Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2020-04-05

Mother's Day

May 9, 1943

Dearest Mother,

This is the morning of Mother's Day. My mind goes back home to the grandest Mother in the world. To This Mother I send my best Wishes. May the day soon come when her heart will be at peace. From her Son in the Service comes these words for he knows how much meaning they hold --- "Always Look Up, Never Look Down."

Dear Mother, I know you'll be looking for something from me but as I wrote before it will be late. I'll send it in two weeks along with the box. You see I intended to go to town this week to pick up a Mother's Day card but couldn't get away. I'm thinking about you to-day more than ever. I hope you all like what I send. It's the best I could do. It has taken quite some time to find things to put into it as I don't go very much.

It is a swell day here. A little hazy with a cool light breeze. They are having open house and quite a few people are in camp to-day.

I'll tell you why I didn't go out of camp. The Sgt. of our gun section got hurt a while back and has been sent to limited service. We have a Spick Corporal. You know what I mean, one of those cheap Mexican, half breed Spanish. (A derogatory term in the United States used for a person of Hispanic descent. First recorded use in 1915. Common belief is that it is an abbreviation of "Hispanic".) I'd rather see my sister marry a negro then one of them. (The origins of disliking Mexicans in the United States date back to the Mexican and American independence wars, and the struggle over the disputed Southwestern territories that once belonged to Spain. This eventually would lead to the war between the two nations and the defeat of Mexico, which came with a great loss of territory. In the 20th century, anti-Mexican sentiment continued to grow after the Zimmermann Telegram incident between the Mexican government during the Mexican Revolution and the German Empire during World War I.

The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret diplomatic communication issued from Germany in January 1917 that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico. If the United States entered World War I against Germany and lost, Germany promised Mexico would recover Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Thankfully, our family has lost those feelings of prejudice attitudes. My brother is married to a wonderful lady. Her mother is Mexican. She is both a wonderful wife for my brother and a tremendous sister-in-law. My uncle even knew her before he died.)

Well, he's a Corporal and thinks he'll get the Sgt. place. He can't do it like a man, has to be a rat. The boys all hate him. I don't think he'll make the grade. The men won't soldier with him. You see we had an argument so he put me on his sh--

list as we say in the army. The reason is partly this. After finding that the Sgt. was going, he got a bird just like him (Spick) from another section to come over into ours. He attends to make Sgt. then make his friend the Cpl. rating that he'll leave behind. Quite a setup but I don't think it will work. The other boys are getting wise.
I got a letter from Helen Ladd's mother. They have four pigs too. Ha! Ha! Guess all you folks at home in Maine will eat pork next winter. Helen sent me a letter.
I have taken out $10,000 insurance policy. You may not get any papers for a long time but don't forget I have the money made out to you. I also have a little in War Bonds. You may have a check sent to you in return for bonds. That is, we had to make a change in our bonds so what was left will be sent home. Let me know about it. If the time ever comes and you don't know what to do with all the papers have a lawyer look them over. Please send me $5.00. Money order ok.
Did Uncle Dave and Grammy York come down? How are they all?
How is Dad? Hope he has the barn well under way. It has been a long drag. By what I hear he has done a swell job. Tell him to keep it up. The news is better every day. How is brother. Don't forget to let him use the car. It will do it more good than harm. Tell sister, Helen, to be good and remember it takes two to make a go. It can't be one sided. How is Joe? (Joe is his sister Helen's fiancé. There seems to be some struggles going on in this relationship from what Uncle Charlie is sharing. Helen and Joe will get married Aug. 9, 1943.) Joe must be working hard by now. Still he is free. I had a feeling when he left last fall I wouldn't see him for a long time.
Not much more to write about now, Mom, but will write the first of the week. Cheer up and have good courage. Remember you have something to lean on. Hope to be home next Mother's Day. (Sadly, we know he will be in Wales getting ready for D-Day and not at home.)
Your Son in the Service,
Love Charles