Episode 34: A Girl on Poverty Knob

We have reached the last letters from Camp Adair. Donald is packed, but apprehensive to head to California.

Letters start 2/15/44

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Welcome to Girl Letters or Nana. Hi. Oh, welcome to 500 Letters to Nana. We have another great episode coming.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

Is it great?

SPEAKER_00 0:22

It is. It's you know what? It's the last one we're gonna have from Campa Dare. Oh, it's a big moment. It's a big moment.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

So he landed in Camp Adair in August of 1943. And it is February. Yep. So six months. Yep. He was there six months.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

It's a long time to not like where you are.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Yeah. And and go through your basic and get through all of that really tough training. And now we're still kind of in a holding pattern.

SPEAKER_02 0:58

I mean, he had lots of highs and lows through his time at Camp Adair. He had um he made some good friends at camaraderie.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

And I think he had good training. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:13

But I mean.

SPEAKER_02 1:16

Yeah, like these might the I think the hikes his feet got pretty tough. Yeah. And then he went on a furlough. That got a little soft. And then he was having to do really long hikes coming back. So I think he just um, you know, he's in a holding pattern, and it's a tough, it's a tough waiting game right now. Yeah. Nobody wants to be in this waiting game.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

No.

SPEAKER_02 1:39

Most especially Donald.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Yes, and he's in this holding pattern, and where we left off, he was about to go on a 25-mile hike.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

Overnight.

SPEAKER_02 1:50

That was his Valentine's Day gift to himself.

unknown 1:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

It was.

SPEAKER_00 1:55

It was.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

It was because I think the last letter was the 13th, and he was gonna do it the next day, which would have been Valentine's Day.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Yes, what a lovely Valentine's Day.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

You get a 25-mile hike. Oh for all of your hard work.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

For all of your hard work.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

Poor Donald.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

All right, shall we get started?

SPEAKER_02 2:14

Give it to me.

SPEAKER_00 2:16

Okay. February 15th, 1944.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Post 25 mile march.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 2:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

My dear Philoma, I received a letter from you tonight stating you received my two letters, which I wrote Sunday. We got in off the 32 miler this morning.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

Oh, it's 32 miles now.

SPEAKER_00 2:37

Now it's 32 miles. Yeah, I don't maybe they got lost. I don't know. But all of a sudden it's 32 miles.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

It was he just got seven more miles added to his. Okay. I love Donald.

SPEAKER_00 2:50

We got off the 32 miler this morning at seven. And what a beaten bunch of looking soldiers. What was left of them? I'm sure. It was a beautiful moonlight, and walking along, looking at the stars helped me out a lot. And another thing, I put that moleskin on my feet that you sent to me about three months ago, and I didn't get a blister, but my feet were plenty sore and tired. But thanks. No blisters.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Seems like he should have used that sooner.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Right?

SPEAKER_02 3:22

I mean, he's had it for a while.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

She's like, I'm trying to help you, you goof. Like what?

SPEAKER_02 3:28

Okay. I mean, it might to be fair, my feet hurt after a few miles.

SPEAKER_00 3:33

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:34

Forget 30 25 miles, 32 miles.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Oh yeah, no.

SPEAKER_02 3:39

Donald and his tall tales.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

I also carried three packs for about the last eight miles, and I was walking with my lieutenant, and he didn't see how I carried such a load, and every once in a while he would carry one of them along with me.

SPEAKER_02 3:54

Aww.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 3:56

Donald's tough.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

Three packs.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

I mean, he he's he's the guy you weigh. That's more than he weighs. It probably is.

SPEAKER_00 4:07

Yeah. There's a hill on this hike that is just the same as Red Rock, but it's like the old Red Rock with all the curves. Well, this comes about after your five break, and everyone is tired, and it sort of separates the men from the boys. This is where I carried the two packs all the way up. One was Stoltz and the other one was Kelly's. Then they couldn't even keep up without the packs.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Oh awesome.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

So I lost track of them and I had to carry them all the way in. It took us 40 minutes to walk the mountain, and then the medics done a real small business. They had patients galore almost every 20 feet. You would see one lying on the ground completely passed out. Some were moaning.

SPEAKER_02 4:54

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

It was a killer to mankind. What a line. I'm only glad that I made it because those who didn't have to go again Thursday and do it over. And if they don't make it Thursday, they have to do it Friday. And if they don't do it Friday, they have to go until they make it. Yikes.

SPEAKER_02 5:16

You know what? I might just keep not making it. I can just keep doing it.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

I just can't do it.

SPEAKER_02 5:23

Wow. Man, I don't know what to tell you, sir. I just can't make it.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

I I can't I can't. You have to put me somewhere else.

SPEAKER_02 5:29

Yeah, this is just this isn't gonna work for me.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

I belong in a building.

SPEAKER_02 5:33

That's right. I belong in a vehicle.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Yeah. Yeah, I cannot.

SPEAKER_02 5:38

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 5:39

I sent you two field jackets last Saturday, and I wasn't gonna write and tell you about it till Wednesday or Thursday, so my letter would have gotten there about the same time as the jackets, and it would have been a surprise. But I believe we're going to be out on bivouac Tuesday, Wednesday, and maybe Thursday, so I wouldn't be able to write and tell you about them. You keep the 36 for you and take the 38 down and give it to Chip. Tell him it's a present from me and that I thought he would like it for a fishing jacket or for sitting around the house.

SPEAKER_02 6:15

I love that.

SPEAKER_00 6:16

I know. Inside of the pockets is the compass. I want you to take the compass out of the case and leave the case to dry out. It was kind of wet and damp when I sent it home. Then there are some prayer books and rosary beads. Give them to Chip also, will you? I hope your jacket fits you. If the sleeves are too long, tuck them up a bit if you can. They are mighty good jackets, and they keep the rain out better than my raincoat, and they're very warm too. I hope you like it. Well, kid, I expect to be moved out of here by next Sunday, so they say, but as yet it's not official. But the first sergeant said he thought we would be out of here by next Sunday, and he knows pretty definite, I believe. No matter where I go, I'll let you know where I'm going. So don't worry if you don't hear from me from s for some time.

SPEAKER_02 7:13

This is where I hear the music playing like dun dun dun. Right.

SPEAKER_00 7:18

Like the what's gonna happen next. Right.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

You know.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Yeah. We're just like, I don't know, could be a day, could be a week, could be a month. Like, what are you talking about?

SPEAKER_02 7:31

It's a perfect time to panic.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Tomorrow morning, we're supposed to have an inspection of our clothing. And if our chevrons aren't on, he said he was going to take them away from us. So maybe by tomorrow I won't be a PFC because I'm not gonna put them on.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Oh, that's funny.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

I should have gone up to become a sergeant, but because I was on the shipping list, they couldn't do it. I received a letter from Albert Chiplis, and he's in the A and P platoon, which is in the infantry. So ANP means ammunition and pioneer. Okay. So it's like a branch of the infantry um that's a support unit. Okay. Okay. So they did like logistics. So they did supplies, they did road clearing, they did yeah. Um, like a little bit of basic engineering, um, and just made sure they had the supplies and stuff they needed ammo-wise. Yeah. Yeah. That's kind of cool. Yeah. But it's not as tough as the infantry. Of course not. Of course not.

SPEAKER_02 8:38

McDonald's got it so hard.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

Because you only take about six weeks of infantry training, and then you go to school also. They ride a lot and it's a pretty good deal all the way around.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

I mean, it's good if you're not under attack.

SPEAKER_00 8:53

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:54

You know, I feel like being in a vehicle would be kind of scary.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Yeah, and also just like, you know, no one has it like he has it.

SPEAKER_02 9:03

Nobody has it harder than Donald. He has it the hardest out of everybody in the entire army. Yes. In 1944.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

In 1943. 44! 44. I know.

SPEAKER_02 9:14

I'm in 1944.

SPEAKER_00 9:15

I'm I'm here now. Hi.

SPEAKER_02 9:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:18

Well, kid, take care of yourself and I love you very much. Don't ever forget that. Say hello to the folks for me. I also got some writing paper tonight. A whole box of it. Well, kid, I'll sign off now and I'll try to write tomorrow. Try to send me some stamps. You can't get any here for quite a while now, and I've been borrowing stamps for a week. I remain as ever yours. Love and kisses, Donald.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:49

I mean, he's okay in that letter.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

Yeah, he's doing okay. Not hot.

SPEAKER_02 9:54

He's keeping it together. He is keeping it together. Yeah. Knowing what's just around the corner. And he did buy a lot of writing paper to take with him.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

He did. He's ready. He's prepared.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

He is prepared. He needs it.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Do you want to hear the letter from Albert Chipless?

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

Yeah. It's not long. Um, this is Chip his brother.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

Chip's brother.

SPEAKER_00 10:19

Okay. Okay. So this is February 8th from Camp Walters, Texas. Okay. Okay. Hello, Don. I was very glad to hear from you. I'm glad you're getting along fine in the army. It's a tough outfit, this infantry. They make a man out of a beer belly. And I'm not kidding.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

That's funny.

SPEAKER_00 10:48

I weighed 225 pounds when I went to Cumberland. They got me down to 183. I feel better than I have for a long time. I did get a break in one way. I'm in a specialized training battalion. I only got six weeks of what you call basic, and then we got to school for nine weeks. Then two weeks of field maneuvers. I'm a pioneer. It's the engineers of the infantry. The schooling is very easy. We also have a nice bunch of sergeants, and that helps a lot. I hear from home quite regular. Everybody feeling fine.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Everybody feeling fine. That is the next page. Talk about a cliffhanger.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

I know. How's Philoma? I'll bet she was happy when you were home on a furlough. I'm looking forward to one myself after the 17th. I sure hope I get one. I would like to go home once before I get shipped. Say, Don, I've said enough about myself, so I will have to quit. How about dropping me a few lines and telling me something about yourself? And I'll try to answer. Well, I will say so long for the time being a friend chip.

SPEAKER_02 12:16

Okay. Yeah. It's interesting. He sounds a lot like Donald in his letters. Well, I don't know if they're from Donald. Like just other people that Donald knew that were he was getting letters that we've read. It's like, oh hey, how are you? What's up? This is my wife. Blah blah blah. It's like a quick synopsis of what they're doing. Yeah. Right. And I will say to Donald's credit, Donald does have it a lot harder.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

He in I really does. I'm not mocking him. I just think well, yeah. I just think it's funny that he's always like, well, it's not as hard as me. And he's not wrong, but you don't always have to bring it up.

SPEAKER_02 12:59

I know, I know. Like I make fun of it, but like he's not wrong.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

This guy has it way easier. Oh, yeah. And he says as much. He's like, yeah, it's not bad.

SPEAKER_02 13:07

Yeah, it's not bad. I'm just doing a little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little training here and there. Yeah. Like it's a roll around in a vehicle. I mean, like.

SPEAKER_00 13:13

I also think it's funny that he goes by chip and also his younger brother goes by chip.

SPEAKER_02 13:19

I mean, with a name like Chipless?

SPEAKER_00 13:21

Yeah. The everybody's chip.

SPEAKER_02 13:22

Everybody, the whole family's chip. Chip.

SPEAKER_00 13:24

Yeah. Like from Beauty and the Beast. Do you remember the top?

SPEAKER_02 13:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

Chip, chip, chip. Yes. So anyway. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:33

That was a good letter. But he does have it easy.

SPEAKER_00 13:36

Yeah. Must be nice.

SPEAKER_02 13:38

It must be so nice. Poor Donald. He's getting all these letters from these jokers that have it made on me. I know.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

He's like, yeah. I couldn't have been put somewhere else. Okay, sure. Yeah. Okay, yeah. I I can walk and I can carry a gun. Yeah. He's like, I can also drive. Like you need to be a terrible soldier, Donald. I know. Don't put you somewhere easy.

SPEAKER_02 14:00

He's just so good at it. Poor Donald. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:03

All right, next letter. Yeah. February 16th, 1944. My dear Philoma, I just got done talking to you, and I'm visualizing you going upstairs and laying in bed thinking about me.

SPEAKER_02 14:18

Oh, he called her again.

SPEAKER_00 14:20

Well, I went up to the barracks and sit on my footlocker, and I started to think about you, and I couldn't go to bed without writing to you. Although I haven't very much to write about. You know, we must have talked for 12 or 15 minutes. And that's entirely too long. Oh not that I don't like to talk to you, kid. It's too much dough to spend on calls. I'd like to talk to you for hours if it was possible. But you and I can't spend that kind of money because I'm not making enough to do it. Why that call tonight will probably cost$25, which is about$500.

SPEAKER_02 14:59

Wow. I mean, they're kind of desperate.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

He's getting ready to leave, and he just doesn't know when he's gonna talk. He he is not certain he's gonna take care of the five.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

They can't help themselves.

SPEAKER_02 15:11

You know what? It's cheaper than a train ticket.

SPEAKER_00 15:13

It's cheaper than a train ticket.

SPEAKER_02 15:15

So let me say that.

SPEAKER_00 15:17

Mm-hmm. He goes on, and that's too much. Entirely too much. I only have 50 bucks, and I'll see where I land. If I don't need it, I'll send you home 25 to pay for the call. I know you won't want me to send it home, but I believe it's my duty to pay for it, whether you called or if I called.

SPEAKER_02 15:37

Somebody's paying for it.

SPEAKER_00 15:39

I don't want you to misunderstand me, dear. Don't think that I'm giving you a balling out, but you will agree that it costs too much to call, won't you? Why you and I will be working just for telephone calls.

SPEAKER_02 15:52

They're probably okay with that. I know. She's like, I don't have anything to write about.

SPEAKER_00 15:58

I want you to write and tell me what each call costs, and don't lie about the price either, because I want to pay for both of them, every penny of it, and I mean it. If you insist on calling, I'll pay for the calls because you can't go ahead and work for weeks just to pay for one call. I just won't have it. It's really too hard of earnest money for you to spend that way. I would rather you buy something to eat or buy yourself some clothes with it.

SPEAKER_02 16:26

I mean very practical.

SPEAKER_00 16:28

I know. I really enjoyed talking to you though. Your voice seems so natural to hear again. I don't want you to get the idea that I'm mad that you called or something, but if you stop to think it's too hard of earn money to spend that way, and I don't like it too well, but I can't blame you too much.

SPEAKER_02 16:49

So did she call him?

SPEAKER_00 16:50

She called him. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 16:52

She's like, I don't care. I don't do it.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

I don't care. It was a moment a week. You dummy, answer the phone.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

I wonder. Obviously she had a phone number to call.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

Mm-hmm. It it may have been like, hey, you know, call this soldier, his wife's on the line or something.

SPEAKER_02 17:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

You know I love you very much, don't you? Well, I don't want you to feel mad or hurt about what I've been saying at the beginning of this letter. Just forget it. How's everything going at home? As you said tonight, everything was fine. Well, I shouldn't have asked, but I haven't much to say, so this will help fill the page. I hate to waste paper when I start on a page. I usually fill it if you take notice. I'm sending you a picture of Heberling, Ward, and myself, which we took last Saturday when we were lying on my bunk.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

Okay, let me see.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

So I think I actually think I posted this picture already, but this is this will be a callback for everybody.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Oh, that's funny.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

Yeah, so left to right is Heberling, Donald, and Ward.

SPEAKER_02 18:03

Donald is like hidden.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

He is hidden. At first, you don't see him. He's laying down.

SPEAKER_02 18:07

You absolutely do not see him.

SPEAKER_00 18:09

Yeah, he's horizontal. You can, yeah, just kind of see a little bit of his forehead.

SPEAKER_02 18:15

So I have to say the guy on the right looks to be about 45.

SPEAKER_00 18:18

I know. That's John Ward. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:21

John Ward is not young.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

No, and he might have been, is the thing.

SPEAKER_02 18:27

He aged a lot. Well, that's yeah. He's been through it. He looks old enough to be their dad. I know. Okay. I don't think this fella does not look to be in the 25 and down bracket.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

No, I would say he's definitely in his 40s. I mean he is But that's the draft was up to 45. I know.

SPEAKER_02 18:52

The other guy, the guy on the left.

SPEAKER_00 18:55

His face is kind of blurred.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

It is hard to see. But he also looks like half dead. Like he's like, this training's doing me in, man. You know? Yeah. He's like tired. I mean, he's given up. That's funny. I wonder who took the picture.

SPEAKER_00 19:13

I don't know. It's yeah, it's a good question.

SPEAKER_02 19:16

Don't think they had a timer. They look pretty relaxed.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:20

That's funny. Yeah. You know, Philoma loved so many of these pictures. At least he was in this one.

SPEAKER_00 19:27

I know. At least he was in this one and not taking it. I'm sure she was like, turn the camera around, Donald. I don't care what your friends look like. Why are you sending me pictures of your muddy friends? Yeah, I that's the last thing I want to see. Turn that camera around and take a selfie. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:42

I get it. There weren't selfies back then.

SPEAKER_00 19:44

But still.

SPEAKER_02 19:45

And you know, even if you took a picture of yourself, you weren't guaranteed to be in it.

SPEAKER_00 19:49

No, that's true. So on the back of this photo, there's some text, and it says, um, it says their names, and then it says, love Don. As you take notice, the kid is lying down.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

That's funny.

SPEAKER_00 20:03

Like, mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 20:05

That's funny.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

Tired.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

Yeah. That's it's a good picture.

SPEAKER_00 20:09

I will, of course, repost it.

SPEAKER_02 20:11

Yeah. We didn't we didn't even know all the goods you had.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

No. Yeah. Um, and this being the last sort of section from Adair, if there are any pictures left from Adair that I haven't posted, I will post them.

SPEAKER_02 20:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 20:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:28

Did he write on the back of mini photos?

SPEAKER_00 20:31

Um, not all of them, but some of them. Some of them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:35

I mean, your photos are in perfect shape.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

Which is, yeah, they are, and which is great because then I know like I know who Mortov is because it says his name on the back. So like I can find him in other pictures.

SPEAKER_02 20:46

I think is 14.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

No, I don't know who that is. Okay. No, Mortoff is the one that's like posing with the gas mask.

SPEAKER_02 20:55

Mortov. It's a great name, too.

SPEAKER_00 20:57

It is.

SPEAKER_02 20:58

I love this. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

All right. He goes on. I don't want you to ever worry about me, dear, and I'll write as often as I can, so have a little patience, and you'll get some, I hope. The thing to do is when you don't receive an is when you don't receive mail, is to write and give me merry hell that you're not getting any letters. Maybe that will spur me up a little. Ha ha.

SPEAKER_02 21:26

Ha ha. How old's so funny?

SPEAKER_00 21:30

Well, kid, don't ever forget that I love and very much am in love with a girl on Poverty Knob named Philoma. And don't ever think, no matter where I go, that I would step out on you. Well, I guess I don't have to tell you this, but just a reminder to let you know how I feel. I love you more than you think, dear, even if you don't think so or that I don't show it. I remain as ever, your faithful husband and worshipper. Love and kisses, Don.

SPEAKER_02 22:01

It's very apparent that Donald does not need a shortarm inspection.

SPEAKER_00 22:05

Oh, no. No. He's like, listen, absolutely not. No, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

He's like, no, no.

SPEAKER_00 22:11

No, my goddess lives on a hill in the middle of Pennsylvania and is waiting for me. Yeah. And she's gonna go hunting with me when I get home.

SPEAKER_02 22:22

Yes. He just wants to go into the woods with her for weeks. He'll be prepared.

SPEAKER_00 22:27

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:28

He'll be prepared. That's for sure. You know, it's funny that he it's it's I think he's fussing at her for calling. But then I know that he appreciated it. He loves it.

SPEAKER_00 22:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:43

And he's having mixed emotions about it, and it's like he doesn't know what to do with his feelings.

SPEAKER_02 22:48

I mean, just think about Philoma for a minute. Okay, she's at home with her parents and her grandparents. Probably just a sad, drippy mess. Oh, I miss him so much. I miss him so much. And they're all like, Well, just call him. Just call him.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

He's out of basic now. You can just call him.

SPEAKER_02 23:06

Just call him. I just see the whole family because they love Donald. I can just see them egging her on into making this phone call.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

You know, they're like in the other room, but kind of next to the open doorway.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

Like all four of them are like lined up. Yeah. That scene in friends before they're all listening in the doorway.

SPEAKER_00 23:24

100%. Just like she's talking to Donald. Shh. She's talking to Donald. What's she saying? What's she saying? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:30

You know, I mean, I just you could just feel that kind of energy, right? And they knew it was a long phone call. And they it didn't stop them. No. You know? So I just think it's I just you think about the context of that phone call. Right. Then like he's sort of fussing at her, and then he's like, But I'm the man, I gotta pay for this phone call. I'll send you the money, I'll play craps, I'll go get it. That's not what he says. I just made that up. But you know, Donald's like, I gotta find a way to pay for this.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

Yeah, I'll do it.

SPEAKER_02 24:00

If you if I can't work hard, I'll bet.

SPEAKER_00 24:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:03

He says, if you insist on calling, if you insist on calling, excuse me, Donald, you don't have to answer.

SPEAKER_00 24:10

But you know he's gonna.

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Of course he is. He does not tell her no. I know. He actually doesn't. No, he doesn't. He doesn't. But I mean, he says as much like, um, you can buy clothes, you can you can buy a lot of things on the money we're spending on phone calls. Like he's very practical about it, too.

SPEAKER_00 24:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:31

You know, but I I do think it's it's worth it to them.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Yeah. At the end of the day. I mean he maybe doesn't want to admit it, but it is worth it to them.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

They're coming off this furlough, it's hard. Say goodbyes, no, say goodbye is never easy. So they they're having a lot of goodbyes. So, okay. I'm so surprised that they made phone calls at the end of the day. I don't think I saw phone calls coming. I thought Donald early on was like, it's just it's too much. People are a mess. Yeah, it's too much. Well, now they can't help themselves, and now that they've just opened up the floodgates.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

They really have, they really have. They were like, they, yep. You know, like you have a little hangman. They broke the seal. You start picking at it. Yeah, yeah. No, it's it's it's the seal that's broken.

