Grandparents Archives - Page 2 of 5

16 March 1944

Dear Folks:

The mail dammed up for a while and today the dam broke and a deluge of letters came – at least it seems that five is a deluge. I had been wondering what (was) the matter but knew that it wasn’t your fault. Two came from you and one from Dad. Your letters are the only ones I pay any real attention to and the ones I look for the most. Also had a letter from Helen Barton Hartnett in Lincoln. She has a brother in the Air Force here and I saw him last December. Guess I better dig out the letters and see what I can put together. I’m glad you heard the Army Hour Program and about the Jungle Center here. You guessed pretty good. I wish I could tell you more about it. Although I didn’t hear the program I hope they did it justice, for it is certainly something. It must seem like old home week around there with Gram and Gramp back with you. I certainly hope they will find all they expect to in the farm, and that Gram doesn’t become to sick to enjoy it.

I read in the Free Press about the hot basketball team and Phil being high point man, and now your letters tell me that the team is going to Lincoln. It reminds me of the fall when I was at the university and saw the boys lose out by one point for the championship. I hope they come through and this time bring the bacon home.

You sound like you are really keeping busy with the Red Cross and getting the house cleaned up. But even with this I imagine you don’t have all the work you used to have riding herd on the five of us. What a busy bunch of years those must have been for you.

Yes, meeting anyone from the North Platte Valley would seem good. Anyone from Nebraska is a rarity here and even if they live four hundred miles away you can usually find something in common to talk about.

Dick called last night and it looks like we may be able to spend the weekend together although very little is certain. Monday he came in for a short visit and had supper with me. I know you are anxious to know something about him but I couldn’t intimate whether he may leave or not, and if I could say anything it would at most be only as the rumors have it. The prospect of seeing India appeals to me for having seen Hawaii, I want to get a look at more places of the world. It seems funny to us here how so many troops are still stationed in the states and especially outfits as what Berg must be in. And reading in the Free Press about fellows back on furlough brings a good howl.

When I first read about Swindell getting mixed up with the FBI over the draft deferments I had to laugh good and hard, but then thought I would like to choke everyone like him. Perhaps when I was drafted I should have offered to slip him a hundred bucks or so and maybe I would still be around. Perhaps the trial will bring out some even more surprising facts. How did they happen to catch up with him – did someone squawk after paying him?

Right now I’m deep in an outline of one of the law books I received and every evening I finish a page or two. It’s a big job but self-satisfying knowing our time is not being entirely wasted. Give Grandma a good kiss for me and my best hopes that she will get better quick. She has always been so kind to me that I kick myself for remembering the times I’ve been unkind towards her. I know it must be an effort for her to write and I do appreciate it. And the same goes for Gramp too. Well, quess this is ‘pau’ until the next time. As you never sit down at the table without remembering something or me so I never go to bed without thinking of you and wondering just how I would act the first minute I could walk in the door, and say hello to you both.

Love,

3 March 1944

Dear Folks:

Longhand isn’t my specialty anymore but maybe I can scratch out a letter if I use a little patience. Little to write about but maybe something will come up. Had a letter from Mrs. Carroll – said Duane might be taking a European trip. That situation over there doesn’t appeal to me. I can imagine that every time you hear of action in the Pacific you wonder if Dick and I are there but so far so good. Many ‘veterans’ can be seen in Honolulu with their bronze stars on their Asiatic-Pacific ribbons and the 7^th Division with two – for Atter and Kwayelein.

Dick called up last nite and we will probably get together in a few days. We’re having a tough time getting the shells you wanted. The beach isn’t too accessible and where it is, many others have been there before. But we’re still looking and we’ll get them as reasonable facsimiles.

Pretty quiet and peaceful in the billet tonite – most of them are doing what I am – writing letters. Three of the fellows are married and one has a 22 month old son who he is itching to see. I can well imagine. The radio is the biggest morale builder in the evenings and we would be lost without it. Practically all the mainland programs are broadcast so we don’t miss much (in) that respect.

People over here really buy bonds. Hawaii’s quota was $15 millon and at the end of the campaign sold $32 million. Quite a record and earned them the best record in the US. Perhaps the people feel the war more having gone though the blitz. Quite an assortment of stories and almost humorous but tragic episodes about that morning of the December 7. The confusion and frustration that was going on everywhere must have been terrific. Downtown Honolulu has many contrasts. In one section are the big modern business houses and a few blocks away the Jap fish and fruit markets with their disagreeable odor. And all kinds of people on the streets. All the ‘kaaminas’ (old timers) talk with rapidity and an oriental twang. Newcomers are known as ‘malakinis’. The Hawaiian words might look hard to pronounce but actually they are very easy. All words end in vowels and all vowels are pronounced. I think the words and names are picturesque. A short time ago I had the opportunity to visit a part of the island more scarcely populated and saw some real scenery. Steep green hills came down to the sea and the heavy surf put a mysterious mist over the whole thing.

