April 20, 1943
Dear Mom,
Got your letter with the pictures. Gee, if I do say it that the one with you, Helen and I was pretty good. The boys thought it was good too.
I'm not discouraged. Guess it was a bad week last week. This week seems a little different. I did feel a little down last week but I called up Marian to see if I could go down. She wasn't home but sent me a letter saying she had been looking for me to call or write. I went down Saturday and Sunday. She talked good to me. (I take this to mean Marian encouraged him.) Asked me to go to church with her Sunday morning. (He did go to church as the below bulletin proves.) Maybe I shouldn't do it (see her) but if you knew how good she uses me you would see how much it helps. (Uncle Charlie is a lonely, homesick man needing someone to talk to, spend time with, and someone to encourage him.) Seems funny that she'd go out with me because when I don't go down she doesn't go out. She seems to be a good girl. Swell ideas, dresses plain but neat. Don't think I am getting like Uncle when I say this ----- but I've never seen a girl that dressed and picked exactly the clothes I like. Don't think, she doesn't look nice. (Uncle Charlie appears to be smitten by Marian. She seems to be a nice, down to earth young lady that even dresses in a way my uncle appreciates. She seems to be intelligent, able to uplift him and relaxes a young man likely scared, confused, and missing home very, very much.)
Guess by the letter there is no doubt but what Uncle has fallen. You can read it all over the letter. What a surprise. (I am assuming he is writing about Uncle Dave, his mother's brother. He had lost his first wife in 1940 and marries his second wife 10 June 1943. Uncle Charlie is writing that his Uncle Dave has "fallen" in love, I believe.)
We had a big snow storm here Sunday night. It all went Monday & Monday night. To-day has been swell. You should see the heat raise from the ground. Off goes my winter underwear again.
I sent some Easter cards. Had some for Joe, Helen & Eugene but when I got back to the barracks they were not in the bag. Instead I had a lot of small ones. Like the few I sent Flavilla's and Waneta's children. Just for a joke I'm sending three to the Kids at home. Ha. Ha.
So you would like to sputter (complaining) at me. O.K. I'll send you a book of stamps. Ha! Ha! I know when you sputtered at me I would say to myself ---- "She'll stop if I don't say anything back." It always worked.
Let Eugene do anything he likes with the car as long as he goes right. If he wants to go see Dot or Grammy once in awhile its o.k. with me. Let him enjoy himself all he can in a good clean way. What he can do with a car license. Maybe you can have a few rides this summer. You said he was pleased he could do something for me. The biggest thing he can do for me, and I know he will, is to be good and be a square honest fellow.
Ha Ha two little piggies ---- how about the kittens, any more? Next time three pigs?
Well, Mother, tell Dad I'm thinking of him. Miss him a lot. Hope he will feels good this summer.
Love to all,
Your Son in the Army
Charles xxxx
We had a big snow storm here Sunday night. It all went Monday & Monday night. To-day has been swell. You should see the heat raise from the ground. Off goes my winter underwear again.
I sent some Easter cards. Had some for Joe, Helen & Eugene but when I got back to the barracks they were not in the bag. Instead I had a lot of small ones. Like the few I sent Flavilla's and Waneta's children. Just for a joke I'm sending three to the Kids at home. Ha. Ha.
So you would like to sputter (complaining) at me. O.K. I'll send you a book of stamps. Ha! Ha! I know when you sputtered at me I would say to myself ---- "She'll stop if I don't say anything back." It always worked.
Let Eugene do anything he likes with the car as long as he goes right. If he wants to go see Dot or Grammy once in awhile its o.k. with me. Let him enjoy himself all he can in a good clean way. What he can do with a car license. Maybe you can have a few rides this summer. You said he was pleased he could do something for me. The biggest thing he can do for me, and I know he will, is to be good and be a square honest fellow.
Ha Ha two little piggies ---- how about the kittens, any more? Next time three pigs?
Well, Mother, tell Dad I'm thinking of him. Miss him a lot. Hope he will feels good this summer.
Love to all,
Your Son in the Army
Charles xxxx
^^Apr 14 A Japanese-25 decrypt by American intelligence detailing a forthcoming visit by Marshal Admiral Yamamoto, the Japanese Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II, to Balalae Island results in his plane being shot down 4 days later.
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| Marshal Admiral Yamamoto |
^^Apr 16 40 Nazi bombers attack Haarlem, Netherlands (85 killed)
^^Apr 16 Swiss scientist Dr. Albert Hofmann discovers the psychedelic effects of LSD
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| Dr. Albert Hofmann |
*April 18, 1943 – Operation Vengeance because of Marshal Admiral Yamamoto being killed - Pacific Theater
More information: https://www.thoughtco.com/operation-vengeance-death-yamamoto-2360538
*April 19-May 16, 1943 – Warsaw Ghetto Uprising led by Mordecai Anielewicz, the leader of the Jewish Fighting Organization– Eastern Front
More information: https://www.thoughtco.com/auschwitz-camp-system-facts-1779683
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Mordecai Anielewicz |
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| The First Congregational Church - La Crosse Uncle Charlie and Marian attended Apr. 18, 1943 |
*Source 1 https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-battles-2361453
*Source 2 https://americasbesthistory.com/timeline2ndworldwar1943.html for major battles
**Source 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943_in_the_United_States
^^Source 4 https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1943
##Source 5 https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii
copyright of letters and any original material Peter Lagasse
