Forrest G. Felder

1941 LHS football squad	LHS freshman class, 1941

Sent to Alabama for Training

Pvt. Forrest Felder and Pvt. Hollis Meyer, Lowell, have been sent from Camp Atterbury, Ind., to Ft. McClellan, Alabama, where they will take their training in the infantry.

Pvts. Hollis Meyer, Forrest Felder and James Marshall, who have been taking their basic training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, have completed their required training and are now at home here on furlough. When they return to duty they expect to go to the east coast.

The Arthur Felders have received word from their son, Pfc. Forrest Felder, stating that he had arrived safely in France and that he was still feeling fine.

The following letter was written by Pvt. Forrest Felder, who is stationed in Germany, to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Felder:

June 4, 1945
Salzburg, Germany

Dear Folks:

How is every little thing over there? You probably have my letter by now saying I was in the hospital. I just got out day before yesterday. I was there for about three and a half weeks--a 25-calibre pistol I was holding went off and went through my finger. It missed the bone and healed up right away, but they had to keep me in the hospital while they got my records straightened up. I missed out on my Pfc. rating because I wasn't here when the war ended. I left on the 7th of May.

The latest dope is that the 3rd will be here for at least six months as occupation forces and if we do have to go to the Pacific, we'll go through the States, so that sounds like a good deal--I hope.

You wanted to know where we have been and where we are now. So you can trace our route I'll name you the big cities we came through. We crossed the Rhine near Worms. I caught up to the outfit the last of April in Lohr. (Silent H). Then we took Nurmberg, Bamburg and sundry small places in between. Thence to Augsburg, Munich, down the Autobahn or superhighway to Hitler's home in the Austrian Alps. That's where I left to go to the hospital. We're about 15 miles from there now. This is awfully pretty country down here. We're in a valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks, practically. Co. L has a castle all to itself out in the country. Built about three hundred years it has been remodeled several times but is still the real thing, surrounded by a moat and with battlements built into the walls on top. It has high ceilings and fancy wood paneling, hardwood floors and fancy old furniture of all kinds. It's extremely high class. That's why Co. L got it--and besides that, it's out in the woods where we can't bother anything.

Your packages came, (that is the calculus book and pen and magazines, which you don't need to send becasue the Red Cross always gets them, especially the R.D. and Coronet). The candy and cigarettes did not come. Keep sending some now and then if you can. They'll get here pretty soon now.

Anything else you wanna know? If so, see your draft board--they've got everything.

It's pretty dead around here now. We're doing a little drill, not much, and playing ball, volley ball and swimming and such stuff. Our top kick came back from the hospital today, where he had been laid up with pneumonia or something and had just left company in a jeep when they had an accident and now he is back in the hospital, but this time is not expected to live. The driver of the jeep has already died. Moral of the story: "Life is rough all over." Tell Bonnie if she ever needs a story with such a moral to feel free to use it, though I imagine she could find plenty right at home to prove that point.

Enough of this fiddle-faddle. I will sign off. If you can't read this or understand it, there are two things you can do. One is two. No! One is wait till I get home or see your chaplain. Hoping to hear from you soon on this matter. I remain, Pvt. (spelled Private).

P.S. I got about 40 letters from you when I got back from the hospital. They were very much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

P.F.C. Forrest Felder arrived home last Friday after serving ten months overseas. He was in the 3rd Division with the army of occupation, since the end of the war. He has re-enlisted for 3 years in the Quartermaster Coprs, and after a 90-day furlough will be sent to Alaska.