Letters Home
Four Letters Harry Welsh Never Sent and One He Did
Harry Welsh/Dick Winters, PG

1.

Dear Kitty,

I’m now officially a paratrooper and I guess that means I’m going to go to war after all. I’ll come back though. I promise. I know you worry. If I tell you something about this company it might make you feel better.

It’s the toughest company in the army, I swear. We run this hill, Currahee. Everyday I’d guess. The mantra is “Five Miles Up, Five Miles Down” and hearing the whole company singing (or more likely cursing the day Sobel was born) is quite something.

I should probably tell you about Sobel. The sorriest excuse for an officer I’ve ever seen. Actually that’s a bit harsh. He’s fine at making the men hate him. And they all work twice as hard just to prove it to Sobel. I don’t trust him though. Once we get out of Boot Camp. He may be fine at making everyone hate him, and turning them into the best soldiers they can be but in the field I don’t think he’ll be able to cut it.

I’d feel better if the First Lieutenant Winters was in charge. Dick is the kind of soldier soldiers revere. And he isn’t even a career military man. Somehow he can command the respect of the men and his fellow officers at the same time. I’m not going to list all his good qualities. They include but are not limited to punctuality, weapon proficiency and a desire to create the best soldiers he can, while still being a decent human being. He’s handsome too.

Love, Harry

2.

Dear Kitty,

I jumped into Europe. That’s about the only thing I can say happened for weeks now. I don’t want to tell you about everything here. I long to read your letters, full of news from home, I want to return to the absolute normalcy of life with you. I decided I’d save my reserve shoot for you. It’s white and made of silk so it will probably make a perfect wedding dress. I can’t tell you what I’ve been doing. You’d only get a letter that was entirely blacked out.

I can say that we’ve marched through France, it’s mostly been forest interrupted by destroyed towns where Germans sit and shoot at us. It’s almost exactly what I thought war would be. I wish it weren’t.

Dick is our commanding officer now. Lt. Meehan died sometime on D-Day. They figure his whole plane went down before anyone could even jump out. Dick has taken to command well if I could be so bold. He is probably the best commander this company could have. The men have taken to him. I’ve taken to him. I still think mostly of going home to you, but now I don’t know if you’d recognize the person I’ve become.

Love Always, Harry

3.

Dear Kitty,

Merry Christmas. We thought that we’d get to Berlin by now, but the fuck up in Holland prevented that. I don’t think I helped the cause very much today. For Christmas I got a bullet wound but can’t really complain since it was my own fault. It shouldn’t have been a problem but Bastogne is different than war has been. I’m almost happy that I got shot. I’ve gotten out of there. Winter is different here. I can’t explain it. There is just something about the snow and the cold. It’s entirely possible that it’s all in my head but I don’t think so.

I’m not good right now. I’m confused. I love you Kitty, that’s one thing I’m sure of. I’m not so sure about me. I know you won’t know who I am, how could you? I don’t know who I am.

It’s not just getting shot that’s making me think this. Dick went to Paris. Before we went to Bastogne and I saw Marlene Dietrich. I talked to officers I’d never met, and all I could talk about was Dick. I talked about all the good qualities that I inevitably bring out when he is topic of conversation. This time I didn’t stop myself from including handsome. Luckily everyone was too drunk to really notice and just let that one sit there. I stopped myself from saying anything else. Of course then I noticed that among the things I hadn’t said was “Ginger-Haired.” That’s not at all the type of thing someone normally thinks about his commanding officer. That’s when I was sure something was wrong. Now if I could only figure out what it was.

Love, Harry

4.

Dear Kitty,

The war is over. I don’t need to say that because I’m sure it’s been on every newspaper and radio report. The war isn’t really over but V-E Day means it is for me. I’ll be home as soon as I can.

What surprises me is the regret. I’ve become accustomed to this life. I appreciate the Company. I’m going to miss Dick. It seems the same as I felt when I left you. I finally figured out what the something between us was. And it’s not between us, it’s just me. It’s not wrong, like I thought it was, but it’s not something that I can do anything about. I still love you. And can’t wait for the moment when I can take you in my arms.

It’s silly, to think about all the things that can never be. Dick and I, if that’s even something you can ponder, is not something that can ever be. Even if he were like that, I would not be the person he would with. I’m not like that, at least I never thought I was. It’s just something about Dick. No one should be that perfect of a person. So honorable and stalwart. And handsome. I sometimes forget that. It was really the last thing I noticed about him so I guess it should always come last when I talk about him.

That all sounds ridiculous. I sound ridiculous. I’m still in love with you. I’ll see you soon. And then we’ll all be happy. You, Me and Dick. But he may stay with me always.

Love, Harry

5.

Dear Kitty,

I’m sure you’ve already figured this out but I am so happy to be able to say that I’m coming home. I don’t know exactly when I’ll see you but I’m safe and I can’t wait to see you again.

Love Always, Harry