LETTER #31 - 13 JULY 1944 from bunkmate Ray Kubick

My little notes:
Sometimes the past meets the present.....  As I was scanning this letter to post on Ray Kubick, I decided to search his name since the letter mentioned New Jersey and maybe I could find him.  Lo and behold I found him!  Unfortunately, Ray just recently passed away last Thursday.  I signed the online guest book and told the family how I knew him.  He had 3 children and I am hoping to connect with them and share the sweet letters I have of their father at the age of 20 training at the radio school with my Uncle. This makes me humbled and honored to make a connection with someone who was part of my ancestors' lives.  Please read the obituary below (click on link):

Raymond Albert Kubick Jr. Obiturary ~ please read

I also looked ahead and there are four more letters from Ray; two letters later in 1944, one in 1945 and one in 1946.

LETTER #30 - 30 JUNE 1944 to Tom

This is my Uncle Louie as a cadet taken in 1944 in Madison, WI.  This is probably the picture he is referring to in this letter below.  He is just 18 here and the only badge earned so far would be his Sharpshooter badge with the words "rifle" on the little bar below the pin that he received while at Keesler Field...

The outside of the envelope.  Pretty clever!

This drawing was on the top of the stationery paper done by Don the artist in the camp!  You can see he added the figure cartoon and the words "Allo Tom" to my Dad.  Wish I could make out his last name!

Family pictures of the Thomsens at Bangs Lake, Wauconda, Illinois.

The boys at Bangs Lake, Wauconda, IL.  I think my Dad is being Superman with the cape!

More pics with Louis Thomsen Sr. and his boys, Louie and Tom.

Looks like the end of a fun day!  About 1939, my Uncle Louie, Grandpa Thomsen, and my Dad (the little one) with their 1936 Studabaker at Bangs Lake, Wauconda, Illinois

I am assuming this is the picture he is referring to in the letter showing Louie at Truax Field and the barracks.

Picture of Louie in Combat Training at Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin, 1944.

My little notes:

Wow, quite a bit to share!  I love coordinating pictures with the letters!  Really adds to the feel of the times.  Well, I really enjoy the drawings from Don.  Also, Louie mentions the pictures he sent. I am pretty sure these are the pictures, the formal one taken from Rembrandt Studio in Madison, and the two showing Louie and the barracks.  He also mentions how tan he was getting, though he uses a slang, but this is 1944!  I had quite a few pictures to share of the Thomsen family at Bangs Lake.  I am not sure how often they went there, but seemed to be a hot spot for Chicagoans to go to.  See link below for a little history of Bangs Lake.  Also, their claim to fame of the 1980 movie "Blues Brothers" where the beach scene was filmed at:

Little History of Bangs Lake link


Finally, for us civilian people, a little history on the Garrison Cap.  First originated in WWI as an "overseas cap", but because of his portability became more easily worn and used.  They were either wool or khaki as the one pictured in Louie's photo.  The ribbing was color coded too to distinguish what service branch.  See link below:

WWII Garrison Cap link

LETTER #28 - 22 JUNE 1944 & LETTER #29 - 29 JUNE 1944 FROM PRIVATE RAYMOND KUBICK JR.

Uncle Louie's bunkmate - Ray Kubick Jr.

My Little Notes:
Well looks like some time between the last letter from April and this letter in June that Louie finally got to go on furlough!  Looks like he went with his bunkmate Ray Kubick by train to Chicago.  Not sure where Ray originally is from, but does sound like he really appreciated their hospitality.  Would love to find his family and share this!

Traux field housing unit

Truax Housing single men's living quarters, bunks and linens furnished, rent $13 per person a month.  circa 1945-1950 (hmmm, note the "no smoking" sign on the mirror.  Someone is not following the rules!)

LETTER #27 - 18 MAY 1944

This postcard was dated July 2, 1932 and sent to his mom from his mom's cousin, Charles.  Some 12 years later, Louie would be stationed there.

Sunday, May 14, 1944 Front Page.  Uncle Louie probably read this.

Another front page I believe from June 1944.

Probably similar what Uncle Louie saw when visiting the college.

Older picture of the college, but shows the proximity from the campus to the capital.

My little notes:

Well sounds like he is liking Madison and back in his Midwestern roots!  Too bad he has not gotten a pass yet to visit, but hopefully soon.  Not sure about the tests that he was not interested, but passed.  I believe this is where he was going to school for radio. 

LETTERS #25 - 19 APRIL 1944 AND #26 - 22 APRIL 1944 FROM TRUAX FIELD HEADQUARTERS

I like the timestamp on the back of the letter at 2:00 pm.   Thought the envelope was of interest too saying "War Department".

MY LITTLE NOTES:

Not much in these letters so I posted both together.  Sounds like he is also communicating with his friends and their family.  Also, sounds like he is trying to get permission to visit his family soon.

LETTER #24 - 9 APRIL 1944

~Welcome to Truax Field~

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Originally known as Madison Army Airfield, Truax Field was activated as an Army Air Forces airfield in June 1942 during World War II. During the war it was used by the Army Air Force Eastern Technical Training Center, a major school operating at Truax AAF for training radio operators and mechanics, and later expanded to training in radar operations, control tower operations and other communications fields for the Army Airways Communication Service. A special unit established in 1943 trained radio operators and mechanics on B-29 Superfortress communications equipment. The host unit on the airfield was the 334th (later 3508th) Army Air Force Base Unit. On September 17, 1945, the airfield's mission was changed to that of a separation center, and it was closed as an active AAF airfield on November 30, 1945.

Malted Milks!

My Little Notes:

Well Happy New Year family and friends with a new blog and a new military field!  Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin.  This is the first letter after being shipped there.  I felt like he was at Keesler Field forever!  I guess the perks here are malted milks, bowling lanes and sleeping in!  Did not sound like the train ride was good though.  He sure is looking forward to another care package soon and some fudge!

LETTER #23 - 30 MARCH 1944

"Snowball" his dog, painted by my Dad, circa 1944, when he was around 12-13.

My little notes:
Not too much besides Uncle Louie still on K.P. duty and anxiously waiting to ship out of there!  He laughs about Snowball the family dog being stuck in the dog pound for a few days.....and him feeling like a "scrub woman"!

Uncle Louie feeling like a "scrub woman"!