Category: Letters

June 6, 1944
Tuesday Evening.
Hello Folks,

Don’t get excited about the air mail stamp because I just feel like getting a letter to you in a hurry tonight. For no special reason either that I can think of.

I do have just a little news about my ear though. I kept my appointment  yesterday and went over to the clinic. But I waited all afternoon and they didn’t get around to me. All they did was give me another appointment for the 14th. Well this just disgusted me to the very end. You don’t need to think I’m trying to keep anything from you but fully truth – it hasn’t been hurting me. I just didn’t want to go for another whole week without being looked at so I went on sick call this morning. Since the clinic wasn’t doing anything they at least looked at it, gave me some different drops for it and said to come back Saturday. The doctor said it was a whole lot better than it was last week but he still wanted me to go to the clinic next week. Even though he didn’t do much he at least took enough interest to make me feel a whole lot better. So much for that.

I have begun to get back into the radio work again. Only now, instead of just working on radio we are learning about the other types of communication. We started learning about telephone yesterday. We learned to use tree pole climbers and a little bit about splicing wire. Like everything else I’ll just have to wait and see how deep we get into this.

We saw an air demonstration this afternoon (the entire post went to see it). I guess the purpose of it was so that we would realize the necessity of learning to protect ourselves from the attack. The thing that impressed me most was the power of the bombs. They were dropped on a hill 3 or 4 miles from us and you could just feel the ground shake that far away.

Well K.P. has finally caught up with me. I must hit the hay so I’ll be ready for it tomorrow.

Love
Donald
Good to get a letter from you this evening.

Letter to sister Mary

June 4, 1944
Sunday Eve.
Hello Mary,

And of course all the rest. I believe you said that I had never addressed a letter to you so you may consider this one yours. I was very glad to get two letters from home yesterday – one postmarked the 31st and the other on the 1st.

I have just been back here a week this evening. That time doesn’t seem so long but it seems like a long time since I was home. And speaking of things seeming like a long time agao it sure seems like a long time since a year ago last Friday (June 2). I can sure remember what I was doing a year ago now.

It had rained a little last Sunday evening when I got in and it rained a nice little shower while we were eating supper tonight. At least I suppose it will make it more pleasant sleeping tonight. It has been so hot lately that the sweat just pours off you whether you are even moving around or not. It was hot when I left here for home but it sure did get a whole lot hotter during those two weeks.

Boy a little wind sure can play havoc down here. On Friday evening a wind came up that would hardly have thought about at home but it sure caused a sand storm here. The sand filled the air till you  could see only about as far as you could in the hardest snow storm I can remember. That may give you some idea of how the sand blew for 15 or 20 minutes.

I went to chapel this morning and of course wished I could have been home for more than one Sunday but am thankful for the one I was there. I wonder if you had a preacher for this Sunday.

This afternoon I went to a movie and then came back and laid down. You can guess just about what happened. I went almost immediately to sleep. The next thing I knew they were calling us for supper.

My ear hasn’t hurt very much this week but it is still running. My appointment at the ear clinic comes up tomorrow so if nothing comes up to prevent it I hope to have something done about it by this time tomorrow.

While I was straightening up on Friday evening I found two or three pieces of Mother’s divinity that I had stuck away when I got back. It is impossible to express how good that tasted to me. I guess I just had too many good things to really appreciate any of them thoroughly enough when I was home.

I hope everything is ok with you people. I wonder if Jim has found his old setting’ hen yet. How’s the bee house coming?

Your brother,
Donald
I wonder if any of you can figure out where the letter that  contained my dog tag was postmarked from.

June 4, 1944
Sunday
Hello Grandparents,

Well I have been back here a week now and it seems like a good while ago since I was home. It all seems like a very pleasant dream to me now.

I suppose that Mother let you know that I got back here in good shape and on time. I got back around 6 o’clock in the evening and had time to get my things straightened up so that I could get a good night’s rest to start off the week with. 

It was hot before I left but it seems that Summer must have come in earnest during the two weeks I was away. I don’t know what the temperature has been but it has been hotter this week I believe than at any time I can remember at home. You just sweat all day as much as you would if you were working in a hay-mow on a very hot day. We have started taking salt tablets already to keep from getting over heated.

