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Pvt. W. E. Keithley, Plt 707 R.D. M.C.B.
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August 1943
8-29-43
San Diego, Calif
Dear Mom & Dad,
Arrived today at about 4:00. Had chow and were showed how to make up our bunks. It is sort of tough, but I think it will be a lot of fun. The Camp is just about a mile out of San Diego, toward the sea. It is almost in town. There are more planes here than flies. There are about four fields here I guess.
The train ride out to here was terrible. This darn country isn’t worth walking across the street for. The mountains we saw were about as tall as Rib Mountain. From Riverside Calif., on it was fairly descent country. Orange and grape groves are very thick from there on out. The base out here is really beautiful. Palm trees & everything.
I saw the dady (?) of them all today --- the Pacific Ocean. It was really worth seeing. The water was as blue as it could be. The corp. says for you to be sure and put San Diego 41, Calif. On the address or I am not likely to get the letters because there are so many camps out here. There were 180 of us that arrived at the camp today. From all parts of the country.
There are 63 in our platoon. We go to bed at 9:00 and arise at 5:30 A.M. Had to throw away all my stuff that was in glass, Such as shaving lotion and etc. I am sleeping in a lower bunk. Never saw so much desert in my life. It was desert from Wyoming to the middle of Calif. Collect all of our stuff tomorrow.
How is everything back there?
Will be very busy for the next few days. Don’t expect too many letters. Will close now and write to June. Weather here is fine.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego, Calif
Dear Mom & Dad,
Arrived today at about 4:00. Had chow and were showed how to make up our bunks. It is sort of tough, but I think it will be a lot of fun. The Camp is just about a mile out of San Diego, toward the sea. It is almost in town. There are more planes here than flies. There are about four fields here I guess.
The train ride out to here was terrible. This darn country isn’t worth walking across the street for. The mountains we saw were about as tall as Rib Mountain. From Riverside Calif., on it was fairly descent country. Orange and grape groves are very thick from there on out. The base out here is really beautiful. Palm trees & everything.
I saw the dady (?) of them all today --- the Pacific Ocean. It was really worth seeing. The water was as blue as it could be. The corp. says for you to be sure and put San Diego 41, Calif. On the address or I am not likely to get the letters because there are so many camps out here. There were 180 of us that arrived at the camp today. From all parts of the country.
There are 63 in our platoon. We go to bed at 9:00 and arise at 5:30 A.M. Had to throw away all my stuff that was in glass, Such as shaving lotion and etc. I am sleeping in a lower bunk. Never saw so much desert in my life. It was desert from Wyoming to the middle of Calif. Collect all of our stuff tomorrow.
How is everything back there?
Will be very busy for the next few days. Don’t expect too many letters. Will close now and write to June. Weather here is fine.
Love
Bill Return to top
9-1-43
Dear Mom and Dad,
Well I have a little time and I might just as well make good use of it while I can. I will ask you to send me three wire hangers, and one paddlelock. The paddlelock should be a good one. Haven’t wrote but one or two letters while I have been here so will you tell everyone that I have very little time to do just those things.
We have 45 minutes to dress, make up our bunk or sack, shave, wash your teeth, Clean your rifle, and bayonet. Then you fall out for roll call. Yes sir, just join the marines, it is a lazy mans’ life. Just got back from sick-bay. Got treated for a light rash. Got to clean my rifle soon. Start on schedule tomorrow. Just 49 day and we will be out. Then we may get a furlough if they think we need it and they want. You really catch hell here. I haven’t yet, but I suppose I will. We go too bed at 9 or ten which ever the case may be. Sunday we have off in case we are good. Here’s hoping we are good not much more time so will close. For god’s sake write. Don’t just think about it.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom and Dad,
Well I have a little time and I might just as well make good use of it while I can. I will ask you to send me three wire hangers, and one paddlelock. The paddlelock should be a good one. Haven’t wrote but one or two letters while I have been here so will you tell everyone that I have very little time to do just those things.
We have 45 minutes to dress, make up our bunk or sack, shave, wash your teeth, Clean your rifle, and bayonet. Then you fall out for roll call. Yes sir, just join the marines, it is a lazy mans’ life. Just got back from sick-bay. Got treated for a light rash. Got to clean my rifle soon. Start on schedule tomorrow. Just 49 day and we will be out. Then we may get a furlough if they think we need it and they want. You really catch hell here. I haven’t yet, but I suppose I will. We go too bed at 9 or ten which ever the case may be. Sunday we have off in case we are good. Here’s hoping we are good not much more time so will close. For god’s sake write. Don’t just think about it.
Love
Bill Return to top
9-4-43
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Saturday night. Today was a fairly easy day. Went swimming last night and I am second class swimmer, which is the best you can get. You can’t get to be a P.f.c. without being able to swim 50 yds. I swam it twice. My head is really sunburnt. This country is really hot. By I tell you if you want hot weather, just drop around. Please don’t send me any gum. Cookies are swell, says our Corporal.
Sunday, I guess we don’t do a darn thing.
Our rifles are really great. They are Gerand. Sure am gaining weight. If I eat as much in civilian life as I do now, I think I will stay in here. The food is the best I have ever eaten away from home. Say, you can send me some razor blades. Have a lot of fun here considering everything.
Haven’t seen Ken and Jack yet. Saw some of the fellows who were sworn in with me at Milwaukee. I have an idea of what platoon Ken is in but I haven’t seen him yet.
Say hello to everyone for me. Haven’t got time to write too many letters. Just have a few minutes to yourself. I am really getting good at making beds. I think I will send my watch home when we go up on the range. It would just get all sand if I didn’t. We go to church in the morning, for service. Be a chance to get some rest. We have a new D.I. His rank is Master gunnery sergeant. He is really tough, but he is a good one. Get some more shots Monday, I guess.
The fellows in my hut are really swell. They are from all over mostly. How is every thing at house at home? Does Pa wash his face and neck yet? Bet it is really getting dirty if he hasn’t. Well, I guess I will close and write some more letters.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Saturday night. Today was a fairly easy day. Went swimming last night and I am second class swimmer, which is the best you can get. You can’t get to be a P.f.c. without being able to swim 50 yds. I swam it twice. My head is really sunburnt. This country is really hot. By I tell you if you want hot weather, just drop around. Please don’t send me any gum. Cookies are swell, says our Corporal.
Sunday, I guess we don’t do a darn thing.
Our rifles are really great. They are Gerand. Sure am gaining weight. If I eat as much in civilian life as I do now, I think I will stay in here. The food is the best I have ever eaten away from home. Say, you can send me some razor blades. Have a lot of fun here considering everything.
Haven’t seen Ken and Jack yet. Saw some of the fellows who were sworn in with me at Milwaukee. I have an idea of what platoon Ken is in but I haven’t seen him yet.
Say hello to everyone for me. Haven’t got time to write too many letters. Just have a few minutes to yourself. I am really getting good at making beds. I think I will send my watch home when we go up on the range. It would just get all sand if I didn’t. We go to church in the morning, for service. Be a chance to get some rest. We have a new D.I. His rank is Master gunnery sergeant. He is really tough, but he is a good one. Get some more shots Monday, I guess.
The fellows in my hut are really swell. They are from all over mostly. How is every thing at house at home? Does Pa wash his face and neck yet? Bet it is really getting dirty if he hasn’t. Well, I guess I will close and write some more letters.
Love
Bill Return to top
9-5-43
San Diego
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Sunday evening and we haven’t done a thing. We went to church this morning at seven in the morning. Since then we have had little to do but wash a few clothes. That we do everyday. We got some field packs to play with also. Boy, what they won’t give us next. There are 62 in our platoon and ½ of us got P.f.c. One fellow was transported to another platoon for some reason or other. That is really worth working for and I am really going to try to get. Food here is excellent. Say hello to Marshall and everyone. Haven’t time during the week. Send a big box of good cookies if at all possible. Don’t know if I am going to be able to get home after boot camp. If there is a possibility, I will come.
I have applied to get in the engineers and for second choice, the infantry. I may change my missed [though?], One thing you are not supposed to send is gum. Candy, but not to much is O.K. This is all.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Sunday evening and we haven’t done a thing. We went to church this morning at seven in the morning. Since then we have had little to do but wash a few clothes. That we do everyday. We got some field packs to play with also. Boy, what they won’t give us next. There are 62 in our platoon and ½ of us got P.f.c. One fellow was transported to another platoon for some reason or other. That is really worth working for and I am really going to try to get. Food here is excellent. Say hello to Marshall and everyone. Haven’t time during the week. Send a big box of good cookies if at all possible. Don’t know if I am going to be able to get home after boot camp. If there is a possibility, I will come.
I have applied to get in the engineers and for second choice, the infantry. I may change my missed [though?], One thing you are not supposed to send is gum. Candy, but not to much is O.K. This is all.
Love
Bill Return to top
Sept. 6 - 43
San Diego
Pvt. W. E. Keithley
Plt. 707 R. D. M D. [13 or B?]
San Diego (41) Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Monday night and I have a little time so therefore I will drop you a few lines. Seams as if we have a little more spare time after we get in the grove. Suppose it isn’t so hot back there. Sure is here. Have inspection in the morning. Rifle, bayonet and shoes and etc. Are supposed to be in tip-top shape. I have spent much of my time doing that. Saw an aircraft carrier today and in the bay. The darn thing was as big as a couple of big barns set side by side. Could see planes on the deck of it too. When you get out here where there aren’t any buildings, the wind almost blows you off your feet. I have got some stuff on mine now. Is it ever pretty here at night. It is never cloudy here. At night the stars shine and search-lights go all over the sky. Sometimes they pick up planes and follow them across the sky. All lights and cars are dimmed at night.
Sorry I can’t get to write to the rest of the folks, but it is just of those things. Will probably find time later.
Received your letter today. The boys in the bunks had quite a laugh over the picture. Swell bunch of fellows in our shack. Glad to hear from Rus [cut off of page] Will write to him soon also.
