29 Sep 1943 "Last Letter from Camp McCoy" (Post #5)

In my last post I shared the letter my uncle, Charles David Knight, who served in the United States Army in the 15th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B, 2^nd  Infantry Division wrote on September 19, 1943, from Camp McCoy in Wisconsin telling his family living in Gorham, Maine, USA he would be likely deployed overseas very soon.

His last letter from Camp McCoy was ten days later on  September 29, 1943, Wednesday night at 11:00.

     As you read his letters remember he is primarily writing to his mother. It will help you to put things in proper context. Uncle Charlie tried to keep his “chin up” while encouraging his family to do the same as he writes these words.

     “We are on the alert and everything is packed. Barrack bags are gone but you should see the pack you carry on your back.” (He tries to make a small drawing of the back pack on himself). “One thing I wish I had with me, my hunting knife.”……….

     “I do not know how long it will be until I write again but don’t worry. You know I’ll send you a letter the first chance I have.”

     “You said I didn’t keep my chin up when calling the other night, thats not the reason. Mom I never dreamed as long as you were here on earth that the day would come when I really wanted to see you that I wouldn’t be able. I just had a feeling come over me that I’d like to come home. I’ll keep my chin up but how about you folks at home?”

     You can clearly feel in my uncle’s words that he knew he no longer had control over his life and how much he was already missing his mom and home. A feeling I’m sure every soldier has felt when the initial excitement of boot camp or serving for your country is replaced with the knowledge you are no longer able to make your own decisions. You are now under the command of a person that will make decisions for you. Decisions that can lead you to a battlefield. Decisions that could cause you never to see your family or home again. Reality has hit a soldier as it will many times in the future.

     As you read these letters you will see these following names. I will share them with you to let you know how they were related to my Uncle Charlie. Along with his mom and dad, he had a brother Eugene (age 19) and three sisters Waneta (26), Flavilla (25), and Helen (17). His three sisters were married; Waneta to Leroy Morrill, Flavilla to Ralph Billings, and Helen to Joseph Borek. I now skip to the end of the letter.

     “Tell brother Eugene to be good. Give my love to Helen and Joe, Waneta and Leroy, Flavilla and Ralph. Tell the little ones Uncle Charlie wants them to be good boys and girls. To you, Mother and Dad, I’m proud of you so will do my part like many a son is doing that you too may say ‘We have a son fighting for freedom and liberty and giving his all.’

Good Bye Mother and Dad. I’ll write someday from some where and may God Bless you.

Good Bye, Love

Your Son

Charles

P.S. For Mom – X

     The first time I read the end of this letter my eyes filled with tears as I remember how much my uncle loved all his nieces and nephews. (“the little ones”). At the time of this letter Uncle Charlie would have had three nieces and two nephews. He will have four nieces and fourteen nephews by 1965.

     From the ending of the letter you can sense Uncle Charlie didn’t know where he would be in the future or when contact could be made again to his family. Quite a fearful thought in my opinion. At the same time he wanted his family to know he would try to be a soldier that his family would be proud to call their son or brother or uncle no matter the outcome on the battlefields he was about to enter.

Card sent home to his parents to tell their son's address when overseas.