War predictions Archives - Page 4 of 4

2 July 1943

Dear Folks:

Having the night to myself I hope, perhaps I can catch up with a little bit on what I have let slide too long. I’m on duty tonight with nothing to do but reinstate myself with my correspondence and do a little reading perhaps. Several of your letters have come, and all of them unanswered. One of the letters contained the money order and the amount was for so much more than I expected that I will be in the chips this month. I intended and hoped that you would take it from my funds and didn’t want you to send it personally. Dick and I were well supplied with money on the vacation and we didn’t hesitate to spend it if we had a notion to do something, but I know that everything we did would meet your approval, as a matter of fact, I think our conduct was very exemplary.

I imagine you are experiencing no little difficulty trying to get the book that I asked you and I’m sorry that I can’t name them especially so that you would have no trouble. If by chance you haven’t found one yet here is one that I came across and hit my fancy; ‘Richardson on Evidence’. Very frequently I have several hours to spend leisurely and I may as well put them to good use, but I hope this request isn’t putting you out of your way too much. If you have already sent one, forget about the one above.

Sunday is the fourth, hard as it is to believe, and I’m looking forward to a pass and a first visit to the new army recreation center that from what I hear is about the last word. The center is right on the beach and has about every facility from writing to wrestling. It has a large dance floor, library, bar, showers and other appurtenances that make it a worthwhile place to go and should cut down on so much trouble that the army has with it’s GI’s on off-days. I hear the library is well stocked with new books so I want to stick my nose in there for awhile. Having a few more shekels than I thought I would have, perhaps I will also buy a bond. Starting this month (July) I am buying a full bond and the first one should reach you by the fifteenth or twentieth of August. I don’t know exactly how I stand on the last bond deal. The last one of $12.50 was stopped in order to put into effect a better system of payroll bonds and not because I wanted it that way.

I hope Dad’s prediction of an early end is right but I’m more inclined to agree that Mother’s idea has a better chance of coming true. Whenever I try to figure the basis for all this mess I run into so many angles that I begin to doubt if there is anyone who can ever find a solution. It’s a little hard to see myself coming and going again as I pleased and that there will be a day with no priorities and government regulations, but I guess you just got to tell yourself there will be. Anyway the end looks many moons away to me, but I hope I get a surprise and probably I will.

Thanks again for the pictures. I’m getting a real collection that I go over often and keeps me know(ing) (if) it is worth fighting for. I will answer Nancy and Phil’s letters. I guess it is adios for another night and one night less until the end.

Love,

18 February 1943

Dear Dad:

I received your typewritten V-mail today and to attest to my vow of early reply, here I come. Your letter was very interesting and I took a long time reading it. Your free style manner of detail and continuity add a punch of zest and life. Anyway I like ‘em bushels and you should write more often. In case you haven’t guessed, to write a lengthy and appealing letter over here is quite a task and often I quit in disgust. I hope you liked what I sent a while back but I think you will go more for what I sent yesterday. As a result I am on a precariously balanced budget for the rest of the month, but that is nothing new. And I had a great deal of satisfaction in sending them. I’m drawing seventy-nine bucks every thirty days now so I plan to increase my allotment to about thirty-five dollars. By the way I’m a corporal now. That’s where the extra dough is coming from. I hope the bonds have started to come regularly now. Tonight, or the forepart of it, was very unusual. For the first time in the Army I got into a bridge game and by a real stroke of luck came out on top. It was contract so I did more guessing than anything else. My partner and I worked together like a pistol and a wheel. Today two Free Presses came but I couldn’t figure out the handwriting on the wrapper. The Reader’s Digest also came. Since the latest postal regulations, mail has been slower and not so frequent but on the whole it is pretty good. Perhaps you wouldn’t think it would get very chilly here but I’m using an overcoat and raincoat along with three blankets. If I had a mattress it would seem much warmer though. In my estimation a bed is man’s best friend and when I get home I’m going to stretch in all four directions at one time. The war news seems to be changing color every day and I’m earnestly reviving hopes of a homecoming in early 1944. This is the end of the communiqué tonight. In a way I hate to stop but I couldn’t think of anything anyway. I’ll buy you a banana leaf hat for your garden this summer.

Love,

7 January 1943

Dear Folks:

Now that I have my other letters finished I am ready to write to you and get this summary together. Just finished a letter to Dick. With so many away from home now you will almost have to hire a secretary to keep up on correspondence. I feel pretty buoyant tonight all the cause of several things. But the most important was the President’s speech and Halsey’s reiteration of an end in ’43. The speech had a good tone to it and very different from the stalling ones in the past. There should be some momentous undertakings in the next few months. Secondly I went swimming this afternoon, incidentally I believe I had some good shots in the pool and they’ll be yours when they are finished. You should have the others I sent by now.

