Letters Home From The War

part one in shared company

letters home from the war

Joseph Caroll and Hazel (Murray) Gregory on their wedding day.

Vincent Fromme made cat’s eye jewelry while in the Navy.

The censor cut words from Thomas Knowles’ letter.

Marvin Corbin, right, and brother Bob.

New experiences, routines This is the first of a five-part series that reprints letters from soldiers and sailors in both world wars.

Compiled by Martha Rasche

J

ames Himsel wrote home to Haysville to his brother Robert and his parents. Himsel will be 88 next month and lives west of Jasper.

One letter includes a reference to the Jerries, a nickname for the Germans.

The letters were shared by his daughter Wanda Haas of Jasper.

Aug. 30, 1944 Basic training in Texas ... I am writing this letter in my tent out in the woods. The reason I am writing this letter now is because we

are off whenever it rains and it has been raining around all morning. You mentioned that you didn’t know what course I went through when they shot over my head with machine guns.

Well, that is called the infiltration course. You thought that we should hear the wolves and coyotes howling at night. Well, Robert, whenever there is an Army camp nearby there are no wolves or coyotes, because it scares them away. However, the Texans here say that if you go farther from an Army camp you can hear them howl at night. By the way, yesterday was the first time I seen a real coral snake. It is the prettiest snake I have ever seen,

and I am quite sure that you would say the same thing. ... You always tell me to let you know when I get to drive a bulldozer. Well, so far I didn’t get to drive a bulldozer yet, but I have driven a 21⁄2-ton truck.

July 9 ... Our rifles always have to be in tiptop shape. Tomorrow we go out on the machine gun range but I don’t have to go because I am on kitchen patrol.

I guess after I’m in this outfit several weeks, I’ll have to learn how to take the machine gun apart and clean it and lots of other work. An engineer nearly has to know how to do mostly anything.

Oct. 5 ... Yesterday I got my new rifle, an M1, and I worked on it about five hours to get all the grease off it. It was packed in grease, as you know that all new rifles are always packed in grease.

There were not very many who got new rifles. I guess us who got new rifles just didn’t have good enough rifles to take across. You wanted to know what kind of clothes we got. Well, we got all woolen clothes and we figure to move out next week. Well, I guess we won’t go to the Pacific Coast after all on account of our clothes which were

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Today ■ Soldiers and sailors wrote of new experiences and of missing the old routines. Tuesday ■ Pigeoneer Marty Gosman followed the birth of his firstborn from a distance.

Thursday ■ The sisters of Calvin Voelkel and Lowell Gray have always wondered what might have been. Nov. 9 ■ Sailor Denny Bell — the father of two — wrote his wife almost daily.

Nov. 11 ■ During World War I, a soldier missed the farm he grew up on, and several servicemen were pen pals with a Jasper girl.

Herald

The Saturday

dubois county, indiana november 2 , 2013

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day, I never done very much in my time but what I did do was a little of everything. I’m rather proud, at least I know how to work; some guys I know can’t do that. That’s the advantage a small-town guy has. By gosh, some can’t even build a fire. ... p.s. Send candy, cookies, peanuts, anything to eat.

Sept. 2 France ... This evening we get six bottles of beer per man, a month’s ration. I think it’s French beer. ... I was planning on sending you another money order, but who knows, maybe I’ll get a chance to visit Paris. ... The apples are ripe and the last few days I have eaten my share. About all they have here and that’s orchards. These people use plenty of cider. They drink that instead of water.

James Himsel

Letters Continued from Page One

issued to us. I am pretty safe in saying now that we are going somewhere along the Atlantic, most likely New York. However, I do not think we will stay in Europe. I think we will move from there to the Pacific, because it is safer to that way than the Pacific. ... We are now in the Fourth Army.

Another reason why I think we are going to the Southwest Pacific is because we seen a picture today on malaria control. It will not be long and you will receive a card which will have my future address. Right now we don’t hardly do anything. Almost everyone is laying around the barracks and this is also what we done last week.

Oct. 12 ... Our commanding officer read us the points we need to go home after the fall of Germany and it seems I’ll be in this Army a long time. Ha! Ha! The way I figure I only have about 13 points. As long as I know you are taken care of, things won’t be so bad. I’ll gladly stay in the Army, just so a complete victory is won. ... This morning I finished my drawer in my foot locker, very handy. Living from a barracks bag is the most unhandiest thing in this sorta life and in some ways handy.

Frakes is sewing and said for me to tell you if you want any done just send it over here.

Ha! Ha! I’m sure if you could see some of the things we do you would laugh and laugh. We get by, though.

Feb. 1, 1945 Well, the headlines looked good today, the Russians being only 45 miles from Berlin. Here some engineer outfit is doing construction work and the Jerries are helping them every day. Some of these prisoners look as if they were only 12 to 14 years old, which they probably are.

M

aurice Leistner of Dubois wrote letters home to his wife, Alice. He referenced the point system that would be used to determine who would be eligible for discharge first. Points were awarded in several categories, including number of months in service and number of months overseas. The letters were shared by their son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Ruth Leistner of Dubois.

Sept. 9, 1943 Camp Riley, Minn. ... So far I have been getting a letter from you every day and I sure enjoy reading them. I wish I could save them and read some of them later on, but the way I have been sending them home is the best way for me to save them. ... The eats are getting smaller all the time. We only have rations for 85 men now and there are 104 in our company.

May 4, 1944 ... I’ll warn you not to lift any heavy boxes, please. I know how you were at home.

If there wasn’t anyone there to help you, you would try and do it yourself. You little devil — never was afraid of work. I wasn’t, either; I could lay down beside it and go to sleep. Ha! Ha! Like I told a guy the other

About this series A few months ago, The Herald asked readers for letters written by their loved ones from World War II. We received more than a dozen responses, including from a couple of people who had letters from World War I. Some readers had fewer than a handful of letters to share, while others had dozens, even hundreds. From now through Veterans Day, we are publishing excerpts from the letters received. The words are original to the writers, though some spelling and some punctuation have been altered.

Maurice and Alice Leistner Dec. 30 ... Almost too tired and sleepy to write but I’m so happy this evening so I’ll try and write a few lines anyway. I got 21 letters this evening, 10 from you and the rest were from the folks and Sis. ... Gosh, Darling, I sure miss you very much. Hell, I lay awake at nights dreaming of you. You are so plain in my mind, I can almost see you. Funny, isn’t it, how a person dreams. It’s the only thing that keeps a guy going, thinking of the loved one he left behind.

Tomorrow if I have a few hours off I’m washing clothes, only fatigues and I only boil them and wring them out, good enough for me. It sure will be good to get in some real nice clean clothes washed by a little lady who knows her stuff. One thing I’m not ashamed to admit that I really never realized what you done for me until we were separated. Gosh, Honey, a wife is everything a man would want in this world. ... p.s. Send cigarettes and eats.

Dec. 31 ... Frakes gave me a haircut, a very short one. You should see me. All the boys kid me and say I look like one of the Krauts. Ha! Ha! Honest, it’s the handiest to have it short. These damn helmets only mess up one’s hair if it’s long and doesn’t look like anything. Understand? ... Listen, Honey, whenever the time comes for my discharge from the Army, they can go to hell about a physical checkup as far as I’m concerned. All I want is out of this Army. Maybe they give you a big story in the papers how stiff a physical one gets before coming overseas. Well, let me tell you right now, it’s a lot of bull. I never said any-

thing before — it doesn’t do any good — but since you said something about it, I wrote the truth. I know several buddies of mine that haven’t got any business in the Army.

Every day one can read in the paper where some popular guy in sports or otherwise is getting discharged or either rejected from the Army for the same thing ails these guys I know. Then they say all men are created equal. By gosh, Honey, sometimes I wonder and wonder a damn sight more just why we are fighting. Personally, I know what I’m fighting for and that’s to live free with the one I love, a little redhead who lives way down south in Indiana.

left for war in 1943, Hazel went to work at a munitions factory in Evansville and then to Inland Steel in Gary, which was producing materials for weaponry, for two years.

She always said she had a vested interest in working in the steel mills as a Rosie the Riveter helping to produce war provisions: She wanted her fiancé to come back home safely. He did, on Oct. 31, 1945. The two married eight days later. The first letter here references C-rations, precooked canned food that fell behind A-rations ( fresh food) and B-rations ( packaged unprepared food) in desirability. Gregory’s letters to his wife were shared by their son Dan of Loogootee.

Jan. 24, 1945 ... I only have 200 franks ($4). That’s not enough to go to town so I’ll wait a few more days until I ask for a pass. Four bucks in the States is a whole lot; here it’s not worth very much.

April 3, 1945 Basic training in Texas ... We’re out in the fields and it rained last night. We’re eating C-rations too, so the package I had about four days ago is really coming in handy. It’s almost all gone except for a cigar or two. Things will be straightened out in a few days and we’ll start getting our mail and rations regularly again. These bad times always hit ever so often so it’s nothing new or unexpected.

Jan. 29 ... How are all the folks around home?

Still kicking, I suppose, and griping because they can’t get everything their hearts desire. What a world. Sometimes I wonder if people in the States really realize there is a war going on. Most of them do, I suppose, but then why do they complain all the time?

Feb. 5 ... Also got the paper. It sure gets here in record time since you are mailing it first class. Rich sure had a nice write-up. He probably will be back in the States before long. The lucky devil, but I suppose he earned it — 36 missions are many a headache. ... The only bad part about the paper is that there is always someone home on furlough. I envy those guys. ... For some time cigarettes were few and far between. Now we get our regular seven packs per week. Keep on sending, only not as often. I smoke plenty more than seven packs a week.

March 26 ... Yes, Honey, you are right as to where I’m located and it’s not Paris. How did you guess it? The town isn’t worth a damn anymore, can’t get anything to drink except champagne and beer. All the joints caught selling cognac, etc. to G.I.s are closed by military police. And another thing — too much brass keeps a guy busy saluting. ... Sure was glad to hear Rich is home on a 21-day furlough but am sorry to hear he must report at a rest camp in California.

That probably only means one thing: South Pacific, here I come. ... What’s so funny about wanting a thimble? My fingers are sore. Ha! Ha! I’m not worrying about you forgetting how to cook. That you’ll never do and as for me griping about the food that is one thing I won’t do, not for some time anyway. All in all, Darling, I’ll be pretty well satisfied just being around you. No one realizes more than I do what it has meant being separated from the one you really loved.

J

oseph Caroll Gregory met his wife, Hazel Murray, when both were students at Ireland High School. They got engaged before Gregory joined the Army, but they didn’t marry then because he didn’t want to leave Hazel a widow. After Gregory

A page of a letter from Maurice Leistner.

Oct. 6 Camp Atlanta, France ... I had thought I wouldn’t write anymore because I was coming home and they keep saying every day that we’re leaving here tomorrow. It’s about to drive me nuts.

I think we will be on our way in a day or two now because some of the other outfits are starting to move from here. We would probably be on our way if they hadn’t gone on a strike in the harbors on the East Coast around New York. Those dock hands were getting $1.25 an hour and a 44-hour week, too. If some of those soldiers don’t shoot up some guys when they get home I’m going to be surprised as hell. They say that they expect 8 million unemployed next year. We don’t like that, either. If they’re going to wipe their feet on us, we’ll cause trouble.

We do their fighting and what do they do?

Piss on us. ... p.s. I forgot to tell you. I lost my billfold on the trip down here. Lots of pictures, money, my address book that had all the boys’ addresses, my pay book and your lock of hair.

W

hile Vincent J. Fromme of Jasper was serving in the U.S. Navy, his wife, Cyrilla, was pregnant with the couple’s third child. Daughter Donna (now Collignon) was born Nov. 4, 1944.

The Mehringers referenced in one letter were the family’s landlords. Fromme was a deep-sea diver, or frogman, and the cat’s eye gemstones that he used to make jewelry were among his underwater finds. Doctors surmised that the breathing problems that resulted in his being hospitalized throughout his time in the Navy came from the deep dives. The letters were shared by Fromme’s daughter Carolyn Kuntz of Jasper.

November 1944 ... Honey, I’m waiting for the next mail call to find out what the baby is, a boy or girl. The suspense is killing me.

I wrote to Mother and to Lenore; don’t know when you all will get them, but I bet that when this war is over I won’t write another for 10 years. Haha. ... In the paper that I’m sending you’ll

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months. I hope I don’t have to stay here too much longer. I don’t like this country.

Oct. 17 ... I am just fine. I am driving a jeep now.

I like it just fine. I almost got a trip today to Frankfort but for some reason things changed at the last minute and they didn’t have to send a jeep down there. I would have liked to have gone. It would have been a couple days’ trip but it would give a person a chance to see some different country.

This picture was sent to Vincent Fromme while he was in the Navy. The youngest child, Donna (now Collignon), was born in November 1944, while he was in the service. see the reason why we don’t know what to write about: They censor the letters.

It is a good idea, though, because if they didn’t we would be putting too much in the letters.

Dec. 3 San Francisco Honey, I filled out papers so you will get 20 more dollars for Donna. I don’t know when you’ll receive it but it will start from the time she was born.

May 10, 1945 ... Honey, in your letter you said you were going to write Mehringers and ask them how much they want for the place.

If you buy it, buy it through the building loan. To tell you the truth, I don’t know what to say. Maybe you should wait. I’ll let you be the judge. Here’s what I had in mind. What would you do if they sold it to someone else? If places are so hard to get, you would be up the stump.

I’m glad to hear mother got her heart (jewelry). I was beginning to think that someone else got hold of it. I don’t see why dad made such a big fuss over it. The work on them wasn’t any art. But we don’t have too much time to work on things like that.

