LETTER #14 - 6 JAN 1944

OOPS!  This letter is out of order and should be between Letters #7 & #8!  This is a short letter after he had taken his tests and still waiting for the results which we found out in Letter #12 (Jan. 26); but after he received his package from his parents.

He seems pretty frustrated in this letter between his training and his parents' package!  Plus, I am sure he is exhausted and not a lot of free time at the moment.  Seems like those "Army dress shoes" are pretty important to have ASAP!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LETTER #13 - 27 JAN 1944

My little notes:  After his last discouraging letter, it is nice to hear him sound more positive and have more confidence again.  He writes words like "wonderful letter", "beautiful" and "never felt better".    I feel this has a lot to do with the letter he received from his Dad.  He needed that reassurance from his Dad that only a parent can do.  I only wish I could have read that "wonderful letter" or any letters from the family.  However, I am fortunate to have these letters from my Uncle and learn firsthand his experience during training.  Again, I look forward to the next!

Must see videos!  
WWII camouflage techniques training film - cartoon

If you have a little time to spare I recommend watching these entertaining 1944 cartoon camouflage training videos.  There are three parts.  The first and second parts are 9 minutes each and the last part is only 3 minutes.  If anything, at least watch the first one!   They are from the Army Air Forces (recognize the insignia?) and from 1944, so I am thinking there is a pretty good chance my Uncle may have seen these!  They are very basic and probably more of an introduction to camouflage training.  Remember, "Hide the Shadow"!  Enjoy....


WWII camouflage techniques - part 1 (9 minutes)

WWII camouflage techniques - part 2 (9 minutes)

WWII camouflage technique - part 3 (3 minutes)

LETTER #12 - 26 JAN 1944

Further information on: 

BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AND CLASSIFICATION OF PERSONNEL

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VI/AAF-VI-16.html

Excerpts from the above link:

"In this as in other phases of the training program, the peak load was reached and passed in 1943. Thereafter, some centers were inactivated, and others were moved to posts where technical schools had been located. Four basic training centers survived until 4 September 1945--Buckley Field, Amarillo Army Air Field, Sheppard Field, and Keesler Field, with most of the trainees located at the two latter stations."

"Although higher headquarters had long been aware of the deficiencies in basic training, it was not until June 1943 that Headquarters, AAF undertook to establish minimum requirements for training of personnel before their assignment overseas. Starting in July 1943 an attempt was also made to set up a standardized program for the eight-week basic training program in effect at the BTC's. Emphasis was placed on subjects with a practical application to survival in the combat areas--camouflage, chemical warfare, map reading, marching and bivouac, and marksmanship. A memorandum issued by the AAF Training Command in December 1943 prescribed an eight-week schedule of instruction for regular trainees and a five-week schedule for pre-aviation cadets. Only two revisions of this memorandum had appeared by the end of 1994, although supplementary memoranda on specific subjects in the schedules were issued from time to time."

     I felt so bad for him when I read the first two lines.  His hopes were high he would fly, but at this point he is unsure of his classification, perhaps in combat ground crew or with radio dispatching.  You can feel his frustration and how he feels he let his parents down.  It sounds like he is not alone in the disappointment as other cadets have been grounded.  The good news he only has a few days of Basic Training left. 

LETTER #11 - 25 JAN 1944

My little notes:  
Makes me wonder if he originally enlisted to be a pilot?  He really seems determined to be up in the air!  Now that the standards are raised becoming a pilot seems much harder.

Pretty gross about the chicken soup and unsanitary measures at the Base!  I guess this is not at the top of the list for the U.S. Army.  You have to applaud these enlisted men for what training and living conditions they had!

My favorite part, when he is excited that the mail is here and he gets their package and ate most of it already!  And his Mom adding toilet articles that he does not need.  I would have done that myself!  Also, he mentions how he loves the chocolate kisses.  I did a little investigating on Hershey kisses and apparently  kisses were not produced during the war between 1942-1949.   So either he was eating old candy or perhaps a different chocolate candy looking similar to kisses like Brach's chocolate stars?  I guess we will never know but he seemed happy!   Here is the email from Hershey:

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for asking about our HERSHEY'S KISSES Milk Chocolate Candy.

The production of KISSES has been interrupted only once. The bite-size chocolates were not produced from 1942 to 1949 due to the rationing of silver foil during and after Word War II. During the war, the ingredient mixing units in the KISSES molding department were utilized for tempering military ration bar chocolate paste. It is estimated that paste for more than 3 billion ration units was produced during this period.

We hope you have a sweet day.

Jean
Consumer Representative

 http://www.thehersheycompany.com/about-hershey/our-story/hersheys-history.aspx

LETTER #10 - 20 JAN 1944 TO HIS BROTHER

This is the insignia that came with this letter.

Taken from the book "Finding Your Father's War" by Jonathan Gawne p. 293-294.

My Uncle would be part of the air crew as a gunner.

LETTER #9 - 19 JANUARY 1944

Facts on the history of Keesler Air Force Base.  See link below:

http://www.keesler.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4881 

This picture was taken in 1944 so probably the way he saw it.

Another 1944 picture from Keesler Field

This had to be quite a sight for a midwestern guy, seeing this for the first time!

One item he does not want to see again soon! 

Page 1 of a Flight Log book of my Grandfather's.  These are the only entries in the book so not sure how long he continued his flying lessons.

Page 2 of my Grandfather's Flight Log Book.

It seems at this point, he is tired, lonely and frustrated.  Lots of mental and physical tests going on.  I am sure he is not alone and probably speaks for the majority of service men going through this.

Paying Respect - 12 August 2012 ~ Geneva, Illinois

On Sunday, I finally made a visit to see my Uncle Louie's grave site with my daughters.  This was my first time at the cemetery.  I wanted to pay my respects to my Uncle and thank him for his service.  I placed an American Flag on his grave.  I stood there thinking of his life and how short his life was (he died at age 50 from a blood clot or aneurysm in the brain).  Unfortunately, I don't have many memories of him, but I hope by blogging his time in the Army, I revive his spirit at the moment in time when he was 18, an enlisted young man doing his duty for his Country.  A young man writing to his parents and younger brother about his surroundings and the unknown of the future.  Gives me great pride to have these letters and to share with family.  ~ Cindy

Me paying my respect to my Uncle Louie.

Uncle Louie's Grave marker.   Note he was promoted to Staff Sargent.  

(We had to move the flag in front because the ground was so hard.)

While we were in Geneva, Illinois that day this plane kept flying low and around us.  I presumed there was an air show going on nearby, but I thought how ironic seeing this plane above us.  It reminds me of the type of plane my Uncle Louie would have seen or been in during WWII.  Also, while at the grave site it flew directly over house as if to give a salute....coincidence?

Here is his memorial on Find-A-Grave that I have created:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91189363