POST TWENTY-FOUR (Uncle Charlie Meets Marian) 5 April 1943

5 April 1943

 Dear Mother,

     Just was going to write you when they called me over to the orderly room. My package came and I'm having one grand time eating figs. Mom, if you don't mind I'll tell you not to send any more gum. You see, I've found that my stomach is o.k. if I don't chew gum too much. Then too if you're caught chewing gum in ranks it's T.S. in the Army. You forget so easy you don't know you're chewing it.  
     Oh yes, to tell you about the card I sent Sunday from La Crosse. You see, one night I was up at the service club playing some games, had a little ice-cream. My friend or a fellow I know was standing near me and we were watching a party they were having for the boys. A lot of U.S.O. girls came up from La Crosse. They come quite a lot. They can't leave the building and have 3 or 4 older women with them. So we were standing beside a post watching them dance. I said to him, "Well guess if you don't dance you're out of luck. They think that's all a soldier can do." One older lady heard me. She asked if I didn't like the dance. "Aren't they nice?" I told her I never cared about dancing. I cared more about the outside life and going to see places in my car. We talked about an hour or more. Guess she took a liken to me. She told about she and her husband. He died two years ago. How they went fishing etc. After a while she asked, "Do you ever go to La Crosse?" I told her I had been once. "Well the next time you come down you call the Public Library and ask for me. I'll introduce you to one of the nice girls I know, but you must be a real nice boy for she is a nice girl."
     Two weeks ago I went, called her and she called the girl. Called me back and gave me the number. I called and she told me to come up and call for her in an hour. The old lady, Mrs. Showers, must have told her a lot about me. I had told Mrs. Showers I was a little funny. I found the girl just what she said. The girl's home is in Tomah. A town about 5 miles above camp. La Crosse is 40 or so miles below camp. We talked and had a very nice evening but after having some ice-cream and I took her home she couldn't ask me in as she only boarded there. 
     During the next two weeks she talked with the lady of the house. The lady of the house told her to have me come down. So this past week I had a letter asking me down to dinner Saturday evening and she was going to do the cooking. So this last Saturday I went down. She got out of work at 4 o'clock, hurried home and had supper ready at 6:30. 
     The lady of the house works out (outside of the home). When she came home everything was ready. I made another hit with the lady of the home and her 16 year old daughter. The girl is quite big for 16 with light hair just like the girl I went to see. Look almost like sisters. The little girl, Ruth, thinks Marian and I are just swell. We took her out to lunch with us Sunday.
     It seemed so good to be in a home. Look around and things that look like home - even a few cactus plants. They all tried to make it so nice for me. It seemed so good when the lady of the house was talking to me. I just had to put my head down...…
     Guess I'll tell you the girl's name, Miss Marian Schedler (Schad'-ler) (23 years old). She wore a pretty blue dress because two weeks before I said something about liking blue. When I left her Saturday night she told me to call for her at 9 o'clock Sunday morning to take her and go to church. 
     I went but she was kind of sick so we stayed around the home until the afternoon. She got two rolls of film and we took some pictures. I left her a dollar to have them printed and send them up to camp. When I got back to camp she had slipped the dollar back in my pocket.
     I asked Marian what she thought about going out with a soldier. (You know, Mom, some people don't care to see a girl with a soldier. They look at you funny. It hurts sometimes. Guess they think the girl is cheap.) So I asked her. Here is what she said. "Most all boys are in the army to-day. I have nothing against a soldier but I don't believe in running around with any Tom, Dick and Harry. Soldier or not a soldier. You would have never taken me out if it hadn't been for Mrs. Showers."
     Marian never comes up to camp. She told me all she did was work, go to a show or bowl, ride a bicycle and get her beauty sleep --- and Mom --- she's not bad looking.
     Don't worry, Ma, she's a good girl with a lot of common sense. The people want me to come back this weekend but I can't. Think I'll go in two weeks. Little Ruth hangs around like a fly around sugar. Was she glad when we took her with us. 
     The snow is all gone here too except in the woods. A little frost when you try to dig a foxhole. Work like a dog. 
     For the love of mike tell Helen not to get sore so much. Give Joe a little freedom. She can't be under his nose all the time. Let him drift a little it will make him stick more.
     Boy, Mom, do I wish I was coming in around 11 or 12 o'clock. Remember how we used to stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning? Guess this letter is just like one of those talks we used to have. Not much to write about.
     Will close now as I'll send you another letter in a few days.
                                 Love to all
                                       Son Charles
P.S. over
     Remember how we sent films to (Century Photo Service La Crosse, Wisconsin) I never thought about it until Sunday afternoon. I told Marian I never dreamed I'd see the place. Can you remember?