They gave us our applications for our insurance. I suppose will take out $10,000 dollars worth. Just had roll call. Will have to hit the sack soon. Probably will close now. Take care of Father. Be sure to wash Father’s neck, won’t you. Ha Ha. Goodnight and don’t work too hard.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego
Pvt. W. E. Keithley
Plt. 707 R. D. M D. [13 or B?]
San Diego (41) Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Monday night and I have a little time so therefore I will drop you a few lines. Seams as if we have a little more spare time after we get in the grove. Suppose it isn’t so hot back there. Sure is here. Have inspection in the morning. Rifle, bayonet and shoes and etc. Are supposed to be in tip-top shape. I have spent much of my time doing that. Saw an aircraft carrier today and in the bay. The darn thing was as big as a couple of big barns set side by side. Could see planes on the deck of it too. When you get out here where there aren’t any buildings, the wind almost blows you off your feet. I have got some stuff on mine now. Is it ever pretty here at night. It is never cloudy here. At night the stars shine and search-lights go all over the sky. Sometimes they pick up planes and follow them across the sky. All lights and cars are dimmed at night.
Sorry I can’t get to write to the rest of the folks, but it is just of those things. Will probably find time later.
Received your letter today. The boys in the bunks had quite a laugh over the picture. Swell bunch of fellows in our shack. Glad to hear from Rus [cut off of page] Will write to him soon also.
They gave us our applications for our insurance. I suppose will take out $10,000 dollars worth. Just had roll call. Will have to hit the sack soon. Probably will close now. Take care of Father. Be sure to wash Father’s neck, won’t you. Ha Ha. Goodnight and don’t work too hard.
Love
Bill Return to top
Sept. 12, 1943
San Diego Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Sunday again and a little spare time on my hands. Just dug my pen out of my seabag so I figured I would use it. Yesterday was a hell of a day. We went out to the boondocks. That is the most feared place in the whole marine corps With our full transport pack on, which weighs about 30 lbs. and a rifle and etc. we ran across that stuff at full pace. We would run 50 yds and hit the deck. Then rise and do the same thing again. The sand was about four inches deep and the wind was blowing like everything. We went down to the ocean twice for mud. After we had done this for almost three hours, we then went over the obstacle course. We got back about four o’clock. Some of the fellows passed out during this from fatigue. Got some shots yesterday also.
Saw Howard Holland a couple of days ago. He is a K.P. in the mess hall where we eat. A P38 cracked up yesterday as we were coming in from the boondocks. I don’t know if anyone got hurt or not. Got a card from Ken the other day. He left for the rifle range Saturday. We go up there next Saturday. Hear the rifle range is O.K. Go to the P.X. anytime you want to and you also see a show every night. Will close now and write to Tom, Ralph, and etc.
Love,
Bill
P.S. Send hangers and lock pronto. Also some candy.
Had our picture taken today. Sending you the insurance, shirt, Keys, etc. Return to top
San Diego Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here it is Sunday again and a little spare time on my hands. Just dug my pen out of my seabag so I figured I would use it. Yesterday was a hell of a day. We went out to the boondocks. That is the most feared place in the whole marine corps With our full transport pack on, which weighs about 30 lbs. and a rifle and etc. we ran across that stuff at full pace. We would run 50 yds and hit the deck. Then rise and do the same thing again. The sand was about four inches deep and the wind was blowing like everything. We went down to the ocean twice for mud. After we had done this for almost three hours, we then went over the obstacle course. We got back about four o’clock. Some of the fellows passed out during this from fatigue. Got some shots yesterday also.
Saw Howard Holland a couple of days ago. He is a K.P. in the mess hall where we eat. A P38 cracked up yesterday as we were coming in from the boondocks. I don’t know if anyone got hurt or not. Got a card from Ken the other day. He left for the rifle range Saturday. We go up there next Saturday. Hear the rifle range is O.K. Go to the P.X. anytime you want to and you also see a show every night. Will close now and write to Tom, Ralph, and etc.
Love,
Bill
P.S. Send hangers and lock pronto. Also some candy.
Had our picture taken today. Sending you the insurance, shirt, Keys, etc. Return to top
Sept. 16, 1943
San Diego, Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Fortune is again on my side. Have spare time again. Everynite this week we have been going somewhere to a lecture or a movie and [ate ?]. Last night, we saw a stage show, the name of it was Camel Caravan. It was special. Today we marched be fore the Major. There were 30 platoons and there were 5 platoons in a Company. This was done in the afternoon for about 1 hour. Every Sat. this goes on just before you leave for the range.
We went over the obstacle course after that. It wasn’t at all tough today, because we weren’t tired like we were when we went over it the other time.
How is the H.S. team coming in football. How is Wisc. coming also. We don’t get any news of the Midwest out here. Hope it isn’t too cold back there. It is still very warm here. Got a letter from Kathryn last night. She invites me to come up after I get out of boot camp. I think I will if I get the chance. She is just 50 miles north of L.A.
Got a card from Ken the other day. He says “snapping in” out at the range is really tough. That we have been through here, I can’t see and I will wait to see if it is at all tough.
I wish they had a scale here. I sure have gained weight, but it is a military secret how much. Say hello to everyone and anyone you see for me. Tell Bill L. my address because I don’t get to write very often. I would like to know the football scores and general school news.
Love,
Bill Return to top
San Diego, Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Fortune is again on my side. Have spare time again. Everynite this week we have been going somewhere to a lecture or a movie and [ate ?]. Last night, we saw a stage show, the name of it was Camel Caravan. It was special. Today we marched be fore the Major. There were 30 platoons and there were 5 platoons in a Company. This was done in the afternoon for about 1 hour. Every Sat. this goes on just before you leave for the range.
We went over the obstacle course after that. It wasn’t at all tough today, because we weren’t tired like we were when we went over it the other time.
How is the H.S. team coming in football. How is Wisc. coming also. We don’t get any news of the Midwest out here. Hope it isn’t too cold back there. It is still very warm here. Got a letter from Kathryn last night. She invites me to come up after I get out of boot camp. I think I will if I get the chance. She is just 50 miles north of L.A.
Got a card from Ken the other day. He says “snapping in” out at the range is really tough. That we have been through here, I can’t see and I will wait to see if it is at all tough.
I wish they had a scale here. I sure have gained weight, but it is a military secret how much. Say hello to everyone and anyone you see for me. Tell Bill L. my address because I don’t get to write very often. I would like to know the football scores and general school news.
Love,
Bill Return to top
Sept. 17, 1943
San Diego
Dear Mom & Dad,
Received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you. Today has been a hell of a day. All we have been doing is running, getting ready to go to the range. I am sending you a group picture of our platoon. I couldn’t get any more pictures because I am completely broke. If you could spare it, would you please send it to me. They gave us $6.50 worth of chips, but they sure seem to disappear very quickly because you need so darn much stuff. We get paid out at the range. Has my insurance sheet arrived yet? We haven’t done a thing today. Just tried to clean up our hut, which was met with very little success.
The names on the back of the picture are the fellows who stay in my hut. Can’t think of anything to write, because there was so much noise.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego
Dear Mom & Dad,
Received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you. Today has been a hell of a day. All we have been doing is running, getting ready to go to the range. I am sending you a group picture of our platoon. I couldn’t get any more pictures because I am completely broke. If you could spare it, would you please send it to me. They gave us $6.50 worth of chips, but they sure seem to disappear very quickly because you need so darn much stuff. We get paid out at the range. Has my insurance sheet arrived yet? We haven’t done a thing today. Just tried to clean up our hut, which was met with very little success.
The names on the back of the picture are the fellows who stay in my hut. Can’t think of anything to write, because there was so much noise.
Love
Bill Return to top
Sept. 19, 1943
San Diego
Dear Mom & Dad,
I shall drop you a letter today because during the week I will not have the time. See by the paper that Wisc. didn’t do so good. Well, can’t expect to lose all of their players and expect to win.
Just got back from church and it is really hot here. Arrived here Sat. afternoon and the whole platoon stays in the hut. We can go to the P.X. at any time and right back to our hut there are some cake machines.
We get up here at five o’clock The fog is so darn thick, that you can’t see anything until about 10 o’clock. Everything is very much different here than it is at the base. We are about 13 miles north of Diego now. It looks fairly civilized here. You can see trees, cars and even civilians. Saw Jack D. today and yesterday afternoon. I am in hut 5 and he is in 17. We are only about five or six huts [between us (lined out] away. We are on range E and Ken is on range A. Every Thursday and Saturday evening, we go to a show whether we want to or not.
We have to sew big pads on our jackets for shooting. And we Don’t go to bed here until about ten o’clock. Weather is still hot and dry. You sure get a lot of freedom here.
There are no springs up here to sleep on. It is just like sleeping on the bare floor. I hear Ralph B. has been moved. That is what Jack heard from some of the fellows back home. “Snapping in” out here is fairly tough, but it isn’t hard on you after the first couple of days.
We got some more shots Saturday. If they stick me many more times with that needle, I will look like a pin cushion. Then after a while they give us our dog tags. This is quite a life, but it is fun. I think this is going too be the best part of “boot camp” all together.
The chow here isn’t as good as at the base, but otherwise everything else if much better.
Guess I will close and write some more letters.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego
Dear Mom & Dad,
I shall drop you a letter today because during the week I will not have the time. See by the paper that Wisc. didn’t do so good. Well, can’t expect to lose all of their players and expect to win.
Just got back from church and it is really hot here. Arrived here Sat. afternoon and the whole platoon stays in the hut. We can go to the P.X. at any time and right back to our hut there are some cake machines.
We get up here at five o’clock The fog is so darn thick, that you can’t see anything until about 10 o’clock. Everything is very much different here than it is at the base. We are about 13 miles north of Diego now. It looks fairly civilized here. You can see trees, cars and even civilians. Saw Jack D. today and yesterday afternoon. I am in hut 5 and he is in 17. We are only about five or six huts [between us (lined out] away. We are on range E and Ken is on range A. Every Thursday and Saturday evening, we go to a show whether we want to or not.
