WW11: Experiences of an American Soldier

New Voices

2010-01-21T15:22:00.002-05:00

Posts to Ben’s blog will resume soon.

January 21, 2010

After a temporary hiatus to this blog, you will be able to listen to recitations of Ben’s letters at http://www.benkaplow.com Voice-Over talents from all over the country have joined with Brighton High School and University of Rochester students, family and friends as they all bring Ben’s letters to life.

I wanted Ben’s handwriting to appear on the website. Viewers, visualizing Ben as he writes home to his family during World War 11, may experience a deeper connection with him as his penmanship changes with each letter. Could his handwriting actually reveal his emotions of anger, wonder, concern, humor and worry about the action swirling around him? I think so. However, I suspect that’s for a handwriting expert to say.

Your patience is very appreciated. In my younger days, I would have worked on this blog and the website simultaneously. Please bear with me. The recordings of the 1945 letters have begun. The transcriptions fly out (email), and wonderful interpretations of Ben’s letters are returned. This, I confess, slows me down because I am fascinated as I listen again and again to the recitations. Upon completion, I will return to blogging the 1944 letters.

My utmost gratitude to everyone who has taken their time and talent to honor Ben.

My best,
Florence - Ben's wife

Reconnaissance

2009-12-06T23:21:00.000-05:00

Ben is at Camp Campbell, Kentucky. Assigned to Message Center, he describes his reconnaissance training and the muddy terrain.

January 9, 1944
Sunday Noon

Dear Folks,
This is the first letter I’ve written since the beginning of the week, cause I haven’t had too much time to myself lately. Well, I’ll start off & tell you what I did all week. Monday & Tuesday we had Message Center school all day & I saw “Higher & Higher” Monday night. Wednesday, we stood by for an inspection of everything that was issued to us.

In the afternoon, we went over to the Message Center & monkeyed around with the M-209 Code Converter. It’s an intricate little machine, no bigger than this sheet of paper. The preliminary steps are pretty complicated but once you start coding & decoding, it’s simple. Thursday morning we had another class. Thursday night at 11:00 we left on a two day problem. We rode about 15 miles into Tennessee & then we walked for about a mile.

There we stayed until about noon the next day. Oh, it was cold there. And they don’t bother to put up tents here. We were a reserve battalion, so we didn’t have much to do. In the afternoon, I was attached to the Battalion Commander, a Major, as runner for my company. I’m not supposed to be used as a runner but since the Message Center wasn’t working right then, they made me one.

Well we started out on reconnaissance & pretty soon we were pinned down by the enemy. The umpire goes up to find out the details & finds that we are practically surrounded. The telephone wasn’t working so I had to hurry back to the Command Post & give a message. By the time I got there, the phone was working. Well, I ran a couple of more messages & then we started to retreat. I stayed with the Major until about 5 o’clock & then our battalion started to march to the Division reserve.

It was only about 4 miles but it took us about 3 hours on account of the muddy roads. I never saw such mud. When we turned off the road to go up to the assembly area, I don’t think there was a solid bit of ground in the whole field. Jeeps, peeps, all kinds of trucks were stuck in the mud up to the top of their tires. Some of the bumpers came off when they tried to pull them out. We stayed in that area for a couple of hours & moved a mile down the road. We stayed there from 10:30 until 1:30.

Oh, it was cold. I didn’t wait to rip my pack apart to get my shelter half, so I rolled up in a blanket that I had tied on top of my pack. At 1:30 we moved out again. It was only about an hours walk, but the mud made it very tiring. At 2:30 we went to sleep only to wake up at 5:30 with a light covering of snow over us. Then we went and had a hot breakfast, our first meal that wasn’t C-rations. Then we got some good news from the Major. The problem was declared over & we were going in early. Boy, that was good news. We got back to camp about 8:00 & I hopped into bed after shaving & showering. Oh, did that feel good. I went & saw Kay Kyser’s picture last night. Wasn’t too good. I’m not too tired today, but I could use a little more sleep.

This morning at 7:30 I went on duty at the Message Center. That’s where I am now. I didn’t get any experience out on the problem & this is the first time that I’ve actually worked at this, outside of practice. As you can imagine, I was a little apprehensive, but I think everything will work out all right. I was all alone but I got my messages through. We also have a little portable switchboard that we call the different companies with. Now that I’ve actually been on duty, & talked with Majors, Captains, & Lieutenants over the phone, it’s not so bad.

But the real test will come on the weekdays when calls come flowing in steadily all the time. It’s not a bad job. We wear O.D.s when we’re not out in the field, it’s warm, & it’s not physical labor. The only bad point is the shifts. They’re 12 hour shifts & the weekends are just like any other day. I work a few night shifts along with the day shifts. In fact, I’d rather work the night shift all the time. You can sleep from about 11:00 at night until morning, if no messages come through & you have the whole next day off, whereas when you work the day shift, you have to fall out with the company the next day. If that isn’t too clear, just ignore it.

This camp is located in the extreme Southwest part of the state, about 10 miles from Tennessee, in fact, most of the camp is located in Tennessee. Bill Zanders is in the Signal Corps. He was put in that the very first night we got here. I guess he had some experience with his father in that line. We were supposed to have had an interview & been reclassified when we came here, but we weren’t. It was just pure luck that I got into this job.

I received the box yesterday & everything arrived in good condition. I’ll have to go to the Air Cadet board first chance I have. Boy that was fast work on those letters. You really surprised me. Speaking of surprises, Arnette’s marriage almost floored me. I think I’m getting paid tomorrow, so I’d like to get them a present, but I don’t know what to buy. Perhaps you could advise me. If so, get the letter to me by Friday night in case I go to town over the weekend. Well, I think I’ve written about enough. Keep up the writing.

Love,
Ben

National WW2 Museum

2009-12-06T22:51:00.003-05:00

The National WW2 Museum in New Orleans has asked permission to link this blog and web site to the Museum’s Facebook and Twitter pages. It’s such a tribute to Ben and an honor to be part of their great site. Please view the link to the Museum, or visit in person.

Ben is at Camp Campbell, Kentucky. He arrived there after a December furlough with his family. Apparently he is no longer in A.S.T.P. but is now being trained for Message Center.

January 4, 1944
0740

Hello Again,
Well everything is going along a lot better now than when I first came. I’ve gotten to know some of the fellows & they’re not a bad lot. Three other fellows who were in A.S.T.P. have come into our barracks. And they’re sending a hell of a lot more to this camp. That’s where the Army gets you. If you can’t stay in A.S.T.P., they send you back to the infantry, even if you had basic in another type of training. Some of them came from University of Kentucky and from Niagara University.

I think my job is going to be an interesting one. We had school yesterday & I’m waiting to go again now. It’s not actually school. There are about ten of us from different battalions and a non-com lectures and explains the message. We had a test at the end of the day and I got 99 9/10. We learned one of the code systems yesterday, with more to come. That’s what we’ll use whenever we go out in the field.

The message center is a very important job, perhaps the most vital. Because the troops have to keep in contact with each other in order to know where the enemy is. It’s a hard job too. The message center is operated on a 24 hour basis. And the maximum time allowed for a message to be in your hands before you pass it on, with all the writing & recording in the log, is two minutes.

Well, I’ve got to go to school now. Write soon.

Love,
Ben

Training Problem

2009-12-02T13:52:00.001-05:00

Here is a description of a “problem” which is an Army method of putting into practice the theories soldiers have learned. When Ben refers to the “hottest” day in this letter, he is referring to extreme training conditions. However, he will mention the “hottest” situations in future correspondence from the European Front. “Hottest” there refers to the most extreme conditions of battle.

Camp Campbell, Kentucky
January 2, 1944
Sunday

Dear Folks,
Here it is, another “rest period” almost gone, ready to start on another problem. I guess it’s official that there are only two more problems to go. That’s good news. I can’t tell you too much about the last problem, because I didn’t go all the way through it. My luck is still holding out on these problems. Although I didn’t get to ride a jeep this problem, I got a much better break.

We started the problem Tuesday noon. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining & it was warm. After marching about six miles, I was tagged a casualty. (I found out later that it was arranged by a friend of mine. A Jewish Sergeant). When tagged a casualty, you are first bandaged up by an aid man that travels with the Company. I had a head wound & a fractured arm. I was then taken by litter to the Battalion Aid Station & loaded on an ambulance and taken to the Collecting Station. From there you go to the Clearing Station.

My luck came when I was tagged because it was starting to get windy & cold. Just when I got in the warm ambulance to go to the Clearing Station, it started to snow. It was too late to be returned to our Companies when we reached the Station, so we stayed overnight & slept on the litters in a hugh tent and with fires no less. It snowed all night and the next day it was cold. They took us up to Regimental Headquarters, told us the general directions to our Battalion & told us to take off.

We took off, right for the nearest barn. What would you say if you knew your son was acting just like a beggar? What else would you call it when you go up to farmers’ doors and ask them for something to eat & if you can sleep in their barn that night. We didn’t want to find the Battalion until the problem was over, because it was so cold. So we slept in the hay that night & ate in the farmer’s house next morning. They were well to do people, owned a lot of land. The old man was the only Southerner who I ever heard admit that the South was wrong in the Civil War.

We then took off for the Battalion. We found the water truck & they took us to where the kitchens were, back of the lines. We stayed with them all day until the problem ended Thursday. Friday was one of the hottest days we’ve had since I’ve been on maneuvers. I didn’t get to go on pass this weekend, but last night we went to the Rear Echelon, supposedly, but really went to Lebanon & got a shower. It rained a little last night but the sun is out now.

Once again, my thanks for sending a box, Exactly what I wanted too. I’ve exactly nine more letters to write. I don’t know how I’m going to do it but I might as well start now.

Love,
Ben

Happy New Year

2009-12-02T13:35:00.000-05:00

This is Ben's first letter home in 1944. Basic training will continue until he ships out in August. He is now at Camp Campbell, Kentucky. He arrived there to continue his basic training after a December furlough with his family. Making a telephone call home in 1944 was difficult so letter writing became very important.

January 1, 1944
Saturday Night

Dear Folks,
Happy New Year!!! I hope you spent a nice New Year’s Eve. As for me, I didn’t wait up to see the New Year in. I went to a lousy U.S.O. show and then up to the service club where nothing was doing & then on to the barracks. Half the camp was stinking drunk. I guess they can buy liquor at one of the outside gates.

Well, I’ve finally been assigned, and I think I got a pretty lucky break compared to some of the fellows that were put in rifle companies, heavy weapons and mortar platoons. They say that the job I’ve been assigned to, although it’s no cinch, is one of the easiest in the headquarters company. I’m in the message center, up in Battalion Headquarters. It’s where all the messages come down from higher headquarters & we have to pass them down. I haven’t been over there yet but it’s where all the officers are. You know, the Colonels & Majors & Captains.

It may sound like an easy job to you, but get that idea out of your head. There will be plenty of opportunities to goof off, and if I do, it’s just too bad for me. I might possibly go to school for a couple of weeks, but nothing is definite yet. Nothing around here is very definite. It’s not at all like Camp Croft. The job gets tougher when we go out on maneuvers, cause it’s the nerve center of the whole thing. I hope I can make good at it. There is one other fellow from U. Conn that has been assigned here with me. He’s a Jewish fellow from the Bronx. He’s a nice fellow, life of the party and all that, but he was the number one goof off of Company B at Croft. I hope he makes out all right here.

Haven’t done anything since I got here except wash the floor once. Just been taking it easy. We went over to look up another Jewish fellow that came down with us. He’s in another regiment, assigned to a mortar squad. I really feel sorry for him, because he’s a fat kid that could never make the hikes back at Croft. He’s really disgusted with life. I guess it was just fate that I wasn’t put there. We’ve been trying to figure out how they assigned us here, because there were three of us whose names were one right after the other on the roster, & we all got put in different regiments & as there are three regiments, I was lucky enough to get into the best job.

Please send my laundry as soon as possible cause I’ll need the fatigues & winter underwear. I guess I’ll have to put on that long underwear after all when we go out on the field. I’m up at the service club now, but nothing’s doing. Nothing to do around here, except see a movie, & there aren’t any good pictures to see. Could have had a pass to go into town tonight, but as we have K.P. tomorrow, decided not to. There are two towns, both about 20 miles away, one in Tennessee & one in Kentucky, each with about 11,000 population. Absolutely nothing doing there either.

Well, that’s about all I can think up. I’ll keep you informed, if I have time to write.

Love,
Ben

Write soon. Tried to phone twice, but it takes too long.

Ice Skates

2009-11-29T23:55:00.006-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. He is at the University of Connecticut. Florence says he’s showing his temper here which was an extremely rare event during their 53 years together. She wonders if the ice skates ever arrived but they could never replace Ben’s love for his mother’s cooking. Besides if Ben is stationed in the south after his furlough, he won't be using skates.e,

December 21, 1943
Monday

Dear Folks,
Well, how’s everything with you. Right now I would like some advice. What do I have to do for you to send me the ice skates? I’m not angry with you, I’m just madder than hell. I asked for them almost three weeks ago. Maybe it’s better this way though. I won’t have to go through all the trouble of opening the box. I’ll just mail it back, as it came, as I rush for the train South.

In case I ever do get home, you can appease my anger & hunger by having some of the following. Bean soup, cabbage soup, breaded veal cutlet, baked beans & potatoes, lima beans, chopped liver, etc. & anything else that you remember I like.

Ben

Croix de Guerre

2009-11-29T23:40:00.001-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. He is at the University of Connecticut for the Army Specialized Training Program. He’s hoping for his first furlough. Ben's photo in this letter on the web site is out of order. We see now that it is really at the time he returns from the war as we learn from his December 2, 1945 letter he writes home, "A few days ago, the 104th was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government. Another ribbon and a fourragere to wear." In the photo the fourragere is displayed over the shoulder of his jacket. The National Museum of American Jewish History confirms that the fourragere is still attached to his jacket.

December 21, 1943
Monday Night

Dear Folks,

At last I can tell you something definite about the Christmas furlough. I just came back from a talk with the C.O. & he told me that I would be able to get home from Thursday night until Sunday night but wasn’t at all certain about the regular furlough. I’ll arrive home sometime Thursday night or Friday morning, all depending on what time we get out.

I really feel sorry for our C.O. As I told you before, he’s a young handsome lst Lieutenant. But he’s limited service because of something wrong with his eye that can’t be corrected with glasses. And just recently in the Gilbert invasion, his Dad (a Colonel) was killed while leading his men forward. I can imagine how he feels when people stare at & wonder what he’s doing up here in the A.S.T.P.

Don’t forget to have some good meals & please don’t faint when you see how fat I am. I couldn’t help it up here.

Ben

Vaughn Monroe

2009-11-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

Ben is hoping for his first furlough. He is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. Vaughn Monroe entertains in Hartford. Click on Ben name to listen to Vaughn Monroe singing “Sound Off” on the web site.

