Only two days after Lester’s joyful letter announcing his leave to visit home, he writes another story. All leaves have been canceled. What a tragic turn of events. Since the family had already canceled their trip to visit Lester at the Great Lakes, they would have received this news with heavy hearts. Things changed so quickly for the Navy boys in 1942 America.
Lester included a hopeful note by saying that some of the unit would be granted leaves. With his kind and generous heart, he admitted there were those who deserved a leave more than he did. What could possibly happen next?
The Folks
Monday noon.
August 3, 1942
Dear Folks,
Well, here’s the bad news. All of our leaves have been cancelled. We may get them later but for the present we are under 24 hour orders, prepared to leave at any time. I’m sorry to have it happen after we had planned on it and you gave up the trip up here. It is just as well that you didn’t come though as we had only from Sunday noon until midnight and the boys didn’t get out the gate until about two o’clock. They said that they cut down on our liberty because we were getting nine-day leaves and didn’t want us overleave on liberty.
The lieutenant announced the cancellation this morning while we were taking tests for rates. We don’t know yet who passed the test but not many of us think that we passed it.
I understand that we are to be divided into groups. Some of us will get leaves. Some of the boys have been in a year with no leave so they deserve a leave before I do. If I can possibly get a leave, I will be home, you can be sure. I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to come up here as we may go out at any time with only short notice and again we may get our leave later. I don’t think I will call you as there isn’t anything I could say. If I do get sent out right away, I’ll write as soon as possible. You can write to me at barracks 614. My telephone number is Ontario 4548. However, I don’t imagine I would know anything if you did call me. I can’t think of anything else now so will close.
In a letter to his father, Lester actively encouraged his dad to come visit with his mother and youngest brother, Paul. Evidently, Dad had a few reservations. The other brother, Wallace, wasn’t mentioned. Perhaps it had already been decided that he would stay home and take care of the farm chores.
Charley, Lester’s Dad
Given all that there was to do on a farm in wartime forties, it was probably hard for Charley to think about leaving, even to see his oldest son. He didn’t travel too much. However, in his younger days, while he was courting Georgia in 1911, he had accompanied his mother to Colorado Springs on holiday and sent a postcard photo to Georgia from the west.
In wartime Kansas 1942, it was not that easy to leave. Lester gave it his best shot, however.
July 11 – 1942
Dear Dad,
I don’t know how long it took you to write your letter but it usually takes me quite a while too, and I’ll have to go put my leggings on for regimental review this afternoon so this will probably be short.
Can’t you arrange to come with mom and Paul to see me at the Lakes? I’m not going to insist because you know if you can come or not but I would like very much to have you come. We still can’t find out when we are leaving but it will probably be the 14th. I don’t imagine there is much chance of getting a leave to come home. According to an article in the navy paper from the Lakes, we are entitled to ten day leaves if we have six months active service, if our services can be spared and if our commanding officer sees fit to give us leaves. Quite a few “ifs” aren’t there?
I’ve had over six months service. Diesel men from the last draft are still waiting for ships, so my services can be spared. It seems that the last “if” would decide the question for us. That will be the officer at the Lakes and I don’t know who he will be. The boys who left two weeks ago are still waiting at the Lakes and most of the diesel draft of six weeks ago are waiting in New York. I wish we could find out something before it happens but that seems impossible. Just have to wait and see, I guess.
I bought a new pen over at the store in the Ford plant the other day. It is a $2.95 Parker but cost me only $1.65 over there. It writes swell. If mom hasn’t bought a pen yet, I’ll get her one here if she lets me know by the last of next week. Does your pen still work OK?
Do you have most of the work done now? I suppose that you are thru with the corn.
Charley and samples of his corn, 1942.
It is time for me to go so I’ll close and mail this. Remember I want to see you if you can come. I won’t be able to find out anything about getting leave until I get to the Lakes and if we waited until then to decide to come or not, you couldn’t get to the Lakes until my weekend liberty would be over. If we stay at the Lakes more than a week, I would probably get a long liberty. Hoping to see you.
Anticipating a visit from the folks, Lester details his schedule of free time. Classes are drawing to a close and he is looking forward to assignment on a sea-going ship. Josephine’s visit has ended. She has gone home again.
Thursday evening
July 9 – 1942
Dear Folks
I received your letter today and am glad to hear from you. I’m glad that you are planning on coming to see me. However I can’t tell you very much for sure except the regular schedule which says we will have liberty from Wednesday noon until eight Thursday morning and from Saturday noon until eight Monday morning. However the last draft stayed longer than scheduled and had an additional liberty from Friday at 4 PM until eight the following morn.
There is a rumor that we will get nine day leaves—but I don’t believe we will get them. You can go ahead and plan to come. I will let you know as soon as I learn anything for certain but that probably won’t be until we get to the Lakes. You asked how much time I would have before going to the Lakes. I would go directly to the Great Lakes from here in a troop train. We will probably leave here Friday morning, July 24th and get to the Lakes that same night. We would have liberty from noon Saturday, the 25th until eight the following Monday morning. Then again from Wednesday noon, the 29th until eight Thursday morning. If we aren‘t sent out on Friday the 31st, we would probably have liberty again and might possibly get a leave. That is something which no one can say at this time.
There is a small town, Waukegan, where you could stay if you wanted to do that. It is only four miles from the station while Chicago is several miles farther. Will let you know as soon as I find out anything new.
We hear every few days from some of the boys who have gone to sea duty. All of them like it fine. Everyone in my class is restless, tired of this place and wanting to go to sea. I was surprised to get to talk to Wallace the other night when I called Josephine but glad too. I had been wondering what Herb Clayton was doing now. Well, certainly he isn’t too good for the job.
I met a boy from Emporia today. We have been in the same part of the dormitory for two weeks and just now are getting acquainted. He used to live in Toledo. We both knew Einsmingers, south of Americus, and some other folks down there. Another Emporia boy, Snyder, who drove the Camel tobacco truck, is here in another barracks. More men are being sent to school all the time.
We had watermelon for dinner today. It was good too. We had peaches for breakfast but they weren’t any too ripe.
Guess I better close and write another letter or two. I’ll be expecting to see you before too long.
In a long letter just in time for Father’s Day, Lester describes his busy life. He sees more of the nearby sites, now that Josephine is around to take places. Included is a special, reassuring note to his mother, who evidently has expressed her concerns about what Lester will do after he finishes his training.
June 12 , 1942
Dear Dad
Well finally I am getting started toward answering your letter of two weeks ago. That is very prompt isn’t it? Mrs. Wolfram was right when she said I wouldn’t have much time for writing letters. I have been going on all my liberties, even though there isn’t a great deal for us to do in the evenings.
We went out to Bob-Lo Island on a picnic last Saturday. We had quite a nice boat ride but the picnic wasn’t very much. I sent Paul a picture card of the boat which we took. I don’t know how many people were on the boat but it seemed to be filled. On the trip back from Bob-Lo there were quite a few small boats on the river. I got a big kick out of watching our waves hit them. None of them upset but they would nearly go out of sight when in the trough of the wave. The river channel is marked with bouys which must be lighted each evening. Men were lighting the lanterns for them as we returned. We saw James at the picnic but didn’t talk to him. I don’t see much of him on the station.
The Postal card Lester sent; SS Columbia of the Bob-Lo Excursion Co.
We don’t have anything to do tonight which is unusual. I was on guard last night and today so didn’t go to school today. This afternoon another of the boys and I washed the foundation of the barracks and watered the shrubs and trees. I washed all of my whites again this evening and I didn’t have anything to wear to chow so I missed it this evening. I had one of the boys get me an ice-cream sundae at the canteen so I think I will make out until morning. We had a real good meal at noon. Pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, pea soup, lemon pie, ice cream and cool tea.
Your new pen seems to work fine. Try it again sometime. No, I’m not lonesome or homesick. I don’t have time to be. It is easy to make friends and all the people are so nice to us. They are very nice about giving us rides.
Thursday evening: Didn’t get this finished so will continue it today. I wish you could be having some of the rain which we are getting. It rains every time I have liberty and sometimes oftener. We have had several showers last night and today. I had liberty last night so we went out to Greenfield Village but it hasn’t opened yet so we couldn’t go thru it. It is to open this Saturday so we will go see it on the first opportunity. We did walk around some of the grounds but not the main part. We ate supper in Dearborn then went to a show. When we got out of the show it was raining so we stayed in a doorway until the bus came. Megdall’s (where Josephine works) had company so I didn’t stay but started back to the station in the rain. The bus wasn’t due for half an hour so I started walking. A car stopped and picked me up. The fellow brought me right out to the station. That’s the way they treat us up here.