We have to sew big pads on our jackets for shooting. And we Don’t go to bed here until about ten o’clock. Weather is still hot and dry. You sure get a lot of freedom here.
There are no springs up here to sleep on. It is just like sleeping on the bare floor. I hear Ralph B. has been moved. That is what Jack heard from some of the fellows back home. “Snapping in” out here is fairly tough, but it isn’t hard on you after the first couple of days.
We got some more shots Saturday. If they stick me many more times with that needle, I will look like a pin cushion. Then after a while they give us our dog tags. This is quite a life, but it is fun. I think this is going too be the best part of “boot camp” all together.
The chow here isn’t as good as at the base, but otherwise everything else if much better.
Guess I will close and write some more letters.
Love
Bill Return to top
Sept. 21, 1943
San Diego Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
A marines dream has come true! The evening off with nothing to do but rest and pray you live through the [evening?]. Ha Ha No kidding, it is all right here. The work of getting into those positions Are tough, but outside of that everything is O.K. Thursday we start shooting the 22 cal. And then Friday, or Sat. we start to sheet the 30 cal. Carbine. That isn’t our M !.
Got a letter from Syl today. He sent me a picture of himself in dress blues and it was really swell. He seems to like it alright there. It seems impossible that 1 mo. Ago I was staying up until 10 or 12 o’clock. Now at 8 every evening, I am dead tired. So is everyone else here.
We do all of our shooting up in the damn hills. We march about two miles to get there. We arrive every morning at seven at the range. We get in every evening at about 4 or 4:30. Then we wash clothes clean our rifle and eat chow. You usually aren’t through work until about 8 o’clock every evening. Guess I shall close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Send razor blades if you haven’t.
Also candy or cookies.
San Diego Calif.
Dear Mom & Dad,
A marines dream has come true! The evening off with nothing to do but rest and pray you live through the [evening?]. Ha Ha No kidding, it is all right here. The work of getting into those positions Are tough, but outside of that everything is O.K. Thursday we start shooting the 22 cal. And then Friday, or Sat. we start to sheet the 30 cal. Carbine. That isn’t our M !.
Got a letter from Syl today. He sent me a picture of himself in dress blues and it was really swell. He seems to like it alright there. It seems impossible that 1 mo. Ago I was staying up until 10 or 12 o’clock. Now at 8 every evening, I am dead tired. So is everyone else here.
We do all of our shooting up in the damn hills. We march about two miles to get there. We arrive every morning at seven at the range. We get in every evening at about 4 or 4:30. Then we wash clothes clean our rifle and eat chow. You usually aren’t through work until about 8 o’clock every evening. Guess I shall close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Send razor blades if you haven’t.
Also candy or cookies.
9/26-43
Dear Mom & Dad,
I am writing this just after I returned from church. It is sure swell to get up at 6 o’clock once a week. Every other morning except Thursday, we get up at five. On Thursday morning we get up at four-thirty. Thursday is record day. That is the day “boats” fire for record. Well, we are now going to chow.
Just arrived back from chow. A person can look forward to good meals on weekends, because they have to give the recruits a good impression. After that, they don’t care.
It is getting easier all the time here. Those first three or four days they almost kill you. If you aren’t double jointed, they will make you so in a very short time. We snap in about two days of their coming weeks, then we start to work in the butts for a couple of days. The butts are where they run the target. I guess the fellows say.
Shooting right handed isn’t so much different from the other way. We have fired the 22 twice and the .30 cal. Carbine twice. Also Friday we will start to fire our Ml. It’s like the Pfc. Said, “That’s your baby only you don’t know it.” It really pays to be able to fire that piece correctly. For expert you get an extra $5 every month. Sharpshooter you get $3. It sure seems funny to think that three weeks from today we will heading for [live?] camp somewhere. Our platoon has had detail, where we cleaned the heads and etc. I haven’t had to help yet!
So you have a new boss. If I come home for the furlough, you had better let me know where you are.
The rainy season has started in the northern part of the state. I think. It sure was foggy here Sat. morning. You couldn’t see the end of our hut 100 ft. long. Haven’t seen the shows up here yet! Have seen some boxing matches though. They are swell. Haven’t seen Ken yet. I know where he is now. I have walked past his hut more than once. We sure get in some arguments here about which part of the country is the best. There are a lot of people here from Midwest and east.
I bought the first Hershey bars I have had for a long time. I bought four of them and I have a few left. Got a letter from Syl. He sent me a picture of himself. I am sending it too you to put in the scrap book. It is really swell that is the matter with the rest of the relations? I write letters but don’t receive any. Guess I shall close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
I am writing this just after I returned from church. It is sure swell to get up at 6 o’clock once a week. Every other morning except Thursday, we get up at five. On Thursday morning we get up at four-thirty. Thursday is record day. That is the day “boats” fire for record. Well, we are now going to chow.
Just arrived back from chow. A person can look forward to good meals on weekends, because they have to give the recruits a good impression. After that, they don’t care.
It is getting easier all the time here. Those first three or four days they almost kill you. If you aren’t double jointed, they will make you so in a very short time. We snap in about two days of their coming weeks, then we start to work in the butts for a couple of days. The butts are where they run the target. I guess the fellows say.
Shooting right handed isn’t so much different from the other way. We have fired the 22 twice and the .30 cal. Carbine twice. Also Friday we will start to fire our Ml. It’s like the Pfc. Said, “That’s your baby only you don’t know it.” It really pays to be able to fire that piece correctly. For expert you get an extra $5 every month. Sharpshooter you get $3. It sure seems funny to think that three weeks from today we will heading for [live?] camp somewhere. Our platoon has had detail, where we cleaned the heads and etc. I haven’t had to help yet!
So you have a new boss. If I come home for the furlough, you had better let me know where you are.
The rainy season has started in the northern part of the state. I think. It sure was foggy here Sat. morning. You couldn’t see the end of our hut 100 ft. long. Haven’t seen the shows up here yet! Have seen some boxing matches though. They are swell. Haven’t seen Ken yet. I know where he is now. I have walked past his hut more than once. We sure get in some arguments here about which part of the country is the best. There are a lot of people here from Midwest and east.
I bought the first Hershey bars I have had for a long time. I bought four of them and I have a few left. Got a letter from Syl. He sent me a picture of himself. I am sending it too you to put in the scrap book. It is really swell that is the matter with the rest of the relations? I write letters but don’t receive any. Guess I shall close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego, Calif.
Oct. 2, 1943
Dear Folks.
So the town is finally joyful over the football victory. It sure should be. I had a funny feeling that they were going to win, but I really didn’t expect them too do it that game. Jack Durtschi and I read the outcome of the game in a Madison paper and we could hardly believe it.
Well this is the last week here and it sure has been fun since Friday. As you will probably remember it was the day we started to fire the Ml. That is really a swell rifle. I wouldn’t trade it for any other rifle in the world. There is very little kick to it and you sure can hit with it. You had better pray that I come out O.K. Thursday. That is the big day out here. I have fired expert with it so far and I sure hope to continue to go that way. Got a letter from Ken today. He fired good with the Ml. He got a score of 296. That is good sharpshooter. Jack Durtschi shot 268. That is just getting by. Any lower and he wouldn’t have qualified.
So Father is going to go hunting! That ought to be worth seeing. Him trying to hit a duck or pheasant. It sure would be fun to see it rain just once. That would be a great pleasure. It doesn’t cool up one bit here. It is still hot and dry as ever.
Well just had a small interruption. We went out and drilled for a spell. Boy, I am sure sweating Some of the fellows are going to the show now but I am going to remain here and write letters because I won’t have time tomorrow. Tomorrow, I am going to “snap in” so I can get a little better score than Thursday.
You have asked about “snapping in.” That is nothing more than getting into a good position fast developing a good trigger squeeze, sight alignment, breath and timing. That is all very necessary before you can get a good scare on the rifle range. Don’t ever think that that is very easy! It is the hardest work I have ever had and I am not kidding either.
When you get back at five hundred yards and breath, you will miss the target by about 20 ft. I have seen it done a lot of times. The same happens if you don’t squeeze the trigger or line your sights up right. In rapid fire you have to have a very good position or after you shoot it a couple of times, you will be firing on another target. So you see it is very important.
Saw a stage show last night. It was good. The show after it was o.k. too. We got to bed at about midnight. That was really late too. { Sure hope Wisc. Came across a football game or two [?] Say hello to everyone including Mary Handel. Guess I shall close now as there is a big discussion on now.
Love Bill
Thanks for the cookies. There were really swell.
16131717
APO 708
Care of Post Master
San Francisco Return to top
Oct. 2, 1943
Dear Folks.
So the town is finally joyful over the football victory. It sure should be. I had a funny feeling that they were going to win, but I really didn’t expect them too do it that game. Jack Durtschi and I read the outcome of the game in a Madison paper and we could hardly believe it.
Well this is the last week here and it sure has been fun since Friday. As you will probably remember it was the day we started to fire the Ml. That is really a swell rifle. I wouldn’t trade it for any other rifle in the world. There is very little kick to it and you sure can hit with it. You had better pray that I come out O.K. Thursday. That is the big day out here. I have fired expert with it so far and I sure hope to continue to go that way. Got a letter from Ken today. He fired good with the Ml. He got a score of 296. That is good sharpshooter. Jack Durtschi shot 268. That is just getting by. Any lower and he wouldn’t have qualified.
So Father is going to go hunting! That ought to be worth seeing. Him trying to hit a duck or pheasant. It sure would be fun to see it rain just once. That would be a great pleasure. It doesn’t cool up one bit here. It is still hot and dry as ever.
Well just had a small interruption. We went out and drilled for a spell. Boy, I am sure sweating Some of the fellows are going to the show now but I am going to remain here and write letters because I won’t have time tomorrow. Tomorrow, I am going to “snap in” so I can get a little better score than Thursday.
