July 2, 1944

07/02/20 • 4 min

S.W. Pacific

July 2, 1944

Dear Mom & Dad:

Well, finally we are back again at home base after a grueling 6-day maneuver. And was it a wet one! We had 3 straight days & nights of it. It’s quite a treat to get back to a shower, dry clothes & a square meal. We live on K&C rations when we’re out there you know – strictly a canned diet.

By the way before I go on – this paper is just some GI second – sheet typing paper. Hope you don’t mind – it ought to cut down on that costly weight. It works pretty good too, because I can use a sheet of lined paper beneath to keep my pen from going up-hill. That’s one habit you & I have in common, mom.

On this problem I spent most of my time as aerial observer. The job consists of flying around in the “grasshopper” & observing & adjusting fires on various targets. This will probably be one of my jobs in the actual “show” but don’t worry about it. To you it might sound dangerous but really it hasn’t proven out that way in actual combat. These liaison planes only fly directly over the battery positions not over the enemy.

Things look pretty good over in the European theatre now, don’t they. Wonder if Bob Coll is participating in the push? Now that we have Cherbourgh there ought to be some real action, because now they have a good sea port to land their equipment, supplies, & men. This fooling around with small landing crafts & “ducks” takes too much time. By the way did you know it was our “ex-25th Div. Cmdr.” Gen. Lawton J. Collins who took Cherbough with the 7th Corps. He left us back on New Zealand.

My Life magazines & also the Digests are coming thru regularly. I get them sooner than most of the other officers here.

No – the thief that made me look like a sorry O.D. that time was never cornered, nor has anything else ever been stolen. It’s just one of those things that has been forgotten.

No – when we go into battle I’ll stay right in Hdqs. unless I’m transferred into a firing battery before. Actually I’d like to get back to good old “C” btry. – I was much happier there. Denny was a swell B.C. & we got along very well together. Can’t say the same for the one I have now: there’s no comparison between the two. In fact Denny is trying to get me back to C. This BC I’ve got now is an undependable so & so – the type that will slap you on the back one minute & kick you in the pants the next; a weak character. We don’t hit it off too well.

Glad May & Elwood got such a pleasure out of my V-mail. I had no idea it would be their first. Elmer & Esther surely must have had a nice anniversary party – yup, I’m sorry too that I couldn’t attend.

I hope you got away on that weeks vacation with Elmer & Esther. Who’s going to drive & where will you get enough gas? Or shouldn’t I ask embarrassing questions? I’m glad to hear that you can still get away to one of those restful Minn. northwoods vacations.

You certainly have changed the yard around. I won’t recognize the place when I get back.

So you’ve had a lot of rain lately, well so have we. For a couple of months we had dry sunny weather, but just lately we’ve been getting our share of the rain. It was especially mean on this last field problem.

Thanks for Dorothy’s new address she hadn’t sent it to me as yet & I have been waiting for it. I have several of her letters to answer but didn’t know where to send ‘em.

I got a V-mail from Micky the other day in answer to one I wrote her. She says that you & her really keep the telephone lines hot. She certainly is a great girl – don’t you agree. Hope someday I can pick out a wife as nice as she.

Well I guess I’ll get busy on a letter to Dot, so I’ll say good night. Hello to everyone.

Love, Dorance

S.W. Pacific

July 2, 1944

Dear Mom & Dad:

My Life magazines & also the Digests are coming thru regularly. I get them sooner than most of the other officers here.

No – the thief that made me look like a sorry O.D. that time was never cornered, nor has anything else ever been stolen. It’s just one of those things that has been forgotten.

You certainly have changed the yard around. I won’t recognize the place when I get back.

Thanks for Dorothy’s new address she hadn’t sent it to me as yet & I have been waiting for it. I have several of her letters to answer but didn’t know where to send ‘em.

Well I guess I’ll get busy on a letter to Dot, so I’ll say good night. Hello to everyone.

Love, Dorance

Previous Episode

June 25, 1944

Dear Mom & Dad:

In just a few minutes we are moving into the field on an all-week maneuver. I’m afraid there won’t be mail service out there so that’s why I’m scribbling this quick note now. Don’t get much time to do anything – much less write these days. We just came in out of the field yesterday & here we go again. I don’t mind living in the field but it sure is a job & a mess packing up and then unpacking again. If I get a chance to write in the field I’ll answer your letter & mail it as soon as I hit civilization again. I have nothing startling to tell you except that I feel fine & my morale is still O.K. The war news is good these days but I’ve heard it that way before. The only thing that’ll excite me now is an armistice. Hope everyone is fine back there. Have a nice vacation.

