Year: 1944

                                                     July 4, 1944
Hello Folks,
   This will be kind of a hurry up letter but it’s the best I can do this time. We were out on a night march last night till about 2345 and so by the time we were able to get in bed it was almost twelve thirty. We are off till ten this morning but I had to get up at 6:30 to go table waiter. We finished up on the breakfast part of our work at about 8:30. So by the time I got everything straightened up to fall out I have very little time left. I might have waited to write tonight but it may be too late to write when I get off. 
   Yesterday during the day we marched for about two hours out to where we were to run squad problems. Then we had to come back that distance of course. So we spent at least 12 hrs working yesterday with eight of them being marching. And then I only got about 6 hours sleep. I feel about as tired this morning as any time I can remember. I really do ache all over and my feet are so sore I can’t hardly stand on them. I am wondering how I’ll feel after working late tonight. Boy this training is getting pretty rough if you ask me.
   I don’t suppose July 4 will be much of a vacation for you this year either but I do hope you don’t have to work too hard.

                                                        Evening
   Well to tell you the truth if I’d had to work very late tonight on table waiter I wouldn’t have got to finish this letter today. But I got off at about 7:30 so I consider myself pretty lucky. I’m going to hit the hay as soon as possible tonight and see if I can’t sleep a little of this ache out of my bones.
   We had a pretty hard day today as usual. We spent all afternoon studying war gases. They threw tear gas on us 6 or 7 times so that we would get reality into our gas mask training and all of us were about sick from the stuff before the afternoon was over.
   We had quite a treat for dinner today. I guess they were getting liberal on the fourth. They gave each one of us a pretty good sized slice of watermelon. And boy it sure did taste good.
   This isn’t much of a letter but I am about out of news. I surely am still thinking of home. I hope to hear from you tomorrow. Take care of yourselves
         Love
          Donald

Wed morning,
   Well I am feeling better now but I am still tired. I don’t know any more news so I’ll drop this in the box on my way to breakfast 
           DVT

                                                      July 1, 1944
Hello Folks,
   Well I’ll try something a little different this time; it’ll be something like your weekend letters are. I’ll start it tonight and finish it tomorrow. And thank goodness I don’t have detail tomorrow.
   I got your letter on Thursday evening that you had written on spaghetti box paper (that was the easiest way I could think of to distinguish between it and any other letter). I was sorry to hear that the Chev. is giving trouble. Hope it can be fixed without too much difficulty. You mentioned about being hot and I saw in the paper that you have been having some record breaking weather. I can see how Richard would have quite a time sleeping through it. It’s been pretty hot here part of this week but I don’t know that it’s any worse than usual. In fact, the last couple of days have been sort of cloudy and the temperature has been almost pleasant. Much like Georgia the nights are a good bit cooler than the days.
   Our training has been along the usual lines but, at least for me, there has been a little extra outside of drill hours. On Thursday evening I got off KP before too late and so I went to the show. Of course, I wouldn’t have gone if it hadn’t had some special attraction to me. The attraction to me was that the name was “Home in Indiana.” It was built around the horse races at county fairs but outside of that there was very little resemblance in it to Indiana.
   I don’t know whether you saw it or not but I read in a paper (when I was home on furlough, I think) where Heck Kirk had gone over into Ohio to take part in a movie and I am almost certain that this was it. Although I don’t know him, if this was the picture, I knew which one he was. He sas an announcer at the horse races and had about the most important of the smaller parts. This was a fairly good sized man considerably past middle age. He was a pretty good looking gent with hair gray or almost so and some “bay window”. Do you know enough about him to tell me if this could have been him?
   Last night the company had a beer party in the mess hall. This didn’t hold any excitement for me but I suppose you could say that I got some good from it. It sure gave me some first hand information on the results of drink. It sure made a mess out of several people and even went so far as to cause several brawls throughout the company before it was over. 
   The third thing just a little out of the ordinary for me was that we went swimming this afternoon. My suit hadn’t come yet but everyone had to go so they had to let us swim in our underwear trunks. I didn’t learn to swim but I was in enough to sort of get the feel of the water and with a few more hitches at it  I think I’ll be able to accomplish the feat. At least it gave me a little confidence.
   It’s pretty late now so I’ll try to write a little more tomorrow.

