An Electric Iron and a Small Angel Food Cake

Post Marked September 7, 1943. Dad seems to be getting into the swing of things with is basic training. He mentions in the letter that he will be doing some additional desert training on larger guns that before. Oh...and an electric iron and a small Angel Food cake wouldn't be bad either!

Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana

I found a scrapbook that was kept by Aunt Geraldine in the bottom of a box that sheds some light on the beginning of Dad’s military journey. Glued in the scrapbook were a few post cards that are below. (It was a little hard to get them out of the scrapbook, scanned and returned to the scrapbook without ruining them, but mission accomplished). The first two are dated July 28 and 29, 1943, and addressed from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. The third post card is dated August 23, 1943 from Camp Haan, California. So, evidently his 4 day and night train trip was from Fort Benjamin Harrison and not Washington. Still not sure what the trip to Camp Howze, Texas was about. Maybe we will figure that out later.

Since we are so close to the actual dates that Dad’s letters were originally postmarked, I am going to try and make my posts on the same dates that he sent his letters. The first few posts have been off just a few days here and there, but starting after the Labor Day holiday, I will begin posting his letters on the same dates has he originally sent them…just 74 years later.

A Few Pictures

I thought it might be interesting to readers to actually see some of the people that Dad is communicating with and a few of the things that I have mentioned in the Blog:

Dad and a couple of friends before they leave for the Service. (Dad is on the right.) I believe this was taken on Main Street, Washington, Indiana.

Ella (Polen) Dodson, Geraldine Dodson (Godwin) and Ben Dodson

Dad is in the Army Now!

Mess Hall, Camp Haan, California

Dad in his Military Uniform. Note the Anti-Aircraft Ensignia

Dad (on left) and some buddies having some fun in the Hollywood Palladium with a weekend pass.

Take Care of Mom and Dad While I’m Away

Sounds like Dad is having some problems with his teeth in this letter. It also appears that Geraldine and Jake are living in Washington, Indiana with my Grandpa and Grandma Dodson. Dad mentions some others from Washington have “left home for their exam.” I wonder if that is why Dad went to Camp Howze Texas?

Didn’t Go Out this week, Because I only have $1.00

Interestingly, this letter was written on August 21, 1943, exactly 74 years ago yesterday. While the envelope was addressed to Geraldine, it was sent to 226 Ogden Street, Washington, Indiana. I think that was the address where my Grandma and Grandpa Dodson lived. 

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.

Might Go to Hollywood on Pay Day!

The letter below is dated August 9, 1943. Dad mentions Bob Neidige (possibly not spelled correctly). I do remember Dad mentioning him over the years. He also mentions a “Jack B” in the letter but I don’t know who that might be.