It rained some this evening so it has cooled down enough that we’ll at least be able to sleep tonight.

We did about the usual kind of work last week. I sure noticed that I had softened up a lot during my furlough. I am beginning to get back into shape and into the routine of things by this time.

I went to the chapel this morning and wonder if the church at home had a preacher today.

How are things coming at the school house now? The front lawn sure looked several hundred percent better before I left. I hope Aunt Mary is coming along all right by now. I suppose everything else is coming along about as usual.

Your grandson,
Donald

Saturday Night
Dear Family,

I’ve been busy tonight but even at that I haven’t accomplished everything I’d like to. We went out yesterday at about noon on a problem that I said might be called off and got back from it this morning sometime around 10:00 I believe. We didn’t get much sleep but we didn’t have to do any extensive hiking and it wasn’t too hard on us.

The rest of the day has been spent doing details around the company, cleaning up our equipment, and trying to get a little rest between times. I have had fatigue clothes, sox, etc to wash from two problems this week so I have done quite a bit of laundry altogether.

I have spent most of my evening getting my stuff ready for an inspection  tomorrow morning. This is the inspection of all our equipment that was supposed to come off today if we hadn’t gone on the problem. It is the first of our inspections to get us ready for some movement. I can’t feature this outfit going over as a unit instead of as replacements as they have been doing but that’s what they are talking now.

We’ve got to get up at the regular time tomorrow and it will be a regular work day till the inspection is over. But by the time everyone is inspected I expect most of the day will be gone. I’ll close now and just hope for some time to finish tomorrow. D.T.

Sunday Evening
This hasn’t been much like Sunday and consequently I won’t be able to write such a long letter as usual. We got up at 6:00 and cleaned up the barracks as we do on any working day. Then we spent all morning waiting with our equipment and clothes displayed out in the sun. By the time they got around to inspecting us it was about noon.

So consequently I didn’t get to go to church this morning. Then this afternoon although I wasn’t in the mood for going to the movies there was a show on I didn’t want to miss so I went. It was Pearl S. Buck’s “Dragon Seed” about which I had studied in literature classes. It was a modern Chinese story about the war and it turned out to be a very good movie. After I got back I intended to write but I fell asleep instead and almost missed supper by not waking up. I have managed to do a little reading in between times but outside of that this has been almost a wasted day.

I was very glad to get your letter today but the package hasn’t arrived yet. I don’t know what we’ll be doing tomorrow but I haven’t heard any rumors so I expect we’ll be here tomorrow noon. A box will come in just as enjoyable then as it would have today.

From the looks of things now we will be pulling out but it won’t be for a few weeks yet. Anything is guess though and we’ll just have to wait to see what develops. I have several things I’ll have to send home and I thinkI’ll fix a box in the near future. I have several pairs of cotton sox that I don’t use now since we have to wear heavy sox to work in. I also have a pair of wool pants that I got while in the supply room at Benning. I was going to use them to wear under my fatigues if we went on winter maneuvers but it looks as if I won’t need them for that. They might come in handy for some similar use around home. If I get started I may find a good bit to send and what I don’t send now will have to be got rid of before we move as we can take only issue clothing and equipment. You are allowed 5 lbs of excess equipment though and I think I’ll keep my civilian shoes. I get a great kick out of wearing them.

A little incident happened last Monday that shows how much kids even a bunch of soldiers can be. We were out on a problem and we were attacked by a bunch of tanks. After the “battle” the tanks stopped and several of the fellows were climbing around over them getting a good look inside. They talked one of the drivers into taking them on a ride and they were hanging all over the thing. Well I was in that bunch and I rode astraddle of the cannon. We got as big a thrill out of that as if we had done something big.

Well I hope everything is going OK with you.

Love,
Donald

June 2, 1944
Friday Morning
Hello People,

It may seem funny to be getting a letter from me written this morning but I had a night hike last night and have this morning off. I have about spent the entire morning getting ready for tomorrow’s inspection so it hasn’t exactly been a free morning. 

I have hardly had a free evening this week. Tuesday they were changing us around in the barracks and I was moved from downstairs to upstairs. All my clothes and equipment had to be moved so that just about took that evening. Wednesday evening was taken by working up in the kitchen as table waiter. By the time I got back and got cleaned up the lights were already out. 

