A Bit of a Mystery

Today’s letter was postmarked August 17, 1943 from Camp Haan, California. 

This letter leaves me with one of those mysteries that I may never solve. In the letter Dad says that he had been in 7 States during his trip to Camp Haan. He names them: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. He said in the previous letter that he had been on the train for 4 days and 4 nights.

However, the very first postcard, he listed his return address as Bruce Dodson, Co. E 140^th Infantry Regiment Camp Howze, Texas. He had written his return address over the post mark and date on the postcard, however. So, did he go to Texas for induction and then back to Indiana before taking the train to California? Also, his return address on today’s letter is Battery A, 823^rd A.A.A., Camp Haan, California.

Also, interestingly Geraldine lived in Princeton, Indiana when Dad sent the first postcard and for the next 3 letters she lived in Smithville, Indiana. It is funny that there is no street address in Smithville on the envelope...it just say's Geraldine Godwin, Smithville. Geraldine married Harold (Jake) Godwin and they always lived in very small Indiana towns over the years. Jake was a school teacher and basketball coach.

Dad also mentions that he "saw Jack Bowman in a beer joint..." So, I assume that the "Jack B." that he mentioned in the previous letter was Jack Bowman.