Sept. 10, 1943
Dear Mother,
I'll dash off a few lines here between guard shifts. Five days on the desert maneuvers and still going strong, I hope.
Did you get rested up from taking the kids uptown? I hope you had a good time celebrating my birthday. I had quite a day. Four of us sat all day in the middle of the desert guarding a road that nobody would want.
I got the birth certificate yesterday. I haven't fully decided to use it yet. After maneuvers are over I'll find out what gives and then decide whether I want to transfer or not.
Thanks a lot for the box of candy. Those chocolates really go over good. Everyone thinks they should be eaten before they melt. You never saw people work any harder to see that the mission is taken care of.
Sometimes these lieutenants make me mad. About the time we get our truck camouflaged so you can't see it they want us to move. I'll have to stop now and bow to their whims.
Love
Kenneth
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Letters home from a WWII GI: You Got A Real Buy - Aug 28, 1943
Letters home from a WWII GI: You Got A Real Buy - Aug 28, 1943
http://www.topix.com/album/detail/piedmont-mo/VBA14VLFLDDR8AVN
http://www.topix.com/album/detail/piedmont-mo/VBA14VLFLDDR8AVN
You Got A Real Buy - Aug 28, 1943
Aug. 28, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad,
Well I think you got a real buy from what you have told me. I have been thinking over the idea you talked about in your letter Dad. While it is something to think about I don't believe that we are in a position to do anything but think at the present time.
After maneuvers are finished I should get a few days off, and then we could go down and see just what we have bought.
From the sounds of the terms I don't think we should have any trouble with the monthly payments. Unless something drastic happens and then we should be able to realize a nice profit out of any of the land we choose to sell. If we can hold on until they resume work on the lake we should get a nice price if we decide to sell any of the place.
Thanks a lot for the candy. It sure tasted swell. It went like hot cakes, something like that really goes good after eating "C" rations. We would probably all faint if they served us fresh beef for a change.
I don't know how often I will be in a position to write in the next two months, but whenever the opportunity presents itself I will drop you a line or two. As plans stand now the next two months will be spent on a truck somewhere between here and Mexico.
Yes sir, the first of September we hit the field in earnest. She'll be rough and ready thru seven days a week with no time for passes or furloughs. I'll be glad to get into it and get it over with.
One thing we have to be thankful for anyway. the nights are cooling off again to the point that blankets can be used in comfort. The days are still hot but at least we can sleep at night. I hope your heat wave is over so you have more ambition to eat.
That's all until later.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother & Dad,
Well I think you got a real buy from what you have told me. I have been thinking over the idea you talked about in your letter Dad. While it is something to think about I don't believe that we are in a position to do anything but think at the present time.
After maneuvers are finished I should get a few days off, and then we could go down and see just what we have bought.
From the sounds of the terms I don't think we should have any trouble with the monthly payments. Unless something drastic happens and then we should be able to realize a nice profit out of any of the land we choose to sell. If we can hold on until they resume work on the lake we should get a nice price if we decide to sell any of the place.
Thanks a lot for the candy. It sure tasted swell. It went like hot cakes, something like that really goes good after eating "C" rations. We would probably all faint if they served us fresh beef for a change.
I don't know how often I will be in a position to write in the next two months, but whenever the opportunity presents itself I will drop you a line or two. As plans stand now the next two months will be spent on a truck somewhere between here and Mexico.
Yes sir, the first of September we hit the field in earnest. She'll be rough and ready thru seven days a week with no time for passes or furloughs. I'll be glad to get into it and get it over with.
One thing we have to be thankful for anyway. the nights are cooling off again to the point that blankets can be used in comfort. The days are still hot but at least we can sleep at night. I hope your heat wave is over so you have more ambition to eat.
That's all until later.
Love
Kenneth
Friday, June 5, 2009
Trip To Lake Mead 1943
Aug. 19, 1943
Dear Mother,
Your going to have to watch Stubby pretty close or some of these times one of those people who like him so well will spirit him away. Stubby should be here at camp now. We caught a nice little play mate for him, it's just about his size and as frisky as can be. The way the bobcat swings those paws he would probably knock Stubby for a loop.
I guess that cut in gas hit some of the people pretty hard, It's a good thing you guys don't use much gas as that would hurt pretty bad. I guess that cut in gas includes the west coast although it's been so long sense I went to town I wouldn't know.
Do you know that I keep forgetting to send my thanks for the boxes of candy. It seems funny that I should forget to thank you all for candy that tasted that good, but it disappeared so fast that I hardly know I had any. That last box I debated a long time over as to whether I should wait until after dark to open it or not. By forgetting my bringing up as a gentleman and helping myself first I managed to salvage a couple of pieces.
Last Sunday we took a swimming convoy up to Lake Mead. It was really ideal swimming. The sun didn't shine too much and the water was perfect. Lake Mead is the lake formed by Boulder dam. After the swim we went down to the dam and looked around, now that is an engineering feat if I ever saw one. Its well worth the time and trouble to visit Boulder Dam. Right now they wont let civilians stop on or near the dam they take them across turn around and come right back. That was one trip I really enjoyed going G.I.