(Thoughts from me)
     This letter from my Uncle Charlie transported me to the Knight family homestead's kitchen in Gorham, Maine. It was as if I was sitting with my Uncle Charlie and having a heart to heart talk. That is how deeply this letter impacted me.
     I could feel the words coming from my uncle's heart. A 27 year old young man sharing how he met a young wholesome girl filling a part of any man's desire for female companionship in appropriate ways. While at the same time concerned how Marian might be looked at going out with a soldier. He knew many considered such a girl as being cheap and it hurt him.  
     Actually being able to spend time in a home where he felt both the ambiance of home life and being openly accepted by all those in the household moved him so much that he had to put his head down in gratitude for being so clearly accepted. What a gift for a soldier so far from home for the first time.  
     When he began to share about the long talks he and his mother had had many times into the early morning hours just made my heart burst with the heartache of a son having such a close endearing relationship. I had a very similar relationship with my mother so I understood what he was expressing. My mother was Uncle Charlie's sister. 
     I wish he was still alive so I could tell him how proud I am being his nephew because he was and still is so very special to all his nephews and nieces.  

^^Apr 3 Jan Dieters (leader of illegal CPN Dutch) arrested, put on trial, and executed.

Jan Dieters

Uncle Charlie and his mother Nina Knight

La Crosse, Wisconsin 1943

TOMAH, WISCONSIN 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

POST TWENTY-THREE (Red Flags and Rings) 30 March 1943

March 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

     Here I am on range guard so with doing the best I can will write you a letter. First, I will tell you what I mean by range guard. The 37th FAB are firing at 10 o'clock. It is now 11 in the morning. I am 5 miles out in the woods on two cross roads. I can see a big hill and when I see a red flag go up all persons or cars are stopped from going over the roads. If anyone insist on passing I take their name, address etc. The same if any car try to go by, except the 37th. Gee the wind is blowing quite a little and you may not be able to read this. It is a warm wind and I have my overcoat off. Have it rolled up and am writing on it. Nothing under my sheet of paper so you can see my troubles. Ha! Ha! it's a letter just the same. I first stopped and watch a crow fly by. You know over of thousand black birds???? 

     Gee Mom you can't guess what I got on those two big tests we took. 98.4% and 95%. I'm glad I worked hard. I didn't think I'd make that much. What do you think?
     You folks at home are getting to high class for me. All this typewritten letters etc. I got Eugene's  letter and could read it o.k. Tell him to be careful when he types. He told me how they hauled 30 don. I almost figured he meant something else -? Ha! Ha! 
*(Personal Mother) So her ring cost $50.00. Gee not much if you say it quick. (A saying that if you say something fast it doesn't sound so bad.) I may have never told you before but one time not so very long ago I had in one part of my pocketbook $80.00. I saved a little each week even if I was paying for my car. I had in mind something that cost $89.00 and a few cents. Not that I cared to pay that much but you know how I am. I don't believe in paying too much but if I liked something I liked it and that is what I wanted. We both saw it and mention how pretty it was but that it cost quite a bit. She said she didn't care about one that even cost near $50.00. To her $25.00 was plenty. I will always say I liked that in her. Still I had seen what I liked and knew after all she liked it to. But it just wasn't to be. She never was a gold digger. I know what you mean when you said Pauline (girl friend) is nervous. She has been sick a lot this winter. Don't worry I'm not too serious and I just write a common letter. Guess my letters are not serious enough for her. I don't intend to write something I don't mean. *(end personal) ( It appears Uncle Charlie is writing about someone getting a ring. Then he shares about two different girl friends he has had and how Pauline is different from the other one he use to have. He let's his mother know he's not too serious about Pauline. It appears both Uncle Charlie and his mother have concerns about Pauline.)
     There goes the red flag. I have just eaten my lunch. The rest I'll write standing up. The air out here is swell to-day.
     A lieutenant in a jeep just drove up and asked me a few questions. Oh dear that salute.
     Mom how would you like a drink out of this canteen? Here goes - not bad. Guess I'll wait until I get back to camp before addressing the envelope. I'd like you to get this even if you can't read it all. 
     Eugene sure thinks Dad is doing a swell job on the barn. I won't know the place until I see it all.
Here comes the trucks.
                                  So Long,
                               Love to all
                                Charles