You have asked about “snapping in.” That is nothing more than getting into a good position fast developing a good trigger squeeze, sight alignment, breath and timing. That is all very necessary before you can get a good scare on the rifle range. Don’t ever think that that is very easy! It is the hardest work I have ever had and I am not kidding either.
When you get back at five hundred yards and breath, you will miss the target by about 20 ft. I have seen it done a lot of times. The same happens if you don’t squeeze the trigger or line your sights up right. In rapid fire you have to have a very good position or after you shoot it a couple of times, you will be firing on another target. So you see it is very important.
Saw a stage show last night. It was good. The show after it was o.k. too. We got to bed at about midnight. That was really late too. { Sure hope Wisc. Came across a football game or two [?] Say hello to everyone including Mary Handel. Guess I shall close now as there is a big discussion on now.
Love Bill
Thanks for the cookies. There were really swell.
16131717
APO 708
Care of Post Master
San Francisco Return to top
San Diego
Oct. 5, 1943
Dear Mom and Pop,
Today was the first day we fired the full course, the one we fire Thursday. I didn’t do very good but I sure hope to do much better Thursday. Tomorrow we get a lot of rapid firing, which I sure can use as experience. I qualified very easily but I sure ought to be able to keep more points than I did today. The fog out here is very thick early in the morning.
Heard Mt. Horeb won again. That is sure good news. That makes a fellow feel very good to know that.
Don’t send any more cookies from now on. We might break up three or four days After we reach the base. Might get a 15 day furlough but don’t bank on it too heavily.
Got a haircut again tonight. They don’t let it get long enough to even look at.
Got a letter from Uncle Ralph today. He says that they have all of the buildings painted twice but the milk house. The corn was also to ripe and etc.
Guess I shall close as I can’t think of anything else too write and I sure can use the sleep. Wish me lots of luck.
Love
Bill Return to top
Oct. 5, 1943
Dear Mom and Pop,
Today was the first day we fired the full course, the one we fire Thursday. I didn’t do very good but I sure hope to do much better Thursday. Tomorrow we get a lot of rapid firing, which I sure can use as experience. I qualified very easily but I sure ought to be able to keep more points than I did today. The fog out here is very thick early in the morning.
Heard Mt. Horeb won again. That is sure good news. That makes a fellow feel very good to know that.
Don’t send any more cookies from now on. We might break up three or four days After we reach the base. Might get a 15 day furlough but don’t bank on it too heavily.
Got a haircut again tonight. They don’t let it get long enough to even look at.
Got a letter from Uncle Ralph today. He says that they have all of the buildings painted twice but the milk house. The corn was also to ripe and etc.
Guess I shall close as I can’t think of anything else too write and I sure can use the sleep. Wish me lots of luck.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego
Oct. 8, 1943
Dear Folks,
Today has been a very easy day. This morning we worked in the butts and this afternoon we haven’t done a thing. I made out O.K. on record day. I won’t know my final score until tomorrow. I might have made expert but I rather doubt it.
By the way, I have some good news for you. I made honor man in my platoon. In our inspection of the base, I get to meet the colonel and numerous other things. Was I ever surprised. It was given on highest grades and leadership and etc.
Got a letter from Ken this week. He breaks up this Sat. or tomorrow. Sure hope to see him before he leaves. Got a letter from Gay Steensrud just before I started to write. It seems you are having a flu back there? Glad to hear the team won again. Seems they are really in the grave. Hope they continue that way.
Just to give you an idea of our platoon, it is known as the best platoon on the whole base. We were the highest platoon on “f” [?] range. By that I mean we had the fewest members that didn’t qualify and we also had the largest number of experts.
Say in case I get a 15 day furlough, could you send me some money so I could get home or
Note: end of letter – nothing further was copied Return to top
Oct. 8, 1943
Dear Folks,
Today has been a very easy day. This morning we worked in the butts and this afternoon we haven’t done a thing. I made out O.K. on record day. I won’t know my final score until tomorrow. I might have made expert but I rather doubt it.
By the way, I have some good news for you. I made honor man in my platoon. In our inspection of the base, I get to meet the colonel and numerous other things. Was I ever surprised. It was given on highest grades and leadership and etc.
Got a letter from Ken this week. He breaks up this Sat. or tomorrow. Sure hope to see him before he leaves. Got a letter from Gay Steensrud just before I started to write. It seems you are having a flu back there? Glad to hear the team won again. Seems they are really in the grave. Hope they continue that way.
Just to give you an idea of our platoon, it is known as the best platoon on the whole base. We were the highest platoon on “f” [?] range. By that I mean we had the fewest members that didn’t qualify and we also had the largest number of experts.
Say in case I get a 15 day furlough, could you send me some money so I could get home or
Note: end of letter – nothing further was copied Return to top
San Diego
California
Oct. 10, 1943
Dear Folks,
Just another Sunday here, but to you, it is probably a day for rest. Got up and went to church this morning at 9:00. Then we had chow at about 11:30 and after chow we had mail call. In the meantime we have rested and wrote letters and etc.
As I have said before, it was a real pleasure to get Back here to the base. The chow here is very good. That up at the range wasn’t half as good as it is here. Have seen Jack several times since I have arrived but I missed Ken. I don’t even know if he got a furlough.
W are located now so that those darn planes fly right over our huts. Sure hope they stay up in the air and don’t decide to come down!
We get more clothes issued to us this week. Also in the morning we get our last two “shots.” That is sure fun to know they won’t be sticking you every week from now on.
Got a letter from “Bus” since this morning. He seems to like too play football very much. See Wisconsin lost again. They are getting pretty good at that, aren’t they?
I guess this last ten days are really hell. They run us over the obstacle course and bayonet course. That, undoubtedly will be very tough. Guess I should close of now.
Love
Bill Return to top
California
Oct. 10, 1943
Dear Folks,
Just another Sunday here, but to you, it is probably a day for rest. Got up and went to church this morning at 9:00. Then we had chow at about 11:30 and after chow we had mail call. In the meantime we have rested and wrote letters and etc.
As I have said before, it was a real pleasure to get Back here to the base. The chow here is very good. That up at the range wasn’t half as good as it is here. Have seen Jack several times since I have arrived but I missed Ken. I don’t even know if he got a furlough.
W are located now so that those darn planes fly right over our huts. Sure hope they stay up in the air and don’t decide to come down!
We get more clothes issued to us this week. Also in the morning we get our last two “shots.” That is sure fun to know they won’t be sticking you every week from now on.
Got a letter from “Bus” since this morning. He seems to like too play football very much. See Wisconsin lost again. They are getting pretty good at that, aren’t they?
I guess this last ten days are really hell. They run us over the obstacle course and bayonet course. That, undoubtedly will be very tough. Guess I should close of now.
Love
Bill Return to top
San Diego
California
Oct. 12, 1943
Dear Folks,
At the present time, I am talking to Jack Durtschi and writing this letter. He breaks up tomorrow. He will probably be home very soon. The prime reason for writing this is to have you write or wire me some money for my furlough. You had better send about $35 or more and send it money order and not check. I don’t get a 15 day furlough but I do get a 10 day furlough. That will give me some time at home.
We had inspection this morning. The major said we were the [happiest crossed out] platoon of the day and that really made us feel good. Our D.I. really gave us a break. We didn’t do a thing all day.
Sad news to hear that the football team lost it’s first conference game, but I think it will do them a lot of good.
It sure is sort of tough to think that hunting season is starting and I can’t go hunting. Sure hope you get some good hunting in. I might get home in time to do some hunting. Sure hope so!
We drew clothes today, don’t know what in the world I am going to do with them. Can’t get all of my stuff in my seabag now. [?something crossed out]
Haven’t heard from Ken as yet. See if you can find out from his folks where he is at? Jack Durtschi is going to aviation school. That is just up the coast a ways. Say hello to everyone for me. Guess I will close for now because I am getting tired. Be sure and get that money here before Oct. 20. Guess this is all. Sure pleased to hear you got a higher job with more responsibility.
Love
Bill Return to top
(something illegible written]
California
Oct. 12, 1943
Dear Folks,
At the present time, I am talking to Jack Durtschi and writing this letter. He breaks up tomorrow. He will probably be home very soon. The prime reason for writing this is to have you write or wire me some money for my furlough. You had better send about $35 or more and send it money order and not check. I don’t get a 15 day furlough but I do get a 10 day furlough. That will give me some time at home.
We had inspection this morning. The major said we were the [happiest crossed out] platoon of the day and that really made us feel good. Our D.I. really gave us a break. We didn’t do a thing all day.
Sad news to hear that the football team lost it’s first conference game, but I think it will do them a lot of good.
It sure is sort of tough to think that hunting season is starting and I can’t go hunting. Sure hope you get some good hunting in. I might get home in time to do some hunting. Sure hope so!
We drew clothes today, don’t know what in the world I am going to do with them. Can’t get all of my stuff in my seabag now. [?something crossed out]
Haven’t heard from Ken as yet. See if you can find out from his folks where he is at? Jack Durtschi is going to aviation school. That is just up the coast a ways. Say hello to everyone for me. Guess I will close for now because I am getting tired. Be sure and get that money here before Oct. 20. Guess this is all. Sure pleased to hear you got a higher job with more responsibility.
Love
Bill Return to top
(something illegible written]
San Diego
California
Oct. 17, 1943
Dear Mom & Pop,
Well another Sunday has arrived and I wonder where I will be a week from today. Received a card from Ken the other day. He is spending his ten day with his relation here in Diego. He said he was going to try and see me. I sure wish he would drop around here today.
It sure is going to be a great feeling to go to line camp. They really give you a lot of changes. It makes a person feel as if he were just starting to school.
If I don’t happen to get home I believe I will send my watch home. I don’t want to have it out here and not wear it because someone might want it bad enough to take it. You can have it fixed there and then if line camp isn’t to tough for it, I will ask for it again.
If line camp is pretty rough I will by a service watch and you and pa can keep it.
