Author Archives: John
Terry Loves Uncle Stanley
December 28 and 30, 1945. Stanley wraps up the year home in Albany, NY with two letters to Dad. It seems that a few people in the house have colds. Stanley’s was so bad that he was unable to go to work. He reports that he could hardly get any sleep. “My throat was sore … Continue reading
It is a White Christmas Here
December 25, 1945. Stanley writes a letter to Dad from the home front in Albany, NY wishing him “a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year, and hope sincerely that you come back to the homestead as fast as you can. …we have a bed and an extra chair all reserved for you … Continue reading
Silent Night and Other Christmas Carols
December 16 through the 25, 1945. Dad writes two letters home from Guam, over the course of several days. The first letter, the shorter of the two, was started on the 16th and includes additional notes from the 18th, while the second letter was written on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He notes on the 16th, … Continue reading
Wishing You the Best and Happiest Christmas
December 16, 1945. Stanley writes Dad from Albany, NY on a Sunday afternoon, where Old Man Winter has the home town in his grip. Their brother-in-law, Eddie, left “bright and early” to go “ice fishing, of course”, while Stanley and his sister Anna went to church. He details the weather conditions. “This morning it started … Continue reading
This Isn’t the Army that Won the War
December 10 and 14, 1945. Dad writes two letters home from Guam where he is trying to make the best of the grind and tedium of post-war life in the Pacific. He admits in his first paragraph on the tenth, “I am fine and would feel better if I were at home.” He notes, “…not … Continue reading
Christmas Won’t Be Christmas Until You Are Here
December 8 and 9, 1945. Stanley manages to write two letters in as many days. They are both rather short with details about life around the house and news about friends and neighbors who are home from the service. Saturday the eighth was a holy day of obligation, so Stanley went to church with pop … Continue reading
You Have Been There Long Enough
December 2, 1945. Stanley kicks off December with a three and a half page typewritten letter. He has pretty much taken over the letter writing duties from home since Anna is “quite busy with the two little ones”. Even so, Stanley writes that Anna has given him a note with “some ideas of what to … Continue reading
It’s Not Like Times Square
November 27, 1945. Jae Damusis writes a letter to Dad from Tokyo. Damusis is a fellow who Dad befriended early in his army career. Joe is writing shortly after his arrival. This is the only letter in the collection written from post-war 1945 Japan. I find it interesting in that it provides a contemporaneous impression … Continue reading
This Frying Pan of an Island
November 27 and December 2, 1945. Dad writes two letters home from Guam with his “hope this letter will bring…some of the warmth from this frying pan of an island.” The war has been finished for some time, the army is winding things down at Northwest Field and Christmas is on its way. With all … Continue reading
I’ll Take an LST Headed for the States
November 20 and 23, 1945. Dad writes two letters home from Guam with “the news…as well as the rumors.” Apparently one of the rumors (from the Executive Officer of the group) is that the “35 pointers would be screened and would remain with this outfit for about 5 to 6 months and then the outfit … Continue reading