We laid around all morning and thought we may move but didn’t. Not much happened today. At night we moved over to St. Agata. They are fighting at Cape d’Orlando now. We went up to the front and shells were falling like rain.
Your Son, ‘Chick’
August 11, 1943 – Wednesday
Letter home – August 10, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad;
Here we are still plugging along. I imagined by the time this lettered gets home this island will be in our hands. At least I hope so, then maybe we will get a rest. How is everyone at home, OK. We had a mail call the other day and I received a flock of letters and papers. I thought sure the comic book is in candy would calm but it didn’t. I also got a letter from Aunt Lillie and. Tell Mrs. Fleshner that she has a letter on the way. Dog gone I just never find time to write to her, but I have a picture for her. I see in the papers where a lot of the fellows are getting home. Going home will will never when the war. I would just as soon stay and get it over with as I can go home for good. Well so long for now and I’ll write again soon please don’t worry!
Your son “Chick”
August 10, 1943 – Tuesday
Boy these planes. Six of them were over this morning at chow time. You should have seen the guy’s scatter. Worked around the supply for a while and then read some paper. Might move on this afternoon. We didn’t move but I suppose we will tomorrow.
August 9, 1943 – Monday
Well we were strafed again this morning. This is getting to be an everyday occurrence now. Their was 3-P51 planes right on his tale too. We laid around the rest of the day waiting to move up to our new bivouac area out side of Saint Agata. We had no sooner pulled in when over came Jerry. I was out in the open and one plane was diving right at me. There was a little ditch about 9 ft from me so I took a flying dive for it. I was scared to death. we listened to the news and Sally and then went to bed.
August 8, 1943 – Sunday
Here it is Sunday and you won’t tell the difference then any other day. We were going to move up to day but laid around and didn’t do much. They made a landing behind the enemy last night and have advanced about 20 miles. Some Jerries came over last evening but nothing happened. Listened to the radio & went to bed.
Letter home – August 7, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad;
Conditions on writing letters now are so good between sweating out artillery fire and airplanes you just can’t concentrate on what you are doing. (believe it or not a ME-109 just came over and you should have heard they guns opened up, wow. There I was making a flying dive under a truck) now to get back to my letter. Things are about the same here is some day we will have the island and then maybe we will just get a rest. I just can’t think of a thing to say so I will try and answer some of your questions from your letters.
June 8, 43 – 4
I’ve already sent the pictures I took in Africa home let me know how many are cutout the ESA I was in Tunis that is when I saw the king of England. Poor boy going out on maneuvers gee I bet that stuff ha ha. Wait till he hits the real thing. Yes I got the Champaign paper. Mother as far as worrying about Rita, I just don’t worry. There are too many girls in the world to worry about one.
July 1, 43 – (1)
I had a letter from hall will send the other day. He is still in Africa some place. There’s not many questions in your letter to answer.
July 4, 43 – (2)
I’m glad you renewed the Champaign Paper. OK, I’m asking you now send me some key and the when ever you can get it, any kind will do. The name of that boy here is Joe Watters. I have a picture of him I am sending home. Talking of tomatoes, tomatoes are right over here now but they are small. They are a little tough but OK.
Dads letter
I don’t know why, but each time I get a letter from Dad I get tears in my eyes. I guess it’s because he doesn’t write so much. I’m glad he just about as the house painted. As far as saying my prayers Dad, I think every boy up here says them, and when the the shells start flying you say some extra one that you make up.
June 6, 43 – (3)
Well I guess when Snook and all of us get home we will have a time together. We will see what happens when I get home. You get so disgusted with everything over here that I all ever think of is you and dad.
June 13, 43 -(6)
This letter was not photographed because you wrote out of bounds. I received the film’s OK and when you get some more film send it. Have you sent my pipe it yet. Maybe by the time It gets here we will be through for a while and resting then I can enjoy a good pipe to smoke.
June 19 – 43 (8)
That allotment was supposed to have started April 1 and you should only get checks for $45.00
June 21, 43 (9)
I haven’t received the Candy as yet but I hopes so soon
June 23, 43 -(10)
I haven’t received any of that comic books as yet
June 28, 43 – (11)
It will be sometime before you hear from me but don’t worry it just because we could only write when they tell us. So Harold is in Michigan & Ray in Texas. I hope they like it OK.
July 10, 43 – 4
You guessed pretty close for us invading Sicily but I didn’t arrive until about five days after the landing. We caught up with the outfit and have been going strong ever cents.
July 12, 43 (5)
Tell Mrs. Fleshner then I am always thinking of her even though I don’t write. I know she calls you every day and you tell her the news. I guess you had better drive the car more to keep it in shape.
July 15, 43 (6)
This is all of the letters I have received from you so far this month. I also had one from day to day. That piece of clay that I sent home was supposed to date clear back into 2000 BC as for being in a cooler place, wow! This place is puny hot and more ways than one. I hope you had a nice time on your vacation Dad. Oh yes mom I received Sister James address. Well I guess this is all for now. I am sending you home some pictures. I had them taken in a town that we stopped close by to. I would have had more taken but didn’t get the chance to. Goodbye and write soon.
Your Son “Chick”
August 7, 1943 – Saturday
Everything is quiet this morning so not much is happening two of our men are missing from last night operation upon the battle line. We were strafed and bombed today and I’m telling you I made a line underneath the closest truck. The rest of the day was pretty quiet. We listen to the radio, then went to bed.
10th Engineers embedded with the infantry
Chick talks more about Sicily and how the 10th Engineers were embedded with the Infantry. Filmed 2007 at the studios of WILL, University of Illinois as part of the “WWII Central Illinois Stories” series
Posted in 1943, In his words
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August 6, 1943 – Friday
We were awakened this morning by the battle has started and we are pushing forward steadily. We didn’t get very far only a couple or three miles. Not much artillery fire is going on. We were shelled a little last night but not much. Listened to the news and went to bed.
Letter home – August 5, 1943
Dear Mother & Dad;
I had better take time out and get a letter home because I know you have been worrying about me. We are getting along pretty good now. We have it pretty badly, we are bivouac near the sea and should stay right on the sea. It’s not more than 50 yards from me. We go swimming every free chance we get. Of course every now and then you could hear an artillery shell whistling through the air. The other day a fellow from the Associated Press was staying here and he took down a few of our names so maybe you may see my name in the paper someday. I have received any of the candy or comic books as yet but I hope too soon. We have only had a couple of male calls so someday I should get a lot of mail. Tell every one hello for me and when I get time I will write to all of them. Goodbye an I love you both.
Your Son “Chick”