This is Friday nite and the time I should be devoting to polishing up for inspection. Had a letter from Gram today saying they had arrived and were getting ready to start work. I surely hope they will be happy. Now you will have to be something of an intermediary between me and them.

Well until the next time keep the Moss Manor in good shape and remember there’s no place I’d like to see so badly.

Love,

26 December 1943

Dear Folks:

Regardless of what I have to do I’m going to get a letter off to you today. I think this is the third one I’ve started. And I have quite a bit to write about this time, at least it’s pretty good. In the first place, another Christmas and another birthday have come and gone. The night before Christmas we played bridge, had some cheer, and listened to Roosevelt’s speech. But the real surprise and a most welcome present came at reveille when the commanding officer announced that I was promoted to technical sergeant. It was entirely unlooked for and made my whole Christmas day very happy. At noontime the commanding officer had the first three graders in his quarters for a round of drinks and some toasts to the new year. The drink whetted my appetite and of course later we had the customary meal for the GI epicureans. In the evening I went to a dance in town and there finished off a swell day. Also had a turkey dinner in a hotel. As long as I couldn’t be home, the day couldn’t have been a better one for me. But Christmas eve and the next day I think everyone was doing a lot of thinking about how nice it would be to get home for a while and wonder what the folks were doing and how they were spending their holiday. I hope that next year will bring the war a lot closer to the finish but I’m still pretty pessimistic about an early end. But let’s hope Dad’s predictions come true. And also I wondered how Dick was enjoying his day. I imagine he also had a good time.

When I returned from my pass I had a batch of letters to read and answer and some papers to read. I’m still trying to catch up. I didn’t send many (Christmas) cards this year. Received several from the Lewellen’s, Mrs. Conklin, Sandison’s and some others.

I hope my picture will reach you before long. I couldn’t find a suitable frame for it but hope that you will put one around it. I think it’s a pretty decent one. I will send on to Gram and one to Kate too.

Had my eyes rechecked recently and will soon get two new pairs (of glasses).

Well I hope you and the family had a merry Christmas and had all you could eat. Christmas is a pretty sentimental time when you are so far away from home and I was no different. But I always hope and know that when we all are together again, we will appreciate Christmas more than ever

Love,

5 November 1943

Dearest Folks:

I have plenty to do tonight, tomorrow is inspection, shining shoes, clean the rifle etc. but better take time out to drop you a line or two. I’m in good spirits today and once more got a boost in my morale. The cause for this good feeling is that I got a promotion today to staff sergeant and a corresponding increase in pay which makes it a hundred fifteen per (month) now, so guess I better increase my allotment a little. Of course it’s good to get the new rank and will mean a few more privileges. I hope that now I can cut the mustard and get the other stripe that my job calls for.

I’m wondering how Gramp is coming along and how the operation turned out. Gram wrote me a short letter and from the tone of it she sounds like she’s about whipped. I can’t imagine anything happening to gramp and it would be especially sorrowing at a time like this. I’d like to see him so bad and try to cheer him up a little.

Among the other things that I do in my job I occasionally go out to investigate court martial charges and tomorrow morning early means another such assignment. Remember the days I used to walk over to Mrs. Dick’s and sweat over some shorthand? Well it seems to be of some good now although I mostly use a combination of longhand and the other that makes a script that nobody but myself could read. Running somewhat into what I am studying I like the job although sometimes I swear I can never write down all they say but somehow things seem to work out. Last week we investigated a case that involved a Japanese storekeeper and he talked like a whirlwind and had the usual accent and I thought several times I was hopelessly lost. But it’s always interesting and breaks up the monotony of the routine. The fact that I know a little shorthand is the reason for my transfer to this battery some time ago so it seems that the few bucks I put out didn’t go to naught. If Mrs. Dick could see my notebook she’d probably tear her hair out though.

I just remembered your writing about Dan Gettman and the Star-Heralds he gives me. He is the one boy that I know from Nebraska and I used to be in the same outfit with him. I knew him well and Danny and I would often talk about things in common that we knew about the valley. Since I was transferred I don’t see him very often and occasionally I talk to him in town or whenever I get down to his battery. He is the usual Russian stock like is in the valley but he’s a pretty good little guy. A couple of weeks ago he sent me a stack that was as big around as my waist.

And another little item about the bank deposit box. I had forgotten completely about it and as I don’t need the use of it any longer you can dispose of it as you want to.

Katie sent me one of the announcements—the little one with the automobile motif—it was pretty cute and all the guys in the billet thought it was clever although they didn’t get the drift right at first.