December 21, 1943
Sunday

Dear Folks,
Hello again. Just got back from a weekend spent in Hartford. Had a very nice time. Saw Vaughn Monroe. Nothing definite on the Christmas furlough yet. Weather is fine.

Love,
Ben

Restricted

2009-11-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. For the last two months he has been at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school. His company is restricted for a week. He describes his experience here which becomes very different when he returns to Infantry Basic Training.

December 4, 1943
Sunday Morning

Dear Folks,

Well, how’s everything at home. I hope you’re not affected by the flu, as most of Rochester is. Everything is okay with me, haven’t even got the sniffles, knock on wood. Although I don’t know why. We’ve had average winter weather here up until the wee hours of Saturday morning. It was chilly but not cold enough for an overcoat. The lake had melted, too. But starting Saturday morning we got about a 60 mile wind blowing around the place. It was beastly cold. A teacher told us, that down in the Valley where he lives, it was about 10 above. The University is located on one of the highest hills around the countryside, so it was a lot colder than that. And it kept getting colder all through the day.

Am I glad I got that scarf and earmuffs. Some of the fellows got their ears frostbitten just waiting to get into chow. And these buildings were probably built before the Resurrection, as the Sergeant said. Every room in the joint was freezing, cause the radiators aren’t working to their full efficiency. We took the valves off to see if that would help (and it did) and we found ice on one of the stems. I was wearing my overcoat inside. And regulations say that the windows have to be open a foot from the top and six inches from the bottom, to prevent respiratory diseases. Even during the past week, it was too cold at night to do that and stay warm, at least on our side of the building, which faces the wind, and we happen to have a corner room. But yesterday, it was too windy & cold to have a parade, so we had an inspection. And for purposes of the inspection, we opened the window to regulations, even though we knew that they wouldn’t want us to have them open on a day like that, but we wanted to emphasize the situation.

Our new C.O. (Commanding Officer) - a young handsome lst Lieutenant who just came up from Camp Croft - realized the situation but there’s nothing he can do. A couple days ago we asked him for extra blankets & he said he’d get something for us. They issued comforters yesterday, but by the time our section had a free period to go get them, they were all out. So we spread our overcoats on top of the bed. As it turned out, we were pretty warm last night, as long as we were in bed. It’s still pretty cold in the rooms, but not as cold as yesterday. That’s probably because the wind has died down, although its still almost as cold. Yesterday morning, the lake was unfrozen but at night it was all frozen, even with the wind. And you know it has to be damn cold for a lake to freeze when a big wind is tossing the waves about. It froze rough so it probably won’t be good for skating. Well that’s enough about the weather.

Perhaps you’re wondering why I haven’t said anything about what I did last night. Well, the whole Company A decided to stay on campus this weekend, after the C.O. told us we had to. It seems that we’re restricted until further notice. We really got the book thrown at us. We are restricted to the barracks for the week, can’t go to the college store or community house or any recreational function, we have to eat at the end of every company all week long, we have to form in platoons after mess & march back in formation, instead of just wandering back, (oh, is it cold) we had to stand reveille this morning & will have to stand all formations today, and the section leader has to make a report every half-hour of the rooms to make sure everybody is in. But some of them sneaked out. A fellow in our room left at 10:30 to see his girl in one of the dorms. We pinned some Pfc (private first class) stripes on him so the officers wouldn’t stop him. That’s quite a lot of restrictions.

And all because some freshmen girls complained that we were waking them up in the morning when we came back from chow. I admit that we used to holler “Hit It” & “Get Up” & things like that, cause I used to do it, too. After a while they started throwing water at us. The dorm is right in our path coming back from chow, & it was a temptation no one could resist. I know it was our fault for doing it, but we shouldn’t have gotten the book thrown at us. After they got us restricted, they were a little sorry & tried to get it lifted. The house mother of another dorm that had a formal dance last night tried to get it lifted too, but that’s where they made their mistake. Civilians shouldn’t try to argue with the army. He can’t let civilians run the army. I guess some of the people resent soldiers being sent to school & getting paid for it & monkeying around at the same time. They think we lead a soft life. Sometimes we wish we were in combat. Anyway, that dorm is black-balled from now on & the other girls are mad at them, too, cause lots of them had dates. That’s all there is to it. I guess we’ll have to keep on our toes this week or we’ll be restricted next weekend too.

I got the laundry back Friday. They did a pretty good job, at least better than the G.I. laundry. I have some more all packed to go. Probably mail it tomorrow. I forget exactly how many of what kind of pictures I’m having made, but I think it’s; one large one, two 5x7 & 6 of each of the two you picked out, in a small size. I will be able to get reprints later on. Well, that’s about all,

Love,
Ben

Typing

2009-11-24T00:08:00.000-05:00

Ben asks for ice skates in a testy manner. The infantry basic training he had at Camp Croft is very different from the training here.

HEADQUARTERS S.C.S.U. 1146
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CONNECTICUT
December 17, 1943

In reply
refer to:
Kaplow, Benj.

SUBJECT: Letter home
TO:             The Folks Back Home.

Perhaps you’re wondering why the typewritten style of letter? Well, I happen to be C.Q. (Charge of Quarters) tonight. All it is, is a monotonous job. I’m on from 5 p.m. until noon tomorrow. I just sit at the desk in the orderly room and sign the fellows in and out and collect the room check reports from the section leaders. I was afraid that I was going to have to stay up until 2:30 tonight on account of a Greek Letter Dance, but, luckily I don’t have to. I’m using this military style cause that’s what we’re taking up in English now. Thought I’d practice it.

Everything is going along pretty good. The weather here has toned down, the restriction is lifted, and the ice is swell for skating! Say, when are you going to send those skates? I asked for them two weeks ago. I would like to get in a little skating before I leave, IF YOU don’t mind!

I’m not saying that I won’t, but don’t rely too much on my being home for Christmas and the furlough as I planned. I don’t know anything more about it, but just don’t plan on it. If I do get home, all well and good. If I don’t, I’ll be home some other time.
No, I haven’t heard from Bob in a long while. So please forward his letters.

Marion sent me a scarf the early part of the week. The same day I got a bar of candy from Saks with no card. Probably from Aunt Anna. That’s about all the news except that I’m getting very sleepy doing nothing. If you still haven’t sent the skates when you receive this, never mind then.

    Love,
/s/ Ben Kaplow
     Lt. Inf.
     Commanding Platoon (4)

Drafty Dorms

2009-11-23T23:51:00.000-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. He is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the Army Specialized Training Program. The weather continues to be very cold and windy. Not the best situation for drafty dorms. Here’s a post card he wrote.

December 14, 1943
Monday Night

Dear Folks,

Well how’s everybody tonight? I’m still the same here. The wind has been blowing all day here again, harder than Saturday when it was blowing about 70 miles an hour. But they sent men around to fix the radiators so they’re not too bad now. Tell Arnette to buy me a little toilet kit bag. I think she knows the kind I want, like we saw before I came into the Army. Send it before Christmas.

Love,
Ben

Worried

2009-11-23T23:45:00.000-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. He is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the Army Specialized Training Program. In this Post Card, we don’t know exactly why his family was worried.

December 14, 1943
Sunday Night

Dear Folks,

I just received your phone call. If I had known that you would have worried as you did, I wouldn’t have written you. It was just another incident in the life of a soldier. I had almost forgotten about it. It’s getting warmer now. Might turn out to have some good weather.

