Just like that old country church up at Bernard’s

February 21, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Mom

I haven’t gotten your box yet but it ought to get here today or tomorrow. I got an awfully nice box from Helen yesterday. It had a cake in it. The cold spell we are having left and it’s hot as everything today. I don’t mind the maneuvers at all as long as it stays warm, in fact it’s a lot better than living in a camp. We don’t have any reveille or training schedule, we just set our gun down and dig it in then lay around til we move again. Last night we sat down beside a church and they wouldn’t let us dig in so we had it easy. It was good to hear the service going on inside the church, just like that old country church up at Bernard’s. But then it doesn’t seem right to hear a church service going on and having an anti-aircraft gun setting out in the lot.

Love to all, Tom

We are moving all over the place

February 7, 1944

Louisiana

Dear Pop,

I am on maneuvers and we are moving all over the place. That raise I get will come in good for a furlough. You get it for me. Use my regular address when you write. I can’t put it on a card.

Tom

I am in the Fourth Army

February 5, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Mom,

I got the letter you wrote to Camp Polk and the one to Shreveport both today. I am not attached to Camp Polk, that was only the de-training point. We moved out of our original camp this morning and we start on maneuvers tomorrow. We are about 60 miles from Camp Polk. We will be on maneuvers for several months. I like it a lot here in Louisiana; it’s warm and where we are now is not muddy or anything.

I’m sending some pictures of some of the fellows here that I’d like to keep. I can’t keep my drivers license and social security card too because I can’t carry any identification on maneuvers except my dog tags. We are simulating real combat and I have to tear up my letters and everything. I am in the Fourth Army instead of the Third like I said before.

It feels good to be closer to home. Guess I’ll close for now.

Love to all, Tom

We will start on our maneuvers next Sunday

January 31, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Mom

I like it here ok. We will start on our maneuvers next Sunday. I was on a pass this last weekend. I stayed in this little town about two miles from where we are camping, Leesville. I tried to call you all but I never got the calls through. I waited about six hours but I had to come back so I canceled them.

I sent a roll of film home and I wish you would get them developed for me. There’s some pictures of Audrey and her baby and some of the fellows around here. Tell pop that I met that Smith boy that used to work in Mr. Barnett’s section, at the Storehouse, in Leesville. He is in a 40 millimeter anti-aircraft outfit same as I am. I know a lot of boys in the army in this vicinity and I expect I’ll run across some more of them during the maneuvers.

The weather is warm down here and it doesn’t get cold like it did in California during the night. I’m not near any towns so I ought to save up some more money. I have around $60 and tomorrow is payday so I’m doing alright. I wish I could have talked to you all on the phone but I’ll try again whenever I get a chance.

Love to all, Tom

P.S. Excuse the dirt on the second page but our mascot, a collie pup, was running around and stepped on it where I had it laying beside me.

 

I’m in Louisiana now

January 27, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Mom,

I’m in Louisiana now about 65 miles from Alexandria. We’re living in pup tents and it’s ok except the mud is about knee deep and it rains most of the time.  My address is:

Btry C 567th AAA Bic

A.P.O. 403-A, c/o Postmaster

Shreveport, La.

and put my serial number with my name.

Some of the fellows are leaving on furloughs today and it is costing them $28.50 to Roanoke. I wish you could come to see me here but we will be moving around on maneuvers and we’re not in any camp so you wouldn’t be able to come. The maneuvers will last several months, about 4 or 5 and we’ll be all over this part of the country. It’s awfully nice being under trees instead of on the desert.

Love to all, Tommy

I’m deep in the heart of Texas

January 23, 1944

Texas (in route)

Hi Jitterbug!

I’m deep in the heart of Texas now and we’ve been traveling three days. We’re at a place named Childress now; they let us get off and roam around a bit. Here’s a couple of  match covers I picked up along the line tho.

We’ve been having a lot of fun on this train you know, talking to girls and everything. I was talking to a couple back in Childress. But there ain’t as many pretty girls in Texas as there were back in California. One place where we stopped back in California was right beside an orange grove. I guess you know, we’re still eating those oranges.

You remember Earnest Fawcett and Charlie Dilbin and Hugh Ferguson? All of them are writing me. Fawcett’s in Kentucky, Dilbin and Paris Island, and old Ferguson in New York City. I believe all of them will get home before I do and all of them went in after I did. I ought to get a furlough after maneuvers are over though. I hope so anyhow. I’m glad mom got to talk to Reg Powell. I sure will be glad when I get a chance to come home.

So long, Tom

I have to do what you see on this card

There's always K.P. wherever the Army goes, as Camp Haan rookies soon learn.

January 17, 1944

Camp Haan, California

Dear Pop,

I hope we do get the raise from the railroad. I’m glad it won’t cost so much to come home when I get to L.A. I’m glad you all liked the dates. I have to do what you see on this card about every two months.

Love, Tom

the Sergeant has as much trouble getting me up as mom used to

January 17, 1944

Camp Haan, California

Hello Squirt!

I am kinda taking turns about writing you all. I write to one of you and that letter will be for everyone. We’ve been pretty busy the last few days getting our train ready. It’ll be ready to roll tomorrow but I think we’ll leave about the last of this week.

I got a letter from mom yesterday. I’m glad to hear the pass they got won’t bother the pass request for 1944. I’m awfully sorry they didn’t get to come out because I’m sure they would have liked to see California. I kinda hate to leave this wonderful weather myself. The last few days have been warm enough to go swimming and wearing the winter uniform is pretty uncomfortable. The nights are cold though, and it’s pretty cold getting up in the morning. The Sergeant has about as much trouble getting me up as mom used to.

We’ll probably only be on maneuvers about 5 or 6 weeks. It’s gonna be pretty tough in those swamps but I’d rather be there than in Oregon.

Love to all, Tom

We are going into the Third Army

January 9, 1944

Camp Haan, California

Dear Mom

They told us yesterday that we would be leaving Camp Haan about a week from today. We are going to Lousiana for maneuvers which will take about one or two months. I kinda hate to leave here but it will be a lot closer to home. It looks like everytime I try to see you all something happens.

We are getting out of the A.A.A.T.C. (anti aircraft training center) which has been making a lot of stiff rules for us, and I am glad of that. We still do the same thing, of course but we are going into the Third Army. It may mean that I’ll get my furlough earlier because their ruling is probably different.

Maneuvers will probably be pretty tough but I’ll be glad to get them over with. We are the first outfit to be taken to Louisiana from Camp Haan for maneuvers, most of them go to Oregon. Anyhow I’m glad to see us moving east and we’ll probably move further east after because the order says we won’t come back to Camp Haan.

I guess I’ll close now, I want to go to church. I am in Los Angeles and I want to visit one of the large churches. The pastor of the Methodist Church at home sent me a copy of the Upper Room and a very nice letter.

Love to all, Tom

I never expected you to be dancing with Lucille Boone

January 7, 1944

Camp Haan, California

Hi Bub!

Guess it’s about time I was writing you. I have had two letters from you and haven’t answered either one of them. I’ve got some match covers but I’m at the Service Club so I’ll send them the next time I write. You must be doing ok with the girls, I never expected you to be dancing with Lucille Boone.

We have a lot of those Douglas A20’s over at March Field only we call it the Havoc. They teach us all the planes by the name instead of the number. I know most all the American planes and most of the important German, Jap, and British planes.

I enclosed a picture of me with a Thompson sub-machine gun. It’s taken in front of one of the huts like I sleep in. I got my experts medal the other day and also my marksmans medal for the rifle.

I sure will be glad when I get to see you again, I’ll bet you’ve grown a lot and I’d like to see you dancing too.

Guess I’ll close for now.

So long, Tom