It’s here! The day for which we have been working and fighting (some of us—not me) and waiting. V-E-Day! It is now a few minutes past twelve noon. The war ended officially at noon. The sirens have just now stopped blowing, and Bing Crosby recordings of the Star-Spangled Banner and God Bless America have come over the loudspeaker. There is not as much excitement as might be expected, but there is no doubt that everyone is over-joyed because the war in Europe is now over—after five years and eight months.
I believe there would have been a greater sprit of celebration here if the peace proclamation had been more decisive and unexpected. Actually, it has been very much strung out. Rumors of complete unconditional surrender have been going the rounds for weeks. Peace has been expected “hourly” for several days. A few of the boys were getting fed up with this run-around. The first definite news was at ten o’clock last night, when it was announced that Churchill would proclaim the end of the European war at 3:00 p.m. today. (Of course, President Truman is supposed to make a similar statement in Washington, D.C. at the same time, but because of the difference in time, we wouldn’t hear that until about nine o’clock tonight.) And then this morning came the news that V-E-Day would be declared at noon, 12:00 a.m., D.B.S.T (double British summer time, which is two hours of daylight saving).
Needless to say, I am very thankful that I have been allowed to “fight” in this war entirely from Northern Ireland. And I know Mom and Dad are also. What lies ahead of me I cannot even guess at this point, but we will take things as they come.
In a couple of more hours I will be off to Belfast, to join in the celebrating. If a fellow were to make only one trip to the city all the time he was over here, this would be the night to go! It’s going to be crowded as all hell and inconvenient in other ways, but this is the day; every man, woman, and child should get in the swing of things. I suppose the restaurants will be cleaned out before I get there. And many thirsts will go unquenched because of drinking material not enough, but what the heck.
I have a date with Jane for tonight, yes, indeed. Although she doesn’t drink, she has been wondering how it is to get that “giddy feeling” and thought V-E-Day would be a swell time to find out. I told her I might humor her to the extent of having one drink, but I’m not going to look very hard for a bar. I know what Mom and Dad would think. Oh, come now, folks, this is V-E-Day and I’m almost twenty-two! Ha Ha ! Jane and I are going to a big Victory Dance at the Belfast Red Cross. We’ll get out there on the floor and scuffle around! me, with my two left feet! I’ll be walking all over her long gown! but I get by. One can get away with murder in this modern dancing. No one seems to give a damn how others dance, and that suits me fine!
Jane is especially happy to see the war end. Their family (her father is not alive) has been living with her aunt since their home was bombed out in the big Belfast blitz of 1940-41.
Doris is the little blonde Irish girl who works? in our office. I was very surprised to see her photo in last night’s Belfast Telegraph (newspaper). Seems she has been entered in a Belfast beauty contest. The picture, which was taken by an Army photographer, is deceptive. I’ve never seen her as calm as that; besides, she is better looking than the picture indicates—especially her profile, all the way down! Ha Ha ! Her face is okay, but it’s her figure that is her main asset. As I have already said, this picture does not give an accurate impression of her. She was a tomboy a few years ago and never quite got over it—still plays with the boys! I got a million of ‘em, as Jimmy Durante would say! Don’t get the idea that she isn’t a “nice” girl, because she is—too nice, some guys have said. Anyway, she is a little hell-cat (in a nice, girlish way, naturally) and I pity the poor man who gets her. She’d better get a move on if she’s going to land a Yank!
My typing is a mess, because I’m tying to hurry, but I think you will appreciate this V-E-Day letter.
[letterstohome copyright 2008]