Camp McCoy in the Words of My Uncle

Thursday, April 23, 2020

POST THIRTY-THREE (A Killing in Town) 13 May 1943

Thurs. May 13, 1943

Hello Folks,

What is wrong back home? I haven't heard from you since last Saturday. Don't get like Waneta. I wish she would write. After all she hasn't much writing to do. With me I have to try and send them all a letter.

Some more on the weather report. Yesterday was cold with rain. It was swell except for a cool breeze.

We went out firing yesterday and the Staff Sgt. took me into his section and sending one of his over to mine. I think that Corporal in my regular section who is acting chief of section or trying for that Sergeant rating almost - - - - his pants. He didn't know what to do.

To-day we were marking some of tools with our section number Sec. 2. His friend was printing so I took a bunch and started to print too. He didn't like it because some of the other boys were telling what a good job I was doing. I'll just keep my mouth shut but beat him out if it's the last thing I do. You have to have a little leadership ability which I think he lacks.

Marian sent me a nice letter telling me to be sure to come this weekend as she had written home so they would be expecting us. She said it was just as well I didn't come last weekend as she didn't feel very well. She'd make it out OK anyway.

Two soldiers got into a fight last Saturday night in La Crosse. One stabbed and killed the other. Too bad because it gives the boys a bad name.

I forgot to tell you but I did the firing of the howitzer yesterday. He (the Corporal that doesn't like him) tried to make me a little sore by asking if I wasn't a little slow. All I said was, "Slow but sure."

Had a short letter from Pauline and she was in bed with a cold. Poor kid guess she's not well.

I sent a letter to Clyde Sawyer for the $2.00 he owed me. If he sends it home put it in a letter and mail it. Do you blame me for writing? $2.00 is $2.00 in the army. (That would be worth $29.90 in 2020).

Well, that is about all for to-night. Good night Mom, Dad and All. How is Dad?

Love

Charles

P.S. Hope you're OK.

^^May 11 Hermann Göring division in Tunisia surrenders. Hermann Wilhelm Göring was a German political and military leader as well as one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party

Hermann Wilhelm Göring

*May 11-30, 1943 – Battle of Attu, Alaska Territory BEGINS (Pacific Theater)

Troops: USA/Canada 15,000 plus; Japan 2,900.

Casualties (Killed/Wounded/Missing): Allies 1,697; Japan 2,850.

Final attack in Aleutian Islands campaign begun after Japan invaded American territory June 6-7, 1942. Two week battle in Arctic conditions against fortified Japanese position. Bonzai charge at end of battle surprised American position, but ended with Japanese losing almost all of its men. Only land battle on U.S. soil in the war.

Japanese Occupation of Attu

**May 12 – The Trident Conference begins in Washington, D.C., with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill taking part.

The Trident Conference

^^May 12 Axis forces in North Africa surrender.

Other Pictures of the Battle of Attu

Howitzer 105 - The guns 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, April 16, 2020

POST THIRTY-TWO (Promotion?) 10 May 1943

Monday

May 10, 1943

Dear Mom,

We have had an easy day so will drop you a short letter. I can hear the bugle blowing taps but I'm not very tired.

Just awhile ago the Staff Sgt., our chief of the gun section, came by my bunk and asked me to come outside. A Staff Sgt. has four stripes. Three up one down. I said to myself, "What can be up?" I went outside. He said, " I have something to tell you. You're soldering with a hard fellow, but don't say anything. (you know the one I told you about) Keep bucking. (keep soldering as you have been doing) There are going to be a lot of changes made around here. I want to tell you the Battery Commander has his eyes on you. He told me you were a good soldier and felt you could give orders and do the work. Now don't forget what I told you. It don't make any difference how long you've been in here. The main thing is to do the job. Even if you know you stand a chance if you want it. I also put in a good word for you. Keep bucking. You may have a gunner job with a Corporal rating before a month. Forget what the rest say. You know it's hard to put a new man in over older men heads but I still say you can do the job." (This letter is making sense of what I saw on my uncle's discharge papers. On all his letters even overseas that highest rank he ever wrote on his letters was Pfc., however, on his Separation Qualification Record it states, 3 months Pvt. (Basic), 29 months Cpl. (Gunner Cpl.) 2 months Sgt. (Charge of Section). I will let you read the rest of the Record down below the "Posters and Pictures for the Post.")

Gee, Mom, that sounds good to me. Just think that is the same Staff Sgt. I had words with about the damn old Yankee. (post 19) Guess he found I had a little back bone at the right time. As far as that Mexican I don't care, now that I know he can't hold me down. I'm still going to watch him and keep my mouth shut. If I get it I'll be the same rank as he. Won't he blow his top and p--- (I won't say what we do in the army.) Darn old army way of talking. I forget and write it sometimes. Oh well, Mother, I always did tell you about everything. I'm older now so I guess a slip once in awhile won't hurt much. Now keep it to yourself (except Dad) until later. Hey, how does Dad rate knowing it Ha! Ha!
I forgot to tell you why I was so mad about not going out last week. You see, Marian asked me to come down Saturday. Sunday morning we were going to take the bus to Tomah, her home for the day. It being Mother's Day her mother was going to have a nice dinner. I would have had a good time. I called her up and told her I couldn't come. She was out getting her hair fixed so I haven't heard from her. The woman at the house answered the phone said she knew Marian would be disappointed. I expect she'll send me a letter to-morrow. Do you blame me for being mad? You have to be a good little boy or you don't go out. Ma, can I go out the first Saturday night I'm home? Ha! Ha!
Guess it may rain before morning. Well, I have to shave so will close. Love to all.
Love Charles

^^May 7 Liberty Ship George Washington Carver, named after scientist, launched. In November 1943 the ship was allocated to the United States Army by the WSA and was converted to hospital ship USAHS Dogwood. The ship made multiple trips to ports in England from its home port of Charleston, South Carolina, before sailing for duty in the Philippines in 1945.
In January 1946, the ship was converted to carry a combination of troops and military dependents as USAT George Washington Carver. The ship was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1947 and was sold for scrapping in 1964.

Liberty Ship George Washington Carver

^^May 7 US 1st Armour division occupies Ferryville, Tunisia.

^^May 7 US 9th Infantry division occupies Bizerta/Bensert, Tunisia.

^^May 8 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham of the British fleet: When Axis forces in North Africa were on the verge of surrender, he ordered that none should be allowed to escape. Entirely in keeping with his fiery character he signaled the fleet "Sink, burn & destroy; let nothing pass".

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham

^^May 9 5th German Panzer army surrenders in Tunisia.

Staff Sgt. Chevron

Separation Qualification Record

*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, April 9, 2020

POST THIRTY-ONE (MOTHER'S DAY) 9 March 1943

Mother's Day

May 9, 1943

Dearest Mother,

This is the morning of Mother's Day. My mind goes back home to the grandest Mother in the world. To This Mother I send my best Wishes. May the day soon come when her heart will be at peace. From her Son in the Service comes these words for he knows how much meaning they hold --- "Always Look Up, Never Look Down."

Dear Mother, I know you'll be looking for something from me but as I wrote before it will be late. I'll send it in two weeks along with the box. You see I intended to go to town this week to pick up a Mother's Day card but couldn't get away. I'm thinking about you to-day more than ever. I hope you all like what I send. It's the best I could do. It has taken quite some time to find things to put into it as I don't go very much.

It is a swell day here. A little hazy with a cool light breeze. They are having open house and quite a few people are in camp to-day.

I'll tell you why I didn't go out of camp. The Sgt. of our gun section got hurt a while back and has been sent to limited service. We have a Spick Corporal. You know what I mean, one of those cheap Mexican, half breed Spanish. (A derogatory term in the United States used for a person of Hispanic descent. First recorded use in 1915. Common belief is that it is an abbreviation of "Hispanic".) I'd rather see my sister marry a negro then one of them. (The origins of disliking Mexicans in the United States date back to the Mexican and American independence wars, and the struggle over the disputed Southwestern territories that once belonged to Spain. This eventually would lead to the war between the two nations and the defeat of Mexico, which came with a great loss of territory. In the 20th century, anti-Mexican sentiment continued to grow after the Zimmermann Telegram incident between the Mexican government during the Mexican Revolution and the German Empire during World War I.

The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret diplomatic communication issued from Germany in January 1917 that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico. If the United States entered World War I against Germany and lost, Germany promised Mexico would recover Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Thankfully, our family has lost those feelings of prejudice attitudes. My brother is married to a wonderful lady. Her mother is Mexican. She is both a wonderful wife for my brother and a tremendous sister-in-law. My uncle even knew her before he died.)

