Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: POST FORTY-FOUR ( Inspection, the Pits and Fuzes) 12 JUNE 1943

June 12, 1943

Saturday morning

Dear Mom,

We just stood inspection; so while the officers are inspecting the other barracks I'll drop you a few lines.

As I told you, I needed 13 points Thursday to qualify. Well I made the grade Friday. I got 31 more points instead. All you could make was 200. The highest was 170. I got 163. I wrote on one of my other letters it would be a hard job to make a good score and we all found it out. Very few qualified. You had to make 145 to pass the firing grade.

Oh dear hold everything. I've just had orders to eat then report for pit detail. I'm going out in the firing range in the pits making targets. Darn luck, I won't get done until 8 o'clock to-night. We leave to-morrow (Sunday noon) to hike into the field for a week. Well its got up to about 18 hours a day and almost 7 days a week. Keep smiling. Ha Ha.

Have just a minute so will write a little more. I told you one day was Hot. Well, yesterday it was cold and raining. What a change in weather. To-day it is fair with big white fluffy clouds overhead with quite a breeze blowing. ---------- See you later -------------

Here goes for finishing my letter even if it is a quite a bit later. You see, I got back a little early from pit detail. Found out we are not going to the field until Monday, so got a pass. I got your letter also a card in the mail saying your present had come. I didn't have any time to pack so grabbed the box, paper and string on my way to town and picked up your present. If I hadn't taken it Saturday it would have been over another week before I could have mailed it. Marian is going to mail it to you. I gave her the money and when I got back to camp found the money in my shirt pocket. The scrap paper is some that came around the boxes sent me from the mill. I just used it to fill in as I couldn't find the right size box. The souvenir is a time fuze from a 75 mm field gun. It was the main gun in the other war and up until the 105 mm howitzer took its place. I found it on the firing range. Its safe. Intended to polish it up but sent the box in a rush so you could get it as soon as possible. I think from what you wrote you will like one present. On that fuze I think it would look good to polish the brass and paint the iron after smoothing it up. The 105 mm fuze are much larger with more of a point.

We are now in the field. Have to work until 8 o'clock at night with supper at 8:30. So you see we have little time. May not write much this week.

Hope you liked the box. Write and tell me how much it cost to send it.

Tell Dad to be careful but it was the only present I could find for him.

Give my love to all. I forgot the sweater was for Eugene. Does it fit OK?

Love

Charles