Letters Home

FROM THIS CORNER
By
Glenna J. Wallace

LETTERS HOME

Recently my younger brother Bud shared Aunt Opal’s Bible with me. Aunt Opal was my dad’s closest sister and has been deceased for several years. Aunt Opal Cousatte, married to Buster Cousatte, was a woman filled with spirit—spirit of laughter, spirit of love, spirit of God. She and Uncle Buster never had any children and since my father, Champ Enyart, was the youngest in a large family and only six months old when his father died, Aunt Opal and Uncle Buster had special feelings for Dad.

Aunt Opal was a saver. She came by it naturally. When Grandpa Enyart died, Grandma Enyart was the only means of support for all those children. It was before the time of social security, before the time of widow’s benefits, before the time of welfare checks. She cleaned houses, worked in cafes, took in washings, ironed clothes, mended clothes, raised chickens, cooked chickens, rabbits, squirrels, possums and raised gigantic gardens. Aunt Opal learned from a master saver.

And so it was with Aunt Opal’s Bible. There were almost as many pages of clippings, poems, obituaries, pictures, announcements, and letters tucked inside her Bible as there were original pages of scripture. Included in those letters were letters I had never read, letters written from my father to his sister, my Aunt Opal, and to his mother, my grandmother Anna Enyart, written while he was serving his country in World War II when he was drafted seventy-five years ago, even though he was married and the father of five children. The letters spoke of his love for his family, his loneliness from missing them, how he spent his time and his wishes for his loved ones.

I was deeply touched by those letters. I thought of the many others who have served our country, who have been separated from their families, who had to have experienced and written about many of the same topics, same feelings my father discussed. These letters of long ago that I was reading for the first time made me more acutely aware of the sacrifices our veterans have made, how very much we owe them. It is only appropriate to share these letters with you in the month of November, the month we honor our service men and women, an honor they so richly deserve.

Veterans, I salute you.

San Diego, California
April 14, 1944
Dear Mom & Sis,

Received your letter today, sure was glad to hear from you all. Glad you are well and feel fine, but you don’t worry about me getting fat through boot training. They run it off faster than anybody can put it on, but it is not tough now after getting my wind back and soreness worked out. We run the obstacle course one time daily, that is going up rope ladders and over the other side, then run one mile jumping hurdles shoulder high, jumping ditches, going across a two by four hand over hand, about 50 feet jumping logs, and about everything you can think of. Then, in the evening just before supper we run one mile in a circle. But it is easy to do now, was pretty tough at first. About California, it is not what you would expect. You think it is hilly at home but that is all there is here, mountain after mountain, with irrigated valleys between but the valleys are sure pretty. The orange trees are not very tall, about 20 feet but they are branchy so about as big around as tall. The timber is all scrubby around here and it is always cloudy in the morning, but the sun shines every evening. The sun comes up in every direction to me.

Say, I run across Stivers the other evening we talked a long time, then two days later after supper he came over to my barracks for about two hours. He is about one and a half weeks ahead of my company in boot, he went over to the next section of camp yesterday, but we will go over in about one week. There are three sections of boot training. One is three weeks where I am now, then two in the next one, then we go to the last one- that is only the shipping out point. There is lots of fellows here that I know, have worked with about 30 of them. Yes Skye is here but has been in sick bay most of the time, the shots and training was too much for him, but they fall out all along the line. I look for Skye to get a discharge before long.

About me taking up gunner, that is what I really wanted. I will be on the top deck all time where I can see what is going on and can get a crack at the enemy. I could of taken sub, cooking, or went to school but I didn’t want under the water and I sure didn’t want around no damn stove and am too old to go to school so I took just want I wanted. Virgie ought to make it fine, for she ought to have got two checks by now, for they pay back one month before inducted and one in advance.

Tell Buster I said hello and would like to go hunting with him. Tell him I said he had better go on to harvest and get out of them damn mines. I never expect to work in them again. We got in five weeks what it took in eight months in peacetime to train, but I get a kick out of it now. I don’t expect I will come home before I go to sea cause I can’t possibly save enough by boot ending time. My insurance cost me $7.40 a month and I think they hold out for three months at a time so will draw about a five spot. That will be plenty to get me by on. They damn near cut all of my hair off. You talk about fast barbers! They got them here the first day in camp. Six barbers in one and a half hours cut 720 sailor’s hair and I was one of them. One barber cut’s two head of hair in one minute, that is the truth! It takes you longer to get in and out of the chair than to get it cut. We all look like convicts now.

