Smitty – Letter XI
This following letter from Smitty will show how much the G.I.’s of WWII and those of today have in common. Human nature doesn’t seem to change very much in 68 years.
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Letter XI Java at 2100 Thursday 8/10/44
Dear Mom, Java at 2100 is nothing more or less than a good old-fashioned gabfest or the same as women folk back home call a “Koffee Klotch.”
There are a few differences though that need a little explaining. At home, the girls gather and talk, generally about the one who isn’t present; including in this conversation, her husband and his family, also hers and then down the line to her most distant relatives. Also, they will gab for hours about the gossip of the neighborhood and of course add a little more to it. At times, arguments amongst themselves will ensue and that ends the present meeting and the next few to come.
With us there are a few differences and variations, such as: we don’t care whether the person being talked about is present or not; although his absence is preferred and appreciated. Of course we have our little gossip circles, but they mostly run toward the rumor side and therefore no one puts much stock in them. Invariably we always talk of home, such as what we did before the President greeted us, also what we intend to do when we get back. This home talk most always leads into a lively debate as to whose state, city or county is the best. Arguing that topic is just like arguing religion; no one is ever impressed or convinced.
The officers are always good for a good 20 to 30 minute razing, with no one pulling their punches. At times though you must be careful, as there might be someone present who is bucking like the devil and the talk will go back. Never is there a good word said in the officers’ defense and I doubt if there ever will be.
Another colorful period is spent when someone brings up non-coms. What is said at this time is unprintable. Surprise to say that if I was visited by the seven plagues, I wouldn’t be as bad off as the non-coms, if even half the things wished upon him should ever befall him. I sometimes wonder if ever in their own conceited way they know just how the private feels toward them.
At home, the girls are all gathered around strictly talking, but here again we vary. Some may be playing cards with every now and then some player adding his say, much to the consternation and anguish of the others. Over in another corner are the die-hards who always listen for rumors and continue on talking about the latest one long after the others have dropped it.
All this time the water is being boiled outside in a large five gallon can. Every now and then, someone will go out to see if it is time to add the coffee. When once the coffee is added, there comes over the tent a lull and then everyone shuffles out to get his cup, which he will dip into the can of coffee before coming back in. Conversation for a while is a combination of talk, loud sips and the blowing of the hot Java. We manage also to provide milk and sugar and at times, crackers. The last is generally present only around paydays.
I don’t know whether it is the effects of the hot coffee upon the vocal chords or not, but always right after the coffee, some would-be Crosby or Sinatra starts singing some old favorite and that is when music conquers over all. They say music has its charms, but after listening to it here — I have my doubts.
Some nights the conversations are really good and so is the coffee, on those occasions, talking lasts after taps has blown and then you are sure to hear the mournful wail of the company charge of quarters meekly saying, “Aw fellas, put out the lights.” Never has it happened that the request was heeded and I doubt if it ever will be. It isn’t long after though that the first sergeant comes barging in bellowing, “Get those blankety-blank lights out and get the H–l to bed!” Lights immediately go out and good-nights can be heard throughout the company area as Koffee Klotches all over break up.
Peace and quiet prevails until all one can hear is the not too soft patter of feet heading out to the place where, at some time or another, we all must frequent. Bits of conversation can be heard drifting through the night, but generally isn’t worth listening to, as it is only the rumor mongers at work again in their office.
Before I close this chapter, allow me to say that the evening coffee, sugar and milk are all donated cheerfully by the fellow most unfortunate enough to have had K.P. the day before.
Having nothing more to gab about and also having to pay a visit down to the end of the company street, I’ll close before I have to make a run for it.
Gabbingly yours, Everett (The Donator of This Evening’s Coffee)
Click on images to enlarge.
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To the Arkansas veterans who read and listen to this site… may I send you a Happy New Year wish and hearty Thank You for all you’ve done for us !!
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Frank Ables – Kirkersville, OH, US Army, WWII
Joseph Charyk – Falmouth, MA; Under Sec. of the Air Force
W.L. Doerty – Gunnison, CO; US Air Force, Korea, pilot, POW &
Vietnam, Bronze Star
Fredene Frye – Greybull, WY; US Army WAC, WWII
Billy Hooks – Lake City, TN; USMC, Vietnam, Cpl.
