Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
18 May 1964
Boy, am I lazy! Since I started the other half of this letter we had an office picnic and a bier tent and a carnival came to town. The weather has been splendid. I guess I'll have to start sending postcards so you can get mail from me on a regular and timely basis. I know how frustrating it is to look in an empty mailbox.
The picnic was just fine. We had about 30 - 40 people with all kinds of food. There were over 200 wurst and two kegs of Parkbräu (104 liters). We played softball and had a good time.
I had a letter from Dick Coleman and I told him I'd take a little leave so we could get together to chew the rag [i.e. just to "talk." Ever wonder about the origin of that phrase that has gone out of style?].
For the last few paydays I've tried to buy a pipe. I now have five pipes and am actually enjoying smoking a pipe. It's helping me stop biting my nails. [Hmmm, nails or cancer?] I haven't and don't intend to smoke cigarettes or cigars.
I just can't get over how beautiful the weather has been lately. I'm looking forward to a fine summer. Presently I have about 44 days of leave accrued and will earn another 30 before I get out in July 1965. I plan on selling about 60 back to the Navy.
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28 May 1964 [Postcard featuring a smiling monk with a mug of Parkbräu Pirminator, ein helles Bockbier von ausgezeichneter Güte und Bekömmlichkeit, i.e. a damn good bier that'll knock ya on your arse. This strong bier, historically, was brewed seasonally to sustain the monks who were forbidden to eat during the long Lenten period.]
09 June 1964 [Postcard]
Right now I'm on leave. I don't have much money to take a trip so I'm just enjoying the sun and bikinis here in Zwei. I have nothing against marriage, but I wouldn't want it to happen to me any sooner than 1966 (earliest). I attempt to blend caution with discretion. Please wish Bill Tice luck and happiness for me. [Bill was a backyard neighbor who probably just got married.] I guess I'll go down to the Rosengarten and read this morning, and possibly boating or swimming later.
10 July 1964 [Postcard]
Everything is OK here. I spent some time over the "fourth" in Amsterdam and had a good time! Bier tents and music festivals are now prevalent, so I'm having a good time. How are the kids behaving? Thanks for the candy. Everybody in the office thought it was good too. Will try and send out some birthday cards.
21 July 1964 [Postcard ]
Everything is fine here. Presently, after a bout with the numerous Fests & picnics, I'm two days on the wagon. While I'm on the wagon I'm also cutting down on my consumption of food. I hope to lose a few pounds. [Only way the spendthrift will lose a few pounds is by visiting England.] I had a physical last week. I'm 5'10" - 185 lbs. That's just a little too much around the middle. Isn't there anything that can be done for Grandma? Do they still make "Prof. Schnitzel" records? There's a new AG2 [Ed Lahnstein from Shamokin area] in from the Penna Dutch country and we crack up the office with our Penna Dutch dialect, but we need more ammo. Take life easy as possible.
26 July 1964
Everything is going OK here. The weather is nice and hot for Germany. I've been on the wagon for six days, and I've even imposed a diet upon myself. Gretchen will be back from Austria and Italy and I want to surprise her. It sure takes a lot of unadulterated willpower.
I've started playing softball in a new fast-pitch league on post. It's pretty good ball and I'm enjoying it and getting a bit of exercise. I'm playing catcher and doing a little (so far) better than I expected.
I haven't seen any monokinis or topless bathing suits here; are they wearing any in Lebanon? I guess not.
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Boy with all those race-riots going on I'm not sure I want to return to the states. Too bad people can't grow up and act like mature adults. [If only the dynamics leading to those race riots or uprisings in New York and elsewhere were so simple! Bigotry and greed have inherent or built in advantages to suppress justice or equality. The bigots golden rule: He who makes the rules gets the gold.]