Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle: 2021-03-14

September 22, 1943

Wednesday

Dear Mother,

Here it is 7:30 pm and dark. I just got down from my bunk. I've been lying up there since chow to-night, about 5:30. Gee, I'm sore all over. We've been throwing hand grenades to-day and ending up with a 15 or 18 mile march. I don't know why it took ahold of me so unless it's because I'm coming down with a little cold. I feel all tired out, my eyes smart, so I guess it's a touch of a cold. I have a small blister on my left foot big toe. Ha! ha! guess that's all wrong with me, but I'm going to take a shower, shave and be in bed just as soon as I can get there. It's been a good day here. A little cool but not like it has been in the pass.

No news here so sometimes it is hard to write but know you you like to hear even if it's just hello - goodbye. May have more to-morrow night.

Mom, I'm going to hit the hay very soon. Give Dad and brother my love. Good night all.

Love

Charles

[While reading what he had been doing during the day, I would have been exhausted and with a blister on every toe.]

September 23, 1943

Thursday night

Dear Mother and All,

Another day gone by and I sure feel a lot better than I did last night when I wrote your letter. Have a little cold but guess it won't amount to very much.

Maybe you're wondering why I am writing with a pencil. This morning I dropped my pen on the floor and bent the point. To-night after chow I took it down to P.X. #1. There's a girl there that knows Marian; she lives in La Crosse. They had no points there but she offered to take it to town and have it fixed in the morning if she can. Now you see why I'm writing in pencil. Sure hope I get it to-morrow as I miss it a lot.

I wrote Helen and Joe a long letter to-day or this morning as I didn't have much to do. Seems to me I'm all caught up on mail now.

Got your letter to-day that you wrote last Saturday. You're right, Mom, some of us are as young as we were two years ago, so I don't know see how you can be. Did you ever stop to think I'm twenty-eight (28) going on twenty-nine (29) years of age. Will be an old man soon.

Do I remember Scottie Grant. He always had a remark to make.

Glad Cora and Mrs. True could come over. Hope they will come often as it will help shorten these long winter nights. I noticed the sun as I went down at five minutes to seven. I was walking down the road alone and as I looked back at the sinking sun it made me think of home, how the sun would go down behind the Pines at the same time making its way down toward the brick chimney to set directly behind it on the shortest day of the year.

No, Mom, don't kick as things could be worse and it won't be long before everything will be alright.

Seems funny why they don't write for Grammy. Guess I told you I sent her a letter with a picture or two. Do they say she is well or what do they write?

Has Lester Rogers gone yet? I know he was suppose to leave about the 20th of September.

Have you heard anymore about Warren? [His cousin]

If you see Mrs. Wilcox tell her I was asking about her and sent my best wishes.

Guess I'll have to say So Long to the three Bears for to-night. Don't worry. Keep that chin up.

Good Night

Mom

Dad

Bro

Love

Charles

^^Sep 21 Soviet 13th/61st Army reconquer Chyernigov, a city in northern Ukraine. In its historic center, Dytynets Park is home to churches like the Troeckiy Cathedral.

^^Sep 21 The Battle of the Dnieper was a military campaign that took place in 1943 on the Eastern Front of World War II. It was one of the largest operations in World War II, involving almost 4,000,000 troops at a time stretched on an 870 mi long front.

CROSSING THE DNIEPER

BATTLE OF THE DNIEPER

^^Sep 22 British dwarf submarines attack Tirpitz and was damaged and subsequently subjected to a series of large-scale air raids. Tirpitz was the second of two Bismarck-class battleships built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine (navy) during World War II. It was sunk 12 Nov 1944.