July 20, 1943
Dear Mother,
Speaking of staying in bed, well they have the darnedest habit of getting us up just at the time a person can sleep the best. We get up between five and five thirty and out here from then until seven is the best time for sleeping. After seven the sun comes over the mountain and then it gets hot.
Evidently the big shot decided we had enough rest, so they put us to work. We are doing construction work on firing ranges over by the mountains. Say if you think you have been hot you should try swinging an ax when that sun beats down to the tune of 140. The hottest I got was last week down by the river cutting willow trees. After half an hour my coveralls were so wet that it looked like I fell in the river.
Up on the range we are building we have to clear off all the cactus, sage brush, mesquite, and what have you. You don't realize how much vegetation there is until you try cutting it all off it. At least I'm getting a lot of good practice swinging an ax.
Cutting cactus is rather a dangerous job. Every time the cactus is hit the jar knocks off round balls of cactus about an inch and a half in diameter. The ball bristles all around with sharp needles about an inch long. All you have to do is barley touch those needles and they stick in. They are twice as sharp as a pin and once they stick it is almost impossible to pull out. One boy got one stuck in his wrist and we had to use a pair of pliers to get it out.
Three of us anti-tankers went to Las Vegas over the weekend. The main street of that town is mostly gambling casinos and cocktail bars. All of them must be making money because they are sure fixed up nice inside and out. There isn't a joint in the whole bunch. We played the slot machines a little and drank beer. Las Vegas is alright for a short visit but it's too expensive to stay very long.
Time sure goes by fast of an evening. Here it is bedtime and me with a bath to take yet.
Love
Kenneth
Monday, April 13, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Three Day Pass Into L.A.
July 12, 1943
Dear Mother,
This pens eye view into the life of a soldier will probably be rather short. I had a hard day today after a hard weekend. I have to catch up on that shut eye that has been so scarce sense Thursday.
I got a three day pass over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and took off for Los Angelas. The army even furnished transportation there and back. We left camp about 7 P.M. Thursday night. We road in the back end of a army cargo truck to San Bernadino. It was about five in the morning when we got there. From San Bernadino we road a trolley car the remaining sixty miles into Los Angelas.
Quite a place L.A. Uptown it reminds you of St. Louis, but out a ways it's quite different. The worst thing about the town is the fact that spirits can be bought at hours from five until eight. That's not good at all, or is it?
Six of us saw the town together, at least we were together most of the time. We visited Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and several other suburbs around Los Angelas. The main trouble with a three day pass is that about the time you start finding your way around it's time to go back to camp.
I'm going to cut this trip short because I have to shave and shower yet before bedtime.
Oh yes, I won't be sending the watch home for a while now. I took it into town and they put it into running condition for a nominal fee of too D---- much.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
This pens eye view into the life of a soldier will probably be rather short. I had a hard day today after a hard weekend. I have to catch up on that shut eye that has been so scarce sense Thursday.
I got a three day pass over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and took off for Los Angelas. The army even furnished transportation there and back. We left camp about 7 P.M. Thursday night. We road in the back end of a army cargo truck to San Bernadino. It was about five in the morning when we got there. From San Bernadino we road a trolley car the remaining sixty miles into Los Angelas.
Quite a place L.A. Uptown it reminds you of St. Louis, but out a ways it's quite different. The worst thing about the town is the fact that spirits can be bought at hours from five until eight. That's not good at all, or is it?
Six of us saw the town together, at least we were together most of the time. We visited Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and several other suburbs around Los Angelas. The main trouble with a three day pass is that about the time you start finding your way around it's time to go back to camp.
I'm going to cut this trip short because I have to shave and shower yet before bedtime.
Oh yes, I won't be sending the watch home for a while now. I took it into town and they put it into running condition for a nominal fee of too D---- much.
Love
Kenneth
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A Quiet 4th of July
July 5, 1943
Dear Mother,
You should have about a completely furnished apartment by now. That is if your furniture got in as it should have by now. You won't feel at home now with all that stuff underfoot.
Did Dad enjoy his dinner date? I hope he ate a T-Bone steak for me. I haven't had a good steak for ages. Are you sure you didn't slip over and crash the party. I'll bet you thought of it anyway.
Did you know that mail gets here quicker from Springfield than it does from St. Louis. Mail takes about five days from St. Louis and four from Springfield. I think the mail going to Los Angelas causes quite a delay. Those air-mail letters take about three days.
I spent a very exciting fourth of July sleeping. This is the first time I can remember ever spending such a quiet 4th. Did you enjoy the show that you intended to see? They had a U.S.O. show here in the evening. Supposed to be some movie stars. There was one star (not very well known) and the show was so corny that the fellows would hardly let it go on. If they don't bring better shows they might just as well stop them all together.
