Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2020-03-01

CAMP McCOY SERVICE RECREATION CENTER

April 11, 1943

Sunday Afternoon

Dear Mother,

Here I am in the reading room of the Service Club. It is nice and quiet here so will try to drop you a few lines.

It is cloudy and a little rain outside. Do not know if it will rain or a little snow.

Before I forget it I'll tell you how I made out the last two days on the tests. The ranks were E, S, F, U. (These are the questioning and demonstration tests given by the high brass he mentions in his last letter. I am presuming E = excellent, S = satisfactory, F = failed, U = unsatisfactory.) I got done about Saturday afternoon, with four E's and the rest were S's. One other fellow had five E's. What a grind. I do not think the hard work will get me far after all.

Clarence Harrison came over with a letter from Fred Gossbeck to-day. Ha Ha he sure can write the news. It really is nice to have a letter from him. He always gives you a good laugh. He told how Roy Morton was roller skating and fell and lost his cigarettes. A soldier said, "Hey sailor you lost your cig." When he looked up it was one of the Strout boys. Small world after all. (My maternal great grandmother was a Strout so we had many Strouts in our family.)

I sent you a letter and told you I got my shoes.

Make sure you take care of your eyes. Are you going to the same man? Guess, he was O.K.

Poor Raymond is sure on the wrong side of the road. I hope Eugene doesn't start that way. I'd whether not come back than see him like that.

Would you rather have me write more often even if I don't write so much? Mother, I am going to try and come home in June. Remember I said try.

Did I tell you Lewis Woodis sent me a letter? It was nice of him. Didn't the army take him once? Guess he's not very well.

Guess Helen Ladd is not coming up to see you. Sometimes I feel she'd like to but just can't get started. She thinks the world of you, Mom, and I know it. She was always telling me how lucky I was to have such a mother. Sometimes she'd give me heck for something I didn't do for you. She thinks so much of you, she hates to face you. If she comes once I think she'll come quicker the next time. (I believe Helen Ladd was Uncle Charlie's first serious girlfriend. The family thought they would get married. But something happened that no one seems to completely understand. My mother mentioned it several times. We can see in the letter Uncle Charlie is not angry at Helen Ladd but feels she is shy or ashamed to visit his mother. I believe his mother knew what happened. Whatever happened, I thought Uncle Charlie never completely got over her. Maybe, that is why he never married though he always had a girlfriend.)

How is Dad? He still doesn't have much to say. (He was always a quiet man.) He must have the barn looking good by now.

I don't get so much mail as I did. I didn't mean from home.

How are all the rest. Does Eugene seem to keep his courage up. Things may change someday. How is sister? Don't forget to tell Joe I was asking for him.

We had a good dinner to-day. Maybe you can guess why. We had some (----- -------)? Guess what?

I'll say so long for this time. Cheer up, Mom. It's hard but it could be worse.

Love to All

Son Charles xxxx

P.S. Ma, just for you (x)

(I have to chuckle when he tells his mother to cheer up. You can tell from the beginning of the letter he is feeling quite low and needs to be cheered up. He has gone to a quiet place to get away from everyone else. He mentions it's a cloudy and rainy day. He then shares his scores on his tests and is definitely not happy with his scores. He feels his hard work is not paying off. He is not happy with himself, where he is at and most likely missing home. It is going on four months. He's also concerned about his mother's eyes, his dad and his brother. He is even sharing concern about his old girlfriend and likely thinking about the good time he had with her. He is 27 years old and would be considered an "old man" by many of the younger soldiers and his feelings come from an understanding of life as an older adult.

His next letter continues with the same melancholy feelings and written only two days later, therefore, I am including that letter also in this post. I will let you come up with your own thoughts and feelings about this second letter.)

April 13, 1943

Tuesday 8:15

Hello Mom Dear,

It is 8:15. I have just taken a shower and shaved so will drop a couple lines before the lights go out.

I had to change barracks to-day. It's right along side but I don't think I'll like it.

I got your Easter card & letter with check. Thanks a lot. If you need any more money for your glasses, take it. Get some good ones when you get them.

It was cold and windy here this morning. It has been snowing off and on all day. This has been a funny week. Nothing seems to go right. I don't know what to do. Hope the last of the week will be different.

Warren is in a different outfit than I am. They don't care whether a fellow ever gets home here. After all my hard work I don't think I'll make anything. Maybe I could if I was here 2 or 3 years.

Harold just came back from a furlough. Don't know how he got it. Guess it's been about a year. He sure had a good time. All he talked about was his girl. I guess by what he tells she must be a swell girl. He says she is a little young but a swell kid.

I had a good time the other weekend but do not know when I'll ever go again.

Please try to send me some pictures of home. Guess I can't get accustomed to some of these southern boys. Just think some of them went to 3rd or 5th grade in school. They have been in so long that they have a couple stripes. Think of taking bull (---?---) from them. They don't even know how to handle a man.

Lights will soon go out so will close.

Love to All

Son Charles

P.S. Will send you another letter in a few days. Maybe a little better.

^^Apr 8 U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, in an attempt to check inflation, freezes wages and prices, prohibits workers from changing jobs unless the war effort would be aided thereby, and bars rate increases to common carriers and public utilities.

^^Apr 10 General Montgomery occupies Sfax, Tunisia

^^Apr 11 Frank Piasecki, Vertol founder, built a single-person, single-rotor helicopter designated the PV-2 and flew it.

"Frank Piasecki"

"Piasecki with PV-2"

**April 13 – The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birthday. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the completed memorial. The circular, open-air memorial is 165 feet in diameter, with an exterior made of Vermont Imperial Danby marble. The design of the shallow dome clearly refers to the dome of the Pantheon. The bronze statue is added in 1947.

Jefferson Memorial dedication ceremonies, April 13, 1943, looking across the tidal basin in Washington. Man standing on top of the memorial is a guard.

(AP Photo/Gene Abbott)