Dear Mom,
Sorry I didn't write last night like I said I was going to do, but I just didn't get a chance.
I got a letter from Ted Stout today. He didn't have much to say. I also got one from you. I got an awful nice Christmas box from Eileen Slack yesterday. It took about 2 months for it to get here.
Sorry to hear that Dad hasn't been working. I hope the snow has melted by now. Tell him to be careful on those icy roads.
You said that in one of my letters the last sheet was missing. The censor must not have put it back in after he read it because I know I put it in.
Dear Dad,
Received your letter this evening and was awful glad to hear from you. I feel ashamed of myself because I never write to you, but I try to write Mom every chance I get, and I mean it for all of you.
I am sitting here with sweat pouring off of me. It's hotter here than it ever gets back home.
I hope you all had a good Christmas. Mine was pretty good.
Dad, I'm sorry I'm dropping sweat on this letter and making a mess. I hope you can read it.
Yes, I wish I had been with you all this Christmas, but just like you said -- I'm over here fighting so we can have many more Christmases ahead of us. I know we'll spend next Christmas together. We'll make those Japs wish they had never seen an American boy. I know this war won't last much longer.
I would really like to have some pictures of the snow back there and also some pictures of the family to show the other boys here. Everybody has pictures of their family except me.
I will be able to call myself a man when I get out of this outfit. I've been through a lot already. But don't you and Mom worry about old Pedue. There never was a Jap born that could whip a Chapman.
Well, Dad, write me again when you have the time, and I'll do the same. Tell Mom I will try to write her tomorrow.
Dec. 2, 1944
Dear Mom,
Will answer your two letters received this evening because I know I won't have a chance to write tomorrow.
Sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling good. You should go to a doctor. Don't worry -- you're not old! But, Dad sure is. haha He's 44 now, isn't he?
This is another lonesome Saturday night here. I sure do remember all the good times I had back home on Saturday nights.
I received another package from you today. It sure makes me feel good to get stuff like that. The fruitcake was awful good.
We can get all the cigs we want here. I've got about 6 cartons in my sea bag right now, and they only cost 50 cents a carton.
No Mom, I haven't started fighting yet. The reason I don't write very often is that they keep us so busy that I just don't have time. But, I write every chance I get.
Letter to sister Jewell
Dear Sis:
Will try to answer your letter received the other day. Sorry I haven't been writing much, but I haven't had much time here lately. Been pretty busy.
I received a box from Roy yesterday, and it had an awful nice wallet in it. I was sure glad to get it because I didn't have one.
There is a boy sitting beside me playing his guitar. He is pretty good, but he is making me homesick.
Christmas is about here. I don't have but 12 more shopping days left. haha Don't guess I'll do any shopping this Christmas but sure hope I will next Christmas.
Guess you heard about how Louise is going to get married on me. It don't worry me.
Well, Sis, we've got 4 hard days in front of us starting Friday. We will be back on Monday. Hope I make it ok. I'll be a man for sure by the time I get out of here.
Dear Mom,
Will answer your four letters received today. I was sure glad to get them. Haven't been getting much mail here lately, and when I do, it seems like it has taken 2 or 3 weeks to get here. The mail is getting held up some way.
Did East Bank lose any games this year? If they beat Charleston, they must have been good because Charleston always has a good team.
I will try to get you a grass skirt and see if they will let me send it to you.
Don't you be uneasy about me now. You know there's not a Jap been born that could whip or shoot me.
I had about 25 bucks, and I hated to send that little bit home, so we had a war bond drive and they talked all of us boys into buying one. I had it put in your name. They said it would be a nice Christmas present for our mothers, but it might not get there in time for Christmas.
I finally received your nice package and was awful glad to get it. I've already ate the two boxes of cakes. I can sure use the toothbrush you sent. We can't get any good ones here.
I got a letter from Louise a few days ago and she told me that she hated to tell me this because she knew it would hurt me, but she is getting married. Ouch - it hurt me - haha. I had just about forgot about her until I got her letter.
That's awful about John Scott losing both of his sons. You are right, it does seem like a lot of boys are getting killed, but don't you worry about old Pedue -- he'll be coming back just like he left.
Sure wish we could get some of that snow that you've got on the ground back home.