Darlene Koering – Shellsburg – IA; US Women’s Marines, WWII
Troy Gilbert – Litchfield Park, AZ; US Air Force, Oper. Iraqi Freedom, Major, KIA
Charlie Laine – Broad Channel, NY; US Navy, WWII
Troy Gilbert – Nazzareno Tassone – Niagara, CAN; YPG, Syria
Floyd Passmore – Bedford, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, C/503rd/11th Airborne Division
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Posted on January 9, 2017, in Letters home, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 11th airborne, 1940's, family history, History, Military, Military History, Pacific, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 114 Comments.
! 🙂
Another great post, GP.
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Thank you very much.
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Still playing “catch up” in my reading – and still enjoying “Smitty’s” letters!
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I appreciate your time and interest!
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Great insightful down to earth letter by Smitty, his observations on daily life and routine under adverse conditions is great, he sums up well and provides great imagery.
Thanks for the enjoyable read gp.
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Certainly my pleasure, Ian! I’m very happy you liked it!
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All your fathers letters are wonderful GP but this one especially- his humour and acute observation of human nature is so clearly articulated here.
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Thanks, Carol. Dad was sometimes misunderstood with his humor, but I always got a kick out of him!
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Conversation and coffee… Quite right that little changes! I’m not a fan of gossip though..
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Good for you.
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Thank you so much for sharing this wonderfully moving and articulate letter, really giving us a flavour of the man and the situation. These must be a real treasure for you.
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Oh they sure are, Annika. Now that I have them on-line, I have put them in plastic for safe keeping, they are so old and Florida weather is so humid and hot I don’t want any further damage.
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Highly entertaining, but one does wonder what such letters would have contained if there was no censorship, secrecy or security to worry about …
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As far as my father went, not much would be changed. He didn’t believe in telling a woman, especially his mother, exactly what was going on when it came to training for worst or what combat was all about. I thank yu for reading!
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That was the way, in those days. Even now it is hard for men to accept that some women have seen possibly more combat than they have.
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I know it’s difficult to imagine, but other countries have been doing for quite a while.
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Dates back to the Amazons of mythology, and beyond by 2000 years to the Sauromatians, warrior women whom archaeology has verified.as historical fact.
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There you go!
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Great letter. They must have really made your family smile every time they arrived.
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I sure know Grandma would have been beaming! Thank you for commenting RoseMary.
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Love reading the letter and let me smile
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Thank you for visiting!
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This letter made me smile…and almost taste that coffee 🙂
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I always liked it too – thank you!
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Great letter, GP. I can almost hear the conversations and almost smell the coffee after reading your dad’s rendition. Thanks for sharing.
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I find these letters priceless and love posting them. I’m just happy you’re enjoying them!!
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They are priceless. Smitty’s words are here for all of us.
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Thank you, John.
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Welcome back, Smitty. Missed your great letters and your great points of view. Right now we are having a couple bad winter days and I really needed something to cheer me up. Smitty, from way back when, was just the antidote. Thanks, GP.
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My pleasure indeed, Don! I am so glad Dad is still cheering people up!!
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Love his letters 🙂
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I sure am glad about that!!
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thank you, Penny. He really knew how to write a letter, eh?!
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An amazing talent!
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Another great glimpse into the troops’ experiences during the war…a word never mentioned. I can just picture your mother reading these letters over and over as she waited for his return.
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These must have been very precious to her too. While she was still alive, I had not yet seen dad’s scrapbook, so i never had the chance to question her about the war years.
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So often in later life we realize how many questions we would like to ask our parents and grandparents. Guess you have to be older to be deeply interested. At least you know she treasured them as not many kept scrapbooks at that time.
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He was her one and only. They were very close.
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“Invariably we always talk of home, such as what we did before the President greeted us, also what we intend to do when we get back. This home talk most always leads into a lively debate as to whose state, city or county is the best. Arguing that topic is just like arguing religion; no one is ever impressed or convinced”.
Of course is TEXAS… 🙂
Great post!