Ben

"350 or Fight"

2009-11-20T12:37:00.001-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. For the last two months he has been at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the Army Specialized Training Program.

December 4th

Dear Folks,

We were sitting around waiting for the inspecting officer, so I thought I might as well catch up on my badly neglected correspondence and also write to you. The inspection this morning is supposed to be stricter than usual. They’re going to inspect us personally and also our walls. Yep, they had us washing the marks off our walls last night. Imagine, us A.S.T.P. men doing manual labor. I thought I left that behind at Camp Croft.

We had our last exam yesterday. I think all the fellows agree that these were harder than the first. In fact, my eye is still twitching today from straining it during the exam. And we took the exams in a smaller room too, where the proctor didn’t have so much to watch, which made it harder for us.

I think I wrote you that they shipped out some fellows. They got one fellow from our room, who happened to be in the hospital at the time with a cold, so he left a couple of days later. We drew cards for his bed and I won. It’s a small 2 man room off the big one with a single bed and thick mattress. It’s a much warmer room too, cause the wind doesn’t blow through it.

Have you heard our new motto? “350 or Fight”, cause you need that many points to stay in the program. Received the box alright. Thanks. Also received the snapshots & proofs. Mom & Dad look very good. So is the one of Ruth & Arnie. How about those reprints you said you would get?That girl that Arnie met is the girl friend of Russ Hildebrant who went through #3 with me & was cheerleader at Madison. I think he’s overseas now, at least he has an A.P.O. number. In the next package, please include some pipe cleaners. That’s all for now,

Love,
Ben

Ben's photo 2

2009-11-20T12:28:00.000-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. Photos were taken at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school. Perhaps the photo Ben selected from the proofs sent home is the one on this site’s home page, however the medals might indicate that it is not.

December 1, 1943
Storrs, Connecticut
Tuesday Night

Dear Folks,
I’m sending you these proofs so you can pick out the one you like best. The ones I like best have an X on the back. Choose one of the pictures and send them back right away, possibly the same day you receive them.

They won’t be done until about the 22nd of December. How many big ones do you want? I was thinking of getting one or two large ones and a dozen small ones. They all come in frames.

Love,
Ben

Gigged

2009-11-17T22:47:00.000-05:00

It’s hard to imagine Ben mailing his laundry home from the University of Connecticut, but in another letter he says there isn’t a laundry facility for them on campus. Here the family is telling him not to send it home, but it’s too late.

December 1, 1943
Tuesday Night

Dear Folks,
I received your letter telling me not to send the laundry, just after I had mailed it at the post office. Just have it done as fast as possible. It doesn’t have to be ironed, just wet wash if it doesn’t take as long. But if it takes the same length of time, have them ironed. I finally got back the six pair of socks that was missing from the last laundry, something that I never expected would be done.

Well, they’re finally shipping some fellows out tomorrow, to the Airborne Infantry. They’re only taking one fellow from our room. Don’t worry, it isn’t me. But it probably will be next time. By the time you get this letter, the second monthly exams will probably be all over with. We’re having the first ones tomorrow.

I got gigged last night for having the light on after taps. Imagine gigging anybody for studying late. But it was my own fault. I should have gone down to one of the class rooms downstairs. I only got 2 demerits, which doesn’t mean anything, because you have to have three to be restricted a weekend.

They’re getting awfully strict around here lately. Coats & jackets have to be buttoned in chow line & either taken off or kept buttoned while eating. And your collar has to be kept down at all times. They made us take off all our insignias & we can only wear the A.S.T.P. patch, which made a lot of the fellows mad. And when there is snow, we can’t throw any snowballs at any time on the campus, not even in our free time.

A puppy followed one of the fellows up to our room this afternoon. It’s a cute little thing. We brought some hash from chow & fed it. We don’t know what we’ll do with it, but we’d like to keep it.

Love,
Ben

1931 Ford

2009-11-04T18:23:00.000-05:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the Army Specialized Training Program. Granddaughter, Serena Obrecht, reads this letter on the website.

November 28, 1943
Sunday

Dear Folks,
Just got back from an overnight trip to Hartford. Had a pretty good time. Saw “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and a stage show with The Merry Mars, Gracie Barrie & Orchestra, and Jean Parker. I stayed at the servicemen’s “Y” for 35 cents.

Tell Dad that whenever he has an opportunity to pick up Servicemen, to do so. You don’t know how we cuss some of those guys that pass us up with empty cars.

When I left the University, I got a ride in a 31 Ford. Three in the front seat, three in the rumble seat, and two on each running board. That car was weaving all over the road, but it took us to Manchester where another car picked us up right away. Just missed a ride in a jeep cause there wasn’t room enough.

On the way back from Willamantic, got a ride with one of the Captains up here. Well I’m going to catch an hour’s sleep & then get on with my studying.

Love,
Ben

Until Victory

2009-11-04T18:08:00.002-05:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the Army Specialized Training Program. The website photo from left to right: Mother, Sisters Ruth and Arnette, Brother Bob. Ben is kneeling. Grandson, Greg Kaplow, reads this letter on the website.

November 25, 1925

Dear Folks,
Happy, burp, Thanksgiving! burp.

I’ve just come back from a Thanksgiving meal that was delicious. Turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, etc. It wasn’t as elaborate as I used to get at home, but, it was undoubtedly better than some other soldiers are getting. I guess I do have a lot to be thankful for. In fact, I’m not even going to gripe once during this letter.

The package arrived yesterday and was welcomed by all. The cookies passed inspection with a gold star. And we really made a feast on that salami and bread. One of the fellows wasn’t quite sure about the cookies so he wants you to send another batch to double check, if you get what he means.

I hope you had good weather for Thanksgiving. The weather here is perfect again. It’s warm again and practically all the snow has melted. Say, don’t forget to send me some snapshots of the family. Old ones will do, just anything that I can look at when I feel like it. Guess I’ve run out of news, so

Until Victory,
Ben

Danced

2009-11-01T23:42:00.000-05:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut in the Army Specialized Training Program. He reports to his sister about the happier time he had on Saturday night in Willimantic, CT.

November 21, 1943
Letter to sister, Ruth
Sunday

Dear Ruth,
Well, I’m writing this letter in a different mood than the one I wrote you last weekend. I went to Willimantic yesterday and had a swell time. I saw “Sahara”, which I thought was very good. Then I went to the U.S.O...... and danced! Not very much, I admit, cause there wasn’t much time. Nothing is doing at the U.S.O. before ten o’clock, when the first show lets out, cause practically all the soldiers go to the show. Then they start piling in. It gets more crowded each week.

They had a 5 piece orchestra there for the first time. I met one of my roommates who can’t dance, but he had his girl, so we danced a couple of dances. Then they had a Paul Jones, so I got in a few more dances. Then I met the girlfriend of another roommate who went to Hartford this weekend, and I danced with her.

But I couldn’t dance with any of them like I can with you. I guess I’ll have to learn to lead better. When the dance was over at 12, we went out and had something to eat and drink. Then we took the girls home.

All in all, I had a swell time, probably the best spent Saturday night since I’ve been here. But I can still do a lot of improving on myself.

The weather here is beautiful today. Just like Spring. I bet you wish you were up here instead of being in the dreary weather Rochester is experiencing. I was sorry to hear about the package, but it was probably the mishandling of the packages by the Post Office. When I worked there, I used to see them throw them all over, sometimes missing the basket and hitting the floor.

