ww2letterproject

“Mail is precious over here on this continent.”
–February 16, 1944

 

Bills letters arrive home via airmail or the new V Mail service. Bill is in North Africa. He requests that Anna send him the Bible he had in 1940 while he was at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. Bill had joined the CCC in 1939 at the age of 18 and later that summer became ill. He was sent from the CCC camp in Utah to the Letterman Hospital where he convalesced for about a month.

The 337^th departs their current camp by truck convoy and arrives at Port Poules, Algeria (on the Mediterranean coast near Algiers) where they will begin amphibious assault training.

 

 

February 9, 1944 — North Africa

Dear Mother:

I just reread your last letter for about the 10th time since I received it the other night. And I still like to look it over once in a while. How is everyone at home these days. Fine I hope. Here’s hoping Pat is well and I trust grandpa is well again. I wrote a letter to dad this evening but I have a little more time so I’ll scribble one to you.

I received another letter from Ardis the day before yesterday. And gee was it sweet. Oh yes, I received a letter from Velma too, that I had better answer. I don’t know though, the way my stationary is holding out. I’ll soon have to quit for good. As soon as I get a chance I want to send you about ten dollars and have you do this for me or if you can do it anyway and I’ll send the money as soon as I can get a money order. I can’t spend it over here anyway. When you get a chance send me a pocket knife a good Scout knife if you can get it, a couple of cartoons of matches (safety) and if you can get some kind of hard candy anywhere, send me some. Then I want some air mail stationary, I have the envelopes. And I want a subscription to these two magazines, the Farm Journal and the Newsweek. I’ll send you some money later. See if you can get that for me. Please. Well how’s Abe now. And where is he. I was sure sorry to hear that he had hurt his knee. Tell him I said hello. How is Dick getting along with his job now. Hope he gets along alright. Gee I could wring the old cow’s neck for not ______ fresh while I was home. I’m glad to hear the kids enjoy the fresh milk. Do you make your own butter now. How are the old hens laying these days. Say when you see Mr Quinn again tell him I said hello and I hope he’s well. Tell Dick, Sam and all the kids I said hello and everyone else. By the way mom when you send that package just sort of drop my Little testament in, the one you sent me in California. Well say hello to the kids in the wacs when you write and give Ruth & the Jacksons my best regards. And now it’s getting too dark to see so I’ll hurry and close.

Lots of love to all

Bill

February 16, 1944 — North Africa

Dear Mother & All

Just a hurried line to tell you I received a letter from you and Ardis both last night. So I had quite a good evening. Mail is precious over here on this continent. And believe me I write to everyone I know as often as I can afford to. And as long as my time holds out. In the last week I’ve received a letter from you & Fan and 1 from ruth and 2 from Ardis and 1 from a couple of friends. Not bad, eh! It isn’t always like that.

Hey I sure hope Abe doesn’t get shipped. Sure glad to hear that Pat is well again. Here I am again mom I started this letter about three days ago and I’m still writing it. Since then my mail has caught up and I’m way behind. Hope I catch up. Say mom if you ever choose to make some cookies or doughnuts or candy why send me a little box for old times sake. Don’t go to any special trouble to do so. And say mom if you ever get another one of those big pictures send one to Ardis for me will you. I wanted to before I left but didn’t have time to. And over here I can’t.  Well mom dear take good care of everyone and I’ll write again soon.

Lots of Love

Bill

February 24, 1944 — North Africa

Dear Mother

Just a few lines to you and all the kids today. Hello and I hope everyone is well. I’m fit as a fiddle. You know me mom. I got a letter from Mae Jackson the other day she told me Lawrence had quit his old job. I hope he’s well. How is dad these days. I hope he is getting along good and of course I always want to know how my pals Sam, Fanny, Dick and all the rest are. I owe Fanny a letter but until I can beg, borrow or steal some stationary I’ll have to put it off.

Oh say mom do you remember you told me you had been down to see Grandpa on Ground Hog Day. Well you tell him I don’t believe there is such a thing as a ground hog over here in this country. There are plenty of coyotes, a few rabbits, plenty of birds including storks, and robbins, the robbins are much smaller than the ones in the states…Oh yes, and there’s a large quantity of Arabs. And tell dad the Arabs don’t wear rings in their noses. The black people in South Africa do but these are mostly a malato color and they might as well be down in the jungles with the rest of them. They go barefooted practically all the time. Sometimes they wear sandals. And they don’t ever take baths (I don’t believe). Well mom take good care of the gang for me and tell everyone I said hello. By the way the next time you make doughnuts save a couple for me. And if you think of it put Abe’s address in your next letter, will you. Say did Elwood Killen make the grade in his army exams. I feel sorry for him. Well by now to all of you. Will write more when I have more time and paper. Be sure to keep my subscription up on the Register Herald. Lots of love

Bill

My APO is just 85 minus the D

February 27, 1944

Dear Mother and Dad

How is everyone at home these days? Fine, I hope. As for me, I’m fit as a fiddle and getting along fine. I got a letter from Eve yesterday and was sure glad to hear from her. That’s the second time I’ve had a letter from Eve in three months. How are the kids getting along these days? Did Fan get exempted from the exams? Hope so. How’s everything on the farm these days? Have you started any new chicks yet. How’s the new calf getting along. Is Dad going to keep him. Tell Mr. Quinn when you see him that I said Hello and I hope he’s well. Sure like to see him.

Say Mom, in all the letters that I write I’m going to ask for a package. Then if you happen to have one ready why you can go ahead and send it. And don’t forget to stick a couple doughnuts or cookies in when you do. They sure would go good. Well Mom, you keep things going at home and I’ll do my share over here. Give my best regards to everyone and tell Grandpa I said hello.

Lots of Love
Bill