                                                Sunday afternoon1July 2
   I feel just a little disgusted with myself this afternoon. I wanted to get up for church this morning and when I woke up this morning some way or the other I had the idea that it was about 0800. I was waiting for someone to call breakfast. But when I looked at my watch it was two hours later than I expected and church had already started. It was cool this morning and was raining part of the time and I suppose I was a little extra tired. I felt bad about it but it was too late and so I had to hold my own service out of my Bible.
   I got the bathing suit in the mail at noon but my heart sank when I saw all the expense you had gone to in order that my silly request might be carried out. I should have been kicked for even asking you to get me something so quickly. The suit fits perfectly and I thank you a lot for it. But here is something I want you to remember whenever you are tempted to go to so much expense or trouble again. The army is supposed to furnish anything I need and anything I ask you to send me is just something extra and I don’t really need it. For instance, as long as going swimming was optional, bathing suits were required but when they made it compulsory the had to let us go in our underwear shorts since no bathing suits are issued. Therefore don’t get too excited over everything I ask you to send. Don’t worry about those sox I asked for. Just pick them up if you happen to find them.
   The rain this morning cooled down the temperature and it is now a very pleasant day. I have spent most of my time reading the Sunday School papers I got from you this week. I was sorry to hear that Mary’s ear has been giving so much trouble. I wish she could get straightened up as quickly and easily as I did. 
   Hope you are all coming along OK.
              Loads of Love
               Donald

Date inferred because based on context it is sometime in the June timeframe, and mentions being after his furlough and after Father’s Day (June 18) and there is another letter for June 22

                               Thursday Evening
Hello Richard and all,
     I’ll write this letter to Richard first because I haven’t written a letter to you for some time and have received several letters from you and certainly appreciate them and because I wan to ask a favor of you. I want you to buy some bonds for me. The money order and directions are enclosed. I don’t care where you buy them. The war bond drive will likely be over by the time you get this but maybe you would want to buy them through the factory or some special place like that. Just get them this month so they’ll have July on them.
    Here is the explanation why I have decided to buy a bond for the folks (they’ll read this and you won’t have to explain). Over half of the money came from my furlough ration money and then I sure have been very negligent on sending anything home. I let Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and everything else lip by so I hope this will cover up a little of this. Of course, if you would rather use the money some other way go right ahead.
    As I said before, this training is getting pretty rough now. We have been going out a distance of an hour’s walk every morning and then, of course, we have to come back every evening. That in itself makes a hard day's work not including all the running around we do out there. 
    This morning we really had a hike. We took a forced march of 9 miles in two hours. That's twice as fast as the normal rate of march and going at that rate for a distance of 9 miles just about finished us all. We had a 4 mile forced march in basic and thought that was awful. They gave us the rest of the morning to catch our breath. This afternoon when I walked around I could just feel my lungs pulling when I breathed.
    I was sure glad to get your weekend letter yesterday. It had been several days since I had heard from you and I was getting anxious for a letter. I hope Richard doesn’t have to be out of work too long. I am glad to hear that you are getting some paint on the garage. I also was glad to get a little more insight into Daddy’s job.
    I was a little surprised to hear about the talk of buying Pelfry’s place. But if some satisfactory arrangement could be made, I say go right ahead. It sounds quite alright to me and I think that would be just about what we (you) need.
    Well I’ve got to clean my weapon and maybe do a little washing before I go to bed.
                 Your brother,   
                           Donald
    Even though I wrote this letter to Richard you can tell I had an awful hard time not writing to everyone as a whole.

                                                   Wednesday Evening
Hello,
   It may seem strange that I am writing tonight but here is my situation. I have K.P. tomorrow and that fixes the chance of writing tomorrow night. Then you know the usual story of Friday night so that means if I am going to write before this weekend it will have to be tonight. So you’ll have to imagine that this letter was written a day or so later or just forgive me for not writing you for the next few days.
   I was very glad to get your weekend letter this evening. I was pleased to hear that Daddy is coming along OK with his job. It sounds to me like you will have a few cherries to eat next winter that you wouldn’t have had otherwise. I suppose you won’t have to be buying milk now. Maybe you could get a picture of the calf for me before you sell it.
   I have a little more good news for you. Again my name was on an unexplained list on the bulletin board. When we fell out at 12:30 today we were taken down to the eye clinic and examined for G.I. glasses. So that means in a week or so I’ll have some new specs. Now that my ear has straightened up and my teeth have been fixed, I should be in pretty good shape when I get my glasses.
   I spent all afternoon over at the clinic but outside of that time we have been doing the ordinary type of training. We have mostly been running squad problems, and just a word  of explanation: these are just situations set up that we must meet which are likely to be met in combat.
   Richard asked if we can only attend the church services of our own organization (in this case regiment). No - there is no restriction of that sort. I just  wasn’t sure where to find another chapel anyways near close and I didn’t know anything about the time of services. But there is no use denying the fact that if I had really been on my toes that morning I could have attended services somewhere.
   I have been eating the hard candies tonight that you put into my package. I want to thank you again for them. That kind of candy really goes good for a change.
   Well I’m about run down and I’ll have to be getting up at about 0500 in the morning. So goodnight and good wishes.
                  Donald

                                                      Tuesday morning 
Hello Folks,
   I am cheating just a little on my time but I wanted to get this letter off to you. What I mean is that I should be sleeping right now. We did a full day’s work yesterday and then had a night hike last night of 10 miles. So we are getting this morning off and I should be sleeping now. But something or other woke up and I decided to try something.
   Here it is: I received your package yesterday and tried on the bathing suit. But there is no stretch to it and it just wouldn’t go on. The legs were too little around to allow it to come up to my waist and the waist was too small. All the tags are still on it so you should be able  to exchange it.
   I would like to have a suit for this Saturday so I thought that if this letter happened to reach you tomorrow and you sent the suit on the next mail (likely Thursday morning) there is a chance that it might get here by Saturday noon. It would be worth a try and if it didn’t work there will be no harm done.
   I didn’t quite understand what you meant about the buckle on the other suit but it would please me better if it wasn’t quite so elaborate as this one. But I’ll not send this one back till I hear form you just in case you meant that there was no buckle at all on the other suit.
   Thanks a whole lot for the cigar box and what it contained. I think the green thread will simplify the sewing on of patches for me.
   That hike last night convinced me of the need for heavy sox. I wore wool sox and still I got two great big blisters on my feet. What would it have been if I hadn’t worn them. I wonder if you have been able to locate any of them for me. I am in no especial hurry so, if you don’t have them, don’t hold up the sending of the bathing suit while you are getting me them. See what I mean.
   As you might expect going back to the hard work was pretty tough on me. I had been working but, of course, communications school was nothing like hiking etc. Last night we walked on hard surfaced roads (about like the road past our house) for the entire 10 miles and everyone had pretty sore feet. In fact, I woke up twice last night and my feet hurt so bad I was afraid I wasn’t going to get back to sleep. 
   This hasn’t been much of a letter but at least you will have heard from me. Hope you are all coming along OK.
         Love
          Donald

                                                  Sunday Afternoon
Hello Folks,
   Well I didn’t expect to be free today but because of some miracle I didn’t get any details. So I am enjoying a very pleasant day of doing very little. The only trouble is that I find it hard to keep from being just a little homesick. I got a letter from you today so that helps out quite a lot. The box hasn’t come yet but no doubt it’ll be here tomorrow. I had plenty of “extras” anyhow today. I got a cake from La Vera and we just got through finishing it off. She had made it for Ben but the box was too large to comply with postal regulations so instead of unpacking it she just put on a new address and sent it to me. Of course, it didn’t come amiss here.
   I went to church this morning and got a letter written to Uncle Everetts’ and that’s all I’ve got done except sleeping and reading. I am feeling sort of in need of a nap so I’ll probably not stir around much this afternoon.
   Well it seems as if communications school is over for me. We finished up on Friday evening so I suppose I’ll go back to training with the company tomorrow. They talked as if we would have to carry on communications within the company whenever problems or maneuvers start so I don’t know whether or not they’ll try to keep us in touch with the subject until that time comes. 
   I was very sorry to hear about Mandy King’s death. I wonder how it will effect Pappy. 
   I saw in the paper that the church had hired the preacher from Rosedale.  I wonder if he started preaching for you today or if he had asked for a few weeks to finish up with his other church.
   I am beginning  to wonder how Leo is coming on the work with my watch. He should at least be almost ready to get  around to it. I don’t know how hard this been on my good watch but if as much dirt has got into the works as is between the crystal and face it must be about ready to stop. I have also broken my good strap and a cheap one that I got here. I’ll either have to get another strap or quit wearing it. Drop in and see Leo one of these times just so he won’t forget this will you?
   I was just looking over some old school letters and I see that Richard wanted to know a little about parades. Well a parade for us usually means a lot of practice for a very few minutes of parading. We march for about a mile out to the parade grounds and then stand for about an hour in formation while the whole division assembles.
   The parade itself only lasts for about 15 minutes while each battalion marches past the reviewing stand. Usually the only spectators are the general and whatever dignitaries happen to be around. But on infantry day we were viewed by, I suppose, 4 or 5 thousand visitors. I think about half of them were soldiers' wives. In fact the whole area was open to the public that day and there  were several displays and demonstrations put on for the public here in the division area.
   About Daddy’s job: although I don’t know the exact function of armatures, I wonder if he knows just what those he handles are off of.
   Well I started this letter this morning and have written on it whenever I thought of something all day. It’s now about 1830. I’ll not seal this now but since I am about out of paper I’ll not write any in the morning unless something important happens. 
         Lots of love and good wishes
          Donald     

