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

LETTER #8 - 9 JAN 1944

Tommy Sub-Machine gun training

Short 1 minute Video showing the guns being produced during WWII.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T96f70vgyAA

Typical WWII mess hall

KP Duty - Kitchen Police (or patrol) duty can vary in jobs in the kitchen.  Not a favorite job by many!

What to know more?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KP_duty 

LETTER #7 1 JAN 1944

Rifle similar to what Uncle Louie was training on.

Basic Firing Positions

He mentions again how being in ROTC in high school paid off.  He talks about drilling and training on a carbine semi-automatic rifle and the firing positions.  He also explains the rigorous "five minutes" drill!

On a personal note he tells his parents not to write out his middle name Herman on the letters!  Now they tease him and call him Herman Thomsen in the barracks!  His mom's dad was Herman and was probably named after him.  And how the packages are coming in and he is still anxiously waiting for his parent's package!

He also mentions about his dad Louis now doing "Navy Work"?  Not sure what kind of work he was doing.  He was a carpenter by trade but around this time he did make a switch.  Maybe with the war going on, the demand for manufacturing was there and he worked at a factory.  Maybe future letters will tell us...

LETTER #6 - 1 JAN 1944

"Nipponese" a term related to anything Japanese.  Postcard from my Uncle Louie to my Dad.

Postcard sent to my Dad from Uncle Louie, January 1944

January 1, 1944.  Sounds like a typical big brother to little brother letter.  Still not in much training yet, but I am sure in the next letter or two that will change.  The Air Corps insignia he mentions I do have and will post with the corresponding letter.  He sounds restless and can't wait for his training to begin soon. 

Top Movies in 1943/1944 according to www.filmsite.org:

1943: This Is the Army (1943)  /  A Guy Named Joe (1943)   (Not surprisingly both movies were military, patriotic-themed movies!)

1944: Going My Way (1944)  /  Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

"WWII; From the Homefront to the Frontlines" July 15, 2012 at the Colonel Palmer House in Crystal Lake, Illinois

A Soldier's Ration Kit including hygiene kits, first aid kit,  and meal kits.  Let's not forget the cigarettes (4 in a box),  chewing gum and a book of matches.  Note the matchbox advertises VD awareness with the slogan "Easy to Pick-up"!

 Here is an example of a dinner kit.

Mess kit

Various items used by soliders during WWII.

 For the airborne division all this gear would be with them as they would parachute down.

 

More various tools, weapons and necessities for a WWII solider.  Note the banner pillowcases.  Uncle Louie bought one of these for his mom from Fort Sheridan.  Common gift to send to the family.

Re-enactors and also veterans themselves from other wars.

1938 or 1940 Buick.  One sign said 1940 the other 1938.  Don't think they changed too much!

Yes, girls baseball had its place during WWII.  Thought these gals were so cute!  There were strict rules they had to follow to play baseball such as going to charm school and must wear makeup at all times (and lipstick) during the game. They would be chaperoned outside the baseball team as well.  Check out the link below or watch A League Of Their Own.

 http://www.lib.niu.edu/1995/ihy950452.html

A typical officer's trunk

A common sight at the homefront, children going down the road with wagons collecting scrap metal, newspapers and bottles.

 Women at work working for factories that provided supplies or items needed for the war effort.  This company, Oak Manufacturing from Crystal Lake made switches needed for military radios.  They even provided bus transportation for the woman for either first or second shift.  Also, this particular company provided a social club for the ladies.

2 Rosie the Riveters!

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_the_Riveter

And the 2 lovely ladies from the Red Cross.  They were helping to recruit people to various assignments in the Red Cross.  These particular ladies formed a group called the "Purl-harders", get it? Pearl Harbor!  They would knit scarves and items for the boys overseas. 

1940s fashion and dresses on exhibit

POW camps in the states.  Illinois had 3 Major German Prisoner of War Camps, Fort Sheridan being one of them.  Wisconsin had a Japanese POW camp.

Wonderful exhibit of insignias.  These were typically shoulder sleeve insignias.  Note the one on the top row in the center, that is one my Uncle Louie had for the U.S. Army Air Corps.