SPEAKER_02 25:16

You are right. That's how I feel. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

All right. February 17th, 1944. My dear Philoma, I didn't receive any mail from you, but I received the paper and I seen George O'Dovani's picture where he's talking to MacArthur, and that's something to be proud of. Wow.

SPEAKER_02 25:38

Local boy talking to MacArthur. Mm-hmm. Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 25:42

I know. I tried to find it and I could not.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

How dare you!

SPEAKER_00 25:45

I know. You know, they just don't have local papers from the 40s anymore.

SPEAKER_02 25:50

I just don't understand. I you know, I bet this family still has it.

SPEAKER_00 25:54

I'm sure they do.

SPEAKER_02 25:55

Reach out, Katie.

SPEAKER_00 25:56

I know, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Or yet.

SPEAKER_00 25:58

I just got done washing about half my clothes, and you should see the line I have hung up. It's about three-fourths of the length of the barracks. I wasn't able to send any laundry out for three weeks, and I have quite a pile to do yet. But I can't get them clean. They have that little tattletale grey on them. Tomorrow we can get a pass for 18 hours if we want. Ooh, eighteen hours. And it will be the last one that I will get in this outfit. And it will be the first one for me. Instead of going to town, I'm gonna pack my barracks bags and do the rest of my laundry and try to get everything straightened up so when I get to my new outfit, I will have everything cleaned. He's just prepping.

SPEAKER_02 26:44

Yeah, that's actually pretty smart.

SPEAKER_00 26:46

Yeah. I believe tomorrow I will try to go up and see Eddie Koch if I can. I would like to see him. When you get Wallish's new address, I would like you to send it to me and I'll drop him a letter. It's too bad I didn't see him before he left, although he might be shipped up to the 91st. The 511th MP moved out of camp a few days ago, so Pillow has left from here too. They certainly are shipping a lot of men across lately and moving them from camp to camp.

SPEAKER_02 27:22

I'm telling you, all of his friends are gone, yeah. It's like he got there and he never said boo about anybody leaving. He was only talking about people coming in.

SPEAKER_00 27:31

Right.

SPEAKER_02 27:32

And now he's only talking about people leaving.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:36

It's like, I mean, this is what he knows. This is what he's known for six months. This is the army life he knows. And it's about to change. Yep. And that would be very scary.

SPEAKER_00 27:49

Very scary.

SPEAKER_02 27:51

That would be hard.

SPEAKER_00 27:52

Mm-hmm. Philoma. Sorry. Philoma. In the event that I'm shipped across and you hear where I'm at and what outfit I'm in, and that they are trapped or almost the whole outfit wiped out, and you don't hear from me for weeks or possibly months, don't ever give up hope. Because I'll turn up somewhere. I don't want you to get scared or worried, kid, but there are cases where you get in battle and you get lost from your company for weeks, sometimes months, and they turn in a report missing an action. Well, lots of them turn up. So don't ever worry too much or give up hope if this happens. I'm only telling you this to help you out, not to worry you, just to give an idea of what could happen.

SPEAKER_02 28:41

Stop.

SPEAKER_00 28:42

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 28:43

I'm panicked. If I is panicked, I am fully panicked.

SPEAKER_00 28:48

Fully panicked. How dare he? I understand he's trying to sort of soothe her and him. I think he is trying to soothe himself. But I'm not, this isn't comforting.

SPEAKER_02 29:01

No, I do think I do think he legit is trying to be comforting. I really do. And I also under I hear him say, I'm gonna be a survivor. Oh yeah. I'm gonna make it out of this war.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Oh, he's determined.

SPEAKER_02 29:15

He is a hundred percent determined, Katie. But at the same time, he is putting all kinds of thoughts in my head that I didn't even know I needed to have. Right. Right, right. Okay, right. He just opened the he opened the door for Crazy Town. I am letting you know I am fully there. Okay. If I am Philoma, I have gone to Crazy Town.

SPEAKER_00 29:38

Correct. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:40

Because when I don't hear from him, I am going to think that he is lost, separated, or dead. Correct. And I am this this does not settle me down.

SPEAKER_00 29:51

No, it doesn't. And it and I under I totally understand what he's saying because there are situations Yeah, the rational part of me does, but I'm completely irrational after reading this. Correct. There are situations where it's like, you know, I'll call, you know, I'll text you tomorrow, I'll call you tomorrow, and they're somewhere overseas. And then you see something happen on the news and you don't hear from them. And it's usually because they're in a blackout or something and they're not allowed to. And that's true. And that's totally fair.

SPEAKER_02 30:22

They blocked the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_00 30:23

But in that amount of time, you are I'm to the moon. I am I am gone.

SPEAKER_02 30:29

I cannot be Well, at this point, my husband's died 12 times over. Right, right. Okay, 12 different ways I've imagined it.

SPEAKER_00 30:35

100%. Like Sanity has left the building.

SPEAKER_02 30:38

Oh, that's what I'm saying. I have just gone to Crazy Town.

SPEAKER_00 30:42

Exactly. I am inconsolable, rocking back and forth.

SPEAKER_02 30:45

It's probably something our husbands don't know about us, is that we're actually went to Crazy Town.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:50

Well, I mean I mean they might know it now, but they didn't know it then.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

I mean, it's not that my husband hasn't seen Crazy Town, but maybe not in this specific circumstance. Yeah. But yeah, just like fully inconsolable.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

Yeah, no, it's pretty scary. It's it's pretty scary when you don't hear when you know that something has happened and you don't hear from them. Yes. There is a small rational part of me that understands he's probably okay because no news is good news. Correct. Exactly. I get that. But the other 99% of me is completely irrational, and I have the train has left the building and I am in crazy town.

