Laurel McHargue -- Author/Podcaster/Public Speaker

[a brief note from a tired boy who appreciates getting a dollar in the mail!]

May 6, 1943, Sunday

Dear Mom, Dad, Sis & Jake

Sunday is here along with a very hot day. Here is my schedule for the day’s doings.

8:15-Arise, 8:30-9:30-Church

9:30-12:00-pitching horshoes (sic)

12:00-1:00-lunch, 1-3:30-nap

3:30-5:00-horse-shoes, 5:00-6:00-supper

6:00-7:00-now writing this letter,

7:00-? going to the show.

This program is my typical one for Sundays.

Today I received your letter with the dollar and the license, which I am enclosing. I got quite a burn today while playing horse-shoes. It doesn’t seem to be too warm here but it really is.

Bob Mac was quite lucky to get to Monmouth. Some guys get all the breaks, but good luck to him. I also got a card from Tim from Devens. I could scarecely read it. If you get his address, send it on. … The candy you sent me was swell. I’ll try to write tomorrow.  Good Bye, Moe.

[…a typical Sunday in garrison]

May 2, 1943

Dear Folks,

Here it is Sunday again and a very beautiful day. We’ve had quite a warm spell here for the past week and it’s getting warmer every day.

I haven’t heard when we’re going, but according to rumors, we may be here for at least another week. Now that I know I’m going, I can hardly wait.

We finally had our dance Friday nite and although it was nice, it wasn’t quite as nice as I had expected it to be. At any rate it was nice to get out of camp. It was held in a club similar to the Columbus Club. The girls were nice but kind of old for us young squirts. [I would love to know how “old” the nice girls were! Are we talking “Cougars” here?]  It seems that the young girls are either away at school or are employed in defense work. We got back to camp about 12:30. At 5:30 I was rudely awakened and told to report to the mess hall. Immediately I knew that I had the honor of being a K.P. for the day. The day went by fairly fast but not without a lot of hard work. Nobody can say that they’ve washed dishes until they’ve washed them at an army camp. There just doesn’t seem to be any end to them. As soon as you get the breakfast dishes done, the dinner dishes start pouring in. [K.P. is “Kitchen Patrol,” a fancy name for busser/dish washer!]

Wednesday is pay day and I’m anxiously looking forward to it. I’m going to buy myself a new summer suit to use on Sundays and when I go home (?).

With all this warm sun down here, I’m gradually acquiring a nice tan on my face, neck and hands. As we’re not allowed to take our shirts off during the week, Sunday is the only chance I get to sun the upper half of my body. As far as I know I haven’t gained much weight, but I am getting a little harder, which is more important. We have an obstacle course here which is a lulu. It’s a natural, a deep, twisting gulley with sharp turns and mud puddles and all that sort of stuff. We go over it the first thing in the day and you really work up a nice sweat. [How many things have YOU done today that you would consider to be “a lulu”?]

Dad asked me about the ring. I received it and all the contents of the box in good order. The ring was all shined up and looks swell.

This weather makes you sleepy but I don’t know why. I’m so sleepy tonite I laid on my bunk at 3:00 this p.m. and awoke at 7:00. As I’m running out of words, I think I’ll bid you all good nite with Loads of love to you all, Murray. [It sure would be swell if I could fall asleep so quickly! Perhaps I need to have more “lulus” in my day!]

p.s. Mom I received the card and sent it out Friday. It was swell of you to do it.

April 28, 1943

Dear Folks,

To begin with I have some good news for you. About eight of us were called into the Company Commander’s office Monday, and told we were to be sent to school. Myself, Amig and a sergeant, by name of Escala, are to be sent to a repeater school; that is, to specialize on repeaters. Others will specialize on telytypewriters & central office work. We were told to be ready in a minute’s notice. This may mean tomorrow or next week. The telytypewriter and central office men will be sent to Monmouth, New Jersey. He doesn’t know for sure where we repeater men will go. There’s a half & half chance we will go together to Monmouth. Sergeant Ascala seems to think that we three may be sent to Chicago to a civilian school. There we would be taught by AT&T men and on familiar equipment. Also, if sent there we may be given ratings before we go to help pay for our board. Either place will suit me, although I’d rather go to Monmouth.

