Climbing Down Cliffs to Swim, and Back Up to Return

February 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

Oran and Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria.

Dated Aug. 22, 1943; postmarked Sept. 2.

Dear Mom and Pop,

I’m feeling fine and fit and I hope you all are the same.

I was in Oran and bought a few trinkets awhile ago. When I get enough, I will send them home. I also visited Sidi Bel-Abbes, a little south of Oran.

I was in Canistel, a little town just a few miles east of Oran. When I was at Canistel, I went swimming every day, but it was costly. I had to walk down a 700-foot cliff to go swimming, but the worst part of it was climbing the cliff after I finished swimming.

That’s all for now. So-long.

L&K,

Babe

(NOTE: I cannot find a town in Algeria named “Canistel” or anything close to it. I’d welcome help on that one.)

PDF: Climbing Down Cliffs to Swim, and Back Up to Return

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Seeking a Shaving Brush, a Mirror and Some Candy

February 6, 2012 Leave a Comment

A page from this V-mail letter.

Dated Aug. 19, 1943; postmarked Aug. 28. Presumably, he is still in Oran, Algeria, or was there recently.

Dear Mom and Pop,

Well, I’m fine and fit and having the time of my life. I hope you all are the same.

I was in Oran and went swimming in the Mediterranean Sea quite a few times. I never did get around to seeing Casablanca when I was there. They have nice cold beer in the towns around here and the only reason we drink it is because it tastes like the nice cool water we get back there.

There is one thing I want now and I wish you would send it. I want a five-pound package with a good little mirror that is sure not to break on the way over and a shaving brush and a couple of cakes of soap and the rest full of candy, but not hard candy like charms or anything that is likely to melt like chocolate. Caramels and hard candy bars are what I want. If the mirror has any chances of breaking on the way over, don’t send it.

I forgot all about Bib and Vince’s birthdays because I didn’t even know what month it was until someone told me. I want to wish them both a happy birthday even though I don’t know what birthday is when how old they are. Vince must have left by now, huh? Be sure and let me know if he did.

That’s about all I have to say for now except give my regards to everyone over there and kiss Rosemarie for me.

L&K

Babe

PDF: Seeking a Shaving Brush, a Mirror and Some Candy

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In the 34th Infantry: ‘The Best on This Side, and I Don’t Mean Maybe’

February 4, 2012 Leave a Comment

Shoulder patch for the 34th Infantry Division.

Letter dated Aug. 7, 1943; postmarked Aug. 16. With this letter, Babe’s address has changed; he is now posted to the 34th Infantry Division, 168th Infantry Regiment. It appears he’s assigned now to the regiment headquarters. Possibly from Oran, Algeria.

Dear Mom and Pop,

The same old story; I changed my address again. At least, though, I finally got assigned to a regular outfit, and boy, what an outfit. It’s the best on this side and I don’t mean maybe. It’s got a history that dates way back to the Rainbow Division of the last struggle.

Our food here is pertty good and the work isn’t too hard, so I don’t mind this at all. Besides, I think some mail will catch up to me here. I haven’t been at one camp long enough to receive a letter yet.

That’s all for now, so I’ll say so-long.

L&K,

Babe

PDF: In the 34th Infantry: ‘The Best on This Side, and I Don’t Mean Maybe’

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Learning More About Tracking Army Post Office Movements

January 28, 2012 Leave a Comment

From my earlier post, written by Dave Kent of the Military Postal History Society, I learned that Army Post Office numbers, or APOs, are an effective means of tracking the location of a military unit. I expect to learn more going forward about how specific that information will become.

I recently corresponded with Richard V. Horrell, who runs WW 2 Connections and lists his home in Nashville. His website says he uses his passion for World War II history to create profiles of military personnel that he “researches and creates for his clients. His clients share with him the desire to remember what these men and women did for us 60 years ago.” I came across him through AllExperts.com.

Horrell responded to my questions about how to track APO numbers, which appear in the return address of all Babe’s letters. He responded on one of the APO numbers, but I realized Babe’s APO changes a few times, so I went looking for a source. I stumbled on this blog post from someone doing genealogical research, with a link to a PDF called “Numerical Listing of APOs, January 1942 to November 1947. It seemed like what I was looking for. I have it available on my site here.  (While trying to validate its authenticity, I found it apparently listed in a Smithsonian Institution index). Read more of this post

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