April 3, 1942 - Dear Audrey

I am a cannoneer in the Coast Artillery.

This letter may not have been written on Friday, April 3^rd, but I'm pretty sure it was. I’ve included the envelope but the date is not clear, so we’ll just go with this. I think he did get a lucky break getting sent to Fort Banks so close to home. And cannoneer in the Coast Artillery sounds pretty good.

He is vaccinated and ready to go! EVERYONE IS VACCINATED. Note that Mom doesn’t have a phone in the trailer. Phones are expensive but there apparently is one at the trailer camp office. Less than 40% of people have phones, people still communicate via regular mail mostly. His mail will be free but hers will still cost 3 cents. I have to imagine Mom will shut down the Vicky nonsense pretty quick. They’re sisters and live together in East Hartford so this seems odd to me. What kind of drama is this?

Original Letter:

Transcript follows.

Boston Globe - April 3, 1942

There’s a lot of war going on - Japan is very active in the Pacific. Meanwhile in Winthrop, the busses went on strike so the police had to shuttle some commuters.

UPDATE – April 3, 1942 Boston Globe Evening Edition

Busses are back and everyone gets a raise!!

She's the Hero

This story is incredible. Sure the doctor is a hero but the real hero is Desanka who gave birth in a lifeboat!!! Can you imagine how scary to not only being hit by a torpedo but to then go into labor and deliver your baby in those conditions. Good job Desanka - the lifeboat mother.

April 3, 1942 - Transcript

Bat H 9th C.A., Fort Banks

Dear Audrey,

I should start off and give you the devil for not being home Thursday night. I pretty near risked my neck trying to call you on the phone. That Fort Devens is a madhouse anyway and when a company finds out it is moving, the fellows all make a mad rush for the telephone. Thursday night there were 5 or 6 companies moving out. I stood in line for an hour and you weren’t home and so around eight o’clock I tried again with the same amount of success. When I say I tried you again I mean I took my turn behind about 7 or 8 guys until I reached a phone. Anyway, we shipped out. Be we didn’t go far.

Everyone says we got a swell break but I am still skeptical. We will be here for at least 8 weeks and there is some talk of being here for the duration. (there are so many things to say that I don’t know where to start. Of course the things that are happening to-day won’t even seem worth mentioning later on) They gave us some disease shots in the arm this morning before we left and they have made most of us dopey and sore all over. I was especially feeling bad for a while but expect to feel better tomorrow.

They kept issuing more equipment. This afternoon the latest addition is a gun and bayonet, gas mask, tent and further field stuff. Pretty soon I’ll be talking like a soldier. Right now it seems that I am a cannoneer in the Coast Artillery. I don’t know what it means but I think it is a shade better than a yard bird. We have to go thru our basic training first before anything happens and that is at least 8 weeks. We are guaranteed for 3 weeks now and after that we might get a 24-hour pass. As I gage it, there aren’t any more leaves for the duration and so other than a pass, the only way for me to see you is to have you come up. We can have visitors at the main gate. Write me and let me know what you are doing. I can’t help worrying a little. Did you get my first letter? I didn’t put any stamp on it. Send me the blasted phone no. of that camp.

They put us out on the parade ground this morning here the first thing the captain did was pick out all the 6 ft. men and the fool picks me. I don’t know whether we are in a special outfit or not. Some of these guys are real big. It gives me a laugh. I wonder if they snore.

Tell Vicky to write a note too. It seems funny that you left Boston because we didn’t expect to have me stationed here in Boston. And here I am. The town here is Winthrop.

Well, lots of love.

Joe

Next letter is posted April 6, 1942

Comments welcome :)