Love, Dorance

June 25, 1944

Dear Marion:

I hate to write V-mails & also hate to get them, but this time I’ve got exactly 5 minutes to write. We just got back from the field & we’re going out again now on a 5 day maneuver. What a rat-race this army life turned out to be! We won’t have mail service out there, so that’s why I’m writing this hurried note. I got your letter yesterday when we got back to camp & will answer it when we get back again. I used to like to go “camping”, Marion, but I’m fast getting new ideas about such things. Gotta go now, so long.

Love, Dip

Next Episode

July 4, 1944 (to Marion Sneen)

July 4, 1944

S.W. Pacific

Happy 4th!!

Dear Marion –

Eh gads – I’ll bet you think I’m a cad, blaggard & a scoundrel for not writing! Well gosh, can I help it I had to go out in the field & play soldier for a week? But anyway I’ll catch up & make up for it – you’ll see.

What a week we spent out there playing war – the wettest week since we’ve been on this island. It rained for the first four straight days of the maneuver & then let-up to a slight drizzle. We were soaked from the beginning & wet at the end. Whoops – what am I saying! As though it wasn’t enough that it rained – on the first night a strong breeze came up – our tent came down. There we were running around in our drawers pounding tent stakes – rain coming down to beat h---, & knowing all the time that we were a week or more away from dry clothes. It’s rough Marion – don’t ever join the army!

But now we’re all very much happy again – got back day before yesterday. All my morale needed was a cold shower, clean clothes, & a hot meal. We lived on C & K rations all the time out there.

Today we’re enjoying the first real holiday since coming to this spot. We didn’t have to stand reveille this morning – nor do we stand retreat tonight & no drill. And on top of it all we had real “honest to goodness” fresh eggs – the kind with a shell. They’re also a “first” for us on this island. Guess they’re trying to make-up for the soaking we got last week. Think so?

Haven’t seen Lee for a fortnight now, but will try to get in touch with him either this coming Saturday or next.

Pardon this stationery, Marion, you probably recognize it as the famous “second sheet.” You’re right – I use it to save on weight, cuz my mother tells me my letters come with postage due. She wanted to send me some light stuff, but heck this typing paper is great. So, if you don’t mind –

Your letter of June 7th came while I was out on the problem, & yours of the 14th came today. I sure like your recent step-up in letter-writing – keep it up.

No – I don’t mind your leaving a letter for 20 minutes for something important like eating, but anything else is out.

I’m not letting my hair grow – in fact I’ll probably have it chopped down to 1⁄4” tomorrow again. D’ya like it that way? I’ve had it short for so long now I know it’ll never be combable again.

Your habit of sleeping on the streetcar really tickled me. Can you guess why? Yeah – I do the same thing! At least one evening every month I used to have to walk or take a streetcar (if handy) back from M’haha Falls. My big error was getting too comfortable. I used to slump down & draw my knees up on the back of the seat in front. I’d start out in that position with the good intention of reading but soon discovered it was much more conducive to “end o’ the line” sleeping. I’m lucky – don’t have those “civvy” worries anymore.

Yes, I was home for about ten days as a brand new 2nd Lt. fresh from O.C.S. Didn’t you see me in my glittering gold bars – I thought I had flashed them quite thoroughly? Well anyway, Marion, there’ll come a day!

What do you mean when you say you were confused by my card folder from New Zealand? I don’t get it! I merely bought it as a memento of that fair country.

From the looks of the sketch, I’m sure I’d like the grey & white polka-dot dress & as far as dating you in it you know I’d like to do that! I’m especially fond of the wide shoulders & square neck – very nice. Marion you’re a clever gal! Don’t know if you knew it or not but I definitely favor the informal type of dress. I’d rather see a girl in a sweater & skirt than a formal any day. Am I crazy? I accept your Leap Year invitation for a date in that dress – how’s about wearing brown & white shoes with it – “spics”? O.K.?

Can’t take my fingernail polish off (inspection tomorrow) but I’m going to hit the hay. G’nite.

Love, Dip