Author Archives: John
Keep on Writing
February 4th and 7th, 1943. A few letters from Dad to home. Dad has guard duty on the 4th. It consists of running the elevator from 10 PM to midnight. He admits that it is an easier assignment than having to guard around the buildings like some of the other guys have to do. Of … Continue reading
Mama and Pop Watch the Baby
February 1, 1943. Two letters from home. Both Anna and Eddie (her husband) write. True to form, Anna’s letter is the longer of the two. We’ll start with Eddie’s. He confesses that he is not the best letter writer around, “I can sit and talk for hours but when it comes to putting it in … Continue reading
Garland Hall
The letters are starting to come with in increased frequency. Everybody is writing nearly every other day. Sometimes there is more time between the letters and at other times Dad is writing every day. Most of what is discussed in the letters is starting to get routine (health, day to day things, etc.) and Stanley … Continue reading
Send Coconuts
January 28, 1943. Anna writes from home. As much as letters from home are valued by the troops, letters from family in the service are valued on the home front. The news that Dad will be assigned as a clerk is welcomed at home, “We are all so glad that you are sending more letters … Continue reading
If You Just Think About Poland, That’s Enough
January 27, 28 and 30, 1943. Dad writes home. The suitcase that his mom sent has arrived and it has been stuffed with all that he asked for and even more. “I would like to thank you for the candy and cookies but please do not send any more in such great quantities as it … Continue reading
The First Letter from Stanley
January 24, 1943. The first letter from Dad’s brother Stanley is written. Stanley is writing from the University of Mississippi (AKA Ole Miss) in Oxford, Mississippi. After a few perfunctory niceties, he gets on to describing his trip to Mississippi in great detail. The highlights are: January 12: Up at 7AM. Loaded on trucks for … Continue reading
Our Beach Patrols Have Itchy Trigger Fingers
January 24, 1943. Sunday evening. Dad writes home. They are given Sundays off and he had an opportunity to check out the city and the beach. “However, we do not dare go out at night to the beach as our Beach (night) Patrol has itchy trigger fingers, and you yourself have heard of things happening … Continue reading
If You Want to be a Gunner They Make You a Welder
January 20, 1943. Dad reports a slow day during which they are being classified. He learns that he is being placed in the ordinance department and believes they will be assigned to the Air Corps. He is disappointed that he was not assigned to radio work, but instead is being classified as a clerk (stenographer) … Continue reading
An Eyefilling Panorama
January 19, 1943. Dad is settling into Army life in Miami Beach and his taste buds are adjusting. He is “getting along fine” and “the food here is at times somewhat better.” The big news of the day is that in the afternoon they got their gas masks and an extra summer uniform complete with … Continue reading
The First Letter from Home
The first letter from home comes dated January 13, 1943. Dad’s sister Anna reports that his letter arrived at noon and that she is writing her reply at ten of one so her father could mail the letter when he goes to work. This detail necessitates a note on the living arrangements. The house where … Continue reading