Dear Mom,
I'll write to you first of all before I write to anyone else. Got back OK. We've been gone since Thursday morning and here it is Monday night. I'm pretty tired. It's been a tough time, but they won't get the best of a Chapman.
I saw Pete Brown day before yesterday while I was out. Didn't get to talk to him but a few minutes, but I was sure glad to see him. He's coming down here on Sunday and spending the day. It sure felt good to see somebody from home over here.
There aren't a lot of native women here, but there are a few. They go bare-footed and don't wear much of anything. Sure wish the girls back home would dress like that. haha
I'm going to close for now and try to get some sleep. It will feel good to sleep in my sack tonight.
Got a box of home-made candy today from Eileen. It was sure good. She must have marriage on her mind because I haven't heard from her for about 2 months.
I also got a letter today from June R. She has been writing just about every day. It's funny how a fellow can start writing to a girl and learn to like her just by writing.
Heard some news from Europe tonight. Looks like those damn doggies aren't doing any good at all over there. Looks like us Marines are going to have to go over there and do their fighting. I'm sure proud to say that I'm not in the Army.
Yes Mom, I guess this war is getting all the young boys. But, I'm no better than the rest of them, and they're not any better than me. Tell all the boys back home to stay out of the Army and get in a good outfit in the Marines.
Well, I'm getting sleepy, so I will close for now. I will write again the first chance I get.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
October and November 1944 Somewhere in the S. Pacific
Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and, believe it or not, we are going to have turkey for noon chow and we're supposed to have the day off.
Mom, I guess that was a lot of BS about Hitler missing. We never did hear anything about it. You asked me when I thought this war would end. Well, I hate to say it but I don't think the war in Europe will end until summer, and us boys here will get the war in the Pacific over as soon as we can.
I guess I'll be leaving here pretty soon. I'm not afraid because if I could live through what they put us through here, I know I can live through combat.
A lot of the boys have been getting their Christmas boxes. I haven't gotten mine yet. I sent you a bracelet and necklace made of little shells. I thought they were awful pretty, but if you don't want to wear them, you can just keep them and say you have something from the South Pacific. They didn't have hooks, so you will have to get some hooks put on them. I sent them via air mail, so you should get them in about 3 or 4 weeks.
I met a boy here that I went to school with over at Oakley. He has been over on another island here. He said that Pete Brown is also over here, about 60 miles from where I am.
Well, here it is another hot and lonesome Sunday. You know I've been wanting a watch since I've been over there but didn't want to write and ask you all to send me one because I want to see you all get out of debt. I drew 30 bucks last payday, and a New Zealand soldier had one to sell for 20 bucks, and I bought it. They are a swell bunch of boys and they keep saying that after the war, they are coming to the U.S. and taking all our women.
Glad to hear that Betty is gaining a little weight. She was looking kind of bad when I was home last.
Don't worry about me getting sick, although I do get tired and disgusted sometimes.
Dear Mom,
Guess you thought I had died or something. Well, we just got back after 8 hard days, and I was sure glad to get back. It felt just about as good as home would to me. I'm so give out that I don't feel like writing, but since I haven't written to you in 8 days, I will write a little bit.
You asked me if I had lost any weight. Well, I think I'm about the same as I was, but I might be a little bigger across the chest.
No Mom, there are no WAVES or WACS over here, but there are a few Red Cross nurses. We can get all the cigs we want, but it seems like Luckys are getting scarce over here.
Dugie will probably get to come home soon. I think after they make 50 missions, they let them come home, and he is close to that now.
I hope Dad is feeling better and his cold doesn't run into fever.
I think it will be a good while before they invade Japan. Tell Dad he is probably right about that, but it will probably be some place else before that.
I'm ashamed to be writing on this paper that says United States Army, but it is all the paper I could get. I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm in the Army. They don't fight like the Marines do. They believe in taking things slow, but we believe in getting in there and getting the job done.
You must have got Ruth a really nice coat if you paid 33 bucks for it. Well, I guess she is growing up. Everyone will look different when I get back home. I'm older myself. It won't be long until I'm 19 years old.
No, I don't think George is in the big battle around the Phillipines. I think he is on a destroy escort, and they just escort ships into the harbors.
