Donald V. Tappan

April 15, 1944
Saturday Eve.
Dear Folks,

I can’t decide whether I ought to be a little disgusted or not tonight. I find that I am on table waiter again tomorrow and that means that it won’t be much of a Sunday to me. I just hope that I can be off to go to church. I don’t understand why a certain few of us are drawing details so often but maybe it will be someone else’s turn before long.

I thought I might get on the bus and go to town tonight or go to a movie or something but this took all the wind out of my sails. Now I guess I’ll just sew “an acorn” on a couple of shirts, read a little and try to get a little extra sleep. I still say “This is a great life, if you don’t weaken.”

I got your letter tonight that contained the letter from the 7th grade. This shows how well I remember things. I had forgotten about Mr. Tappan having only one grade and addressed my letter to the 6th and 7th grades. I don’t know who wrote it but I got a great kick out of hearing about Blackie. It reminded me of old times which Richard will remember too. I wonder if the teacher realized that he gave away the fact that he proofread the letter  when he wrote a little 3 above the 37 pupils. (I got quite a chuckle out of how easy it was to tell his characteristic way of writing such a simple thing as that.)

Well I’ll sign off and maybe write a little more tomorrow. Hope all is well with you.
Donald

April 12, 1944 and April 13, 1944
Wed. Eve.
Hello Folks,

This will be a very scribbly letter because I am standing in the barber shop line and writing it. This will give me something to do while I am waiting and also will get this letter off my chest.
By the looks of things I may have an hour to wait.

Well we had our big parade today. We practiced on it Monday and thought it would be pulled off yesterday but it was called off till today. The occasion was that Sec. of War Stimpson was here to inspect the 87th division.

I can say that I got to see the “old boy” but it was from such a distance that I wouldn’t about to know him from anyone else.

We didn’t parade so long but we stood in ranks almost all afternoon so I am at least as tired as I would have been if I had worked.

This afternoon we also took a test to see if we are ready to start training with the regular company. It was fairly easy and I don’t have much doubt about passing. If we made it OK we go in with the company next week. 

About the only other thing besides the usual run of things that has happened was a night problem last night. We got back a little before ten o’clock so it wasn’t so bad.

Well I am back in the barracks again. I didn’t write all the time I was in line but I got to talking and just couldn’t get to writing again. I got my hair cut so now I can pass inspections for at least another week. That is one of the worst things about it here. They have so many inspections that it isn’t funny. Every night at retreat they inspect our rifles. I used to more or less enjoy retreat but here it is a worrisome thing.

The weather has got pretty snappy again. The wind was blowing hard enough that we had to wear our overcoats to the parade.

It’s not too late but I can’t hardly keep my eyes open.
Goodnight with Love,
Donald

April 13, 1944
Thursday Night
Dear Folks,

That was such a sad letter last night that I want to let you hear from me again tonight. It will be a very great miracle if I should get a chance to write tomorrow because as you know all Friday night must be spent scrubbing, etc. getting ready for Saturday’s inspection. I washed my ammunition belt and field jacket tonight so that they will be sure to be dry by Saturday.

We are going to go out on the range tomorrow to fire some sort of a combat problem. We are going to get up at 5:15 in the morning so by the time we get to bed tomorrow night it will be a pretty long day.

It looks like those of us that just came into the company are going to be about the entire company in a few days. About 4 out of 5 of the old men have been taking examinations for the last couple of days in preparation for shipment to the P.O.R. (Port of Replacement). They will be placed into units somewhere on the other side.

You can easily imagine what one of the great topics of conversation is now. “When are we going to get our furloughs?” Most of the fellows either haven’t been in as long as I have or they have been in school and got furloughs through that. So I hope when the time comes that I’ll have as good a chance as anyone. I don’t have enough news to start another sheet. So –
Love,
Donald

April 9, 1944 (Easter)
Sunday Afternoon
Dear Mother and All,

By this letter I want to thank you the best way I can for what I received yesterday evening. I wasn’t exactly surprised to get a package but when I found out what was in it you can be sure that I was very pleasantly startled. Everything arrived in excellent shape and in fact the icing was hardly even cracked on the cake. If one of Mother’s angel food cakes was a treat at home I don’t have any words to describe it here. “We” enjoyed it so much that now it is a thing of the past. I spent almost all morning reading the funnies but haven’t found time to start on the S.S. papers yet. 

Although I haven’t seen too much of Easter I have had more than you might imagine. They brought us in from the range at noon on Friday and then let us off for a little while in the afternoon so that we could attend Good Friday services. Then this morning they held a special Divisional Easter service. It was held in sort of an amphitheatre on a hillside with a very beautifully decorated stage and a band for music. I am sending the program so that you can see a little about what it was like.

We had our regular Saturday inspection yesterday and we are supposed to have the big one tomorrow. I don’t know whether it will be the Colonel or not who will inspect. I am expecting them any time now to tell us to scrub the floor yet this evening. These inspections consist of personal inspection, rifle inspection, inspection of our barracks and inspection of all our equipment. Here lately we have started to call this the P and I (parade and inspection) division. Some of this is necessary, of course, but since so much time is required in preparation it is easy to run it into the ground.

We haven’t been told for sure but likely we will start training with the regular company tomorrow. Even at that though it won’t be much of a change since most of the old fellows are scheduled to leave some time this week.

Maybe you weren’t very surprised but the story of Janette and Charlie sort of startled me. I guess I have been away long enough that I can’t realize the true state of things. Things are happening so fast anymore that it makes my head swim to think about them.

About suggesting what to send the boys in service I hardly know what to say. Besides something to eat most any little thing would be appreciated. If I get any great ideas I’ll let you know. The main thing to remember is that it isn’t so much what is received as it is the idea of just getting something.

Well keep plugging and I’ll do the same.
Love,
Donald

April 5, 1944
Wednesday Evening
Hello Folks,

Even though I haven’t any news I still feel like writing. With very few exceptions life has been going on around here as usual. We started dry firing again this week and so either next week or the week after we will go out on the range.

Yesterday I had the “privilege” of being on K.P. for the first time since I have been here. We worked pretty hard but the cooks that were on duty were pretty nice to work for.

I will have to get up early and go on a special detail again tomorrow. I will then be on table waiter. On this job you drill with the company during the day, waite on tables at meal times and scrubb the mess hall after supper. Unless I draw guard soon I should be free from details for a few weeks.

Several of the fellows that came from ASTP are shipping out tomorrow to other branches of the service. After the old men leave about Friday there will be only 50 or 60 men left in the company. Since around 200 is a full strength company it looks as if they will have to get in some more men or fold up the company altogether.

I hope everything is coming along alright back there. I was sorry to hear of Uncle Dave’s death. I really don’t have enough news to start a new page so if this isn’t much of a letter at least it will let you know that I am ok.
Loads of Love,
Donald

Donald’s letter promised to his Father’s students

Ft. Jackson, S.C.
April 2, 1944
Dear Sixth and Seventh Graders,

See if you can remember what you were thinking about at eighteen-thirty army time (or 6:30PM) on Sunday evening. Especially if you were studying Monday’s arithmetic or spelling, I’ll bet your thoughts were very similar to those that are running through my head right now. You were thinking that your weekend was almost over, and a new week would soon be starting.

Here is how my week will start. The lights will go on at 6:00 o’clock in the morning and we’ll have 15 minutes to get dressed for reville. Then we’ll eat breakfast, make our beds, clean up the barracks and be ready to fall out for work by 7:20.

For the first half hour we have physical training in which we do all kinds of exercises to build up the strength of our bodies. Then for the rest of the day we get training in the arts of soldiering. Of course, there is time off at noon for chow. The word chow stands for any meal served in an army mess hall.

At 5 o’clock P.M. we come in from the field, put on our dress uniforms and clean our rifles. Twenty minutes later we fall out for retreat and rifle inspection. You can be sure that there must be some hurrying done to get off the dirt that has accumulated on our rifles from carrying them all day so we will pass inspection. A rifle inspection is to a soldier what a spelling test is to you.

Perhaps you would be interested in hearing a little about the South. I am only familiar with Georgia and South Carolina and I find them almost identical. They have very sandy soil, are very hilly and have lots of pine trees.

There is one thing for which Georgia is noted that is very strange until you get used to it. Its soil is of a very red color. When I first heard of Georgia’s red clay, I didn’t think that such a thing could be true but you can take it from me that it is not just a tall tale.

Since I have been here only during the winter, I haven’t seen much of the crops except that I did get here in time to see the cotton being picked last fall. I saw it being picked by negros just as you have so often seen in pictures.

Two weeks ago the farmers were ready to start planting their crops. This means that down here the growing season starts almost two months earlier than it does at home.

