LETTER #52 - 1 DEC 1944

Love the little corporal stripes drawing!

My Little Notes:  Sounds like he is just steps away from being a corporal.  It has been about a year now in his training and schooling.  He sounds ready for Christmas and looking forward to his furlough in January. 

He mentions Billy Becker which I assume is a neighbor or family friend.  I don't have any information on him. Also, he mentions that his mom is trying to fix him up with Lorraine.  I have a picture of Lorraine and I believe they did go out briefly, but sounded more like friends.  Perhaps we will hear more about her later. He is smart I think not to get involved with a girlfriend at this time being in the Army Air Corps!  He writes on both sides of the paper and the paper is thin, so I hope you can read the letter.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress history:  Link to the history of the B-17 Flying Fortress

B-17 plane

Army Corporal Stipes

Picture taken about 1945.  Left to right:  My Dad (boy), friend of Lorraine's, Lorraine, and my grandmother.  Note the picture on the back says "ex" for Lorraine! 

LETTER #51 - 26 NOV 1944

Tom-tom drum toy 40s-50s style

My Little Notes:  This is a letter addressed to my Dad.  Not much to add.  The brochure was with the letter and explains the tour that Uncle Louie and Al took.  Not bad....a 3-hour tour for $1!  At least it does not end up like on Gilligan's Island and their 3-hour tour!  

I always knew my Dad liked Native American artifacts and their culture.  I did not realize it was even when he was a boy.  The picture below is part of his collection of arrowheads that he had found years ago.  He framed and made this and I have it proudly displayed in my living room.  Many of these arrowheads came from all over like Texas, California, Missouri.  He also found quite a few in Illinois and near where we lived. He learned from a friend how to find them.  He said you had to have the feel or sense to find them.  Also, a few years ago we had some looked at by a local archaeologist group.  Surprised to find out they were over 5,000 years old and some even older!   I thought maybe from the 1800s.  That was quite the shock! 

A collection of my Dad's arrowheads that he found.  Also, the frame is handmade by my Dad.