November 8, 1942 (Roscoe)

: November 8, 1942 Envelope

: November 8, 1942, p. 1

: November 8, 1942, p. 2

: November 8, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Oct Nov. 8, 1942

Dear Mother,

Sun P.M. and things are as well as could be expected. Got your Oct. 17 letter today and another V-mail letter Oct 14 from Ed. Johnson. He told me of the anticipated increase in their family. You said something about Lucille but you didn’t say which one. It was a little surprising to me. Ed said I was a good one to run out on them when they really needed me, but I believe it looks to me as if they waited until I got out before starting things – Guess it wasn’t that way but I’m to write him that anyway.

We had chicken again for dinner – real honest to goodness chicken – one half chick per person. Seconds if we wanted them. I could have taken seconds but didn’t, because one was enough and maybe that would cut things short for some enlisted man. So why make a pig of myself. Of course, we have no rationing on anything – but fresh fruits and vegetables are never seen, only once in a while we have a raw apple to chew on.

This being Sun. we’ll have church tonite at 7:00 P.M. The Chaplin still has to be at another place or two earlier in the day.

[page 2] we generally have a pretty big crowd and things go along in good style. This is also the day for me to write the folks. I got a letter or two from them this week so it makes writing a little different.

Tell the boys we have coke now so they don’t need to send me any at present. It’s a little expensive though 10¢ per bottle. We can’t take the bottles back – I mean back to the States – so that makes the extra cost. It isn’t so good either when it’s tropically warmed with no ice around – Maybe the boys could send a chunk of ice. You probably have that around pretty handy or will have when the old cold north winds start blowing.

Wayne W. gave me a pretty good bird’s eye view of conditions in general back home. Our news around here and abroad seems pretty good, but our tent-mate that had the radio has gone so that cuts out the biggest part of the evening’s entertainment. We are seeing quite a bit of coming and going in the past few days and expect to see more as time goes along. Of our group that originally came fourteen have changed locations. So you see (we/they) do some moving around as was the

[page 3] custom at Norfolk.

So far I haven’t received any pictures that you keeping saying you took – And Lentz keeps asking me if you have sent his. He said he had one of a boat sinking with several at different intervals. I told him you wouldn’t send them until you go the $1.35 but I guess that need not hold you back. Hold on to your money and maybe I can send you enough for the coat. Probably right now coats would be high and quality poor or no? Anyway it’s yours so do as you wish. I don’t care what you buy as long as you use good judgment and don’t open too large a charge account.

I’ll finish later. Wrote a letter to the Folks and one to Ed. Johnson. I still have several letters to answer but couldn’t get to them yesterday had too much to do otherwise. I’m finishing this on Mon. A.M. Everything up and kicking, was a fine night to sleep – will write tonight.

Lots of Love
Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/14/november-8-1942-roscoe/

5 thoughts on “November 8, 1942 (Roscoe)”

Catherine June 23, 2013 at 8:16 am

Apologies… I’ll try that link again.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Should+we+go+to+war%3F+Few+Americans+wanted+to+enter+World+War+II.+But…-a0145471056

Reply ↓

davidmadison1942 June 22, 2013 at 7:38 am

“Ed said I was a good one to run out on them when they really needed me, but I believe it looks to me as if they waited until I got out before starting things ” More of my dad’s dry sense of humor! 🙂

“I don’t care what you buy as long as you use good judgment and don’t open too large a charge account.” Still good advice….especially in this era of rampant credit card debt.

Re: Catherine’s remark: “reminds me of mum saying what a good thing it was that Japan bombed “Pearl Harbour” and brought the Americans into this very l-o-n-g war” That’s actually a very valid point, and has been made by many Americans as well. America’s isolationism at the time made it hard for Roosevelt to take the nation into the allied cause–and Pearl Harbor ended all that.

Reply ↓

Catherine June 23, 2013 at 8:13 am

Interesting David… According to my mum there was a lot of anger, here in Australia, with claims that the USA did not support the UK/ allies and instead were “making money” out of the war. Having done a bit of research recently I can see why this allegation was made… rightly or wrongly and I don’t care about any of that.