Love,
Ben

Tension

2009-11-01T23:28:00.000-05:00

Ben is 18 years old. He is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school. Here he tells his folks not to be shocked if he cheats on his upcoming exams because he doesn’t want to be out of the ASTP before he gets his furlough over Christmas. Florence, Ben’s wife, could see how much a furlough meant to him and the other soldiers. And she says, “Within our 53 years together, I never saw Ben cheat or heard him lie. In fact, he was brutally honest.”

November 20, 1943
Storrs, Conn.
Friday Night

Hello Folks,
It’s me again. No special homework to do except reading, but I can do that Sunday so I’m taking it easy tonight. We got brand new desk lamps yesterday, which makes it much easier on our eyes. That twitch I had in my eye has disappeared, so I’m all right physically, the only thing wrong being that I’m not too happy most of the time.

As I think I told Ruth; sometimes I feel like I want to stay here but then I think of all the work, and tension, and the way I’m always tired and I want to be shipped out, but then I don’t know what’s ahead of me, so I’m in a hell of a state of mind. That’s why I’m not too interested in my studies anymore, even though I make a stab at it every night. It doesn’t do to pay any attention in Physics anymore, cause I’m so hopelessly confused, though I passed the exam. I’ll have to cut out sleeping in class, though -- getting too many hotfoots! We give them to everybody that goes to sleep.

And some nights, some bug gets into all of us and we have a riot in the room. Pushing kids down the hall on top of dressers; throwing bags of water on the kids in the room below when they stick their heads out of the window; having battles with coke bottles; and one night, when two of the fellows were in bed, another showers them with the refuse from the wastepaper basket. All such nonsense as that. It helps to lift our spirits.

The other night we had a 15 minute blackout. A fellow from another room came in with his blouse & garrison hat on & told us to keep away from the window & to shut off the radio. In the dark, we thought it was the Sarge. But when we found out______!! Today was just like a Spring day. It was lovely. But from our window we can still see some of the ice left on the lake from a couple of days ago. What changeable weather.

There are a lot of planes always flying around here. Sometimes they circle around & do some stunts for us. Like today, there was a trainer that was circling & banking right outside our window. So low we could see the pilot.

I haven’t received the box as yet, but my mouth is watering for that salami. About the exams --- The only thing I flunked was math, which I expected. If I’m still here for the next exams, I don’t mind telling you that I’m going to cheat as much as I can. Don’t be shocked. It’s no longer a matter of knowing the stuff yourself, it’s so you’ll be able to stay around for the Christmas furlough (Friday night to Sunday night) and for the furlough at the end of the term. After the term is over, I won’t care about flunking out at all.

Some fellows in the Air Corps that flunked out this time, left a few days ago. They’re supposed to read another shipping list next week sometime. Well, that’s about all.

Love,
Ben

Courage

2009-10-17T14:07:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut in the Army Specialized Training Program. He reveals to us the insecurity of an 18 year old who, in this letter to his sister, is bolstering his courage for another day. Here, asking a girl to dance was more difficult for him perhaps than the courageous effort that earned him his Bronze Star.

November 14, 1943
To sister, Ruth.
Saturday Night
12:45

Dear Ruth,
The reason I addressed this letter to you was that the subject of it concerns you more than anyone else. First I want to state that I’m just a coward, one of the worst. I’d always suspected it but now I know it to be true.

I’m writing this letter in bed, because I can’t wait until morning to get it off my mind. I went to Willimantic today, took my pants in to be tailored & went inquiring about radium hands for my watch. Then I met the parents of the fellow that sleeps over me and had supper with them. (chicken, incidentally). I then proceeded to the show.

After the show, I went to the Y -- which is now the U.S.O. It’s one of the most hospitable that I’ve been in. Friendly atmosphere, movies on sports, coffee and cupcakes, pool, and --- dancing. That’s why I’m writing this letter. I almost feel ashamed to tell you about this. I know I can dance, because I danced with you in New York, but I just didn’t have the courage to ask a girl to dance with me. I wanted to; and I would make up my mind that I was going to. Then just at the moment, I couldn’t do it.

I don’t know what it is. Maybe I’m self conscious cause I don’t know so many steps. But anyway I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m just a coward. And I’ve also come to the conclusion, & this is most important, that it won’t happen next Saturday night, not if I can help it. Perhaps I shouldn’t have told you all this, but I had to get it off my mind. Now don’t send me a letter bawling me out.

The weather here has been very changeable. Yesterday it was cold. Today it was warm. Then it tried desperately to snow & now it’s getting cold again. Well, I guess I’ll get some shut eye.

Hopefully waiting for the salami (& maybe some hard rolls)

Love,
Ben

A Plot

2009-10-17T13:43:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school. Student dorms left something to be desired in 1943. Meeting girls on the train must have been fun for this 18 year old!

November 13, 1943
Storrs, CT

Dear Folks,
Just a brief note to let you know that I’m still around, physically at least. The night before last, it really got cold up here. My room is situated on the North side of the building and we get all the benefits of the gale that blows through. Even with all my blankets, I was cold. I’m finally going into Willimantic to have my pants tailored, today. Probably take in a show, too.

We had a swell time on the train coming back. We met a bunch of girls going back to a girl’s academy near Boston. We were hoping Hartford would never come, but it finally did & we had to leave them. They were hatching up some plot for not going to school. They were going to telephone & say they missed the train & as a result, stay in Hartford overnight.

Boy, I’d like to drive over Clarissa Street now. Must be wonderful. Well, it’s time for class ---- so

Love,
Ben

Deep End

2009-10-17T13:32:00.000-04:00

Ben is at A.S.T.P. school He writes about his near death experience in the pool without apparent anger toward the person who pushed him in. Please click Ben’s name at the end of this letter to transfer over to the website page to listen to Florence’s unedited recording about another swimming experience.

University of Connecticut
November 5, 1943
Thursday

Dear Folks,
Well, yesterday I took over my new job as Platoon Leader. As I’ve told you before, we have the Cadet system up here, whereby a Company Commander, First Sergeant, four Platoon Leaders, four Platoon Sergeants, & Squad Leaders are picked from the ranks. I happened to be picked for one of the Platoon Leader jobs. It isn’t much of a job. I’m in charge of two sections (1 platoon) at every formation for two weeks. Mostly it’s just marching them over to mess. I didn’t like the idea before I started, but I don’t mind now. My voice isn’t too adapted to giving commands though, it’s a little high. I might have to take charge of two platoons for the parade on Saturday but I hope not. I’d probably goof off.

Those fellows that I told you shipped out, didn’t do too bad at Fort Bragg. They were all made Cadre & raised to Corporals. Maybe I would have been better off if I’d gone with them. They’re also getting 9 day furloughs. I’m thinking of trying to get in the Air Corps. I’d like to get in the Ground Crew, but that’s closed. So I’d have to be accepted for an Air Cadet & then flunk out so I’d be sent to the Ground Crew.

I’ve heard from a pretty good source that they aren’t going to ship out anybody until after the furlough. So it looks as if I’ll be home on Christmas day & then the following week for my furlough which starts the first of the year. But don’t count on it too heavily. You know how the Army works. When you send the laundry back, tell me how long it takes & possibly what days to send it home. I’ll probably have enough to send out when the other comes back.

I just got back from Physical Training & a close escape with death. We have a new system whereby after about 40 minutes of exercise that takes everything out of you, we either take tumbling, boxing, or swimming, changing around every time, with a free period once a week, when we can do what we want. Well today, we went swimming. As I walked into the pool, one of the fellows, not knowing that I can’t swim, pushed me into the water, in the deep end. I thought it was the end. I held my nose & breath so I wouldn’t swallow water & I tried to kick my way to the top after hitting bottom. But I didn’t rise. Oh, the thoughts that went through my head. I had a dream about three years ago, about that happening to me, and I thought this was it. Finally they pulled me out. I guess that theory of sink or swim didn’t work with me. That’s about all for now.

