Ancient Letter

May 1, 2007

The stuff you find when going through old files. E.g. this letter to my mother on Air Corps stationary over 63 years ago. And I have one written a year earlier while I was still in High School just before turning 18. It pretty much decried the War. Here’s the later one.

Hamilton Field
11 November 1943

Dear Mother:

Armistice Day! That strikes a familiar tone doesn’t it? No School. Banks closed. Stores closed all or part of the day. But not so on Hamilton Field. Work goes on just the same in striving for another day. Not an Armistice day, but a day of unconditional surrender. On this day twenty-five years ago the order to “cease firing” went down the line, but not today. The order is fire and fire again. Push the enemy back relentlessly until he gives in to utter defeat. Twenty five years ago the munitions factories began to shut down; their task done. Now the order is to “work harder” and increase production towards victory. Still we paused today for a minute to pay tribute to those who lost their lives over two decades ago that there might not be another war, and, ironically, to those who have given their lives in this war the result of the last. At eleven o’clock every man and woman on the post stood at attention while taps was played and then went back to work to help bring about a day of peace. One short minute of tribute and many days of sweat to resolve that those “dead shall not have died in vain.”
Chaplain Shiery got his orders yesterday and moves on to the Chaplain’s replacement pool at Lowery Field, Denver, Saturday.
Everything has been distressingly quiet around here today,. Fred is still in the hospital and Chaplain Close is out on a trip to the satellite bases. Chaplain Smith has been in and out all day and Chaplain Burke (Catholic) is in “frisco so his ass’t isn’t here either. I’ve just had the Chapel to myself most of the day. There hasn’t even been many calls, although I did take a call from a woman who is the head of the Christian Endeavour for Marin County and she wants me to see if I can get some fellows to speak at the 1st Congregational Church for a special program for Service Personnel. I may do it myself if I can get out. It’s been so long since I spoke before a group that it would be a pleasure to do a little something. The trouble is getting a pass. I may be able to get one through the Chapel.
Well, I don’t have any more news and I really should go up to visit Fred so I’ll close for now.
Love,
James


Fred was a fellow from Little Washington, PA. Not sure why he was in hospital. I was at Hamilton for over seas replacement, but by the end of the Month had been discharged and sent home. I got duty as a Chaplain's Assistant. It beat the heck out of other kinds of KP, etc. one had to do while waiting decisions.