Well I’m coming to the last act I believe, so here comes the curtain. I intend to write to B. Emick but somehow I don’t get around to it. Also had a letter from Mrs. Lewellen yesterday so there’s another to answer. Jack is lucky being in the Navy and getting a chance to get home. Well goodnite for another time and one less toward the end of the way.

Love,

26 September 1943

Dear Folks:

I should be following something more ambitious this morning, but I’m not, so I’ll spend the time writing you a little letter. This is Sunday and it seems like you can always somehow know its Sunday even without a calendar. This is my duty day so that means staying in the office and a good chance to catch up on delinquent correspondence and reading. The wind is blowing like a chilly day in March back in Minatare but the ocean and the sun make the day a nice one. Remember how I used to mention the flowers when I first came here—well, it’s that time of the year again and the island is putting on its best coat.

As the bond drive is carried out with you so is it here. The Army is putting on the pressure to meet certain quotas and at the present the office is pretty busy with these new allotments. The islands have always met their quota well over and I think they stand fourth or fifth in the whole country. I remember when I was visiting the Sisters at the convent, the school kids were having a drive and somehow they managed to scrape enough together to buy several thousand dollars worth. With the preponderance of Japanese I think the islands set a record to be proud of.

I suppose you read of Mrs. Roosevelt’s Pacific tour and know that she stopped in Honolulu on the way back. We listened to her speech from Honolulu and in my opinion there was a lot of it. She must be a great woman.

I finally got off a letter to Dick last night. Geographically we are not far apart but actually it might as well be a couple of thousand miles. In another three months I will be due for another five day pass, and if the next three (months) pass as fast as the last three, that won’t be very long. I hope he is adapting himself to his new conditions okeh and doesn’t get too depressed or downhearted at times. I think they keep him busy enough that he doesn’t have time for that.

I was glad to hear the Gramp bought the place east of town. I’m always in favor of real estate and in addition the farm should offer them about all that they have been wanting for so long. Stopping to think of it, there have been a lot of changes since I left two years ago. New babies, husbands, deals, and the rest that comes with time flying by. And of course these happenings are all the more incentive to get the war over in a hurry (to) find out these things first hand. I sometimes wonder that if perhaps from my letters you catch a change in my attitude or opinions that differed from what they were before I came into the Army. For the average soldier I certainly don’t think that Army life is conducive to initiative or encourages free thinking, and in many cases produces inferiority, but then all this is, is a job.

Last week the band sergeant asked me to play the fiddle with the dance band in a trio of strings, but my usual obduracy has prevailed so far. It would take quite a bit of time for practice etc and that would be in addition to my regular job.

I’m going to call this good for this communiqué—am I an uncle yet?

Love,

18 September 1943

Dear Folks:

If I don’t write soon you will think I have evaporated or something. The fact is, I am the same as ever except I forget to write as often as I should. But while I have failed to write, the situation has been good the other way. Yesterday a book from Gram came and that added a good deal of morale to my life. She had to send to Minnesota for it, but she got it. With the ones I have now I don’t worry about something to do in the evenings. If I should move or leave I will leave them with a civilian friend who can mail them to me. I suppose you have wondered what has happened to the razor I said I sent. Well after I had it wrapped ready to go there was the matter of rewrapping it after the censor was through with it. In the interim I started using it again so I still have it.

I haven’t been to a show in a couple of weeks so I think I will take the night off and see one, even if it is the corniest horse opera ever produced. The shows have been pretty fair lately but once in a while they throw in an old number and I mean old. In a short time ‘Macbeth’ on the stage will be on the island and I hope I will be lucky enough to see it. Tomorrow is another Sunday and I hope to go to town for services.

Two Free Presses came yesterday and they added the usual bright spot to the week. It’s really interesting to follow the hometown from a long viewpoint, and see where the fellows scatter out to. Geo Butler seems to be getting his share of the fighting from what he wrote. All those guys coming home on furlough kind of hit the soft spot, but I shouldn’t complain considering what some of them are putting up with.

I started this letter last night and now Sunday morning I’m still trying to finish it. What halted me last night was a bridge game, which for once was a winner. I’ve been wondering every day if I’m an uncle yet. I suppose I am by now. I’ve been waiting for a telegram or something.

This is pretty much of a flop for a letter but I guess it will fill in the gap until I can get a better one off. I’m always looking forward to the day when we can all get together again and forget all this mess that we’re in.

Love,

11 September 1943

Dear Folks:

Received your letter today and realized I hadn’t written you for sometime. The time to me has been flying and when I look back at the time I have spent here it doesn’t seem possible. I’m beginning to feel like a native. The past week has been a good one and much less monotonous than many. Swimming is now an often occurrence for the battery and I try to go whenever we have a detail. I’m many shades darker than I have been before and if I keep up at this pace, I’ll pass for an Hawaiian. This afternoon instead of swimming at the beach we went to the pool and once I dove off the high board and instead of cutting the water like (a) knife, hit it like a board, and now my legs still feel a little hot. On some days the sun is very hot and it is possible to burn in a few minutes, quite a bit different than the sun at home, and dangerous if caution is not used.