We work on things like that after evening chow.

Vincent Fromme May 15 ... I hope this letter finds you all in the best of health. As for me, I’m in the hospital. I don’t think it’s anything too bad. There’s something the matter with my nose and throat and have been having trouble with my breathing. I hope to be back on the job in a few days. There still a lot of Japs to take care of and one can’t do anything laying on his back.

It’s been quite some time since we had any mail. They are most likely using the planes to carry the wounded back to the hospitals.

By now you should be eating things from your garden. Wish I could sink my teeth in a nice fresh radish.

Aug. 21 ... Darling, I’m afraid you’re in for a big letdown if you’re looking for me to be

home for Christmas. I hope you’re right.

But this war is not over by a long way. It’s not as far along as the people in the States think. It looks like we’ll have to stay here to the end. ... Darling, I think you had better tell the babies that I’ll be home for Easter. Then they won’t be disappointed.

January 3, 1946 ... First of all, I am Harold’s friend from Chicago, Ill. Perhaps he has mentioned me but if not, he and I were pretty good buddies. I think he is a pretty grand guy myself and so does everyone else around here.

And it might interest you to know that in combat he was a very good soldier, worker and friend, believe me. Since the end of the war, he has been just as good a soldier but he certainly appreciates his home and wants to go back to you for good as soon as he can.

I want to thank you for the packages that were received and eaten by the guys around here. The one from Sister Sophia, whom I know is Harold’s aunt, contained candy, cheese, dates, razors, swell cake,

Sept. 3 Peleliu, Palau Group ... Well, it won’t be long now till we can write what we wish to. Today we heard over the radio that they are going to knock off censorship. It will be nice to be able to write and know that everybody won’t know your business.

This hospital life is the life. One can hear anything and everything. I bet the war gets fought over at least 10 times a day.

They have Army and Navy and Marines in the wards together. So you can see they all think their outfit is the best. ... The doctor told me today that I would be leaving here this week. I really think cool climate will help me. It’s a hell of a feeling to feel well and not be able to breathe.

Sept. 16 ... I’ve been feeling a little better the last two days. If we don’t get out of this place soon I’ll be all cured. The scuttlebutt is we’ll leave here Tuesday. Transportation has been tied up for two days on account of the storm.

Darling, I have a bracelet for you. It’s like the shell necklace. I’m sure you’ll like it very much. I’ve been selling cat’s eyes here in the hospital for $1 and some of them $2. You know how it is — got to transact business some way. I don’t have the machines to make cat’s eye necklaces.

I bought myself a new watch yesterday for $40. It’s a waterproof, 17 Jewel. And also a lighter for $8. So I turned around and sold my old watch that has taken a beating for $35. So that left me $5 in the red for a new watch. Got to figure out a way to make that today. ... I’ve got to have $1,000 on my hip to come home with. My baby is going to want a new house one of these days. By the time I get home, counting my muster-out pay, we should have close to $2,000. That will give us a nice start.

The hell of it is we’ll be needing a car, too.

H

arold C. Bartelt of Huntingburg wrote from Germany to Sister Sophia Bartelt, his aunt who worked at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. The third letter excerpted here was from a friend, Harold Tauss, to Bartelt’s parents. The letters were shared by Bartelt’s granddaughter Cassie Heile of Holland.

Sept. 16, 1945 ... Our Division is now in the Army of occupation. I hear that we might move to Berlin but I don’t know for sure yet.

It don’t make much difference if one is in a division that is for occupation or if he is in one that is going home, because all of the divisions that go home are filled with high-point men and they put the low-point men in occupation divisions anyway. ... I have been in the Army now 14 months and have been overseas eight

Harold Bartelt in Germany. socks, cigarettes, etc. plus some toilet articles that a guy certainly can use.

The one from his sister and brother-inlaw and his nephew was full of good things to eat also — especially the cookies. The handkerchief to uncle Harold made me laugh because my name is Harold also and I have two nephews.

Also got the box of cookies from Virginia and the box of popcorn and cookies from you folks. They sure were good and appreciated.

I sincerely hope that Harold doesn’t have to come back here after his furlough and that he can come home to you to stay soon.

T

homas Knowles was in the Army Air Corps from the time he was 18 to when he was 22. It is uncertain where he was when he wrote some of the letters, which were sent to various family members.

The Sept. 25 letter references his very dark suntan causing confusion about the color of his skin. The letters were shared by his daughter Penny Spangler of Jasper.

June 7, 1943 ... I suppose you’ve been keeping up on the news reports so you know about our latest victory. My home (a tent) is now near a small native settlement where just a few families live. They own cows that like to moo a lot and bulls that try and make little cows right in front of our tent (excuse that statement) and jackasses that bray in the middle of the night, dogs that howl all right, roosters that wake us up in the morning and sheep that think our tent ropes are something to eat. Our tent is right in the pasture near a community water well. At this well the natives water their cattle and the women get their washing and cooking water. ... We give the little kids some of our

Thomas Knowles candy rations and they go nuts over it.

I’m in good with the old man of one of the families and the other morning as I was just rolling out of bed one of his youngest daughters was there at the tent flap with about a quart of fresh milk and a couple of fresh eggs (no bacon). ... Sometimes after night chow we get a gang and a truck and go down to the sea for a swim. Where we go to swim are two sunken Axis ships. One of these is pretty well under water and when I swam out there, about 500 or 600 feet out, I only could find a bell, which I brought back for a chow bell.

The other ship is about the same distance but it is only sunk in a sandbar in about 12 or 15 feet of water. This one has a tank and two Jerry jeeps on it and a lot of ammo, bombs, flares, land mines and equipment. We’ve built a raft and hauled the most valuable stuff off. The stuff in the hold of the ship is mostly full of water but the other day I dove down in and hauled out a case of Jerry rifles and a lot of other stuff. I found a Jerry sailor’s blouse with an insignia on it so I took the insignia for a souvenir.

July 20 ... You know the story about the desert playing tricks on your eyes. Well, it’s true.

Last night I was on the last shift on guard and as I was walking around our well-dispersed planes I noticed one in particular. It seemed as though two men were monkeying around this plane that was about 600 yards away. There was a full moon out last night; that’s why I could see so far at night.

It seems to me that these men were dragging something, then they would stop and rest, light a cigarette. I could even hear a mumble and a cough now and then.

I snuck up on the left flank of them.

They seemed to work slower as I came closer. I came closer and they still labored at what they were doing. Then I went around the plane and they had stopped working.

The cigarette was out now and I couldn’t hear any mumbling. I worked up to about 50 feet of them and that’s when I was about to yell, “Halt.”

I looked real hard this time and what do you suppose I saw? It was just a couple of barrels and toolboxes and other odds and ends. It sure did give me a scare, though.

The cigarette light I saw must have been a light from the camp in back. And the sounds I heard. Well, in the stillness of the night, any sound will carry for a long, long way, especially out here. ... It must be pretty hard trying to figure out that point system. When I get home you will have to show me how it works cause I don’t get it. I’ve heard a lot about it but that’s all. Are potatoes and beans rationed?

If not, that’s my order when I get home: baked beans and baked potatoes. Just like you used to make ’em.

Sept. 25 ... Boy, have I been getting the razzing lately. The second day we were in Italy we saw a stage show. Wasn’t much of a stage show — it was just put on in the front of a building on the porch. It was Jack Benny, Winnie Shaw, Larry Adler (world’s best mouth organist) and one of the Yacht Club boys.

Well, the reason I’ve been getting a razzing from the boys is because in the middle of the show Winnie Shaw (a gal, she was in a lot of movies) asked me to come up on the stage and fix the mike. I was sitting right in front about two feet away from her. I didn’t want to

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New Foundlanders, Irish, Scottish, English, Canadians, Yankee (me) and even a Jerry. He’s a good sport and we are teaching him how to speak English. “Paddy” the Irishman from Tipperarry is a lot of fun. I like to hear him talk. Well, we have tea about five times a day and between teas I read, play solitaire or an English Marine buddy in the next ward drops around and we play cards on my bed. ... I’ve only seen one American since I’ve been here. I thought he was a regular G.I .until he told me he flew medical bombers. He said he don’t like to wear his bars as then us G.I.s treat him with too much respect.

M

Thomas Knowles documented where he was in during the war by carving the destinations on his mess kit.

Letters Concluded from Page Three

do it at first cause I knew there was a catch in it. Well, I went up and fixed it and started to sit down again. Then she grabbed me by the arm and made me stand next to her. Then she stood there holding my hand affectionately.

Then she said, quote, “I don’t know what you are,” unquote. I took it that she didn’t know if I was a black or a white man cause I didn’t have a shirt on. The boys in the crowd took it that way too cause they laughed a lot but she wanted to know my rank.

Then she asked me my name and a couple other questions. I forget now but they were jokes on me. (She was still holding my hand in a nice sort of a way.) She then said she was going to sing me a song and it was a lovey-dovey song but I don’t remember any of it. I was so self-conscious. During the song she made me put my arms around her and it made me blush, I think.

At the end of the song She Kissed Me. Boy, did this make the boys howl. I heard cameras clicking and even a movie camera going.

She left half of her lipstick on me. Then I sat down and Jack Benny came out and looked at me and said, “Boy, that guy hung to you like a G.I. girdle.” Then he said a few more things to me.

During the rest of the show Winnie would wink at me and say a few things to Jack Benny such as, “I think Tommy’s cute,” etc.

Ever since the show the boys are razzing me.

Meet the correspondents Harold C. Bartelt Sept. 30, 1922 - March 3, 2013 Hometown: Huntingburg Branch of service: Army Military jobs: ammunition bearer, assistant gunner Years of service: 1944 and 1945 Family: Harold and Doris (Taylor) Bartelt were the parents of Mike Bartelt of Jasper and Randy Bartelt of Huntingburg.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Bartelt was employed by the Indiana Department of Transportation to mow along roadways and worked at a flour mill in Holland before farming with his father in Huntingburg. He also hauled milk and was a woodworker.

They also served: Mr. Bartelt’s brother Glenn was in the Army later, doing intelligence work.

Marvin Corbin April 7, 1919 - June 1, 1984 Hometown: Art, in Clay County Branch of service: Army Military job: infantryman Years of service: 1940-1945 Family: Marvin and Sylvia (Smith) Corbin were the parents of Gary Corbin of Jasper and Kay Balbach of San Diego.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Corbin found work as a dry goods traveling salesman. The Corbins moved to Jasper in 1948. Six years later, Mr. Corbin and Navy veteran Robert Divine opened Corbin’s at Seventh and Main streets as a vendor of yard goods, ready-towear clothing and home furnishings. That

Especially our ordnance officer. Every time he sees me he says, “I think Tommy’s cute” or something like that. The rest of the boys call me lover, handsome, Romeo, Casanova, etc. I got a couple of pictures of Benny and Shaw (not developed yet). I’m looking up some of the fellas who had cameras and took pictures of me and Winnie. I’ll send ’em home to you if I can get some.

We hit the road, on the move, 10 minutes after the show. When we camped by the roadside that night, an English captain came up to me and asked me if the lipstick was off yet.

He must have been there at the show. I didn’t wash my face for two days and then it wore off, darn it. ... Love, Tommy (Cutie to you) December 1943 From a hospital in England where he was being treated for jaundice ... Now I’ll give you a little idea of how I spent my last few days. In the morning (5:30) a nurse (or “sister” they call ’em) pops in and turns on the lights and says good morning to each and every one of us. Then I get a dose of salts, almost before my eyes are open. I groan a bit, put on my shoes and grab a towel, soap, etc. and head for the washroom to beat the rest. ... Then I come back to the ward, about 5:45, in time to hear Reveillle (English) blown just outside my window. I tear my bed up, turn the mattress over and remake it and crawl into it. About 6:30 or 7 is breakfast.

Oh, yes, I’m not allowed to eat any fats, butter and stuff like that and you know how I love my butter. My meals are served me in bed. We fellas kid with each other a lot as there are

was the predecessor to Corbin’s Drapery, today run by Gary.

They also served: Mr. Corbin’s brother Joe served in the Air Force and his brother Bob served in the Navy. Marvin and Joe ended up on the S.S. United Victory coming home from Europe after the war — but neither knew it until they ran into each other about three hours into the trip.

Vincent J. Fromme May 28, 1918 - April 12, 1995 Hometown: Jasper Branch of service: Navy Military job: deep-sea diver Years of service: 1943 to 1945 Family: Vincent and Cyrilla (Schuch/Striegel) Fromme were the parents of Carolyn Kuntz and Kevin J. Fromme of Jasper, Donna Collignon of Tell City, Marcia Hall of Crystal and Larry Fromme Sr., who died in 2008.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Fromme owned a curb, gutter and sidewalk business and did similar work for other employers. He also was involved in construction and factory work and was an employee for the City of Jasper utilities. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards with fellow veterans and woodworking.

They also served: Four of Mr. Fromme’s brothers also served in the military: Frank Fromme Jr. and Thomas Fromme both were in the Army during World War II; Charles “Chuck” Fromme served in the Korean War after enlisting in the Navy and being transferred to the Marines; and Norman Fromme was in the Indiana Army National Guard. Son Larry also served in the National Guard.

arvin Corbin wrote letters home to his parents, Herb and Desta, in Clay County and to his uncle Scherb at the large dry goods wholesale house he worked for, Hibben, Hollweg & Co. — where Corbin got a job as a traveling salesman after the war. The letters were shared by Corbin’s son, Gary, of Jasper.

Nov. 11, 1942 ... Today, the 11th, has been a great day.

