Author Archives: John
It Can Happen to Our Family Too
July 31 and August 4, 1944: Anna writes two letters from the home front in Albany, NY to her brothers. Anna begins the letter hoping that Dad will get another furlough since it has been six months since his last one. She also expresses hopes that since Stanley’s “year will be up over there we … Continue reading
They Played a Joke on Him
July 29 and August 2, 1944: Dad writes two letters home from Topeka Army Air Base. The big news is that his boss got a promotion. As Dad tells it, “…I now work for Major James Lawrence Chenault. They played a joke on him. Capt. Chenault and Lt. Col. Cotter, his boss who got a … Continue reading
I Would Have Stayed… No Matter What
Before we wrap up July of 1944 with the last letter from Stanley for the month, there are a few letters catch up on from both Stella and Vince Morawski. Stella and Vince are cousin Edward Morawski’s sister and brother respectively. They share a few more details about the Eddie’s wedding and Vince tells about … Continue reading
Crazy About Berry Picking
July 24 and 29, 1944: Anna writes two letters to her brothers, Anthony who is at Topeka Army Air Base and Stanley who is at Deenthorpe, England. Anna recaps the weekend, the highlight of which was a picnic at Helderberg Mountain where they grilled pork chops, and picked some red raspberries to bring home. Little … Continue reading
Believe it or Not!
July 20, 23 & 24, 1944: Dad writes a few letters home from Topeka. In his keeping up with current events it is clear looking back that he was certainly living in historic times. Late July, 1944 is no exception. He has been listening to the Democratic convention from Chicago where Roosevelt was nominated for … Continue reading
Odd Looking Things
July 18 and 20, 1944: Two letters from Stanley in Deenethorpe to Dad at Topeka. Stanley decided to go into the office on his day off to catch up on his correspondence. They have had some “nice hot weather for a change…two days of warmth was just like heaven. …I felt like lying on the … Continue reading
The Good Old Fourth of July
July 3rd, 5th and 13th, 1944: Three letters from Stanley to his brother. Stanley is with the 401st Bomb Group in Deenethorpe, England. He writes that he has been “slipping up on my correspondence. I guess it is because I type and write all day and I don’t feel like writing in the evening.” Even so, … Continue reading
Neither Married Nor Engaged
July 1 and 4, 1944, two letters from Dad to the folks back home. Dad is still in Topeka with the 270th AAF Base Unit. As it is the first of the month and a Saturday, “The place is empty since payday was yesterday.” Being that it is a weekend he has a lot of … Continue reading
Group Party
June 23 and 28th, 1944: Two letters to Dad from his brother Stanley in England. As usual, Stanley mentions very little about his particular duties, but he does discuss some of the diversions, provides snippets of life on base at Deenethorpe as part of the 401st Bomb Group, including a big group party that was held, … Continue reading
A Lot of Love in That Package
June 26 and 30, 1944: Two letters to Dad and Stanley from his family in Albany, NY. As has become the custom, their sister Anna is on letter writing duty. Since the letters often run three or four pages, she uses carbon paper in her typewriter to generate two copies, one to send to Dad in Topeka … Continue reading