Love,
Ben

Laundry

2009-10-15T22:21:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the (Army Specialized Training Program.) Can you imagine him sending his laundry home? Families did their share on the home front. Here Ben asks for his brother’s skates, and repeats the request over the next two months. Finally he will show a degree of anger, a rarity for such a gentle person.

November 3, 1943
Storrs, Connecticut
Monday

Dear Folks,
I haven’t received any word from you about the laundry, so I’m sending it on. I hope you can take care of it. I think I can last out until you send it back. They have no facilities for washing anything like they did at Camp Croft, so I hope it doesn’t take too long.

Also, would you please send me Bob’s skates as soon as you can. I don’t know where they are, but you’ll probably find them easy enough. It’ll be something to do on Sunday and possibly for a little while on week nights.
Had a swell time over the weekend in Willi. It’s getting a little colder up here now. Hope it doesn’t get too cold.

Love,
Ben

"Section 8"

2009-10-15T22:10:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the (Army Specialized Training Program.) In 1943, the dormitories at UConn left a lot to be desired and the weather hit record low temperatures in that year.

October 27, 1943
Storrs, Connecticut
Hi Folks,

Just came back from chow and found seven letters waiting for me. Here I’ve been complaining cause I’ve only been getting one or two a day & now I get seven. But I take a look at the post marks and most of them were mailed between the 15th and 20th. What a lousy system they’ve got here. Only one mail call a day. Now to answer a couple of your questions in those letters. Send the Times Union and seeing as you can’t get regular shorts, get the V-type. I’m feeling okay and I haven’t even had a cold since I’ve been here.

Monday night it started to drizzle & the wind started to blow and blow. It seemed to increase by the hour until a gale was blowing & it got cold as hell. By Tuesday it was really raining & colder yet. You could hardly open the outside door, it was blowing so hard. The rain kept up all night but stopped this morning. It isn’t cold now either. I only wore my O.D. shirt today. My field jacket is being repaired by some women’s Church society up in the Community House.

All we are doing is studying & slowly going nuts. We’re bucking for Section 8 (Instant Discharge) & I think we might get it. Last night, the windy night, we were all studying at our desks which are in front of two windows. It was sort of warm because the radiator is right in front of us. One of the two fellows on the left opened the window a little. I don’t know why, but me and another fellow objected, probably just to break the monotony. So he then proceeds to open the window wide, top & bottom. We do the same. Then someone opens the door to create a draft. Then pretty soon, someone goes out & opens the hall window until a gale is blowing through the room. And there we were, sitting in our underwear.

Other fellows going down the hall were complaining about the freezing wind & wondering what the hell was going on, but no one would give in, until one of the other fellows broke down after getting his overcoat & winter hat. (P.S., we turned off the heat, too) Do you think that qualifies us for Section 8. If not there are plenty of other incidents.

Alfonse is still in Georgia. From letters I get from fellows & girls that I graduated with, most of the grads are in the Air Force, Navy or A.A.A.,(Anti Aircraft Artillery) but I haven’t heard of anybody in the Infantry. Tell Madeline I’m sorry I haven’t time to answer her card but it’s sorta impossible. Besides I have seven letters to write to people that have congregated for the past two weeks.

Love,
Ben

Tough Courses

2009-10-11T23:29:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut. We wonder if he had any science courses in high school. In a prior letter he says some draftees with him at A.S.T.P. had already had some college courses. Soon we learn that the A.S.T.P. program will be discontinued throughout the country.

October 16, 1943
Storrs, Connecticut
Friday night
7:15 p.m.

Hi Folks,
There’s not as much to write about up here as there was at Camp Croft. It’s just the same old grind day in and day out. All we do is go to classes and study, just what I’m going to do when I finish this letter.

I don’t mind telling you that most of the stuff is over my head. It wasn’t too bad for the first couple of days, but now it’s completely over my head. If they would give a little explanation before they started in, it wouldn’t be so bad. But they don’t do it that way. And for the fellows who have never had that particular subject, it’s just too bad. And the books aren’t too easy either.

The teachers as a whole aren’t too bad, especially the Math and Chemistry, but our Physics teacher doesn’t know any more than some of the kids. He’s a botany professor who gets all mixed up when doing problems on the board and as a result doesn’t do us any good. Our English teacher piles on homework when she knows the other subjects are more important. And in Military Science, we spent a couple of days rolling packs and pitching tents. Seems silly. We have about an hour to an hour & half of free time a day, which makes it kinda monotonous.

I don’t know what to tell you about the camera. All I can say is that they don’t allow them in regular Army Camps. Marion sent me an Eversharp pen today. A gold-top one. She really shouldn’t have done it cause it must be pretty expensive. Well, I’ve got to get to my studies.

Love,
Ben

Tough Subjects

2009-09-30T20:36:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for the Army Specialized Training Program. The program covers a number of subjects in a very short period of time, a big challenge for a June high school graduate without any background in one or more of the subjects.

October 14, 1943
Storrs, Connecticut

Dear Folks,
I’m only dropping you this “jeep” cause I haven’t got time to write a full length letter. Got to get on my homework. And what homework!! Right now I have issued to me 10 books with two more to come.

Every subject is going to be tough. Especially the math & physics. What we take up in one hour normally takes up from one to two weeks in high school. That trigonometry sure is hard, but I’m getting a little help from some of the fellows. Physics, which is probably the most important subject, has the worst teachers, in the opinion of the last cycle & I confirm it.

Everybody takes for granted that you should know the stuff right away. In the last cycle, out of 400, 150 flunked out. I got a bunch of mail tonight but I don’t see how I’ll ever get it answered, cause they give us homework over the weekend, too. This is all the time I can afford.

Love,
Ben

Take It Easy!

2009-09-30T20:13:00.000-04:00

Ben is at the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school which is the Army Specialized Training Program. Link over to his website to listen to the ASTP song from "Take It Easy" musical about WW11.

October 7, 1943
Storrs, Connecticut
Wednesday

Dear Folks,
(That’s as far as I got before chow sounded). Speaking of chow, we still can’t get over the good food and atmosphere in which we eat. Leather chairs instead of benches, not having to wait for the command “eat” before we pitched in, a bottle of milk every meal, a napkin, jelly & butter, not having to dip our dishes (& hands) in greasy soapy water, getting another napkin after taking our tray to a disposal table. That second napkin astounded us. Oh, this is heaven. You can take that star out of the window, I’m not in the Army, at least not until Monday.

We started out today by getting up at quarter to seven after having a beautiful night’s sleep on a nice thick mattress. Then we had about an hour of close order drill, without rifles. That’s all we did all morning. In the afternoon we had a couple of lectures on history with a couple of international professors. The rest of the time was spent walking around the campus or in the College Store which has a fountain, toilet articles, etc. There’s also a post office connected to it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that there are about 850 friendly women here. We were talking with some of them in the Store & on the Campus. Probably won’t have much time after school starts. After I write some cards notifying people of my address, I’m going out for a while. There are also about 850 A.S.T.P. men here with about 200-300 4-F’s.

