I missed writing to you yesterday I
was very busy. Yesterday morning I attended
a field Mass at Kelley Field. It was
a very beautiful and colorful affair.
The speech was a very good speech and
they had a good crowd. It was estimated
at 37,500 people but I believe there
was more than that.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the
ball game at Tech Stadium. It was
a nice game. We won. It was almost
8:00 o'clock when we got back here.
This week we started on the lines an
hour early so that means getting
up at 4:00 o'clock A.M. Boy that is
sure some work. We are on duty from
4 A.M. until 5:30 P.M. Then people still
go on strike when they have a job and
their time isn't set for them. The way
all the fellows here talk they would
just love to be sent to Pennsylvania.
All of them say they would shoot
Lewis before they returned to camp. Did
you hear the president last night? We
all listened to it. Everyone thought it
was a good speech and I believe ever
man in uniform is standing back of
him 100%.
It has been awlful warm here today.
It was 90 degrees before noon and it
wasn't in the sun. I guess summer is
really here now. It never rains here.
Did you know Irene's father is in the
hospital? He has gall stones I guess. I don't
know if they have operated on him yet
or not. I guess it is really tough on
Mrs. Setzler now. All the work to do at
home.
Well I can't think of much more
to write about. I received a letter from
Gail last week. He doesn't like the army
either. I am hopeing I will be able to
come home next month. I don't know
for sure but I am going to try hard.
Goodnight and write soon.
Love Ralph.
The next letter will be posted on May 9th.
Background Information (and comments):
- The strike Ralph refers to was by coal miners; John L. Lewis was president of the United Mine Workers of America at the time.
- Here is and excerpt from FDR's radio speech:
I want to make it clear that every American coal miner who has stopped mining coal -- no matter how sincere his motives, no matter how legitimate he may believe his grievances to be -- every idle miner directly and individually is obstructing our war effort. We have not yet won this war. We will win this war only as we produce and deliver our total American effort on the high seas and on the battlefronts. And that requires unrelenting, uninterrupted effort here on the home front.A stopping of the coal supply, even for a short time, would involve a gamble with the lives of American soldiers and sailors and the future security of our whole people. It would involve an unwarranted, unnecessary and terribly dangerous gamble with our chances for victory.Therefore, I say to all miners -- and to all Americans everywhere, at home and abroad -- the production of coal will not be stopped.
- Here's the link to FDR's entire speech: http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/050243.html
- Ralph enclosed this newspaper article with his letter:
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