SPEAKER_00 31:28

I'm barking at the moon. Like, yeah, don't I come at the moon with you, sister? Yeah. Uh-uh. I get no amount of just wait is helpful.

SPEAKER_02 31:37

Yeah. What Donald, like, I understand what he's trying to say to her, but if I'm phaloma, I am hyperventilating and I'm not going to sleep tonight. Right. Because I've just read this letter 12 times.

SPEAKER_00 31:49

Right.

SPEAKER_02 31:50

Okay. I'm going to keep rereading this.

SPEAKER_00 31:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:53

Bless Philoma.

SPEAKER_00 31:55

I know.

SPEAKER_02 31:56

Bless her, bless her, bless her.

SPEAKER_00 31:57

I know. And I also, part of me, like, I think that is the majority essence of it, is him trying to soothe her and him at the same time. Yes. But I do think there's a small sliver of it where he's like, listen, if you don't hear from me, I didn't die. You don't go getting married to somebody else.

SPEAKER_02 32:19

Okay. I'm going to hold on to that. I can I can deal with that.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

I'm coming home. So don't you dare move on.

SPEAKER_02 32:24

No, he is determined to hear.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

You hold out hope because I'm going to come home.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

So don't get any ideas.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:30

If I'm MIA for 12 years, I'm coming home.

SPEAKER_00 32:32

I'm coming home, woman. You understand me?

SPEAKER_02 32:35

Yeah. Yeah. I'm glad I know that Donald makes it.

unknown 32:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 32:39

Because these dramatic and killing me.

SPEAKER_00 32:42

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:44

True. Thank you. What a spoiler you are. I know.

SPEAKER_00 32:47

I'm a human spoiler.

SPEAKER_02 32:49

Oh, I just know that Paloma is deranged at this point.

SPEAKER_00 32:55

Oh, absolutely deranged. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:57

Because I am.

SPEAKER_00 32:58

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 33:00

Yeah. He goes on.

SPEAKER_02 33:02

There's more.

SPEAKER_00 33:03

There's more. It's kind of it's kind of funny, but yes, there's more. Okay. God, I hope it's funny. I want you, well, not ex- Well, just wait. Just wait. Just wait. Okay. I want you to always remember this now. Don't you forget it. Do you hear? You know Gordon Papke got lost from his company just on maneuvers for almost a week. And he got 180 miles away from them.

SPEAKER_02 33:28

So you did 80 miles.

SPEAKER_00 33:30

So you never know. I know. So you never know what can turn up. So don't ever worry.

SPEAKER_02 33:37

Okay, that is funny. I know. Gordon Papke got lost just on maneuvers. 180 miles away.

SPEAKER_00 33:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:45

Like, did he just pick a direction and keep walking?

SPEAKER_00 33:48

I don't know what happened to poor Gordon. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 33:50

Did he get on a train? I mean, like, what did he do what did he do?

SPEAKER_00 33:53

I don't know. But they found him. He he you know materialized somehow. Maybe he was maybe he was like, I'm missing my chance.

SPEAKER_02 34:01

He was in Canada.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

I'm getting out of here.

SPEAKER_02 34:04

Yeah, he passed right through Washington and went into Canada. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 34:09

It seemed funny to me when you told me you had about six inches of snow. We never have oh mm. It seemed funny to me when you told me you had about six inches of snow. We never had any snow here all winter except twice, and then it didn't even cover the ground. I have a lot of work to pack my bags and everything. Saturday, everything I own, I have to carry. Even my pack I have to take in my bags. All my Odyssey, two pairs of shoes, stockings, underwear, raincoat, tans, blankets, gas mask, towels. Well, what's the use of telling you all about this? It's just like if I was home and what was in the closet and got everything out and put it in bags. They only weigh about a hundred pounds a piece, and I only hope I don't have to carry them for a mile.

SPEAKER_01 35:07

Well, I do understand his point.

SPEAKER_00 35:10

But I love that he like he like becomes self-aware within the sentence and just continues to write.

SPEAKER_02 35:17

I mean, it is kind of funny, Katie. Yeah, like he's like, Well, I mean, you know what it's like if I went in the closet and put everything in a bag.

SPEAKER_00 35:25

That's what it's like. You get it. I mean, if you think about it, when he left home, yeah, he had like a razor, a couple of hankies, and a pair of underwear.

SPEAKER_02 35:36

That's it. Yeah. And like, think about what he's got now.

SPEAKER_00 35:39

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:40

You know, I mean, that's a lot. I mean, it's it's not a lot, and in a lot of ways, it's everything.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

I mean, it's it's everything he has, yeah. Everything he owns.

SPEAKER_02 35:50

And he has to keep track of it all. So I get it. Definitely.

SPEAKER_00 35:54

Well, kid, I have to sign off. Now, the next line is I think one of my favorite lines he's written so far since he's been in the army. Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:06

Okay, what is it?

SPEAKER_00 36:07

We have well, okay. So he says, Well, kid, I'll have to sign off now. We have to get up at five in the morning and go attack a fortified position with a flamethrower. That sounds fun, right? I remain as ever yours. Love and kisses Donald.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Just throwing it out there in the middle of the morning.

SPEAKER_00 36:25

Just throwing it out there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:26

Just like just very casually, like, I'm gonna get up in the morning, go for a walk with my flamethrower.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

You know, as you do, as is tradition.

