Sally,
Received your letter regarding your childhood. I need to
make a few small corrections. I would have e-mailed this to you but you never
seem to get items I send and I am playing it safe.
First off I was not drafted into the Army. I enlisted
shortly after Betty and I were married. During my time in the Army (WW 2 –
Korea) I was in three different components. When I enlisted in early 1942 I was
in an Ordinance Division, then in an Infantry Division. When in Korea I was in
an Engineer Battalion. I was a 1st Sargent in control of 180 men.
Your dad (Dewey) was not studying to be an Engineer. He
worked for Warren-Little and Lund. He was an accomplished man of many talents.
After WW 2 he took me to work with him and was the one that started my life
over again. I was not much of a so-called ‘Happy Camper’ when I came back from
the war. Your dad was someone I could depend and lean on.
I don’t remember hearing about your mother crying so much.
Guess it was a part of the time when we all cried for some reason or other.
Times were difficult back then.
I knew about ‘The Lights Out’ during WW 2 but I was not in a
place where people came to the door to notify you. Seems we were always in the
dark during my stay in the service. And again I heard about the Rationing but I
was overseas while you and others did without.
The subject about military men coming to your home was never
mentioned or brought up to me after I came home. I knew nothing about it. Betty
never mentioned anyone nor did your parents. Betty did mention that she had
someone from the Navy over (when we lived in Europe) during the time I was in
Korea. That was it.
Betty to me was the most beautiful lady I have ever met and
always will be. I loved her so much and I always will.
The picture of Betty was painted for me when I was in Korea.
It was painted on a rice or bamboo type (roll up) mat (shade?) Painted by a
Korean artist who copied it from a snapshot that I carried with me. When he
first painted it and gave it to me it showed Betty completely nude. He thought
I would like it better. I told him to take it back and at least put a bathing
suit on her. He did because the way it was I didn’t dare bring it home that
way. Joanne has it.
When I came home from the wars I had two Beautiful kids
waiting for me. You and Joanne!
Any other questions you may have just ask and I will try to
answer them.
Love,
Charles
