1943 - May - A Letter from a WAAC

In 1943 World War II is omnipresent.

This letter is from a friend who joined Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. 

Letter - Page 1

"April 30, 1943

Dear Margaret, Barbie, Jim and Bill1,

It was wonderful getting your letter this morning, but you probably won't feel the same when you get this as my arm is so sore I can't write decently. 

We arrived here Monday nite about 9:30 and were we tired.  IT was so hot all the way and also dirty.  I like it very much so far..."

Letter - Page 2

"...but as yet we haven't our uniforms and at nite we are all so dirty.  There are 38 in our barracks and our beds are only one foot apart.  It is about 100 degrees down here everyday and the camp is in a big wide sand field with no shade.  We are not allowed to tell anything about this place at all, but it is very different from other army and WAAC camps.

It was just started one month ago and there are more than 1500 here now with more coming all the time.  It seems like all we do is march, but we have classes about six hours a day.  We get up about 5:45 and drill or study all day with lights out at 10:00.  We had shots yesterday and were already nearly sick from the sun.  Several of the girls passed out on the field and all of us feel pretty punk, but guess we'll live.

I am so glad you finally are decided about where you are going to live..."  

Letter - Page 3

"...and hope you will like it.

Give Barbie a great big kiss for me.  I sure miss you all, and don't let Jim & Bill1 forget to write.  It isn't any fun to stand in line for mail call and not get any.

Must close and get busy.

Love, Ruth

My address is

Ruth J. McCammon

A.S.N.A. 906596

Co. 5 - 2 Bn - 42 Reg.

Branch A Fifth WAAC Trg Center

Ruston, Louisiana"

Envelope - Reverse

1 - Bill Hucka bordered with the Waning family in Portland.



1946 - War Ration Book

"In the United States, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the Office of Price Administration (OPA). These books contained stamps and gave precise details of the amounts of certain types of food that you were allowed."

"Rationing insured that each person could get their fair share of the items that were in short supply due to the war effort and import reductions. By the end of the war, over a hundred million of each ration book were printed."

"The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was in charge of rationing consumer goods such as sugar, coffee, shoes, household appliances, and other goods during World War II."

"The OPA accepted ration book applications and issued ration books, from which consumers tore out stamps in order to purchase food and other supplies at grocery stores."

"Four different series of war ration books were issued. In 1942, five months after (December 8, 1941) the United States entered the Second World War, "Book One" series were issued. In January 1943, "Book Two" series were issued. "Book Three" series were issued in October of 1943. And "Book Four" series were issued towards the end of 1943."

"Most ration restrictions didn't end until August 1945, with sugar rationing lasting in some parts of the country until 1947."

Information sourced from:  

http://www.genealogytoday.com/guide/war-ration-books.html



Summer 1942 - The Accident - Letter from Ella McAdam Caufield

In late July 1942, Ella Caufield sent Jim a letter...

"July 23 - 42

Dear Jim - At last I found out that you were in the Sacred Heart H. I hope it is a concrete or brick building so it will not be too hot. It has been either very hot here or raining. We cut some hay in orchard about the 4th & got that in dry but the rest or most of it - got rain for a wk. Some we had to turn & shock twice but it is all in but a couple of loads on the X?X?(cannot read). Ezra, Jack & myself with the help of Ezra's wife driving the hay fork. Took hay across river this year.

Joe1 may get over before school starts as he must have a little vacation. Looks very thin..."


"...Joe is a real dairyman now - works at a place we pass going into T.  It is from 4 or 4:20 (if they sleep in) until 8 when he eats.  Sun & Sat's.  He gets from about 10-4 on Sun off.  There have been a number of filling station jobs open but he has no transportation except a bike & with rain that wouldn't be too good.  He says he gets less than 10cents an hr - Anyway he figures 16 hr and gets $40 a mo.  He runs a machine & strips his own string now.  We feel if he sticks it out (1 mo. Sun) he will be ready for a dif. job..."
  

"...next summer & he'll be 16 & able to drive a car.  Boys 16 are getting $6 a day in Astoria on the nets, driving horses that draw nets in.  Our new Blimp base, back of the Fairgrounds, pays boys 18 .80-.90 an hr & every man who can, has gone there to work so filling stations etc are just left with owners.
About 35 families (some places) have been vacated in that region.
Ronnie was in for 4th but Joe only had 10-4 off so not much sport.
Have wondered if Beth2 takes a chance on leaving her new man.  Tires are surely a premium here, but I do believe gas rationing the only solution as it seems..."

"...some get new tires & cars for pleasure while some logger has to walk to a neighbor & then they patch up tires between them.  No more word from Bud3 so I think he is not 5 da. away now.  The war does not look too good & casualties are beginning to be felt in Til.  Just the notice but not where.  Marjorie4 said, "Tell Jim to keep his chin up" but she has it wrong as you have your feet up if you look like some I've seen here.  Well it was bad but could have been worse & a rest maybe what you needed - anyway it is what your are getting - Anyway luck & hope you are not in too long.  The Armstrongs have moved away & do I miss them.

Lots of love & the best,

Aunt Ella"

1 Joe - Joe Caufield

2 Beth - Beth Emmert - niece to Ella - cousin to Jim

3 Bud - Waldo Caufield - in the Navy in WW2

3 Marjorie - Beth's mother Rob Emmert's wife