Received some pictures from June {?} yesterday. There were the one’s that were taken just before I left. She said that you had a set of them also.
Yesterday afternoon we ran the obstacle course and that is all we did all day long. These last few days have really been swell. Nothing to do but rest.
Got a letter from Russ the other day. His letter was very descriptive. Said it was tough and he was soon going to see action. Will you send me his address! I believe I have lost it. Don’t write anymore until I get my new address and let you know. Has Pa gotten any birds yet or can’t he hit them. Will close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
California
Oct. 17, 1943
Dear Mom & Pop,
Well another Sunday has arrived and I wonder where I will be a week from today. Received a card from Ken the other day. He is spending his ten day with his relation here in Diego. He said he was going to try and see me. I sure wish he would drop around here today.
It sure is going to be a great feeling to go to line camp. They really give you a lot of changes. It makes a person feel as if he were just starting to school.
If I don’t happen to get home I believe I will send my watch home. I don’t want to have it out here and not wear it because someone might want it bad enough to take it. You can have it fixed there and then if line camp isn’t to tough for it, I will ask for it again.
If line camp is pretty rough I will by a service watch and you and pa can keep it.
Received some pictures from June {?} yesterday. There were the one’s that were taken just before I left. She said that you had a set of them also.
Yesterday afternoon we ran the obstacle course and that is all we did all day long. These last few days have really been swell. Nothing to do but rest.
Got a letter from Russ the other day. His letter was very descriptive. Said it was tough and he was soon going to see action. Will you send me his address! I believe I have lost it. Don’t write anymore until I get my new address and let you know. Has Pa gotten any birds yet or can’t he hit them. Will close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Camp Pendleton
Riverside
California
October 24, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
Sure has been a long time since I have written and the main reason is because I haven’t known my address. I am finally in the engineers after spending three days in the amphibian tanks battalion. That was really quite an outfit. They were going to go across in about three weeks, so I am fairly glad I got out of that outfit. By now, you probably know that those 10 days are “shot.” We just aren’t getting them now. Probably about the time I write this to you, they will give me a furlough. This outfit seems pretty good. We have swell barracks and everything we want. We will go to school here for about eight weeks. Then I don’t know what we will do.
It is now 20 minutes until nine and I will tell you of the wonderful weekend we spent. I went to L.A. with a pal whose grandparents live there. The food was wonderful and so was the beds. It made me feel as if I was home again. Then Sunday afternoon they took us all over town. Up into Hollywood and Saw some very pretty homes. L.A. is really a swell place. Very beautiful up there, but the good lord so forgot this place when he dished out the beauty.
While we were there in the morning, we pressed our “greens” and field scarfs. They really needed it too. I now have a barracks hat, belt and dress shoes. Expect to get another pair of dress shoes very soon. In the morning we have clothes inspection.
The fellows who are here now are leaving Wednesday for Camp Elliot. They then get final training before leaving the country.
If I can get up to L.A. next weekend, I am going to try and get some pictures taken. While we were in L.A. I saw the N.B.C. studio, C.B.S. and the Lux theatre. The N.B.C. building is really a beautiful piece of art. It is olive green and about 1 block long and wide. Also saw the Grieman Chinese theater, where a lot of the stars have their footprints, handprints, and names in the cement. Some of them were Rita Haywoard, Charlie M., Jack B., Bob H. Jean Harlowe Wallace Berry and hundreds of others.
Listened to the Wisc. Indiana game. Wisc. is really a poor team isn’t it? Hirsch is doing alright for Michigan, also Jack Hink, and Johnsons. Guess you know I made P.F.C. from the envelope. Will close now. Say hello to everyone.
Love
Bill Return to top
Riverside
California
October 24, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
Sure has been a long time since I have written and the main reason is because I haven’t known my address. I am finally in the engineers after spending three days in the amphibian tanks battalion. That was really quite an outfit. They were going to go across in about three weeks, so I am fairly glad I got out of that outfit. By now, you probably know that those 10 days are “shot.” We just aren’t getting them now. Probably about the time I write this to you, they will give me a furlough. This outfit seems pretty good. We have swell barracks and everything we want. We will go to school here for about eight weeks. Then I don’t know what we will do.
It is now 20 minutes until nine and I will tell you of the wonderful weekend we spent. I went to L.A. with a pal whose grandparents live there. The food was wonderful and so was the beds. It made me feel as if I was home again. Then Sunday afternoon they took us all over town. Up into Hollywood and Saw some very pretty homes. L.A. is really a swell place. Very beautiful up there, but the good lord so forgot this place when he dished out the beauty.
While we were there in the morning, we pressed our “greens” and field scarfs. They really needed it too. I now have a barracks hat, belt and dress shoes. Expect to get another pair of dress shoes very soon. In the morning we have clothes inspection.
The fellows who are here now are leaving Wednesday for Camp Elliot. They then get final training before leaving the country.
If I can get up to L.A. next weekend, I am going to try and get some pictures taken. While we were in L.A. I saw the N.B.C. studio, C.B.S. and the Lux theatre. The N.B.C. building is really a beautiful piece of art. It is olive green and about 1 block long and wide. Also saw the Grieman Chinese theater, where a lot of the stars have their footprints, handprints, and names in the cement. Some of them were Rita Haywoard, Charlie M., Jack B., Bob H. Jean Harlowe Wallace Berry and hundreds of others.
Listened to the Wisc. Indiana game. Wisc. is really a poor team isn’t it? Hirsch is doing alright for Michigan, also Jack Hink, and Johnsons. Guess you know I made P.F.C. from the envelope. Will close now. Say hello to everyone.
Love
Bill Return to top
Oct. 28, 1943
3:00 P.M.
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you? Fine I hope. If you would kindly send me the date for your wedding anniversary, I shall send you a present. Suppose Pa doesn’t even know when it is himself.
This is really quite a place right now. We don’t do a thing, but you just wait until we go on schedule Monday. We will be quite busy then.
This morning I was in a big warehouse looking for a small box. That sounds silly and it was. I couldn’t find it so the Sarg. Told me to take it easy. I laid down and went to sleep. At about eleven I came back to the area and ate dinner. While we were eating they gave one fellow a dishonorable discharge and another one a summary court martial. In the first case, the fellow will be kicked out of the corps and his chance of getting a good job are very poor from then on. The other case was a Sarg., and he failed to carry out some order and he was reduced to a Corp. They always “read a person off” in a mess hall or parade field. That is a marine custom, so don’t ask questions. They do a lot of queer things.
Haven’t had guard duty yet this week and I don’t have it Friday, so I will probably get it over the weekend. That will be just “ducky.”
Just before I started to write this letter, I did a big washing. Yesterday I had a big washing also. Can’t seem to figure out how they get dirty so quickly.
Bought a Parker Eversharp at the P.X. the other day. It was a $4 pencil and I got for $2.50. They give you a good cut on things down here. There is a restaurant, jewelry store, and a general store, all in one. It is a fine place.
The other night we went up in the mountains in a little trip. It really was high up there to. Saw a number of deer and got very hungry.
Did you get any pheasants? Sure hope he did. Probably used all of my shells and never hit a thing. Ha Ha.
What is the general news? Hope everything is O.K. Will close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
3:00 P.M.
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you? Fine I hope. If you would kindly send me the date for your wedding anniversary, I shall send you a present. Suppose Pa doesn’t even know when it is himself.
This is really quite a place right now. We don’t do a thing, but you just wait until we go on schedule Monday. We will be quite busy then.
This morning I was in a big warehouse looking for a small box. That sounds silly and it was. I couldn’t find it so the Sarg. Told me to take it easy. I laid down and went to sleep. At about eleven I came back to the area and ate dinner. While we were eating they gave one fellow a dishonorable discharge and another one a summary court martial. In the first case, the fellow will be kicked out of the corps and his chance of getting a good job are very poor from then on. The other case was a Sarg., and he failed to carry out some order and he was reduced to a Corp. They always “read a person off” in a mess hall or parade field. That is a marine custom, so don’t ask questions. They do a lot of queer things.
Haven’t had guard duty yet this week and I don’t have it Friday, so I will probably get it over the weekend. That will be just “ducky.”
Just before I started to write this letter, I did a big washing. Yesterday I had a big washing also. Can’t seem to figure out how they get dirty so quickly.
Bought a Parker Eversharp at the P.X. the other day. It was a $4 pencil and I got for $2.50. They give you a good cut on things down here. There is a restaurant, jewelry store, and a general store, all in one. It is a fine place.
The other night we went up in the mountains in a little trip. It really was high up there to. Saw a number of deer and got very hungry.
Did you get any pheasants? Sure hope he did. Probably used all of my shells and never hit a thing. Ha Ha.
What is the general news? Hope everything is O.K. Will close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Oct. 31, 1943
Dear Mom and Dad,
Well how is everything back home. Suppose it is getting fairly cool now. As you know I stood guard duty from 2: AM until 6:30 this morning. That is the most tiresome job I have ever had. It was darn cold out there too. Had to put on my overcoat and I was still chilly. Got so darn hungry I ate two servings of breakfast. That is more than I have ever eaten before. I got that guard duty again tonight. Sure will be happy when I get through with that.
Next weekend I am going to try and meet Ken at Diego. Got a letter from him this last Friday and he wants to see me as soon as possible.
Read in the paper how Wisc. beat Purdue. Elroy Hirsch is doing O.K. though.
In the morning we start schedule. Guess they give you quite a bit in that one week though. I understand that Pa’s birthday is very soon. Give me the date and I will see what I can do about buying something.
Got a letter from Russ yesterday. He had a little excitement but he said it didn’t amount to much. Told about going swimming in some sort of a crater. Pretty deep and there were ropes hanging down the side to climb up on.
Still haven’t cashed that money order. It can’t do anyone any good as long as it isn’t signed though.
I don’t know if I should buy a military watch and send this one home to get cleaned and put away. I am afraid it will get broken out here.
