Jan 7, 1944
Hello Mother Dear,
Not feeling very good tonight but will try to write you a few lines. The tooth I had fixed at McCoy had to come out. The filling came out then I broke the tooth off eating hard Christmas candy. They couldn't fix it in anyway so out it had to come. I told the captain it would come hard and I guess he found out as he had to dig for it about six or eight times. Gee did it hurt. I almost passed out. The stuff they used didn't seem to freeze my jaw as things are hard to get. It was different then what we have. It was British made. I've asked for a partial plate but over here things are hard to get. Said he'd do his best for me but didn't know what the chances were. Everything will be okay so don't worry.
You were a little behind on New Year this season. Did you think of that? This is leap year too but you don't have to worry. The only thing in the world I care about is returning home, back to the U.S.A. Not much to look forward to here (rain and mud).
Hope brother is okay now. Did he have the mumps? I don't quite understand what you mean, does he work at S.D.W. What's the answer to no more work at the shipyard Sunday?
So Grammy Mains got my card? How about you folks at home? Did you receive the small gift I sent? Looks kind of cheap but not much I could do.
You still can write about twice as small on your V-mail. Your last letter was plenty large.
Is sister home from the hospital home yet? I must try to write her a letter. [He was talking about my mother, Waneta, who had my brother Jan. 1, 1944.]
I'm glad you're going to wait to get a larger frame for my picture as it might not look so good if you had cut some off.
I saw Merrilyn Thomas picture in the paper. Everyone is doing it (getting married) except me your old maid. Seems funny to read a paper two months old but I pick up a lot of news I wouldn't get other wise. I also see where that big rubber and tire place on Forrest Ave. burnt. New places being built etc. all in all things will seem strange or have changed a lot by the time I return.
I had a short letter from Helen [a friend]. She didn't have much to say but I guess Roland and his wife (maybe) are having plenty of trouble. I wouldn't be surprise if she wanted to get free then take take Helen L and the two race around. It's not that I feel Helen would care about doing that but you know how that red head was always doing something. Guess by now you heard about Mrs. Perry's little girl that got shot. They lived not far from Helen. She wrote the paper said I was in Ireland, is that right?
Tell Eugene one day while I was out I heard a noise in the trees. Looking up I saw a squirrel just about like our reds back home only it had long ears like a rabbit. Gee, what a funny looking thing. They have a lot of rabbits here. They don't use dogs here to hunt them with instead they have a little animal about like a weasel , it's called a ferret. They take them in a bag when they find a hole in the hedge they take out one of them ferrets and let it go down the hole , what a fight and out comes the rabbit. Later out comes the ferrets, walks around and you pick him up. I'd like to see it close up someday.
One night while on guard all alone away outside of camp I heard the darnest noise and couldn't make out what it was. I knew it was just over the hedge but what could it be. I stood still and then heard a sharp, yep. I knew right off what it was, about a half dozen fox playing or having some kind of a time. They are small about like our red fox and I've heard them at night before when I was back home. Everything like that seems to take me back home.
Well, Mom, not much more right now. Tell Dad not to worry about anything. It won't be long now. May not be able to get home right after this is over with but it'll be something to look forward to if I can just know the war is over. Say hello to all.
Love Son
Charles
South Portland's Wartime Shipbuilding
S.S. Lillian Nordica, WWII Liberty Ship
Item Contributed by
Nordica Memorial Association
Text by Candace Kanes
Images from Maine Historical Society and Nordica Memorial Association
Liberty ships built in South Portland from 1941 to 1945 helped the war effort -- and helped memorialize many Mainers.
The ships bore the names of political, military, cultural or civic leaders like Edward Preble, George Cleve, Ferdinando Gorges, William Pitt Fessenden, William Pitt Preble, Lott M. Morrill, Hannibal Hamlin, John Fairfield, Sumner Kimball, George Popham, and Loammi Baldwin.
Also honored were Sarah Orne Jewett, Lillian Nordica, Winslow Homer, Cyrus H.K. Curtis, William DeWitt Hyde, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Elijah Kellogg, Peleg Wadsworth, James G. Blaine, William King, William Pepperrell, Joshua Chamberlain, John A. Poor and James Bowdoin, among others.
One could study Maine history by exploring the lives of the people for whom the World War II ships were named.
British "Ocean" cargo ships and U.S. Liberty cargo ships gave birth to the South Portland shipyards that thrived from 1941 to 1945, employing about 30,000 workers, including some 3,700 women.
Redbank Village, South Portland, 1942
Item Contributed by
Maine Historical Society
Women began working in non-office jobs at the shipyards in September 1941. Some, who came to be known as "Wendy the Welders," were taught to weld. Others were painters, burners, crane operators, or riveters.
The workers built 30 "Ocean" cargo ships for the British government, starting in 1941, and 236 "Liberty" cargo ships for the U.S., starting shortly thereafter
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| South Portland Shipyard 1943 https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/856/page/1266/display |
* S.D.W. = S D Warren Paper and Pulp Company in Westbrook, Maine.
* Merrilyn I Thomas of South Windham, Maine married Ralph E Emery of Portland, Maine on 21 Oct. 1943.
Rabbit Hunting with Ferret
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