Raving About the New Pen-and-Pencil Set; Money Woes

January 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

Dated May 21, 1943; postmarked the same day from Camp Wheeler.

Dear Mom and Pop,

I received your package this morning and boy, was I glad to get it. This pen and pencil set is something and I won’t be able to thank you enough for it. Right now, I am showing it off to the whole platoon and they are gasping at it speechless. As I say, it’s the style that counts. I am using the pen to write this letter and let me tell you, it’s the best pen I ever saw. Once more, thanks a million times and I’ll take good care of it.

You wanted to know about the money situation so I’ll tell you. I didn’t send you any money the first month, but I sent you fifty dollars last month, $25 from each month. I also sent you the receipts for War Bonds and insurance they are taking out of my pay and I would like to know if you got them. Read more of this post

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Babe’s Fondness for (Most of) the Fellows in His Platoon

December 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

I have a letter without an envelope and an envelope without a letter; I’m guessing they’re supposed to be together. The letter is dated “May 1943, Sunday,” and the envelope is postmarked May 4, 1943, from Camp Wheeler. The postmark is two years to the day before Babe was killed.

Dear Ma and Pa,

Need I say more? I’ll tell you how this mixup about the money came about. I gave the money to the chaplain because he handled everything like that. I didn’t know, though, that I would have to go back there for the money order. I thought he would mail it himself. Last night, the chaplain called me into his office and gave me the money order. So, here it is.

By the by, it is too late to get my pictures taken at this camp anyhow, so I’ll get them at my next camp. It takes too long to get the pictures and I’m not going to be here more than two weeks. Read more of this post

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A Quick Letter on a Day of Rest

December 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

Private's stripes; Babe says he's not eligible for officer's candidate school and withdrew his application.

Dear Everybody,

Today is the day of rest, so I am writing you all a letter.

I explained how, in an earlier letter, I wouldn’t have much of a chance to enter O.C.S. and I also told you I withdrew my application and I will apply again when I get to my next camp. But, I took an army specialist test a couple of days ago and I don’t know what it’s for or how I made out. If I don’t hear anything in two weeks, I’ll know I didn’t make out.

I told you I got paid, but I can’t send you any money yet because I have to see my chaplain and get him to make out a money-order for me.

I just wrote you a letter yesterday or the day before, so I haven’t much more to say. Read more of this post

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