I had an interview with a gunnery the other night and he told me that I would probably get demolition. In that I would get to play with T.N.T. Won’t that be a lot of fun. Guess I will close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom and Dad,
Well how is everything back home. Suppose it is getting fairly cool now. As you know I stood guard duty from 2: AM until 6:30 this morning. That is the most tiresome job I have ever had. It was darn cold out there too. Had to put on my overcoat and I was still chilly. Got so darn hungry I ate two servings of breakfast. That is more than I have ever eaten before. I got that guard duty again tonight. Sure will be happy when I get through with that.
Next weekend I am going to try and meet Ken at Diego. Got a letter from him this last Friday and he wants to see me as soon as possible.
Read in the paper how Wisc. beat Purdue. Elroy Hirsch is doing O.K. though.
In the morning we start schedule. Guess they give you quite a bit in that one week though. I understand that Pa’s birthday is very soon. Give me the date and I will see what I can do about buying something.
Got a letter from Russ yesterday. He had a little excitement but he said it didn’t amount to much. Told about going swimming in some sort of a crater. Pretty deep and there were ropes hanging down the side to climb up on.
Still haven’t cashed that money order. It can’t do anyone any good as long as it isn’t signed though.
I don’t know if I should buy a military watch and send this one home to get cleaned and put away. I am afraid it will get broken out here.
I had an interview with a gunnery the other night and he told me that I would probably get demolition. In that I would get to play with T.N.T. Won’t that be a lot of fun. Guess I will close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Nov. 2, 1943
Dear Mom and Dad,
Will get off a few quick lines before we hit the sack. When I wrote and told you about being busy is very true. We go to school at 7:30 and get through at 8:30 at night. We don’t have time to wash clothes or even get our mail so far. They give us lectures and everything for one week and then give us a test. They give us in 20 hrs. what they give officers in 50 hrs, so you can see what we are going through.
We moved from the lower part of the barrack to the upper part. Hope this is the end of moving for a while.
Went on a march this afternoon up in the mts. Practicing our field movement. It was really tiresome too. Got back at five and ate chow. Then we went to school until 8:30 tonight. Our course will last 8 weeks for sure now. That is what the officer told us. If so, it will be the end of January when we get out. If at all possible send more razor blades and get some stuff for athletics foot. Send it as soon as possible too.
How is everything around the town coming. How is the football team coming? How do Pa like his new job?
Got through guard duty already even though it was very tiresome. Heard Jack Durtschi was home. How long was he there? Can’t think of much else to write. An argument is now brewing over which part of the country is the best. That starts up every time we haven’t got something else to argue about. Will close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Did Pa get any birds?
Dear Mom and Dad,
Will get off a few quick lines before we hit the sack. When I wrote and told you about being busy is very true. We go to school at 7:30 and get through at 8:30 at night. We don’t have time to wash clothes or even get our mail so far. They give us lectures and everything for one week and then give us a test. They give us in 20 hrs. what they give officers in 50 hrs, so you can see what we are going through.
We moved from the lower part of the barrack to the upper part. Hope this is the end of moving for a while.
Went on a march this afternoon up in the mts. Practicing our field movement. It was really tiresome too. Got back at five and ate chow. Then we went to school until 8:30 tonight. Our course will last 8 weeks for sure now. That is what the officer told us. If so, it will be the end of January when we get out. If at all possible send more razor blades and get some stuff for athletics foot. Send it as soon as possible too.
How is everything around the town coming. How is the football team coming? How do Pa like his new job?
Got through guard duty already even though it was very tiresome. Heard Jack Durtschi was home. How long was he there? Can’t think of much else to write. An argument is now brewing over which part of the country is the best. That starts up every time we haven’t got something else to argue about. Will close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Did Pa get any birds?
Nov. 6, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
Received your letter of the third. In regard to Pa’s letter, I received it. Today was a great relief. In the early morning we had inspection and right after that, we had our little test. The test was on every thing we had this past week. It was a very simple test. Much easier than I expected it to be.
I had the biggest washing this weekend that I have ever had. It took me about two hours. Can really see now what you used to have to do.
Got a whole mess of letters today. Will be damn busy trying too, but will do my best.
I got into camoflague but I guess I will change with a fellow and get into demolition.
Got liberty this weekend but I didn’t take it because I had such a big washing to do. Therefore I won’t get a chance to see Ken until sometime later.
Guess I will send my watch home. It runs and the stops. Will try and get me a military watch. You and Pa can keep that for me until later.
Our 1st Lieu’t Checkarski just told us today that we won’t get a furlough even when we get ready to shove off. He also said that they changed their minds about that very suddenly so will have a possibility of getting one.
Will have my pictures taken as soon it possibly can be. Will try and get them in “blues.”
Will try and squeeze out enough money to by you and Pa an anniversary present. It will have to be partly Pa’s birthday present also. As you know Christmas is coming along soon and will have to plan likewise.
Will close now, Take it easy and make Pa wash his face regularly.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
Received your letter of the third. In regard to Pa’s letter, I received it. Today was a great relief. In the early morning we had inspection and right after that, we had our little test. The test was on every thing we had this past week. It was a very simple test. Much easier than I expected it to be.
I had the biggest washing this weekend that I have ever had. It took me about two hours. Can really see now what you used to have to do.
Got a whole mess of letters today. Will be damn busy trying too, but will do my best.
I got into camoflague but I guess I will change with a fellow and get into demolition.
Got liberty this weekend but I didn’t take it because I had such a big washing to do. Therefore I won’t get a chance to see Ken until sometime later.
Guess I will send my watch home. It runs and the stops. Will try and get me a military watch. You and Pa can keep that for me until later.
Our 1st Lieu’t Checkarski just told us today that we won’t get a furlough even when we get ready to shove off. He also said that they changed their minds about that very suddenly so will have a possibility of getting one.
Will have my pictures taken as soon it possibly can be. Will try and get them in “blues.”
Will try and squeeze out enough money to by you and Pa an anniversary present. It will have to be partly Pa’s birthday present also. As you know Christmas is coming along soon and will have to plan likewise.
Will close now, Take it easy and make Pa wash his face regularly.
Love
Bill Return to top
Nov. 9, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well, the training has started. Thought we might a little rest when this started, but it is just about as hard as ever. The camoflauge course isn’t hard at all. We go out and paint miniture houses and barracks. It is a lot of fun. Get plenty of time to rest and lay around.
When we get through with our work at four thirty, we have physical exercises until 5:30, or six. Then we eat chow and maybe then you get a chance to rest a little bit.
Tomorrow night I have guard duty out in the mountains. Guarding an ammunition dump. At least I won’t get it at the end of a week.
How is everything coming back home? Hope Pa is coming along alright with his work.
Last night we went out and fought a fire that has been going on since Sat. night. Several guys got burnt. Not to bad, but I suppose that it didn’t feel very good. Got to sleep all morning long,. Bet that won’t happen in here again.
Bought me a wrist watch for $35. Will send the other one home if I can find a small sturdy box.
Has it snowed back there yet? Just about as bad as ever here. Don’t snow when the rainy season starts. Sure hope it doesn’t for a long time.
In a couple of weeks we take a bus trip and also a plane trip, looking over the camoflauge areas around here. That will be O.K. by me. Guess I will close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well, the training has started. Thought we might a little rest when this started, but it is just about as hard as ever. The camoflauge course isn’t hard at all. We go out and paint miniture houses and barracks. It is a lot of fun. Get plenty of time to rest and lay around.
When we get through with our work at four thirty, we have physical exercises until 5:30, or six. Then we eat chow and maybe then you get a chance to rest a little bit.
Tomorrow night I have guard duty out in the mountains. Guarding an ammunition dump. At least I won’t get it at the end of a week.
How is everything coming back home? Hope Pa is coming along alright with his work.
Last night we went out and fought a fire that has been going on since Sat. night. Several guys got burnt. Not to bad, but I suppose that it didn’t feel very good. Got to sleep all morning long,. Bet that won’t happen in here again.
Bought me a wrist watch for $35. Will send the other one home if I can find a small sturdy box.
Has it snowed back there yet? Just about as bad as ever here. Don’t snow when the rainy season starts. Sure hope it doesn’t for a long time.
In a couple of weeks we take a bus trip and also a plane trip, looking over the camoflauge areas around here. That will be O.K. by me. Guess I will close now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Nov. 14, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
Thanks for the box of candy or I mean cookies. The other stuff will come in very handy also. I was just going to write and ask for some more razor blades.
Hope everything back there is O.K. Suppose there is plenty of snow on the ground. Wish something would happen so that it would snow here. Saw a couple of good shows last night. They were Girl from Monterey and Meet John Doe. When Chuck and I got out is was the foggiest that I have ever seen it out here. It was the same way this morning when we woke up.
Chuck is from Ohio. He is quite a character. Get a big kick out of him. Always in a hurry. We have some great times talking over football and etc. He is about the size of Syl.
We had liberty again this weekend, but we would only go to a show so we figured we would just stay here in camp and rest, and get some of our letter-writing.
Last night they had a dance just a little ways from our barracks. Guess some Marinette came in over the week. Don’t know what they are going to do with them here. The music sure sounded wonderful.
Guess we will go to the show this afternoon and evening. There isn’t much of anything else to do. You speak of my uniform. It is the same as Jacks,’
Chuck is in Demolition. He has quite a time. Has to walk six miles to get out there. He tells me that they are a rugged bunch. You see us ride out to camoflague every morning.
Got a letter from Ken the other day. Told of a couple of planes cracking up in mid-air. Still haven’t gotten to see him.
Will have some pictures taken before Christmas. Guess I will close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
Thanks for the box of candy or I mean cookies. The other stuff will come in very handy also. I was just going to write and ask for some more razor blades.
Hope everything back there is O.K. Suppose there is plenty of snow on the ground. Wish something would happen so that it would snow here. Saw a couple of good shows last night. They were Girl from Monterey and Meet John Doe. When Chuck and I got out is was the foggiest that I have ever seen it out here. It was the same way this morning when we woke up.