We celebrated by not having calisthenics, but the one that’s a’coming will be so great that we’ll never think of the 11th again. Yes, sir, and we think it’s a’coming soon since the new offensive has started in Africa. Let’s hope it’s coming sooner than it’s expected anyway. ... So Lester, Mutt and Art are all leaving too. Sure seems hard to believe that they have to go. Well, here’s luck to them.

May 9 Germany ...The war is now over in Germany and it’s just what we have been looking and praying for for a long time. I don’t think anyone was surprised. But no one got excited or did anything out of the ordinary yesterday when the “cease firing” order came down. Everyone just considered it in a way just another day for they know this is just another phase of the whole world war.

And knowing that we will soon be fighting again, why then should we celebrate it any more than any other battle? ...Well, Uncle, you would have enjoyed being where I was yesterday and watching the Germans surrender. They surrendered in every which way. For transportation they used anything that had two wheels.

(Here comes a long column right now.

They just passed. A very long convoy.

They were riding in and on everything. It it weren’t for the soldiers being in uniform you wouldn’t have known what they were.

Here comes the horse and wagon gang and maybe some artillery. ... They sure aren’t

Joseph Caroll “Joe” “Caroll” Gregory June 6, 1924 - Jan. 31, 2002 Hometown: Ireland Branch of service: Army Military job: artillery surveyor Years of service: 1943 to 1945 Family: Joe and Hazel (Murray) Gregory were the parents of three sons: Dan of Loogootee, Bryan of Santa Claus and Brad of Boston.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Gregory lived and farmed in rural Loogootee. He was a farmer, a director of the Haysville Volunteer Fire Department and a 4-H leader and enjoyed square-dancing.

They also served: Of Mr. Gregory’s five brothers, three — Hubert, Leslie “Bud” and Marvin — also were in the military. His son Brad was a linguist in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and his son Dan spent six years in the Indiana Army National Guard.

James Himsel Born: Dec. 16, 1925 Hometown: Haysville; he now lives west of Jasper Branch of service: Army Military job: bridge builder Years of service: 1944 and 1945 Family: James and Viola (Recker) Himsel had 10 children: Wanda Haas and Jim and Ed Himsel of Jasper, Mary Hohl of Santa Claus, Paul Himsel of Cloverdale, Angela HimselSacks of New York City, Elizabeth Eblen of Greenwood, John Himsel of Dubois, Sarah Himsel-Burcon of Pinkney, Mich., and Rachael Himsel of Harrodsburg.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Himsel was involved in construction, including the building of highways. He has always enjoyed traveling,

Marvin Corbin supermen anymore.)

Aug. 30, 1945 Camp Detroit, France ... Really getting a lot of mail from all of you and you can’t imagine how much I like that. ... Rumors are still flying and they are sounding darn good but I am not opening my mouth. No, I am not saying I’ll be home at a certain date again. You’ll just have to wait and in the meanwhile I’ll be sweating out every minute. Last week they said be ready, for our names were on the list to go in 48 hours. Well, what happens? This shipping list was canceled until a later date. How much longer, we don’t know. According to the papers it can’t be too much longer, but I just don’t quite see it that way.

Here’s hoping, though, that there is a surprise awaiting us and that you’ll be hearing from me at the great big city of New York before another letter reaches you. ... Sorry to hear George Haas sold his store for I had sorta figured on looking into that setup when I got home too. Scherb still says the house wants to put me on the road but I’m not altogether for it. I just don’t have that gift of gab for that to make any extra good money. I just hope my old boy friend Falney at Knox hasn’t been inducted when I get home. I know he’d help me all as possible. These two leads is about all I have when I get home — but suppose that’s more than a lot will have.

Contact Martha Rasche at mrasche@dcherald.com.

especially to New York City and Michigan, and he enjoys car shows and museums.

They also served: Mr. Himsel’s brother Robert was in the Army and their father, Ed Himsel, served in World War I. Grandson Derrick Haas had three tours of duty with special forces.

Thomas K. “Tom” Knowles June 13, 1923 - May 30, 1999 Hometown: Monroe, Mich.

Branch of service: Army Air Corps Military job: armament technician, aircraft machinist Years of service: 1941 to 1945 Family: Tom Knowles and his wife, Clara, raised five children, including Penny Spangler of Jasper.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Knowles worked as a draftsman at an office and stationery supply store, Weis Manufacturing Co., in Monroe.

He was an amateur magician and Boy Scout advocate and was an avid kite flyer, owning as many as 20 styles of kites. After retiring, he and Clara moved to Barefoot Bay, Fla. They also served: Mr. Knowles’ two sons served in the military, one in the Army and one in the Air Force.

Maurice Leistner Dec. 2, 1914 - Dec. 17, 1961 Hometown: Dubois Branch of service: Army Military job: military police officer Years of service: 1938 to 1945 Family: Maurice and Alice (Krodel) Leistner were the parents of Gary Leistner of Dubois.

Notes: After the war, Mr. Leistner worked as the shipping clerk at Indiana Cabinet in Dubois.

The Herald ■ ■ y o u r

community newspaper since

Payment after crash rejected

dubois county , indiana tuesday, november 5, 2013

1895

part two the pigeoneer

letters home from the war

By TONY RAAP Herald Staff Writer A Huntingburg woman whose car mirror was sideswiped by an ambulance believes the Dubois County Commissioners should pay for the damage even though neither driver was ticketed.

The commissioners on Monday rejected Marilyn Hopster’s request, saying it would create a dangerous precedent in which the county would be expected to pay even when it isn’t found at fault.

Hopster told the commissioners she may take her case to small claims court.

The crash happened just before 10 a.m. July 17 on Main Street in Ferdinand near 18th Street. The ambulance, driven by Memorial Hospital emergency medical technician Chris Miller, was headed north, and Hopster was driving south in a 2013 Dodge Ram, according to a crash report compiled by the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department.

The ambulance’s extended mirror brushed against the side of Hopster’s pickup, snapping one of her mirrors and scratching her driver’s side window, causing $600 damage. Both vehicles were hugging the centerline, deputy Tom Bell noted in his report.

Suzan Henke, the county’s emergency medical services coordinator, said Miller was not on an emergency call. Ambulances are owned by the county, but EMS workers are hospital employees.

Although neither driver was found at fault, “I feel that I should be compensated,” said Hopster, who argued that Miller should have taken into account the width of his vehicle.

Hopster, who drove a school bus for almost 25 years, said that driving a larger vehicle isn’t the same as getting behind the wheel of a sedan. She believes that Miller, who did not attend Monday’s commissioners meeting, shouldn’t have driven so close to the centerline.

Sheriff Donny Lampert agreed, saying “the evidence leans more against the ambulance because of the type of vehicle.”

“I don’t think anybody’s really at fault,” he said. “This was an accident.”

Still, “we should pay her and See CRASH on the back page

Tuesday Volume 119, Number 25 75 Cents ■■ Published in Jasper, Indiana ■■ Printed on recycled paper

Dave Weatherwax/The Herald

While Marty Gosman of Jasper was in Japan during World War II, he purchased a Japanese doll that he carefully transported home in his duffel bag to give to his daughter Sue, who was born while Marty was overseas during the war. Marty’s widow, Anna Mae, 94, left, and Sue Taylor still have the doll, seen here.

Awaiting news of a baby Marty Gosman was one of many servicemen whose wives gave birth while they were overseas.

By MARTHA RASCHE Herald City Editor A lot of people called Anna Mae Haller “Anna Mae.” Arthur Martin “Marty” Gosman always called her “Annie.”

The couple, who wed in 1941, met as students at Jasper High School.

Today Anna Mae Gosman is 94 and for the past three years has resided at St. Charles Health Campus in Jasper after suffering a major heart attack. The older of her two daughters, Sue Taylor of Jasper, shared with The Herald some letters that Marty wrote his parents, Bill and Emma Gosman, and little sister during World War II. In turn, The Herald asked Anna Mae to reminisce about those days 70 and more years ago.

Marty grew up on Seventh Street in Jasper and he and his older brothers, Jim and Bob, were servers at St. Joseph Catholic Church. They had a younger sister, Mary Jane (now Krempp). By the time Marty got to high school, the proximity of the family home to Cabby O’Neill Gymnasium made it convenient for him to attend basketball practice there and he became a hoops standout.

The Hallers moved to Jasper from Detroit when Anna Mae was a sophomore. Anna Mae’s dad, Cyril “Toots” Haller, owned the Rustic dance hall and was the first owner of the Schnitzelbank Restaurant.

Anna Mae became a cheerleader, and she was there to cheer on her boyfriend — a grade ahead of her — when in 1934 the Wildcats advanced to the boys state

basketball tourney. Marty was only a junior, but he received the state Gimbel Medal for Mental Attitude, the predecessor of what today is the Trester award.

Anna Mae doesn’t remember specifically that Marty did or didn’t like the attention, but she does remember that in general “he was very shy. He would kind of blush very easily.”

Marty worked part time at Wilson’s Drug Store downtown during high school. After graduation, he went on to Butler University in Indianapolis to study botany and zoology.

Anna Mae stayed behind in Jasper, living with her parents, first graduating from high school and then working part See GOSMAN on Page 4

■ Saturday Soldiers and sailors wrote of new experiences and of missing the old routines. ■ Today Pigeoneer Marty Gosman followed the birth of his firstborn from a distance. ■ Thursday The sisters of Calvin Voelkel and Lowell Gray have always wondered what might have been. ■ Nov. 9 Sailor Denny Bell — the father of two — wrote his wife almost daily. ■ Nov. 11 During World War I, a soldier missed the farm he grew up on, and several servicemen were pen pals with a Jasper girl.

Inside

Headlines

Advice..................................... 14 Classifieds......................... 19-21 Comics.................................... 23 Entertainment.......................... 22 Local and state....................... 3-8 Nation and world................. 17-18 People.................................. 9-12 Sports................................ 24-27 Viewpoint................................ 16

Grant for planting A tree-planting project funded by a grant added 30 trees to 18th Street Park in Ferdinand.

Page 3.

Much like Earth Scientists have calculated

that one in five sunlike stars has an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone — and just might be be capable of supporting life. Page 17.

Hazards of coaching Two NFL coaches spent last weekend in hospitals.

How much is too much in a profession that demands results? Page 24.

page 4 ■ local & state

the herald ■ Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Marty, second from left, and Anna Mae Gosman posed for a photograph with Marty’s parents, Bill and Emma Gosman.

Gosman Concluded from Page One

time at her parents’ businesses and babysitting a younger brother and sister.

“I was always plenty busy doing something while (Marty) was in school,” she says.

Marty was president of the Sigma Nu fraternity at Butler, and he invited his girlfriend to all of the fraternity dances.

She caught the Greyhound bus from Jasper to Indianapolis.

“Oh, yes, I got to go to the college dances, the fraternity dances,” Anna Mae recalls proudly. “It always was kind of a little extra special because I was his girlfriend. Some of the girls didn’t much like that because (they thought) he should have gone with somebody from his class or something. “‘No,’ he said, ‘my girl will come.’ OK, and I sure did. ... I took that bus every time.

I stayed at the hotel and (Marty) would have one of his buddies come and get me to go to the dance and they would bring me back. That was an honor to go to a fraternity dance back then.”

After graduating from Butler in 1940, Marty got a job tending bar at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jasper. He and Anna Mae married Oct. 7, 1941, two years after the start of World War II. As the war continued, Marty enlisted in the Army in September 1943. Both of his brothers already were serving.

Jim, a doctor specializing in dermatology, had enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1941 and ran a medevac surgical unit. As a flight surgeon, he was flown to the most critically injured in the field to perform life-saving surgery. He achieved the rank of major and earned a Legion of Merit Award for developing a protective device to help prevent pilots from getting frostbitten ears.

Bob, a dentist, joined the Army Dental Corps in 1942 and achieved the rank of captain. Before and after the war he practiced dentistry in Jasper until moving his practice to the new Holland Clinic in 1967.

When Marty reported to the 38th Signal Training Battalion, Company C, at Camp Crowder, Mo., Anna Mae moved to southwest Missouri too. She and two other solders’ wives from Lexington, Ky., each rented a room in a private home in Neosho, a community north of the camp, for $1 a day.

“I was there for quite some time,” Anna

Mae says, and “went over a couple times to visit at the camp.”

A letter to Marty’s parents from Camp Crowder on June 7, 1944, was written by Anna Mae. “So the big invasion has started. I know everyone in Jasper was as excited as we were in Neosho,” she wrote. “Everyone here at the house was up very early listening to the radio. I didn’t know what was going on. We were having trouble with our radio, so I couldn’t hear anything. We had to buy a new tube. It’s working fine again.

So now I can hear the news.”

Four months later, Marty was well into

his work as a pigeoneer— caring for and training homing pigeons, which carried messages to communicate during the war.

And a pregnant Anna Mae was back in Indiana, moving among relatives, never staying at any one place very long.

“Mother would go from relative to relative so she wouldn’t be a burden on just one person when it came to food or soap and all of that,” daughter Susan says, noting that many items were being rationed on the homefront. “She just kind of floated around.”

“I was at my aunt’s, at my grandmother’s, at my mother’s,” Anna Mae adds. “I

As a member of the Army Air Force, Marty worked as a pigeoneer — caring for and training homing pigeons, which carried messages to communicate during the war.

didn’t have a home. I lived with somebody.”

Marty wrote his dad Oct. 10: “Everything is the same here except we are getting so many birds shipped here we can’t hardly take care of them. The fellows are raising plenty of hell about the work. You see, I belong to the veterinary detachment and don’t have to scrape pigeon crap and as a result the big-shot pigeoneers (so they think) are bitching.”