Then yesterday we had the hike and it was about midnight when I got off. Of course, tonight is Friday night and we’ll be busy as bees scrubbing the barracks and getting everything ready for inspection.

I haven’t had K.P. yet this week so likely I’ll get it either tomorrow or Sunday. If you don’t get a letter from me that I would have written Sunday you can just about guess what happened.

Yesterday and the day before those of us that were on furlough went to mine school. It was just about what I expected it to be. We studied booby traps, anti-tank mines and anti-personnel mines – both ours and the enemies.

My ear is still running a little but doesn’t hurt me hardly any now. June 5 is only a few days away now and if nothing turns up I’ll get along all right till then.

They haven’t done much about the radio work yet so I don’t know much about it but I think I’ll be able to get back into it.

Of course, I can’t help from thinking about my furlough and things and people back at home. It all seems like a pleasant dream to me now that was too good to be true. I must say that I enjoyed myself. 

Now that school is out I suppose you are getting a lot of work accomplished. I hope that Richard is getting along OK with his work and that everything else is coming along as usual.

Lots of love,
Donald
Hang on to my drivers license which I am enclosing.

May 30, 1944
Tuesday Evening
Dear Folks, 

Well I’ve got a little news to tell you about my ear. It wasn’t bothering me any worse than it had but I felt something should be done so I went on sick call today. They didn’t do a thing to it so I sure am glad that it isn’t too bad. They did give me some drops for it and sent me to the ear, nose and throat clinic. They were so busy over there that they could only give me an appointment for June 5.

I suppose my ear will be well by then and they won’t do anything about my throat but at least it will put it in their records so that it will impress it on their minds if any more trouble comes up. I have made up my mind though that if either ear or throat gives any trouble before the 5th I’m going to just drop everything else and go on a sick call.

I drilled with the company Monday and like everyone else felt the effects of furlough. I went to sick call this AM and the clinic this PM so today wasn’t very hard. Tomorrow promises to be a full day. I have table waiter and also we go to mine school where we study booby traps, mines and such explosives. It’s just a period of training which each company must go through. I don’t know about the radio but I think I’ll get back to it.

Pardon this scribbly little letter but I want to go to bed as soon as possible.

Love,
Donald
Hope to hear from you tomorrow. I got my dogtags Mon. noon – No one even knew I didn’t have them.

Just returning from furlough. Mentions arriving by train

May 28, 1944
Sunday 8:00pm
Hi,
I’ve got more to do than I dare think about but I must take time to write. Maybe some of the work will just have to go and be done some other time. Everything has to be hunted up from all over the place and then be straightened up and cleaned up.

We got here at almost on time this eve (5:15PM) so that worry is over. My ear just ran and ran and I all but ran out of cotton wadding. I bought some more as soon as I got here.

My ear doesn’t and hasn’t felt too bad so I may wait till things get running normal again before I see about it. Of course if it gives much trouble tonight I’ll get to attention. So don’t worry.

I slept an awfully lot on the train so I have been tireder than I am now. But I want to get around and get to bed pretty soon.

Love,
Donald

May 11, 1944
Thursday afternoon
Dear Folks,

While I am off duty a little while this afternoon I’ll get my letter written so I can hit the hay early this evening. The reason I am off is that I have a nasty detail coming up tomorrow. Twelve of us from this company are on a prisoner guarding detail. Since some of the prisoners are held for pretty serious crimes this is a very responsible job and there is some larger danger connected with it. It is a very serious offense to let a prisoner escape. The last bunch from our company that were on this detail were on it for two or three days so I don’t know just when I’ll get off. We report at the guard house at 0610 in the morning so that will mean getting up pretty early.

I went to the radio school this morning and it seems that this will be over before much longer. They are going to start giving us tests Monday and so we’ll come back to drilling with the company about the middle of the week. I don’t know what we’ll do except just go ahead training with the company as we did before. There is no need for radio communication in the type work the company is doing now. If they don’t forget they’ve got radio men I suppose that we’ll go back to that whenever maneuvering time comes.