Chuck is from Ohio. He is quite a character. Get a big kick out of him. Always in a hurry. We have some great times talking over football and etc. He is about the size of Syl.
We had liberty again this weekend, but we would only go to a show so we figured we would just stay here in camp and rest, and get some of our letter-writing.
Last night they had a dance just a little ways from our barracks. Guess some Marinette came in over the week. Don’t know what they are going to do with them here. The music sure sounded wonderful.
Guess we will go to the show this afternoon and evening. There isn’t much of anything else to do. You speak of my uniform. It is the same as Jacks,’
Chuck is in Demolition. He has quite a time. Has to walk six miles to get out there. He tells me that they are a rugged bunch. You see us ride out to camoflague every morning.
Got a letter from Ken the other day. Told of a couple of planes cracking up in mid-air. Still haven’t gotten to see him.
Will have some pictures taken before Christmas. Guess I will close for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Nov. 18, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
Thanks very much for the cookies, they are swell. Thank goodness we aren’t so busy this week as we were the past two weeks. We have combat swimming from five to six every evening this week and tomorrow night, we swim it for record. That is swimming 200 yds. And jumping from a 15 ft tower and also 25 ft. tower. The last one is pretty tough for me but I have managed to get off so far.
Got our test grades back from the test we took Sat. I got the highest grade of our class, which was 93.5. They are taking some of us for instructors and I am afraid that they are going to ask me to be one. It is a darn easy job, but I don’t like the idea of breaking up with the company. What do you think of the idea? Give me your opinion on the subject.
Got a letter from Jack D. He is at Norman, Oklahoma, which is the same place that Syl was at. He saw Syl there too. He says it is fairly cold there also. Can’t imagine what it is like back home.
Have the fellows started to practice basketball yet? Hope they have some good luck at it. How did they come out in their last few games of the season. Last I heard they had lost to Darlington 19-0. That couldn’t have been their last game because that was a couple of weeks ago.
The weather here is darn swell. It is just like in the last part of Sept back there. Suppose it is the lull before the rains.
Starting next Monday we go out to the far area to do our camouflage work. That is about eight miles north of the camp, out in the woods. Guess from what they say that it is really swell out there. Can’t think of much else to write so will close.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
Thanks very much for the cookies, they are swell. Thank goodness we aren’t so busy this week as we were the past two weeks. We have combat swimming from five to six every evening this week and tomorrow night, we swim it for record. That is swimming 200 yds. And jumping from a 15 ft tower and also 25 ft. tower. The last one is pretty tough for me but I have managed to get off so far.
Got our test grades back from the test we took Sat. I got the highest grade of our class, which was 93.5. They are taking some of us for instructors and I am afraid that they are going to ask me to be one. It is a darn easy job, but I don’t like the idea of breaking up with the company. What do you think of the idea? Give me your opinion on the subject.
Got a letter from Jack D. He is at Norman, Oklahoma, which is the same place that Syl was at. He saw Syl there too. He says it is fairly cold there also. Can’t imagine what it is like back home.
Have the fellows started to practice basketball yet? Hope they have some good luck at it. How did they come out in their last few games of the season. Last I heard they had lost to Darlington 19-0. That couldn’t have been their last game because that was a couple of weeks ago.
The weather here is darn swell. It is just like in the last part of Sept back there. Suppose it is the lull before the rains.
Starting next Monday we go out to the far area to do our camouflage work. That is about eight miles north of the camp, out in the woods. Guess from what they say that it is really swell out there. Can’t think of much else to write so will close.
Love
Bill Return to top
Nov. 21, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad,
So it is fairly cool back there? Slight change in the weather here, but it is very slight. See N.D. won another game. They barely beat the Seahawks, didn’t they? Wisc. did the same old thing again. Was very surprised that they scored 13 pts.
Got a letter from Keith today. He told of the cold weather and several amusing incidents about the Chiefs. Also, remarked of getting a letter and a box of cookies from you.
It was a real shock to hear of Randall getting killed. I can imagine it was a great shock to the rest of you also. Is the funeral going to be there or not. Let me know will you?
Has Bill [love?] left for the coast guard yet? Wrote a letter to him quite a while ago and he hasn’t answered it yet. Thought maybe he had left right away.
Last night we saw a stage show out here. It was very good also. Had some swell comedians, magicians, and singers. It was the first one I have ever seen out here. Next week we are going to Hollywood. Am going to write to Ken and see if he can’t get off to go with us.
Say! Did we ever have a swell meal today for dinner. Chicken, salad, potatoes, gravey, jello and ice cream. Something is going to happen. I can just feel it, when they start feeding us like that. For thanksgiving dinner we are going to get turkey. That will be something also.
About the present situation! I really don’t know what I could use or have. Will let you know later on that subject.
Thank goodness the swimming is all over. The jump and everything. Guess that is all so will close.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad,
So it is fairly cool back there? Slight change in the weather here, but it is very slight. See N.D. won another game. They barely beat the Seahawks, didn’t they? Wisc. did the same old thing again. Was very surprised that they scored 13 pts.
Got a letter from Keith today. He told of the cold weather and several amusing incidents about the Chiefs. Also, remarked of getting a letter and a box of cookies from you.
It was a real shock to hear of Randall getting killed. I can imagine it was a great shock to the rest of you also. Is the funeral going to be there or not. Let me know will you?
Has Bill [love?] left for the coast guard yet? Wrote a letter to him quite a while ago and he hasn’t answered it yet. Thought maybe he had left right away.
Last night we saw a stage show out here. It was very good also. Had some swell comedians, magicians, and singers. It was the first one I have ever seen out here. Next week we are going to Hollywood. Am going to write to Ken and see if he can’t get off to go with us.
Say! Did we ever have a swell meal today for dinner. Chicken, salad, potatoes, gravey, jello and ice cream. Something is going to happen. I can just feel it, when they start feeding us like that. For thanksgiving dinner we are going to get turkey. That will be something also.
About the present situation! I really don’t know what I could use or have. Will let you know later on that subject.
Thank goodness the swimming is all over. The jump and everything. Guess that is all so will close.
Love
Bill Return to top
Nov. 29, 1943
Dear Mom & Dad
Got all the letters that came in over the weekend. It was sure swell to get two letters from you. Hope you can keep it up. It really helps a person along quite a bit. Imagine, I got ten letters today. Was I ever surprised. That is the most I have ever gotten at one time.
I am in the guard house now That is where all of the guards stay. We get all day off to write letters and rest. My watch starts at ten this evening until two in the morning. Thanks a million for the five spot. It will come in very handy. This coming weekend I am going to see Ken and Syl in Diego. They are both at Mirimar. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I got the card from Syl Friday, telling of his arriving at Diego. Had a swell time in L.A. That is sure a big city. You think that Madison is crowded with service men. L.A. is so much more crowded that isn’t even funny. Saw Frankie Masters and his orchestra Sunday afternoon. He was really swell. He is the best I have seen yet.
Here it is about 7:10 P.M. and I have just returned from taking a shower and changing my green trousers. We played a little game of touch football and I wrecked my other trousers and also my knees. Will survey my pants but don’t know about the skin on my knees. Guess I will just have to wait and have them heal up.
So father is still having trouble with his jaw! Tell him if he wouldn’t have let me hit so hard, he wouldn’t have so many broken bones in his face. HaHa. Guess I quit for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Dad
Got all the letters that came in over the weekend. It was sure swell to get two letters from you. Hope you can keep it up. It really helps a person along quite a bit. Imagine, I got ten letters today. Was I ever surprised. That is the most I have ever gotten at one time.
I am in the guard house now That is where all of the guards stay. We get all day off to write letters and rest. My watch starts at ten this evening until two in the morning. Thanks a million for the five spot. It will come in very handy. This coming weekend I am going to see Ken and Syl in Diego. They are both at Mirimar. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I got the card from Syl Friday, telling of his arriving at Diego. Had a swell time in L.A. That is sure a big city. You think that Madison is crowded with service men. L.A. is so much more crowded that isn’t even funny. Saw Frankie Masters and his orchestra Sunday afternoon. He was really swell. He is the best I have seen yet.
Here it is about 7:10 P.M. and I have just returned from taking a shower and changing my green trousers. We played a little game of touch football and I wrecked my other trousers and also my knees. Will survey my pants but don’t know about the skin on my knees. Guess I will just have to wait and have them heal up.
So father is still having trouble with his jaw! Tell him if he wouldn’t have let me hit so hard, he wouldn’t have so many broken bones in his face. HaHa. Guess I quit for now.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dec. 1, 1943
Dear Mom & Pa,
Having everything done, am writing you a couple of lines. Got a letter from Mrs. Martinson. Told about Russ and his luck in the Pacific area. Said she had also talked about coming out and seeing Syl. If you can, come out, but don’t if it will put any restrictions on you. It will take about four or five days the way transportation is here. Also got a letter from June telling of spending the weekend at your house.
We have physical training night now. They teach us Judo and all that kind of stuff. Boy, it is really fun. You take some pretty hard falls, but it is swell for a person. It is really fun watching some of the fellows land pretty hard.
We have to go to a movie every Tuesday night, so therefore I couldn’t write any letters. They show some very good battle pictures taking from the islands. Guess I will go to the eight o’clock show this evening. Don’t know for sure. Camoflague is going along just fine.
We have a Company inspection Sat. morning. Guess I will have to get everything in shape. How is everything around there coming? Hope Pa’s jaw is better. Suppose it is fairly cool now. There is sure a lot of flusteration going around here. Can’t think very clearly so will close. Will attempt to make the next one longer and more interesting. Say hello to everyone for me.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Pa,
Having everything done, am writing you a couple of lines. Got a letter from Mrs. Martinson. Told about Russ and his luck in the Pacific area. Said she had also talked about coming out and seeing Syl. If you can, come out, but don’t if it will put any restrictions on you. It will take about four or five days the way transportation is here. Also got a letter from June telling of spending the weekend at your house.
