Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: POST SIXTY-FIVE (Identifying Our Planes) 29 AUGUST 1943

August 29, 1943

Sunday Morning

Dear Mother,

Hope you don't think I have forgotten you for not writing. I have not been working hard this week but the other day I ate some Army Beans and gee, did they give me heart burn, sour stomach or something. I had to get up in the night and go over to the first aid room. The doctor wasn't there but I told the fellow in charge to mix me up something, which he did. In a short time it helped a lot, but I felt upset for a couple days. I guess the beans had too much grease in them. I've caught up on a lot of sleep so feel pretty good to-day.

I'm on orderly duty (security duty) to-day. I got up early this morning and had a lot of my work done before the rest were up. It's about 10 o'clock now. Have a couple of hours before dinner so will write a few letters.

About 20 thousand boys leave here early to-morrow morning for Camp Williams for an air demonstration. It is to help us to recognize our own planes. I think it will be good. We come back late to-morrow night. Boy, that will be some line of trucks.

I got your air mail letter o.k. It came Friday morning and they called me right over to sign for it.

How did Cappie look and just what does he do? Hope he hikes a little. Cap was a fellow that liked to stay around home so maybe he doesn't care about it.

You said Eugene had just come in with some ice-cream. I know you couldn't send me the ice-cream, but you could have let me have buts on the other, Ha, Ha. (Just a minute we are going to have an early mail call -- Ha Ha I got a letter from you so you'll have to wait until I read it.) (time out) - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -

Thanks for the letter and you didn't do too bad with ink. Gee, the pictures were swell. Hmm, you know why the one of the house was so --- I took the picture Ha Ha. How's that for giving myself a pat on the back? I don't get too many pictures of Dad either.

Hey, brother, how about that letter? Mother said you were writing to me. She said you had a boat. Gee, boy oh boy, if it's any good hang on to it. I'm coming back some day and we'll find time to go fishing. As for the girls, Eugene, you once liked Daisy Donavan, remember? Take her and we'd have a tent.

How about showing Cora that war news. If she doesn't get the drift, I'll tell her someday.

Oh yes, Mom, I have some starch an old lady at the P.X. brought in from town to me. All I wanted was to know how to make flour starch the right way. (How do you make starch with flour? In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of cold water and 1 tablespoon of flour.

Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil in a small pot. Continue boiling and stirring the mixture until it thickens slightly. Strain the cooled flour water into a spray bottle and use it as laundry starch. Now we all know.)

I have Argo starch. I guess that is good. I'm going to see what I can do with a suit of khakis. I'll give some to the fellow with the iron for the use of it. We get along good together. He's a Yankee from Chicago.

I see you drew a picture of a flower at the top of one letter. Guess you were thinking I've seen you do that many times before. Name that annual you drew and I'll send you some food for it, if it's possible to get any.

Gee, Mom, I'm all out of the other paper so will finish on this. (Each had a different Camp McCoy letterhead.) You'd whether have me write on different kind of paper than cut it short I know. Well, I've written kind of small so guess this is quite a long letter after all. Some of the boys' mothers don't write very much but please write when you can. (As I have read war books, it is often mentioned how many soldiers looked forward to mail from home. It helped their morale many times.) Of course, the boys I guess don't write either so if you don't write I don't see how they can expect mail. I write you all I can. (My brother was in the Navy on a ship during the Viet Nam War. He has shared how men who had wives or girlfriends and the guys looked forward to their mail. Sadly, he saw some sailors jump overboard if they received a Dear John letter. Some were fighting, trying to keep alive just to get home to their girl.) Gee, Mother, I sure think of you a lot. Yes, I also think of Dad, just what he is doing, how brother is getting along and if he's keeping his chin up.

Did you really hear that Helen (His old girlfriend that he never got over.) said that her ring didn't mean a thing to her? After thinking it over that Sunday night, I had a feeling that might be so. I think Helen liked me more than anyone knew. I know she thought a lot of you, Mom. Well, Mom, you'll back me up in one thing. I played the game square with her, didn't I? Some day she'll tell me. I've written that before. Poor kid I think she would like to come up and see you but we don't know what she feels inside.

Ma, you should hear the people out here kick about only 3 gallons of gas. What would they do if they were out East?

Did Dad notice the writing on the barn. Ha Ha you might know C.D.K. had been around. (Uncle Charlie's initials.)

I suppose Helen (sister) is an old married woman now. Hope they will always be happy. I did try to write them a nice letter. Just a big brother.

Well, Mother, guess I'll sign off. Will write to you about my time to-morrow when I get back. Gee, it's a great day here. I'd like to go for a walk but can't. Maybe to-night after duty. Wish you were here to go walking with me. Give my love to Dad and brother. Love to those three little piggies.

Charles

^^Aug 25 German occupiers impose 72-hour work week.

^^Aug 25 Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten appointed Supreme Allied Commander in South East Asia.

Lord Mountbatten Supreme Allied Commander and Last Viceroy of India

^^Aug 25 United States forces overrun New Georgia on Solomon Islands.

Landing on Solomon Islands ~ warfarehistorynetwork.com

^^Aug 28 Denmark declares a universal strike against Nazi occupiers.

^^Aug 28 Benito Mussolini arrested on July 25^th is transferred from La Maddalena Sardinia to Gran Sasso. The Germans will help him to escape but finally Mussolini and his mistress will be executed by a firing squad on April 28, 1945, in Giulino, Azzano, Italy, by Italian partisans who had captured the couple as they attempted to flee to Switzerland.