The letter also included a note that the company had played a basketball game the night before and beat Company D, 38-24.

A letter written Oct. 30 read, “We still have thousands of pigeons here and they are finally preparing to ship some of them back to their civilian owners.”

In November, letters home started to come from San Francisco.

“I have moved again and now am somewhere on the West Coast. Am sorry I haven’t written lately, but we weren’t permitted to write until after the censorship lecture. Everything is fine here except the monotony of moving from place to place,” he wrote Nov. 4.

“As soon as the baby arrives, be sure to take the birth certificate to the local Red Cross at Jasper so that Annie will get the extra $30 allotment as soon as possible. Also be sure to inform me. Possibly the best method would be contact the Red Cross about sending a message.”

He was hoping to get a pass so he could go into the city to get his wife a Christmas gift, but passes were hard to come by and he doubted he would get one.

On Nov. 15, he wrote that his orders had come through and he would be on his way to another camp in California two days later.

“Am being shipped as a pigeoneer, veterinary lab technician and field wire man.

My going to Camp Beale doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll go overseas, so I hope everyone doesn’t get excited.”

Two weeks later, he wrote from Camp Beale: “I imagine you have suspected what is happening to me. In case you haven’t, I am on orders for an overseas shipment and am to leave here Friday for a port of embarkation station. Rumors are that it will be Camp Stone near San Francisco. Have been issued all new equipment and it’s not for a cold climate. It includes mosquito netting, etc., but it doesn’t mean a thing, you know. They issue a lot of equipment one day and change it the next, so we might go anywhere. We may not be going anywhere out of the States, but it seems rather definite that we are going to the islands.”

As he usually did, he added at least a

The Herald ■ ■ y o u r

community newspaper since

dubois county , indiana thursday, november 7, 2013

1895

Citing changes, principal to retire

part three two who never came home

letters home from the war

By CLAIRE MOORMAN Herald Staff Writer

dave weatherwax/the herald

Calvin Voelkel, who grew up on the western edge of Dubois County near Otwell and joined the Army in 1944, was 21 years old when he was killed by sniper fire in Kassel, Germany, on April 14, 1945. Calvin’s sister Sadie Sermersheim of Jasper has his Purple Heart medal as well as the flag that draped his casket.

What might have been The stories of a sailor and a soldier who gave their lives for their country in World War II.

By MARTHA RASCHE Herald City Editor Lowell Keith Gray, who grew up in rural Washington and joined the Navy in 1942, was 22 years old when the submarine he was on, the USS Pompano, was considered lost at sea and he was declared missing in action on Oct. 15, 1943.

He was one of Juanita Hoffman’s eight brothers who served in World War II. The others came home, but Lowell did not.

“I think about it all the time,” Hoffman says, recalling that her fun-loving brother was a good artist and an excellent cook.

Calvin A. Voelkel, who grew up on the western edge of Dubois County near

Otwell and joined the Army in 1944, was 21 years old when he was killed by sniper fire in Kassel, Germany, on April 14, 1945.

Voelkel’s sister Sadie Sermersheim has always wondered what might have been for her big brother, who was nicknamed “Red” because of his hair color. He had earned the title of Dubois County’s top overall student when he graduated from the eighth grade and also had completed high school by the time he joined the military.

“He would have been something,” Sadie says, her voice trailing off.

Both Juanita and Sadie now live in Jasper and shared some of their brothers’ letters from the war with The Herald.

Calvin wrote to his oldest brother, Radius “Butch” Voelkel, from Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas, where Calvin was at the Infantry Replacement Training Center with Company D of the 109th Battalion.

Butch had been deferred from wartime service because he was working for a farmer, says Sadie, now 77, the youngest of Walter and Florence Voelkel’s 10 children. Walter had served in World War I, and some of his other sons — Lee, Charles and Glen — also contributed military service to their country at one time or another.

“Say, this training is really great See LETTERS on Page 4

■ Nov. 2 Soldiers and sailors wrote of new experiences and of missing the old routines. ■ Nov. 5 Pigeoneer Marty Gosman followed the birth of his firstborn from a distance. ■ Today The sisters of Calvin Voelkel and Lowell Gray have always wondered what might have been.

■ Saturday Sailor Denny Bell — the father of two — wrote his wife almost daily. ■ Monday During World War I, a soldier missed the farm he grew up on, and several servicemen were pen pals with a Jasper girl.

Thursday Volume 119, Number 27 75 Cents ■■ Published in Jasper, Indiana ■■ Printed on recycled paper

Inside

Headlines

Advice..................................... 14 Classifieds......................... 22-24 Comics.................................... 28 Entertainment..................... 25-28 Local and state....................... 3-7 Nation and world................. 16-21 People.................................. 8-12 Sports................................ 29-35 Viewpoint................................ 15

Jessee to retire A shift in the state standards contributed to the deicision of Forest Park High School’s principal to retire. Page 3.

Twitter surges If Twitter’s bankers and

FERDINAND — Forest Park Junior-Senior High School Principal Jeff Jessee will retire at the end of the calendar year after 11 years in the position.

The Southeast Dubois School Board accepted his notice of retirement at a meeting Wednesday and thanked him for his service to the Jessee corporation.

“Mr. Jessee, we appreciate all that you’ve done for us,” board President Kent Uebelhor said. “We hate to see people go, but we understand there are times when they are ready to try other things in their lives.”

Jessee, 55, worked his first teaching assignment in the music department at Vincennes Lincoln High School for four years beginning in 1981. He then became a choral music teacher at Jasper High School for the next three years before moving to Tell City Junior-Senior High School as an assistant principal for two years, back to JHS as an assistant principal for six years, and then to Washington High School as the principal for seven years.

Jessee said that the impetus for his retirement, which will become effective Dec. 31, was the many changes handed down by the state, which educators have recently struggled to embrace. He said the increases in yearly testing and assessments and the changes in state learning standards were not what drew him to education originally.

“It’s time,” he said. “I still enjoy working with kids a great deal, and I will miss that. (Administrating) was a challenge that I just really grasped and I’ve enjoyed it.”

Jessee, a native of Austin, graduated from Indiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1980. He returned to the school for his master’s degree in 1983 and his principal’s license in 1988.

Jessee and wife Leah, who is the principal at Fifth Street School in Jasper, live in Jasper and have See PRINCIPAL on the back page

executives were hoping for a surge on the day the stock’s debuted, they got it. Page 16.

It’s them again Jasper is plenty familiar with Evansville Reitz. Southridge has seen Evansville Mater Dei a bunch. The two schools are ready for sectional title game clashes with their postseason nemeses. Pages 29 and 31.

page 4 ■ local headerhere & state

the herald ■ Thursday, November 7, 2013

Letters Concluded from Page One

stuff,” Calvin wrote on Sept. 10, 1944. “Up in the morning at 5 now and they will probably be getting us out still earlier a little later. They wallow us around on our belly, give us exercise, feed us a lecture, drill us and then at night when most are worn out they will send us on a run. The run is the one thing I can hold my own on. I have so far been one of the first, if not the first, in from our platoon.”

Remembering the farm fondly, the private first class wrote that he was sure his brother was getting in some squirrel hunting and that their mother kept busy canning peaches.

Sadie, who was 8 when her brother died, recalls that her parents often followed the battles in Europe by listening to the radio. Despite Calvin’s letters home being censored — “Mom would get letters that were ripped to shreds,” Sadie says — the Voelkels seemed to sense when their son was in particular danger.

Mr. Voelkel learned of his son’s death inadvertently while on a routine trip to the Otwell mill with the horse and wagon to get feed. The telegram relaying the news had arrived in town, but it hadn’t been delivered to the farm yet. Mr. Voelkel heard some people talking about it, and returned home to tell his wife.

The telegram arrived at the farm some time later as did, Sadie remembers, a couple of men in uniform riding motorcycles.

In the Gray family, Lowell was married by the time he signed up for the Navy, and he hadn’t told his parents, Roy and Ollie, that he had done so. “He tried to get gone without me knowing,” his mom wrote to son Maurice, who was in the Army at the time.

But Mrs. Gray happened to send Lowell a card and an invitation to supper that he received just before he left home, so he came to the farm to visit.

From the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill., where he was with the 19th Battalion, 14th Regiment, Lowell wrote on Oct. 1, 1942, that he was “getting along fine and liking the Navy better every day.”

He planned to be home on furlough in a few days, after training ended. Then he would be sent to Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay, but he didn’t know what would happen from there.

“I think I made service school. I took up aviation mechanic and motor mechanic, but I don’t know if I’ll get it or not,” he wrote. “If I don’t, I’ll take up cooking or hospital corps. That would be about next to the best.”

On that trip home shortly thereafter, Lowell saw his 3-month-old daughter, Donna Jo, for the first and only time.

Lowell visited his parents and younger siblings on the farm, and when he left, heading to a brother’s house nearby to catch a ride, Juanita remembers watching him walk away with his duffel bag thrown over his shoulder.

“When he was ready to get in the car, he turned around and waved,” says Juanita, who was 12 when her brother died and now is 81. “Mom said right away, ‘He’ll never be back. That will be the last time you see him.’”

On Oct. 23, Lowell wrote from Treasure Island to Maurice at the Walla Walla (Wash.) Army Air Base.

Answering a question his brother had asked about finances, Lowell relayed that he was earning $50 a month and was sending $22 of it home to his wife, Eleanor.

“The government sends her $28 and Donna Jo $12; that makes $62 altogether. And I wash all my own clothes so I don’t have to pay any laundry bill. So I guess I’ll make it OK — if I ever get that payday. I think we’re supposed to get paid the fifth of the month. I took out $5,000 worth of insurance, too. That cost me $3.60 a month and that’s about all I have to pay out except for cigarettes and candy and stuff like that.”

“Boy, this is a swell place,” he wrote.

“But I don’t know how long we will stay here.”

At home, Mrs. Gray would sit at the kitchen table where Juanita and her sister Mary were doing their homework and write her sons — Lowell, Ardith, Robert, Clifford and Dimple in the Navy and Maurice, Dennis and Gene in the Army — several evenings a week.

Left: A portrait of Calvin Voelkel. Right: Lowell Gray is pictured with his 3-month-old daughter, Donna Jo, in 1942, the first and only time he saw her before he was killed in action during World War II. Gray had the chance to see his daughter while on furlough for a few days between training at the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill., and being sent to Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay.

The USS Pompano left Midway Island in the North Pacific Ocean on Aug. 20, 1943, with Gray onboard. The submarine did not return on schedule and official records of the Navy Department list its occupants missing in action as of Oct. 15, 1943.

“To this day I can’t imagine how she lived through” having eight sons in the war, Juanita says.

The USS Pompano left Midway Island in the North Pacific Ocean on Aug. 20, 1943.

The submarine did not return on schedule and official records of the Navy Department list its occupants — including Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Lowell Keith Gray — missing in action as of Oct. 15, 1943.

Mrs. Gray had “just begged Lowell not to go on that submarine,” Juanita shares, but Lowell said he wanted the excitement.

“I guess he died doing what he wanted to do.”

Contact Martha Rasche at mrasche@dcherald.com.

About this series A few months ago, The Herald asked readers for letters written by their loved ones from World War II. We received more than a dozen responses, including from a couple of people who had letters from World War I. Some readers had fewer than a handful of letters to share, while others had dozens, even hundreds. From now through Veterans Day, we are publishing excerpts from the letters received. The words are original to the writers, though some spelling and some punctuation have been altered.

This letter, signed by then-Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and dated Jan. 11, 1946, was sent to Gray’s parents to inform them that because of the amount of time that he had been missing in action since Oct. 15, 1943, (the letter mistakenly lists Oct. 5) after the USS Pompano had gone missing, he was considered to be deceased.

part four on the hospital ship

letters home from the war

Dennis “Denny” Bell was 32 when he left Jasper to join the Navy in 1944, leaving behind his wife, Jenny, daughter Judy, 3, and son Kenny, 2.

‘Good evening darling’ Pharmacist Denny Bell wrote to his wife, Jenny, nearly every day of his World War II service.

Compiled by Martha Rasche When Dennis “Denny” Bell left his home on East Ninth Street in Jasper for the Navy on April 3, 1944, he was 32 and established in a career as a pharmacist.

He and the former Genevieve “Jenny” Schuetter had been married just shy of five years, and he wrote to her nearly every day. “Good evening Darling,” his letters routinely began.

He wondered whether his daughter, Judy, 3, and son, Kenny, who was 2, would even remember him when he returned home. When Judy called him “Father” in a phone call some months into his tour of duty, “that made it sound almost like I was a perfect stranger,” he wrote to his wife.

“Of course, I guess to them I am. I like ‘Daddy’ much better.”

In September 1944, he referenced

additional pay he was making outside of the Navy; he had a part-time job as a pharmacist at a Rexall drug store in San Francisco.

Like the letters of thousands of other soldiers, some of his were sent via V-mail, a process used by the U.S. War Department to save letters to microfilm before sending them by air between the theaters of war and the USA. That saved untold tons of shipping space, going both ways. Upon the letters’ arrival, they were printed back to paper and sent on to their destination.

It wasn’t until October 1945, after censorship was lifted, that Denny wrote his wife about some events of the previous March. Copying from a journal he kept throughout his service, he described how massive the “powerhouse” U.S. Navy fleet was and shared his reaction to experiencing his first casualties of war.

He returned to Jasper in early December 1945. He and Jenny went on to be part-owners and operators of what was then Flick’s Drug Store in Jasper.

Daughter Judy is now Sister Judith Ann Bell, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in St. Louis. She is 73.

