James Duward Atchison ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

Letter to William Ellis Reid and Mary Ethel Bradley Reid

Jan 18, 1945
Dearest Grandmother--Dad:

I bet you will be surprised to hear from me but I haven't had time to turn around hardly since I have been over here.

Mother tells me about you in all of her letters so I keep pretty well on you that way. She told me that you all had a nice Christmas. Sure wish I could have been there to spend it with you. I know we could have had a swell time. My part of it was a little short. I didn't even hardly know when Christmas came. I was so busy. Hope next time I am not quite so busy in that way. If I remember I think I had a can of beans Christmans Day. But it tasted awfully good at that time.

I guess R.L. (Atchison)--Vernon (McCasland) tell you pretty well what is going on over here. I don't have a gripe, 'cause someone has to do the job, and I hope I am as able to do it as anyone. sure will be glad when it is over and I can come back to good old Goldthwaite and hug your neck.

I haven't seen any of the old boys since I have been over here. I think I am to far up the River though, maybe I will meet them in Berlin.

Fay wrote that Talmage Head had been killed, was very sorry to hear that, war brings great tragedy to millions of homes.

I received the Eagle. It sure is a great help over here. I think I read ever word of it, even if it was a old paper. It was all news to me. I bet Jerry and Sammie (Reid) are big fellows by now. Sure would like to see all of them.

Fay sent some pictures of the children the other day. they sure are growing. she said she might go down and spend a month or so with the folks. I know the folks really miss them. But after all her folks want her with them some.

Received a long letter from R.L. (Atchison) and wife the other day. doesn't seem right for him to be married. Didn't even dream of him marrying the girl he did, I think he married a real nice girl. I knew her nearly all her life. But understand I don't think he beat me one bit. Ha

Well I better close and write to my wife--children. Hoping all of you are in the best of health.

Your grandson
J.D. Atchison

From James Atchison
The following letter was received by Mrs Thomas Atchison from her son, Pfc James Atchison.

Germany
May 25, 1945
Dearest Mother and all,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still O.K. and doing fine. Hope all of you are the same. I wrote R.L. and Foy this afternoon and decided I better write you to-night while I had time.

I haven't been so busy to-day. Slept until ten o'colock this morning so you see I kinda' had the day off. You know me, I will sleep when they will let me. But there has been days when I didn't. We have been gathering up these Russians lately and we have them about all out of this area, so I think we will move again the twenty-eighth.

I was offered a pass today to go back to Holland and stay a few days and rest, but I didn't take it because I might get a chance to go back to the States any time and I wouldn't miss that for all the passes they could give me over here.

Mother you ask if I got your box, yes, I did and I really enjoyed it. The best I have had to eat in a long time. Although I didn't have nuch left when I split it with the other boys. We all enjoyed it.

You hit the nail on the head when you said we would really make it hard on them fish.

Hope R.L. can be out of the hospital by then. You know I may beat him home after all. But Mom, don't look for me to soon, because I just don't know when I can get there. If I hit it lucky, it won't be long. But you know there are plenty of GIs over here. But I feel like it won't be long. They called up a boy in my company today and told him to get ready for the States. He has 105 points and I have 101 with my two new battle stars. I had 91 and got 10 more.

Dad, if Faye can't find me some new seat covers out there, you can get me some down there and I will pay you for them. I don't want my car seats to get all torn up. I am going to keep the Ford. It's good enough for me and it's paid for. I have sent three hundred dollars home and have around one hundred now, and the three hundred I get when I get out and what Fay has, well, I won't have to work for a month anyhow. Ha--besides, I will eat off of you for a whole month, see. Tell Jewell (McBeth) to get her bean bowl on.

What is Wayland (McBeth) doing now? I don't ever write much about them, but I think of them often, anyhow.

Mom, we are staying in a place that is really up-to-date. It is a big mansion and has big soft beds in it, good radio, and all the extras, but we don't stay in one place long.

It has a big lake out at the back, and some of the boys went fishing with hand grenades. Boy they really blew the water out. The other day we went out to one of the farms and got some eggs and gave them a slip of paper telling them Uncle Sam would pay for them. That's the way they did the French, only they would take every thing the French had. Well, it is funny to us to get to do them that way, only we aren't supposed to. But we can run them out of their houses and live in them. They don't like it one bit, but that's what we like, anything to make them mad.

They really step when we hollow. I had some fun last night. There is a German family that lives in the other part of the mansion. Last night I came in and there was no fire and no hot water to bathe, so I goes over and asked him what was wrong. He says if we are cold we could go to bed, and if we wanted to shave we could shave in cold water. I gave him ten minutes to get the fire built in the boiler room. I went back and checked in ten minutes, and the fire was going full blast. Then I made him sit up all night down in the basement and keep us a fire and also keep the water warm. So when I came in tonight he came up and told me he had the fire going. I told him not to let it go out as long as we were here. The boys all get a big kick out of me going down and telling him. The Captain got hold of it and called me in this afternoon and told me it was o.k. to be rough on him. So that was all I needed. He better stay on line. He thinks I am the big boss aroung here, 'cause he comes and asks me every thing he does.

Well, I don't know any more bull to write, so better go and get the mail.

Vern, I got your letter this morning. The letters I write to Mother are yours also. So don't feel hurt if they are not addressed to you. I hope you don't have to go to the Army. If you do, just remember your big Bud had rather go any day than to see you go. But if you do, just buck up and do your best and that's all a fellow can do. Just always remember the Good Lord and He will see you through. When you get over here you will think of these things. It taught me a million things. There is always some one who has more.

  Additional Information:

• Military Service: US Army: Germany during World War II.

James married Foy Margaret Blevins, daughter of Owen Marshall Blevins and Maude Ludie Caylor, on 26 Jan 1941 in Brownwood, Brown County, Texas. (Foy Margaret Blevins was born on 6 Nov 1919 in , Collin County, Texas,⁶ died on 24 Nov 2008 ⁶ and was buried in Green Memorial Park, Wilson, Lynn County, Texas ⁵.)