Dear Mother and Dad 8/4/1944

Dear Mother and Dad,

Another day has gone and I did the same old thing sat around and drove 30 miles. It is really hot here and I am really getting brown as a Mexican.

There is no news here and they are really shipping the men out by the thousand. They would ship more but can’t get enough trains for the shipments and the bunch left today went to Tex and Louisana, and Miss. I really hope they send me in the States I have already seen enough water to last me all my life.

Today I drove for the 3rd Battalion and hauled Captains around. Went to the ??? That is where the men ship from and the band was there playing and the men marched to the train. Wore steel helmets, full field pack and gas mask. The men left this week went to the states and next week the men ship will go across.

How is business at the store? Have they finished the front of the store and how does it look?

I went to a UAO show and saw some movie stars and it really made me feel better forgot all my troubles and I enjoyed it a hole lots.

Love,
Sam

PS
Tell dad to stay off his leg as much as possible.

-This day in WWII History-

*after years of hiding, diarist Anne Frank and her family are betrayed to the German Police.

Dear Mother and Dad 8.4.1944

Dear Mother and Dad,

I am sorry I can’t keep writing you every day but when I get off from work I am so tired I hardly feel like writing. It is really hot here and the dust is really awful here and is about to get the best of me. The last few days I have felt the worst in my life. Every time I get excite my self I get so dizzy I nearly fall and can hardly breathe. But don’t worry I will be OK. I am trying to get a rating (*1) and if so I will get more money.

I had the same job ?hauling? a major around camp and drove thirty miles. I drove for the 2nd Battalion HQ and I like my job swell. Sat around most all the morning and read a few magazines and listen to a radio. The war news sounds good and I hope it won’t be long before the war is over.

Love,

Sam

July 31-1944

July 31 -1944

Dear Mother and Dad,

I got your letters today I got two long letters from you and read them over and over many times. I had it pretty easy today drove a Capt. around and he had a 45 (*1) attached to his belt and drove all over camp. In fact I drove 30.2 miles and
Sat(urday) 11 miles. I am enjoying my job while I am here and I wish I would get stationed here. I stayed most all morning at the generals house took a sergeant out there and he really has a beautiful home. It is kinda like John Stones home and has lots of trees around the house.

The past few days it has been pretty windy here and plenty of dust.

How is the business at the store fine I hope. I got another pay day and will send more money. I made up my mind I wanted to go to Columbia Military Academy (*2) (what about it?). I will send money home every month to go on my schooling. You will get 10:00 from war dept for my over sea money and they said it would be sent this month.

I will call you as soon as I get my shipping orders. I will send an emergency call so don’t get excited. HA HA.

Tell everyone hello.

Love

Sam

*1: drool



*2: "Vincit Que Se Vincit".."He Conquers Who Conquers Himself." This was the motto of the school which opened its doors in 1904, and was retired in 1979. To my knowledge, Dad never attended.

Dear Mother and Dad

Dear Mother and Dad

Sorry I haven’t written you every day but the army life is getting pretty rugged for me now.

Mom, I went on a convoy to Oakland California and came back Wednesday and Thursday I went on a forty mile hike and bivouac (*1) and got back Friday morning and when I got to the CO they called me to the motor pool and I spent the rest of the day there.

It is really hot here and I nearly die in the sun and every afternoon it gets hotter.

Today I drove a bunch of Captains and Sergeant Majors (*2) so I was a big shot. HA what do you think. I am driving a car next to a jeep and I really like my job.

Tell everyone hello for me.

Love,

Sam


*1: Bivouac- A temporary shelter, usually only used overnight.

*2:

Sun - 30 - 1944

Sun – 30- 1944

Dear Mother,

Another day has nearly gone and very little news. The war news sounds pretty good(*1) and I hope it keeps up.

I am feeling fine and not working too hard. I have a regular job now while I am here driving at the motor pool. Saturday I drove a “????” car for the 5th Brn. H.Q. and drove a bunch of Captains around. I really enjoyed it. I drove 77 miles around in camp and learned around camp pretty good and know more about the camp now.

How is everything around home fine I hope and is Rip (*2) OK.

I am getting plenty of good food and lots of sleep now.

I have the slightest idea when I will ship.

Love,

Sam

*1: Around the time this letter was written (7/20/44), Hitler's own people had tried to kill him in the Rastenburg Assassination Plot. Also, in Operation Cobra, allied bombers have managed to bust a wide berth in Hitler's lines while Patton's 3rd Army desimate fleeing German troops. I would have to agree with my dad. The war news is good.

*2: Rip is either a Collie or a Shelty, and was my father's dog.

Wednesday evening, July 26, 1944

Wenesday evening – 26

Dear Mother,

I have been out of camp ever since Monday. We took some rain coats to Oakland Calif. We went through San Francisco and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. We left Monday morning and got to Oakland about six and we got a pass and went into town and I stayed in a service man dormitory and I really slept good. We had to report back Tuesday morning at eight and I wandered around Oakland Monday night till about one o’clock. Going through San Francisco I really had fun, not stopping for the red lights and not stopping for a thing (*1). It took about an hour to go through San Francisco and about forty five minutes to go through Oakland.

It was really an interesting trip for me and I really saw interesting scenery I never will forget. Going across the Bay saw big sea planes landing and huge troop boats.

When I got back to camp I got those letters from you and one from Helen and one from my girl in Mendenhall (*2), and it really made me feel good.

My name was called again for another convoy I think I am going to Camp White in Oregon taking some jeeps.

Tell everyone hello and tell Katherine I am mad as hell at her for not writing.


Love,

Sam


*1: I can imagine my father as a young country boy, driving his two and a half ton truck through down town San Francisco revelling in the fact that the rules of the road no longer apply.

*2: I'm not sure if this is where my grandmother was born, but I am pretty sure this is where she is buried. I have the most vague memory of driving our old black Ford Crown Victoria to the cemetary to put flowers on her grave.



These letters are displayed in reverse-chronological order. Click here if you want to start from the beginning.

Tuesday July 25, 1944

Dear Mother,

I am having a swell time. I am OK and wish you and Dad were here with me.

Love,

Sam


These letters are displayed in reverse-chronoligical order. Click here if you want to start from the beginning.