Yesterday your package with the pipe, pouch and tobacco came and all three are just the thing. If I would say thanks that wouldn’t be near enough. Last night under the auspices of the ‘skypilots’ (chaplains) we had a community sing and general get together. It was a good deal and everyone from the cream to the damp spot in the bottom had a lot of fun. There is a lot of talent in the outfit and the Jewish chaplain is quite a guy. I bought a photograph album the other day and when I finished mounting the pictures I found I had many more than I thought. Quite a collection.

The stationery I had in mind was the airmail envelope and sheet outfit. I haven’t used very much of the V-mail yet.

I hear there is a rubber plantation on the island so one of the first things I want to do next pass day is get a squint at a rubber tree just to say I saw one. I wished you could see what I saw today—the ocean and the landscape, etc. I think it’s really beautiful but maybe I’m just a sentimentalist. I can’t hardly imagine freezing weather. It’s been so long since I’ve endured any of it.

I’m afraid this will have to suffice for tonight. For some reason the day we are all waiting for seems close even though perhaps it isn’t. I have it all planned out.

Love,

7 November 1942

Dear Folks:

I don’t know how long I can hang on but here goes nothing. My mail has been pretty good lately and I want to keep it that way. Among others had a letter from Mrs. Davis–she sounds like she’s a little better off than when I was there—boy how I long to get back there. Another letter, V one was from Nancy and I’ll get busy on that one pronto.

I had forgotten about the battalion pictures but I’m glad you got them—guess that will always be a shining relic. It isn’t too good a picture but that’s not important.

Glad Mrs. Carroll liked my letter—I like to get one from her occasionally too—she gave me Duane’s address but I lost the letter.

I haven’t received the Free Presses yet but expect they’ll be here soon. I’m anxious to see one of them.

Answered a letter of Katie’s last nite—sounds like she’s bouncing around in the blue.

Your letters are very readable. I mean the V-mail—it shows up well. Well the war news has been looking up lately and I think it will until it’s over—news like that makes me feel better all over. The current bit of lingo is buying a ticket on the “A” train for home.

This has got to be it for another letter I guess—Sunday—tomorrow and hope I make it to church —there is an Episcopal one in town and a nice one too.

Goodnite and keep your eyes off the dark clouds—they’ll just be niches in a lifetime someday.

Love,

21 October 1942

Dear folks:

Here is another letter before I blow out the candle for another day. As I do about every night, I’m sitting in the day room with one ear on the radio and reading a little. I’ve been working on Sandburg’s Lincoln for about three weeks but have it about read. With the Red Cross books I’ve a long way to go yet. Also we have a mobile library that makes the camp about once weekly. Hope we’re beginning to look up in this war situation. I think so and hope I’m right. Think something will happen this winter. Sunday a card to June and Loyd yesterday.

Guess I’ll have to throw in the towel on this letter. I’m out of news. Should write Kathleen again soon although she hasn’t answered my last letter yet. Suppose she’s walking around on a magic carpet. Goodnight until next letter.

Love,

30 September 1942

Dear folks:

Perhaps I’ll have time to write you a few lines while I’m not doing very much. Had another letter from you today—have had quite a few since I’ve been here. Today is payday and the World Series starts—have been listening to a little of it. Nothing much to write about—pretty hot—haven’t been out of camp on a pass for a couple of weeks. Got your box okay. Been feeling pretty optimistic the last few days over the war situation—feel like it will be over in another eight or nine months. I really do. I have been writing you almost every other day so you should have some of my mail by now. The next time I get in town I’m going to buy some Xmas presents—lots of things Nancy and Dan could go for. I’m feeling darned good and think the Army is going to fix my broken tooth. Will write tomorrow.

Love,

16 July 1942

Dear Folks:

I don’t think I’m neglecting you in my writing, do you? I don’t know why I feel so prolific, maybe it’s because I have so much time in the office.

Opened the package you sent me in the presence of my office henchmen, and in the middle of the afternoon a piece of angel food cake was like the end of a thirty day fast. The officers had a piece too and they all attest to its goodness. Haven’t sampled the cookies yet but I know they will be as good as the cake. The cake was real fresh and soft but the frosting was beginning to fall off. The cookies will be a dessert for dinner because all we have then is sandwiches.

Suppose you have the pictures of our Sahara Paradise by now. Well here’s another one. It was taken on a Sunday afternoon at Ft. Lewis. I don’t know the girls at all. We just asked them to pose with us and they consented.

