Letters to Marian
Camp Carson, Colorado
Oct 1942 – Dec 1942- on arrival (autumn 1942) to Marian Just arrived — “a thousand miles from nowhere,” ringed by mountains.
- October 1942 to Marian Out of quarantine at last — the life of Riley on weekends.
- autumn 1942 to Marian Mail call keeps raising his hopes — but “Butler!” is always for another soldier.
- December 15, 1942 to Marian Christmas gifts arrive early; scheming for an invite to dinner.
- December 18, 1942 to Marian Firing a rifle for the first time, amid a flood of Christmas cards.
- December 20, 1942 to Marian Opening the camera and gifts early — and a general’s inspection.
Camp Carson, Colorado
Jan 1943 – Nov 1943- January 1943 to Marian Missed rifle qualification at six below; furloughs cancelled for all.
- February 7, 1943 to Marian Volunteering as a machine-gunner; the Jane Frazee USO show.
- February 1943 to Marian A kiss from Fay McKenzie as she sang “Kiss the Boys Goodbye.”
- February 1943 to Marian Just out of the hospital, and the mess-hall free-for-all.
- March 5, 1943 to Marian Marathon walking tests — beating even the Commandos.
- April 1943 to Marian Off to Lake George to build roads; Roosevelt visits the camp.
- spring 1943 to Marian Sneaking into a USO dance; the hill-billy who can’t march in step.
- September 1943 to Marian Bound for month-long maneuvers in Tennessee.
- autumn 1943 to Marian The Air Corps turns him down; news of the battleship he helped build.
- November 1943 to Marian Still stuck at camp, chasing Aviation Cadet with a 128 test score.
New York — Port of Embarkation
Nov 1943- Thanksgiving 1943 to Marian Thanksgiving turkey at the East-Coast staging camp, waiting to ship out.
England
Dec 1943England
Jan 1944 – May 1944- January 28, 1944 to Marian His first overseas mail arrives; life in a six-man tent.
- March 30, 1944 to Marian Thanks for the package; cold, foggy English weather.
- May 4, 1944 to Marian Old movies from home; a basketball rival in “Guadalcanal Diary.”
France
Aug 1944 – Sep 1944- August 24, 1944 to Marian Cider-pouring crowds welcome the advance; learning French.
- September 4, 1944 to Marian Eating outdoors and dodging yellow-jackets as censorship eases.
Belgium
Sep 1944 – Dec 1944- September 21, 1944 to Marian Now in Belgium — a USO show, and Bing Crosby is around.
- September 27, 1944 to Marian Ink-blotched lines from rainy Belgium; a glimpse of Paris.
- October 19, 1944 to Marian Belgian rain and mud; the locals guess he’s over thirty.
- November 16, 1944 to Marian A heated billet with the comforts of home; Dinah Shore.
- December 17, 1944 to Marian Marlene Dietrich in person; the gang chips in for a radio.
Belgium
Jan 1945Germany
Feb 1945 – May 1945- February 6, 1945 to Marian Writing by a homemade oil lamp; a hot shower after two months.
- February 16, 1945 to Marian A warm, dry billet in Germany; now allowed to name the Corps.
- March 27, 1945 to Marian Word reaches home that he was wounded — and a Purple Heart.
- May 9, 1945 to Marian V-E Day in Germany — oddly quiet — and grief over Roosevelt.
- May 26, 1945 to Marian Censorship lifted: the whole story, Utah Beach to the Russians.