Guess I had as well answer mom’s letter also as I probably won’t have time tomorrow night.
Yes, Mom, $4.00 an hour seems pretty high wages, doesn’t it? Guess what the sweepers at Ford get an hour. They get a dollar and a nickel an hour just to sweep floors. Of course it costs more to live up here. It costs a dollar every time Josephine and I eat a meal and we don’t indulge very heavily for that. Yes, I know that help is scarce. It is scarce here too, especially skilled men. We need more instructors at school but can’t get them. The papers are full of ads for experienced men and women. Better earn and save the money while you can. I imagine Mrs. Rutledge was glad when Leslie was turned down. I admire him for being willing to go anyway. Someone had told me that Don had joined the Marines. I wouldn’t want that branch.
You asked about the Ford Trade School and the Service School. The Service school is for navy boys who work and study in the Ford schools and shops. The Ford trade school is made up of boys from ten years on up to around eighteen, I think. They work as apprentice helpers for several years and are paid two dollars per day while learning. Some of them study in the classrooms to learn mathematics. They operate a good many machines on production work. I think it is a fine chance for them to learn a trade. I believe I like Diesel work better than the machinists trade though I like both courses. If I get to continue in Diesel after I leave here, I should understand it pretty well.
We won’t know until after we get back to Great Lakes whether we go aboard ship or stay on shore. By far the most of the boys go on board ship and they like it much better than ashore. All of the other navy men prefer the sea unless they are married and want to stay settled. I think you are doing a lot of worrying about something which can’t be changed. I know you can’t help worrying but it doesn’t do any good and I am really looking forward to going to sea. Would you want to come to Chicago to see me when I go to the Lakes? You could come here but it costs so much to live here and I wouldn’t get any more liberty than at the Lakes. I don’t know how long Josephine is going to stay.
Glad you enjoyed the magazine. I am sending you a couple more of Our Navy.
I am going to call Josephine then press some clothes. Gale and I bought our electric iron the other day.
Lester said a lot in one short sentence. Now that Josephine was nearby, the liberties he previously had not even bothered to take no longer seemed frequent or long enough. What does a young couple do in wartime Dearborn? Take long walks, evidently.
Wednesday noon.
June 3 – 1942
Dear Folks
I’ll try to answer your letter which I received from you today. I didn’t write last week because Josephine said that she was going to write to you and I am sure her letter would be more interesting than mine. Besides there wasn’t any need for both of us to write about the same thing.
I had liberty last night so she met me down at Dearborn and we went out to the Ford Rotunda and walked around on the grounds there. The Rotunda is closed but there are some pretty walks on the grounds. We went back to town and ate supper then went to the park for the evening. Nearly everything closes at 5:30 except the shows and we didn’t care about going to a show.
We don’t have time to go very far because I have to be back on the station by midnight. Usually I am pretty lucky about getting rides but last night I had to take a bus. I left her at a quarter til eleven and was in the barracks at eleven – thirty. I get liberty every second week-end and one night each week. It doesn’t seem very often since I want to go out now. Until Josephine came I didn’t often go out during the week because there isn’t anything to do. The Ford trade school and the service school are holding a picnic at Bob-Lo Island this Saturday so I expect that we will go to it.
All of us on the station changed into our white clothes this evening. They are nice and cool after our woolen blues but they are going to be hard to keep clean. Another boy and I are going to buy an electric iron so we can press them ourselves. Probably have to wash them three or four times a week. I’ve been busy this evening. Washed my hammock this evening, got a haircut, called Josephine, went to the show and am writing this.
I would sure enjoy helping you eat that fried chicken and the fish. We have both of them here but they aren’t good. I never eat the chicken but usually manage to get rid of my fish. We had strawberry shortcake and ice cream last Saturday as a holiday dinner for the parade we had that morning. I didn’t go on it because I had been on guard duty. The boys marched seven miles and were simply drenched with sweat when they returned. It was hot that morning and they had to wear dress blues and leggings.
Josephine told me tonight that Leslie Rutledge was being inducted into the army soon. I was surprised at that. I supposed he would be deferred.
I just have time to get ready for bed so will close for this time. Glad to get the letters from all of you.
