20 Nov 1943 Northern Ireland "Blackouts" (Post #11A)

2nd Infantry Division Emblem

                                                                                                                                               20 Nov 1943
Hello Mother,

     By now you must be just done with dinner dishes and Dad just about ready for his cup of tea. I have returned from chow, it being dark I'll try to write a letter. To tell you the truth I believe a candle would give more light then these three light bulbs we have in the hut.
…No Mom we can't understand some things. As you were saying about Russell having only four days home with his wife. Some fellows go into the army and in less than a year are over seas. See how long Warren has been in and he's still in the States.
     So Claude took Helen and Joe to the Grange suppers, then gave them ten dollars.(equals to about $142 in 2017) He sure was late going to Florida this year. I bet he won't be going South many more years.
     If John Knight ever completes that book of the genealogy of the Knight Family I'm going to get one.
     Remember what you wrote about that couple having trouble? Gee if a certain person doesn't watch out they'll be mixed up in it. That would be a darn shame because they might get pulled in without knowing it. You know who I mean. It might be a sin but it would have been better if a certain trouble maker had passed away or moved so far that they'd never come back. Maybe it's too late now.
     How is Eugene making out? Thank him for the handkerchiefs as I sure can use them. Tell him to write as he can.
     About a week ago I got that paper from the mill. You know what I mean, Warren Mill News. It had news all over the world as so many fellows in the service had written in. I'm intending to write in my new address also send in a few lines of my own for the next issue. Louis Marion, that fellow from Westbrook, name was in the paper. It said he had been discharged from the service and was back at work for the company. It had about twenty names in all. Here is a little article from the paper just as it was written :- And lastly Tom Foley sends greetings from Naval Storekeeper's School. Leave it to Foley---mingling with the Petticoat Navy!

(One of the oldest Navy ratings, Storekeepers are tasked with maintaining ship or company military supply stores. Their responsibilities generally include purchasing and procurement, shipping and receiving, and issuing of equipment, tools, consumable items or anything else obtained through the Naval Supply System.)

Clarence just came in and said it was raining hard outside. When I stop to listen I can here it on the tin roof. He had a light but even at that he was covered with mud.

Gee Mom the folks back home don't know what a blackout is. When you're in town and due to the continual (blackout) you can't see your hand before you. I mean it's dark. You see dim bicycle lights and someone lighting a cigarette but that's all the light. It's been this way for five years. The folks here don't seem to mind it much now.

Guess Mom this will be all for this time. Say hello to all for me. Keep up your courage. I'm alright of course. I'd like to get back home. I hope and pray I don't have to stay over here too long but if the rest can take it I can. Good night Mother Dear, With Love

                                                                                     Son Charles


Warren was Uncle Charlie's cousin, Warren Knight, who entered the service in the 31st Infantry Division on 20 May 1942 and was deployed overseas to the Philippians 12 March 1944. Uncle Charlie entered the army 22 Dec 1942 and was overseas by October 1943. You can see why Uncle Charlie was questioning why he went overseas in 10 months while his cousin took 21 months to be deployed even though his cousin entered earlier and was deployed later. There was a reason but not knowing why must have been frustrating.

My uncle was an Eagle Scout and a hard worker. After the war, he joined the Masons and became a 32nd Degree Master Mason in the Scottish Rite. I share this to help you understand my uncle. We read how desperately he wanted to come home but as he said, "but if the rest can take it I can." He was not one to give up and always did his best in whatever he did.  

I may also share some "flashback" letters. I recently received copies of the letters my uncle wrote to his sister Flavilla and her husband Ralph. He wrote some letters to them about the heavy training he went through at Camp McCoy and what he saw during the war that he didn't share with his mother.

mill-This was the S.D. Warren Paper Mill in Westbrook, Maine. It was one of the major employers for the area during this time including up to 3,000 employees working in a three shift rotation. Many members of my family including my uncle and my mother worked there. Below is a picture of the company around World War II. Uncle Charlie worked here before the war and will return to work here after the war and continue there until his retirement.