Well, Monday we had a nice little hike of about eight miles in the hot, scorching sun. The temp seemed to be about ninety. We marched with full pack and I was wet thru with sweat. Tuesday nite we went on another one and, although not so hot, it was warm enough to get up a good sweat. This hike lasted from 6:30-11:00. Enough for now. Till tomorrow, Love, Murray.

April 24, 1943

Dear Folks,

Here’s the picture you’ve been wanting. How do I look? The only thing wrong is the rumpled up coat. The photographer rushes you right thru in about thirty seconds. I’ll try to get my picture taken in my summer suit.

I got the miniature and it is very nice. The fellows were amazed to see how short Mom and Dad were. Some asked if the fellow in the middle was my brother. The box from Pierce’s arrived Friday and was greatly appreciated. The figs and dates come in handy when I’m hungry…

Thursday nite I had guard duty, from six at nite till six in the morning. You are on duty for two hours and off four. My shifts were 10-12 a.m., and 4-6. I was guarding the motor pool and if there was ever a lonelier post I wouldn’t like to see it. I was so sleepy that I had all I could do to keep awake. When off duty you have to keep your uniform on, in case anything happens, and you have to stay at the guard house all the time. I had my uniform on 36 hours straight and boy! Was I glad to get my shoes off. By the way, I got my moccasins. Amig and myself got a pass last week and went to a town about nine miles from camp. We spent all our money in the army & navy store; so we’re staying in camp until pay day, May 5.

I may not send any money home next month because in this climate we should have at least four summer suits; and as the army only issues two, I’ll have to buy a couple.

Tell Sis and Paul the pictures came out swell and I’ll keep them. Too bad Bus missed out but somebody has to take care of the women. Till late, Love, Murray.

p.s. I’ll mail home a couple more pictures next letter.

April 18^th, Palm Sunday:

Here it is Sunday again, and Palm Sunday at that. I just got back from Mass and communion. Time seems to go by so fast in the army. When I left home it was Washington’s Birthday, now it’s Easter. Our dance was postponed again until the thirtieth so I’m still hanging around camp.

Thursday we got paid. This pay covered the period from when we entered the army until March 31. I was paid $48.50. This does not include the $6.75 for my insurance, nor the $3.75 for war bonds. In other words I made about $59.00. Since we will be paid again in about two weeks for April, I am sending home $40.00 with which you can do what you want. [I’m guessing my Grandma and Grandpa put it in the bank for Dad]

The last time I wrote you I also wrote Fr. Hagan, and Eddie Harrington. I intend to write Mary and at today if I have time. Civilians don’t realize how little free time a soldier actually has. At nite after we eat and go to mail call it’s usually seven o’clock, and since lites are put out at nine, we only have two hours to write, study, or play ball.

Yesterday I got a magazine from the Company, and Friday a letter from Gus, thanking me for the advice I’d given him. I suppose he will be gone by the time you get my letter. I’d sure love to be home now to see Paul and Walt. I hope they get lengthy furloughs. No word about the test yet; but as they say, “no word is good word.” We started elementary electricity Thursday, along with map reading. Dad, I learned a way to find your direction with a watch. First it has to be a sunny day. Put a match or a pencil at the center of your watch. Then line up the hour hand with the shadow on the match. Half way between the hour hand and 12 will be South. Try it out some time and see if it works. Of course you have to allow for Daylight Saving Time. There’s only an hours difference here in Texas from Eastern time. We’re in the Central time zone. [Probably doesn’t work with a digital watch!]

The fudge Jackie sent me was in fine condition and was certainly swell. Any time you have any extra sugar and stuff, you know what to do with it.

I guess I’ll end now. Haven’t got the picture yet but I imagine I’ll get it today or tomorrow. Let me know if you get the money all right. My pictures ought to be ready Wednesday. By-by and love, Murray.  P.S. I’ll remember you all in Church next Sunday.

