August 28, 1943

 Dear Ginger,

Have been pretty chummy with a Lt. Co. Burnett of the Army Air Forces who is also headed my way and thru his connections we will be chosen to go on a giant C54 four motored cargo plane. It seems that the usual route is Miami to Puerto Rico, ti Trinidad, to Natal (Brazil), to Ascension Island, to Accra (Gold Cost Africa), to Khatoum Anglo Egyptian Africa, Oden, Arabia, Korashi India and New Delhi, India. What happens from there, no one knows. These giant planes called "Old Faithful" have a capacity of 26 men with equipment.

This staging area has personnel from all over the U.S. come to it for transportation as far as Africa. From there the Middle East Command takes over. Sometimes several hundred are here waiting. Every afternoon at 1:15 we meet on the north porch where the "shipping list" for the next day is read. The usual wait is 5 days. Naturally, all this information is restricted so when you have read and digested this letter, destroy it.

Calling you on the phone give me a great lift. We must bear with fortitude our short separation and exert every effort toward ending the war.

If the boys do anything particularly nice, let me know so I can praise them. Safe arrival cables are absolutely prohibited. However, our government is taking every precaution that we do arrive safely. A letter from me to you with an airmail special delivery stamp on means I have reached my final destination. If I stop any place for a while, I'll let you know where.

Love, George

April 23, 1951

 2305 N.W.87 St.

Miami 47, Florida

April 23, 1951

Dear George,

I have not heard from you for some time. Where are you now? It could be you are on Formosa or due to go back soon.

I suppose you do not say much about MacArthur but his dismissal and his very inspiring address before congress has set many people to thinking and talking. His reception and parade in New York City was the greatest they ever had there. I presume it is a big loss to the Army to have him go at this time. History will only say who is right but when you are fighting a war it seems that you should use every means at your disposal such as bombing enemy bases outside of Korea.

My duties have decreased in one direction to be increased in another. I am no longer president of the Doddies Club but am institutional representative for the scouts for 2 cub packs and 1 scout troop which are sponsored by the Doddies Club. Edwin is a tenderfoot scout now and assistant patrol leader.

[ I looked up Doddies Club, it has to do with golfing, it could also be Daddies club, but i don't think so]

I had a big job recently. The water paint was flaking off the stucco on the house so I removed it all with a buffer or sander. Elsie didn't appreciate the dust very much. Then I put crack filler in the cracks and put a first coat of oil paint I still have to put on the second coat after some caulking.

I wash the war in Korea could be finished with a victory of some kind.. It must be demoralizing to have it continue without seeing clearly how it can be concluded.

Alfred is still kept busy in the bank. He will go on a trip with them to St. Petersburg soon.

Elsie is now in New York to attend Luis' wedding on April 29. He is going to have a big one with a reception at the Hotel Pierre afterwards. Then he is taking a trip to South America.

How are you and your family?

Your friend,

Al

Cornell, October 9, 1921

 Dear Mother,

Life here is simply one fine thing after another. Last evening Mr. Johnson brought me a big apple. This morning, Mrs. Johnson invited me to a breakfast of coffee and cream, toast, buns, pie, and grapes.

To keep on par with the breakfast, the sermon this morning was paramount. It was upon a subject seldom discussed.As a strange coincidence, the text was from the very chapter I read this morning. Matthew 1:1-14.

First the pastor compared the pliable, plastic body of the child with the minds of adults who have fixed, unchangeable, prejudices. Christ ment that unless we have the childlike faith and simplicity, we are lost. The pastor then spoke about the imagination of a child. He said that because of these characteristics, much thought should be given to child training. Most diplomatically he denounced the theater. He brought out the fact that more money is spent on the adult organization, function, and equipment of the church where it is of little benefit that upon the children's departments.

A child expects correction, teaching, etc. He is modest, has faith, is simple. Whereas the adult, the passing citizen, and retiring soldier of the cross is just the reverse. So he brought in the usefulness and value of the Sunday School and children's' organizations. There upon, he concluded that we should not become childish but childlike.

I can not do him just in writing; but I assure you it was good.

It's been raining today but tis clearing up now. Probably I shall go for a walk.

