November 17

We are supposed to have a combat jump in March in France.  Our Lt. told us & it�s supposed to be straight dope.  They have those things planned an incredible time ahead.  We are supposed to go to Hawaii or England in Dec. or Jan. and then to France.  Don�t tell anyone cause it�s supposed to be a secret. Ha-Ha.

November 23
 

Well, I�m in quite a dither tonite.  Just got all my equipment ready to go on two weeks maneuvers& don�t know whether I�m going to Tennessee or not.  Major Barker picked 5 riggers and is sending us to the 11^th division & they are going on two weeks maneuvers & we are supposed to report to him in the morning with all our equipment.  We may just stay in camp here & pack chutes where it�s called the �rear echelon�.    Don�t know what we are going to do so don�t expect any letters til you get them.  I�ll write first chance I get. . . . .

November 24-

Surprised?  I�m not too much.  I�m back here at my barracks & just got off work.  We 5 boys are sleeping in a packing shed & boy is it cold.  We have coal stoves to heat it.  We are 4 miles out & there�s no place to clean up, no px, no show, no nothing.  So I�m just going to hibernate for the time I�m out.  It�s the same as living in the field except we are living in a packing shed & working awful hard.   What do you think of Gen. Patton hitting that boy in the hospital?  It�s been over the radio a lot.  Most of us boys think he should be relieved of his command.  This boy was shell-shocked & gen. Patton went to see him & thought he was yellow, told him to leave the hospital & the boy wouldn�t do it so he ups and slaps the boy.  I know the main thing is to win the way but we can never win the war without military discipline and if the Gen. can�t follow his own rules on discipline then how can we.  He�s noted for a short temper.  Something like that, even tho small, really affects morale and how soldiers would fight under him.   By the way, you won�t have to keep your fingers crossed cause I won�t be jumpin for a while.  I wish you could see what I saw today.  700 chutes in the trees.  Trees about house high & higher & every man lit in them.  This is an infantry outfit & they jump more men.  Two infantry boys were killed yesterday from those trees, both had broken backs.  The infantry is known to have more casualties cause they jump more men.  Well here�s hoping they aren�t transferring me for good & also that you have a wonderful & happy Thanksgiving, Mom & Dad.  Thanks for everything & thank God for what we do have. . .

November 30, 1943

Everyone seems to be coming down with the flu.  Several went to the hospital and several more are just getting.  We got more dope on our ratings today.  They are frozen again, so the Lt. tells us. . .  Looks like I�ll stay a good old Pvt. I guess for a while yet.  That�s the 3^rd time I�ve been promised right to my fact but you never can tell when you are in the Army just what is going to happen.  I took a definite step about going overseas today.  Made out my dependents and all that stuff, although we didn�t make out our wills yet.  Did you make one out when you went across, Dad?  We haven�t heard anymore about going on the Alert yet, but they did stop the rest of the furloughs. I sure do hate it that all the men didn�t get to go home.  There�s only 18 left, and they�ll surely let them go. 

Say, you guys never have told me what you want for Xmas yet?   Got the cutest card from Watkins today. 

We 5 riggers may go on maneuvers with this 11 division sometime the last of this week.  I�ll freeze. 

Major Knudson pic

�That is Major Knudson walking by.�

December 8

Went out to where the boys jumped last nite.  Boy what a mess.  28 were hurt bad & there�s been 2 deaths & about 50 with broken bones.  It isn�t coming off so good.  It�s the 11^th div, maneuvers & everything seems to be going wrong.

Got a card from the Church of Burrton today.
 

December 9

Yes, I�m still out in the sticks & expect to be quite a while yet.  Say, you may be able to see a news reel on these maneuvers that are going on cause they are taking pictures for that.  Talk about tempting fate on the flu, I�ve already had it for 3 days last week.  Was awful sick for 1 day & took 2 more to get over it.  You were also saying it took so long to get over it � that�s in civilian life.  Ha-Ha.  I�m glad, Mom & Dad, that you are looking at this overseas business as you are, & as the way it should be.  You don�t know & realize how proud I am to have parents such as you two.  I�m fighting for just that, first, such as being able to have such parents which all adds up to living in a country & land of freedom.  I also believe God will look over me & I never think of anything but what I plan to do when I come back.  I never even want to think of the other.  I wasn�t kidding about making out wills, tho.  There�s a sample of one in the soldiers� handbook.  Think you could send some Xmas gifts about the 18^th or so.  I believe we�ll be here than all rite.  No one knows for sure. 

December 10

Well, I bet the old wind is whistling around there.  Boy, we sweat all day & freeze all nite.  I forgot to tell you I�ve had my fill of persimmons the last few days that we�ve been out gathering up chutes.  Just trees & trees of them, good & ripe, about the size of plums & boy they sure are good.  One of the chutes we found was tangled up in a high line & burnt to a crisp;  But as you know we had a blackout that nite they jumped & the power was cut off.  Really burnt up all the material & turned the metal fitting a blue.  The boy sure was lucky that the power was turned off.  90% of the boys lit in trees.  We completely lost about 200 & tore up about 350 chutes.  Sure hope we don�t have to work this weekend.  I�m getting awful tire & worn out. 

December 20

Dear Mom & Dad �

Well, I�ve been slipping again on my writing, but it�s the Xmas rush.  I opened M.J. & Francis present � a nice little leather bag.  I got a package from you today & opened just one little corned to get a peek & it�s sure got me stumped.  I think I should open it cause some of the things I should use while I can.  I�ll probably send a big box of stuff home before I leave.  I made out my will today.  There sure isn�t much to it.  Also starting in on another series of shots.  I�ll probably have to get that tooth pulled & get 3 or 4 more shots before Xmas.  I got aquainted with an awfully nice family in Rockingham & they want me to eat Xmas dinner with them.  I don�t know how I�m doing it but I�m putting on weight.  I weight 145 now.  Forgot to sign back in last nite when I came off pass & for punishment 23 of us had to run from 7 til 9 this evening with a 10 minute walking period.  I�m pretty tired now but I can still take all they can give.  I�m pretty good shape I believe.  What weight that�s on me is there to stay.  

December 21

Went thru the infiltration course today & made it all rite.  We have to crawl  under machine gun fire.  They use tracer bullets and fire 3 feet over your head.  Boy that�s close enough for me.

December 22

I just heard they were freezing all gasoline during the holidays.  What will you do?  I sure hope you get to go down to Gramps & Grams.  Went out on the range & made my usual score yesterday.  Still sharp shooter.  Am supposed to go thru the infiltration course again today.  You crawl thru barbwire & all the time they shoot 50 cal. Machine guns over your head with those tracer bullets.  It�s supposed to be a sample of being under fire.  . . .

Goodbye til next time.

December 29

Well I sure hope you had a happy Xmas & New Year.  I worked til 3 this morning.   Was sure good to talk to you.  We are doing a little jumping & we work pretty hard during these times.  I�m jumping tomorrow but I bet the weather will be bad.  I hope I make it ok.  It�s No. 9 for me.  Hope you got all my packages.  Sure do thank you for everything.  Wish me luck on my jump. . .