Letter From Stanley
I Never Saw Such Beauty
August 22 and 23, 1943. Two letters from Stanley. In the good news department, Stanley has been promoted to Staff Sergeant effective on August 20. Stanley boasts, “I am the top ranking man in our family” referencing that he outranks not only his brother but a few of their cousins as well. Most of the … Continue reading
Keeping the Good Ones Only
August 17 & 18, 1943. Two letters from Stanley to Dad. Stanley acknowledges receiving some of the letters that Dad wrote to him while on furlough and comments, “I sure know you enjoyed your stay at home…I hope it isn’t long before this blasted affair ends so peace will come and we come back home.” … Continue reading
I Sure Got What I Wanted
Monday, August 2, 1943. Stanley is settling into things at Cut Bank and has time to compose a six page letter to Dad. He is writing in the dayroom so the letter is hand written as opposed to the usual typewritten letters that he normally sends. Before getting into the content of the letter, it … Continue reading
30 Miles from the Canadian Border
July 28, 1943. A letter from Stanley to Dad. After being stationed at Great Falls for all of eighteen days, Stanley is on the move again and is now stationed at the Army Air Base in Cut Bank Montana. The move was made on July 26th by truck, with ten men in the back of … Continue reading
A Doolittle Raider Visits Great Falls
July 22 & 23, 1943. Two letters from Stanley to Dad. The first one is a short one-page note, and mainly serves as an excuse for Stanley to use some base letterhead that was lying around the office. He mentions that they had a group review the previous day. “We usually have it just before … Continue reading
Sew the Corporal Stripes On
July 17 & 19, 1943. A pair of letters from Uncle Stanley to Dad. Stanley has been at Great Falls, Montana for about a week and a half while Dad is in his second month at Topeka Army Air Base. Stanley has been burning the midnight oil getting the payroll done, working until 2 and … Continue reading
Leaving Geiger Field
July 10, 1943. Stanley writes a relatively short (1 ½ page) letter to Dad. As goes life in the Army, Stanley is at a new base. They left Geiger Field a few days later than expected on July 7th and had a 22 hour trip to Great Falls, Montana. Any more, travel between bases has … Continue reading
Things are Humming Around Here
June 23, 1943. Stanley writes to Dad. Stanley relays the news that he was promoted from corporal to sergeant on June 21. He apologizes for not writing earlier as he has been busy with work. Just the last night he “worked till almost eleven in the evening just getting a supplemental payroll so them wise … Continue reading
The Feature Attraction
June 18, 1943. A Letter from Stanley to Dad. It seems like mama isn’t the only one going to the dentist these days. Stanley reports that he made a trip to the on-base dentist at Geiger Field. Unlike his mother, though, there we no extractions involved. He notes, “We had a dental inspection one day … Continue reading
We Do Different Things
June 14, 1943. Uncle Stanley writes to Dad from Geiger Field near Spokane, Washington. His group (the 401st Bomb Group) continues to grow. He reports that they got 14 new men in just as he finished doing the payroll. As a clerk he reports “when you get into the personnel work this is where your headaches … Continue reading