Christoph, Wow, you have done an amazing amount of research again! I tried to figure out the outfits and never came up with what you did. That is very exciting. I must think of how to contact those outfits.
Dad never let his War injuries keep him in the hospital except for brief treatment. His thumb was injured and he wrote about it from Siegburg. The nail was scared but I never asked him about it. Then I read about it in the letters from Siegburg. I also know he could put pins in his feet and not feel anything - he would tell me that. But he was strong, tough, and determined and very fair, wanting to help others that deserved it.
Tonight I called a 4th Division Medic. He is 92. He joined the 4th in March of 1945. He did not know Dad or any of the names I knew. Was so fun to hear his crazy story of joining up with the 4th. Thank goodness I take a little shorthand, or whatever I remember of it. A few years ago he was not well and so I never had a chance to really get to chat with him. i will share more later about the medicine they used and the dental care.
I had no luck with chatting with KF today. First he was going with his daughter to Drs. and this PM he had his neighbor visiting. I did try however. What I wanted to run by him was my theory that there were 3 levels of places where the Allies were cared for. His description of his area was they were all almost at the end.
But Dad talks about, and this was not where Norton was, "Say hello to the Folks - tell them I am well and will try to write them soon when I receive an extra letter or two. Fortunately I am so busy time flies by and this all is just a little easier to take. Have all the boys writing there letters home - an this gives them something to do. For them laying in bed time goes by so slowly. I have most of my one legged boys up and around now doing odd jobs, making bandages, etc."
This was written on Jan. 3, 1945 because he says "The third day of the New Year and with it nothing new from my little home. We were bombed by our own planes a few days ago and I am not quite over it yet - my nerves are very jumpy."
As always Christoph, Thank You! I hit the jackpot with you and Marion!
Jean J