^^Mar 29 Meat (784 gram/week, 2 kilogram for GI's), butter & cheese rationed in US during WW II

^^Mar 30 5th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Basketball Championship: Wyoming beats Georgetown, 46-34; Cowboys' point guard Ken Sailors is named tournament Most Outstanding Player. Kenneth Lloyd Sailors was an American professional basketball player active in the 1940's and early 1950's. A 5-foot-10-inch guard, he is notable for popularizing the jump shot as an alternative to the two-handed, flat-footed set shot. 

Kenny Sailors

^^Mar 30 British 1st army recaptures Sejenane, Tunisia.

^^Mar 31 US bombs Rotterdam by mistake, kills 326. While the Germans occupied the Netherlands during the Second World War (1940–1945), Allied air forces carried out a number of operations over Rotterdam and the surrounding region. These included bombing strategic installations, leaflet dropping, and during the last week of the war, the dropping of emergency food supplies. In one incident, during a raid on the shipyards and dock area, the United States Army Air Forces accidentally bombed a residential area killing 326 people. This was revealed in the 1990’s and a memorial has been made. 

Rotterdam Bombardment Memorial

**March 31 – Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! opens on Broadway, heralds a new era in "integrated" stage musicals, becomes an instantaneous stage classic, and goes on to be Broadway's longest-running musical up to that time. Runs until 1948. 

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

Camp McCoy Church Bulletin

of the Second Division Artillery
Was enclosed in the letter. 

Uncle Charlie's Dad beginning to build the barn

Grandpa Knight beside completed barn.

*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

POST TWENTY-TWO ( Bazookas) 28 March 1943

Inside Camp McCoy Church

March 28, 1943

Sun Morning

Dear Mom,

     Here I am ready for church half an hour early so will start this letter. The sun is not shining and it feels a lot like rain. Still it is warm. Last week was a swell week and I guess at last spring is on its way. I hope so, it is sure has been rough. The people up here say it has been the hardest winter they have seen for years.

     The past week was a grind. It sure was a hard week. Basic Training is over. The bad part is the fact you can't pick your job. Listen to this. A fellow had been a doughboy for over a year. Last December he was discharged. In two weeks he rejoined the Army. Being a little old he wanted to start where he left off, which seems the proper place after all. Guess where he ended up? - Here in the artillery. They put you where they like. 
     What a test we took. It covered 22 subjects with 127 questions, over 300 parts in all. Another part of the Division took one over the same work but with a little different questions. They started to train the same time we did. They only made an average of 50% so the General had a good idea - let us take it. I felt like going A.W.O.L. or over the hill in other words. We were told we trimmed the life out of them. I'll let you know later when I get my paper back.
     The big shots took us out as a Battery one day to see what we could do with what we had learned. We were firing 2 miles and back at the 105 howitzer guns we couldn't use our target. It's a long story to tell you how it's done but you have forward observers, telephone, radio, B.C scope, aiming circle, etc. Each man has his job. We were told that on the other side of that big hill on the side of a little knoll was a machine gun nest. The order came down to blow it out. The third round was a direct hit. It sure looked good for all of us as a group.
     Time out, Mother, I'm going to church now. Hope you're humming a little church tune this morning. What kind of day is it out at home? (So long for now.)
Back from church, also chow. The sun is trying to come out but it is still hazy over head. Pauline (girlfriend) wrote it was 18 degrees below the other morning.
     That card I sent from Sparta, I didn't go to church there. Had to go down one evening so dropped you the card.
     These new beds we have slept a lot better than the old ones. They were just a cot with canvas instead of a spring. A fellow went to get up last night and forgot he was up so high. He said it was a long way down to the floor and kind of hard landing. 
     That woman down at the mill still sends me the paper (Sunday). I have been so busy it has been two weeks or more since I wrote her last. Going to send her a line after I finish this. She writes me about 6 or 8 pages and tell me to write when I can but not to hurry. It cost her some money but she feels she is only doing a small part compared to what we boys are doing and giving up. I told her I didn't know how I could pay her back but someday I might. Boy what a letter I got. I'll never say anything about paying her back again.
     How is Dad? When Helen wrote last he was having a lunch. Tell him to keep his chin up. The news is looking better all the time.
     Did you hear about the new gun the Army has? It is so light two men can carry it. It is called a bazooka. You know like that new play on the radio. One soldier in Africa stopped 6 tanks with it. Another time a landing party was being held up. A soldier waded ashore and with the bazooka made the fort surrender. The charge is far more powerful than T.N.T. They just can't stand it long. A flier said that after flying over Berlin the other night it looked like as if the whole of Germany was aflame. 
     Ma, that Helen (sister) sure takes the cake. Said she couldn't write much more as she had to tease Joey for awhile. No rest for poor Joe now. Well he can look back to last winter and think how lonesome he was.
     Eugene (brother) never says much but I know he misses me a lot. Hope he keeps on the right road. By what I read he has changed a lot. Guess he is doing more than his part.
                       Love from deep in Wisconsin
                                              Charles
P.S. So you're still a good old Maine potato bug by what I found in my magazine. That page with the corner turned over. Also I don't remember you ever pinching chocolate drops before. - Maybe