How about hunting around for a razor for me. My G.I. is made of plastic & is beginning to stink. Something on the order of Bob’s or anything you can get. These buildings remind me of the University of Rochester. Same type. They’ve got a beautiful library here, too. Well, haven’t got anything else to write about, so

Love,
Ben

Troop Train

2009-09-29T23:12:00.001-04:00

Ben is on a troop train traveling to the University of Connecticut for A.S.T.P. school. He is 18 years old. Click on Troop Train to link over to Ben's website to view a US War Department Movie “Troop Train.” This 1943 film follows the staging of trains for the war effort.

Storrs, Connecticut
October 6, 1943
Tues Noon
Still Aboard the Troop Train

Hi Folks,
Boy, I feel good. Good meals, going up North again, & swell scenery. Gee, it was good to see the same cities & countryside that I saw on my way down to Camp Croft. Got off at Philadelphia to change cars because ours developed a flat wheel.

Boy did that Northern air feel invigorating. It was nice to see black dirt again instead of the red clay of South Carolina and to see clear rivers & streams instead of the muddy ones of the South. And the skyline of New York City is just as beautiful especially at this time of day. Right now we’re traveling through the suburbs of New York.

One thing about traveling now, you know there’s a war on. You see the factories busy at work & trainloads of tanks & big guns. Just entered Greenwich, Connecticut. Should be there in a couple of hours.

Love,
Ben

U. Conn

2009-09-29T22:57:00.000-04:00

Civilians and soldiers help to fund the war effort by buying war bonds. Finally, Ben will be going to the University of Connecticut’s ASTP school.

Camp Croft Envelope
October 2nd, 1943
8:30 AM

Hello Folks:
Take a good long look at the return address of this letter, cause it’s probably the last time you’ll ever see it. From now on, all my mail will be postmarked from Conn. (at least for a coupla weeks). I’m going to the U. Of Conn. which is located, from what I’ve heard, in the jerk town of Storrs, somewhere near Hartford. We’re leaving Monday. I think it’s going to be worse than basic training.

Well the same old mail situation is here again. I’m way behind in my correspondence. I got about 6 letters yesterday, including one from Bob & Madeline. I hope I have time on the train.

I hope you had a nice New Year’s. As I told you on the phone, we came in the night before for the starting services, but we came in too late. But next morning we went to chapel (that’s what they call it in the Army). That service was Conservative. We also went Thursday night & the morning (the whole morning). These services were Orthodox. I don’t whether I’m going tonight or not cause we’ll be pretty busy getting our equipment ready to turn in & having show down inspections (which are a pain in the neck) of all the equipment issued to us.

Got both boxes & they sure disappeared fast. That was O.K. about buying the bond. That’s what I wanted done with it but forgot to write you. The Colonel gave us a talking to about buying bonds & practically everyone did buy one. I got paid today but haven’t decided how much to send home. Probably won’t be able to send home as much when I’m in college. Cost of living will go up with no P.X. Bob’s letters sure are interesting aren’t they. Say fix up the watch until it’s perfect even to new hands. Use my extra money.

Love,
Ben

Furlough

2009-09-26T12:33:00.000-04:00

Link over to the website to see the 1943 musical trailer of “This Is the Army,” a movie Ben mentions here. Two actors in this film became famous politicians - President Ronald Reagan and Senator George Murphy. When Ben mentions the Times, he is referring to the evening Times-Union newspaper in Rochester, NY. In those days, Gannett published morning and evening editions. The morning Democrat and Chronicle survives.

Camp Croft, South Carolina
September 26, 1943
Saturday

Hi Folks,
Well, it’s the same old excuse again. There just isn’t anything new to write about. The same old routine everyday. We’ve been having a lot of physical training & drilling lately. But they’re making it more interesting. Instead of the old common marching formations, we’ve been doing fancy ones. They’re not supposed to teach them to us, but they do to break the monotony. I don’t need the toilet articles bag. I don’t even use the apron type because all our stuff is laid out neatly in our locker (ha ha) & I just grab what I need & run down to the latrine.

I saw “This is the Army” the other night. I thought it was pretty swell. Don’t think about me getting a furlough, cause if I don’t happen to get one, you won’t be disappointed. I doubt myself whether I’ll get one.

Did my subscription run out for the Times? I haven’t gotten the paper for the past week. Well, that’s all I can think of. I hope I have some definite news to tell you in the next letter.

Love,
Ben

Tennessee Maneuvers

2009-09-26T12:10:00.000-04:00

In the Army three months, Ben’s platoon has completed the famed Tennessee Maneuvers. Ben’s first sentence is to the tune of “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” song. There is a link to the Fats Waller version on the website.

Tennessee Maneuvers
Saturday Nite, 25th

By the light...... of the flickering candle..... I sit and write....... to you folks back home. Yes, indeed, it’s your little son once again, from the hills and valleys of Tennessee, writing to you from under a blanket of stars, letting you know that Maneuvers are finally over with. The last problem ended last Thursday. It was a beautiful week and a beautiful problem. We were in Corps reserves, so we were behind the lines, only moving twice, by trucks. What a grand feeling when we knew that the problem was over with.

Friday, we traveled 90 miles East, out of the maneuver area. What a change in the scenery. No more fields torn up by tanks or trucks. No more highways littered with C-ration cans. It was like another State, even with green fields. At present we are bivouacked in a beautiful area, just like the
spot we had the first week of maneuvers. It’s a nice little forest, with soft ground, plenty of fire wood, and a small creek about 100 yards away.

We’re just staying here until Wednesday, and then we’re on our way to Fort Jackson. We’ll probably arrive there by Friday. And, don’t you think it won’t feel wonderful to know that you have a bed, with mattress, springs, and sheets awaiting you every night. And a P.X. where we can get ice cream & pop, movies to go to. It will also mean becoming a Garrison soldier again. Shoes polished, clothes clean, drill, etc. But it’s worth it. Surprisingly enough, I haven’t lost weight like I thought I would. In fact, I don’t think I’ve lost any weight, but I may have lost a little about the waist. Can’t think of anything else,

Love,
Ben

"Camel Caravan"

2009-09-26T11:42:00.000-04:00

In the Army four months, Ben begins using a pipe rather than cigarettes most soldiers smoked. Here he asks for pipe tobacco. The R. J. Reynolds cigarette company provided entertainment for the soldiers with their “Camel Caravan” shows.

Camp Croft, SC
September 22, 1943
Tuesday

Dear Folks,
I don’t know why I’m writing tonite cause I’ve got nothing to write about & no time to write it in cause I’m going to see the Camel Caravan. The weather was still rainy today. They’ve started the furnace fire in the barracks, but we don’t really need it during the day.

The latest rumor is that we’re going to the NorthEast part of the U. S. No confirmation but I hope it’s true. How about sending me that underwear? Also send some mixture 79 pipe tobacco. About two - 30 cent packages. You can only get it in Litz’s Cigar Store. It’s near Liggett’s on Clinton Avenue. That’s all I can think of.

Love,
Ben

Caught Hell

2009-09-24T23:05:00.001-04:00

Commando Kelly was a highly decorated war hero.

Camp Croft, SC
September 17, 1943
Sunday

Dear Folks,
Sorry I didn’t write during the past week, but even when I had the time, I was too busy scratching my chigger bites.

As is the natural procedure with the Y.D. (Yankee Division), we moved out on our own time, leaving Sunday around 10:00 A.M. It was a beautifully hot day. Just the type that is so enjoyable for a drive in the country. So what do we do? We hiked for 4 1/2 miles and then were picked up by trucks which took us the rest of the way. Once there, we had the rest of the day to ourselves, after we dug our slit trench. But that was easy. The ground was sandy & it was possible to dig it with only one hand.

