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| "39 Days until Omaha" |
Somewhere in England
April 30, 1944
Sunday
Dear Mother,Here it is Sunday and as I've just finished chow will try my luck at a few lines. To be sure it will just be a few but always I write when I can even if it's not too much as I realize how much you watch the mail box. Have no letters from you to answer but looking for some in a few days.
Living conditions here are a little better and last night I found myself doing up a washing at one o'clock in the morning, that is all except a dirty (I mean dirty) pair of fatigues and a pair of leggings. I got up this morning after sleeping a little bit late and washed out what was left then it was time to eat. Had one of the best chows we've had in a long time. Here it is, chicken, cream potatoes, spinach, gravy, bread & butter, peaches mixed with fruit cocktail, and coffee. I had a nice piece of breast or white meat. Feel good now ha ha, why shouldn't I. One thing that's funny I never drink any water. I did have a half a canteen full last night, that's the first time I can remember in three or four weeks. Seems so funny because I always drank lots of water.
Guess by the way you write it will be a late spring. Those late snow storms just keep the ground from drying up so as to plow. One thing we can always remember the time will come, for there's a time to plant and a time to harvest. Hope Dad has a good year with his garden as it's a big help in the winter when the snow of Old Maine are piled deep over the country side.
Did I write telling Dad I received my magazine with the package of gum, well don't forget to thank him. Tell him this one is for a joke. The kiddies here ask "Got any gum chum" in return the yanks say "Got a sister mister" now you tell one. ha ha
Well, Mom, I'm just lost for something to write as I try to be careful not to say anything censorship wouldn't allow for you realize it's for the good of all, it's the safe way in this game for keeps. So until that day when we can talk it all over just keep praying. Love to All
Your Son Charles
When I read the word "chow" again, I began to wonder how that word started being used. So I found a few slang words originating or used by the military. Maybe some of you will remember using or hearing them. You still may use them.
Chow= Its immediate origin is a Chinese-English pidgin which was used by indentured Chinese laborers who built the railroads in and into California last century. Its pidgin use in an institutional or communal context in California seems to be why it still has links with military or prison life.
Oscar-Mike =On the Move
Ground Pounder =A term used to describe a military member in the armed forces whose primary job is being an infantry member.
5 fingers of death = name for the MRE beef franks, so named for their number and unpleasant taste.
Boot=Someone lacking in experience. A reference to "boot camp"
Perfect for Cleaning; Personnel for Cleaning=Unenthusiastic synonyms for Privates First Class
First Shirt=First Sergeant
Ginormous= traces back to World War II, gigantic and enormous
Umpteen=from umpty, an early-20th century slang word used in the military for an indefinite but fairly large number.
Raunchy=appeared in the 1930’s, a slang term in the U.S. Army Air Corps describing unkempt cadets
Skosh=from the Japanese word sukoshi, means "a tiny bit" or "a small amount." Shortened by U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan after World War II
Clobbered=British air force during the 1940's were supposedly the first to use it as when a plane was badly shot up (or shot down), it was said to be "clobbered."
Cannibalize=World War II, using salvageable parts from disabled vehicles and aircraft to repair others. Also when armed forces took away personnel from one unit to build up other units
Feel free to share others with me in the response section as long as they are "family friendly" if you get my drift.
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I knew my uncle's battalion, the 15th Field Artillery Battalion, helped support some of the Infantry Regiments in the ETO. One being the renown 9th Infantry Regiment. I began searching online and emailing a variety of American military sites. I was basically told, "You are out of luck."
Anyone who knows me finds out quickly I don't give up easily and can become quite determine to accomplish the mission placed before me. I may never have served in the military (though brothers, cousins, sister-in-laws etc. in my family have served in the Army, Navy, Marines, and the Air Force) but just as service men and women are determine to accomplish their mission so am I.
As those who read my last post, I became acquainted via an online site with Glenn Booker who is the chairman of the Barry War Museum in Barry, Wales.
He got me in contact with a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment here in the States. His name is Glynn Raby, Jr. By the time he was discharged, he was a sergeant. Though he didn't know my uncle personally, they were fighting in the same campaigns. Wherever, Glynn's 9th Infantry of the 2nd Infantry Division was fighting Uncle Charlie's Battery B of the 15th FAB was no more than a mile behind. They came home on the same ship, and were both discharged from Fort Swift in Texas just a few days apart. I HAD MY MAN.
Glynn, as he likes to be called, has given me permission to include some of his writings he has done for books and military sites in my future posts. Since his articles include the major campaigns, I will use them as the date of my uncle's letters dictate.
Though it is unlikely we will meet face to face, I already consider Sgt. Glynn Raby, Jr as a friend and a person I am proud to know as part of the Greatest
Generation. "Welcome Glynn to my blog and readers."
GLYNN and TOMAS at the 2016 PILSEN LIBERATION FESTIVAL
This is a 4 day festival of Pilsen celebrating their liberation from
Germany in May 1945 by the 2nd Infantry Division.
Tomas is one of many reenactors from Czech Republic.
https://www.slavnostisvobody.cz/en/
Very informative and entertaining! Thanks!
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