Conditions were brutal for LaRiviere, who
lost close friends during the war. His unit
is credited with 281 days of continuous
fighting—many spent in frozen clothing and
soggy boots. “Haven’t been able to write for
a while, but am still fine and dandy … This
is a sloppy looking letter but all my
paper is wet and almost ruined. Only
lately could we tell where we are
now. Was debating whether to
tell you or not—after what you
said about worrying. Your guess
was right Mom—but we are
in Germany now—with Patton’s
3rd Army.” – John Robert
LaRiviere,
February 13,
1945,
letter home.