Desert Training

Here is a short video that shows a little bit of the "scenery" of the desert conditions of Fort Irwin where Dad was taking part in some desert training:

Yesterday was Thanksgiving

Post Marked December 1, 1943 - (Dad evidently wrote this letter on Friday, November 26, 1943, but it wasn't sent out until December 1. I am posting the letters using the Post Mark date as a guide.)

Hello Sis:

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we really had a good supper. Just like home. We are going to the desert Monday. It isn't the west range but camp Irwin. The tents are better there than the ones here. I will write you more tomorrow or Sunday. It is getting late and I will have to go to bed. So good night. Be good.

Love,

Bert

Geraldine and Jake

Since Dad is writing all of the letters to his sister Geraldine, and occasionally mentions her husband, Jake, I thought it only appropriate that I post a few pictures of them, so readers know what they looked like back in the early 1940's.

Here is Geraldine's High School Senior Picture:

 The next 2 pictures were taken on August 29, 1943, and I believe that Jake and Geraldine were at my Grandma and Grandpa Dodson's home.

The final picture of of Geraldine with my Grandma and Grandpa Dodson.

We Had Chicken, I got 6 Pieces

Post Marked November 27, 1943 (I think that Dad either held onto letters he wrote for a few day before he actually mailed them, or the Army held them for a few days before sending them. You will note this in an upcoming letter that I will post on December 1)

Dear Sis

Well I have a night off for a change. So I will write a few lines just to let you know I am still kicking. I have to go on K.P. tomorrow. But it won’t be so bad as there won’t be any dishes to wash as we eat out of mess kits all the time. We had a good dinner today. We had chicken. I got 6 pieces.

You keep asking about my weight, so I go weighed last night. I weigh 175 lbs., on the dot. So I have gained a little. I don’t guess I will get to go to town this weekend as mom never did send me my $22. Me and Bob N. have gone out together for the last two nights. He had to stand the expense. Did I ever tell you they had dance at our service club every Thursday night? But I still can’t dance.

You said Alca Dodson wanted to sell Dad his car for $115. Why don’t you try and talk him into buying it.

I received your letter today saying Jack got his greeting. I know just how he feels. But tell him not to feel to bad about it because a big guy like him can stop a lot of lead. Ha Ha. It’s not so bad and he aught to get in something better than I am in. (I hope) You ask(ed) me some more questions but I have forgotten now what they were.

I am going to school again now in the afternoon, learning code. I never did get time to write Clarke Rose but am going to write him a card tonight.

You ask if anyone ever wrote me. No one has, and I don’t care whether they do or not because I couldn’t answer them. I am going to try and write Mrs. McGee. Well I have run out of for this time. 

Good night. Tell Jack to be a good soldier. Ha

Love, Bert

(I am not sure who Jack is…or if Dad means Jake. Geraldine married Harold Godwin, who always went by the nick-name Jake.)

We are Going on a 4 or 5 Day Problem

November 21, 1943

Dear Sis

Don’t know much to wright but will wright just a few lines to let you know I am O.K. I am sending you some things you can put in your scrap book. I didn’t get to go on pass this weekend as I was broke. I will send you some more pictures or negatives later as we took some pictures Sunday. I won’t be able to wright any for the next few days aw we are going on a 4 or 5 day problem. This is like real war.

I have been seeing Bob N. quite a lot lately. We are alwas talking about our old home town. We will problay get our ferlows in January. Lucell Ball the movie star is going to be at the service club tomorrow but I won’t get to see her as we are going on that problem. There is going to be a show of some kind over there tonight, so I guess I will go. It is just across the street from where we are. Well I will close for this time and write as soon as I can.

Love,

Bert

Sorry I Haven't Written

November 18, 1943

Dear Sis

I have received several letters from you in the last week and am sorry I haven’t wrote back. But I don’t have time. I just got back from a hike and last I was on the telephone witch board. And Sunday night I was in L.A. having a good time for a change. I got a turckey dinner Sunday night at real nice plase. I am going to send you some paper napcuans, If I can find them. I forgot to tell you we are back in camp Haan now. But it isn’t any better as we moved in tents. But we can go to town anyway.

I have some empty shells I am going to bring home if I ever get to come home. I saw Bob N. today and he you wrote him I didn’t tell you much. Well I weigh about the same as I did when I cam in the army. And my keen is o.k. We go back to the desert in 3 weeks, for 7 weeks. And then we get our ferlows. If my $22 comes I am going next week end. Well it getting late so I am going to mail this and hit the straw. Good night. Love “Bert.”

Sorry I haven't written...

Post Marked November 7, 1943. Still out at the West Range, Dad say's in this post card. But heading back to Camp Haan on Saturday. They sleep where they can and it is just heavenly! LOL