One more week after this, then back to Lewis to furloughs I hope. I’m getting pretty used to it here being so close to town and all but despise the rain. I still like the barracks better. My confinement is over today and I thought it was. Come to find out it was just for over the last weekend. Last nite it actually rained a little and this morning the ground smells fresh and alive.

Haven’t been doing much reading lately however did just finish “The Good Earth”. It was laying around so thought I might as well read it. There isn’t a library here and no pocketbooks to buy so I’m stalled temporarily.

I wish I could foresee what the army proposes to do with us after we get back to Lewis. Some say back to California and the cadre to Oregon but these are pure hearsay. I heard most of the experts predict a siege of three or more years (how wrong they-the experts-were when Germany first came out of her corner). Only yesterday I was reading in a ’39 Digest the opinions of a Yale economist and European expert who flatly declared that the one thing Hitler could not do was wage war. Most of them are “looking for a better ‘ole’ now”, and I think they are too pessimistic in forecasting another three years. I’m going to be home for good in January 1944.

I still droll like a blue bloodhound when I hear an airplane. I’ve asked the CO about the Air Corps again but there seems to be no way out. Oh, well the FA is pretty good.

There wasn’t much to write about but I wanted to thank you for the box. With the sugar rationing you hadn’t better send anymore and canning coming up too.

Well I’ll yet take that all day nap you promised. Goodbye for now.

Love,

10 July 1942

Dear Nancy:

Here’s that letter promised yesterday. I prefer to write on the typewriter and it’s free right now so here goes.

Of course it’s plenty hot again today and sky is as clear as a lake, but I’m getting used to it now and don’t tire out nearly as easily as the first few days. I’m getting a pretty good brown and have a little sunburn on my back that is beginning to peel. Last night or afternoon rather, went swimming in the river where we have a typical swimming hole you read about in Mark Twain. It’s a good way to cool off for awhile but in an hour or two you are just as dirty as ever. Well I won’t be going out of camp for a while anyway. This morning I fell in at reveille formation with the improper uniform so I’m confined for a week. I sleep so sound that I don’t hear the bugle and this morning I tore out of bed and put my pants on without lacing them, hoping I could get by, but the CO saw me right away and he got pretty sore; consequently I lost my pass privilege. Oh well I guess a week won’t hurt. Two mornings ago I slept right through until breakfast but because it was my first offense they did nothing about it. This is a fairly common occurrence and orders like this are made often.

Suppose you like the new place just as much as Mom. Wish I could have helped you move. Some experts predict the end of the war this year. Let’s hope they are right and that I can sleep in my bed again. I suppose for a while after I get home I will call you into a formation and call the roll, then have you police the area and line up for chow.

We will be here only for two weeks more then I’m hoping our division will cut loose with some furloughs, that’s what we are all hoping for and making it compensate for this dust bowl. Yesterday our battery fired and the hills sounded like great clacks of thunder. On the cover page of the Saturday Evening Post is a soldier looking in a sight that is the same type as is attached to ours. Our guns throw a one hundred pound shell up to eight miles; they are used to shoot over hills and into enemy formations and only rarely shoot at an object they can see. For purposes of observation and firing data we have very slow flying aircraft that are in communication with the guns by radio. These planes can almost stand still in the air, their stalling speed is 18 miles an hour and they can land and take off almost anywhere. Also they fly low and pick up messages attached to poles. This presupposes that they would be very vulnerable to enemy aircraft but their protection lies in the fact that they fly so low and blend so well with the ground that high flying planes cannot find them, but if they are spotted, an attacking plane will invariably overshoot this target because the observation plane flies so slow. Last night an anti-aircraft battery was firing and they kept up a roar for while. Well so much for shop.

Perhaps I can write you a letter for the Herald sometime when I feel like doing some writing and am more in the mood. Well guess this is about all. Not much but the same old stuff. Thanks for the letter and keep ‘em coming.

Love,

10 June 1942

Dear Folks:

Before another minute of eternity ticks through the March of time I better get caught up with you or you will think I have deserted or something.

Got the papers and your letter last week. Suppose you have both subsided from the excitement of the past and have got back into the groove. Katie wrote me a letter telling me all about it so I have a pretty good picture of what you did in Denver. Will she stay in Denver and go to school some more?

Because of the alert and the resulting confinement I have been unable to get out of camp to buy anything for her and I really want to get her something. Give me some suggestions. I sent her five dollars-hope it will ease my guilty conscience somewhat.

