All of these letters were postmarked January 14, 1945 by the U.S. Army Postal Service. It's possible they were all "recived" on the same day, so you get them all today!
Today is the first time we see S/Sgt on his return address!
Jan 9 1944 [more than a week in to the new year, and he is still writing 1944!]
Dear Ma
While the barracks is quiet I'll try to ruin your eyes.
You see theres a sq. party tonight and some of the boys decided to go to town. All in all theres only a very few here – it's almost to quiet to suit me.
I didn't do a darn thing today just laid around killing time. I would almost rather do something. Don't get me wrong – I only said almost.
We had a nice snow last night and also today. I don't know if it's still snowing or not but it wouldn't saprise me if it was.
I heard a good rumor that we were to get a 7 day furlogh about the 1st of next Month. I sure hope it comes after pay day because if it doesn't I'll probably have to borrow money to go on. I still haven't decided where to go but I suppose the rest will do that
My orders came out today saying I made Staff so thats that. Its too bad I can't get more but I'll have to be sastified. I also got my orders stating I was check out as a armor.
Well I'll close with that so write soon
Jack.
Next, a guest appearance of Jack's younger sisters, Herbie and Nene (aka Neva and Anita)! Herbie was approaching her 19th birthday this month, and Nene's 17th birthday was the day before Jack wrote this letter.
Dear Neva & Anita
I'll see if I can answer some of those letters you two runts have been writing me.
I got a letter from Neva today – it was dated Dec 27 so it came through in good time. It was a Vmail but a Vmail is better than no mail I just hope my letters come through a little better than yours have been.
Well we had a nice snow yesterday and then it started in again today. The ground was covered all white. It sure reminded me of Kan or N.M. This noon it was really comming down hard, and the flakes were nice and big.
I was glad to hear Santa was so good to you kids. I guess Bo did o.K. I sent her some money to do my shoping for me but I guess she had already planned it that way. As long as you kids are happy about it thats all that counts.
I haven't done any thing the last couple of days but rest. I sure like that part of it sleep and eat. When it comes to doing any thing else I just ain't so eager to do it.
Well tomorrow is pay day again so I'll be in the cash again. I also like that part of army life – payday. The only trouble is it only comes twice a month. I should draw about 12 or 13 pounds tomorrow. I'll let you figure out how much it is I can't.
Oh did I ever mention (thats a dumb question) I got Staff today. It will mean about a dollar a day more and when it comes to money I am happy. I was mad I didn't get it sooner but as long as I got it I shouldn't kick too much. After all it only took me a little over 13 mo. to get it. That's all the higher I'll ever go though, unless I can go to another school back in the states. I don't think theres much chanch of that so Ill just start sewing strips on like mad now.
Well I guess I have run down so will close for now
Jack.
Shall I try to figure out how much 12 or 13 pounds is? £12 in 1945 is about £551 today, or about $723 at today's exchange rate. £13 of yore would be £597 today, working out to $783. This checks out; he had said he gets about $50 per paycheck, which is about $780 in today's dollars.
Jan 11 1945
Dear Ma
Here I go on a good bitching session so if you don't care to read it just stop here.
I was setting in the barracks this AM minding my own business and bothering no one. In comes the 1st Sgt and says I want some volenteer. That was alright but I seemed to be one of them which wasn't so good. He then informed us we were to go out and move snow off the run ways. Not with snow plows but with shovels. I worked all afternoon that way – got good and cold wet feet and very disgusted I came back to the barracks to warm up and eat and they (the fellows) informed me I was wanted at operations. I went over there to find out what I had done – good or bad mostly bad. I was then told I would be doing guard duty tonight, out in the cold cold snow. Now can you see why I am mad enough to bite 10 penny nails into. The bad part of it is I don't have a dry pair of shoes to wear. Oh well it can't be this bad all over or all my life.
I guess, from the rest I wrote, you took we had quite a snow. We must have 6 inches on the ground. It is is also nice and cold outside.
I got 2 clusters on the air medal today. They finally brought them down. I sure wasn't going up after them. I don't know if I'll even put them on or not. I don't think I will until I get back to the states anyway. As I said befor they don't mean any thing and don't pay any more money.
I was going to write you last night but was too tired so put it off.
Well I'll close this bitch session now and try to write again tomorrow.
I made out a $100 money order so will send it in a day or so.
Jack.
I wonder if the extra duty was a consequence of his riding his bike on the runway the other day.
Jan 12 1945
Dear Ma
Well I'll write you today (or tonight) like I said. I really shouldn't try becaus I haven't done any thing to write about.
I went on Guard last night like a good little boy. It wasn't bad but made me pretty tired walking around. It snowed some more and then ended up by raining. The rain cleared up the snow pretty well. Infact I don't belive the snow shoveling was nessarry. Oh well we have to please the big shots and do such things.
I slept until darn near noon today and then had to get up to eat. Its hard on me to get up so early but it didn't kill me.
I was a bad boy today and got in a black jack game. It made me 2 pounds so I guess the time wasn't wasted. If I could do that evey time It would almost be a paying proposition.
I got a letter from Bo yesterday and about all she wrote about was the air metal. I hate to let her down as to what it is. It gets me the way they write it up in papers. Coolness & etc. don't let them kid you we are all scared to death an wish we were else where. One minent you cuss them (on the ground) and the next minet you pray. While you are up there you swear you will never fly again and then on the ground you don't think it was so bad. I guess it's not so bad all in all though, compared to the ground forces. I think we have a good deal.
Tomorrow is Sat so we have to get the barracks ready for the big inspection. That means we will have to get up early and such. I think I'll have to shine my shoes tonight or put them in a barracks bag.
Ill close for now and hope to get some mail from you tomorrow
Jack.
He made about 92 bucks in the blackjack game!
One more letter, to Bo, written on January 12 but also postmarked January 14.
Jan 12 1945
Dear Bo
Here goes on a nother lession on how not to write letters or how not to write period.
I got (or recived) a letter from you yesterday dated Nov 27. It was slightly late but it got here. All you wrote about was the air medal. I wish you would run into someone who had been in combat and find out what it is. The stuff they put in the papers sounds good but thats about all the father it goes. That stuff about being cool & such is a laugh. I am usually so scared and mad I don't quite know what to do. I use to watch the flak when it came up at us but now I am too scared. It is sort of pretty when it's a long way off against the white clouds. It isn't so pretty though when you look up a head and see a big black cloud and know you are going to have to fly through it.
The snow is almost gone now because it rained. I had to go out and shovle snow all after noon yesterday and to top that I had to do guard duty last night.
Well I'll close now so write
Jack.
Jack's had a couple days off since his last mission on January 7, and here on January 10 he flew his 24th. Mission 257 hit an airfield at Euskirchen, Germany. This is in the same area of western Germany, near The Netherlands, where the Battle of the Bulge was being waged, and where the last several missions have targeted.
This mission was difficult. Due to weather and delays in take-off due to icy runways, it was difficult to meet and make the formation. At least three aircraft had to abort because of that. Another three or so aircraft aborted due to mechanical problems. Due to cloud cover, the bomb run was difficult and may not have hit the target but may have hit the village of Odendorf instead. No aircraft were lost.
