Prior to the American Flag, the only things I had learned about Red had been what my Nana mentioned of him in her letters. Between August of 1946 and May of 1947 Virginia sent her sister Loretta over a hundred hand-written letters from Germany. In the letters, my great-grandmother wrote about the post-war reality she experienced everyday, and the bureaucratic nature of the US military during this time. She told her sister about the daily struggle of raising three young daughters in a country devastated by war, and about living in a community that was responsible for enforcing the consequences of that war. In regards to her husband, Virginia spoke honestly about his many responsibilities as a Lt. Col, and in some cases, she even reflected upon the ways in which Red's dedication to the army was affecting their family. 

"A 'Hearty Welcome' To Another Group of Nuremberg Dependents". This newspaper article from August 1946 describes the arrival of Virginia, Catherine, Margaret, and Marilyn into the Nuremberg-Furth US Military camp. Due to Red's important rank, the arrival of his family became "local" news within the camp.

Sunday, September 1, 1946

Nuremberg, Germany:

I went to my first formal affair Friday night. In case you don’t know it, I am the highest ranking woman in this area and had to stand with the highest ranking officer and his executive in the receiving line. I shook so many hands I felt as though I were running for political office. Red is the third ranking officer here in this area so we have quite a social life…The steak we had was delicious, the waiters wore frog tailed coats, carried huge silver trays, poured wine into delicate, long stemmed glasses, called me, “My lady” and it was all just like the movies or a dream. If this happened to me about ten years ago I would have thought I reached the heights of success, now I can see why everyone drinks too much and all the women are rank conscious (most of the men are too.)…Red doesn’t want me to do a thing but I can’t sit around and wait for a year.

Saturday, September 21, 1946

Nuremberg:

Red is having it pretty tough just now too. He has been given the job of protecting each one of the participants in those trials so that they will not be harmed in any way. Not only that, he must see to it that the press does not get ahold of the verdict before the officials say so. If he wanted to, he could make some beautiful money on that alone. Last but far from least, he has under his personal supervision some of the notorious Nazi prisoners who would like very much to commit suicide just now. He also has been given the honor of providing Gen. Eisenhower with a Guard of Honor while he is here in Nuremberg next week.

Tuesday, October 1, 1946

Nuremberg:

Tuesday October 1, 1946:
    I don’t expect Red home at all for a few days. This city is closed up tight as a drum. No one gets in or out. We can't drive or walk within blocks of the Palace of Justice. Whenever we leave the house we have to be sure we have our A.G.O. cards with us. It has our picture, finger prints and name on it and we cant offer any excuse if we are stopped and do not have it. The verdicts have been announced at last. Until these Nazis are sentenced and sent to wherever they are going, this city will be a hot seat. The mystery and intrigue seems to hang over this area like a heavy cloud. Remember how we felt when we were kids and some notorious criminal or lunatic escaped from Auburn or Willard? That’s how I feel now only Ma isn’t around to cuddle me when I get scared. We wives have been staying together nights. We play pinochle until midnight so the night won’t seem so long. This would be an ideal time for another robbery. These Germans know our men are busy and the M.P.’s are all working in the city or on the road blocks. Its exciting to be living where history is being made and even though I sound scared, I wouldn't miss all this excitement for all the security back home. I’m getting fed up on all this partying though. This gang will cook up a party with the slightest excuse…Red gets a kick out of all these parties so I tag along and try not to act too bored....

Red takes care of the enlisted men before he does the officers, if there is anything good to be had they get it first. He actually hijacked an ice cream making machine so his boys could have ice cream at the camp. If one of them steps out of line and he hears about it – oh what a disciplinarian! Col. Williams transfers all the officers who are hard to handle over to him. They come in shaking in their boots because he has a reputation throughout the division as being a hard man. I’m not kidding a bit....

I’ll admit there are plenty of affairs going on here, fräuleins can be had by the dozens and reasonable too. The “fräulein” as the boys say it, has no respect connected with the world at all. The nice girls do not go with the soldiers at all. 

October 17, 1946

Nuremberg:

Cathie and Margaret have been going ice skating at the Red Cross each afternoon. The soldiers teach them how to waltz and make a big fuss over them. They ask the kids what rank their father is, then tell them to tell their father they want a promotion. Red gets a big kick out of it all. The end has come for all the Nazi criminals today. Red’s outfit went on the alert last night. I don’t know when he will be home....

This army slays me. First Red’s outfits were to move into this beautiful new area where everything was comfortable and convenient. One of the companies were moved out there to protect the judges until the verdict on the trials were announced. Now that that job is done the company has moved back in to the Stalag. Something so much bigger is brewing that it’s almost unbelievable. My husband is not going to be reduced in rank and he’s going to have a job as big as Gov. Dewey’s. It means we will move to a very beautiful spot in Bavaria. I should feel proud and thrilled that Red has been given one of the most important jobs in Bavaria but I can only see that he needs a rest. He’s as temperamental as a movie star and it seems we all have to handle him with kid gloves. Of course I can tell him where to go in no uncertain terms but the whole battalion has to take it and don’t dare say a word back….Jerry Keller and his wife were up from Ausbach on Saturday. He has been with Red ever since ’40 and he is a full colonel now. The first thing he said to me was “How in hell have you kept from shooting him long before this.” He is the one that told me about Red’s new job, otherwise I could just guess about it.