Kenny went on to marry Jane Sermersheim and have three children: Tim, Tom and Mike. Tim, 49, of Jasper, shared his grandfather’s letters with The Herald.

Denny died in 2004 at age 92; Kenny died of melanoma in 2005 at age 64; and Jenny died in May of last year at age 97.

April 6, 1944 Company 736 - U.S. Navy Training Station Great Lakes, Ill. Hello Darling, I guess I am now a seaman cause we took our physical exam this after-

noon and it was an exam. They are if anything stiffer up here than at Evansville and I did not see anything wrong down there. All in all today’s exam was our third — Evansville, Indianapolis and here. ... We left Jasper at 8 and of all things about 28 miles from Indianapolis the bus ran out of gas. I hope I see the day yet that a post office runs out of stamps. We got to Indianapolis to (get) fingerprinted, fixed up allotment papers, had our physical, were off from 4 to 5, had a beer and went back ... to get sworn in at 5.

April 9 Easter Sunday ... I am at Great Lakes. Our ... training started Friday and is to last five weeks. That would be swell if after (training) we could go home for good

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Nov. 2 ■ Soldiers and sailors wrote of new experiences and of missing the old routines. Nov. 5 ■ Pigeoneer Marty Gosman followed the birth of his firstborn from a distance.

Nov. 7 ■ The sisters of Calvin Voelkel and Lowell Gray have always wondered what might have been. Today ■ Sailor Denny Bell — the father of two — wrote his wife almost daily.

Monday ■ During World War I, a soldier missed the farm he grew up on, and several servicemen were pen pals with a Jasper girl.

Herald

The Saturday

dubois county, indiana november 9 , 2013

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the herald ■ Saturday, November 9, 2013

Bell

Continued from Page One but God knows how long we are in for. It’s not a bad life, lots of red tape and such but good food and plenty of it but it’s no place for a man with a family. ... Saturday morning we stood inspection. Boy, you sure have to keep these places clean. You even steel-wool the floors and stairs. After dinner we had our seabags stenciled and then we were free to wash clothes. (Before I go any further we are wearing long underwear. I think we get to change to shorts April 15th, I hope.) I washed my bed sack (sheet) and pillowcase and white hats. The white hats I washed to shrink them. You ought to see that washroom with all the guys scrubbing and not a one including myself knows where to begin or how. Is it better to turn the stuff inside out when you wash? We have no machine, of course, just a flat, slanted, metal top on which we can lay our stuff and use the scrub brush they dished out to us.

April 14 Did you get your first check yet? If not, you may get it in the next few days; but if you don’t, you will get it soon. The guys that run this outfit (Navy training station) are about as much at sea as we are. It’s really laughable to think the bosses are as much muddled as us poor rookies. They are taking them in apparently so fast they can’t keep up with them.

About your check — we got our first pay Wednesday, $5. The Flying Five, they call it, and here’s the answer: You line up in your company street, march over to the canteen, file in alphabetically, receive your pay receipt; move along a few paces, are fingerprinted; next stop you are handed a $5 bill; next stop you hand it to another guy; next stop you receive a quarter; next stop you receive a $2 bill; next stop you receive a cash register slip; next stop you receive a sack for your register slip containing: 1 Blue Jackets Manual $1.25, 2 packages stationery in portfolio = 50 cents. 2 bars P&G soap = 20 cents, 1 bar Lux Soap = 10 cents, 1 soap dish = 25 cents, 1 razor = $1, 1 tube shave cream = 50 cents, 2 toothbrushes = 50 cents, 1 pair shoestrings, 5 cents, 1 tube toothpaste, 25 cents. In other words, they give you $5 but take it right back and give you $2.25 + a sack of the above merchandise. I think we get our money’s worth, don’t you? ... They all think I ought to make the grade. Hope they are right and that my test Thursday morning at 8 will hit me just right. I think while I’m on guard tonight I’ll say a couple of rosaries. Will you say a special prayer for me Wednesday night?

April 20 As for swimming, we swim in an indoor pool. Its the nicest and cleanest pool you ever saw but you’ll never see it. Neither will any other female. All swimming is done in the nude. Don’t know why they issue trunks.

April 30 This will probably be only a note. I’m tired as the devil and also have only onehalf hour to get this in. I wrote you before, I believe, that you have to write at least one letter home per week. Now that one letter must be registered with the clerk each Sunday or else you get a going over and an extra duty hour. Well, I didn’t register the one I wrote last Sunday so I don’t know if I’m on the limb or not and right now don’t much care but I’m going to register this (even) if I don’t have anything in it.

May 3 I wish I were in better shape to finish up

About this series A few months ago, The Herald asked readers for letters written by their loved ones from World War II. We received more than a dozen responses, including from a couple of people who had letters from World War I. Some readers had fewer than a handful of letters to share, while others had dozens, even hundreds. From now through Veterans Day, we are publishing excerpts from the letters received. The words are original to the writers, though some spelling and some punctuation have been altered.

This family portrait of Denny and Jenny Bell with their children, Judy and Kenny, was taken in 1944 before Denny left for the Navy during World War II. this boot training. As it is I’m somewhat of a cripple. My ankle bone of my left foot is so sore I can hardly use my left foot and the knee of my right leg is so sore (I) probably wrenched it. I can hardly use my right leg so I’m just hobbling along. I’m afraid to go to sick bay for fear they might keep me a couple of days and throw me back into another company and I sure don’t want that. I’ll stick it out or die. If I don’t get all right at home I’ll go to sick bay when I come back as it won’t matter then. Nothing will, much.

May 7 U.S. Naval Hospital Staff Great Lakes, Ill. Boy, one guy up here sure got his __ in a trap. Kind of a smart guy, too. Serves him right. He’s married and has been writing to some other girl and this time he wrote a letter to his wife and one to this girl and got the letters mixed and sent the one he wrote to the girl to his wife and his wife’s to the girl. Wow, is he in the grease.

May 28 U.S. Naval Hospital Staff sounds big but here’s what it is — Getting the meals and dishing them out to the patients in your ward. Washing and drying the dishes, cleaning up sweeping, mopping, giving back rubs, taking temperatures, pulse, respiration and blood pressure and possibly 18 million other things. Worst of all it’s a Waves ward.

June 6 This is D-Day, Darling. Where have you been today, outside or by the radio? I went on duty this morning at 6:15 and the Night Corps Wave told me about it. It just left me kinda numb without much to say. This day marks one step closer to my personal liberation and my demotion to the rank of civilian. This will surely mark the end that much closer because I can’t see Germany holding out too long now and once Germany is out of the way Japan will not be able to hold out against the combined fleets. Tell Judy Ann her daddy will be home soon.

Anyway, you can tell her that maybe it will help. Of course, we don’t know anything. ... I’ve changed my mind about sending you the money. I’ll send it as a $30 money order. It will cost you a few cents to get it cashed, but it will be worth it to ensure you getting it. What made me change my mind was the fact that I got paid in a $50 bill and a $10 bill so I’ll change that $50 into a $30 money order and change.

About your trip, which is first and foremost. If you leave Vincennes at 1:30 Saturday morning you will get into Chicago about 7:10 at Dearborn Station. You will then have to go to the North Shore Station and catch the Skokie Valley interurban, which runs from Chicago to Milwaukee.

This train or trolley runs practically every hour and most times on the hour. It will take about 11⁄2 hours at the most to get out here. My liberty doesn’t start until 12 noon

Saturday and I would be ready anytime to meet you at the station after that cause all I’d have to do was eat chow (and I wouldn’t have to do that) and dress. I’ll find out this week sometime what procedure I have to go through to get passes and where I can take you and such. It sure is funny nobody seems to know what to do and where to go but I’ll find out somehow.

July 6 Treasure Island, Calif.

I have something important to write about this evening. I was transferred from my other job today and guess where? Wake me up, I must be dreaming — but the Navy finally seems to have placed a man in his true occupation or profession. Yep, Darling, I was transferred to the pharmacy today. Hooray, hooray. I still can’t believe it. You know when we landed here they assigned me to the Duty List job. ... When they assigned us I asked if there wasn’t any chance of getting into the pharmacy. The answer as I expected was “Not right now,” so I figured we’d just have been pushed from pillar to post again and that us old guys were getting the good old runaround, but I didn’t say anything to you because I figured what you didn’t know wouldn’t hurt you. ... On this job I’ll have to work more hours and will have to be on duty, that is sleep here two or three nights a week, but on my short days I’ll be off anytime after 3 o’clock and at any rate I’ve landed in something I’m fitted for. I’m so tickled I’m almost happy.

July 9 I brought our family picture over here to the pharmacy today so I can have you near me always.

Aug. 4 Well, well, well, I had quite a thrill this afternoon. Yes, sir, Bing Crosby was here in person. He went to several of the wards and sang a few songs. I almost missed him and only got in one song, “You can be better than you are.”

Aug. 23 Well, things are really beginning to happen in Europe. Paris has fallen, Romania quit and everything is going so good I wouldn’t be surprised if it were all over with by the time you get this. It just can’t last much longer. Germany can’t possibly have many men or materials left.

Aug. 29 I got my official election war ballot yesterday. Plenty early, don’t you think? Guess I’ll vote it and send it back next week and get that over with.

Sept. 6 Boy, oh, boy, how I wish I could see you in this slack suit I bought yesterday. It is absolutely the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen and I just couldn’t resist buying it.

I just can’t get over how lovely it is. I’m sure you’ll like it, but I do want you to be

perfectly frank with me about it. I’d like to know if I have a taste you like. I honestly can’t see how anyone can help but like it — but if you don’t just save it till I get home and damn if I don’t wear it myself. I spent about an hour at different times looking longingly at it when they had it in the show window on a dummy about 10 days ago and it looked like a perfect fit and I believe it will be now that you’ve sent me your measurements. I just couldn’t resist buying a blouse to go with it, either. If you aren’t a million-dollar baby in that outfit I’ll sure miss my guess, but if you have no place to wear it, it will make a nice lounging suit to wear around the house for my special benefit when I get home, and in the meantime if you like it please have a picture taken in it so I can see you at least that way. I could rave about it all night. ... As for me coming home when the time comes, just let them turn me loose and you can chain me in the basement if you want to, even that would be heaven just to be home. ... So you got the coal and also by now have paid the note and are broke again.

Well, my $20 ought to help that out a little.

There’s more where that came from. I’ll send you my Navy pay regularly and live on my store money.

Sept. 16 Today I had my first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. I went to the zoo, and the beach is adjoining to it, this afternoon. I was somewhat shocked at what they call a beach. To me it looked like a dumping place with all kinds of trash and wood and stuff. There weren’t many bathers, either, because it was pretty darn cool, if you ask me, and I didn’t stay there too long.

I walked over to the zoo from there and enjoyed that pretty much, but I don’t get a kick out of bumming around by myself. ... One thing about this beach and zoo, it would be a nice place to wear your slack suit. How do you like it?

Sept. 20 Good evening Darling, And a very good, good evening to you and a happy day today for me because I got your letter saying you like your slack suit.

Boy, I’m sure glad you like it and I really believe you mean it because, just like I said in my former letters, I don’t see how anyone could help liking it. When I first saw it in the window I fell in love with it but, like you, I was afraid it was going to be high because it looked it but after several days of arguing with myself I was determined you were going to have it regardless of price because I knew you (nor I if at home) would think of buying anything so high priced. I did not expect to have the price tag on it when you got it, either. However, since you like it, I think it cheap. And now I better quit talking about it or else you’ll think I’m nuts for sure in as much as I’ve been writing about it in my last eight or 10 letters — but I still think it’s the neatest

the herald ■ Saturday, November 9, 2013

thing I ever saw. And wear it NOW. Oct. 2 Well, Darling, I can hardly wait until I get that picture of you in your Jim-dandy slack suit. You’ll be my pin-up girl in slacks, eh?

Oct. 10 Believe it or not I voted for Roosevelt. I hate to see him in so many terms, but I also want him and the rest of them that are in now to stay there until this war business is all over.

Nov. 3 I got your letter and pictures while ago and all I can say is sing you the song “Stay As Sweet As You Are.” The pictures, while not perfectly clear, are just beautiful. Boy, Judy and Kenny sure are growing up and you, Darling, are just divine. ... The slacks look lovely too and like Milly said, it would be swell if the pictures were Kodachrome. ... This is my duty weekend and I’ve got Ward B again, two other fellows and myself.

One guy is OK but the other one is no good.

We started at 2 p.m. and just now (8:45 p.m.) is the first time I’ve had any free time what with dishing out medicines, spraying throats, changing dressings, taking temperatures and heaven knows what else.

Nov. 7 How’s the election going? I believe I’d rather be in Jasper counting votes than where I am right now. Remember the time we had one election night? I sure wish there was a radio around someplace. I sure would like to listen to the returns.

Dec. 7 USS Braxton Detail San Pedro, Calif.

Darling, sounds like you have been doing some swell Christmas shopping and don’t worry about $6 or such. It’s worth much more to get something worthwhile and have something than to get something at half the price and have it break up the first day. You sure seem to have the kids’ Christmas in tiptop shape. You are going to get a tree and put up the fence and the village and all, aren’t you?

I got the blues while ago when I heard my first Christmas song. It was “Noel.”

It seems a crime to waste songs like that way out here where it’s warm enough to go without coats. ... Latest scuttlebutt that came out today is that we will go on our training cruise Dec. 15 and come back on the 22nd and load up the Braxton and go aboard here on the 27th for a shakedown. There is some more of the good old Navy for you. From one hour to the next you hardly know your own name so we’ll take that with a grain of salt too. When we do go on our cruise I don’t

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know if we’ll be able to get mail off or not so don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear from me for a few days. ... Gee, Darling, I’ll bet our bedroom does look swell. From your description I can just picture it in my mind and what a lovely picture it makes. I think when I get home I’ll just sit around the house to drink it all in again.