 ^^Mar 23 German counter attack on US lines in Tunisia, Africa.

*March 23 to April 3, 1943 – Battle of El Guetarr, Tunisia (North Africa Theater)

Troops: USA NA; Germany/Italy NA.

Casualties (Killed/Wounded/Missing): USA 4-5,000, 35-55 tanks; Axis 4-6,000, 40 plus tanks.

Battle led by General George Patton becomes first successful tank battle by U.S. against German tank commanders in defense of their position. Indecisive overall when U.S. tanks could not mount as successful an offense.

An American soldier hands out cigarettes to captured Bersaglieri of the 131st Armored Division Centauro near El Guettar in March 1943.

 Battle of El Guetarr, Tunisia

^^March 25 97% of all Dutch physicians strike against the Nazi-created Chamber of Physicians on this date in 1943. Mandatory registration with this newly formed guild would have forced the physicians to follow Nazi guidelines for racial screening and “euthanasia” for the handicapped and mentally challenged. Hundreds of the protesters were arrested, and for weeks there was almost no medical service in The Netherlands, but the threat of epidemic disease eventually convinced the Nazis to relent and rescind their registration order.

^^March 26 2^nd Lt. Elsie S Ott becomes 1st woman awarded the US Air Force Medal. She was awarded this medal in recognition of her heroism in determining a way to evacuate the wounded from the front line. 

 2nd Lt Elsi S. Ott - nurse

*March 26 – WWII – Battle of the Komandorski Islands: In the Aleutian Islands, the battle begins when United States Navy forces intercept Japanese troops attempting to reinforce a garrison at Kiska.

^^March 27 Battle of Komandorski Islands, Pacific Ocean. The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was a naval battle between American and Imperial Japanese forces which took place on 27 March 1943 in the North Pacific, south of the Soviet Komandorski Islands.

Results: Tactically inconclusive, Strategic U.S. victory.

^^Mar 27 US begins assault on Fondouk Pass, Tunisia. This is only one battle in Tunisia between 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. 

Fondouk Pass, Tunisia

Bazookas

*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

POST TWENTY-ONE ( Prepares to be a Gunner) 22 Mar 1943

March 22, 1943

Dear Mother,

     This letter may be a little short but we have been busy since chow to-night. We had a lot of double deck bunks come to-day. We had to put them together after supper. They grouped us by twos. I had a little fellow with me. Most of the boys in groups of twos tossed up a coin to see who would sleep on bottom or top. The little fellow was so short I gave him the bottom. He is a little lazy but with the right handling I'll change him. He was sure happy to be on bottom. My bed is about at the top of my head. Ha Ha it almost makes you sick to look over the side.

