Dearest Son,
We have gotten 2 boxes off for your
Xmas. We aren’t sending anything of special value. I am now working on 2
boxes, one for Lt. Pappas and the other for Bill Meister in Italy. They
both will be like the box I first sent you, just soap & shaving cream,
shoe polish – writing paper etc. I have asked Mr. Jaxon to take a picture
of Mr. Pappas to put in Pap’s box. I’ll also add a Time magazine and an
issue of Reader’s Digest to Pap’s. Please tell him I wish I knew
something he wanted but his mother could not tell me a thing so I just had
to get these few little things to get anywhere near a nice box. I promise
you it will be nothing to be ashamed of but money could not repay our
appreciation of the little things he has done for you. This box may save
him a few steps over to the P.X. and a few pennies out of his pocket
book.
Fred Blackmon’s wife presented him with
twin boys Sunday. Don’t you know he is about to burst with pride? It
didn’t happen here so I can’t go into details. Speaking of children have I
told you of the future group of Mother and Fathers? Paul Salter – Sara
and Mary Flewellen, Lenora Salter and Boots –“Sli” Reeves has just given
birth to a young son and Lilly Mitchell is expecting any moment. Billy
comes home for the big event tomorrow. Betty Britt Moore and Frances
Johnson will add their bit to the population in October. Sister will do
her bit around Xmas. She is undecided about where the event will take
place but I feel sure she will stay with Ben in New Orleans. She has a
splendid doctor there also. We had hopes of their moving here but times
are changing so rapidly that you do not know what you will be doing next
month even.
The Luke girl (that James McKenzie went
with) lost her husband in France the other day. He was with Patton’s
Third Army. R.L. Cody phoned his mother and father from Charleston, S.C.
Sunday. Said he was in good spirits and health. He was on his way to some
northern camp for the blind. He has promise or rather hope for one eye.
Hugh White is at A.P.O. 558. that must be near you. He is nearly through
with his missions. George Ferrell was at 558 also but didn’t know Hugh.
Daddy tells me he has written you about George Ferrell being here but
maybe I will put in some things he didn’t so here goes. He looks grand.
Not nervous like the boys from the South Pacific – doesn’t mind talking
about his missions, etc. at all. And he has made them and gone right on to
fill a date with a girl afterward. Of course all weren’t that easy. In
fact his last two were made on D-day. He said he was sure his base was
the best one in England – good food, etc. I told him you would fight him
about that as you thought the same thing. He said that each group made it
easier for the next, which is natural. We believe you are in the
Pathfinder group but aren’t quite sure. Is Klenzon still with your crew _
sorry you lost Spiess. I don’t think I wrote his people but anyway I
haven’t had an answer as yet from any of the boy’s people I wrote. I
wired Zimmer’s mother when we didn’t hear from you (while you were in
Maine) She wired back and said she would like my address so she could
write. I wrote what I thought was a nice letter but so far I haven’t had
an answer - that’s been almost 2 months - so I suppose she doesn’t intend
on writing. Going back to George Ferrell - he doesn’t know what they will
do with him he has 3 weeks here. I’ll keep you posted as to the route he
takes you may be interested. Barbara Sue is hearing right along from her
husband. He is a P.W. (prisoner of war) you know. Also they hear from
Buckie Davis in Slovakia - right between Hungary and Romania - hope both
boys can be liberated soon.
Aunt Esther called me last night and
said that she had received a letter suppose to be from you but she was
sure you had gotten Churchill to write it as no young boy your age could
have written such a letter, but she thought you were mighty smart to get
Mr. Churchill as busy as he was to write the letter for you. In other
words she appreciated the letter very much and thought it was
exceptionally good. Sister Clyde received her's yesterday also and we
received four - 2 written 17th, 2 written 19th one
of these was to Mother.
I am so proud of you earning your Air
Medal and I shall cherish it very much. Stay in there punching and come
out well and healthy. You have a big job to do and we realize it more
than you think we do but like you we all put on a good front. You are
catching H__l we know but all we can do is to pray and trust. It’s hard
on us too.
Now as to your education after the war,
I’m in favor of it if you have any special thing in mind. I suggest
journalism, you write exceptionally well. Talk to the newspapermen every
chance you get as to what the future will be for them and what they think
about it. You know you can always have a job here. It’s a case of
traveling around interesting people etc. in journalism but no home life -
or here with us - home, friends, small salary - same people all the
time. Which type life are you best suited for? Of course you could use
your writing ability another way that is to write books etc. I just think
you are talented along that line but how much talent you have I don’t
know. Do you feel you have another talent? It may become bigger than
writing talent and you could use it for a living and your writing talent
can be for pleasure. Analyze yourself. No one knows us as completely as we
know ourselves and see if you are especially interested in anything else.
Be sure to tell me if you have received
a letter from Skeet and one from Bill Evans. They both ask me quite often
if you have mentioned them.
Be sweet and remember I’m praying for
you each night. Your name is up for the whole church to pray for this
week.
Loving,
Mother
Tues. – Sept. 26, 1944