I’ll also say you sure seem to have become Mrs. Fix-it. You are not only Mrs. Fix-it but looks like Mr. as well since you put me to shame fixing Judy’s buggy when I couldn’t even do it. ... This evening while sitting in the barracks I heard some guy say “Evansville” and immediately I popped up and asked, “Who’s from Evansville?” and then I said, “I’m from Jasper” and we talked a while. His name is Baumgartener. He also told me there’s a guy from Bloomington on our ship too. I’ll have to keep in touch with Baumgartener because he gets the Evansville Courier. By Golly, it’s still a small world.

Dec. 27 Gee, but I’m glad I got through to you finally yesterday evening and I was tickled the way I held up during our talk. I just had to steel myself all the way through but I made it. But when Judy asked, “When are you coming home?” that just about finished me. ... I sure would have liked to have gotten my call through Christmas Eve, but when I didn’t I almost gave up the idea. Then when I couldn’t get through Christmas Day I got kind of burned up and determined to get that call through if it took all year.

Dec. 31 And a very, very Happy New Year to you. How different is tonight compared to a year ago tonight. Remember? We went to the New Year’s Eve Dance, the first dance we’d gone to since we were married. I sure had a wonderful time that night. Remember, you practically walked barefoot in the snow as there was about 2 or 3 inches of snow and you had on those sandals and no stockings. Now here I sit in the surgical dressing room in my dungarees writing to you instead of dancing, drinking and talking with you — but there’s consolation in the thought that the pendulum must swing back again. There’s also a lot of consolation in the fact that there is no snow, no cold weather, no blowing of whistles, no nothing, and consequently it’s just like another night and tomorrow also will be just another day.

Jan. 4 According to the papers they are going to draft farm youths. They never did start back on fathers and over 30 anymore, did

they? Well, the more youngsters they draft the quicker us oldsters will get out, I hope.

Jan. 11 Tomorrow I’ll probably mail you my first censored letter as I’ll mail one from the ship.

Jan. 13, 1945 Good evening Darling and Hello, Hello.

Hold onto your hat, take a firm grip on something because I’ve got some news I’m sure you will be glad to hear. Nope, it’s not a leave, but it’s a pretty good break, I believe. Are you ready? Here comes: I have been transferred off the USS Braxton. ... Where I will go I do not know. I could still be sent across to some island base or the like or on a hospital ship or some noncombat ship or some station here in the USA. If you haven’t guessed all along, I feel free to tell you now that an APA is an attack transport. The APA stands for American Personnel Attack. They are definitely combat ships and I’ve never heard the word “combat” so distinctly and thoroughly and frequently emphasized as it was by the captain from Roosevelt Base in his commissioning speech on Dec. 29. ... It’s a funny thing, but I don’t know whether to be glad or sad. Everyone tells me not to feel badly about it, that I’ve sure gotten a lucky break and for your sake, Darling, I think it is a good break. At least you won’t have to worry day after day after day about my ship being sunk. I’m sure going to miss the fellows and not trying to throw any roses at myself but I am really going to be missed by them. You should have seen their faces fall when they heard the news. ... I have my seabag all packed and in the morning I’ll roll up my bedding and lash it with my seabag and sometime tomorrow I’ll leave the Braxton for the last time. Anyway, I can say I was one of the original crew and now, Darling, let’s both try to keep close tabs on her.

Jan. 23 Riff borrowed me the Herald, Jan. 19th, (that) he just got today. Boy, every week seems like there’s more and more killed and missing in action.

Jan. 26 So you finally got my second war bond.

Gosh, Darling, in 10 years from now we’ll be rich people, what with all those war bonds you’ve got tucked away in your sock.

Don’t buy any more outright, Darling, cause you are doing too much pinching.

We’ll build the rest of our million on the one we get every three months. How you went 25 days on $35 is more than I can tell. ... I sure hate to disappoint Judy in her prayer for daddy to come home, but tell her

daddy thanks her and loves her and to keep on praying and maybe daddy will make it yet.

Jan. 29 I leave here with three other pharmacist mates Wednesday, Jan. 31, to go to the receiving ship at San Francisco, which will probably mean on Treasure Island, and await the return of the USS Relief, a hospital ship, and then go aboard for duty. ...I can assure you I don’t feel at all happy about it cause I was hoping for duty in the States somewhere, but it seems they want me to have some sea duty by all means. The only consolation I can see is, of course, that it’s supposed to be the safest ship at sea and that I will be tending to boys that will really need tending to and not a bunch of gold bricks. ... The only big thing we’ve got to look forward to now is the end of the war and oh, what I wouldn’t give if that were to happen tomorrow. I’ll say one thing, though, and that is it’s much further along to an end than I thought it would be at this time.

I sure didn’t think the Philippines would be invaded before the Germans were licked and now if everything keeps going smoothly they may finish off the Philippines before the Germans are licked. Russia sure seems to be taking them over the coals, though, and I hope they keep it up but then stop and don’t turn around and fight us yet before it’s all over, but I don’t think they will because they’ve probably had enough of war too. ... I’m hoping against hope I’ll be able to get a leave, however slim the thread is.

I’ve never given up on my two rosaries and I think I’ll continue them at least for the duration. ... Oh, yes, this gives me a chance to make out an extra $25 allotment per month to you again. That’s something out of the deal, anyway, and too I’ll be a full-fledged sailor again.

Feb. 9 At 9 that night I was put on a working party and had to help load stores aboard (quarters of veal and beef, liver and eggs).

We loaded 138 cases of eggs. There are 30 dozens per case, making a total of 49,820 eggs. We worked from 9 to 12:30. Thursday morning I was put on a working detail loading field hospital equipment aboard down in the hold. ... They sure have class distinction aboard these ships. All officers, of course, have separate cabins, then the chiefs have their separate quarters, the first and second mates have separate quarters, the third mates have separate quarters and the hospital apprentices and seamen have separate quarters. We have rather nice quarters tho, nicer than on the (attack transport). In the compartment where I am there are just 33 bunks and men. We are up pretty near the bow of the ship. If we hit rough weather we’ll do quite a bit of rocka-bye baby in the tree top.

Feb. 17 Wow, just think, we’ve been going since Tuesday morning and haven’t seen anything but water since, and I understand it will be twice this long or better till we do.

I know one thing: I’ll never want to go on a trip across the Atlantic or any other ocean once I get home. You’ll do good to drag me out to Calumet Lake.

March 6 We saw a sight yesterday that I’d sure like to write about but it can’t be done. I only mentioned the date we left in my Vmails to George Parker and Elmer Steffen and got them both back today and had to rewrite them.

March 29 I’m sorry I passed you up like a dirty shirt last night, Darling, but writing is getting pretty tough again, what with no more letters of yours to answer and nothing I can tell you, so I may miss you a couple of nights a week and even the nights I do write won’t amount to much as far as letters go.

It’s a funny world, but at home I used to think how strange it sort of seemed that I never had written you a letter before we were married or after but it looks like it took a war to have us write letters to each other.

Jenny with Kenny and Judy.

April 11 The other day a notice appeared on the bulletin board saying we could tell in our

Denny photographed with Judy, believed to be sometime in 1944. The identity of the boy behind them is unknown.

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the herald ■ Saturday, November 9, 2013

Bell

Concluded from Page Three letters where we had been 30 days after we were there. According to that, I guess I can tell you that I was in Frisco and Treasure Island and so forth. What news, eh? At that, though. remember I told you we would probably hit Pearl (Harbor) on our way out but we didn’t and that’s why my letters were so long getting to you. We passed the Hawaiian Islands, however, but at some distance.

April 13 Well, well, Friday the 13th sure brought some bad news when they announced this morning about 10 o’clock that President Roosevelt died. Gee, what a blow to the country. I just hope it doesn’t build too much morale up for the Germans and Japs.

As far as the Yanks are concerned, while it is a terrible blow what with the peace conference in Frisco just coming up and all, we’ll pull through all right even though this is quite a setback. I’d sure like to have seen him in office at least until this mess is all over. Let’s hope that Harry Truman will stand on his own feet and carry out the good work and not let himself be hoodwinked, which could easily happen. I really believe, though I do not like the way (Henry) Wallace was counted out of the vice presidency, that he would not have been as good a man for the job as Truman will be. Here’s good luck for Truman.

I am herewith sending you my first money order for $75 and hope to send you one just like it every two months. I want you to spend all or at least the greater part of this one on yourself and Judy and Kenny. Be sure and buy them something nice (clothes, games, trinkets or whatever they might like) and tell them daddy sent it. I didn’t get a chance to send you anything for Easter and it looks like Mother’s Day will be the same, so fix yourself up and the kiddies. What a great day it will be when I can again take you in my arms. Oh, how I miss you.

April 19 At Sea I suppose the censor won’t scratch out the “At Sea” even though he did scratch out the “S.W. Pacific.” For all anyone in general would know I might be in the Red Sea or anywhere else. ... I can’t understand that one airmail letter being all ruined like that, though, because since I had to rewrite those V-mails to George and Elmer three times I haven’t been saying anything at all. Sometimes I don’t get the idea of the censor aboard being so strict. ... As far as logs go, I don’t think they keep logs for us aboard this ship. You see, a hospital ship is not a glory ship out to see how many adventures and victories it can score. You might call it rather a sad ship or something like that, wishing it wouldn’t find what it knows it’s going to find, namely, boys all shot up or burned up or suffering from psychoneurosis and so forth.

April 20 Did you hear about Ernie Pyle getting killed? I imagine the papers back home had big write-ups about him. It’s a shame but that’s the way things go. Life is the cheapest item out here, believe you me. Some guys may pay as high as $7 for a can of beer but life — poof !

April 25 I see you donated blood to the blood bank again. Boy, that’s just swell. Out here you can really realize what a big part you people that donate blood are really playing in this war.

April 29 Well, today was Sunday all day but the only way you can really distinguish the day from any other day is by the tough chicken we have for supper. Honestly, I have never seen such tough stuff. I just pass it up cold lately. I don’t want to aggravate myself with it. I do believe they have a boot camp or basic training period for these chickens before we get them to toughen them up. ...

Poor Judy, she just can’t understand why other people’s daddy can come home and hers can’t.

May 4 Dubois County sure did go over big

In one of his letters, Denny included this drawing of the ship on which he served, the USS Relief. again at the blood bank. 1,033 pints is a lot of blood, and I’ll sure say it’s being put to very good use. ... So Judy likes to sing, does she? Wish I could be there for one of your sessions, but maybe one of these days I will. Can she sing several songs? And Kenny just wants to sing “God Bless America.” I’ll bet that’s a sight to see.

May 8 How’s the excitement in Jasper today, or tonight or last night or whenever you heard about the complete surrender of Germany? We learned of it the first thing this (morning) as it was picked up by our ship’s radio about midnight last night. ...

I wonder what the German people themselves are thinking and doing. Firstly, they are as glad if not more so than we are that it’s over, but as an afterthought they must surely think of the tremendous sacrifices they made over long years to ready themselves for this war and now must realize how futile it all was. All their sacrifices for naught. ... I wonder how many of the boys from Europe will get to come home for good. Personally, I think they all deserve it, especially those who have been through battle, but I guess quite a lot of them will be sent out here. Well, I guess the more that come the quicker the whole works will be over. ... Nick sat down this evening to write his folks and finally gave up in disgust after I balled him out for writing “Dear Mom and Dad, I received your most welcome letters quite some time ago and wish to thank you very much. I am well and hope you are the same. Your loving son, Joseph.”

Wouldn’t that be a shame to write something like that? Regardless of how little you know to write you can always write a little something. I suppose he’ll wait another month or so before making another attempt.

May 18 ... I can say now that we have been to Ulithi, Guam, Saipan, Okinawa more than a month ago.

June 10 So you enjoyed your evening on the front porch, did you? Wish I could have enjoyed it with you. My front porch is the forecastle, my glider is the deck and my front yard is just oceans and oceans of ocean. Every now and then I do have you beat on the moon situation. Honestly, Darling, I wish you could see it sometimes.

There are, of course, no trees, hills, telephone poles or houses to hinder your view and sometimes it is just like you hear and read and dream about a tropic moon being.

July 24 By golly, if the censors don’t quit

returning my letters pretty soon there’ll probably be several days when you won’t get any. Yesterday they returned my letter to you of the 20th because I had forgotten to sign my full name on the bottom and today of all things they returned my July 22nd letter because I had mentioned the name of my old ship and also the name of the Relief. It was rejected, quote, “Do not mention other ships in the same letter as you mention the Relief.” That beats me.

Aug. 9 Well, we really had good news this morning when they announced that Russia had finally declared war on Japan. Boy, that’s the big news everyone everywhere except, of course, in Japan, had been waiting for and that coming on top of the heels of the news of the sensational new bomb ought to bring a head to things in a hurry, I think, and so, I guess, does everyone else. ... I wouldn’t be surprised to see Japan give up in a few weeks, really. We also learned this afternoon that the city of Hiroshima, the victim of the first bomb, was almost completely wiped out and that they have now dropped another on Nagasaki. A few more of those and there won’t be any Japan left to surrender. Golly, that must sure be something awful if it’s really as bad as they say. This better be the war to end all wars or next time the whole earth will be destroyed.

