Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2020-10-04

Friday, October 9, 2020

POST FIFTY-NINE (BOY, DOESN'T SHE JUMP BACK!) 3 AUGUST 1943

August 3, 1943

Dear Mom,

A note before going to bed. I have just washed and starched 4 suits of khakis. You see, the motor Sgt. asked me over and over again if I'd please fix up two suits for him before Saturday. As we are going into the field for three days I had to do them to-night. I ironed them late Friday night after we came back. I'll have to iron them in his room. He said he'd pay me $1.75, also do up a cap. I had a lot of work but couldn't pass up $1.75. (Worth $26.60 in 2020) While I did his, it didn't take much more time seeing I had the soap, water and starch to do two up for myself. You know we have been issued an extra suit of khaki. It's about 12 o'clock now. Guess everyone is in bed.

Here is a joke. We haven't had much rain here but to-day and to-night it has been raining hard and seems cold. We're going into the field for three days. Sleep on some more wet ground. The boys say now, "If the farmers ever want rain all they have to do is let us know. We'll get ready to go into the field"---- well that seems to be all there is to it. You'll have the rain.

I may send home my bed roll. If I do I'll send it to South Windham Express.

We have been out firing most of the day. I got a letter from Tiny. The way she writes I think she's feeling better. I hope so.

Mom, you take care of yourself and Dad. Don't worry about things at home, that's the way. If you don't say too much I think things would be a lot better. (I must admit my grandma was known to sputter a lot.)

I was firing the gun to-day and you should see it jump back. The ground was soft so until she got dug in boy, did she jump back. You see the ground is dry to-day but I guess after to-night it will be plenty wet.

Well, Mother, guess I need a little shut eyes so will sign off. I may not write for three days but will send a letter as soon as I get in. Tell Dad we are giving them ## and guess we have the upper hand now. Love to all.

Love,

Charles

**August 1 – Operation Tidal Wave: 177 B-24 Liberator bombers from the U.S. Army Air Force bomb oil refineries at Ploieşti, Romania.

A B-24 Liberator called Sandman during a bomb run over the

Ploiesti Astra, Romania refinery during Operation Tidal Wave

In April 1943, 25-year-old John F. Kennedy arrived in the Pacific and took command of the PT-109. Just months later on August 2, 1943 around 2:30 am, the boat collided with the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, killing two of his men. (John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, PC101).

LT. JOHN F KENNEDY 1943

JOHN F KENNEDY AND PT-109

PT-109 AND JFK

JAPANESE DESTROYER-AMAGIRIPT AND PT-109 COLLIDED AUG 2, 1943

JAPANESE AMAGRI IN193

*July 24-August 3, 1943 – End of Operation Gomorrah (Firebombing Hamburg) - European Theater More information: https://www.thoughtco.com/operation-gomorrah-firebombing-of-hamburg-2360535

105mm Howitzer that Uncle Charlie was firing

*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

Thursday, October 8, 2020

POST FIFTY-EIGHT (A ROUGH WEEK) 1 AUGUST 1943

Sunday Morning

August 1, 1943

Have just returned from chapel, have a little time before chow I'll write a letter. Have been working this morning but guess will have this afternoon off. Got done last evening about 7:30 but this pass week sure has been hard and rough. Gee, it's a pretty day here. A little warm but not bad. A nice breeze coming through my window now.

Well, Mom, went to chow and didn't finish this letter so will write to-night. We sure had a change this afternoon. It came off hot and to-night I guess it will be but to take a shower later on before turning in.

To-day is August 1st and I put on my last pair of shorts you washed for me. Gee, I took a last good look at them for it will be a long time before they look white again. I think of the white shirts you use to do up for me and not bragging about myself but how clean I could look when I went out after I had put one of those white shirts on. Remember when I started for Helen's with my car all shined up? I sure appreciate more than ever the things you did for me. (Even if you didn't press my pants, Ha Ha) (Uncle Charlie was always an impeccable dresser. He was a nice looking young man and made sure he dressed appropriately for whatever occasion. Boy, did he look sharp in his Shriner's uniform!)

We have been issued another suit of khaki so hope to be able to keep a little cleaner. This suit is a little lighter. The seat is not so big in this pair. Ha! Ha!

Hope my pictures came out good. Before I close will you look this up and see what it means? I saw it on a boy's shoulder.

So Long All

Love Charles

Inside of Chapel at Camp McCoy

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

POST FIFTY-SEVEN (I GUESS THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL US!) 30 JULY 1943

July 30, 1943

Friday

Dear Mom,

Just a note to let you know I'm O.K. I thought it was hard when I came home but since I've got back I never saw the beat of it. Start anytime from 4 to 6 in the morning and go to 9 or 10 at night. It was 9:45 when I got washed up to-night. Scrub barracks, wash windows, even washing the paint on the finish outside. You can't go to the shows, P.X. or for a walk. Gee, I guess they're trying to kill us. You sleep when you can. Makes you feel like a dog or a jack ass. Do I wish this thing was over with. (Uncle Charlie, you have only just begun. Sorry.) I'll never stay in the Army. We fire to-morrow afternoon (Saturday) that means work a good part of the day Sunday. Civilians don't know how lucky they are.

Rick told me he wrote his mother telling about you and how I was here. He's going to let me read the letter when he gets an answer.

Have you head from little Helen? Even if I'm not going out with her she's too good a girl for him. I'll never feel he's playing square with her like I did. I think she'll still come up to see you. I'm still looking for the day when she will change her mind and say a few little words to my face. (For any of you who have been a long time reader of my blogs, knows Helen Ladd was his first girlfriend and he never got over her. My mother and the rest of Uncle Charlie's brother and sisters never knew what caused the break up. They all thought he was going to marry Helen. It appears only his mother and dad knew the facts.) Some at the mill at S. D. Warren asked me if I thought Helen had changed. They said they felt she had since her mistake. Maybe, but I know it's a hard thing to admit. (What was the mistake? Helen breaking up with Uncle Charlie? We will never know.)

Well, Mom, I'll close as I am dead tired. Will try to write to-morrow. Love to all,

Charles

President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaking to the nation by radio from the White House on July 28, 1943. President Roosevelt declared that “Our terms to Italy are still the same as our terms to Germany and Japan – ‘unconditional surrender’. He promised Italians the four freedoms and warned Americans of bigger battles still ahead in the war. (AP Photo)

On July 28, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the end of coffee rationing, which had limited people to one pound of coffee every five weeks since it began in Nov. 1942.