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haha – inevitably Texas was going to pop up!! Even in those un-historical Hollywood movies, someone is arguing about how great Brooklyn is!! Funny
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Thats is so funny!!!
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Smitty’s letters are better than a time machine. I love that “You Are There” feeling I get from them.What will historians do in the future? Thanks for another great post.
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Nowadays people are busy texting and e-mailing. Maybe in the future, historians will have to search trash piles for discarded hard-drives? Thank you for reading dad’s letter XI.
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Smitty sounds so good-natured and buoyant, despite location & situation. Great letter! Thank you!
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He really was – most of the time.
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That letter is priceless!!
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Thank you – I sure agree!!
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Ha ha ha! Great mix of adventure, history and the non-stop coffee! 🙂
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You know I just HAD to drag you over here to read THIS particular post, eh?!
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It was wonderful to read this letter, thanks for sharing it with us.
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My pleasure, Stephen. As you know with your father and uncle, every scrap of info we have is precious.
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PS was this letter written by your father?
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Yes; he was dad to me, but Smitty to most everyone else.
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Amazing that given the circumstances the letter is fairly upbeat. What a well written letter. I hope he made it home safely!
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Yes, he did, Elizabeth, thank you for asking. He never did write anything that actually involved the horrors we know went on around him – he even complains with a sense of humor.
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Now, that is a man who can really write a letter! I love seeing the photo of his regiment, and for many during that time period, it could have been one of only a few taken of loved ones. Thank you so much for sharing!
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It sincerely is MY pleasure Maryann. I thank you for taking the time to drop on by and read the letter!
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Oh I absolutely LOVE posts like these. I especially loved the way our dear Smitty pokes fun at the differences between the way men and women tend to chat.
Clearly, he was a very observant and witty young man.
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He certainly was. Smitty wasn’t highly educated, but that old “school of hard-knocks” diploma sure came in handy – he had a lot of common sense, street smarts. Thanks for coming by!
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I totally respect that.
Frankly, some of the most interesting people that I know are very much like your Dad; having graduated from the school of ‘hard knocks!’ 🙂
I could sit at the knee of people like that for hours!!!
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Agreed.
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i like very very much your photographic memories. ciao.
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La ringrazio molto per la lettura.
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I really enjoyed Smitty’s letter, GP. He gave such a vivid picture of how they found comfort in coffee and each other, as well as thinking about home, talking about it, and then the act of writing home, too. There’s so much love and acceptance in your father’s letter. Loved the photo of the regiment, and fun coffee graphic too!
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So glad you enjoyed the post, Jet. Dad would never believe the response I get from his letters!!
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Another interesting post!
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Thank you, I appreciate your visit.
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Loved the post and they way he can with his word give you a vivid picture in your mind. Also enjoyed the humor section, Everett!
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Thanks, Kathy. I get the biggest kick out of these letters – always have!!
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It’s great that you were able to preserve them and can look anytime! Great memories!
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It is great to be able to look back, not a day goes by….
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The word Kaffeeklatsch appears in so many western languages in one form or another that one could conclude that the concept of having women and, as we saw in your father’s letter, of men also coming together for a cup of coffee (and cake for the German ladies) and gossip. Except perhaps the British, who prefer their gossip session with tea instead.
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Don’t let the British fool you, Peter – they partake of their fair share of coffee!! My father was half-German, so maybe that’s how he picked up on the phrase.
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I guess it was just my stereotypical image of the British having a tea party. Thanks for the correction, GP!
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We all think of that stereotype, Peter, many a joke has been made out of it too!
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I loved that line–“we don’t care if they’re present or not…” Hah! One of the great sides of guys.
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That’s it, Jacqui, they call it as they see it. Thanks for visiting today!
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That is a wonderful letter from Smitty! I loved reading about the “Koffee Klotches” the men had, with all the associated gossiping and rumor mongering. 🙂 Your father was a keen observer of humanity and had a great sense of humor in his writing.
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Thanks, Lavinia. I always thought so – it’s great to know others feel the same way!!
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It is lovely and poignant to read these letters. It really reminds us of the human side of military service. Thank you GP’
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Thanks, Hollie. Even across the world, the simple pleasures of a cup of coffee centers the men.
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It is heartwarming!