Aug. 11 Don’t tell me where you’ve been all day because I know. I saw you there at the radio. If you’d have gotten any closer you’d have been inside. Sorry you didn’t hear what you and I and millions of others would like to hear. By the time you get this we may have peace or some more war. If the Allies reject Japan’s conditional surrender, which I’m afraid they will as, if allowed to keep their Emperor is a condition, and a mighty big one, we may still see quite a lot of fighting or they may capitulate anyway even if they don’t win their point because the atomic bomb may have put the fear of the Lord into them anyway.

If they decide to continue fighting I look for the dropping of an atomic bomb daily until they do say “uncle.”

So far as we and this area as a whole is concerned, last night’s electrifying news has been accepted as the end of the war. Individually, however, every one has his own opinion. Last night there wasn’t a single person in the area who had any doubts as to peace being declared. Today, however, with no confirmation from Washington, London, Moscow or Chunking, practically everyone is certain the surrender of last night will not be accepted.

Last night at novena services Father Joyce told us that it was entirely possible

that Wednesday Aug. 15th, the Feast of the Assumption, we might be celebrating peace. Then at 9:10, as if to make a prophet of him, the news came over the radio. The entire harbor, as is the rule, was completely blacked out but five minutes later I sure wish you’d have seen it and heard it. You could hear the yells of the sailors of all the ships as though you were sitting in some huge football bowl, and talk about fireworks, wow. Never in my wildest dreams have I ever dreamed up such a display. Oh, golly, just that it was not for naught. All the ships turned on all their searchlights and played them around and around, up and down, and side to side in the black sky and talk about your brilliant array of rockets, star shells, spider shells and what not. Oh, my. Oh, my, it was just indescribable — red and green and yellow and blue and purple and orange and white flares, rockets bursting on high and floating lazily downward.

And this was not just a sudden flare up but lasted from approximately 9:15 to 11 p.m.

Everyone was whooping and hollering and jumping up and down and slapping backs and singing and talking of going home. No, last night I will not forget for a long, long time to come. ... I suppose Judy will be expecting me in a few days after peace is declared, but you must tell her that daddy has to help bring the sick and wounded back and he’ll be home as soon as he can. Home — God bless it, always. ... Just now at 6 p.m. the radio is saying that “The war is not yet over.” No statement has come from any of the allied governments.

Aug. 14 Good evening Darling, And a Happy, Happy PEACE to you. Yes, Darling, the great day is now here. Our celebration last Friday night was little premature but at least it was not for naught.

We heard the news on our ship’s radio from the Japanese ... broadcast about 3:05 this afternoon. Outside of some whoops and yells and a little scurrying about the deck and some handshaking and everybody grinning from ear to ear, no celebration has so far taken place. However, tonight, if the official word from President Truman comes over the radio, we may be in for some more of last Friday night’s fine show.

Aug. 22 ... They are not letting any medical corps (members) out at all as yet but I hope they start as soon as they get most or all of the wounded and sick boys home.

Sept. 1 Good evening Darling, Hello, Darling, Hello. And you don’t

the herald ■ Saturday, November 9, 2013

know how glad I am to be able to say “Hello” again. My yesterday’s letter is just simply this: Aug. 31, Friday — time: all day; subject TYPHOON!!!!

And now to go on with today’s letter, a letter I didn’t think I’d be alive to write, but boy, you don’t know how glad I was to see today.

Twice before I wrote about just missing a couple of typhoons or getting in on the tail end of it but this time — wow! Nobody aboard wants any more. It was so terrible I can’t describe it. We didn’t know if one minute we were going to capsize or the next be broken and twisted in two. ... We had 5-gallon bottles of chlorine solution similar to Clorox, 1 gallon lime water and 1⁄2 gallon paraldehyde sitting on the deck underneath the sink. I had our big heavy Johnson bar in front of it braced longwise and I had my foot on it for extra bracing when a real big (wave) caught us and knocked me back in the corner and out slid the bottles and crashed together. We then had 3 gallons of chlorine solution and 1 gallon of lime water all over the deck and all the glass and with the ship going like a teeter-totter sideways we didn’t know if we were up or down. ... I believe I said at least 20 rosaries.

I’ve never been so scared in my life. ... This condition lasted from about 9:30 a.m. to about 12 p.m. ... I sure don’t ever want to see a day like that again. If your ship ever turns over or breaks in two you have no chance whatsoever. With waves 60 and 70 feet high and wind at 80 or 90 miles per hour you would have no chance (despite) life jacket, life boat or life raft. Thank God for a good ship, a good captain and a good crew and, above all, thank God for his protection.

Today we are still in very rough seas but compared to yesterday it’s calm. We celebrated Victory in Japan Day today by having a nice steak dinner with cigars, cigarettes and all the trimmings and a holiday this afternoon.

Sept. 4 Effective one-half hour ago censorship on all mail has been lifted.

Sept. 5 Golly, but it’s a nice feeling to sit down and know that I can tell you exactly what I want to. You just feel like you’re so much free-er somehow and yet today I’m not going to be telling you very much, not because I couldn’t but because I’m a little pressed for time. ... Hold your thumbs and say an extra prayer, Darling, because although the war is over it looks like we are tackling our toughest assignment. ... We are going to Dairen, which on the map is just above Port Arthur and is on the peninsula of Manchuria (Manchukuo) in the Yellow Sea. ... These waters are the most heavily mined waters in the world. They’ve been mined almost daily by B-29 (planes). We are the only hospital ship making the trip and are being escorted by two destroyer mine sweepers.

We pulled out of Okinawa at 6 yesterday evening and now two escort mine sweepers are out there in front of us about a mile searching for mines for us. They are supposed to have the best mine-detecting and -destroying equipment available and so far so good. At this particular time of day we are almost due east of Shanghai northward bound and we’ve picked up several more mine sweepers. I suppose since negotiations were first started the mine sweepers have been steadily busy and these that we saw a few minutes ago off our starboard beams are patrolling continuously all up and down along here and I suppose once we get up in the Korea area and in the Yellow Sea there will be many more sweepers working. ... According to schedule we are to pull into Dairen late Friday afternoon or evening. We are making about 325 miles per day. They don’t know exactly what we will evacuate but chances are it will be practically all nationalities and men, women and children. In some of the wards the boys are making makeshift diapers out of several folds of gauze and cotton and I suppose we’ll be doing a land office business in vitamins, cod liver oil, cough syrups, ointments, cold tablets and what have you.

Sept. 7 Today all day we’ve really gotten into the mine fields. Since 9:30 this morning we’ve stopped about 10 or 12 different times while our escorts scouted for mines they had either seen or picked up on their radar

feature ■ page 5

off bombs and ammunition and quite a lot of damage was done and about 35 or 40 were killed outright. About 2 a.m. they started to bring over the more seriously wounded, most of them badly burned, and we lost about seven or eight of the 40 or so brought over. This was my first war experience, and after I realized what was going on I was plenty scared up.

Oct. 21 By the way, the scuttlebutt about the points dropping became official last night so now on Dec. 1st I’ll be eligible for discharge. It’s, of course, hard telling just when I’ll get out because it depends on where we are at that time.

Oct. 27 Yes, Darling, it looks as if our big break which we have been waiting for so long has finally come. WE ARE COMING HOME. Wow! Wow! Wow! What news, what news. ...... Anyway, Babe, it looks as if our dream boat is finally coming home. Have your arms ready. I’m coming into them.

Oct. 28 Just heard we got orders to go from here to Tsingtao, China, which is just around the bend and from there over to Jinsin, Korea, for our load, etc.

Denny and Jenny Bell celebrated 64 years of marriage together. Denny died in January 2004 at age 92, and Jenny died in May 2012 at age 97. and then exploded them with gunfire. Boy, do they ever make a noise and shake the ship when they explode and they send a spray of water 100 to 150 feet into the air.

Tonight will be our most dangerous night as we will be right up in there where the mines are the thickest. ... Just a few minutes ago one of the escorts exploded another mine, and a piece of shrapnel from the mine went through one of the boys on the escort’s helmet and struck him in the back of the head and came out through the front side. They pulled alongside and sent him over here to us by breeches buoy and they worked on him in (an) operating room but just about two minutes ago Merren came and told me he died. It’s sure a pity to think of getting it after the war is all over, but it looks like this is about as tough a spot as we’ve been in. Here’s hoping our Guardian Angel guides us safely through.

Evidently we are scheduled to make several runs up here because instead of evacuating to Manila as was the original idea we received orders today to evacuate to Okinawa instead. This is one time when I think the Navy is finally doing the right thing, because this is a much shorter haul than all the way down to Manila, as you can see on the map.

Sept. 27 We had a sad thing to do this morning. A few days ago we received a Marine aboard from one of the (attack transports) with strep throat but the poor boy was too far gone when we got him and he died this morning and we had to inventory all his gear and among it was a picture of a young girl (about 22) and a small boy about 2. I sure hope it wasn’t his wife. ... We got underway at 4 p.m. yesterday and you ought to see this convoy. It’s just like you see in news reels and pictures.

There are three columns of 11 ships each and they are all just so far apart. We are the (tail) end of the righthand column and it’s really pushing us to keep up. Our convoy speed is 13 knots, which is right at 15 miles per hour, but that’s about our top speed.

Oct. 8 On March 5 at 6 a.m. we sighted the small islands of Ulithi. At the time they were just tiny specks dead ahead but by 7 we could see them some plainer, and masts

of several ships which, as we continued in, developed into quite a fleet and boy, oh, boy, when we finally really got in I thought surely all the ships of the whole U.S. Navy was there. This was my first eyeful of the Navy except the occasional ships at Frisco and at San Pedro.

Boy, I just couldn’t believe my eyes.

Here was a powerhouse fleet consisting of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, carriers, carrier escorts, tank landing ships, medium landing ships, landing crafts infantry and just everything imaginable and by the hundreds.

Oct. 9 On March 6th, the day after we got there, we were ready for business and business was apparently ready for us as the boys started to come over from other ships in droves. Some for examination for glasses, some for X-rays, some for dental work, some for ear, eye, nose and throat, some to (obtain) medicines and preparations, some were sent over for operations and just everything and anything. This is called “servicing the fleet.” In other words, we were a hospital just like any city hospital and the sailors on all these various ships were our patients.

Oct. 10 Well, let’s go back to Ulithi again.

On March 11th (Sunday) I had my first stretcher watch from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight. And it was at 8 p.m. that the two Jap planes came over. They were in and had accomplished their mission before even an alarm was sounded. Somebody must have been sleeping to let them get in undetected. Anyway, one plane dove into the new carrier Randolph and the other into one of the small islands. We did not hear an explosion, only the flames, and when the general alarm sounded I thought it was just another practice and that they had set off an oil fire at two different places to make it more realistic. Right away they figured probably more planes were coming so all ships were ordered to be ready to pull out in a moment’s notice. The Randolph sent a boat over to ask for some doctors and corpsmen, but since we had orders to be ready to leave no help was sent. The fire on the Randolph raged for several hours before they were finally checked. The plane had crashed into the hangar deck and set

Nov. 9 Between Okinawa and Guam At present we are loaded down to the gun whales, whatever that is, but anyway, we have a load. We have 707 passengers aboard and 101 patients, which is the most this old baby ever carried. There are guys sleeping almost in the smokestack. Honestly, the main deck is at all times so jampacked with guys sitting around, standing around, walking, etc., a guy can hardly forge his way through. The old ship is at present a troop ship and it looks a sight.

Honestly, to see the wards now is a shame.

Guys laying in bunks with their dirty clothes on, sitting on the deck, lying on the deck with seabags and packs and handbags hanging everywhere and stacked in piles here and there. It’s sure a far cry from the spick-and-span A-1 hospital it had been up to Wednesday.

Nov. 10 324 miles closer to Guam Today was the first of my GREAT DAYS. All those eligible for discharge Dec. 1 had to put in their discharge request. Then this afternoon we had to go to the general office and sign our new addresses, which for me was 330 E. 9th St., Jasper, Ind. Now the first step has been taken. I just hope we don’t get held up too long at Guam. If you were on this ship at present you’d have to say it must be automatic. Honestly, nobody does anything anymore, including me. I went up to take a shower about 2:30 this afternoon and nearly everybody was in their racks.

Tough life but I guess everybody is just set on going home — if not for good for some, then for a leave at least. Then, too, there is nothing for many people to do outside of cooks, bakers, yeomen, storekeepers, engine room gang and so forth.

Nov. 13 Yes, sir, according to the dope sheet tomorrow at 1 p.m. we will start for the good old USA. Nov. 15 The captain is expecting to make it in 18 days whereas it usually takes this ship about 20 to 22 days. Therefore, we now have only 17 days to go.

In today’s plan of the day we were notified that we are privileged to wear the Philippine Liberation Ribbon in as much as we were in there the required 30 days prior to their complete liberation. ... So far we rate the American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific with one star (Okinawa) and the Philippine Liberation.

Nov. 28 650 miles from Frisco Closer and closer and closer we are coming. Day by day, slowly but surely, we are coming nearer and nearer that grand Golden Gate Bridge. It wouldn’t surprise me too much if, say, 15 days from today I will be sitting and enjoying so very, very much talking to you with all my letter writing behind me.

Dec. 7 postcard from North Platte, Neb. Hello, Darling Every hour we are getting a little closer.

The Herald ■ ■ y o u r

community newspaper since

dubois county , indiana monday, november 11, 2013

1895

Meeting to cover same-sex marriage

part five World War I

letters home from the war

Going ‘over there’

By CANDY NEAL Herald Staff Writer

The final installment features letters written by two World War I soldiers and a World War I sailor.