SPEAKER_02 36:35

We gotta go hit that fortified position. Did you see them?

SPEAKER_00 36:41

I know. I love, I think that's so funny.

SPEAKER_02 36:43

Boys will be boys.

SPEAKER_00 36:44

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:46

Oh, that's funny, Katie. I like that. Oh, is that is are there more letters or is that it?

SPEAKER_00 36:52

Yes. I have two more and um they're the one is relatively short.

SPEAKER_02 37:00

I think we need to go for it.

SPEAKER_00 37:02

We need to go we'll we'll get through. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 37:04

We're gonna power through, it's gonna be a long episode.

SPEAKER_00 37:07

Yes. February eighteenth, 1944. My dear Philoma, I received a letter from you this evening and was glad to hear from you. Well, today was my last day to go out in the field here. Tomorrow will be the sixth month that I've been in the army, and really dear, it seems so long ago. I'm sort of nervous and excited to see where I'm going to land Sunday. I'm only hoping that I get shipped back east, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to the 81st, which is in California. Maybe it will be better than here. We had a fellow giving us instructions tonight about filing our income tax. So if you want, you can have our miner help you fill it out, but you won't have to pay anything, I don't believe. I'm going to send you insignia of the tank destroyer's outfit. Our sergeant was shipped up here today from Texas, and I traded a trailblazer insignia for it. So keep it for me, will you?

SPEAKER_02 38:11

Okay, do you have that?

SPEAKER_00 38:12

I do. Of course you do. Actually, I have it right here. Oh, that's a cool patch. It is. It's a black cat or panther or something, and it's literally crushing a tank in its jaws.

SPEAKER_02 38:25

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 38:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:26

That's actually a really cool patch. Yeah, it's great. So how did you know that this was the patch? Because you have other patches.

SPEAKER_00 38:34

I before when this all got started, I was looking up what each of these went to.

SPEAKER_02 38:39

Oh, so you knew.

SPEAKER_00 38:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:41

Well, aren't you smart?

SPEAKER_00 38:42

Well, it is the only one where a tank is getting crushed, so it is pretty cool. Yeah. I know it's a cool patch. They're not all cool.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

I think you can see the the gun. Yeah. Just barely hanging out the cannon. Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy. That's a cool patch. That was that was a good trade for Donald. I know. Yeah, because you know, they're not all cool. No, that one's that one's a tough patch. Sort of like I think the trailblazer patch should should have Bigfoot on it.

SPEAKER_00 39:11

Agreed. Agreed.

SPEAKER_02 39:12

Always, always.

SPEAKER_00 39:14

I have a lot of packing work and washing to do yet. I hope I can get everything straightened out. I can't think very much to write about, so I'll close as soon as I fill this space. My mind is not functioning at its peak the last few days. I've been thinking maybe I'll get in an outfit worse than this, and then I won't be able to take it. And when you're in the army, you have to take a lot of abuse and punishment. If something like that happens, it just seems like the whole world is against you. Well, kid, I'm not going to worry too much about it, and I want you not to worry either. I remain as ever yours. Love and kisses, Don.

SPEAKER_02 39:54

That letter had some ups and downs.

SPEAKER_00 39:56

It did, and I love that he's l saying, I'm very concerned about this, but at the same time, I'm gonna try not to be, and you shouldn't be.

SPEAKER_02 40:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

You know, like okay.

SPEAKER_02 40:06

I mean, he is super distracted right now. Like he, you know, he he used to complain about the things that were coming up, like all the hard things that they had been doing or were doing, and now he's he's really complaining about uh basically the unknowns, right? Which is hard, and there's nothing nothing else he can do about that, but it's just it's tricky, right? So, I mean, bless his heart.

SPEAKER_00 40:31

Okay, okay, Trail Blazers. This is it. This is the last letter from Campidare.

SPEAKER_02 40:38

Oh my goodness. Can you believe I can't? It's been a journey. I know. Thanks for tagging along. Oh, wait, I was the tag along.

SPEAKER_00 40:49

Oh, okay. Okay, February 19th, 1944. My dear Philoma, I received two letters from you dated the 16th, and also the paper you sent me, and I was so glad to hear from you, and both long, nice letters. Oh I'm sorry to hear about Russia's mother. That's too bad. I don't know. I have no idea. Okay. Well, tomorrow is my big day again. It's sort of going into the army again. I only hope it's better than here.

SPEAKER_02 41:22

You know, I think he's right. Mm-hmm. In some ways, because he's like, I mean, first of all, he's been in the army for six months. But he's been in basic training. Right. Now he's going to a real unit.

SPEAKER_00 41:35

Right. It's that night before anticipation. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:39

The anticipatory anxiety. Yeah. It's coming in hard. Yeah. Hard and fast for Donald. Oh, bless his heart. And it is sort of like it's he's entering the army again. It is, yeah. He's got to get on a train. He's got to get on a train somewhere.

SPEAKER_00 41:56

He's got to make new friends. He's got to understand the day-to-day. He is. He'll be fine. Oh, he's fine. Please. It would be just my luck that it's a worse place than this. I'm going to the 81st, which is in California. And from what I hear, they're living in tents. I only hope it's not true because living out in tents is one son of a gun.

SPEAKER_02 42:19

It's probably I bet the weather's better in California, though.

SPEAKER_00 42:23

Could be. We'll find out. It's always damp and you don't even have a place to hang up your clothes. Everything you own, you usually have to lay on the ground under your bed. And as we say in the army, that's not good. We're getting on the train at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. I sent home a blanket, first aid pouch, and half of a shelter. If I can get another one. I know. I know.

SPEAKER_02 42:53

It's his. He needs his temp buddy.

