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      A Letter Home:

             

Don Does Paris


...and Encounters Jazz Great Alix Combelle
and CBS Broadcaster Charles Collingwood

LETTER PAGES
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TRANSCRIPTION

                                                          Somewhere in Belgium
                                                          Nov. 15, 1944

Dear Dad:

          My last letter to you, I guess, was from England. While we were in France I wrote both Mimi and Betty, so I imagine you've heard of my adventures from one or both of them. I have now finally found my way to my outfit, and I'm about all settled down. It's a good deal, and we have a good bunch of boys -- you'll probably be hearing more about them as I get to know them better. Gerry Brewer, who was up at Bradley with me, is still in the same squadron, but we are in different flights.
          After I wrote to Mimi and Betty, I had another opportunity to go into Paris, and I really had quite a gay time. I don't know whether the town has changed from twenty-five years ago, but it is sure something the likes of which I have

 

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never seen. Having been in there once before, this time I knew my way around a bit better. We got in about six in the evening, three of us, and intended to leave about eleven. We left at seven the next morning! The Pigalle section is sort of the 52nd St. and Greenich Village combined, and that's where we spent most of the evening. Long ago I had heard of a French sax player by the name of Alix Combelle, so I inquired around a bit, and found he was playing at some place around the Pigalle. We found it, and I talked to him for some time, during which he lamented the long time it had been since he had been able to play American jazz. It is interesting that all the bands around Paris play only pre-1940 music -- they've apparently dug out all their old orchestrations.
          After a while I sat in with the band for a couple of numbers. It was amazing that, while I could

 

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speak no French, and the boys in the band spoke no English, musically we got along fine. After I finished playing a gent with a war correspondent's patch came over and introduced himself as Charlie Collingwood of CBS -- perhaps you have heard his newscasts. He said he enjoyed my playing and if I would be around Paris long to look him up, and maybe we could work some sort of deal. I didn't press the point, because, as you see, I wasn't around Paris that long.
My address here is 368 Fighter Group, 396 Fighter Squadron, APO 595, c/o Postmaster N.Y., N.Y. Up until now our mail has had a pretty tough job keeping up with us, but now that we're finally located, I should start receiving it without too much trouble. This is the 9th Air Force.
          How did you like the way the election turned out? You know,

 

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after all the trouble of getting my ballot, I never did get to send it in. Before I left the States I packed it, like a dope, in my footlocker, and I haven't seen the latter since. I'd like to tell you where I heard the news of the outcome of the election -- it was under very apropós circumstances. Myself, I'm very glad it turned out as it did.
          Right now I think I'll hit the hay. Write me soon at this address. Hope you're well. Say hello to Emily for me --

                                                                            Love,
                                                                            Don

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