Today I signed an allotment whereby $12.50 will be deducted from my pay each month. For every $18.75 that I save you will receive a bond with a maturity value of $25.00. It will be mailed to you as I requested. This will amount to a savings of $200.00 a year, the maturity of the bonds. Instead of naming you or either of you as beneficiary I named Mother as co-owner, although it makes no difference. As a co-owner you are entitled to cash the bond at any time after 60 days. There will be no red tape or my signature. I thought this a better plan than a beneficiary, so that if by chance you are in need of the money you will have it. As you probably know we will get our raise of $50.000 this month. Also I intend to send home $10.00 in cash.

Got a letter from Dick telling me of his visit from Mary. Yes I think they are pretty dizzy over each other. He didn’t tell me how he felt but said Mary got sentimental when she left.

Summer seems to need plenty of coaxing to come into full bloom around here. For the past week it has been raining and blowing and no signs of the clouds going away. Expect to go to Yakima to the firing range in a couple of weeks and they say it is much warmer there. But I hope I will be transferred from this outfit before that.

All the time we were on the alert we had to carry our tin hats and gas all the time—even and while working and when the order came thru that it was discontinued we all threw up our arms in joy. Even most of the civilians entering camp had them. A guard here shot a woman–died last night when she failed to halt her car. So always stop if you are requested.

My little watch beats like a young heart and never fails me—and the zipper bag is like another hand.

Hope next time I will be home—I mean next year. Perhaps furloughs are still a slumbering image. Perhaps when I am transferred with the cadre I will be sent East. My application for commission in the Adjutant General’s department was denied in view of the numerous applications. Many of the fellows are having visitors—being from Spanish Fork, Utah. I am in a Mormon reserve, Utah battalion.

Suppose you heard or read about the sunken freighter near Seattle, but I’m telling you that when this big shore gets it’s steam up there will be death and destruction for Germany and Japan the likes of which have never been seen. Cologne will be ordinary and commonplace. Our air force will be so great and our ground forces so well supplied that it will be utter desolation for anything in our way. This is my prediction. No more ‘too little and too late’. We are waiting until we have a cinch and will have it.

Well guess I’ve made my philosophies and told you what’s what so there is little else.

Oh, for a bunk without brown blankets and a dinner from marvelous Mother Moss and a banking out from dime-dealing Dad.

Love,

11 May 1942

Dear Folks:

Guess I haven’t written for about a week so better get at it.

When I got in today your picture was here and is it swell. I’m so glad you sent it. I can’t adequately tell you how much it will mean. Then yesterday Katie’s(photo) came so with these and the one of Dick, I have quite a gallery of good-looking kin. Katie is getting prettier all the time but since the last time I saw her, in about August ’40, I believe, she seems to look a little more mature and womanly. When exactly will she graduate? I’d sure like to see her badly. I feel like a terrible heel for not sending you something beside the telegram on your big day last Sunday,but then I thought that if you were coming out to see Gram or up here I would send you fifteen dollars for the trip. Suppose your back is badly bowed by the season of the year but it would be swell if you both could get away from it all.

I’m still in the dark as to furloughs—as a matter of fact haven’t even got wind of a good latrine rumor. Other fellows seem to get these but no dice in this outfit I guess.

Several troop trains have pulled out last week and even tonite a long one is standing on the tracks waiting to be loaded. The latest info from seat 5 is that we won’t be here for longer than a month, but then this is all rumor. Today we were on the rifle range firing plenty of ammo. I didn’t do as good as I have before—a 154 out of two hundred. Last week I started to attend survey school. About three men from each battery were chosen, this is the brain part of field artillery. Hope I go long enough to get some benefit from it.

Last Saturday afternoon got a thirty-six hour pass so Johnnie, my pal, and I went into Tacoma but came home fairly early for lack of anything to do. This guy Johnnie is really a swell fellow—a tough existence ever since he was born, living under a drunken Dad and keeping his mother. Plenty handsome, modest, and sincere. His qualities remind me of Jim Sandison, but Johnnie is much more handsome. Black curly hair and big friendly eyes. Wish I had a picture of him.

The recent sea battle was certainly good news wasn’t it? Hope we treat ‘em plenty rugged from now on. A bad note has been coming up lately and that is gas or chemical warfare. The use of that will increase the horror of war many times. I’d think Germany would be afraid to use it because of his own extinction.

Last week one day I was on regimental fatigue and was handed a shovel and dumped off on a coal pile. Boy did I get dirty but it was a good workout. We hauled it to the hospitals and to the homes of the brass boys (officers).

It’s still been raining off and on for the last week but a couple of days were really nice.

Well I’ve got to write some more letters so better get around to them.

Your picture will be my most valued possession.

Love,

The picture is a 155 mm howitzer of our battery.