Northern Ireland
Feb 16, 1944
Dear Mother,
It was sure time that I was writing you a letter. Last part of the past week I received twenty two letters in two mail calls and today got about eight or ten. Quite a few came from people at the mill in answer to the Christmas card I sent them.
Suppose you've notice the clipping at the top, well I thought I'd send it just for fun. We were having a class or discussion one morning when that fellow I once wrote to you about who would ask a question then answer it himself, pops up with the little article you see at the the top wanting to know who all had read or seen it, then did he laugh. After he had finished I asked him if he read the little note I saw in the next paper and I told him it was like this, I made it up ha ha. I read (and it must have been written by a Yankee I told him) that we now all know God made Texas but wanted to know one big question on all our minds and it was this, -- who in h---- made the rest of the World. He never said another word.
This is the newspaper article that began the above dialog
Lt. Col. Lester Lear, of the English Air Force, got "the latest dope" on the war in a letter from his wife. Mrs. Lear writes that the folks down in Texas have the war mapped out for five more years -- one year to beat the Germans; one year to beat the Japs, and the next three years to drive the "damn yankees" out of the Lone Star State.
Gee, Mom, I knew your birthday was near but couldn't think when. Wish I could find something to send, maybe can later.
Said you wanted to know what E.T.O. stood for. You see the United States is fighting on many fronts and each has a name. This is the European Theater of Operations or E.T.O. Do you get it now. All the names figure out the same.
Never make a bet because you figure it's four o'clock in the morning in Ireland that I'm always sleeping.
Oh yes I got a letter from Dot Anderson.
One of your letters really smelt good, full of powder I guess. ha ha no real berry smell either.
You wrote about homemade bread, gee oh gee what I wouldn't give for some white bread and homemade at that.
Joe's brothers have joined the Rangers so you wrote well that our outfit is just like the British Commandos. They do have to be ruff and train plenty.
You said Warren was leaning how to use the walkie talkie radio. That isn't much of a job. You'll see pictures of it in some magazines. So Warren broke up with his girl. What in the world is the trouble with so many women.
Has Helen been up to see you? I say no but maybe she surprised you as you said. Helen sent me a picture of some tree across from her house. The snow was on them and they sure were pretty.
All letters are censored here before leaving the outfit. Maybe they are being held up because of waiting to be censored. I may get a lot all at once.
Well Mom this sure is funny weather. One night while on guard it was cold as heck, everything frosty white and the ground frozen hard, the moon was out when I went off from post. The next morning early when returning on post it was raining and muddy so you see how damp and cold the climate is. The sun doesn't come up very high the next day so it makes a steam come up from the ground. Still many things stay green the year round. (Holly for one tree or bush.)
I got some more stamps today. Be glad when my pen comes.
Well, Mom, the fire is low, most of the boys are in bed so must soon turn out the one and only light. Will write again soon. It was quite awhile this time. Haven't sent Pauline a letter in over two weeks but you come first. Keep up and don't worry. Hope Dad's face is okay now. Gee, glad to hear you have plenty of wood even if it did cost plenty. Guess the storm windows help. Give my love to all. Though miles away, Home seem so close at times. Love Your Son, Charles
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A front is a line of battle. World War II, being a true world war, was fought on many fronts:
a. The North African and Mediterranean Front
b. The Atlantic Ocean Front
c. The Russian Front
d. The European Front
e. The Pacific Front
The United States Army Rangers are an elite rapid-deployment military formation of the United States Army that serve in designated U.S. Army Ranger units or are graduates from the U.S. Army Ranger School. In World War II some were involved with the British Commandos in the European Theater. Some were involved on D Day and others at other fronts.
Dot Anderson cousin of Uncle Charlie's ( daughter of Uncle Dave Anderson)
Warren was a cousin of Uncle Charlie's (Warren Knight, a son of Uncle Roy Knight)
Pauline his girlfriend that he's not been getting along with according to the former letters.
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