14 Nov 1943 “Always Look Up, Never Look Down” (Post #10)

 Northern Ireland

Nov. 14, 1943

Sunday

Letter 14 Nov 1943 Northern Ireland (last page)

November 14, 1943

Hello Folks.

     The top of the morn to ye and sure may the blessings of Old Ireland rest upon ye this day. Sure I think it were time I was writing ye all.

     This week has been a good week for mail. I received quite a few letters along with four packages. I told you in one letter I was going to wait until Christmas then-but. The one Dad sent seemed heavy so I took a look, guess it was a good thing. Clarence was over and we had a little treat. I haven't opened your box yet but I could see through the paper it must be a box of chocolates. Tell brother I was sure glad to get those handkerchiefs as I can't buy any around here without coupons. Notice this is some of the paper Dad sent. Flavilla and Ralph sent me a nice military shaving kit. Flavilla's children sent me a sewing kit.

…….First I want to ask how many of the Parker boys are in the army. You remember Philip. I wonder where he is. I went to school with him.

     That boy Mrs. Wilcox thought was dead, is he the one they got the report on over a year pass? He was in a Jap prison camp as I remember. It must give them new hope. (Unknown to Uncle Charlie the Japanese prison camps were TERRIBLE.) 

     As far as the spring in the car or anything else don't let it worry you much. It must be the shock absorbers that make or cause the spring to break.

     Guess the way you help with the cows, pigs, chickens etc., you're out for farming. Remember you can't treat them on too much sugar, ha ha.

     You wrote in your letter Oct 24 that you thought you almost knew where I was even before you had any mail from me. Hope you have heard from me by this time but write and let me know just why you felt that way, what gave you the idea? Now don't forget.

     I have nothing to say about Claude except what a sport. Guess I'm not made that way. Guess it's still true an honest man will never have any money.

     You wrote about Lee Anderson being found in the rock pile behind his farm. I don't know as Pa recalls but the big barn doors on the back side came in from the top of a hill. The hill was dug away making the door quite a few feet up. It is all rock below. It's a wonder the fall hadn't killed him.

     See by the clipping you sent everyone is doing it. I don't know the girl Almery married but he was one swell guy. Seemed one time he might marry Gertrude. I think he would have made her the best man.

     Your last letter Oct 26 said Helen and Joe would come tomorrow.

     As for the food Mom don't worry as we are getting plenty to eat. I know Thanksgiving dinner will be good. One thing you have to remember is that the supplies of food have to be shipped across the water so I feel they are doing OK by us as far as for food.

     We live in little huts like those in Alaska only the walls are not double. Right now I'm only three or four feet from the little stove and can see steam coming from my breath. I even have a field jacket on. The people in the U.S.A. don't know how lucky they are. I feel ashamed I ever found fault.

     Well I went to see if I could find something to send home. I picked up a few little things but gee man alive what a price. Then you can't find much but it will be something that say from Ireland just for a souvenir. From time to time I'll send home some postcards. I may not be able to write all I'd like about them but someday will tell you everything. Some of them I'd like to keep for my album. I'll write what I can on the back. I know some of them Ralph will like to see. I haven't found many yet but some of the boys have seen some real old places of interest.

     Well Mom have a few more letters to write today so will say cherio for now. Hope this war will soon be over with even if we don't get to come home for a time. “Always look up, never look down” that saying is hard to live up to some times. Tell them all to write.

                                                                                        Love                                                                                                                                               Charles    

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Flavilla and Ralph = Uncle Charlie's sister and husband                                                                 Helen and Joe = Uncle Charlie's sister and husband