Well, he's a Corporal and thinks he'll get the Sgt. place. He can't do it like a man, has to be a rat. The boys all hate him. I don't think he'll make the grade. The men won't soldier with him. You see we had an argument so he put me on his sh--

list as we say in the army. The reason is partly this. After finding that the Sgt. was going, he got a bird just like him (Spick) from another section to come over into ours. He attends to make Sgt. then make his friend the Cpl. rating that he'll leave behind. Quite a setup but I don't think it will work. The other boys are getting wise.
I got a letter from Helen Ladd's mother. They have four pigs too. Ha! Ha! Guess all you folks at home in Maine will eat pork next winter. Helen sent me a letter.
I have taken out $10,000 insurance policy. You may not get any papers for a long time but don't forget I have the money made out to you. I also have a little in War Bonds. You may have a check sent to you in return for bonds. That is, we had to make a change in our bonds so what was left will be sent home. Let me know about it. If the time ever comes and you don't know what to do with all the papers have a lawyer look them over. Please send me $5.00. Money order ok.
Did Uncle Dave and Grammy York come down? How are they all?
How is Dad? Hope he has the barn well under way. It has been a long drag. By what I hear he has done a swell job. Tell him to keep it up. The news is better every day. How is brother. Don't forget to let him use the car. It will do it more good than harm. Tell sister, Helen, to be good and remember it takes two to make a go. It can't be one sided. How is Joe? (Joe is his sister Helen's fiancé. There seems to be some struggles going on in this relationship from what Uncle Charlie is sharing. Helen and Joe will get married Aug. 9, 1943.) Joe must be working hard by now. Still he is free. I had a feeling when he left last fall I wouldn't see him for a long time.
Not much more to write about now, Mom, but will write the first of the week. Cheer up and have good courage. Remember you have something to lean on. Hope to be home next Mother's Day. (Sadly, we know he will be in Wales getting ready for D-Day and not at home.)
Your Son in the Service,
Love Charles

FROM A MOTHER

TO A MOTHER

ANY DAY IS MOTHER'S DAY

THE ORIGINAL TOP PAGE OF THIS WEEK'S LETTER

*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, April 2, 2020

POST THIRTY (Helen Ladd & Marian Schedler) 3 MAY 1943

May 3, 1943

Hello Folks,

Here I am back in camp after a hard week. How lucky I am pulling a guard duty to-night. Ha. Ha.

I am at the airport. Such as it is. The government bought up a lot of land and the airport is an old farm on the outskirts of Camp. They have four small planes here. Used for observation. A small set of buildings. The barn has a new plane in it ready to be put together. They also keep parts in the barn.

This is a lonesome old place. I rode out here in a jeep. It is a little cool to-night but what a night. Just like a cool perfect spring night in Maine. Not a cloud in the sky with no wind. As I walk around the planes I can close my eyes and almost smell Maine in the air.

Mother, everything is ready for that package except yours. I wanted to send it for Mother's Day but can't make it. Your present will be a little late.

I got the paper and saw Helen Ladd's picture. What did you think of it?

I can't seem to think just what you said but it was about Marian. Don't think I am falling in love. The way I look at it now when I get home I never want to get married. Once I didn't know what I was doing. Guess I said something to Pauline about it. She took me wrong and said no. Here is the way I look at it. Until I can find someone that will blot Helen Ladd out of my mind I can't say I really care about being married. It wouldn't be fair. (I said in an earlier letter I never thought Uncle Charlie got over Helen and it was one of the reasons he never married. These words prove my point. Uncle Charlie is being very vulnerable with his mother. It shows the precious bond and relationship that Ma and son had.)

Marian sent me a nice Easter card and also a letter. She wants me to come down on Mother's Day (May 9) or Saturday. Then on Sunday morning we will take the Greyhound bus to Tomah (her home). She said her mother would use me swell. I think she would too. Marian didn't say her mother could take your place but gave me to understand that she could act as mother for the day as I was so far from home. Do you get what I mean? That kid is darn good. Think I'll take her up on it.

Ma, I have been camping but I never slept so cold in all my life as I did last week. I told you how it rained and the wind blew. We had little to eat. Sometimes coffee once a day, water the rest. I did sneak out something from the box the girls at the mill sent me. I may be gaining weight but it's from the ice cream and chocolate milk shakes I get from the P.X.

