Dear Mother & all,
Saturday night in the E.T O
and not much to do so I will
visit with you for a few lines.
This week has been one of the
best weeks of weather I have
seen outside the U.S. It has
warmed up and the mud is
actually drying up. Then again
what made it so grand I received
four letters from you. They were
Jan. 17, 26, 31, and Feb. 6. Gee it
was sure good to hear from
you again. It seems as if the
mail must have been held up
somewhere. The Vmail are slow
in comeing through. Airmail seems
faster now. Also received two
letters from Harley this week.
2
Also two from Marie, one from
Luella, one from Donna Staup and
one from Lenore. So I guess I will
be busy writing for awhile.
In one of your letters you said
about the way things were changeing
at home, especially in the looks of
the young people. I doubt if I will
know very many of them when I
get back there. I don't suppose
any of them would know me either.
It is just 19 months that I last
saw that land called U.S. Gosh it
seems ages ago. I am wondering
if I will be able to see it this
year. I sure hope so. I suppose
you didn't know Gilbert Sanderson
when he arrived home. I am
wondering if Gail is ok. I never
hear from him anymore at all.
3
Did you see Morgan when he
was home? I suppose he asked all
about me. He wrote me a letter and
I answered it, but haven't received an
answer as of yet. I bet he was
surprised to get to see snow
again. He sure is lucky to be in
the states yet. I expect this means
he will be shipping soon.
Yes, Charlie keeps me informed
on all the happenings at the home
front. I received a letter a while
ago from Irene and I am not
even bothering to answer it. It
doesn't even bother me anymore.
It seems so long ago anyway
that I probably wouldn't reconize
her if we did meet.
I wrote to Pearl Meyers the
other night. It is to bad about
4
Armond. It seems that it was
just a short time ago that he came
over seas.
I bet Harold does look different
with glasses on. I suppose they
keep him busy at the Cement plant
now. Do they consider that as a
war plant now? As much cement
as they use in this war it seems
as if it would be considered a
vital war plant.
I was rather surprised to hear
about Frank. Gee that makes about
four or five that have gone since
I left home. It comes when a person
least expects it. I suppose it was
quite a shock to everyone. Is Donald
over in France or in England yet?
I sure would enjoy setting
down to a table with the food
5
all set on the table before me.
All our meals are handed out
cafertia style and of course it
is proportioned out.
I suppose the kids all enjoy
getting over to Grandma's . Well I
don't think I would kick any if
I could just get home for awhile.
No I never did get a box from
Virginia. I guess that is the only
box I didn't get. I received a package
from Cliff's yesterday.
This will have to be a letter
for tonight. Goodnight for now.
Love Ralph.
The next letter will be posted on February 25th.
Background Information (and comments):
- E.T.O. is European Theater of Operation.
- The cement plant was Medusa Cement located on Silica Dr. (off Sylvania Ave. in Sylvania Township, OH). Ralph, his brother Freeman, and Harold would all eventually work there.
- Ralph's comments on the food led me to a bit of research. Here is an interesting site and the first of many pieces of information on the topic: http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/WWII/food_service_program.htm
Food Service Program Lt. Col. Ward B. Cleaves, Q.M.C. The Quartermaster Review July-August 1945
The Office of The Quartermaster General, as staff agency of the Army Service Forces, organized a Food Service Program which went into effect on 31 July, 1943. Since that time tremendous strides have been made in food service. Soldiers today are much better fed. Waste has been reduced at least fifty per cent. Hundreds of progressive ideas have been put into effect and have saved millions of dollars. How was this done? Its actual accomplishment rests upon constant attention to training and supervision. Trained, qualified personnel, supplemented by supervisory assistance, is the heart of the program. Capable officer and non-commissioned-officer technicians from the Office of The Quartermaster General; from the offices of the Directors of Food Service in Service Commands; from the many Army-operated schools for bakers and cooks, and leading civilians in the food industry-men with years of food experience, who have been appointed as civilian consultants to the Secretary of War-have done much to make food service a vital force. Maintaining high standards of food service in Army messes is their never-ending job.
This is a photo I found of the 381st bomb squad group mess hall:
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment