Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
18 May 1963
Liebe Mutti, [Back home in Sunny Zwei]
I placed an order today for a $63 tailor-made suit from Alexandre of London. It should be worth more than $100 in the states. They have an office in the PX and are reliable and efficient. It'll take about 6 weeks till I get it. Boy I need a lot of clothes. [Uniforms were only worn on duty by the AGs. One little kid shouted, "Look mommy, there's Popeye" pointing to you know whom in a crowded PX!" And traffic would darn near stop downtown if U.S. Navy bell-bottom trousers were spotted 300 miles from the Baltic. Too many explanations needed. Better to wear civies.] I hope that military pay bill gets passed quick. All that clothing will cost about $150 and maybe I can spread it out over 6 months or so.
I'm playing softball for our office team, but it's so inconvenient having to check a glove out of special services all the time. So, I bought one for $8 today. It's not too bad, I hope to lose a little weight in the process. I'm ashamed to go to the schwimmbad with Gretchen. I'm 175 with a 37 waist (according to the tailor 371/2). All my whites need tailoring.
01 June 1963
The reason for the clothes is threefold. I have grown out of some clothing and I think it looks better with newer wardrobe. I also need certain items - necessity.
A couple days ago I did a very difficult thing. I broke up with Gretchen. There were several reasons why. We both love each other, but I believe it was the best thing to do. I put all the facts together and finally did something logical. One of the side effects of the decision improves my chances of college. Mom, I want to get several thousand dollars together and come back here to study. By the way I got an A in German 5. Herr Ludwig sent my test into Heidelberg again.
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Tonite the castle (Schloss) and bridge (alte Brücke) will be illuminated at Heidelberg. Brig and I are going over. Tomorrow we have an office picnic. We got chicken (18) and a keg of beer (60 some liters). I guess we'll have a beer game (softball) too. So far our office team is unbeaten, 2-0. I split one chicken last nite over at Chuck's house. His 16 year old German wife is preparing 6 of them, and Chester [another airman in the office] and I went over to help split them.
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There is a beer tent in town but so far I haven't gone down. It's right after Army-Air Force payday and I don't want a purple heart from the beer tent. The MPs are kept awfully busy. The best beer tents are found in the small outlying villages. Next time I'll try to take some time to write more legibly. Bis dem nächsten Mal, Ihr Steve
18 June 1963
Lot's of luck to Sondra! I hope she uses the brains we know she has. [Sister had just graduated from high school.]
Father's day was celebrated a couple weeks earlier over here in Germany. The German men go off in the woods away from their wives and families, but take plenty of kegs of beer with them. You see them pulling a wagon with beer kegs. Quite a scene and celebration.