Compiled by MARTHA RASCHE Herald City Editor World War I began July 28, 1914, when Austria declared war on Serbia after the assassinations of Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo. Fighting continued until Nov. 11, 1918.

T

heodore Schwenk was a 24-yearold private in the Army in 1918 when he wrote these letters home to his parents and siblings in Ireland.

In the first letter, he was concerned that his brother Gilbert would be drafted and tried to give advice on dealing with the local draft board. The draft board showed up again, in letters not excerpted here, when Theodore instructed his dad on how to fill out the paperwork to try to get Theodore home on furlough to help with the harvest; that was unsuccessful.

A couple letters reference the new alcohol prohibition that was in effect in Indiana at the time, as grain was being conserved for the war effort. The letters were shared

by Mr. Schwenk’s son Urban of Ireland, now 77, who served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958.

April 13 Washington, D.C. ... What (is) the news about home and how fast are they sending the boys to the camp? You want to be on the lookout with the local board for they are the ones you will have to talk to. And talk to them nice. They are the main ones. The way the law is now, after you are in once, you are in to stay until the end of the war.

The news (is) not very good about the

Theodore Schwenk was a private in the Army during World War I. He was 24 years old when he wrote these letters home to his parents and siblings in Ireland.

The letters reveal his curiosity about how life on the farm was continuing in his absence. war now, but I think it will end by next winter — and if not, it will last for some years, so prepare and keep your eyes open.

They are going over as fast as they can but so far they have not called on me yet. It may be soon; I do not know.

How is Jasper since it went dry? I bet it is somewhat funny to go to town and can’t even get a glass of beer.

June 15 USS New Jersey I have time so will let you know that we have been out at sea for several days now, and are expecting to land soon.

The weather is nice; the sea is not very rough but I would not like to go out

in a small boat.

The ship we are on is a large one. It is like a big house and home. Have plenty to eat and drink, moving pictures, boxing and games. ... Well, by this time I guess you are getting ready to thresh the wheat. We will be over in France to help them with the wheat and celebrate the 4th of July.

June 29 The day after arriving in France ... France is a nice country; we (saw) the nice green fields and trees from a great distance. The only thing that See WW I on Page 4

■ Nov. 2 Soldiers and sailors wrote of new experiences and of missing the old routines. ■ Nov. 5 Pigeoneer Marty Gosman followed the birth of his firstborn from a distance. ■ Nov. 7 The sisters of Calvin Voelkel and Lowell Gray have always wondered what might have been.

■ Nov. 9 Sailor Denny Bell — the father of two — wrote his wife almost daily. ■ Today During World War I, a soldier missed the farm he grew up on, and several servicemen were pen pals with a Jasper girl.

Monday Volume 119, Number 30 Cents ■■ Published in Jasper, Indiana ■■ Printed on recycled paper

Inside

Headlines

Advice..................................... 15 Classifieds......................... 23-25 Comics.................................... 27 Entertainment.......................... 26 Local and state....................... 3-7 Nation and world................. 19-22 People.................................. 8-13 Sports................................ 28-31 Viewpoint................................ 18

Honored veteran Lee Broeker received the Living Veterans Award, an annual prize for distinguished military service. Page 3.

Surprised by the force Before Typhoon Haiyan hit,

The State of Indiana is looking at amending the state constitution to essentially ban same-sex marriages and similar unions in the state.

A statewide group called Freedom Indiana is trying to stop the amendment. Freedom Indiana will hold a public meeting about its efforts Wednesday in Ferdinand. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at 1440 Main St. Ferdinand businessman Keith Fritz is hosting the meeting and strongly opposes the amendment.

“This amendment writes discrimination into our state constitution,” Fritz said this morning. “It’s bad for economic development and bad for getting our young, intelligent and creative people to live here because they don’t want to live in a state that has discriminative laws.”

House Joint Resolution 6 would add into the constitution: “Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana” and “A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

According to information released by Freedom Indiana, the amendment would “permanently alter the Indiana Constitution to define marriage and could potentially affect hundreds of rights related to marriage under current Indiana law.”

“In addition to the duplicative and restrictive first sentence of the amendment, no one has been able to clearly define what effects the second sentence would have on existing marriages, domestic partner benefits, human rights ordinances, legal contracts and benefits for unmarried couples,” the group states on its website.

Legislators first voted on and passed HJR6 in 2011. Indiana law states that both chambers must approve the resolution for the amendment twice for it to be put on the ballot for voters to vote on as a referendum.

Legislators delayed the second vote from this past legislative session because the U.S. Supreme Court was addressing challenges to similar rules in two other See MARRIAGE on the back page

Philippine authorities moved 800,000 people to evacuation centers. But the structures were no match for the winds and walls of waves. Page 19.

Sunday nightmares The Indianapolis Colts limped to a shocking defeat Sunday at home. Jay Cutler limped off the field in a Chicago Bears loss.

Page 28.

page 4 ■ local headerhere & state

the herald ■ Monday, November 11, 2013

WW I

Concluded from Page One bothers us is that we cannot speak French. ... Guess you are getting ready to thresh by now, so in your next letter let me know how many bushels of wheat my field of wheat made.

July 30 Dear Sis: ... Guess you and mamma are always busy with the work in and around the house, and papa and the rest have not much time to go to town and drink beer.

Ha-ha. We have good beer and wine over here and are allowed to drink it. Would like to send papa a bottle of French beer. I know he would enjoy it because you have no more beer in Indiana.

Aug. 10 ... I am well, and fat, as always. Have plenty to eat and drink. Why should we worry? ... Have more time than money now.

Have not been paid for two months but think will be paid soon, as we signed the payroll a few days ago.

Date unknown I have not received any mail over here yet, so if you have not (written) to this address, you can and it will get here in about three weeks. The boys who were here before we came tell me that it takes a letter about seven week to make a round trip over to the States and back. ... How is the corn crop?

And who are they calling to the Army by now? Are they calling any of the farmers? Hope not. ... How are you getting over the roads with the Overland? Have seen a good many of those steel-studded tires.

Oct. 2 Dear Father: ... Will now write you a few lines to see how you are getting along with your work, since Gilbert left for Camp Custer.

Well, this is time to sow wheat and I bet you have your ten acres sowed by now for you (were) always one of the first ones to sow. Last year at this time I had sowed twenty acres of wheat and was getting ready to leave for Camp Taylor.

Oscar said that you rented some wheat to Peter Hurst and Albert Schitter. That will be a big crop, lots of bread for the soldiers. We sure have lots to eat over here.

Dec. 30 ... I received your letter of Nov. 26 today, and also the box of candy. Many thanks.

The candy and cakes were fine and dandy, but you said that you had put in a few smokes. They were missing; guess somebody wanted a smoke.

V

ictoria Gasser (later Corley) was a student at Jasper High School when she became a pen pal to Jasper natives John F. Gullett, a sailor, and Albert L, Sprauer, a soldier, during World War I. Gullett had been a childhood neighbor of Gasser’s at Ninth and Clay streets. The final letter from Sprauer refers to the longtime family photo studio that used to be on the Square in Jasper. The letters were shared

by Mrs. Corley’s nephew Phil Buecher of Jasper.

As a student at Jasper High School during World War I, Victoria Gasser became a pen pal to Jasper natives John F. Gullett, a sailor, and Albert L. Sprauer, right, a soldier.

John F. Gullett State Pier New London, Conn.

Aug. 29, 1918 ... You see, Victoria, Navy life isn’t anything like home life and it doesn’t take one long to find it out, either, but at the same time I would not return to my regular occupation at any price during these awful war times but I’ll certainly most gladly take off my uniform and put on my English suit and shoes when it’s all over “over there,” when the world is safe for democracy, but not before, and I’ll promise you that I’ll do all I can for you while I wear Uncle Sam’s uniform.

I enlisted to protect my country and its people from the dirty inhuman treatment of the Huns and I’m perfectly satisfied here in the Navy until the Kaiser either comes to his senses or else gets his hollow skull blowed off. And his days are nearly done with in my estimation, judging from the advances of the French, British and American troops. We’re going to get that lunatic, regardless of time or money, but really I think that before next summer he’ll lose his palace at Berlin if he don’t sign up to the treaty offered him by the Allies, which is fair and square with the whole world but his intentions are to rule the world regardless of anything and he always says, “Ich und Gott,” putting himself first and then the Lord our maker, but he’s going to come to his senses when it’s too late.

Have you read and heard of how his men, directed by him, mistreated and misused the Belgian and French women and girls? Now that’s just the way he’d do our women and children if he ever enters our country, and you need not worry because Uncle Sam has the strongest army in the world at present and every American soldier and sailor will fight for liberty, justice and freedom to the last drop of blood.

I didn’t join the Navy to keep from being drafted but I did join because I heard and felt the call to colors and there isn’t a man in the U.S. who is prouder of his uniform than I am. I had been reading war news every day until I got the fever and I quit my job at Detroit with two days’ notice.

I had a good position at Detroit as head butter-maker for a $3,000,000 establish-

ment, but my boss congratulated me upon my patriotic spirit and promised to take me in again with a raise in salary on my return. But, of course, I don’t know whether I’ll ever return and I don’t know whether I’ll be a cripple, either, but you know we must always look to a brighter future and I feel confident that I’ll return a better man than ever before — I mean physically due to exercises and work in the open air and at the same time I’m learning many things which will be beneficial to me in years to come and I’ve never felt better in my life than I do right now.

We are well fed and paid and we are well taken care of in every way. In case of illness we have our own naval hospitals here where we are attended to by some of the best doctors and nurses in the country, so why should we worry? We are fed three good square meals per day of the very best government-inspected food which the U.S. can produce. ... Here we sleep on steel cots, or bunks as we call them, and I can sure do my part of the sleeping for we go to bed at 9 p.m. and arise at 6 a.m., so you see that ought to be enough sleep for anybody and I’m getting fat as a pig. ... I could also tell you many interesting stories regarding my duties and learning but it would be very unwise and unpatriotic to do because there is so much secrecy connected to this work so I must keep mum. ... They are organizing a new brass band here and I am going to learn to play the slide trombone under a good director, so some day you might get to hear me blow my head off. ... I read in the Herald that Roy Birge and Otto Durlauf are members of Sousa’s band at Great Lakes. Well, you know that they’ll return real musicians. I congratulate them. I didn’t see the two boys at Great Lakes because I left there before they came.

I am sorry that I didn’t get the letter you wrote to me while at Great Lakes but you know there’s so much mail received there that they get it awfully mixed up at times.

There was about 47,000 men there when I left. ... Jasper must be pretty dead without the saloons and the boys in service.

Albert L. Sprauer 214th Field Signal Battalion, Company C Camp Custer, Mich.

Sept. 18, 1918 ... I belong to the 14th Division, which is scheduled for overseas in October, hence they are speeding up both our school and drill. From 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except at mealtime) we have no time for anything but work. ... The first two weeks in the Army are the most unpleasant. One receives the vaccination shots, which are very unpleasant (at least they are for me, as they made me very sick) and also is fitted out with clothing, receives his trade tests, physical examinations and etc. Since I am in barracks I am enjoying life. The fellows I am with are all high school graduates or better, and naturally the pick of the boys in the Army. ... (I) notice that they sent out a large bunch of men since I left. There will not be a boy left in another year. You girls will have to spend your time in different ways from what you’re used to. In another year we will have the Germans licked. Just wait till our bunch gets over there.

Nov. 21 ... When the soldiers get back home they will have much to say, but you will find that a lot of it will not be told. I do not mean the battle experiences, as I know nothing of that, but many things concerning their lives spent at training camps. But unless you misinterpret, (I) will say that everything possible is done for the boys. Food is very good and etc., but the discipline, work and etc. is what I am referring to.

This life is working wonders for me: I have gained 10 pounds and a very healthy color, besides getting as hard as a nail. We get as much exercise as we can stand, plenty of good food and fresh air. It does one good to see a battalion or regiment lined up at drill or physical drill, everyone in the pink of condition. The American Army is that way clear through. It is no wonder the Hun wanted to quit. I don’t blame him. ... We have completed our gas training.

Went through poison gas with our masks on, but we had to lift the nose piece to sniff it so that we could recognize the smell of it “over there.” Also went through tear gas with and without masks. One can’t keep his eyes open more than a second. Just seems as if it would burn them out. Every man must be able to put his mask on in six or less seconds before he can go across.

Jan. 14, 1919 ... I was home Christmas but had such a short stay that I was unable to get anywhere but home and the studio. If I have good luck I’ll be home Friday or Saturday of next week. Things are so uncertain in the Army that it may be sooner or later.

A few days ago I thought that it would be the end of this week. One just has to await developments. Will be very glad to make the change. Since the war is over, there is nothing to look forward to. ... We have never let up on our training, which is still intensive, even though 10 percent have been discharged, and 40 percent more are scheduled to go at any time. Every week we have examinations.

Those are merely to find out how much progress we are making. Now today we had final examinations, and are scheduled for some tomorrow. They were general examinations, and hope final. Everyone thinks of the discharge, you know.

Contact Martha Rasche at mrasche@dcherald.com.

About this series A few months ago, The Herald asked readers for letters written by their loved ones from World War II. We received more than a dozen responses, including from a couple of people who had letters from World War I. Some readers had fewer than a handful of letters to share, while others had dozens, even hundreds. The words are original to the writers, though some spelling and some punctuation have been altered.

The story behind the series This letter, signed “Your old neighbor,” was written by Gullett to Gasser. He been a childhood neighbor of Gasser’s at Ninth and Clay streets.

This letter was written by Sprauer.

Read how this series came about at DuboisCountyHerald.com. Click on Blogs and go to Backstory.