You know this desert makes a guy awful lazy. I sleep all night and then want to sleep all day. Of course the officers have something to say about that daytime sleeping. You crawl under a truck, scatter tools all around and then stretch out and relax. That old buzz saw just hits a lick or two when the officer pokes his head under the truck and asks "are you working or sleeping" to which you naturally answer, "Working sir - that last trip loosened all the bolts under here and it's quite a job tightening all of them." Sometimes it works and other times it don't.
I'm going to send my watch home in a few days when I find something to pack it in. It stopped the other day. I don't know whether it's just dirty or maybe I hit it on our wild ride across the desert. I'm sending it to you maybe you can have it looked at and if it's not too bad have it fixed and cleaned and return it. If it's too bad just forget about it.
I've got to quit now and do some sewing. They changed me from a technical corporal to a line corporal. It's the same pay but a few different duties.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
You should have about a completely furnished apartment by now. That is if your furniture got in as it should have by now. You won't feel at home now with all that stuff underfoot.
Did Dad enjoy his dinner date? I hope he ate a T-Bone steak for me. I haven't had a good steak for ages. Are you sure you didn't slip over and crash the party. I'll bet you thought of it anyway.
Did you know that mail gets here quicker from Springfield than it does from St. Louis. Mail takes about five days from St. Louis and four from Springfield. I think the mail going to Los Angelas causes quite a delay. Those air-mail letters take about three days.
I spent a very exciting fourth of July sleeping. This is the first time I can remember ever spending such a quiet 4th. Did you enjoy the show that you intended to see? They had a U.S.O. show here in the evening. Supposed to be some movie stars. There was one star (not very well known) and the show was so corny that the fellows would hardly let it go on. If they don't bring better shows they might just as well stop them all together.
You know this desert makes a guy awful lazy. I sleep all night and then want to sleep all day. Of course the officers have something to say about that daytime sleeping. You crawl under a truck, scatter tools all around and then stretch out and relax. That old buzz saw just hits a lick or two when the officer pokes his head under the truck and asks "are you working or sleeping" to which you naturally answer, "Working sir - that last trip loosened all the bolts under here and it's quite a job tightening all of them." Sometimes it works and other times it don't.
I'm going to send my watch home in a few days when I find something to pack it in. It stopped the other day. I don't know whether it's just dirty or maybe I hit it on our wild ride across the desert. I'm sending it to you maybe you can have it looked at and if it's not too bad have it fixed and cleaned and return it. If it's too bad just forget about it.
I've got to quit now and do some sewing. They changed me from a technical corporal to a line corporal. It's the same pay but a few different duties.
Love
Kenneth
Friday, April 3, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sand Twisters - july 2, 1943
July 2, 1943
Dear Mother,
I got the pictures this noon. I sure wish that river went through this camp. Space in a river like that could be rented out at a nice price per square foot.
Tell Dad I feel like I got his whipping for him. We went riding out in the desert on our trucks. That desert isn't near as level as it looks, and there aren't any roads. You can ride along and all of a sudden you arrive at the edge of a ten or fifteen foot gully. We hit one of those today going wide open. Well that truck just took off into space. If we could have had wings they would have arrested us for flying low. We hit about half way up the other bank and just kept going. That was all well and good except that I didn't land in the same spot I started in. I landed on an ammunition box right on top of the lock. Tonight I can't hardly sit down.
You should see the twisters we have here. Every day about noon they start. Down through the tents and across the motor park. They pick up anything that is loose and tear down any tents not put up good. If one of them catches the cooks unprepared we eat dirt mixed with our dinner. If you happen to be standing in the path of one it dumps about ten tons of dirt down your neck. If you want to hear some flowery language you should be around when one of the twisters fills a mans mess kit with dirt. The expression on the faces is what gets you. It's pitiful but funny at the same time.
I'm going to a show now so adios til later.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
I got the pictures this noon. I sure wish that river went through this camp. Space in a river like that could be rented out at a nice price per square foot.
Tell Dad I feel like I got his whipping for him. We went riding out in the desert on our trucks. That desert isn't near as level as it looks, and there aren't any roads. You can ride along and all of a sudden you arrive at the edge of a ten or fifteen foot gully. We hit one of those today going wide open. Well that truck just took off into space. If we could have had wings they would have arrested us for flying low. We hit about half way up the other bank and just kept going. That was all well and good except that I didn't land in the same spot I started in. I landed on an ammunition box right on top of the lock. Tonight I can't hardly sit down.