There was no letter dated May 28, or any mention of this event in any other letter. Apparently, the entire school shared celebration dinners when one class completed its training. This was not Lester’s group, but the dinner invitation was in his scrapbook. He must have been included in the festivities, and perhaps contemplated his own graduation and assignment to a newly commissioned battle ship. His training continued through the early summer pending the deployment of his class in a few weeks.
The mailbox was stuffed in 1942 with lots of correspondence from family and friends. Letters hold the seeds of friendship and love. Lester would surely have known he was important to a lot of people from home. Likewise, they knew they were important to him.
Wednesday evening May 20 – 1942
Dear Folks
If I answer your letter tonight you should get it before Sunday. I received your letter today, one from Frances and a card from one of my buddies who left on the last draft. He is on a ship on the east coast and likes it fine. It is quite possible that I would have been sent with him if I had gone with the last draft. All of the boys we have heard from like it fine on board ship.
You could never guess who I met up here last Monday. James McIntire of Dunlap. We were at the dinner table with only one person between us. Someone mentioned Kansas so of course I asked who was from Kansas. James said “I am”. I didn’t recognize him so asked where in Kansas. He knew me and said, “the same place you are from.” I finally had to ask his name. I thought of him but never dreamed of meeting him in the navy and especially up here. It’s a small world, I guess.
I got the Booster this evening and it is very interesting. There seems to be a number of the kids that I don’t know. However, I enjoyed it just the same. Would you like to have more of “Our Navy” magazines?
Dad, do you remember I asked if you knew someone from Algona, Iowa? It was Mr Long, wasn’t it? One of my buddies is from there and he knows of Mr. Long but he said not many people knew much about him.
Tomorrow is pay day so we will get paid in the evening. We should have been paid today but don’t always get paid when we should be paid.
Thursday morning and I didn’t get to finish this last night. It is nearly clear this morning so perhaps it will be nice for awhile.
Paul, did you put that rating badge on your suit or does it have one? I wash my suit sometimes and have one of the boys press it with an iron. A few of the boys have electric irons though they aren’t supposed to possess them. It costs thirty cents for each garment to have them cleaned and pressed or we can wash them and the boys will press them for a dime.
Is Benny still working at Frank & Katie’s? Do you know who is helping him now? I imagine it will be rather hard to find someone to stay in town and look after his folks but perhaps he will be able to find someone.
Do you have the corn planted yet? It has been quite rainy everywhere I guess.
I will have to close if I am to get this mailed today.
Lester must have received notes from everyone at home, to make sure that Josephine had arrived safely. He apparently caught up on lots of home news in the process.
May 16 – 1942
Dear Folks
This is Saturday morning and we aren’t having any inspection this morning so will write a few lines. It has been raining quite a lot the last few days and it rained especially hard last night. I was on sentry watch at one of the gates and when I went to chow the water on the sidewalks was over the tops of my rubbers. My feet got soaked but I dried them good before going to bed and don’t feel any worse for the experience. It is still raining at times this morning. I guess the captain must have been pleased with our show for the admiral the other day and is letting us off without an inspection to show his gratitude. Also the boys who get liberty are getting off at twelve oclock instead of four this evening. There really isn’t any reason why we couldn’t get off at noon every Saturday but we just don’t get to do that. Those of us on the duty section are supposed to go on a parade Sunday afternoon at Belle Isle. I hope it isn’t raining.
I had a letter from Lawrence Cessnun yesterday. He is still in California and is driving a jeep. One of my buddies who left in the last draft three weeks ago is in New York City now.
I talked to Josephine a while ago. She had a letter from Mabel saying that Melvin was still at Camp Cooke. His training period should be about up. No, we aren’t planning on getting married—yet.
Paul, what color are the kittens? We have an old grey cat here on the station that came last winter & has stayed with us. She was sure skinny when she first came but she gets plenty to eat now, I guess. Where did you get the banty chicks?
Mom, I picked up a couple of rocks for you and will send them as soon as I can get a box to put them in. They aren’t very large and are very light. They really aren’t rocks but have been formed from the slag or melted ore here at the plant. I thought they would be more interesting than the ordinary rocks. I’m afraid I won’t be able to find any cactuses for you tho, at least up here.
Wallace, I got your letter today so will answer it now. Yes Josephine got here okay a week ago this morning. One of those sailors was from Madison and he rode with her and helped her to change trains at Chicago.