Hope every body is getting along fine.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
Your going to have to watch Stubby pretty close or some of these times one of those people who like him so well will spirit him away. Stubby should be here at camp now. We caught a nice little play mate for him, it's just about his size and as frisky as can be. The way the bobcat swings those paws he would probably knock Stubby for a loop.
I guess that cut in gas hit some of the people pretty hard, It's a good thing you guys don't use much gas as that would hurt pretty bad. I guess that cut in gas includes the west coast although it's been so long sense I went to town I wouldn't know.
Do you know that I keep forgetting to send my thanks for the boxes of candy. It seems funny that I should forget to thank you all for candy that tasted that good, but it disappeared so fast that I hardly know I had any. That last box I debated a long time over as to whether I should wait until after dark to open it or not. By forgetting my bringing up as a gentleman and helping myself first I managed to salvage a couple of pieces.
Last Sunday we took a swimming convoy up to Lake Mead. It was really ideal swimming. The sun didn't shine too much and the water was perfect. Lake Mead is the lake formed by Boulder dam. After the swim we went down to the dam and looked around, now that is an engineering feat if I ever saw one. Its well worth the time and trouble to visit Boulder Dam. Right now they wont let civilians stop on or near the dam they take them across turn around and come right back. That was one trip I really enjoyed going G.I.
Hope every body is getting along fine.
Love
Kenneth
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Land By The Dam and the Electrical Storm
August 12, 1943
Dear Mother,
It sounds like you might have hit on something pretty good. When the dam is completed it looks like the complete west side of the land should be on or very near the lake's edge. From the sounds of it the building site is a natural, on a ridge overlooking the river. If the lake backs up as expected the building site would be right on the lake shore.
The lower 160 could be kept for a while. Maybe the land nearest the water could be sold at a neat profit a little later. Extra timber land is always nice to have. It can be cut as timber or kept and used for hunting or possibly mining.
I say get that land if at all possible before the price is raised. At $2 an acre that sounds like a steal to me. The location is excellent also, right down in that park section where all the spring parks are that we visited. If you can do business well hop to it.
Sunday we are going swimming at Lake Mead near Boulder City. I don't know just how far that is from Boulder Dam, but it sounds like it should be fairly close. It's a long ride up there but I hope it's worth it.
This must be the rainy season around here. We had another rain yesterday. This rain was accompanied by an electric storm that wasn't so pleasant. The lightening struck a vehicle about a hundred yards from where I was standing. There was seven men around the vehicle and one in it. The seven around the vehicle were knocked out some of them in bad shape. The one in the vehicle was just scared a little. I learned that it doesn't pay to stand too near vehicles during storms.
Say will you write to Illinois and see if you can get my birth certificate for me? I might transfer out of the ninth division to the air corp. Even to transfer you have to have a birth certificate.
I got to go now.
Love
Kenneth.
Dear Mother,
It sounds like you might have hit on something pretty good. When the dam is completed it looks like the complete west side of the land should be on or very near the lake's edge. From the sounds of it the building site is a natural, on a ridge overlooking the river. If the lake backs up as expected the building site would be right on the lake shore.
The lower 160 could be kept for a while. Maybe the land nearest the water could be sold at a neat profit a little later. Extra timber land is always nice to have. It can be cut as timber or kept and used for hunting or possibly mining.
I say get that land if at all possible before the price is raised. At $2 an acre that sounds like a steal to me. The location is excellent also, right down in that park section where all the spring parks are that we visited. If you can do business well hop to it.
Sunday we are going swimming at Lake Mead near Boulder City. I don't know just how far that is from Boulder Dam, but it sounds like it should be fairly close. It's a long ride up there but I hope it's worth it.
This must be the rainy season around here. We had another rain yesterday. This rain was accompanied by an electric storm that wasn't so pleasant. The lightening struck a vehicle about a hundred yards from where I was standing. There was seven men around the vehicle and one in it. The seven around the vehicle were knocked out some of them in bad shape. The one in the vehicle was just scared a little. I learned that it doesn't pay to stand too near vehicles during storms.
Say will you write to Illinois and see if you can get my birth certificate for me? I might transfer out of the ninth division to the air corp. Even to transfer you have to have a birth certificate.
I got to go now.
Love
Kenneth.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
That Place In the Ozarks Aug 5, 1943
Aug. 5, 1943
Dear Mother
That piece about the Ozarks just about hits the nail on the head. It sounds about like some of the places we got into back around that part of the country. I wish I was back there wading in one of those streams right now.
The camp those boys got lost from is about a hundred miles from us. They were in the same place we are going to take part of our training. The men that died wandered off from the rest when their officer went to get water and help. This country out here is very deceiving, you can see for miles yet you can pass within a few hundred yards of a complete division and never see them if they don't move. The main danger is not being lost but running out of water before reaching some habitation.