You should see the twisters we have here. Every day about noon they start. Down through the tents and across the motor park. They pick up anything that is loose and tear down any tents not put up good. If one of them catches the cooks unprepared we eat dirt mixed with our dinner. If you happen to be standing in the path of one it dumps about ten tons of dirt down your neck. If you want to hear some flowery language you should be around when one of the twisters fills a mans mess kit with dirt. The expression on the faces is what gets you. It's pitiful but funny at the same time.
I'm going to a show now so adios til later.
Love
Kenneth
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Desert Training Center California June 25, 1943
June 25, 1943
Dear Mother,
It won't be long now until we start going on the ranges and shooting a little. The remainder of the Battalion arrived the other day, so we can get down to business now. When we get maps of the area we will take vehicles down to the river for a wash job. Of course we can't get our clothes wet so you know how it is. The water really feels good on a hot afternoon.
You know if your not careful that apartments is going to be fully furnished before you realize it. If that stuff ever comes from Pittsburgh you will be in pretty fair shape.
The mountains right around here close aren't high enough to sport snow. They say California has mountains with snow but they are probably in the northern part of the state.
The Needles that is near the camp here is in California right across the river from Arizona. It's also the largest town close to the camp and it's about twenty miles away. Las Vegas, Nevada is around a hundred miles north. It's a fair sized town and wide open.
You should see some of the fellows around here. They sat out in the sun too long with out any shirts on. Now they're sleeping on their stomachs. One fellow kept asking if his back was getting red and the answer was always no so he stayed a little longer. Finally he went in and about two hours later his back turned as red as a beet. I know what that sun will do to me so I don't go out without a shirt on except late in the evening.
Thank you very much for the ten. It sure came in handy. If a person gets a pass around here and hasn't any money he's just out of luck that's all. They tell you when to go on pass and it isn't often enough to pass up the opportunity.
Closing for now. Be good.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
It won't be long now until we start going on the ranges and shooting a little. The remainder of the Battalion arrived the other day, so we can get down to business now. When we get maps of the area we will take vehicles down to the river for a wash job. Of course we can't get our clothes wet so you know how it is. The water really feels good on a hot afternoon.
You know if your not careful that apartments is going to be fully furnished before you realize it. If that stuff ever comes from Pittsburgh you will be in pretty fair shape.
The mountains right around here close aren't high enough to sport snow. They say California has mountains with snow but they are probably in the northern part of the state.
The Needles that is near the camp here is in California right across the river from Arizona. It's also the largest town close to the camp and it's about twenty miles away. Las Vegas, Nevada is around a hundred miles north. It's a fair sized town and wide open.
You should see some of the fellows around here. They sat out in the sun too long with out any shirts on. Now they're sleeping on their stomachs. One fellow kept asking if his back was getting red and the answer was always no so he stayed a little longer. Finally he went in and about two hours later his back turned as red as a beet. I know what that sun will do to me so I don't go out without a shirt on except late in the evening.
Thank you very much for the ten. It sure came in handy. If a person gets a pass around here and hasn't any money he's just out of luck that's all. They tell you when to go on pass and it isn't often enough to pass up the opportunity.
Closing for now. Be good.
Love
Kenneth
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
In Sunny California - June 16, 1943
June 16, 1943
Dear Mother,
Jimminy but this heat makes a guy lazy. Of course that hike Junior and I took the other day didn't help any while were not used to this weather.
The two of us decided to see how far it was to the mountains from camp, also what was on the other side. About one thirty we took off across the desert, we really clipped off the miles over to the mountains. We figured it was about six miles and we made that in about an hour and a quarter. Then we started climbing. It took about an hour to reach the top. All we could see on the other side was another valley like the one our camp is located in except that there is the Colorado River running through the other valley. Coming back from the mountains seemed lots farther than going over. But we finally made it.
I bet you could use some of this sunshine around your part of the country. I know what they mean when they say sunny California.
If I have any money left I wonder if you could send me about ten to do until the end of the month. I ran a little shorter of cash than I figured on.
I think I'll go take a shower now. Drink hot water and shower in cold water what-a-life.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
Jimminy but this heat makes a guy lazy. Of course that hike Junior and I took the other day didn't help any while were not used to this weather.
The two of us decided to see how far it was to the mountains from camp, also what was on the other side. About one thirty we took off across the desert, we really clipped off the miles over to the mountains. We figured it was about six miles and we made that in about an hour and a quarter. Then we started climbing. It took about an hour to reach the top. All we could see on the other side was another valley like the one our camp is located in except that there is the Colorado River running through the other valley. Coming back from the mountains seemed lots farther than going over. But we finally made it.
I bet you could use some of this sunshine around your part of the country. I know what they mean when they say sunny California.
If I have any money left I wonder if you could send me about ten to do until the end of the month. I ran a little shorter of cash than I figured on.
I think I'll go take a shower now. Drink hot water and shower in cold water what-a-life.
Love
Kenneth
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