My burning question always has been WHY did Japan bomb Pearl Harbor and drag the reluctant USA into the war? Reckon I may have finally discovered the answer… 🙂

“Japan had no oil of its own and purchased 70 percent of its supplies from the U.S. But on July 26, President Roosevelt made it illegal for any U.S. company to sell oil to Japan.”
SOURCE: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Should+we+go+to+war%3F+Few+Americans+wanted+to+enter+World+War+II.+But…-a0145471056

Six months later Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and, as they say, “the rest is history”… Phew!!! Glad I finally got that sorted out in my own little head 😀 …cheers

Reply ↓

Catherine June 14, 2013 at 8:42 am

As an Australian its always fascinating to read these personal accounts of your Roscoe who was stationed here in the Pacific at this particular time Deborah.
As you would know, Australia began fighting for “the Mother Country” as soon as war was declared by England 3Sep1939,,, and some 3 years later, whilst the war in Europe was continuing and when Japan began their activities in the Pacific (threatening Australia with their Submarines in Sydney Harbour, the bombing of Darwin, invasion of New Guinea etc), Churchill refused to release our seasoned troops to return and defend our own country… but that’s another story.
My eldest brother was just 6 months old on this very day that Roscoe was writing to Gladys from our “neck of the woods” and reminds me of mum saying what a good thing it was that Japan bombed “Pearl Harbour” and brought the Americans into this very l-o-n-g war… or we’d all now be speaking “Japanese”. I’m sure that you folks in the USof A didn’t agree but reckon that my dear old mum certainly did have “a way with words”, so to speak… 🙂

Reply ↓

Genealogy Lady Post authorJune 14, 2013 at 7:08 pm

I know a lot about World War II and I know nothing about it, too. I love getting the Australian perspective on the war. Thank you Catherine.

Reply ↓

Catherine June 23, 2013 at 8:16 am

Apologies… I’ll try that link again.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Should+we+go+to+war%3F+Few+Americans+wanted+to+enter+World+War+II.+But…-a0145471056

Reply ↓
davidmadison1942 June 22, 2013 at 7:38 am

“Ed said I was a good one to run out on them when they really needed me, but I believe it looks to me as if they waited until I got out before starting things ” More of my dad’s dry sense of humor! 🙂

“I don’t care what you buy as long as you use good judgment and don’t open too large a charge account.” Still good advice….especially in this era of rampant credit card debt.

Re: Catherine’s remark: “reminds me of mum saying what a good thing it was that Japan bombed “Pearl Harbour” and brought the Americans into this very l-o-n-g war” That’s actually a very valid point, and has been made by many Americans as well. America’s isolationism at the time made it hard for Roosevelt to take the nation into the allied cause–and Pearl Harbor ended all that.

Reply ↓
1. Catherine June 23, 2013 at 8:13 am
  
  Interesting David… According to my mum there was a lot of anger, here in Australia, with claims that the USA did not support the UK/ allies and instead were “making money” out of the war. Having done a bit of research recently I can see why this allegation was made… rightly or wrongly and I don’t care about any of that.
  
  My burning question always has been WHY did Japan bomb Pearl Harbor and drag the reluctant USA into the war? Reckon I may have finally discovered the answer… 🙂
  
  “Japan had no oil of its own and purchased 70 percent of its supplies from the U.S. But on July 26, President Roosevelt made it illegal for any U.S. company to sell oil to Japan.”
  SOURCE: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Should+we+go+to+war%3F+Few+Americans+wanted+to+enter+World+War+II.+But…-a0145471056
  
  Six months later Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and, as they say, “the rest is history”… Phew!!! Glad I finally got that sorted out in my own little head 😀 …cheers
  
  Reply ↓
Catherine June 14, 2013 at 8:42 am

As an Australian its always fascinating to read these personal accounts of your Roscoe who was stationed here in the Pacific at this particular time Deborah.
As you would know, Australia began fighting for “the Mother Country” as soon as war was declared by England 3Sep1939,,, and some 3 years later, whilst the war in Europe was continuing and when Japan began their activities in the Pacific (threatening Australia with their Submarines in Sydney Harbour, the bombing of Darwin, invasion of New Guinea etc), Churchill refused to release our seasoned troops to return and defend our own country… but that’s another story.
My eldest brother was just 6 months old on this very day that Roscoe was writing to Gladys from our “neck of the woods” and reminds me of mum saying what a good thing it was that Japan bombed “Pearl Harbour” and brought the Americans into this very l-o-n-g war… or we’d all now be speaking “Japanese”. I’m sure that you folks in the USof A didn’t agree but reckon that my dear old mum certainly did have “a way with words”, so to speak… 🙂

Reply ↓
1. Genealogy Lady Post authorJune 14, 2013 at 7:08 pm
  
  I know a lot about World War II and I know nothing about it, too. I love getting the Australian perspective on the war. Thank you Catherine.
  
  Reply ↓