I will not be sharing about the many letters he wrote from Camp McCoy (I will later in my second blog.) but will be sharing about his letters from overseas. The following is an except from the letter from Camp McCoy dated September 19, 1943, Sunday night. I will include one other letter from Camp McCoy in my next post.
"Now Mother dear keep your chin up and don't forget you have someone to lean on in times of troubles. I know you pray and your prayers will always follow me no matter where I go. Mother dear I may move, although I'm not sure if it may be overseas. Don't worry Mother dear I'm coming back because your prayers will bring me home."...…."After tonight, my letters I send may be censored. Give my love to all my family and friends. Good bye Mother, Good bye Dad, Also brother and sisters. P.S. I love you mother. Love and Kisses to All , Charles"
When I write from his letters, they will be exactly as my uncle wrote them. No changes in grammar, capitalization, nor punctuation except in rare occasions to clear up any confusion. I will write his letters in Italics.
His words in this letter reminded me of my spiritual heritage and also the faith my uncle had with God and the importance of his mother's prayers to him. One can see hope in this letter but also the tinge of possible fear of the unknown by the way he closes the letter. It will be seen again in his future letters. He will be a typical soldier who believes in God and prayer but knows he doesn't really know his future when he finds himself on the battlefield. A paradox for many soldiers in time of war for thousands of years.
1942 Christmas Menu
Thank you for doing this.
ReplyDeleteI will be following your uncle story.
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