I hated to hear about ***. I think a lot of girls do that when their husbands leave. It makes me not want to trust any woman. That's pretty dirty for a man back home to take a man's wife while the man is here fighting for his wife and for him. He's sitting back home doing nothing, and we have to do his fighting.
We heard that Roosevelt got elected again. I guess Uncle Lidge is mad about that.
You talking about Halloween made me think about last Halloween when Skipp Williams and a few other boys and I were having a good time running around and trying to get the Workman girls to go car riding with us. But, they wouldn't go.
I hope I get those Christmas packages from you because we'll be leaving here soon, and the next place we go to is going to be hard.
Dear Mom,
I heard a little of the last game of the World series today. Today is Tuesday here, but they were playing on Monday back home. Guess Roy and Dad were glad that the Cardinals won. Seems like most of the boys here were for the Browns, but I stuck up for the Cardinals.
You should have gotten that money order I sent you by now. Now don't you save it for me. I want you to go ahead and get something you need. I won't be able to get you a Christmas present, and I thought of keeping it and adding a little to it and then send it to you around Christmas time. But, I knew that if I tried to hold on to it, I would probably have lost it or something. So, you go ahead and use it to get yourself something.
Some of the boys have said that we are not going to be here for 3 or 4 days, so it might be a week before I get to write to you. So, if you don't hear from me, don't worry because I will be ok.
The other day, they told us that the beer we had been waiting on for two months had come in. They told us to march down and get some, but that we could only have one bottle. Most of us were so mad that we didn't even go get any.
You asked me if I had slept in a fox hole yet. Well, I did sleep in one one night, and it sure wasn't good sleeping.
I don't need anything for Christmas. Just send me a box with some food in it. It will taste good because it will come from home.
I never have got that cake Betty sent me. And you said that Jewell sent me some writing paper, but I never got it.
I got another letter from you this evening. I sure know how Junior Stout must have felt having to come back. Was he coming back to the South Pacific?
I wish I had been there when you all had that chicken dinner for Roy Spaulding.
I got paid today and only drew $10. I sure wish they hadn't taken that $40 a month from me. I could have paid you and Betty back. Well, I guess it is my own fault.
Yes, I can get gum here, so you don't need to send me any
I saw a couple of native women the other day. They don't hardly wear anything.
I figured it was getting cold there. It is still hotter than anything here.
I don't guess Roy and Dad liked the ball game today since the Cardinals got beat. Maybe they will win the next one.
Mom, I listed to the President's talk, too, so you and I were doing the same thing at the same time. I also heard some of the World Series.
Yes, I guess Dugie has seen a lot of what I will be seeing soon. They are having a big sea battle here in the Pacific now.
No Mom, I haven't gotten the fruitcake yet. It takes about 4 or 5 weeks for a package to get here. I will sure be glad when I get it.
I know that Roy is happy that he has a job now.
Well, I'm going to write a girl I met in Washington a letter before I lay down, so I will close for now.
Mom, I guess that was a lot of BS about Hitler missing. We never did hear anything about it. You asked me when I thought this war would end. Well, I hate to say it but I don't think the war in Europe will end until summer, and us boys here will get the war in the Pacific over as soon as we can.
I guess I'll be leaving here pretty soon. I'm not afraid because if I could live through what they put us through here, I know I can live through combat.
A lot of the boys have been getting their Christmas boxes. I haven't gotten mine yet. I sent you a bracelet and necklace made of little shells. I thought they were awful pretty, but if you don't want to wear them, you can just keep them and say you have something from the South Pacific. They didn't have hooks, so you will have to get some hooks put on them. I sent them via air mail, so you should get them in about 3 or 4 weeks.
I met a boy here that I went to school with over at Oakley. He has been over on another island here. He said that Pete Brown is also over here, about 60 miles from where I am.
Well, here it is another hot and lonesome Sunday. You know I've been wanting a watch since I've been over there but didn't want to write and ask you all to send me one because I want to see you all get out of debt. I drew 30 bucks last payday, and a New Zealand soldier had one to sell for 20 bucks, and I bought it. They are a swell bunch of boys and they keep saying that after the war, they are coming to the U.S. and taking all our women.
Glad to hear that Betty is gaining a little weight. She was looking kind of bad when I was home last.
Don't worry about me getting sick, although I do get tired and disgusted sometimes.
