This is the sixty-fifth of 87 letters exchanged during World War II between Nicholas Salvatore and Elizabeth Galloway. For more see Nicholas and Elizabeth.

Surgery_at_field_hospital

February 19, 1945

This little corner of the war

Dear Elizabeth,

Thanks for the picture. You are stunning, but even though you’re smiling, it’s a sad beauty. I wish there was something more I could do for you from here. Being there in person we could sit in silence together for hours, each doing their own thing, and I would be happy.

My father has kept up writing nearly a letter a week. He doesn’t have a whole lot to say, at least not that he’s willing to say, but the fact that he has kept it up makes me think a real change has come over him. Being away from the front has brought with it the clarity of distance.

With the wounded coming here from all over I am arguably busier than I was at the front. Maybe not overall, but here has been a pretty consistent business while out there live the extremes of being overwhelmed or having completely nothing to do. It may be the same amount of work overall but here it’s much more manageable. There are still days where I’m too busy to even look at my watch and can only gauge the passing of time by the movement of the sun and the shadows.

Any new pictures from home are cause for conversation around this place and yours stirred jealousy in more than one GIs heart. I hope someday you are able to see yourself how I see you

Love,

Nicholas

Next letter – February 24, 1945