All in all if you were just traveling through this part of the country it would be very beautiful scenery but personally I like Indiana a lot better.
Your truly,
Donald Tappan

Was in envelope postmarked March 3.

April 2, 1944
Sunday
Dear Folks,

It is a very nice day today in South Carolina and I considering how it is at home. I hope the weather has cleared up some by now.

I went to church this morning and no doubt you did the same. We had a larger crowd than usual but I think it was because of the nearness of Easter. I spent the evening last night at the library and the service club so I think that I’ll just take it easy this afternoon. Reading, writing, sleeping, etc. I got a book from the library so I’ll have plenty to do. I am now acquainted with the library and so I don’t have to worry any more about something to read.

I got your box yesterday evening and it was swiftly consumed. It sure helps a lot to get a package from home. The excitement of getting and the thrill of opening is almost as good as the actual contents.

The first of my mail from Ft. Benning also came yesterday. I think that I have received just about all the mail that has been sent to me now.

I am beginning to get just a little more into the swing of things around here and am feeling a little better about my lot than I did. I might as well make the best and get as much from it as possible. Even if I never get to enjoy it, I will be a lot less miserable if I don’t hate it. Since this has fallen my lot, I am glad that the SATP basic was an infantry basic.

I wonder how football practice is coming by now. I hope the sore ankle is coming O.K. Once in a great while during our physical training classes we play football and I at least have learned the difference between the line and the backfield but that is about all I know. I often wish I knew a little more about the game.

By the way, how did the state tournament come out. I missed that entirely during my move.

About my K.B.F. (Kiwanis) medal – It was supposed to be sent in about middle of April. If you should happen to be in Marion in the next 2 or 3 weeks you could drop it off or you can send it in. I’ll send you the letter so you can get the address, etc.

6PM:
I have a couple more things I want to tell you before I close this letter. One is that I found a scale in one of the PX’s and at last  I know approximately what I weigh. In my shirt sleeves but with my heavy shoes on I weighed 158 lbs. That means about 18 lbs gained since I have been in the army.

I am going to start the letter to Dady’s room and I’ll let you know later how I come out.

8:30PM:
I got the letter finished and am sending it at the same time as this letter. I sn’t very fancy but maybe it will serve. One thing I want you to remember is that it is for your room and not public exhibition. I think you can see what I mean.

If you would rather I’ll write the letter to the marion company.

Love, Donald

March 29th, 1944
Wed Night
Hello, 

Well another week is half over. Even though it has been in a new place it has been a whole lot like the ones we have spent in the past. We are doing quite  a bit of the same things we did in basic but the rest of the men in the division are doing about the same things so we aren’t so different. I can’t remember whether I told you or not but the division was on maneuvers all winter in Tennessee. They are more or less reviewing now – doing bayonet work, running squad problems, etc, etc, etc.

They shifted us all around into different barracks this evening so I have about spent my whole evening straightening out my stuff. 

Where I am now I have a lot more room than I did before and we all have single beds here. I have slept in the top bunk of a double bed ever since I left the 16th Company so it is quite a relief to have a bed to myself again.

It is raining outside tonight and the temperature is getting pretty cold. It has been raining off and on ever since we got here. I have caught some cold but it isn’t very serious.

I’ve got only about minutes till lights out so I’ll close for tonight. Likely I’ll put this excuse for a letter in the envelope in the morning.

Goodnight & God Bless you All, Donald

March 28, 1944
Dear Family,

Well this certainly has been some day. We were going to have a big inspection today so we spent all last night till about 11:00 getting ready. Then we got up at 4:30 this morning and had breakfast at about 5:00.

At about 6:00 we started out to the airfield (which was to be used as a parade ground) with our full field packs. We were going to set up our tents and then display our equipment in front of them such as you sometimes see in pictures.

As soon as we got our tents up it began to rain so we rolled our packs again and headed back. After we got back (about 9:00) we laid out our full field equipment on our beds for an inspection in the barracks. Of course, we had to get everything in the barracks straightened up because if they once come in they will look at everything. Since we were inspected inside it was a good thing we had scrubbed the floor last night.

The inspection started a little before noon and lasted till afternoon was almost over. There was just one group of officers after another coming through. We were inspected by 2 Lt. Colonels, 4 or 5 Captains and lots of Lieutenants. Everyone was as tired from the strain as we would have been from working.

Then a parade was scheduled for about 5:30. But about an hour before time it began to rain. We didn’t suppose that it would be held in the rain but since no orders came down from headquarters, we had to dress up and fall out in the rain. Then of course as soon as we had stood out there long enough to get really soaked the order came down that the parade was called off.

