October, 1944: Overseas.

Oct 2, 1944

Keep Pen until I write for it

Dear Ma

I'll drop you a short note to say I arrived here o.K. We had a nice trip although I did loose some sleep. It was rather cold so I arrived here with one nice head cold but as usual I am afraid I'll live. They say every one has a cold for about the first 3 months so I guess it's nothing unusual. 

I haven't seen much of England to say what it's like but it is a pretty country. Everything is so green for being so chilly.

We got all our good old U.S. money changed today so I'll so into town tonight & see if I can get the score about theres. I have had it (the money) explained a 1/2 dozen times but I still don't get it. Well have run out of space so will close & write a longer letter soon 

Have K.P. tomorrow.

Jack

Oct 7 1944

Dear Ma

Well here goes on that letter I have been saying I was going to send you. Now if it isn't too long it's because I am sort of tired yet.

I ran into a couple of kids I went through basic & gunnery with here, it sure surprised me. Jimmy also ran in to a fellow he knew so we have done all right for our selfs.

It seems like we have a pretty good deal here. They say it's one of the best bases in the E.T.O. I'll probable know better later on. The food is darn good in fact a whole lot better than I though it would be. 

They put us in with a bunch of old men & they sure have given us the straight dope. They sure can tell some real stories. They give us all the help we want, they don't try to impress you give you just straight dope. 

I still can't get use to the cold damp weather but will probable later on. It reminds me a whole lot of the winter weather in Wash.

It sure is a lot nicer here than at the last place. I guess that's because I haven't gotten K.P.

Well I guess I'll close for tonight so write soon.

I guess I'll have this address for a while.

[unsigned]

Oct 15 1944

Dear Ma

Well here goes on another letter, but as to yet I have only received that one from you.

As usual we haven't been doing any thing just go to shows & such. We have gone out & fired the 45 twice. We got out & fire it more or less to kill time & to see how good we can get. I have fired it enough the last 2 days to make my self deaf. Someday I'll learn to stuff cotton in my ears.

I almost went to town to night but they say theres not much doing in town so I just stayed here & decided to write a few letters.

You can tell Bo she ought to be here – we sleep until about noon & I know she would like that. Say how is she getting a long with her teaching.

Well I am still hoping the mail will soon catch up with me. I suppose it will in the next few days. I'll close now as you see no more space. 

Jack. 

Notes:

• Jack wouldn't be able to tell Gram where he was stationed, but I will! He was in Polebrook, England. You can read about the base on Wikipedia.

• Interestingly, Gram didn't save the envelopes from these V-Mails, so I'm posting them by the date written because I don't have a postmark. 

• The 45 he writes about was probably the .45 caliber M1911, or Colt 1911. It was the standard issue sidearm for U.S. service members throughout most of the 20th century, and is actually still used by U.S. forces today.  

• He actually did make himself deaf. He eventually developed a hearing loss typical of noise damage. 

• Jack is just getting settled in. It's another couple weeks yet before he flies his first mission.