Letters To Home

One of the most interesting things we hear on our radio are the German short wave broadcasts. These programs are “beamed” at England and the United States and are propaganda from beginning to end. They are packed with the most outrageous distortions of truth that one could imagine. A few out-and-out lies are mixed in for variety.

But I must admit that these programs are clever too. Some of the commentators on these programs are or claim to be Americans who were smart enough to jump on Hitler’s bandwagon. Some are men, some are women. They speak without an accent, as a rule, and have an “American” way of saying things that makes it easy for one to believe them if he doesn’t keep on his toes mentally and analyze what they are saying. I’m sure you are familiar with the things that the Nazis harp on in their propaganda. Most of their efforts now are directed toward splitting Britain from the United States and the United States and Britain from Russia.

A few months ago Colonel Robert McCormick of the Chicago Tribune suggested that England apply for admission to the union as a state! Boy did that catch on with the Nazi propagandists! That’s all they talked about for weeks. They’ve been telling the English right along that the “American imperialists” were playing them for a bunch of suckers and would like nothing better than to gobble up the British Empire! So when “Bertie” McCormick shot off his mouth, it was just like tossing kerosene on the fire. When it comes to propaganda, those Nazi boys don’t miss a trick. Fortunately, “Bertie” speaks for a very small part of the American population.

These guys use some pretty smart schemes to induce people to listen to their lies. For instance there is one program where they alternate giving news bulletins (strictly from the Nazi point of view) and recordings of Bing Crosby and Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra!

There is one woman announcer known as “Gladys”. She speaks perfect English and claims to be an American. She is fond of saying to us, “Boys, why don’t you go home to your families? There’s no reason why you should be over here.” She has never explained why the German boys aren’t home with their families!

[letterstohome copyright 2008]

I went down to Belfast today and it was still there. It’s good to “get away from it all” once in a while. Of course, I haven’t got as much to get away from as I once did.

I had planned to do some shopping, but I didn’t have much success. So many things are rationed. I wanted to get some Irish linen handkerchiefs for you and Bonnie, but they wanted coupons. Since I didn’t have any, I had to give up the idea.

I did get a few things, though. My first stop was Woolworth’s 3d & 6d Store. At first I thought the place had been turned into a commando training camp, but I found out later (when I came to) that it was dollar day (only over here they use shillings). I still don’t know how I got so close to the remnant counter!

You know, of course, that Britain has very little lumber. Consequently, things made of wood are scarce – and expensive. I got three of the cheapest coat hangers they had (that would hold trousers) and they cost one 4 shillings or 80 cents.

And was that store crowded! It seemed just like the 5 and 10 cent stores back home during the holiday season.

They’re short of paper here, too, and things like coat hangers and stationery are seldom wrapped. I started to push my way out of the store. For a while everything went okay. All of a sudden I got all balled up, I mean really. I couldn’t budge. Looking around, I saw that the bare metal hooks on my coat hangers had caught on a sweet young thing and I was about to pull her skirt off! More fun! It’s a good way to get acquainted. I think I’ll try it again some time soon.

The worst thing was I had a hard time getting the darn things untangled. For a while I thought I would have to take her back to camp with me (coat hangers are expensive), but these guys are such wolves. Next Thursday is my day off again. Woolworth’s, here I come!!!

[letterstohome copyright 2008]

Well, here it is November. It seems like it was about 10 years ago that my family left 909 Meadow and went forth to seek our fortunes. But it was just a year ago today.

Looking back and tracing the courses of our various lives during this eventful year, I can’t help but marvel at the things that have happened. They aren’t things that we would hope for if we had a choice. However, some day (soon I hope) we will all get together and realize that what has gone before is only part of that game called life.

It’s been an education for us – of a sort. Perhaps it has even served a purpose. I have some pretty definite ideas on what I want my post-war world to be like – how I want to live. I think my separation from Mom and Dad has strengthened us spiritually. I’m sure it’s brought the family close together.

I remember the last few days of my senior year in high school, when we were signing one another’s yearbooks. Everyone predicted I would Interpret it as you will, they weren’t kidding.

Last fall and winter I would sometimes make a mental note of the date and wonder where I would be and what I would be doing exactly one year hence. The actual circumstances make my wildest guesses look like a Boy Scout outing in comparison. The funny thing is that this is a Boy Scout outing compared to what the boys in Italy and New Guinea are going through. Well, it’s a great life if you don’t weaken.

I haven’t heard from Mom and Dad since the 25th October, when I got their October 8th letter, so you see I’m nearly a month behind on news from home.

I’ve been getting some mail though. Packages, three since the 25th have been coming right along. Now I have one each from Mom and Dad, Cleon, and Bonnie. Many thanks to all of them. They said they couldn’t do much for me this year. I disagree. They’ve already done more than I have a right to expect in these times.

I’m piling up quite a bit of candy, nuts, etc. I’ll have no problem getting rid of it. I plan to save the things that will keep until the holiday season. And I have two months yet before Christmas to finish off the cookies and such. In an emergency, my new colleagues would likely lend on a hand.

My new job and new home are becoming more familiar by the day. It won’t be long and I’ll feel just like one of the family, both here in the barracks and at the office.

Day after tomorrow is my day off, and I plan to run into the city and see what I can see.

I’ve recently seen Deanna Durbin in “Hers to Hold” and Judy Garland and Van Heflin in “Presenting Lily Mars”. Both were very good, especially the latter. I also saw a good USO show tonight. With news of work, I’ll be seeing more movies from now on.

[letterstohome copyright 2008]