April 14, 1943, Wednesday

Dear Folks,

Yesterday I received the carton of matches and they certainly came at the right time. The P.X. is all out of them and I had to keep asking someone for a light. Today I got four letters, an old one from Mom, a new one from the same, one from Fr. Hagan, and the last from Eddie Harrington, my chum at the Co.

Well I went to confession last Saturday and went up to our church Sunday morning to the 8:30 mass. I got there kind of early and was asked if I’d ever served before. I told the fellow I hadn’t for four years but that I’d give it a try. Everything went fine and I was the only one that received Holy Communion. [He was probably the only “good boy” in the whole gang!]

Monday we went out for a hike with full pack and as Carmie has probably told you we had quite an experience. Yesterday I wrote to John Buckley as he wrote me two letters already.

We’re supposed to finish our infantry basic this week and start our specialized basic next week. We haven’t got our marks yet but I saw a list of the colleges that some of us will go to. One of them was M.I.T. That would be pretty nice if I could go there.

I sure would like to be home to see Paul, for I bet he’s quite handsome in his navy uniform. Tell him to drop me a line while he’s home. I’d like to hear from him. Talking about the radio, one of the fellows in the barracks has one so we hear the news and music of the day. At home I used to get tired hearing “George and Dixie” sing cowboy songs. Now when we get tired of hearing one cowboy song, we just turn the dial and get our choice of a half a dozen more. This sure is a swell state for western music lovers. [sarcasm at its best!]

I’m glad Bob Mac got his letter. I was afraid it wouldn’t get to him in time; but I see he got a ten day furlough. More luck to him! I’m waiting anxiously for the miniature, but I didn’t receive the book that you said Sade sent. Hope Dad gets his Sundays off. He needs the rest and it will give the family a chance to see more of him. Good old Dad, I’d sure like to see him myself. I don’t want you to freeze your face Mom, for I still consider and always will consider you to be a very beautiful woman. No one can beat you.

As long as the Blacks keep having babies [say WHAT?], I guess you’ll always have a job on your hands. Give my love to Mrs. Black [OH! Okay] and tell her I may meet up with some of her sons some day. I haven’t seen Chick Mac Sweeney yet but I will sooner or later. Haven’t been paid yet but expect to soon. I’m glad I brought as much money with me as I did for I’m just about broke now.

I guess that’s about all for now except that I love and miss you all.  Murray. P.F.D.

p.s. P.F.D. means Private for Duration   [such a card, that Dad o’ mine!]

April 10, 1943, Saturday

Dear Mom, Dad, Kay & Jackie,

Here it is the end of another week. The weather is still warm down here, and we expect it to get hot any day now. I haven’t heard the results on the test yet, but when I do I’ll sure let you know. I was over to the main post this afternoon and was going to call up but the operator said it would take from three to six hours to put it through, so I didn’t bother. I did make it a point, though, to go to confession and I’m going to communion tomorrow. [The next best thing to calling home: going to confession! Could any of us now imagine waiting 3-6 hours to “put a call through”?]

We’re thru work at 5 every nite, then we have to dress up for retreat at 5:35. Supper is at 5:45, mail call at 6:30, then we have the rest of the evening to ourselves. On Saturdays we have dress and barracks inspection about 10 o’clock. If everything is satisfactory we get the afternoon off. Those who have passes can leave camp and be back Sunday nite. Those who stay in camp can sleep all day if they want to. I haven’t left camp yet on a pass but I may next weekend. We’re supposed to have a dance next Friday nite at a town named Taylor. Girls and refreshments will be served. It’s just for our outfit. (By the way the Opn. in my address stands for Operations).

One of the fellows just got a cake and it was pretty good. I got your letter with the prayer in it at noon time and a letter from Aunt Mart tonite. It was very nice and contained a lot of advice, but the best thing it contained was a dollar. [A DOLLAR!]

Have you sent the book matches yet? I’ve been getting the Post for the past week and it’s mighty good to get the local gossip and dirt. I heard a funny story today. One of the fellows in the company who comes from California was in town last week and met a local girl. They got talking and he happened to mention that this was the first time he was ever out of the United States and yet so near to it. [He must have been a blonde!] When she heard that she got up and walked away from him. That’s about all for now-lites out, so till I write again,

Love to all, Murray.