I wonder what kind of weather it is up there now. It’s pretty hot down here and I can just about guess what it’ll be like when summer comes. I wonder if you could get me a pair of sun glasses that fit over regular glasses. All I have been able to get is a pair of regular sun glasses. Since the glasses I am wearing now fit pretty close to the face and the sun glasses are sort of loose I can get by but it isn’t  too satisfactory. I didn’t notice it so much at home but down here the sun shining on the sand almost blinds you to be out in it.

I am getting along as well as usual and hope you are doing the same. Don’t know any more news about when I’ll get to be home. Regiment has announced though that when furloughs start we’ll be allowed 8 days at home. That doesn’t include traveling time.

I’ve made up my mind to send my watch home so you’ll be getting that one of these days. I’m afraid that by the way things are looking, if it takes 5 or 6 weeks to fix it we might be moved out of here for maneuvers when it is ready. Of course, all of this is supposition but I’ve a hunch and a lot can happen in that many weeks. I’ve two or three things I’ll put in this letter that you can put away for me and they’ll stand less chance of getting lost if I hold onto them any longer. Thanks.

Your son & brother,
Donald
Hope I get a letter from you tonight.

May 9, 1944

Tuesday Eve
Hello Folks,
As usual I haven’t much news but if you feel any ways near the same as I do you will be glad to just get a letter. I got your Sunday letter this evening.

I hope Richard is able to get on at Remy’s for the summer and that he likes the work better than that of his fuzz factory (this makes me think of Linda’s fozzy blankets- ha ha)

It looks like the inspector is really going into the bees right this summer. At least feeding his bees and buying more colonies makes it look suspiciously in that direction. I don’t see any reason why there shouldn’t be a good market for honey this year so I wish the bee business all the luck in the world. I know another thing too – that gardening at home will be a whole lot more pleasant than it has in the past.

Sunday will be Mother’s Day and I certainly would like to be home for it. But since I can’t, I certainly want to wish my Mother and very happy Mother’s Day. Even though I don’t express it I  certainly am thankful for all that mother has done and still is doing for me. Thanks a whole lot.

Richard wanted to know a little about the walkie-talkie business and by this time I may have explained  what he wanted to know. At least I have talked about the broadcasting so now I’ll tell you the purpose of ever having these dinky little radios.

A radio and its operator are assigned to each platoon and we are taken right with it to its offensive or defensive area. Then since the company commander also has a radio, he and the platoon leaders can keep in touch with each other. Orders may be sent out, information of the enemy may be sent back or any other important communication may be made. When necessary a radio may be sent out with any smaller unit on patrol, outpost or any other duty.

I hope everything is still OK with you. Thanks a lot of times for the stamps.

Donald

May 7, 1944
Sunday

Dear Folks,
I got the letter you wrote the middle of the week yesterday noon and the one you wrote on Friday today. Even though I wasn’t expecting one today I was just as glad as I ever am to get it.

I hope you are having nice weather and are enjoying yourselves whatever you are doing. The sun is shining brightly down here but the temperature is a little lower than usual. It is cool enough that you shouldn’t need a jacket when you go out. The papers today say that there is quite a cold wave somewhere.

I had K.P. yesterday but there was one thing that I was very thankful for. You can’t tell how glad I was that it came yesterday instead of the day before. I was also happy that it came yesterday and not today. You are so busy through the week that when you don’t have a free day on Sunday you sure miss it.

After yesterday I was tired enough that I didn’t get up till about nine thirty this morning. Of course I had to do my washing after I got in last night so I would be able to do this.

I went to church at ten o’clock this morning and the rest of the day has been spent sleeping and reading. Oh yes, I did do a little mending on one of my fatigue suits so that I’ll have something to wear tomorrow.

I have ben glad to hear about Uncle Pauls’ getting moved. I just hope none of them get down over it now. It was nice that Daddy was in a position to help them.

I’ll bet you’ll feel a lot better about going out there now that the place is occupied by someone. Boy my whole career of life in the country sure was short. I guess it consisted of one whole week. Home will be good to me even if it isn’t the place I left. I don’t know any more about a furlough but I am still hoping.

That’s about all I know now but maybe I’ll think of a little more before tomorrow.

Monday
I am OK this morn but time is too short to write much.

Love,
Donald