Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2020-12-27

Saturday, January 2, 2021

POST SEVENTY (When Will My Cousin Go Over the Atlantic) 9 SEPTEMBER 1943

23 DAYS BEFORE ARRIVING AT CAMP SHANKS

September 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

Another day gone by so before going to bed I'll write as I always feel better after sending home a few lines. I know you're always watching the mailbox for mail the same as I do.

Before writing anymore guess I'll tell you what I've just done.

It was about 7:15 and I had just taken a small package of pictures over to the orderly room. The sun was low and red in the West as I have told you for the last few days it has been just like fall. I had just got back to my bunk when in came Clarence Hanscom to ask me to go with him while he got some meat ready for to-morrow. You know he cooks in the 12th Field Artillery Battalion. He is in the Second Infantry Division but in a different outfit than I. I told him I had to write home first. "Well" he said, aren't you hungry?" So over I went. I stayed with him until about 9:30 then we went up in his room for about half an hour. Did we eat cooked eggs, drank 1/2 quart of milk and I took over that jar of cream spread. I feel just like a good night sleep. Think I'll take a shower first.

Cliff said Warren Knight (his cousin) was home. Gee, he gets home every six months. When will he go across? Is he still in Mississippi?

I am sending home some pictures after I had the package all done up I found a few more, so will send them in an envelope. How did my pictures in Portland come out?

How are Joe and Helen making out. Gee, I wished them good luck, hope they'll always be happy. Not much news so guess I'll say good night. Love to all.

Charles

^^Sep 9 British 8th Army lands at Taranto, South Italy, it was called Operation Slapstick

OPERATION SLAPSTICK

^^Sep 9 15 German JU-88's sink Italian flag ship Roma

ITALIAN FLAG SHIP ROMA

^^Sep 9 Lieutenant-General Omar Bradley flies from Algiers to Marrakech/Prestwick

^^Sep 9 Red Army occupies Bachmatsj

^^Sep 9 United States, British & French troops land in Salerno (Operation Avalanche)

SALERNO BEACH LANDING HMS BRUISER

OPERATION AVALANCHE

What Did WW2 Soldiers Eat

US Military Food Rations

Documentary ca. 1943

*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

Sunday, December 27, 2020

POST SIXTY-NINE ( My Uncle and the Corporal ) 8 SEPTEMBER 1943

24 days before arriving at Camp Shanks

for embarkation to Northern Ireland.

September 8, 1943

Dear Folks,

Once again I'll drop you all a few lines, hoping to find you in the best of health. Keeping up courage is a big help. I know you're all holding that chin high. The only thing is, tell brother not to put his nose up in the air too much or I'll clip him one, Ha ha, you know bring him down to my size. Hi, brother, how do you feel? When I get home you'd better be feeling like kid muscle because you and I are going around a couple of times, maybe right in the kitchen. ha ha

We sure did a lot of firing to-day. My head is going like a top and I can hear birds inside. (For those who have never been a soldier shooting all the rifles, mortars, tank guns, bazookas, howitzers etc. can cause a concussion reaction where the soldier could have hearing problems, pressure wave feelings like getting hit in the face and other reactions. Sometimes soldiers would even keep their mouths opened when there was a lot of shooting happening to relieve the concussion pressure.) I may have a little cold.

Gee, has it been cold. Just the same to-day. Some boys put on long handles this morning. The boys from the South don't like this cold weather. They all want to go back.

I had a nice letter from Mr. Thomas to-night. He told me about many of the boys from home, Paul, Vin, Wescott, Foster etc. Told me about his new job at the shipyard which gave gave him a little time off to write. He wrote my letter from there.

A lot of the boys are getting ahead in the Army and I know some people think its funny. I'm still just a yard bird, but you can't do it if you don't get the chance. (Advancements, medals, and awards were not always given "equally" in the military. Some soldiers were noticed for their actions of bravery etc. while others either wasn't seen by his commander or their position denied them a medal. Many times, for example, in the thirty or so books I have read on WW II the medics wouldn't be given medals for their bravery while helping an injured soldier while under heavy fire. It made many soldiers angry because they had deep respect for the medics.) So now, I'm just sweating out time. All I care about is coming home. I had a few more words with the spic to-day. He's only a corporal but sure does like to throw his rank. I wish it was civilian life; I'd knock his d--- head off. No one gets along with him. I'd like to know where his brains are. See if you can find him in the group picture. I think the first row near the right. (Dunhearn)

I told you in my other letter about that fellow from Chicago we call Baby. Well he broke his ankle the other day. Too bad it wasn't someone else (like the corporal). I shouldn't write like this but it makes me mad to think because he has a couple of stripes he can ------- all over you and rub it in and you can't say a word. I told him to-day, sometime he'll come down to our level. (This corporal and my uncle hasn't got along since the guy was transferred into his unit.)

Mom, do they do any work at the pulp mill now? Guess the corn shop had a big run.

I suppose school has started by now. Happy days aren't they, Mom?

Mom, tell Dad this joke.

(Driver says to farmer) Sorry Mister but I've run over one of your hens. Will a dollar pay the bill?

(Farmer says) Well Mister you see I have a rooster that was very fond of that hen and I'm afraid the shock will kill him too.

Dad, that's special, don't you think? On that one I should sign off?

Mom, say hello to Joe and Helen. Give my love to brother and all.

Love

Charles

^^Sep 7 987 Dutch Jewish transported to Auschwitz Concentration Camp

^^Sep 7 Fire in decrepit old Gulf Hotel kills 45 (Houston, Texas)

http://www.gendisasters.com/texas/3403/houston-tx-gulf-hotel-destroyed-fire-sep-1943

Gulf Hotel Fire - Two Top Floors Gone

^^Sep 8 Lieutenant-General Omar Bradley flies to Carthago/Algiers from Sicily.

Gen. Omar Bradley

# September 8, 1943: Marshal Pietro Badoglio announces the surrender of Italy to the Allies, orders Italian forces to "cease all acts of hostility against the Anglo-American forces wherever they may be met."