This is the beginning of Dad's army experience. Of course, his letters mean a great
deal to me because they're his - but I also think that ALL Vets letters give insights into
the sacrifices these "Citizen Soldiers" and their families made. Sacrifices that began as soon
as they put their uniforms on.
Most of "Our" WWII vets were children of immigrants who knew hardship themselves.
My grandfather arrived in the US with $10 and started work as an ironworker for Carnegie Steel in 1893 (not a fun job). There was no "workmans comp", no health insurance, and
no welfare programs. If you got injured/sick, you were in BIG trouble. Eventually, my grandpa
got a job as a coachman & chauffeur for a wool mill owner and, my dad (his first born)worked small
"jobs" earning extra money for the family. From a young age, he was cleaning out chicken coops and the horse barn on the estate & mowing lawns.
In 1941, they'd all just come through the Great Depression with it's fear & struggle to
survive. My father told me that he'd seen people eating out of garbage cans even in
the wealthy town of Wellesley. My grandpa had a large garden & fruit trees & would give
his produce to neighbors with extra mouths to feed. His niece told me that they were always
so glad to see "Uncle Mike" because he was the only one with a car & would drive over
& bring them beans & carrots & apples & pears.
I give all this as background, because most of these boys had never been away from home
before and, in addition to worrying about being in the Army, they had to worry about their
folks at home. In my Dad's case, his parents were 67 & 61 in 1941 and his father
was the sole support of the household which included his mother, sister Mary,
and brother Joe (the "baby" who was just 21). I honestly think that my Dad worried
more about THAT then anything else. Consequently, he sent all his Army pay home
(even though his mother told him not to).
I have the notice from local draft board #106 in Needham directing him to report
for physical examination and also the "notification of Acceptance For Induction
into the Army of THe U.S. " that was sent to his parents. It says: Francis J. Howard was
this date March 15, 1941 accepted for the Army of the United States and sent to Camp Edwards Mass.
His first letter was on Yankee Division 182nd Infantry stationaryon March 16, 1941:
Dear Ma,
We arrived at Camp Edwards about 7:30. We started getting examined at Columbus Ave
at 9 o'clock and this lasted till one, with a different bunch of fellows coming in all the time.
There were quite a few rejections. Those who had some disability were held up till about 2:30.
Some were let go immediately, others went to the base for another medical examination.
According to the papers, about 20% were rejected of our 500. Baird Hodkinson was the only one from our group that was rejected ( i think he has high blood pressure).
They are all a nice bunch of fellows here, all in the same boat. Some of them gave up good jobs. Herb Gebelein & John Leonard (WELLESEY BOYS) went down on the train with me
so i felt right at home. (Yea RIGHT DAD!)
Sunday is a quiet day here - getting up at 7, breakfast at 7:30, church at 9:30 and back again
to the bunkhouse for the rest of the afternoon. Tomorrow we get our uniforms.
They say they give you and awful lot of walking & drill. (LITTLE DID HE KNOW HOW MUCH).
Meals are served on these aluminum cups and plates - three which you use all the time.
When you arrive, you are furnished with a towel,razor, shaving brush, soap, and a toothbrush.
You can't imagine such a place! As far as your eye can see, are the camps. Each camp holds
about 60 men. The men seem to be in pretty good humor because they know they have to
put up with it - all being draftees. There are some fellows with us who look to be in the forties.
I don't know how soon this letter will get off because we can't get any stamps. The Post Office
is closed. Don't go by the heading on this stationary, it doesnt mean anything because we won't be in our regular quarters till tomorrow.
There is nothing else of much importance to say, so until you hear from or see me(maybe
saturday), I'll just say goodbye.
Love,
Francis
to YOU Dad!