Boy do I ever feel tired this morning. Wow my head. We received some new clothes so we had to get rid of them. Also “B” Company is moving up and I had to get some packs ready for them and also take care of salvage. We had a ball game with “B” Company & I pitched. We won 11 to 1 and they only got 3 hits off of me. Pretty lucky. We received our ration of candy and then played chess & fried eggs till bed time.
A two hour interview of Chick has been discovered and divided into short topical clips. These clips will be inserted in this diary as part of the ‘In his words’ section. As a result, clips have been inserted in the time line prior to today. If you would like to listen to them, they are:
Oct 10 – Final Training in the United States
Nov 9 – Higgins boats and landing in North Africa
Dec 2 – Combat engagements in North Africa
Jan 22 – Every day life in North Africa
Feb 25 – Training at Kaserine Pass
This audio is from an interview conducted by Uni High students Natalie Dullerud, Claire Dickerson, Michael Anukwu and Joaquin Malik, as part of the Uni Class of 2016’s oral history project on the experiences of people associated with the U.S. military from World War II to the present. It was recorded in January 2012, in Urbana, Illinois, through a partnership between University Laboratory High School and Illinois Public Media, both on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign.
All I did today was straighten things up and do my laundry again. I pitched another ball game and won 5 to 1 allowing only 2 hits this time. I was dead tired and to top it off we had wine and I drank too much of it so I was plenty happy and didn’t go to bed until late.
Not much happened today so there is little to write about. In the evening we had a ball game, I pitched. We won 3 to 1 and I only allowed 1 hit. Pretty good for me. I was tired so I went to bed.
Dear Mother & Dad;
Well today is Sunday again so I had better catch up on my letter writing. You tell everyone at home, that I only answer the letters that are wrote to me. That keeps me plenty busy though. I went into town today to the cathedral to mass. I was glad I went afterwards, there was a bishop there. It was high mass and the Bishop, in talking to the people, talked in French, so I didn’t get much out of it, but what ever he was saying, he was sure laying the log down to them. Things are awful client around here this afternoon. I wrote in my last letter and ask you to send me a pipe, but since then I have received a letter from you telling me how you got to send me a watch, so I guess you won’t be able to send me a pipe. The first chance to get though do so. As for the paper I hope you send it as I can keep up on all of the news at home and if the paper comes through a publisher it will go through. We can now tell about living in a cork Forrest. This is the first time that I knew that cork grew on trees. I always thought that they grew on bush’s. We can now say something of how we live also. As for me I live in eight large pyramidal tent, by myself, ha, ha, and the rest of the supplies. The rest of the Fellows really have their pup tents fixed up nice, or as nice as they can to make them feel just a little more comfortable. They have dug down in the ground about 2 feet and then have covered the sides in the bottom with woven mats made of straw. They have made their own little stove out of tin cans, and it is surprising of how warmed they can get it of an evening. You ask if I heard from Rita? Yes I guess I hear more than all of you put together. She just needs to write letters, but I know she should do better. Well I guess I had better bring this to a close now, so goodbye and tell every one polo for me into write to me. Then are you still taking care of my shotgun and rifles and pistols. Don’t let them rust as I will want to have a good time when I get home. Goodbye again and please don’t worry.
Your Son “Chick”
I am going into Port Lyautey to mass this morning. I’m glad I went too as there was a Bishop there. It was a beautiful church and I heard a “High Mass” The choir sounded beautifully. There was not much going on out at camp this afternoon so I wrote a few letters and played a little ball. We played chess again in the evening till mail call. I read a little and then went to bed.
We received a bunch of clothes last night so to get out of inspection I am going to get them ready to be issued out. In the afternoon I went to the show and saw “the glass Key”. It was really good. We played “rounders” in the evening and then some more chess.
Dear Mother & Dad;
I received a letter from both of you and also one from “Gee”. I don’t know why but every time I get a letter from dad, it makes my tears come into my eyes. I guess it’s because it takes him so long in between times to get a letter from him. I’m glad too here that you are all in good health. Myself, I feel swell. I took time out Sunday and wrote you a long letter as you should get it one of these days. I have received two packages from you so far, and couldn’t understand how you could have sent the 3rd one. Here is something else you could send me, if you can. Taking a subscription to the News Gazette for me. That way I can get the paper from home and catch up on all of the news. You can get they paper over seas if it is sent through a publisher. At least I think you can. Try anyway. For the second thing I need pipe cleaners. They cost a nickel (Dills Best) and put them in a letter and send them to me every once in awhile where about once every two weeks. I could use a good pipe two if you ever get the chance to send me one. Goodbye & I love you both very much.
Your Son “Chick”
I worked all day getting my requisitions finished & also doing some other small jobs. After I finished I washed out some clothes. I had some wine for supper to night and it was pretty good. The 3rd platoon built a soft ball court so to night we played softball for a change. It was late when I came in so I washed, read a little and then went to bed.
It has been raining all day today or should I say all morning as in the afternoon it quit and we went over to the airport to look at different planes so we wouldn’t be shooting at our own when we get to the front. We played a little volleyball and then Towslee & I had a good game of chess. We played for about three hours & I finally won for a change. I had a little and then went to sleep.