SPEAKER_00 42:55

Yeah, he's like, I'm gonna get all new stuff anyway. Who cares? If I can get another one, I'll send it home. And then when I get back, we'll go camping. If I'm here long enough, I'll probably send home a full outfit. I love that he's sending his half home. Yeah, it's like um, what's that song? I don't need this. Yeah, one piece at a time. You know, job cash.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

Yeah, he starts stealing things from the factory. Yep. Did it one piece at a time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:26

100%.

SPEAKER_01 43:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:28

There's a prayer book in there and a medal. Also, if you don't want it, take it down and give it to Chip. Maybe he would like to read it. He's talking about the prayer book.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:38

I hope you receive the field jackets by this time, and I hope you like it. If you don't want the rosary beads, give them to Chip. Also, you will find some overseas hats. Keep them for me. I haven't written to him yet. I have been going to write him, and then every day I was expecting to be shipped, and I was going to wait until I was. And give him my new address. I wrote kind of smaller on the other page about the overseas hats. Well, you should find three of them. If you want to wear one, it's okay by me, but keep them for me. I can't imagine her running around in one of those hats.

SPEAKER_02 44:17

What is going on, Donald?

SPEAKER_00 44:19

Yeah. The shelter half that I sent is what you roll the blanket up in to make a full field pack out of. You'll find the blanket quite dirty. I used to put it on top of my pillow, and my nose has been running quite a bit late nights.

SPEAKER_02 44:35

Of course it is. Yeah, quite a bit lately nights.

SPEAKER_00 44:38

Yeah, and it's all messed up. Wash it out and use it if you wish. Amazing. Thank you for sending me laundry. I will have to stay on the bare bed tonight, for I have turned in all my bedding. It's kind of rugged, but there's nothing I can do about it but lie here and take it. I wish tomorrow was over and that I like the 81st, but the outfit is three years old already, and they have a lot of experience and they're all in very good shape. What's left of them? You see, they probably discharged all the men that weren't fit for duty, and we have to go fill it up, and it's gonna make it hard for us. My legs hurt and ache awful tonight, all the way up to my knees. Well, kid, I'll write tomorrow before I leave if I have a chance, and I'll send you my new address as soon as I can. You know I love and miss you as ever, and take good care of yourself for me. I remain as ever yours. Love and kisses Don. I can't understand why it takes so long for my letters to get home.

SPEAKER_02 45:45

So random. I know. Oh my gosh, Katie. It's the night before. It is the night before. He knows. And he says as much as he's a replacement.

SPEAKER_00 45:55

Mm-hmm. Yeah, they trained him hard.

SPEAKER_02 45:58

They did. He's ready. I mean, he's about to carry 200 pounds of gear, so he'll be okay.

SPEAKER_00 46:05

He's gonna be fine.

SPEAKER_02 46:06

It's twice his body weight, but he's fine.

SPEAKER_00 46:08

He's like, whatever. I just hope I like it.

SPEAKER_02 46:10

Oh my gosh. I can't believe it's kind of the end of an era here, Katie.

SPEAKER_00 46:14

It's the end of an era. We're moving on. We're not, you know, in training anymore. We we got our big boy pants on, we're going to a real unit.

SPEAKER_02 46:23

He's going to California.

SPEAKER_00 46:24

He's going to California.

SPEAKER_02 46:25

I wonder if Siloma thinks she's going to California.

SPEAKER_00 46:28

I bet she does.

SPEAKER_02 46:29

I I'm kind of thinking because he did say that he wanted her to come.

SPEAKER_00 46:33

Yeah, depending on where I get, I'll send for you. Yeah. She's probably like, okay.

SPEAKER_02 46:38

I can't imagine him like all she is is a distraction. Yeah. He kind of needs to be focused on what he needs to get done.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

It's true.

SPEAKER_02 46:47

And she needs to, you know, not be a distraction. I mean, she's a distraction anyway, but at least it's just in letter form.

SPEAKER_00 46:57

Yeah, you need to be able to have your head in the game.

SPEAKER_02 46:59

He needs his head in the game. He does. He does. So right now it is towards well, middle end of February. And he is headed to California.

SPEAKER_00 47:11

He's headed to California.

SPEAKER_02 47:12

Well, at least he's gonna see the sun again.

SPEAKER_00 47:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 47:15

I don't think it's gonna be swampy there.

SPEAKER_00 47:17

No, at least his scenery will change some.

SPEAKER_02 47:19

So I bet it's a nice train ride, too.

SPEAKER_00 47:22

Hopefully he's happy about that. We'll find out.

SPEAKER_02 47:25

We will find out, won't we? He'll tell us. The good news is Donald will tell us. He will. I tell you what, he really is very thoughtful in his letters.

SPEAKER_00 47:35

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 47:37

Just everything. It's incredible. Okay. Wow. All right.

SPEAKER_00 47:41

Well, Trailblazers.

SPEAKER_02 47:42

Thanks for taking me along this journey.

SPEAKER_00 47:44

Yes, we have made it out of basic training. We are heading to our real unit.

SPEAKER_02 47:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 47:50

Yes. You can follow along with us at 500letters to Nana.com and at 500 Letters to Nana on Instagram. And for the last time, we are signing off from Camp Adair. And we are 2300 miles from Nana.

SPEAKER_02 48:06

That's right. If you go to the website, you'll see his little boob movie. His little boobs. Yep. Heading south. Mm-hmm. Okay, this is exciting. Thanks, guys. See you next week.

SPEAKER_00 48:17

Bye. Bye.

SPEAKER_02 48:31

Five hundred letters to Nana. Woohoo!