Dear Mom,
Guess you thought I had died or something. Well, we just got back after 8 hard days, and I was sure glad to get back. It felt just about as good as home would to me. I'm so give out that I don't feel like writing, but since I haven't written to you in 8 days, I will write a little bit.
You asked me if I had lost any weight. Well, I think I'm about the same as I was, but I might be a little bigger across the chest.
No Mom, there are no WAVES or WACS over here, but there are a few Red Cross nurses. We can get all the cigs we want, but it seems like Luckys are getting scarce over here.
Dugie will probably get to come home soon. I think after they make 50 missions, they let them come home, and he is close to that now.
I hope Dad is feeling better and his cold doesn't run into fever.
I think it will be a good while before they invade Japan. Tell Dad he is probably right about that, but it will probably be some place else before that.
I'm ashamed to be writing on this paper that says United States Army, but it is all the paper I could get. I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm in the Army. They don't fight like the Marines do. They believe in taking things slow, but we believe in getting in there and getting the job done.
You must have got Ruth a really nice coat if you paid 33 bucks for it. Well, I guess she is growing up. Everyone will look different when I get back home. I'm older myself. It won't be long until I'm 19 years old.
No, I don't think George is in the big battle around the Phillipines. I think he is on a destroy escort, and they just escort ships into the harbors.
I hated to hear about ***. I think a lot of girls do that when their husbands leave. It makes me not want to trust any woman. That's pretty dirty for a man back home to take a man's wife while the man is here fighting for his wife and for him. He's sitting back home doing nothing, and we have to do his fighting.
We heard that Roosevelt got elected again. I guess Uncle Lidge is mad about that.
You talking about Halloween made me think about last Halloween when Skipp Williams and a few other boys and I were having a good time running around and trying to get the Workman girls to go car riding with us. But, they wouldn't go.
I hope I get those Christmas packages from you because we'll be leaving here soon, and the next place we go to is going to be hard.
Dear Mom,
I heard a little of the last game of the World series today. Today is Tuesday here, but they were playing on Monday back home. Guess Roy and Dad were glad that the Cardinals won. Seems like most of the boys here were for the Browns, but I stuck up for the Cardinals.
You should have gotten that money order I sent you by now. Now don't you save it for me. I want you to go ahead and get something you need. I won't be able to get you a Christmas present, and I thought of keeping it and adding a little to it and then send it to you around Christmas time. But, I knew that if I tried to hold on to it, I would probably have lost it or something. So, you go ahead and use it to get yourself something.
Some of the boys have said that we are not going to be here for 3 or 4 days, so it might be a week before I get to write to you. So, if you don't hear from me, don't worry because I will be ok.
The other day, they told us that the beer we had been waiting on for two months had come in. They told us to march down and get some, but that we could only have one bottle. Most of us were so mad that we didn't even go get any.
You asked me if I had slept in a fox hole yet. Well, I did sleep in one one night, and it sure wasn't good sleeping.
I don't need anything for Christmas. Just send me a box with some food in it. It will taste good because it will come from home.
I never have got that cake Betty sent me. And you said that Jewell sent me some writing paper, but I never got it.
I got another letter from you this evening. I sure know how Junior Stout must have felt having to come back. Was he coming back to the South Pacific?
I wish I had been there when you all had that chicken dinner for Roy Spaulding.
I got paid today and only drew $10. I sure wish they hadn't taken that $40 a month from me. I could have paid you and Betty back. Well, I guess it is my own fault.
Yes, I can get gum here, so you don't need to send me any
I saw a couple of native women the other day. They don't hardly wear anything.
I figured it was getting cold there. It is still hotter than anything here.
I don't guess Roy and Dad liked the ball game today since the Cardinals got beat. Maybe they will win the next one.
Mom, I listed to the President's talk, too, so you and I were doing the same thing at the same time. I also heard some of the World Series.
Yes, I guess Dugie has seen a lot of what I will be seeing soon. They are having a big sea battle here in the Pacific now.
No Mom, I haven't gotten the fruitcake yet. It takes about 4 or 5 weeks for a package to get here. I will sure be glad when I get it.
I know that Roy is happy that he has a job now.
Well, I'm going to write a girl I met in Washington a letter before I lay down, so I will close for now.
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