I finished up today by doing a washing after super. I washed my shelter bags, my pack, gas mask carrier, a pair of fatigues (pants & shirt) and a heavy towel. If we don’t get to send laundry tomorrow I’ll have to start in on the socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, etc.

I got the letter that Dady wrote last night.

Well it’s about 9:00 and 4:30 was a long while ago.

So Goodnight,
Donald

Sunday P.M.
Dear Folks,

Another week is over and another is not far from beginning. No doubt you are beginning to think that I have forgotten you by this time. Well as usual they start to pile extra work on you at the end of the week to get ready for the Saturday inspection and it is bedtime before I have time to write.

I got you letter yesterday and was sure glad to start hearing some news again. Just going for one week without any mail sure gives you a lonesome feeling. Maybe I’ll start hearing regularly from now on.

This has been a pretty hard week but I have stood up to it O.K. There is no use to consider hard work though because there will be plenty of that from now on. I went to chapel this morning for the first time since I left Ft. Benning. There is a very nice chapel here and it seemed quite a bit more like going to church than worshiping in the empty buildings of Ft. Benning did. The chapels like any certain kind of army buildings (barracks, etc.) are all built alike. The chapel I attended this morning is identical to the one at Ft. Harrison. As far as that goes though, the barracks I am living in now is exactly like the ones at Ft. Harrison.

The weather has cleared up now and it is very pleasant today. It seems like real spring or early summer weather. Speaking of spring, when someone mentioned spring beginning the other day I remembered about mother’s birthday. I sure wish I had thought of it sooner so that I could have at least mentioned it in an earlier letter but it just didn’t come to my mind. Anyway I wish you a happy birthday and all that goes with it.

I feel very lazy today for some reason or other. I’ve got some washing to do but I just can’t seem to get around to it. About all I’ve got done so far is read and sleep. I got a new Reader’s Digest and of course that takes my time. 

We were told the other day that if we haven’t had furloughs since November we would be given one when this training period is over.. It is supposed to end May 6 so if nothingunexpected happens I may be seeing you before too much longer. At least it makes something to look forward to.

I can tell Richard that we have shoulder patches to wear in this outfit. I got 3 yesterday and will be issued more as soon as they come in (I hope). They are circular green patches with a yellow acorn in the center. Since it is sometimes mistaken for a lemon you can see why this is sometimes called the nut division. There are also regimental pins to wear on your cap and coat collar.

I don’t know whether you have seen about it or not but they are taking thousands of men from the air corps and putting them in the infantry. I guess they feel a lot worse about being being here than I do. Also I hear that the infantry is the only branch that is taking men being drafted now. So I am not at all alone in my situation.

I feel like a nap so I’ll sign off,
Donald

March 23, 1944
Thursday Evening
Hello again,

I hope that I’ll be able to write a letter that I won’t be quite so ashamed of as I have been that last few. After I got back into the swing of it down at Benning, writing a letter wasn’t too hard but I’m almost out of the habit again.

As you can see, I’m not working tonight so now I’ve had two nights off since I’ve been working. The Lieutenant in charge of our section expects you to work pretty hard but he is pretty good about trying to get us time off. There were also several new men that came into the section today so that may help out some. I am secretly hoping that they’ll be running two shifts regularly before long. Just putting in a good day’s work (or night’s whichever it happens to be) and then getting off till the next day won’t be bad.

It’s really going to be good  to start getting mail. I thought that I’d get a letter today but didn’t so I’ll be looking again tomorrow. I guess the longer I stay in the army the more I want to get back home. It seems so anyway. I think the sunshine this evening was what reminded me of home. It rained for about five days straight and then when the sun did finally come through it made memories of other beautiful early Fall evenings come to me. I’ll bet you know where I’ll be spending my time next year in September!

Well how’s school coming now that two weeks are almost over – half a month gone already? I suppose the assistant janitor is helping out with the sweeping again in the evening. I don’t believe that I ever heard how the roof deal turned out. But I suppose I’ll find out about that and a lot of other things too if my mail ever catches up with me.

I haven’t much more news; and since this is a pretty light letter, I’m going to send a couple of clippings from one of the papers down at Ft. Benning. They aren’t especially valuable but maybe you can stick them away someplace. I don’t know whether they ever finished the series or not. I don’t stay long  enough to find out.

Well be good and take care of yourselves,
Your son and brother,
Donald