Recently I received 25 letters my father, J. B. Cates, wrote to his mother, Mattie Skipworth Cates, from 1941 to 1943. I have attached one for you to read. He wrote it after Christmas Day, December 1941 from Scott Field Illinois (about 30 miles NE of St. Louis Mo.). My father was born 1916 in Whitewright Texas. His parents were Charlie C. Cates and Mattie Skipworth. In the letter JB talks about a grandmother looking down from heaven that Christmas, she was Martha Ann Burnett Skipworth. Other family he mentions are, Joan (daughter of his sister Velma Lee Cates Anthony) , Junior and Martha (son & daughter of his sister Martha Lois Cates Chick) and in a post script mentions two men I don't know, Bill Head and George Bennett. My Cates family is connected to the Cate family of McMinn County Tennessee. JB's grandfather, UJ Cates, was born in McMinn County 1864 the son of Christopher C. Cate and Lutitia C. Russell. UJ allowed his name to change, adding the 'S' after he moved from Tennessee in 1885/6 to Fannin County Texas. This letter takes me back to the early days of my military career and provides a special emotion for me. It returns me to my past, my father and my profession. Life for soldiers in the barracks has not changed from my father's time, 1941, to mine as a private in 1966. I assure you that except for a more modern place, life is still the same in the barracks today. Soldiers smoke and joke together, and share goodie packages from home. I retired from the Army December 1997 after a thirty year career. Your Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Women, Marines, and Coast Guard are special, wonderful people. I hope you enjoy this letter, all twenty-five are like a history lesson. Scott Field, Il. Wednesday Night Dear Mother; I received your package the day after Christmas. I sure was glad to get such a nice gift from home. Made me feel almost as if I was spending Christmas with you all. The boys in the barracks enjoyed the fruit & cake as much as I did. We have a custom here that ever time someone gets a package from home, he shares it with the rest. So you can see that see that we soon done away with the eats. How ever there is still plenty of candy & fruit in the barracks. Those big oranges were the envy of all the boys. They asked me if they were grown in Texas, & ofcourse I told them sure. If you tell the truth no one will believe you, so just think up some big lie & they fall for it hook line & sinker. I'll bet all the kids sure had a wonderful time at home. Sure wish I could have seen them Xmas morning playing with their presents. Junior I know was making the girls step around. I can see Ann getting off in a corner playing by herself. But Martha & Joan I see all over the house into ever thing, making ever body step even you & Dad. I can still picture Grand ma sitting on the Divan with her head wrapped up smiling while she watched the kids play. I am sure she was watching you all this year from her home in heaven, happier that any Xmas before. Well mother some people here have all the luck. Several of the boys are being shipped out Friday to Victoria Texas. That is between Galveston and Huston. Sure wish I was leaving with them. The majority of them are from Ill., Mo. & New York & they are asking me a thousand questions about Texas. I have told them so many scary things that they are afraid to go. I told them to be sure and leave the girls alone, if they didn't the old man would shoot them. I am expecting to be shipped out in a month or six weeks. I haven't the least idea where I will go, more than likely further north. I don't think I could have enough luck to be sent South or North. Then again I may still stay here and finish school. However I am having trouble with the code. I listen to it for three & ½ hours a day, & it makes me so nervous & have headaches. So the DI said if my nerves & head didn't get better he would have me took out of school. You probably wouldn't understand the reason for this but some people can't be radio operators for this reason. I hope you enjoyed your Xmas this year. I was sorry that I couldn't send you all something, but maybe you will understand the situation I am in at the present. Someday when you and Dad may find it necessary for help, then I might be able to repay you for all that you have done for me. Mother my girlfriend in Belleville gave me a nice wrist watch for Xmas, and her family gave me a toilet set. My ex girlfriend in Detroit Mich. sent me a money order for twelve dollars. So I buy my girlfriend in Belleville a locket with the Air Corps insignia on it. If Nell knew what I done with the money she would kill me. Well any how she done a good deed for a soldier whether she knew it or not. The nerves in your head & ears are to sensitive therefore the sharp sound of the code makes you have headaches and nervous spells. You have heard the code on the radio. It is that musical sound that comes on just before the news broadcast. Well mother I must close and get to bed, I have to get up a twelve & do four hours of guard duty. So think ever body for the nice Xmas they sent me & tell Dad to take it easy & I might bring him a present from Japan if I have good enough luck to go over there. Tell the hound I sure thank her for the calf, but maybe she is where she can take better care of it. Good bye, Good luck, God bless you, & a Happy New Year to all. Pvt. J. B. Cates 34 School Squadron Scott Field, Ill P.S. Tell Dad to give my regards to Bill Head & George Bennett.