My Dad was a WWII veteran enlisting in the USMC after Pearl Harbor. He passed away many years ago but I think of him often. I’m fortunate to have the letters that he wrote home during his years in the service. Last winter, I started typing all of these letters and I’m really happy how this project came out. I was able to send copies to my family members, some who remember my Dad, and others like his grandchildren who never got to meet him. I write a journal for my granddaughter now and hopefully she’ll enjoy it someday. Thought I’d mention this as a way to share the family’s history from one generation to the next. I’ll leave you with the ending from my eighteen-year-old Dad’s letter to his buddies at home.
February 10, 1942 - Parris Island
I never saw such a clean place as it is down here and we have to keep it clean. I sure miss all of you up there and all of the places I used to hang around. Maybe we’ll meet again someday. I sure hope that we do. I don’t know where I’ll be shipped when I get out of boot camp. I’m in hopes of being put in the Fleet Marine Force. Our Platoon Corporal was in there and told us some of his experiences in there. If we qualify at the rifle range we might get a beer party on the DI. We’re sure going to try hard. We are too busy to think about anything much but around about evening I get a little lonesome for home and all of you. I wish some of you boys were down here. I think you all would like it. Well, there isn’t much room left and it is almost time for taps so I’ll shove off for a while.
February 10, 1942 - Parris Island
I never saw such a clean place as it is down here and we have to keep it clean. I sure miss all of you up there and all of the places I used to hang around. Maybe we’ll meet again someday. I sure hope that we do. I don’t know where I’ll be shipped when I get out of boot camp. I’m in hopes of being put in the Fleet Marine Force. Our Platoon Corporal was in there and told us some of his experiences in there. If we qualify at the rifle range we might get a beer party on the DI. We’re sure going to try hard. We are too busy to think about anything much but around about evening I get a little lonesome for home and all of you. I wish some of you boys were down here. I think you all would like it. Well, there isn’t much room left and it is almost time for taps so I’ll shove off for a while.