     Basic training done last Saturday (March 20,1943). This is clean up week. I have a big test coming up. Takes in all we have had. Before the big officers. 100 or 200 questions. If you don't pass you'll go to school at night and make it up. Mom, I'm going to make it O.K. Try to be near the top of the list. 

     Boy, did we drill today. About 3 hours. Took the skin off my leg on the obstacle course to-day. We go out firing the big guns Thursday all alone. (March 25) I may be gunner. Sure have a lot on your mind if you're a gunner. (States on Uncle Charlie's Separation Qualification Record he was a Gunner Corporal for 29 months and the MOS 844 says "Lays 105mm howitzer, handles sight, corrects for elevation and deflection and is in charge of section when chief of section is elsewhere.") Gunner and No. 1 man have to be on their toes. If the gunner sets off the sight wrong, he'll be a few miles out. At 3 or 4 miles he will miss his target. Here is what I mean (He drew a small picture of the howitzer shooting the ammunition to a building.) If your gun is just a little to one side you can see that at 3 or 4 miles you'll miss your target a lot.

Here are some commands --- Base deflection 1546, aiming point three to right, record new deflection, left or right 150 mils, on 1 open 6. The gunner does this on his sight and instrument then says ready to fire. Guess it won't make much sense to you. I'll let you know how I make out. I've been working hard. Guess this week will top them all.

     Please send my shoes, Mother. So you think Joey can drive. If I had my car and they told me to get home I'd make Joey look as if he was standing still.

     I went to church Sunday and what a swell pastor. He sure told them plenty. He said he guessed some of the La Crosse Baptists were home, warming their beds or reading the Sunday paper. He said we Americans were throwing in the waste cans enough food to keep all the children of Europe alive. Still we kick. A pastor from Europe had told him how he had seen little children pick up bread from the street and kiss it before eating it. Gee, could he talk.

     Here are a couple of papers. When I get my next pay, Ma, you're going to have a present. I don't know what but it sure will be something. Ha Ha maybe some more stamps. How is the weather out home? Polly said you called her up. Guess you got my letter so you know why I didn't write. Don't you think for one minute I'll ever forget you. You come first. Then good old Dad. I may be able to give Dad a trimming when I get home. Tell that brother of mine he'd better wrestle those bulls around plenty before I come back or I'll put him flat on his can in two seconds. 

(The two brothers were always joking between themselves and sometimes with others. I could tell you some very funny stories.) See if you can squeeze a little love out of Helen to send to me. Mom, why don't you make Helen buy every other stamp? Joey is home now. Quite an idea I think. That woman from the mill still sends me the Sunday paper. So I read all the Sunday news.

     So here is a short letter and here I am on the 3rd sheet. You're the only one that rates a letter so long. Some day I'll tell you all about it and not on paper. It has been warm for three days. Hope spring will soon come. Old Mr. Ladd sent me a letter to-night with some clippings from the paper. Did you see the pictures of those six boys from one family in Gorham who were in the service. I think it was the same family Mrs. Holt was talking about once before I left. That mother sure has plenty to think about. One more to go I think. Mother, plant plenty and save all you can for next winter. They'll soon catch up with Mr. so and so. You know who I mean. Hope no sickness starts. It will be bad when the flu gets around. What have I got in that draw upstairs that I might like? You might send some with the box and my shoes if you think you should. Any shaving things or tooth paste will be O.K.

     Gee, Mom, I'm tired and have to shave before going to bed. Here I am in the shower room finishing this letter. No letter for Polly to-night. I don't write to her any more than I do you.

                          Good Night All

                            Love Charles

^^Mar 18 Ships James Oglethorpe (US) & Terkulai (Netherlands), torpedoed & sank.

^^Mar 18 Red Army evacuates Belgorod

^^Mar 19 Airship Canadian Star torpedoed & sank 

^^Mar 19 British 8th army opens assault on Mareth Line, Tunisia

^^Mar 20 German U-384 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She carried out two patrols and sank one ship on each patrol. She was a member of three wolfpacks. On her second patrol, she was sunk by a British aircraft southwest of Iceland.