You did very well in the typing contest. Congratulations.
They just couldn’t stand it any longer. Lester’s intended headed to Michigan to be close to him. She found a place to stay and a job nearby. What a special time for the two of them! Like many farm families from that time period, Josephine’s family and Lester’s family were all good friends. Lester and Josephine grew up together and had known each other most of their lives. Lester’s younger brother and Josephine’s younger brother were best pals through their school years.
Monday night
May 11 – 1942
Dear Folks
I haven’t much time tonight but will write a few lines at least. Thanks for the candy you sent with Josephine. It was very good. I went in and saw her Saturday evening and all day Sunday. We went out and met Allen’s cousin Sunday afternoon. They are rather old but seemed very nice. They asked her to stay with them awhile but I don’t know what she is going to do. Yes, I wish you could have come with her, Mom. Perhaps you will be able to come to Chicago when I go back to the Lakes. You could visit Audrey too, then.
Josephine just called me now. She is out at the cousin’s tonight. She looked for a job today but didn’t find anything yet that she wanted.
The president of Peru is coming tomorrow to review us and visit the station. We have been drilling for the performance and he probably won’t stay long enough to hardly see us when he does come. Rear Admiral Downes is coming Wednesday to see us so we are going to have to watch our step, you see. Mr Downes is the commandant of the ninth naval district. He is at Great Lakes.
Tuesday morning. Taps blew last night before I finished this so I’ll try again this morning. We will probably have to go to chow pretty soon now.
Is it still raining at home? We have been having quite a little rain here, not so much at one time but frequent small rains. It is a little chilly but not cold.
Well, chow is over and we had hash, French toast and syrup, oatmeal, an apple and a donut. It was pretty good. When it is warm we usually have cold tea, lemonade or orangeade to drink for noon and evening.
You might tell Mabel that if she wants to write to Josephine before she gets a permanent address, she can send it to me and I will see that she gets it.
Noon: The president of Peru has been here and gone again. He is just a little fellow, about middle-aged I would guess. Mr Henry Ford was along. This was the first time I have seen him but he looks just like his pictures. He wore a light grey suit & an old brown felt hat. He was just as common as anyone. He looks like he is getting pretty old.
Guess I had better mail this cause it is about time to go to school. I talked to Josephine at noon and she has taken a job doing housework near here. Will write more later.
Love
I wonder what the topics of conversation included in Lester’s six minute phone call home. Perhaps a family journey to visit him in Detroit was suggested. The folks are missing Lester very much.
Tuesday evening: 2000
Dear Folks
There isn’t anything new since I talked to you Sunday afternoon except my new barracks letter. We will be moved by the time you get this so use the new address. I sure had good luck getting the call thru. It didn’t take over five minutes from the time I started the call until I was talking to you. All of the phones here were busy all afternoon so I went into Detroit & called from the YMCA. It cost $1.45 for the first three minutes & I talked over-time three minutes for another 1.45. That wasn’t bad, was it, considering that it is nine hundred miles apart? I could hear you fairly well but not as well as the time I talked to Josephine from Great Lakes.
No, I never get lost, Mom. Usually I go with someone who knows the town & we don’t usually get far off the main part of town. It wouldn’t matter much if I did get lost because I can always inquire the right way & it doesn’t cost anything to ride the buses or street cars. We always start back in plenty of time to get here before midnight. There are lots of bums but they never bother us except just to ask for a dime or quarter. There are always enough sailors around they wouldn’t dare start anything. You would have to get around the same as we do—get on a street car & ask if it is going to the place we want to go. The name of the street route is on the front of the car, too. It isn’t so hard to get around.
The two white stripes on my cuff show that I am a second-class seaman. One stripe is for apprentice seamen; three stripes for seamen first class. That will be my next step. We can’t get a higher rating here at the station. Some of the boys in my company are already first class seamen. They are the ones who went to sea instead of school. The discipline here is getting very strict & most of the boys are glad to be going to sea. I manage to stay out of the way so I don’tmind it yet. We will have different guards when we move to the other barracks. The diesel boys are the main guards at the gates but don’t have to stand any other guards.
It is 2020 now, the sun is just setting & colors has just been blown & the flag lowered. The band usually plays in the mornings when the flag is hoisted.
I must close now so good-bye. Hope everyone is well.
The Bridge 