                                                 Thursday Evening
Dear Folks,
   My week of leisure is just about over. The company is supposed to get in sometime this evening. That means that I’ll be getting up for reville in the morning and from now on will be a soldier again. Being free from a large number of people and being able to do as you pleased except during working hours has made this week seem almost like civilian life. I guess if no other good at all comes from our being in the army, it will at least make us appreciate doing as we please when we get out. When you are doing something because you want to, you work a whole lot harder and put in longer hours than you do when you are doing something that is forced upon you. For example: I actually believe that I worked a whole lot harder in school than I am working now and I know that I was getting a lot more enjoyment out of it.
   I am sort of mixed up on what to think about radio school so I can’t tell you whether I’ll be going any longer or not. For the past few days we have taken quite a number of tests and yesterday was supposed to finish us up. But almost in the same breath that they say we will quit going down there, they tell us how much we haven’t even touched upon yet and will have to know before we are through. Yesterday was supposed to be our last day but we went today and they told us to come back tomorrow so I don’t know how long I’ll be at it.
   I think the trouble is that the higher ups think we should be through as soon as we have learned radio procedure. But those who actually did communications work on maneuvers know that we’ll have to know a whole lot of other things besides this and they are going to give us all they can before we go back to training with the companies.
   I am sure wondering by this time how things are coming back there. I hope you are able to keep up with everything. Our mail service has been so mixed up this week that since about this time last week I have only received the short letter that you wrote last Friday. You certainly do miss the mail when it stops coming through.
   Well this seems like kind of a short letter but I have said about all I know. I guess the pages are longer than those I have been used to writing on and I have written sort of close together in places so maybe I’ve said about as much as usual anyway.
     Well so long with love 
       Donald

                                                    Tuesday Evening
Hello Folks,
   Well I certainly am living a great life this week. If the army was always like this it wouldn’t be half bad. Since there is no one here hardly we don’t have to stand reveille, retreat or anything. We just get up, go eat and go to work. Then after we get in at night we take a shower at our leisure, go down and eat and have the whole evening to ourselves. 
   If things work out as we have been told they will, our radio school should be over in the next few days. After that I’ll go back to work for sure I suppose. But I feel like that since the company is going over about the same stuff I have had anyway that I haven’t lost much, and maybe I have learned a little that will be useful some time.
   As you can see, I all but ran out of my stationary that you sent me so I had to buy some of this stuff1“United States Army” imprint. I don’t know where you got that other stationery but I sure got a great kick out of using it. Someway it just suited me. But of course I don’t want you to send me any more right away because I have this to use up.
   Since news is kind of short tonight I’ll tell you a little about what rumors say about our going on maneuvers. The general opinion seems to be that they will start sometime in August. It is also rumored that in September we might go to Louisiana for a little training there. But don’t take this too seriously - there are also rumors about going to North Carolina for maneuvers so there is no use believing anything. It does seem though that, unless we are shipped out in small groups instead of as a unit, we will be here for a while.
   They got mail to us today and I got the letter you had written Friday. That was the first letter I had received since about Friday so I was glad to get it. I am getting all the mail but it goes out to the range and comes back here so it takes quite a while to get here.
   I think those sun glasses got broken while laying around here instead of in the package. But I just stuck them in anyway. Just chuck them in the junk. 
   I’m anxious to hear about Daddy’s job and how Richard is coming with his.

   This is sort of irregular, writing on two sides of one sheet and not on the other, but I just didn’t have enough to start another sheet.
          Loads of love and good wishes
           Donald