Letter XIII Latrines
Back in the states, people were still dancing to the tunes of The Dorsey Brothers, Count Basie and Artie Shaw. They listened to the songs of Doris Day, the Andrew Sisters, Lena Horne and Rosemary Clooney. But, some others weren’t so lucky, in the army there was always latrine duty, as depicted in the following letter from Smitty.
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Letter XIII Latrines Wednesday 9/5/44
Dear Mom,
Many are the times you have heard me refer to the latrines. Never before had I any conception or realized the amount of genius and mathematical figuring that was necessary for the building of one of these casual looking comfort stations.
Yesterday I had the dubious honor of being selected, with four other disgruntled G.I.s, to labor on a detail whose sole aim and mission was the digging and building of a latrine. It seems that in order to get a latrine built correctly there also has to be present a lieutenant and a hard to please sergeant. Their presence is essential due to the fact that if they weren’t around, it would never get built, no less started and to supervise the completion and finesse details of the finer points necessary for sanitation and the comfort of the men. You can most generally find these two worthy in some far off spot, away from all the work.
To begin with, a place is chosen suitable for a latrine, generally about a half mile from the nearest inhabitant and well hidden in the brush and woods. This is done for the very simple reason that it affords the stricken G.I. a chance to brush up on his long forgotten tracking and compass reading lessons, also the hike involved tends to make up for the many he has missed.
You wait then while the Lt., in a very business-like manner, marks out the length and width desired. When finished, he gives you a short speech on the importance of the detail and the time limit allotted, ending with: “Good digging fellows. I know you can do it, as you are the picked men!”
You pick up your shovels and picks and gloomily get to work. First, the picks are put into play loosening up the stubborn ground. Then, the shovels get to work removing the loose dirt, making sure to pile it evenly around the hole. This procedure is followed until finally you have now a hole six feet long by five feet in width with a depth ranging anywheres from six to eight feet. Try as you may to dig less than six feet, the sergeant always has a ruler handy which he guards with his life. One would think that a latrine hole that size would last forever, but as I found out, in the army — they don’t.
Next step is to lower into this hole oil drums whose both ends have been removed. This end cutting process is something foreign to us as they had another detail doing that the day before. I understand though that it is a highly skilled job in that keeping the ax blades from chipping is quite a problem. These drums, once lowered and set side by side, draws to a close the crude laborious end of the job.
Boards, saws, hammers and nails now appear along with some overbearing would-be carpenters. They proceed to build a coffin-like box which looks more like anything else but a box. This affair, when finished, is fitted over the hole, covering completely the hole and part of the piles of loose dirt spread around the outer fringe. This type of latrine box is called the settee type. It is very comfortable to sit on if rough boarding isn’t employed. When the box is completed to the satisfaction and sitting height comfort of all present, holes are then cut in the top. These holes are oval in shape, but of different width and shapes. The rear end of a G.I.’s anatomy, I’ve found, has many varied shapes and sizes.
The next thing to put in an appearance is the latrine blind and screen. This is very simple, although at times men have leaned back into it and got tangled up in the canvas, bringing it where the blind should be. While the blind is being put up on a long pipe, funnel-shaped at one end comes up and demands a lot of detailed attention. The height of this pipe, when set, is a trial and tribulation to all and never satisfies all who use it. This funneled affair is intended for what all funnels are. The directing of a stream of water.
The Lt. and sergeant now come out of hiding, inspect it and proclaim it a job well done and worthy of their time and supervision, strutting off gaily chatting, leaving us to find our way alone, unguided and without a compass, back to our tents. We, in the building of this latrine were fortunate in that we only had to erect it once and it was the correct position. Generally, you dig three or four only to find out that it is out of line somehow with the next latrine a mile away.
Generals, colonels and majors all visit while you are at work. Their presence is also needed for the fact that when they are around, you stand at attention and in that way get a moment’s rest. The captain generally comes out to see how you are doing and always tells you to hurry it up as the boys back in camp are prancing around like young colts and doing weird dance steps all the while hoping that they can hold out until its completion.
When once finished and back in camp, you are kept busy giving the boys directions as to where it is and then have to listen to them gripe about the distance away from their tent the blame thing is. It is, I have found out, a thankless detail and one I intend missing the next time there is one to be built. There are of course different types of latrines as the illustrations show, but most of those are for troops on the move. Now, why they should say, ‘troops on the move’ I do not know, for certainly no matter whether in the latrines or on the way to it, you are most certainly moving.
Before any G.I. finds the latrine, the flies are already there. No latrine is a latrine until after a family or two moves in. They too are necessary in that without them as an annoying element, some men would never leave, others would fall asleep, while others would use it as an indefinite hiding place from some hike or detail. Latrines are also necessary for rumors. Until a good latrine is built, rumors around the camp lay dormant. Many new and strange acquaintances are made and the souls of many a man have been saved while sitting in this sanctuary place of appeasement.
No place in the army gets the care and attention of a latrine. Orderlies are assigned daily to see to its cleanliness. Medical inspections are twice a week, while on Saturdays it has to stand a general inspection. It is the haven of good-fellowship, conversations and a relief to all men in the end.
Hoping I have portrayed for you the army’s version of a rest station, I’ll close, as the flies in here are very annoying and the fellow standing and waiting for me to leave is going into a rage and walking up and down all the while eyeing me up and down as if to kill.
Ending this in a hasty departure and on the run, I am always,
Your son, Everett
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Military Humor – Smitty’s artwork ! “When the WACs Take Over ? “
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Farewell Salutes – In honor of the recently lost 13, Kabul, Afghanistan
The Marines were part of the 2nd Battalion/1st Marines, SSgt. Ryan C. Knauss of Corryton, TN was with the 82nd A/B Division
David Espinoza – Rio Bravo, TX; USMC, Lance Cpl.
Nicole L. Gee – Sacramento, CA; USMC, Sgt.
Darin Taylor Hoover – Salt Lake City, UT; USMC, SSgt.
Hunter Lopez – Indio, CA; USMC, Cpl.
Rylee McCollum – Jackson, WY; USMC, Lance Cpl.
Dylan R. Merola – Rancho Cucamonga, CA; USMC, Lance Cpl.
Karem Nikoui – Norco, CA; USMC, Lance Cpl.
Daegan William-Tyeler Page – Omaha, NE; USMC, Cpl.
Johanny Rosariopichardo – Lawrence, MA; USMC, Sgt.
Humberto A. Sanchez – Logansport, IN; USMC, Lance Cpl.
Jared Schmitz – St. Louis, MO; USMC, Lance Cpl.
Maxton Soviak – Berlin Heights, OH; US Navy, Corpsman (assigned to the 1st Marines)
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Posted on August 30, 2021, in Current News, First-hand Accounts, SMITTY, WWII and tagged 11th airborne, 1940's, Army, Everett Smith, family history, History, Latrines, Military, Military History, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 180 Comments.
I honestly never even thought about how a latrine is made…shame on me!! Thanks for the information…and the humor. Just love that you share things that make me really think! Hope all is super in your world…stay well!
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Now you know how I felt growing up. Dad always had me thinking! lol
Stay well, Lorrie.
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Thanks for the smile!!! Needed one in this moment 😉 You too!
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Happy to hear it!
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Your father was a great writer, and artist! 🙂
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I sure thought so! He was quite creative!
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I love reading your Dad’s letters. He has a gift for for turning the mundane into entertainment with his use of words. Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure, Judy. Good to see you again. I hope all has been well with you and your family.
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This could be your dad’s funniest post yet!
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I’m glad I told the story then!! Thanks, Kaiti!! 😊
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner.
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Thank you for sharing this information!!
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Reblogged this on Momentary Lapse Of Sanity.
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Thank you and have a nice day.
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Hahaha! What a transformation!
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👍👍😀
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick.
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It sounds like building a latrine is a major production
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Hygiene is very important in the military. Just as it should be in civilian life too.
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Oh, my! Smitty was a master of language, even in such a subject. Thanks for the smiles, GP.
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I hope I always do that, Jennie!
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You definitely do!
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hi G
thanks for honoring the 13 marines today – it seems i have had a moment of silence every day this last week and it continues with posts like this! i know losses in wars are expected but this loss stings a little more because just so not needed and checkpoints should have prevented it (IMO)
anyhow – enjoyed the letter and wow – latrines were tough work to build and imagining the mini breaks reminds of the tough work and then the way they offered short respite and a “sanctuary place of appeasement”
☀️☀️☀️
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Kinda makes you appreciate our “inner sanctums” we have today, eh?
Have you heard anything from Charly Priest?
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Hi – I have not heard from him for a long time – I know his mother passed away – I am not sure 🤔 but do pray for him sometimes (and just did now) please let me know if you hear anything
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I knew his mom passed and I’ve tried to contact him, but no response.
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🤔
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Funny and real. Always great stories
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Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate that and glad I gave you a smile!
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Serious and sad topic are best delivered with a bit of cheekyness
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True. Thank you.
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Happy Sunday 🙂
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Thank you. Have a wonderful day too.
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Interesting read, GP. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks. My father was one person who actually make digging latrines a humorous subject.
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Great post. Thank you for this. A really enjoyable and interesting read.
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Thank you for visiting.
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Sounds rather unpleasant. Guess it was better than being on a regular cleaning duty, though
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haha, I really couldn’t say which would be easier. Personally, I’d rather not do either! 😬
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I had to smile at this comment about the “settee” version: “It is very comfortable to sit on if rough boarding isn’t employed.” I know that experience; I have to be very careful when sliding along a teak deck on an old boat. Splinters in the rear end are no joke! I love that Smitty wrote about all the details of his life — even those some people wouldn’t consider quite proper!
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Dad left very little out, except combat – the type stories they would all like to forget.
I knew you would enjoy this. Thanks for adding your teak deck story!!
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