Not much more to say to-night, Mom. Good night. Ha Ha I may jump into a plane and fly home. So long Dad! Helen, Eugene, Joe. Love to all

Son Charles

^^May 1 Food rationing begins in the United States during World War II.

Ration Coupons

^^May 1 German Wehrmacht deployed in order to break Dutch strikes.

German Wehrmacht

^^May 1 German plane sinks the British ship SS Erinpura in the Mediterranean with the loss of 799 lives. SS Erinpura was a passenger liner built for the British-India Steam Navigation Company in 1911. She was the first British India ship built for Eastern service to be fitted with radio.

SS Erinpura

^^May 1 SS General Hanns Albin Rauter announces that all Jews will be 'removed' from the occupied Netherlands.

SS General Hanns Albin Rauter

^^May 2 German troops vacate Jefna, Tunisia

Pillow One

Pillow Two

Pillow Three

*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, March 26, 2020

POST TWENTY-NINE ("Deep in the Woods of Wisconsin") 28 April 1943

April 28, 1943

Wednesday Night

Dear Mom,

As you can see I am crowding my paper but I have only one sheet. Another fellow had an envelope in his pocket which he gave to me.

You've heard that song, "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Well this letter is written "Deep in the Woods of Wisconsin." Ha Ha I am writing by the light of the fire. (He is also using a pencil instead of his usual pen.)

Gee, it rained hard Monday night and the wind blew. Last night or Tuesday it came off cold with a lot of frost this morning. I slept cold all night. My feet got a little wet during the day and we couldn't take off our shoes as we expected to put out in the night. Haven't had my shoes off for four days and nights. It is a little warmer to-night and we're not moving so will take off my shoes and change my stockings. We sleep with our clothes on but I'm going to use my field jacket to wrap my feet in.

Will send this letter out with the chow wagon in the morning if I can. You may not be able to read it. The fire makes all kinds of shadows.

Pauline wrote she saw Helen in the paper. I'll see it when that woman sends me the Sunday paper.

You know when you're in the field you don't get so much to eat but I manage to slip out some of the box the gang from the mill sent me.

Ha Ha I took a shave last night and the cream from one side froze before I could shave the other.

What a ride through the woods in those trucks and no lights. I don't know how those trucks take it. You would wonder how we boys take it if you could see us.

I can look up and see the Big Dipper. There are a lot of stars to-night. Oh yes, I heard the frogs Monday night. I woke up and it was raining hard. I listened and sure enough. Frogs! I don't know what it means out this way. (Male frogs croak after it rains because they're trying to attract a mate. Rain creates the optimal conditions for the females to lay eggs in fresh pools of water. Not only that but frogs like moist, humid weather.)

Well, Ma, coming down near the bottom of my paper. This letter is by luck. Hope I can get it out. Will write when I get back to camp.

Love to All

Son Charles

P.S. Next morning -- Gee, with such a pretty night you'd never think it would be raining this morning. Going out firing this morning.

^^Apr 27 Soviet Union breaks contact with Polish government exiled in London

^^Apr 27 Witold Pilecki escapes from Auschwitz after having voluntarily been imprisoned there to gain information about the Holocaust.

Witold Pilecki

^^Apr 29 Dietrich Bonhoeffer arrested by Nazis and imprisoned at Tegel prison for one and a half years. Later, he was transferred to Flossenbürg concentration camp and will be hanged on 9 April 1945 as the Nazi regime was collapsing. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship has been described as a modern classic.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

*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

Friday, March 20, 2020

POST TWENTY-EIGHT (Charles Outshines the Sergeant) 25 April 194.

April 25, 1943

Sunday

Dear Mother,

A letter before I leave for the field in the morning. Expect to go about 4 o'clock. Can't say I care much about going. We can only take two thin blankets with a shelter half. A shelter half is half of a pup tent. Two boys sleeping together combine the halves and make a full tent. Most of the time you just lay the half down with your two blankets on top and roll up in it. It's still not very warm here and it looks a lot like rain. May not be able to write you this next week but will if I can. Even if it's just a line. Don't worry if you don't hear from me for a few days.

Gee, Mom, the old gang at the mill sent me a big Easter box. (cookies, candies all kinds, gum, maple sugar, peanut brittle, marshmallows, peanuts, Easter candy, cracker jacks etc.) I just can't tell you all they sent. The same woman was in charge of it. (Margaret Dinsmore) She has sent me the Sunday paper every week. I get it about Thursday or Friday. It cost her 90 cents to send the package. (That would be $13.68 in 2020.)

