WW2 Era Letter Written by Member of the Famous “Ghost Army”.

This letter was written by a Floyd Weinrich who served in the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, Signal Co. Special. The Ghost Army is often described as “a traveling road show that went up and down the front lines impersonating the real fighting outfits.” From D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge, the Ghost Army performed more than 20 missions throughout the European theater of war in 1944 and 1945.


“Befitting its name, the Ghost Army worked under the cloak of night. Camouflage experts used gasoline-fueled air compressors to inflate rubber tanks, jeeps, trucks, artillery and aircraft that artists painted with details authentic enough to deceive Nazi aerial reconnaissance, Radio specialists sent misleading communications and even mimicked operators’ unique styles to add authenticity to their fake reports. Sound engineers blared pre-recorded sounds of military drills and movements on enormous speakers that, in some instances, could be heard 15 miles away.”


Floyd would have worked with the radio specialist since he was in the Signal Company special. The letter reads:


“Sept 26 1944


Dearest Pearl :


Received your very nice and long letter of Sept 7th yesterday honey. Sure was very happy to hear from you once again. Thought for sure you had ceased writing.


We are not out in the field anymore, we are living in a building again that was formerly occupied by Germans. It sure is a very nice place and surely hope we can stay here for some time, but I certainly doubt it very much.


Boy living out like we have been doing in all the rain certainly makes me feel awful. It never does stop raining long enough for a person to dry out good. But if we stay in this building for awhile, we will dry out. I hope.


Sure hope you enjoyed the fair. Received a letter from mother and she said she…


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...enjoyed it very much. I knew Louie couldn’t keep out of the Tavern business. For once a man gets into that sorta business it certainly is hard for one to quit.


So you are going to join the bowling team. Sure am glad and hope you will enjoy bowling very much. It is a very good sport and one can have a good time at it.


Honey you know dang well I love you very much. I sure don’t see where you ever got the idea that I didn’t love you. But you certainly have that impression in your letters. I sure can’t see where you got that idea honey. And for your information I do love you very much.


I certainly would enjoy some good squirrel, in fact, any good food for a change for we surely have been having some poor meals and very scant ones.


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When did “Red and Curly” move on the farm? I never thought “Red” would make a farmer. But one can never tell. I sure would like to see “Red” and “Curly” on the farm. Tell them hello for me. And that I intend on seeing them before long.


I sure as hell don’t feel very good today honey, I have the stomach ache and feel bad all over. If I don’t feel better by morning, I think I will go on sick call. But that is one thing I sure don’t like to do.


So the OkeyDoke opened up again. It won’t be long before it will close again for that place hasn’t a very good reputation.


Honey you sure have changed since I have seen you last. You never did like the way I wore my clothes or the clothes I wore. But now you say you never did mind. Gosh honey you really must be getting sweeter every day and honey I do love you very much.


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Just got back from a very important trip if you know what I mean and the way my stomach feels, I will be kept quite busy the rest of the afternoon.


Honey you know we can’t stay in very many towns for we haven’t much time. But honey the women as a rule are very good looking but they don’t hold any interest for me.


Honey you know you shouldn’t have gone swimming this late in Sept. for you were bound to catch cold but you have to know best honey.


What do you mean “when is my bride going to arrive”? I should ask when are you going to tell me you are married? Sure hope it won’t be to soon but one can never tell what will happen can one?


I have some pictures taken and if I can find a place to have them developed I will send you some. I would really…


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... like to send you some souvenirs but honey can’t seem to find any. But have a few and some day will send them to you. But I think I will beat them hope anyway I hope.


Just had another urgent call so now will continue to write to you darling.


Honey according to your answer I will have to wait untill I come home and then we will settle our religion question only hope you will have taken a different slant on the question by that time. Anyway I hope honey. And it doesn't hurt anyone to hope. Does it honey?


Well honey will close for now and say so long until to-morrow honey. And don’t forget I do love you very much.


With all my love


Floyd”.


“The Ghost Army pulled off its most elaborate hoax in March 1945 as part of Operation Viersen. As the 9th Army prepared to make the dangerous crossing of the Rhine River, the Ghost Army positioned itself 10 miles south of the intended landing spot to re-direct German attention. The Ghost Army inflated both 600 dummies and their own size by impersonating two divisions and 40,000 troops.


To give the impression that the 30th and 79th infantry divisions were amassing, radio chatter spread false reports about their intended movements and sonic trucks blasted a soundtrack of pontoon bridge construction, artillery fire and even officers swearing. The Ghost Army stenciled fabricated division numbers and insignias onto their vehicles and erected phony headquarters and command posts manned by fake commanders and generals. They sewed counterfeit shoulder patches onto their uniforms and boisterously discussed their false intelligence in local bars and cafes to ensure their disinformation would be overheard by any lurking German spies.


The ruse worked While the Nazis attacked the Ghost Army, the 9th Army crossed the Rhine with little resistance.


Weeks later, the Ghost Army’s mission came to an end along with World War II. The soldiers may have trafficked in falsehoods, but their heroism was all too real. While three of its members were killed and approximately 30 were wounded, the Ghost Army saved the lives of between 15,000 and 30,000 American servicemen, according to military estimates.”


“Following the war, Ghost Army members returned home and settled into careers in advertising, architecture, design, theater, art, fashion and radio. For decades, their exploits remained little-known as members followed strict orders to not even tell their families about the Ghost Army, lest a similar unit needed to be deployed against a new enemy in the Cold War—the Soviet Union.


While a few articles about the Ghost Army slipped through the censors in the immediate aftermath of the war, the military did not officially declassify information about the outfit until 1996.


Floyd would survive the war and would pass away on August 7th 2012 in Missouri.

 

Agreed!