World War II in the Words of My Uncle: 3 Feb 1944 "Another Spat with Girlfriend" (Post #27)

Northern Ireland

Jan 3, 1944 (actually Feb 3, 1944)

Dear Mom,
How about a few lines? On the other hand why should I ask as I know you're always looking for mail.
I'm okay in health but feeling more like a duck every day. Hope Dad's face is better and all the rest are well. I hear there's plenty of sickness around the states this winter. Have you had the flu yet?
Had another letter from Pauline and she's having trouble with weak knees. She took about all the songs she knew and made a letter from them. It sounded like a school day letter, kind of made me put out, guess I said plenty when I answered. Don't worry I'm looking for her to pop the question any time. I'm giving her no reason for all this nonsense. I dislike the idea of her buying war bonds in my name and told her so. Oh heck, I'm not going to let it worry me much. Guess I'll write you a letter.
Last night received two cards and a letter. Christmas cards sent Nov 12 from you, Dad, and Eugene. The letter was written Dec 7 with the pink bow on a piece of paper. Helen was working on it at the mill. How was that for old mail? On the letter you wrote nice so the boys would think it was from some cute girl in the good old U.S.A. Well, Mom, you can't fool them that way because most of the time I let them know it's from you back in the best spot in the world (Home). By now, Mom, the Old Sun must be starting on the way back. Ha ha I'll never forget the things back home.
You're wise, Mom, not to say anything one way or the other about Grammy York. Tell them you don't know or have other things to think of.
Eugene is the only one left now at home as all are married outside of the old maid (speaking about himself as an old maid). Gee, I miss him, wish I could see him, not every fellow has a brother like him. Tell him to keep his chin up.
I'll say hello to Clarence as soon as I see him. Last time he said his mother asked if I was still any where near him.
Just got a V-mail letter. I'll be looking for my pen. You sure had to send it far to get it fixed. Roy Morton sure has been around.
Not much to write about so will say good night. Love to all. The word, home, gets sweeter every day. Wish I was back there.
Love Son Charles
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1. This letter is interesting in a few ways if one is willing to ponder the words he has written.
2. He dated it Jan 3, 1944 but the post mark is Feb 4, 1944. Also, his mother (my grandmother) has it numbered as No. 20. I wrote my last post from No. 19 written on Jan 30, 1944. She numbered each letter she received. So I believe Uncle Charlie meant to write Feb 3, 1944.
He is upset with his girlfriend, Pauline, again; he most likely was still not "thinking straight".
3. He is definitely homesick and tired of the weather. He wrote the word home at least three times. Some contributing factors on this melancholy letter.
a. Length of days: Shortest day in Portland, Maine 8 hours 56 minutes while in Belfast, Northern Ireland 7 hours 15 minutes.
b. As I read these letters, I think about a young man never having been away from home but now finds himself almost 3,000 miles away from home in a foreign country knowing very few people. He is not sure what the future holds, but very likely has scenes of war flashing through his mind. Their training exercises never lets him forget why he is in Northern Ireland.
c. We might forget that American soldiers died in Northern Ireland while being trained. As stated by by Chris Wilson in the online site WW2 People's War, "Unfortunately, as in all conflicts, service personnel lost their lives and the US troops in Ulster were no exception: natural causes, suicides, fights and brawls, road traffic accidents, aircraft crashes and misuse of weapons while training were the main causes." (1)
d. The weather had a bearing on the soldiers mental psyche I am sure. I have included some information about the average weather for the months of December-February. All of these factors and likely others were impacting my uncle as can be sensed in the words he writes in his letters.
4. Grammy York was my grandmother's mother. I am not sure what he is referring to in his comments about her.
5. Uncle Charlie and his brother Uncle Eugene had a special bond. They were about 8 years apart. Their other siblings were three girls.
6. There was a mild flu epidemic in the USA during the 1943-44 winter; Uncle Charlie must be referring to that in the letter.