Say, some homemade candy would go good all right, but we can get stationary here at the canteen. I had to work yesterday helping clean up the canteen so you can guess about how much ice cream I ate. We have from 5:30 until 9 off but we have got to do our personal work then such as washing every day, shaving, taking a bath, cleaning up our barracks, then we set around dueling one another. But when one gets acquainted with the routine it is not bat at all. Some don’t like it, but they mostly are guys that are a sissy or some tender foot that never did do any thing and couldn’t make it anywhere. They say it gets better as one advances. This camp here is the worst one of all, but it is not bad to me now, it is just to get one in physical conditions to go on to duty. Some of these guys get around like grand pappy’s, can’t take the exercise they give them. Ought to hear our leader talk to them! I have got along good in everything so far and it is getting easier all the time. Well I have got to help clean up so will close with love your son and brother. CC [Champ Clark Enyart]
Ans Soon
By

San Diego, California
April 23, 1944
Dear Sis & Mom,

I read your letter, sure glad to hear from you. Glad everybody is well back there. I am feeling fine. We have completed all of the tough training, I stood it okay. It wasn’t bad to take after I got adjusted to it.

We are in another part of camp now. We have got one week of work ahead of us, stenciling new company sleeping material, then we go to another part of camp to be shipped out. Some will get leaves, some to sea, one never knows until he gets there. Our training is completed here now, except marching to and from church and taking exercise. We took the No. 2 swimming test yesterday. It was tough to make, only ten out of 175 made it. I was one of them, but I was all in at the finish so was the other guys. We got all the swimming we wanted for a while. Got another damn haircut yesterday. They sure believe in hair cutting here, one every week. We sure have been lucky, got the best company commander here, he is just a regular fellow. He will be with us until we scatter. That won’t be but two weeks at most. We are eligible for call now but he said he believed it would be a couple of weeks yet.

Virgie wanted me to come home on leave. I would like to, but it cost a hell of a lot for just five days at home. About $40.00 for a round trip ticket. It probably would do the kids more good to buy them something that they need. We got liberty Monday. I got beat out of the ball game today, got to stand guard from 12 until 4. We get to sleep until 6 o’clock now since we have moved.

I don’t believe I will get to see Stivers anymore. He probably is on leave or gone to sea or getting ready for one or the other. Skye is still with us. I don’t know why, for he has been in the hospital half of the time, hasn’t taken hardly any training. About ten was put back in new company because they couldn’t make it. About five was given releases. About clothes, I got more damn clothes than I want. We have what they call a sea bag to keep our gear in. Sure a hell of a job if one wants something out of it. Sure will be in the bottom then everything to replace is under then to retie on our bunks. We stand inspection every day. So far we have passed it in pretty good order. About the new guys that will come in now, it will only be a miracle if I meet any of them, for I am in a different part of camp than the new ones come to. Say they sure are coming and going. In three weeks, there has been 52 company come in, around 180 men to the company. We completed our parading yesterday, sure glad of it. Tell Buster I said hello. Say they sure put us through the mill the last two days. Everywhere we went from one drill to the next was double time. Wanted to see if we could take it, I guess. Mom don’t worry about me for I am having a good time here. We will get to go to a show about three times a week, baseball, swimming, basketball. Well there is any kind of sport games here any one wants to see. I can’t think of anything to say so will close this time, may see you soon as ever. Son & Bro- CC
Ans Soon

San Pedro, California
June 22, 1944
Dear Mother & Sis

Just a few lines to let you know I am ok. Just got this old mug of mine on paper so thought I would send you one you can see what a sailor looks like. While I was at town, I also had my dress jumper cut down. It takes me and my buddy both to get it on and off. I have reached the end on gaining weight and glad of it for I was afraid I would have to get a full new outfit of clothes. Well there is no change as yet in our schedule. We leave here the first of July for Seattle to pick up my ship.

Lester Skye is still here in camp but is not doing any better. He told me this morning the doctors said there was no cure for him so he will never go to sea. He is putting in for a discharge and more than likely, will be back there in about two or three weeks. I sure feel sorry for him and would like to see him get out for he is not a bad guy. I look for the war to be over in about a year, but I don’t expect to get out for about three years, for on the ship I am assigned we will have plenty of water to clear of mines after this is over. Boy, I am still on the ball here. That buddy of mine says he never has to look out for officers or dodge work parties, all he does is follow me around. He said if he could keep up, he knew he would get out of all the work. They say a fellow that can get by easy is a good sailor so I must be one of the best.

Well there isn’t no news here so I will close and drop Eunice a line or two. Haven’t wrote her for more than a week.
I am hoping to hear from you all before I pull out so will close with Love to all. CC
Ans Soon

October 9, 1944
Dear Mom & Sis,

Just a few lines to let you know I am ok and I transferred back to the base here. The ship I was on is ready to leave for the Islands and they say I will get a discharge, so I was sent here to wait for it from Washington. This is not like it was the other time I was here. It is worse than boats, but a fellow can take anything for a while. I don’t know for sure that I get out, but it looks pretty good now. I think I will stop off in Arizona on my way back and look around. If I find a job that satisfies me, I may send for the squaw and kids. Well there is no news and I have a big wash ahead of me. Hoping this catches you all well. Will close hoping to hear from you all soon. Love CC
Ans Soon