^^Mar 21 Another assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler fails

^^Mar 22 Dutch work week extended to 54 hour

^^Mar 22 SS Police Chief Hans Rauter threatens to kill half of the Jewish children. Of the over 140,000 Jews in the Netherlands only about 35,000 will survive the Holocaust. Han Rauter will be executed for war crimes in 1954.

SS Police Chief Hans Rauter

105mm howitzer shown in a U.S. Army training film from World War 2.  The version shown is actually the 105mm Howitzer M3 instead of the more common 105mm Howitzer M2.

*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

POST TWENTY (Goat Meat & Home Life) 17 March 1943

Camp McCoy Enlisted Men's Barracks

March 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

     Gee, I'm sorry for I know you'll be looking for a letter. Here's the answer. The other night when I was going to write you we were having a real old fashion ice storm. The funny thing it was lightning and thundering like heck. I never saw anything like it before. Saturday and Sunday were good days. I felt spring was coming but have changed my mind. Then the lights went out. When they came on it was after 9 o'clock so they went right out. The last two days I've been sick. That old goat meat with all the gravy. Guess goat meat would be ok if cooked right. I'm feeling good to-night. Gosh, what a wind blowing outside. 

     Flavilla (sister) sent me a box with a lot of things to eat. I'm going to have a nice lunch a little later on. I once gave a lot away. Then I found that some of the fellows always would eat but when they got a box they saved it. So I dish out a little and save some for myself now.

     The old boys came back from Watersmeet, Michigan, yesterday. I got 18 letters and three packages. Was glad to get some mail. 

     If you have to pay anything on the car take it out of what I left home. Eugene (brother) is doing all he can. Oh yes, before I forget it. What size sweater does Eugene take? If you have to use more than five dollars go ahead. All I want to do is get home. Then I can start over. I just want enough money on hand to start home in a minute if I have a chance for a furlough. 

     I got the pictures o.k. I'm going to keep them all. Guess I got all your mail. I've checked on the dates. 

     Head Herds-man E.R. Knight. Boy, I bet thats right down his line. He'll be a farmer before it's over. I bet the barn looks good. (He's writing about his brother again. Eugene will, in fact, become a farmer. Milking his own cows morning and evening. Cutting acres of hay in the summer. His daughter and one of her sons are still in the farming business.)

     So Helen (sister) is going to have one jump on Joey (fiancé). I think that's great. After all it's the little things like shining those pennies and the small things we do that makes life happy. It's the small things that count, not the big. That is what I always said. What may seem foolish to us may be fun for the two concerned. The little things that Helen Ladd use to do for me were the ones that made me happy.

     If I need any money, I'll send home for some. Keep some on hand. I guess Eugene is doing his part without me. Ask him for anything. I'll go without first.

     O.K., Dad; keep your old Ford tractor. These jeeps won't climb up a Pine tree. How well I remember that day. But, Dad, I'm going to have one of these new little rifles we have. They're new and never been used before. Caliber 30 and what a gun, weighs 5 and 1/2 pounds. Now, Dad, don't tell me you'll still take the old shot gun to go deer hunting with, Ha! Ha! Hey, Mom, get after Dad and tell him he's old fashion.

     Hey, Mom, I saw a nice pillow top in La Crosse but didn't buy it. It had Mother on it. Can you guess why I didn't buy it? I bet you can.

     So much for to-night. I've got to buy some ink. It's too cold to go out to-night. Will write later.

                      Love to Mother, Dad,

                        Eugene & Mrs. Borek

                             Charles

P.S. Soon I'll have to put Joey on the end.

^^Mar 15 Red Army evacuates Kharkov in the Ukraine. The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of battles on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov between 19 February and 15 March 1943.

More information https://www.thoughtco.com/third-battle-of-kharkov-2361480

^^Mar 16 Ships Elin K (Norway) and Zaanland (Netherlands) torpedoed by German U-boats and sink. 

^^Mar 17 Physician Willem J Kolff performs the world's first 'hemodialysis' using his artificial kidney machine, however the treatment is unsuccessful and the patient dies, in the Netherlands.

^^Mar 17 Alderamin (Netherlands) & Fort Cedar Lake (British) torpedoed & sink.

*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