I'm sort of anxious to hear about your trip into the Ozarks. Is there anything interesting down there? That one place you mentioned where the government is building the dam sounds very interesting. If a person could get ahold of someplace like that early before the dam was built and too many had moved in he might have a nice place. It would be well worth looking into.
After thinking it over I think you might just as well hang on to the car. It comes in handy for you guys getting groceries and taking little trips on weekends. I might even get to use it again after all this desert playing is over. I hope.
We just got paid the other day. Everybody's got money and no place to spend it. When this bunch gets to town again she'll be a wild time in the old town. I'm enclosing twenty dollars, I won't be tempted to spend it IF I get a pass to Las Vegas in the near future.
That's all for now.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother
That piece about the Ozarks just about hits the nail on the head. It sounds about like some of the places we got into back around that part of the country. I wish I was back there wading in one of those streams right now.
The camp those boys got lost from is about a hundred miles from us. They were in the same place we are going to take part of our training. The men that died wandered off from the rest when their officer went to get water and help. This country out here is very deceiving, you can see for miles yet you can pass within a few hundred yards of a complete division and never see them if they don't move. The main danger is not being lost but running out of water before reaching some habitation.
I'm sort of anxious to hear about your trip into the Ozarks. Is there anything interesting down there? That one place you mentioned where the government is building the dam sounds very interesting. If a person could get ahold of someplace like that early before the dam was built and too many had moved in he might have a nice place. It would be well worth looking into.
After thinking it over I think you might just as well hang on to the car. It comes in handy for you guys getting groceries and taking little trips on weekends. I might even get to use it again after all this desert playing is over. I hope.
We just got paid the other day. Everybody's got money and no place to spend it. When this bunch gets to town again she'll be a wild time in the old town. I'm enclosing twenty dollars, I won't be tempted to spend it IF I get a pass to Las Vegas in the near future.
That's all for now.
Love
Kenneth
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Summer Has Arrived - Aug 1, 1943
Aug. 1, 1943
Dear Mother,
I guess that's good news to most people. The discontinuation of coffee rationing. Have they turned sugar loose yet? I understand they intend to but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Wonders will never cease. The other morning it actually rained. It's the first rain sense we left Kansas. The rain came down pretty hard for about a half hour. After that it got hot again.
I told you in previous letters about the weather we had out here, well that cool weather is gone and summer is here for sure. The nights have quit cooling off as they did in the beginning of our stay.
Last Sunday we went swimming. I don't think anybody enjoyed themselves too much. The water in the lake was too warm for enjoyment, and the ride home! The wind blowing thru the truck was just like air from a blast furnace. This past week the temperature has varied between a hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty seven. Just between you and me that's hot!
It's a good thing the car isn't out here now I guess. If it was it would just sit out in the sun and rot. The big shot really cut down on our time off. No one will go to town during the week. From five o'clock Saturday night to midnight Sunday twenty-five percent are allowed out. Each man is allowed one three day pass in the next thirteen weeks and all fourloes are canceled. So a car is almost useless.
Did you go out sightseeing over the weekend? If so did you see anything of interest? I hope we find something soon before I spend all my money in Las Vegas.
Well my watch went bad again. I think it's the balance staff that went out again. This time I'm going to put it away and forget I ever had it. Maybe one of these days I can save enough to buy one of the water and dust proof watches.
I tank I take a shower, maybe cool off a bit, no.
Love
Kenneth
Dear Mother,
I guess that's good news to most people. The discontinuation of coffee rationing. Have they turned sugar loose yet? I understand they intend to but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Wonders will never cease. The other morning it actually rained. It's the first rain sense we left Kansas. The rain came down pretty hard for about a half hour. After that it got hot again.
I told you in previous letters about the weather we had out here, well that cool weather is gone and summer is here for sure. The nights have quit cooling off as they did in the beginning of our stay.
Last Sunday we went swimming. I don't think anybody enjoyed themselves too much. The water in the lake was too warm for enjoyment, and the ride home! The wind blowing thru the truck was just like air from a blast furnace. This past week the temperature has varied between a hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty seven. Just between you and me that's hot!
It's a good thing the car isn't out here now I guess. If it was it would just sit out in the sun and rot. The big shot really cut down on our time off. No one will go to town during the week. From five o'clock Saturday night to midnight Sunday twenty-five percent are allowed out. Each man is allowed one three day pass in the next thirteen weeks and all fourloes are canceled. So a car is almost useless.
Did you go out sightseeing over the weekend? If so did you see anything of interest? I hope we find something soon before I spend all my money in Las Vegas.
Well my watch went bad again. I think it's the balance staff that went out again. This time I'm going to put it away and forget I ever had it. Maybe one of these days I can save enough to buy one of the water and dust proof watches.
I tank I take a shower, maybe cool off a bit, no.
Love
Kenneth
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