Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2020-06-28

June 9, 1943

Wednesday Evening

Dear Folks,

Not quite so tired to-night as I went to bed early last night and we didn't get up until 6:30. We have been firing rifles all day. To-morrow we have first call at 4:30 am, firing for a record to-morrow. Gee, what long hours.

You remember I wrote to you Sunday I had sent that lady from S. D. Warren a card because she was sick in the hospital. Well, a fellow got last Sunday's paper and I found out to-night from reading it she had died, was buried this afternoon (Wednesday) at 2:30 o'clock. She never got my card. Gee, she has been good to me. She was the one that always took charge of sending those boxes from the mill. Gee, Mom, I've lost a good friend. She never had the chance to see me as a soldier. Well, she's gone to rest and I'll never forget what she did for me. Her name - Margaret Dinsmore, 115 Forest Ave. Cumberland Mills, Maine.

Do not look for me because I'll let you know when I can come home. I sure would like to see you all.

It's been three weeks since I've seen Marian. She wrote me to come down this weekend but guess I can't. Some of the no good fellows went out last weekend as we left a little after getting up at 2:30. Some of them didn't get back in at time (A.W.O.L.). Others were half drunk when first call came. (A.W.O.L.) Absent without leave. So no one will get passes this weekend. Then Sunday at 12 noon we hike out to the field for another week, come back the next Sunday. So, I won't see her then. A lot of freedom. Work like --- all the week then because of someone else you stay in this hole. A lot to live for.

Nine of our boys are going to another outfit in Indiana. Got word to-day, leaving to-morrow. One fellow has been in the army quite a long time. He had a nice bed roll or sleeping bag, cost about $12.00 ($177.85 in 2020) new and I don't think you can get them now. He said he would sell it to me for $3.00.($44.46 in 2020) I got it. Hope I sleep a little more if we go out next week. I can bring it home someday. Don't you think I was wise? Even for one week. You can't always use them, but it's worth the money I think.

Hey, Dad, why don't you make Mom have a ration book or point book on kindling wood. Each stamp could be good for so many sticks. What difference would one book make? Ration it out to her. Ha, Ha.

Big shot Mains is all I have to say. Too big for a 105 mm. To me just a pop gun. You've got one in the service that's more than he has.

I think the weather at home has been warmer than here. It looks like rain to-night with a good wind for it.

How many chickens have you? Did you get my turkey? How are the pigs growing? Have they moved Grammy's house? Who moved it? Did it take long? How does it look across the street? Is Cora going to paint it white? I think it would look good. How is the hay crop this year? Should be good with a lot of rain. Are the leaves all out big? Do you ever see a car go by the house? Is the lawn green? Where did you plant your flowers? Are the two new trees Dad planted living? (I remember the two very tall pine trees in the 1960's and 70's with a hammock between them. So they survived the 1940 planting.)

Well, Mom, guess I'll have to turn in. It stays light long after 9 o'clock now. Tell Eugene, Helen and Joe I'm thinking of them. I knew when Joe left last fall I'd be gone when he came back. (Joe would go to Florida to plant potatoes in the winter months.) Hope to see you all someday. Dad, have you got enough wood for the morning? If so go to bed and have a good night rest. (The old fashion kitchen stove needed wood to have hot water and for cooking even in the summer.)

Love

Charles

June 10, 1943

Thursday Night

Dear Mom,

Just a note as I am all in. Got up early as I wrote you last night. I see by the bulletin we get up at 3 o'clock in the morning. If it keeps up I'll lose weight. The boys are so tired they can't shoot straight. I fired for a record to-day, missed by 13 points. Hope to make it to-morrow.

I was never so dirty before in my life as I came in to-night. Had sand in my hair, ears, mouth, nose, shoes, pockets every place. Had supper chow at 8:30. Why do people on the outside have to kick?

Helen (Uncle Charlie's first girlfriend that he never got over.) sent me a note for her mother. She has gone to the hospital. I'm tired but sent her a few lines to try to encourage her. Her mother said she wished she could see me coming in the door. Poor woman she has been through a lot. What women have to go through.

It has been Hot here to-day. The first real hot day we have had. A lot of the boys got their face sun burned. I'm getting kind of black myself. You'd lay in the sand and it was hot.

Marian wrote to-night that if I came down this weekend we'd take a picnic lunch and go fishing Sunday. I don't think I can make it.

Gee, Mom, my pen just won't go where I want it. I'm going to close. It's a note just the same.

Love to All

Charles

^^Jun 10 FDR becomes 1st US President to visit a foreign country during wartime. Crossing the Atlantic by air, Roosevelt flew in a Boeing 314 Flying Boat dubbed the Dixie Clipper to a World War II strategy meeting with Winston Churchill at Casablanca in North Africa. ^^Source 4 https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1943

The Boeing 314 Clipper was an American long-range flying boat produced by Boeing from 1938 to 1941. One of the largest aircraft of its time, it had the range to cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For its wing, Boeing re-used the design from their earlier XB-15 bomber prototype.

^^Jun 10 Heinrich Himmler ordered the final liquidation of Lodz ghetto in occupied Poland.
^^Source 4 https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1943