Love, prayers, and blessings.

Son.

March 22 1951

 Dear Dad,

How are you? How is the weather in Tokyo. We are all breathing and healthy. The weather here is quite nice. Well I just finished a letter to Bob and I still have to write to Grandma and Grandaddy. Well it is about time I wrote some letters isn't it. Well I guess I never told you about my grades last time, did I? Well, here they are (Ugh!) Latin -C

Geometry - A

English - B

Mech. Draft - B

Gym - B

Well, they aren't bad are they? Net time I hope to raise them. I am going to order an orchid tomorrow morning. I thought I would get her an orchid so it would still be good for her birthday. Good idea, huh!

Well Sunday is the day Ginger is going to be baptied. Boy will I be proud. Well time to say so long

Your son with hugs and x's

George

Ithaca New York, November 13, 1921

 This is a letter my granddad wrote his mother while he was in college.

213 Mitchell St

Ithaca, New York

November 13, 1921

Dear Mother,

When I awoke this morning the whole country landscape was white with snow. Off in the distance the white on the mountains showed in bright patches among the pine forests. To set everything off,, the sun arose in all its glory.

To continue the glories and purity of the day, Reverend John D.W. Fetter preached the morning sermon on the Peace equivalent of War. I can truthfully say that sermon is the best I heard yet. It is the first time I heard him too.

The text 1 Corinthians 13 was well chosen indeed. He quoted many writers on the need of war to uplift a nation. War they said was necessary to give a common aim, it bred unselfishness, heroism, loyalty, co-operation, etc. The present peace conference was a tinny step toward universal peace. Why? Because it was a negative factor. It put forth a restriction, but did not remove the cause. It offered nothing in place of war. No peace pursuit was as universal as war. Agriculture,, commerce, industry, all were local forces and bred selfishness.

But there was one thing that excited universal effort. Christianity. Mr Fetter then discussed the qualities of Jesus Christ showing his love, mercy, sympathy,, courage, etc. "Christianity", he said, "was universal and brought forth every good quality."

His sermon was good indeed.

The Sunday school comes after the service and this Mr. Fetter teaches or rather leads the discussion in the men's class. This Sunday it was concerning the "flood" There were thirty-two young men present in the class.

Everything OK here, Love to all

Son.

 

Spring, TX Oct 22, 40 (or 10)

A transcript of a letter written by by grandmother's brother. Not sure who to. 

 Dear Miss Willie:

And you never heard of Sellers? It wouldn't do to tell these people that. You ask what kind of a place it is. That is not a hard question to answer, We have a telegraph office, one boarding house and about five hundred box cars. It was hard for me to decide where I wanted to board but when dinner time came I went to the Womack hotel. The city is just one mile north of here called Spring. Never heard of that either? That's funny, Better get your geography and look it up. Spring has about twelve stores two thirds of which are saloons. They have a large dancing hall and have a big dance nearly every week. They have no church or Sunday school. Think this would be a good place to send missionaries don't you?

Was surprised to hear Joe going to Dallas so soon but think it is a good thing for him. He will mind Rowena better than anyone and she doesn't live in a rough part of town. It is like a country village. It will do him good to be in town where he can see and learn things. So you are playing chess every night, am glad you like it so well. Can you beat Bob playing? Am afraid I will not be able to win any games from you when I get back. Wish I could be there to play with you. Haven't played any since I left Mumford, but will get some men and find some one to play with when I find a place to stop. Will be here about a week or ten days longer, but can''t say where I will go then.

Am going to Houston Monday morning and return in the evening. Want to get some books to read while I am in this lonely place and will see about having your umbrella fixed up. Don't know what books I will get but if they are any good will mail them to you as soon as I read them. Reading is about the only way I can pass the time away here. I can sleep half of the time but not all of it.

I will expect one of those post cards soon, hope they are good. You mustn't tear them up. I hope they are just like you. They should be ready for you this trip home.

If you expect to paint many pictures for your students, am sure you will be kept busy from now until Christmas.

If you don't have time to write long letters, I will be glad to get short ones. I don't write very long letters myself.

Yours,

Roy