The package I told you I would send home, I've got it about 3/4 ready. A few more things I'd like to get. It won't be much but it will have Camp McCoy on it. Can't get much here.

Eugene (brother) sure made me pleased when he sent me that letter. I know he won't let me down. If he can get a few lessons like the one he has just had, it will prove to him it is best to be honest in the end. I show his picture to the boys and tell them he's the grandest fellow in the world. Wish I could be home now because he is older and we could be going places together and see things. (Uncle Charlie is 27, and Eugene is 19. Both born in August.) Eugene tells what a swell job Dad is doing on the barn.

Pauline wrote me a letter to-day. Said she had to come home from work at noon, even had to stop the bus driver. Guess she was pretty sick. Too bad for a young girl to be that way. She is a good girl. (present girlfriend)

The mail has picked up this week. Either none at all or all at once. The girl from Houlton sent me a nice letter and wanted to know where I was. I hadn't sent her a letter in nearly ten months. Ha. Ha. I've learned a lesson. Let them do the writing, keep them guessing. Ha Ha I guess girls like what they can't have. If they want a letter and you don't write, they just beg you to write. Mom, I'm a bad bad boy writing to all these girls. I let them do the writing. I get the fun reading them. It helps to take up the time.

You don't mean to say you have three pigs around the house now? Helen says We have a pig. When is Grammy and Eugene going to buy one?

I see by the paper where a boy from Wisconsin was marrying a girl from Portland. After this war is over the States will sure be mixed up. One thing I will say the boys from the North are far ahead of the boys from the South. A man at the drug store at La Crosse told me the same thing. A pal of mine from Massachusetts told me a traveling man for Coca Cola here in camp at the Service Club was eating dinner and asked if he might set at their table. He told Dan the same thing. Even told Dan he knew he was from near Boston by the way he talked. I have been told if we go to Texas the people down there will get us (Northern boys) talking just to listen to us.

You know, Ma, it may not seem like much but I think my Boy Scouts' training is going to help me in the field. You'll never know how much I got out of the Boy Scouts' work. We were running in wire the other day and the Sgt. tied a knot. He called it a loop tie. I told him to me it was a clove hitch but I wouldn't argue with him until I looked it up. He was a good chap and admitted to me I was right after he got back and looked it up himself. He also told the other boys the difference. Dan gave me a poke and said, "Thata boy Chuck." (My uncle was an Eagle Scout: Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank able to obtain in the Boy Scouts of America.) I've made up my mind along with Dan that when we have a chance to shine go ahead. Speak up.

Flavilla does good but Waneta is a little backward about writing. I can't write all the time but Flavilla writes just the same. I sent them all an Easter card. Guess I told you about the mess up on Helen, Joe, Eugene's cards. I sent them what I had.

I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my pen and pencil set. It sure is handy.

Home must look nice now. New paint, blinds, barn, new kitchen.

Mother, would this be too much work? I have an idea. You take what money you need. Have a flower box made, a nice one, or even two if you like. Then plant some kind of flowers that grows plenty. When anyone comes you could give them a flower from me. It would look nice around the house. I'm trying to think of more to write but guess I'll have to close.

It has been a nice Easter day here. How was the weather at home? My Easter suit was brown. Ha! Ha!

Well, Mom dear, give my love to all with a lot for you.

Good Night Mother

Love Charles

P.S. Will write when I come back from the field.

Love you, Son Charles

*April 22 to September 16, 1943 – Salamaua-Lae Campaign, New Guinea (Pacific Theater)

Troops: USA/Australia 30,000; Japan 12,000 plus.

Casualties (Killed/Wounded/Missing): USA/Australia 2,249; Japan 11,600, including captured.

Series of battles to capture Japanese bases by Australian troops under Edmung Hering and USA troops under General Douglas MacArthur in Lae and Salamaua end with the Japanese abandoning the garrison of Salamaua and the defeat of Lae five days later.

^^Apr 22 RAF shoots down 14 German transport planes over Mediterranean Sea.

^^Apr 23 British & US offensive directed at Tunis and Bizerta.

^^Apr 25 The Demyansk Shield for German troops in commemoration to the military personnel who fought in the Demyansk pocket. It commemorated the successful defense of Demyansk, achieved through the use of an air-bridge.