Mom,
Received the watch! It’s really wonderful! Although I didn’t ask for the sweep second hand, it’s exactly what I wanted! Thank you very much.
I’ll tell you in a week how it runs, but I’m pretty sure that you couldn’t ask for anything better.
About two weeks ago I told you I was getting my furlough in six weeks, remember. Well, now I’m getting it in seven weeks. (not even holding my own.) That’s as definite as anything can be in the army (which it can’t.) That is, the orders for my furlough are definite; the time isn’t. There are forty-five guys ahead of me, and they’re sending new men out as the old ones return, so the time is rather indefinite. But I think we can figure on about the last of June.
Tonight at two o’clock we go out on a twenty-five mile hike, with full field pack and gun, of course. The infantry’s got something new out called an expert infantryman’s badge and you have to pass a lot of physical and mental tests to get it.10 So this is supposed to be the toughest physical part. Probably by tomorrow I’ll be about two inches shorter after being pounded into the ground for eight hours and having my feet worn away for ditto time by all that weight.
Well, I’ll let you know what’s happening and what’s happened, when it does. Same from you?
Bye now—with love Carl
. . .
May 12, 1944
Mother’s Day Card
“A tender greeting
Filled with loving cheer
To tell you, Mother,
How very dear
You are to me
On Mother’s Day
And all the year!”
And a hand-written note:
I hope that it does, Mother! You are, believe me, although I’m afraid I don’t show it very often. With Love –Carl
Figure 4-2. Mother’s Day card, May 12, 1944. Author collection.
Separate letter
Thursday
You asked whether I liked fudge or something else. Maw, that’s not a very hard choice. There isn’t anything I’d rather have than fudge, than your fudge, rather.
I wish you’d forget about trying to get me out of this because of any physical reasons. If Carson has any pull, push him into getting me into O.C.S. but he’d have to have more than pull for that, he’d have to have a prime mover.
Remember I told you I was trying to get a position as a driver? Well—that’s out. I am now working on something new and 100% better—battalion intelligence. It means interesting (comparatively speaking, of course) work and a chance to use more brain and less brawn. About 50% more men volunteered than there are room for so I won’t know for a while whether I’m one of the fortunate or not.
Yesterday morning we finished that 25 mile hike I told you about. You should have seen everybody hobble, crawl, limp, or what-have-you around the company area all day yesterday—it was like a slapstick comedy. But my God, were my feet tender! And did I wake up stiff this morning! Ah, the rugged life! Nothing like it, thank God! But—didn’t hurt me, I guess.
Bye Love –Carl
. . .
The Lavins’ house in Canton contained two bedrooms, one for Dorothy and Leo and one for the boys. A houseguest in that home meant that Carl would sleep on a couch or on the back porch, and the guest would take the boys’ room. In May 1944, Dorothy and Leo decided to purchase a larger house about six blocks away.
. . .
May 16 1944
Monday
Dear Mother,
Today in the 69th Division, of which I have the somewhat dubious honor of being a part, is celebrating its first birthday. So, after a parade this morning, we are having the rest of the day off. Personally, I think it would have been a nice gesture on the part of the general had he waited two more days to hold this celebration, for then both the 69th and myself could have celebrated our first year in the army, together. Yep, two more days and I’ll be practically an old army man. But the general is a stubborn man.
Since this is my first typing endeavor in about a year, you’ll have to overlook my mistakes and you’ll have quite a few of them to overlook.
The watch is completely good, except for one thing. It really works automatically; I haven’t had to wind it since I got it. But it gains about a minute and a half, or two, a day. By the way, in case you’re wondering why my old watch hasn’t arrived yet, here’s the reason, I haven’t sent it yet. But I will as soon as I get a chance.
If I ever manage to get out of this place over a week-end, I’ll call you some Sunday morning (It takes at least six hours to get a call through from camp.) So far, I’ve been able to get out on exactly one week-end out of eight, what with the transportation the way it is, which is negligible, and the detail list the way it is, which is almost all-inclusive. If I get a chance on other than a week-end I’ll try to call you then, too. But don’t worry if you learn that I’ve called when you weren’t home some time. If anything important ever turns up I’ll let you know by telegraph, not by phone.
Incidentally, what kind of sleeping arrangements are you figuring on when Edith and I get there? It’s going to be a little difficult for you, I guess. I hope all this isn’t going to trouble you too much, but it means quite a lot to me. I may as well warn you now, Mom, we aren’t going to get much sleep during those seven days and it won’t do you any good to try and get us to. Also you might notify the Lavin family and friends that any glimpses they get of me beyond the absolute minimum will be purely coincidental.
Just got your letter. Was surprised to hear you’re really intending to sell the house now. But your plan seems to be a very good one. All I want is that you keep it until after my furlough, which you said you are doing.
Goodbye for now—Love Carl
. . .
May 19 1944
Thursday
Mother,
Friend Carson must really be something, after all. I’ve never seen anything move so fast in the army before. And somebody must have thrown a scare into somebody. Yesterday I was called in out of the field (orders were marked “emergency”!) and sent to the hospital. There two majors and a lieutenant colonel worked on me. While this was going on there were majors and captains out in the field questioning my squad leader, platoon leader, first sergeant, and C.O. about my physical condition.
They put my hands and feet in ice water, asked me question after question and I’m afraid they arrived at the conclusion that I am healthy. They aren’t done yet, though. Today they tried to give me a metabolism