Tuesday, October 29, 1946

Nuremberg:

Margaret and Cathie like school but I’m afraid they won’t learn too much. Red gets burned up because they have so much free time in school. They had the higher grades working in the library and editing a newspaper last week. There are two boys and Cathie in the sixth grade. They get home about 4 PM and leave the house at 5 minutes of 8 each morning. Margaret is in a play today. They are acting out Three Billy Goats Gruff. The art teachers made them masks and you know how Marge likes to act. She is doing fourth grade work but the teachers said she would work her with the 5th too. I almost doubt it as these teachers are only here on leave for a year and are anxious to see all they can in that time. It doesn’t matter too much because we will probably be moving in another month. We will definitely be home when our year is up but of course we will have to go where Red is sent....

Please write often. If one week goes by without my hearing from you, I’m lost. Give the rest of the family the news and my love. Say an extra hello to George for me. 

Thursday, November 14, 1946

Nuremberg:

Red turns over the cage (the S.S. prison) to the German government today. He will no sooner be rid of that, then he is to start moving the troops to his new area. Reg’t headquarters got the best location, the one Red was to have, but he still thinks he has the best part of this new deal. He is as thrilled over this move as a kid. You know how he is, full of plans and enthusiasm....

I'm hoping things will be a little better by the time we get home and need a place. Red will probably stay in the Army but Syracuse is still home wherever else we might have to go. I am so sick of partying, home to me sounds like a good place to stay right now.

Wednesday, November 20, 1946

Nuremberg:

Red went to Munich yesterday. I don’t know when he will get home. There are no houses available there for us for a week or two. Red’s command post is in Hitler’s house. Red has his former office as his own. I have had some information about Reds becoming a full Colonel, but it may be just a rumor. This is quite a job, the Battalion is spread from Munich all over the Southern section of Germany. As always, the wives just sit around and amuse themselves until the men get squared away.

Sunday, December 1, 1946

Nuremberg:

We had a lovely Thanksgiving. The sun was shining and the air was crisp. I went for a walk in the morning, met an old woman with a sack on her back. One of the straps came unbuckled. She couldn’t buckle it and hold it up too. I stopped to help her so we walked along together. She said it was full of cabbage, she didn’t have any in her house and came to the garden to get it. We shook hands at parting (these people shake hands when meeting and parting whether they know you or not). I don’t think she even guessed I was American. I thought of Ma and felt a little homesick. Its easier to understand Ma & Pa’s attitude towards work and religion and thrift, after living among these people. I think of Ma so much but I’m glad she doesn’t have to see what has happened here.

Saturday, December 14, 1946

12 Winderhorn Straße

Munich, Germany:

Red really has some job here. It’s quite a thrill to see him in his office at the old Hitler house (not that the place is impressive, it needs too much renovating for that.) He has command of all Southern Bavaria. There are 126,000 Displaced persons in D.P. camps, the Dachau war trials are also under his command as are all the Ammunition dumps, art treasures that Hitler stole from other countries – well just about anything and everything here is labeled by the 2nd Battalion. There are dozens of new offices in the Batt.. now they rank from 2nd Luits to full Colonels – I hate to see some of the boys leave, even though they are going home.

Friday, January 17, 1947:

Munich:

Its surprising what effect living over here has on many of these dependent wives. I read in the Stars and Stripes yesterday, that one of the wives who lived about a block from us in Nürnberg hung herself. She has a 3 month old baby too. I suppose something went wrong with her wedded bliss and she couldn't take it. She didn't seem to be the type that would do that though. The husbands here do drink too much and half of them have a fraulein on the side for good measure. There have been a number of tragedies between officers and sweethearts. When its time for the wives to appear on the scene, they try to get rid of their girls in a hurry. It doesn't always work out that way. The girls aren't always frauleins either, the American girls & the English girls, who are working here, don't help the situation along. The only way we wives can go back home before our year is up, is to file suit for divorce, Imagine! That alone is enough to depress any healthy mind, let alone someone who is mentally upset. Back in Nürnberg I heard many a tale of woe about the, "other woman". I don't know why I always have some woman cry on my shoulder but better that than the other way round. I've done my share of complaining like the rest but we all gripe plenty. I feel sorry for all these American men over here. They are going to have a hard time acclimating themselves to the American way of living when they get back home. We are all getting shiftless and lazy here. I'm going to have to learn to do a days work all over again when I get home. As far as I can see this occupation isn't amounting to much.  

As I first read these letters I could not ignore their many truths; from the wartime responsibilities placed before Red & the 2nd Battalion, to the scandals of alcoholism & adultery, and even my Nana’s deep resentment towards the Army, all of these stories enabled me to understand a world that I would not have known otherwise. However, discovering this piece of history was conflicting for me; I was glad to finally know how my Nana actually felt about Red and reading her words was satisfying, as if I were validating her experiences (and most importantly her feelings) seventy years after the fact. But I could not help but feel devastated by the complete emotional dissonance between her and her husband. It is interesting to notice how the business of facades functioned in my great-grandparents lives during that year in Germany. Nana was completely comfortable in confronting the hypocrisy of the US Army in conversation with her sister, but when it came to confronting the issues within their own marriage & the psychological toll of war, both she and Red seemed unable to handle the truth. I realized that the façade she had so steadily tried to impart on my own mother had been a life-long effort, predicated on her experiences in Germany and built in order to keep men at a distance.  If anything, I now understood this cold façade as a layer of armor, or a coping mechanism that disguised the loneliness she felt.