ stationary:++

“A bunch of us arrived here at the 41st Reinforcement Battalion the ninth of October from the 90th Reinf. Bn.

“The 41st is near the little village of VILSECK, GERMANY and is about 50 miles east of Nuremberg toward Czechoslovakia.

“++Do Not write any more letters to me++. From now on any mail sent me will be returned to the sender.

“I leave here [on] the 16th for Camp Lucky Strike in France from which I will be shipped to the States.

“I should be with you Thanksgiving…

++Letter, 12th October, 1945:++

“One group left by train today for Camp Lucky Strike near Lattaroe, France. The rest of us leave the 16th (we are told).

“From there we’ll ship out whenever ships are available for some port in the eastern U.S. (probably New York). However, some are going to Boston Harbour, and others to Atlanta.

“We are told here that we may have to wait 3 or 4 weeks at Lattaroe because there are no ships – they are supposed to be tied up with strikes in the various harbours in America.

“But – with reasonably good fortune I hope to see you by thanksgiving – [or] shortly thereafter.

“From whatever port in the States I arrive at I’ll be sent immediately for Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania for discharge…

“…I am receiving no more mail – all mail sent me now is supposed to be returned to the sender, so your letters may start returning to you soon…”

++Letter, 19 Oct. 1945:++

“We left the 41st Reinf. Bn. at Vilseck, Germany on schedule the 16th of October and came here to this port of embarkation at LeHarve. No one knows when we leave here, or how long we will have to stay. There are no ships now and of the 1000 men who came here in my shipment from Vilseck, only about 200 have 80 points and those of us with only 70 to 80 may be held here for some time.

“In the meantime, I can get no mail and am using my old address at the 90th. There is no need to write – all letters would be returned to you…”

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Wendell R. Lutes, 6287603, Technician Fourth Grade, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 93rd Reinforcement Battalion, Is hereby Honourably Discharged from the military service of the United States of America. Given at: Separation Centre, Indiantown Gap Mil. Res. PA, Dated: 20 Nov. 1945.

Wendell Ralph Lutes, somewhere in WWII France, 1944.

T. Sgt. Wendell R. Lutes somewhere in Europe.

Wendell R Lutes