July 25, 1943
Sunday Night
Dear Mother, Dad and All,
Here I am back in camp. I got here 8:30 to-night. Have been hanging up my clothes and fixing up a little. It's about 10 o'clock now. Gee, I wish I didn't need to come back. After writing this I am going to take a shower.
I got into La Crosse last night (Saturday) and found Marian had gone home over the week end. I called her up and she wanted me to come to Tomah. I got there about 11:30pm and stayed all night. (Remember her mother was there so everything was above board.) She was glad to see me and glad with everything I brought her from Maine. She said thanks a lot to all of you.
I got fast trains all the way back and just think in Albany, New York, Clarence Hanson got on the train. The funny part was he got on the same car I was in. A fellow I was riding with said there's a fellow in back of you with the same shoulder patch you have. I looked around and there was Clarence. In Chicago, we had to leave each other because his train left from a different station than mine. The three of us spent about two hours in Chicago, had something to eat at the U.S.O. then what do you think we ran into? A picture man on the side walk, you know what I mean. I'll send the pictures later.
It's quite hot here to-night. Hope it's not too hot at home. Also, hope you're all well.
Has Helen got three of my pictures? I'll send home the rest of the money. Also, find out what 6 small ones will cost.
Well, Mom, I have 23 cents Ha Ha, but what do I care. It'll be a long time before I get away from camp, then too this week is pay day. I don't much care for anything. Wish I could come home today. Thanks for everything while I was home. Oh yes, I'll send home the money for those films.
Tell Eugene to keep his courage up. Give my love to Helen and Joe. Guess I'll say good night but will write again soon. I want to come home more than ever now. Good night Mom and Dad.
Love once again
from Wisconsin
Son Charles
**July 24 – WWII: Operation Gomorrah begins: British and Canadian airplanes bomb Hamburg by night, those of the Americans by day. By the end of the operation in November, 9,000 tons of explosives will have killed more than 30,000 people and destroyed 280,000 buildings.
*July 24-August 3, 1943 – Operation Gomorrah (Firebombing Hamburg) - European Theater
Operation Gomorrah
More information: https://www.thoughtco.com/operation-gomorrah-firebombing-of-hamburg-2360535
^^Jul 23 Battle of Kursk, USSR ends in Nazi defeat (6,000 tanks).
Battle of Kursk
^^Jul 23 US 45th
Infantry division occupies north coast of Termini.
^^Jul 25 1st warship named after an African American launched – USS Leonard Roy Harmon, a Buckley class destroyer.
USS Leonard Roy Harmon
Toby Keith - American Soldier
*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