The two books have now both arrived and I’m right in the middle of one of them. Maybe you think they are dry and dull but they are full of interest to me. I have two more coming, one from Gram and one from Washington (guess I just as well take (them) up their offers). Maybe I should tell you a little more about the Washington friend, I guess I never have. I met her at the Service Club in Ft. Lewis on a Saturday night, and we got to talking and joking and finally developed this meeting into quite a friendship. She is pretty prominent there and is State President of the American Legion Auxiliary I believe as well as in other affairs.

Last Sunday I went to church in town and enjoyed the services very much, I hope I can go tomorrow.

I hate to send you a letter as poor as this but I hope you will overlook it and know a better one will be coming. You know sometimes you feel like writing and again at other times it’s quite a task. Well this night is one of the latter kind.

Lots of love,

4 May 1943

Dear Folks:

Here are the pictures that we took during the hike that I wrote about. The black and white of the camera does not do justice to the scenery so you will have to imagine the color. If you have read the book I referred to, you can better visualize what the pictures lack. We had a great time that day and now that I have a supply of film again, want to go back again soon.

I’m going to the show in a few minutes consequently the hieroglyphics. The lights are out so early that there is no time after the show. I will of course write more later but I wanted to get these off tonight. Had a card from Granny yesterday with pictures of Sammy and Karen.

Well, I’ll cut this short. There are 22 pictures and let me know if you receive that many.

Love,

28 December 1942

Dearest Folks:

I’ve neglected you somewhat in the last few days as a result of a change in the battery but I’m back to normal so there shouldn’t be any more delay. I think that this change is a good one for me and possibly may open some opportunities. The fellows are from New York state and have an accent and a manner I hadn’t been around before. But they seem pretty swell and I hope I make out. And here I don’t have to ‘sanitarize’ in a ditch and wait for Saturdays to see a show or cuss a clogged up lantern for light. I hope I have the same opinion of the place a month from today as I do now.

I haven’t heard from Katie since she got her spouse but I guess she’s pretty wrapped up in the newness of the thing. I sure hope they make out okeh. Had two letters from Gram, and I better answer them tonight. I guess I made a mistake when I asked her for “Harper’s”. It should have been the “American Mercury”. By the way, in Gram’s letters she put quite an emphasis on the qualities of Wylma and what I ought to do about it when the brawl is over. Maybe she’s right but I don’t know. I thought I had a letter from Dick today at first glance and I was disappointed when it belonged to another Moss. Dad’s long V-mail came today. If anyone has a literary style, he is certainly the one but that’s unimportant. Wished I could conjure up enough words like he does.

This is really the limit to my effort tonight. There isn’t much to write about. Going to a show in a half hour and digest a “Horse Opera”. Have about four law books now. I’m going to read them if it takes the duration and six months. Just finished one. I hate to say goodnight but it would take me an hour for another paragraph.

Love,

15 December 1942

Dear Folks:

Five days have gone by without a letter to you so I better do something about it. I just inhaled two cream puffs and my stomach feels like a little man cleaning the inside of a locomotive boiler. Anyway here goes. I don’t know where to start, or what to write about that would be very interesting or different but maybe I can find something. On pass last Saturday went to the USO dance and watched two dozen girls get mobbed by two thousand soldiers. I left early—disgusted and disappointed. The only thing I did was eat a fair meal and listen to military music in a clubroom. Sunday failed to go to church, although attendance is encouraged and made possible.

Had a letter from Gram sent from Minatare. Gramp looks like a Southern revivalist and Gram the product of his preaching. The pictures came yesterday—what finery and rainment. They were good and they’ll always torture the seams of my billfold. A couple of the guys thought Dad was the guy with the ring. And Mom, you looked like you were going to a teenage waltz party. I should have a batch for you in a day or two. I don’t suppose the other packages have gotten to you yet. And the Reader’s Digest hasn’t come, although I have a notice of subscription.

I just finished Clarence Danow’s own life story and it recalled the days when Paul would let me revel in the mysteries of the typewriter book in Greeley. It’s a good book with many philosophies and ideals, but embraces many points of argument, of which I found plenty and wondered if I was right.

One of the most pleasing nights on the islands are the cloud formations. Sometimes they are fleecy and downy and form a collar around the mountain cones. But they are especially unique in the morning at sunrise and at sunset. The sun seems to permeate them and make them glow.

Last Sunday when I was driving I saw about five natives spearing fish. They go out about a hundred yards or so and have a spear that they handle like an arrow. I can’t figure out how they stay under so long.

This is all I can throw together this time.

Love,