In the spirit of Memorial Day, thought one of dad's letters near that date might be okay to post. A taste of a WWII soldier's life. Sue Webb Bodishbaugh * May 8, 1945 TO: Mrs. Betty Webb, Station Hospital, Ward-12, Warner Robins, Ga. FROM: T/Sgt. M.Webb, 15018667, 1050 AAF, BU, ORD, Sqdn.M, Kearns, Utah VIA AIR MAIL .08 cent stamp, POSTMARKED: May 9, 1945, Salt Lake City, Utah Dearest Betty: Received three letters from you today. Air mail seems to get out here in two days. Should hear from you tomorrow, that is if you are in any shape to write. I want to know everything. [Mom was in the hospital, I'd just been born.] This V-E day doesn't mean too much here. All military personnel are restricted for 48-hours. We had to stand at parade today at 5:00 o'clock, fell out at 3:30 to get in formation. Must have been 10,000 men on the field. The sun was terrible hot, men folded up and passed out all around, must have been fifty passed out. This high altitude, app. 5000 feet and hot sun, plus over an hour standing in formation, was more than the men could take. I came through alright but couldn't have lasted much longer. Well, dearest, from the way men are coming in someone has to leave soon. Tomorrow my flight goes up in the mountain to fire carbine and machine guns. It is about 3 miles up there. Think we will be alerted this week. Still have no idea where we are going. One group went out not long ago, went to Russia and we have already got a lecture on cold climate. Do you need cigarettes? Sure a hard job to mail anything out of here, got about 5 miles to walk but if you want cigarettes tell me. If I am here will fix you up. Got plenty of candy here, up until yesterday could buy a box but not any more. We are starting to get a little PT, taking it in GI shoes, leggings and coveralls, sure is rough baby. Am only hoping Japan will fold up soon so this thing will be over. Say, that letter I wrote you Sunday and put the pictures and silver dollar in the letter, it was awful heavy, took it to the PO this morning and the PM said it would go free, so it went out today at noon, you will know when to expect it. Am sending you a copy of the CAMP KEARNS newspaper. Mailing it tonight, but FREE. I am awful tired tonight so must quit for tonight. I love you. Your husband, Mac Ps-We are having a dust storm and had wind, just put all windows down and closed the door. Looks like we may have to put on gas mask. Some wind and dust! Mac June 28, 1945 TO: Mrs. Betty Webb, 294 Matheson Dr., Macon, Georgia FROM: T/Sgt. M. Webb, 15018667, Sq.A-5-APO-19491-A, c/o PM, San Francisco, Cal. VIA AIR MAIL .06 cent stamp. "West Coast." Dearest Darling: Received your two letters today that you wrote last Tuesday and Wednesday. Life is very quiet around here tonight, only a few of us in the barracks. Most of the fellows are in town, trying to catch up on everything for the bad days ahead. Was in with HILL last night, walked in to the nearest one, and drank quite a bit of beer. So we are staying in tonight, but went to the PX for a beer. This stuff on the field, well, I just don't care for it, but they do have good beer in town. Maybe I should have went in tonight, hope to make it tomorrow if we can get passes. If no passes, well, we'll just spend another night on the base like the ones at Kearns. Rather lonesome here tonight, if there is any thing I hate to hear it is a boat whistle. They seem to be trying to outdo themselves tonight. It sure sounds lonesome when we know it won't be long until one will take us out. I am getting some practice on the future - writing. The mosquitos are worse here than in Macon. The barracks doesn't have screens so they are rather thick. I have my mosquito net on my bed and writing from under the net. Will probably get lots of that before I see you again. Mac >============================== >Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the >areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. >Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx