Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2021-03-07

September 21, 1943

Dear Mother and All,

Here I am in the reading room of the Service Club. It is quiet here so will write a few lines. Our Battery picture was taken in front of the Service Club #2. The building is in the left of the picture. You'll notice a few cars in front if you look at the picture.

First of all, I plan to send this by air mail as I want you to be sure and get it before Sunday.(Sep. 26, 1943) Now don't plan too much on it as you never can tell what will happen, especially when you are in the Army. In regards to the letter I wrote Sunday, I think everything will be o.k. until Monday. (September 27, 1943)

Gee, it seems good to have you write that you have been feeling good such as I read in the letter I received to-day. Tell me, Mom, where do you find all the flowers you put on your writing paper? You sure take time doing that.

I sure would like to be home to use the ironing board and maybe talk to twelve or one to two o'clock in the morning. Guess by what I read there would be some juicy gossip to tongue lash about. Who could we drag over the ground? Maybe, I shouldn't say that but it makes me feel the mill (S. D. Warren) or some in it must be lost for something to fall back on, in the fact that when they couldn't find anything else, it was Helen Ladd and me. Poor kid, guess she is lost now. Maybe she has a little time to think it over. I wonder what that damn Red Head has to offer her now? Maybe someday, Mother, you can talk to her in a kind way but always remember, with Helen you can cut no corners. It's just plain English. (I feel so sorry whatever happened between Helen Ladd and Uncle Charlie. I know the family thought they were definitely getting married and from these letters I know he still loved her. No other lady he dated could replace her. It appears she decided to break off the relationship for some reason. The mill where they both worked at didn't make it easy after the break-up with gossip etc. Uncle Charlie never got married. His last girlfriend was with him for several years. They never lived together, but they did a lot together. His last girlfriend even asked the family if she could be buried beside Uncle Charlie when she died and we gave her that permission.)

By what you write I figure Mr. Stevens wants to move the house before winter or as soon as possible. It sure will make it better all around.

There were a few more ratings given out to-day, that is some of the boys have been transferred to other outfits so it left a few ratings opened. You may guess who got them, none of us Yankees. One fellow made Cpl. because they said he had been in so long. Ha, ha, he gets so excited he'll ask a question then answers it. He'll see you doing something, so to make himself think he's giving orders he'll tell you to do it. The same thing you're doing. (I have noticed in these letters and the books I have read that often when there was a soldier given a higher rank that those under them could see he was not a good pick. I would imagine you didn't dare to share with your superiors about your opinions. I wonder how common this was during the war?) We got some new dog chains to-day. They cost $2.50 a piece at wholesale to the government. It has a special safety clasp with directions on the envelope. I'm not fooling, I had to laugh to see some of them try putting their dog tags on themselves. It must be cold out at home but give me Maine.

Well, Mother, will close with no news left to write about. Tell Dad the news grows better every day. It won't last much longer. Bet I'll beat him with a rifle when I get home. (ahem) Of course, I don't mean shooting them (the squirrels) when they jump from a telephone pole. I think that grey squirrel died before it hit the ground ----

I mean of heart trouble. Ha ha that hole was from a stick or rock on the ground. Oh well, we can wait and see. Say hello to brother as I sure think of him many times a day.

Good Night All

Charles

P.S. I have a couple pictures I'm going to put them in the same mail as this letter. I'll send them in a different envelope but not air mail. See the difference in time.

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Dear Mother,

Here I am back from the Service Club so will send this note just to see how the two letters make out. One air mail the other regular. Marian sent me these two pictures as I told her not to keep them. I use to send her a lots of the other pictures and then bring them back when I saw her.

Will say good night to all.

Love

Charles

Here are the pictures and items included in today's letters.

Uncle Joe (Aunt Helen's husband) on left, Uncle Gene on right.