Author Archives: John
Like Peter the Tramp
May 22 & 24, 1943. Two more letters home from Dad. The letters about Stanley’s first furlough have finally made it to him. He comments that he “read the part of the letter where Stanley made his entrée in to the house on the first morn. Stanley sure got changed by the Army…I guess Stanley … Continue reading
I Have Seen Plenty So Far
May 20 & 21, 1943. Dad writes a few letters home. He writes his letter of the 20th from the USO in Salina, the town next to the base. He writes “I got a pass and thought that I should take a look around town.” Commenting, “The City of Salina has a very nice attitude … Continue reading
A Flower Without Water
May 19, 1943. A letter from Stanley to Dad. There were two letters from Stanley dated May 19th . The previous post covered one of them. It looks like this is the first of the two that he wrote while home on furlough. He tells about the train trip from Ephrata to Albany, noting “I … Continue reading
He Felt Like a Stranger
May 19, 1943. A couple of letters from home. One is from Anna and one is from Stanley who is home on furlough. This is the first letter that Anna writes while Stanley is home. She writes, “We are the same and so is Stanley. It seems funny to include him in our letter because … Continue reading
I am Learning Plenty
May 18 & 19, 1943. Two letters home from Dad. He starts be asking how many teeth mama has left to be pulled commenting “I remember that she didn’t exactly have that many of them as it was.” He also wishes her “enough strength to carry on.” Dad also addresses Anna’s questions in her May … Continue reading
Gzie jest mama?
May 16, 1943. Anna writes to Dad. She begins with the news that she seems to have developed an allergic reaction to fish reporting that she gets “itches every time she eats it”, and that it doesn’t matter whether it is “canned or fresh or pickled”. She passes along advice to Stanley who seems to be … Continue reading
You Will See Your Niece
May 16 & 17, 1943. Two letters home from Dad. The two letters read almost like one so I will combine them for the purposes of this post. For the first time he is able to include his brother Stanley’s name on the salutation as Stanley is home on furlough. He references Anna’s letter of … Continue reading
A Little is Better Than Nothing
May 14, 1943. Anna writes a letter to Dad. Stanley will be home soon on furlough and Mama’s jaw is feeling better as she continues to recover from having two teeth pulled over a week ago. Anna acknowledges to Dad that “even though I am writing this letter to both of you only you will … Continue reading
Blackouts & Service Flags
May 11, 1943. A letter from Anna to Dad. She begins with a quick update on mama and daddy. Their father’s right arm is bothering him, but not “so much as to keep him from work” as a baggage handler at the train station. Mama’s been sick for an entire week since having two teeth … Continue reading
I Typed My Own Furlough
May 10 & 11, 1943. On the 10th Stanley writes to Dad with the news “I am a happy soul right now. I got what I wanted.” His furlough was approved! He figured correctly that it was best to apply for a furlough before his squadron was moved out and more men were assigned to … Continue reading