We have physical training night now. They teach us Judo and all that kind of stuff. Boy, it is really fun. You take some pretty hard falls, but it is swell for a person. It is really fun watching some of the fellows land pretty hard.
We have to go to a movie every Tuesday night, so therefore I couldn’t write any letters. They show some very good battle pictures taking from the islands. Guess I will go to the eight o’clock show this evening. Don’t know for sure. Camoflague is going along just fine.
We have a Company inspection Sat. morning. Guess I will have to get everything in shape. How is everything around there coming? Hope Pa’s jaw is better. Suppose it is fairly cool now. There is sure a lot of flusteration going around here. Can’t think very clearly so will close. Will attempt to make the next one longer and more interesting. Say hello to everyone for me.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dec. 10, 1943
Dear Pa,
Received your letter and am returning this one at the first opportunity that I have had. Mother and they got here alright. They arrived Monday morning. Saw Syl Monday & Tuesday he left for overseas. They sure didn’t arrive a day too soon didn’t they .
At the present time I am waiting for the rains to let up so I can go in and see them. They are at Oceanside which is fairly close to camp. We are going to L.A. for the weekend. It has rained for about two days now. It is really muddy, and miserable. Sure was glad to see them. They looked fine and were fairly well. Mother has a slight cold.
June gave me a cigarette lighter. It was really swell. School is just about at a close. One more week left.
You can send me some money for Xmas. That is about all I can use. Everything else has to be P.I. Well have to close for now. Take things easy and write soon.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Pa,
Received your letter and am returning this one at the first opportunity that I have had. Mother and they got here alright. They arrived Monday morning. Saw Syl Monday & Tuesday he left for overseas. They sure didn’t arrive a day too soon didn’t they .
At the present time I am waiting for the rains to let up so I can go in and see them. They are at Oceanside which is fairly close to camp. We are going to L.A. for the weekend. It has rained for about two days now. It is really muddy, and miserable. Sure was glad to see them. They looked fine and were fairly well. Mother has a slight cold.
June gave me a cigarette lighter. It was really swell. School is just about at a close. One more week left.
You can send me some money for Xmas. That is about all I can use. Everything else has to be P.I. Well have to close for now. Take things easy and write soon.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dec. 15, 1943
8:00 P.M.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Have finally found time to drop you a couple of quick letters. Had a swell time when you were here. Wish it could have lasted longer.
Guess you will be plenty surprised to hear that. I am at Ellish. Yes, we went to work on Monday morning and we were promptly called back
to pack our sea bags and shove off. It was a great surprise to me as well as everyone else. We were the first replacement ever to do that.
We have had quite a time here. Busy taking physical exams and shots. Exams had my hair cut short again. Suppose it won’t be to long now until we shove off again. Don’t worry. I will take care of myself.
How was your trip home? Suppose you saw some pretty good scenery. Nothing happened to me over that little incident. How is Pa? Keeping his neck clean and being a good boy. I hope. Got a picture of Keith. It was really a good picture. Don’t [this portion is hard to decipher} it. But I will try to keep it. About my pictures, I couldn’t get them and then just lost $5 on account of it. Just give them any old pictures to put in the album. Say goodbye to everyone for me and write the rest of the folks and tell them. Will close for now. Don’t write until you hear more.
Love
Bill Return to top
8:00 P.M.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Have finally found time to drop you a couple of quick letters. Had a swell time when you were here. Wish it could have lasted longer.
Guess you will be plenty surprised to hear that. I am at Ellish. Yes, we went to work on Monday morning and we were promptly called back
to pack our sea bags and shove off. It was a great surprise to me as well as everyone else. We were the first replacement ever to do that.
We have had quite a time here. Busy taking physical exams and shots. Exams had my hair cut short again. Suppose it won’t be to long now until we shove off again. Don’t worry. I will take care of myself.
How was your trip home? Suppose you saw some pretty good scenery. Nothing happened to me over that little incident. How is Pa? Keeping his neck clean and being a good boy. I hope. Got a picture of Keith. It was really a good picture. Don’t [this portion is hard to decipher} it. But I will try to keep it. About my pictures, I couldn’t get them and then just lost $5 on account of it. Just give them any old pictures to put in the album. Say goodbye to everyone for me and write the rest of the folks and tell them. Will close for now. Don’t write until you hear more.
Love
Bill Return to top
Dec. 24, 1943
Dear Mom & Pa,
Well, have gotten some spare time, so am writing. How are you and dad. Been Fairly cool I suppose and maybe a little snow. It has been pretty nice here lately. Quit raining and is much warmer. Doesn ‘t seem the least bit like winter or even Christmas.
Yesterday I had guard duty. It is much different on guard here than at Pendleton. Don’t like it one bit.
Today we haven’t done a darn thing. Had the whole day off and it sure is nice. Received a lot of letters or should I say xmas cards. Got some candy from Grandmother,
It is really a swell box too. Got a
letter from June today and before I even got a chance to read it, I lost it! Isn’t that just swell?
Everything is coming to a head very quickly. Might be almost any day now. Hope so. Anything to get out of this place. It is just about driving me nuts now in the small time we have been here.
Hope you have a nice xmas dinner and a happy new year. This won’t arrive for xmas because I had forgotten all about it until about a day ago. Got a picture from Ken today. It was real nice too. Makes me feel like hell not to be able to give anyone a present or even a xmas card. Hope next year by this time this darn brawl is over and a person can spend a day or two in peace. Can’t think of much else so will close. Take care of your self and don’t worry. Tell everyone Merry x-mas & Happy New Year. The same to you too. See a few ball games for me, will you?
Love
Bill Return to top
Dear Mom & Pa,
Well, have gotten some spare time, so am writing. How are you and dad. Been Fairly cool I suppose and maybe a little snow. It has been pretty nice here lately. Quit raining and is much warmer. Doesn ‘t seem the least bit like winter or even Christmas.
Yesterday I had guard duty. It is much different on guard here than at Pendleton. Don’t like it one bit.
Today we haven’t done a darn thing. Had the whole day off and it sure is nice. Received a lot of letters or should I say xmas cards. Got some candy from Grandmother,
It is really a swell box too. Got a
letter from June today and before I even got a chance to read it, I lost it! Isn’t that just swell?
Everything is coming to a head very quickly. Might be almost any day now. Hope so. Anything to get out of this place. It is just about driving me nuts now in the small time we have been here.
Hope you have a nice xmas dinner and a happy new year. This won’t arrive for xmas because I had forgotten all about it until about a day ago. Got a picture from Ken today. It was real nice too. Makes me feel like hell not to be able to give anyone a present or even a xmas card. Hope next year by this time this darn brawl is over and a person can spend a day or two in peace. Can’t think of much else so will close. Take care of your self and don’t worry. Tell everyone Merry x-mas & Happy New Year. The same to you too. See a few ball games for me, will you?
Love
Bill Return to top
Dec. 28, 1943
Camp Elliott
4:00 P.M.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well guess I will drop you a couple of lines. At the present time it is really raining. Nice weather for writing and laying around. Today we were gone on manuvers. Went out and [sham?] bottles. Pretty good. They have one for a scout. The Lt. sent three of us off and we got last. Came back to camp about an hour after the rest had arrived. We were caught in the first part of the rain.
Last evening as I was writing a letter, who should walk in but Ken! Sure was a great surprise. We sat here talking of everything and everyone. Really had a swell time too. Sure was happy because he could be here. He hasn’t changed much. Doesn’t like school one bit and I don’t blame him very much. He wishes he were with us. He won’t finish school until sometime in Feb. That is quite a long time from now.
How is Pa coming with his work? Hope he got the poles in before it snowed. Suppose you are back to work by now. Is it very cold back there? Heard it was fairly chilly in Dixon the morning before you pulled in there!
Sunday we played football. My legs felt as if someone had beat on them. All night long. Have seen some very good stage shows here. Last night it was Groucho Marx and a swell cast. It was crazier than ever. Don’t know if I will go to the show tonight or not. It is Fantasia, a Disney picture, I guess.
Sure got a mess of x-mas cards from the kids in school. Never expected to hear from them.
The Bears sort of beat Washington, didn’t they. [short?]
How is Wisconsin coming with its team! Suppose they have kept right in losing. Seems they don’t have anything. Sure was a surprise to hear that Bill [can’t decipher name] joined the marines. Never expected to hear of him doing that. Guess this is all for now. Tell everyone hello.
Love
Bill Return to top
Camp Elliott
4:00 P.M.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well guess I will drop you a couple of lines. At the present time it is really raining. Nice weather for writing and laying around. Today we were gone on manuvers. Went out and [sham?] bottles. Pretty good. They have one for a scout. The Lt. sent three of us off and we got last. Came back to camp about an hour after the rest had arrived. We were caught in the first part of the rain.
Last evening as I was writing a letter, who should walk in but Ken! Sure was a great surprise. We sat here talking of everything and everyone. Really had a swell time too. Sure was happy because he could be here. He hasn’t changed much. Doesn’t like school one bit and I don’t blame him very much. He wishes he were with us. He won’t finish school until sometime in Feb. That is quite a long time from now.
How is Pa coming with his work? Hope he got the poles in before it snowed. Suppose you are back to work by now. Is it very cold back there? Heard it was fairly chilly in Dixon the morning before you pulled in there!
Sunday we played football. My legs felt as if someone had beat on them. All night long. Have seen some very good stage shows here. Last night it was Groucho Marx and a swell cast. It was crazier than ever. Don’t know if I will go to the show tonight or not. It is Fantasia, a Disney picture, I guess.
Sure got a mess of x-mas cards from the kids in school. Never expected to hear from them.
The Bears sort of beat Washington, didn’t they. [short?]
How is Wisconsin coming with its team! Suppose they have kept right in losing. Seems they don’t have anything. Sure was a surprise to hear that Bill [can’t decipher name] joined the marines. Never expected to hear of him doing that. Guess this is all for now. Tell everyone hello.
Love
Bill Return to top