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AND woman! 🙂 Without my ever-present cuppa’ java, I doubt I’d have a single friend. 🙂
Another great post, GP. My blogging day began with blog-articles disgusted with Betsy DeVoss’s repeated ducking of questions in her confirmation hearing – each peppered with links supporting how *totally* unqualified she is to serve as Sec. of Education. There’s not enough coffee in the entire world to center me after that!
I had to head over here for a hit of the ever-positive Smitty before I chucked it all in and headed back to BED!
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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Glad I brightened your day in some way with Smitty’s letter. I, for one, have an undying distaste for politics.
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… and politicians! (evil tasting)
With my focus on mental health (and lifelong learning), the very idea that the man America elected believes he can get away with installing a woman for Sec. of Ed. that *nobody* disputes is totally unqualified couldn’t help but grab my attention (and scare me to death).
xx,
mgh
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Now, how, I wonder, did Smitty know what the girls gabbed about?
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haha! I would suspect growing up with only a mother and grandmother in the house had something to do with that!!
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I did so enjoy reading this letter. You could almost see them setting there visiting with each other while having their coffee. Have a blessed day GP. 🙂 Jim
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Thanks, Jim. Yes, dad did have a way of words a situation so that you could relate to it.
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Could totally relate to the points made in Letter XI. I need another cup of Joe.
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Okay, Adam – seems I found someone after my own heart!
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Another absolutely delightful letter. He really paints such word pictures. It almost sounds like he’s at sleepaway camp or in a college dorm, not posted across the world in the military. Thanks for sharing. You know I love these letters!
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Yes, I do, Amy and that thrills me. To think this man felt no one would ever care to read these letters!!
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I love this post. Nothing changes.
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Yup, the more they change – the more they stay the same. Takes for popping by, Richard.
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These really are wonderful letters. And I must say, they not only communicate a lot about what it was like for the soldiers, and a lot about your father, they also stand as a reminder of how important letter-writing is. Emails just aren’t the same, and as for social media? Who remembers a text or a tweet five minutes later? Letters are an extension of a person in a way no email can be. That’s what make these such a joy to read.
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I’m very glad you understand that, I know the younger ones among us find it hard to believe and basically a waste of one’s time. I think letters show a personal side, that you were willing to take the time to take pen to paper and then actually stuff it in an envelop and mail it!! Sounds like a tough assignment, eh?!! haha Oh well, it’s a other world now I suppose. Thanks for coming by, Linda.
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As always, I enjoy seeing the human view of the situation through these letters. It is comforting to see that they enjoyed at least some time when things were somewhat “like home” – I love the bottom coffee cartoon. I totally understand that. Thanks again for sharing these letters.
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It is all my pleasure, Dan. I’m just thrilled you enjoyed the post too!
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So poignant to read about the ‘quiet times’ in the midst of war. When we read so much about action, landings, heavy fighting, and casualties, it is also good to remember the waiting, the comradeship, and just chatting about nothing around a hot cup of coffee.
Even more so, because of your family connection.
Best wishes, Pete.
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He made a point to not mention the actually war. I never tire of reading these letters, so I greatly appreciate you doing so as well.
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Lovely post today. I can just picture the scene. I bet those officers really copped for it with the insults. Have a good week. Chris.
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I find these letters priceless, Chris, and not just because they’re from my father. He had a knack for getting a point across with humor or an innuendo. Thanks for reading it.
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Priceless is not even close GP…
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Thank for understanding, Pierre!
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My gift is also for this unsung hero. I want you to know this GP.
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I had presumed that was the real reason and an even bigger Thank You is deserving!!
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The reason was to thank you for sharing a precious gift with us…your father and his wisdom and sense of humor. This to me GP is priceless as our virtual friendship.
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It makes me smile to know someone can see what a great person my father was, with an impartial view. He wasn’t highly educated, but he was smart – he was never trained for a special trade, but I’d seen him tackle any job, household improvement, hobby, etc that he took on. But – his sense of humor and concern for other people endeared him to anyone who met him and in a manner of speaking – you have met him. Thank you, Pierre.
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I feel the same way with Richard Emerson Harmer.
One day I hope I will be able to share all what his son Tom has shared.
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