Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2020-03-29

May 3, 1943

Hello Folks,

Here I am back in camp after a hard week. How lucky I am pulling a guard duty to-night. Ha. Ha.

I am at the airport. Such as it is. The government bought up a lot of land and the airport is an old farm on the outskirts of Camp. They have four small planes here. Used for observation. A small set of buildings. The barn has a new plane in it ready to be put together. They also keep parts in the barn.

This is a lonesome old place. I rode out here in a jeep. It is a little cool to-night but what a night. Just like a cool perfect spring night in Maine. Not a cloud in the sky with no wind. As I walk around the planes I can close my eyes and almost smell Maine in the air.

Mother, everything is ready for that package except yours. I wanted to send it for Mother's Day but can't make it. Your present will be a little late.

I got the paper and saw Helen Ladd's picture. What did you think of it?

I can't seem to think just what you said but it was about Marian. Don't think I am falling in love. The way I look at it now when I get home I never want to get married. Once I didn't know what I was doing. Guess I said something to Pauline about it. She took me wrong and said no. Here is the way I look at it. Until I can find someone that will blot Helen Ladd out of my mind I can't say I really care about being married. It wouldn't be fair. (I said in an earlier letter I never thought Uncle Charlie got over Helen and it was one of the reasons he never married. These words prove my point. Uncle Charlie is being very vulnerable with his mother. It shows the precious bond and relationship that Ma and son had.)

Marian sent me a nice Easter card and also a letter. She wants me to come down on Mother's Day (May 9) or Saturday. Then on Sunday morning we will take the Greyhound bus to Tomah (her home). She said her mother would use me swell. I think she would too. Marian didn't say her mother could take your place but gave me to understand that she could act as mother for the day as I was so far from home. Do you get what I mean? That kid is darn good. Think I'll take her up on it.

Ma, I have been camping but I never slept so cold in all my life as I did last week. I told you how it rained and the wind blew. We had little to eat. Sometimes coffee once a day, water the rest. I did sneak out something from the box the girls at the mill sent me. I may be gaining weight but it's from the ice cream and chocolate milk shakes I get from the P.X.

Not much more to say to-night, Mom. Good night. Ha Ha I may jump into a plane and fly home. So long Dad! Helen, Eugene, Joe. Love to all

Son Charles

^^May 1 Food rationing begins in the United States during World War II.

Ration Coupons

^^May 1 German Wehrmacht deployed in order to break Dutch strikes.

German Wehrmacht

^^May 1 German plane sinks the British ship SS Erinpura in the Mediterranean with the loss of 799 lives. SS Erinpura was a passenger liner built for the British-India Steam Navigation Company in 1911. She was the first British India ship built for Eastern service to be fitted with radio.