Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: POST ELEVEN ( Chapel, Chow, Cash ) 31 Jan 1943

Camp McCoy Chapel in the 1940's

Jan 31, 1943

Sunday

Dear Mother, Dad & All,

It's Sunday and the last day of the month. We have got out of quarantine. Will see if I can find something in the camp post or in the P.X. for your birthday {was Jan 25th}. If not will send something if I ever go to town.

Gee, it is snowing hard to-day. Fine snow but the wind makes it cut your face. We have had a couple of warm days last week. Saturday morning first class we went on a march. Went quite a way out. Coming back we did a lot of double time.{A marching cadence of 180 30-inch steps per minute.}
Plenty of fellows fell out. It's hard on anyone a little fat or stout.

I went to chapel this morning. Will send a picture of the chapel when I go to P.X. next time. Oh, guess you might not know what (P.X.) stands for. It's (Post exchange) or store. I'm sending a copy of order of service.

I suspect Joey soon will be home. All the time he has been gone won't be as long as it will be until I come home. Does Helen know how long it will be? Why should I ask a question like that?

Gee, Ma, a fellow just woke me up for chow. It's almost time to eat supper. I was laying on my back and fell to sleep while I was writing. Will finish after supper.

I don't get anything in my hair (----). Guess they just do it to bring you down. It's not too bad.

{Time Out} ----

They just had chow. Will try to finish your letter. Not much news.

Tell Helen it's too cold for Chocolate Dates up here. May go to Texas in March.

Haven't got my things yet. Boy! is it going to be cold to-night.

Talk about tests. Have them most everyday. 95% the other day.

Oh, Mom, I got a letter from that girl I rode down from Bangor to Portland with. She was from Houlton. It makes no difference if you don't know the person. It's swell to get mail. {Portland, Bangor and Houlton are cities/towns in the State of Maine. Bangor is 125 miles north of Portland. Houlton is 235 miles north of Portland. Portland is the largest city in Maine with 77,600 population in 1940, while today it is 66,500. Maps below.} Had a letter from Clifford Thomas.

How is Dad and Eugene? Did Eugene and Helen get my letter? {siblings}

Well, will close now and write later this week.

There is one thing, Mother, I haven't got over, trying to keep clean. Gee, some of the boys are dirty and nasty. Think of it. Have to be told to have their hair cut, etc. The trouble is when pay day comes they start right in to spend their money. Beer, go to town, cheap women. It doesn't last long. Then they bum smokes from everyone. (I had to bum some tobacco this last week Ha! Ha!) They just don't know how to plan. {Uncle Charlie is 27 years old and has worked already for nearly ten years before going into the Army. He had learned already the worth of a dollar.}

Be good. Cheer up. Keep smiling. Always look up. Never look down. I'm OK. Your Son

With Love to all

Charles

^^Jan 30 6 British Mosquitoes bomb Berlin in the daylight.

Mosquito

^^Jan 30 German assault on French in Tunisia and Adolf Hitler promotes Friedrich Paulus, commander of the 6th Army, to Field Marshal in the hope that he will not surrender.

Friedrich Paulus

^^Jan 30 USS Chicago sinks in Pacific Ocean. USS Chicago (CA-29) was a Northampton-class cruiser of the United States Navy that served in the Pacific Theater in the early years of World War II. She was the second US Navy ship to be named after the city of Chicago.