"It is a grand old American custom to belly- ache about something or somebody. Therefore we had the 'B-Bag' in the Stars and Stripes, the newspaper of the ETO. There a soldier regardless of grade could say anything he pleased as long as it had earmarks of being honest."
19 January 1945
To the Quartermaster, or Offending Parties:
We of the Infantry know and realize that there is a limited amount of space on each transport bringing supplies to the ETO, but we would like to ask a few questions to the people responsible for us not being issued any handkerchiefs for the last three and a half months.
First Question: Did you ever have to take the white flag away from a surrendering German and use it to wipe your nostrils?
Second Question: Did you ever try to wipe your nostrils with a pair of discarded socks, which were a little stiff, with a sand paper effect?
Third Question: Did you ever try taking handkerchiefs away from dead Germans?
If you can answer yes to any of the above questions, you probably know the score; but we doubt if you can.
So to the people responsible, will you please oblige us by sending your old socks (before they get too hard), your summer shorts, undershirts, toilet tissue, or any other items you might think suitable to wipe our nostrils, up here to the front?
Hoping it won't take you three and a half months to fill our request and that you are in the best of health, with not head colds while our nostrils keep running merrily along.
S/Sgt William Boner 33323258
Co. K, 318th Infantry
Somewhere in France
To the B-Bag
Stars and Stripes
I don't know where the trouble lies, but every meal that we have had in this country has been lacking one of the most important items. I mean SALT!! The only salt we get is what the cooks can render out of the bacon, but it is not enough. One GI told me that salt is not issued with the regular rations over here. I don't know if that is true or not, but why can't we get enought to flavor the food?
Food without salt tastes like dirt.
Pvt John K. Kemper 13155467
Co E, 417th Infantry
Jan 8th 1945
Germany
Dear Editor:
We read your column "B Bag" and take mild interest in the trials and tribulations of the soldiers in the ETO. We have listened to them rant and rave over such subjects as who is going to get home first, what we hare going to do with Germany after the war, and combat pay for the front line medics. But being easy going fellows it didn't concern us much and we were content to let the other boys do the bitching -- this is up until today. But this morning something happened that made us blow our tops. It was too much even for our plagmatic [sic] disposition.
We were up all night laying wire and mines, and were looking forward to a good cup of coffee. We opened our breakfast K rations and what do we find -- bouillon powder! We then opened all the other rations thinking the coffee might have been put in the dinners or suppers by mistake. But no, we found the usual lemon and bouillon. Can you blame us for being hot!
We wouldn't say anything about this except that this is not the first time that it has happened. We feel that the war workers are letting us down. If they can't put out enough ammunition and tires for the front the least they could do is put coffee in the breakfast ration!
While we are at it we would like to give some constructive criticism on the K ration subject. First, do away with the cheese in the dinner entirely. In its place put spam (yes, we still like spam). I'll bet that there will be enough unopened cans of cheese after the war littered from Normandy Beaches to Berlin to feed the starving countries of Europe for the next six months. We could take care of Greece for two days with the cheese that we have right here at our post.
Second, have two types of rations. One for summer and one for winter. In the summer rations have coffee for breakfast, lemon for dinner, and cocoa for supper. For winter have coffee for breakfast, cocoa for dinner and coffee for supper.
We feel that we know what we are talking about as we have been living on C's and K's for six weeks except for Christmas and New Years when we had turkey. Try it some time.
Sgt John W. Geforth, 34605835
Co. L, 13th Inf
P.S. This was typed on a shell-shocked typewriter.
Germany
January 12, 1945
Stars & Stripes
THE B BAG:
I have been wondering who the guy was that took the Govt for another ride. Anyhow, that is what it amounts to, this thing of having O.D. paint on food cans.
Did you ever try to open a can of corn and not get some paint in the corn. That is one item you can see paint in. What about milk, you know it is the usual thing to open milk cans with two small holes and when the milk is pored out the paint is well coated with milk so that it is not noticed. Who knows that this is not the cause of stomach cramps and the like?
Is this paint so necessary on food cans? We don't find it too hard to hide our cans from these seldom seen enemy aircraft. Does the good points over ride the bad? When they try to get O.D. paint for trucks and the like it seems to be one of those much needed but hard things to get.
Signed
S/Sgt H.D. Eaton 38007709
Serv Btry 557 FA Bn.
France
Dec. 1, 1944
Dear editor,
Being the only man in my battery wearing size 12 EE shoes I have been unable to get the size overshoe I require -- number 14. Common sense tells me that if Quartermaster can issue shoes to fit my big feet, they should have overshoes to match. It is no fun to have wet feet anytime, but in cold weather it is torture. And yet here it is the first of December and if someone doesn't help me I'll take a cot in some hospital because of trench-foot.
How about giving the right person a gentle nudge for me? Thanks.
Respectfully,
Pvt. Philip S. Wexler 14118478
Btry A, 127 F.A.
Germany
Nov 26th 1944
To - Stars & Stripes
c/o B. Bag
Two Big Feet
My feet are too big for the size nine and ten overshoes they send down.
I'm hurtin & so is a Captain of mine & I imagine many other men are too.
I know I'm just a lonely medic sweating it out up here, but how's about getting those larger sizes down here.
Pvt. Sam Deener 12158656
Co. A, 48 Armd Med Bn