Monday I was on duty. The events that happened that day made me feel lower than I’ve ever felt. It was a hot day, & since everyone had gone out training, I decided to take off my shirt & get a little sun tan. About 15 minutes later, a warrant officer from Regimental comes along inspecting. And did he find things wrong. Me and a runner had our shirts off, another runner was reading a paper, the slit trenches around Message Center weren’t camouflaged too good, & a few other things.

Then things began to pop. This fellow turned in his report to the Regimental Executive Officer, who promptly called up my Battalion Commanding Officer & bawled him out. The Colonel then came down to Message Center & gave me hell. Next my own Company Commander bawled me out. Then my platoon leader came down & wanted to know what the trouble was. Well you can imagine how I felt after all that. I thought I’d be thrown out of Message Center in a minute, but I’m still in, until something else happens.

Tuesday, I went thru the Woods Combat Course. It’s just what the name implies, advancing thru the woods & firing at silhouette targets. In the afternoon I went thru the Nazi Village Fighting. It’s similar to the one we had at Camp Croft. Rushing & taking over a small town. Wednesday I fired the Anti-tank grenade. Wow, what a kick that has. Then I fired the bazooka. What a difference. It’s more effective and no kick at all.

Thursday, we threw some live grenades. I slept the rest of the day cause I worked the nite before. The 1st Sergeant made me go out & throw grenades, but after that I hid on him so he couldn’t make me go on any other courses.

Friday, we heard Commando Kelly & that Indian Lieutenant who threw rocks in place of grenades. Kelly is alright. He speaks our language & gave us a lot of interesting facts. That nite, those of us who had missed the 25 mile hike, marched back to camp. It was a cool nite, thank God. We arrived in camp at 0700, after marching for eight hours. That about finishes up everything I have to say. I have plenty of letters to answer, so....

Love,
Ben

The Party

2009-09-24T22:48:00.003-04:00

The Battalion dinner, enjoyed by all, was a great success.

Camp Croft, SC
September 16, 1943
Wednesday

Hello Folks,
Received your package yesterday and, as usual was very glad to get it, especially the plums.

Yesterday morning was spent on the machine gun range. Although I didn’t make expert, I did make lst class gunner, which is next highest. I’m not offering this as an excuse, but it was pretty hard to shoot the machine gun accurately, especially with the worn out guns that we have here. They’ve got too much play in them (where it’s attached to the tripod) & they jump all over. We were shooting at a 1000 inch range which isn’t far, at a square about 1 1/2” x 1 1/2”. The target looked like this. __________ I could have made expert, with the aid of a 30 cal. pencil, but after thinking it over, I thought that two different medals would look better than just one, so.....

I had to interrupt this letter to go to the start of our beer party, which every company has before the end of the cycle. We just had the meal & was it delicious. They’re clearing the tables now & then we’ll go back for the fun. If I’m able, I’ll write about it later.

Tell Dad to give my regards to everyone in N.Y. , when he gets there. I haven’t anything definite as to what we’re going to do for the Jewish holiday. We talked with the head chaplain & he said he’d let us know. If I go to town this weekend, I’ll try to see if I can get some cards. If I can’t I’ll let you know so you can send me some & also a list of people I should send them to. (Buffalo, N.Y. & all points).

Just got back from the party. Had a helluva lot of fun. Singing, drinking, impersonations, jokes, etc. Our officers were there & they joined in the fun. It was just like in school when you impersonate your teachers. They laughed just as hard. Well, that’s about all,

Love,
Ben

35th Infantry

2009-09-24T22:35:00.001-04:00

COMPANY “B”, 35th INFANTRY TRAINING BATTALION - 15TH CYCLE
ANNIVERSARY DINNER

Camp Croft, SC
September 15, 1943

This is not a letter. It is a recognition of the men who trained with Ben at Camp Croft. Click on Ben’s name below to view the eight pages of names of soldiers in Company “B.”   Their names are listed at a banquet dinner which is held at the end of every training cycle.   In his September 16th letter, he describes the good time had by all.

The 15th Cycle anniversary pages are placed here so that viewers can read the names of those who attended.   Names of soldiers might be recognized by some family members. Our brave soldiers not knowing what will come next.

William R. Zander, on the list, was also from Rochester. Ben mentions meeting him later in Europe.

Ben

Rolled Packs

2009-09-24T22:07:00.001-04:00

Basic training continues. Ben compliments Arnette, his sister, on her new position in the sorority. Life goes on back home.

Camp Croft, SC
September 14, 1943
Monday

Hi Folks,
Had another easy day today, even if I did get up at 3:45. That was another example of the Army’s efficiency. All we did was stand & sit & wait for a few hours before we fired. In fact, I think it was around nine o’clock. A classic example of the inefficiency though is our packs. We’re always rolling them one way and then the order will come thru to roll them a different way. That’s exactly what happened this weekend, only we must have rolled them about five different times. First a heavy field pack, then a light pack, then heavy & finally the combat pack (raincoat only.)

We only fired for practice this morning and boy, I’ll need plenty of practice if I want to shoot accurately. That little gun jumps all over the place. After we fired a few times, we came back, ate and waited around the barracks for a couple of hours for the doctor who gives us a periodic physical checkup. Then we went out for an hour and a half of instruction in the assembling & disassembling of the B.A.R (Browning Automatic Rifle) which we’re taking up next.

Then most of us had a little grass detail for about 1/2 hour. Before I forget, send me a couple of pairs of underwear about size 32. I think I can squeeze into them now. Also couple of T-shirts. Some of mine didn’t come back from the laundry & I don’t know how long it’ll be before I get them back. Also send some adhesive tape & Tootsie Rolls.

I see where Arnette was elected Corresponding Secretary. What was she last year, Publicity? Well, anyhow, I know the girls can depend on her to do a good job. That’s all for now.
Love,
Ben

15 Mile Hike

2009-09-24T21:49:00.002-04:00

Everybody’s preparing for a change in the weather after a very hot South Carolina summer.

Camp Croft, SC
September 13, 1943
Sunday

Hi Folks,
How’s the weather in Rochester? It’s cold down here, at least in the morning and at nite. Everybody’s wearing their winter underwear at night & this morning, just for the heck of it, we were trying on our winter clothes. My winter flannels are a bit small, but with more than a month to go before I start wearing them, I might possibly lose some weight. At least I should.

Last Friday nite we went on a 15 mile hike. Boy, I didn’t think my feet would ever get accustomed to hiking but although they were tired, they didn’t hurt as much as the 6 mile hike when I was walking on the side of my feet. Tomorrow, we go on the machine gun range. They’ve got the same racket about scores too. It’s just to please our Battalion Commander.

How about sending me about 6 buttons, black or brown, about this size (Ben draws the size). Please send them right away in a letter. Also send a box of Jeep notes. Well, I can’t think of anything else, so _ _ _ _ _ _.
Love,
Ben

Ben's ETO

2009-09-15T16:27:00.002-04:00

Ben's ETO will be posted in this blog several times during his training as a reminder to us of what his future holds.

Tracer Ammunition

2009-09-09T13:22:00.000-04:00

Ben gives a very good description of tactical problems and about advancing to a larger obstacle training course.

September 11, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Thursday

Hi Folks,
Seeing as I haven’t anything else to do, I might as well drop you a line, just to keep you informed on what I’ve been doing, etc. Yesterday morning we ran a different obstacle course which is twice as good as the little one that we have been running. It is long & has more obstacles, but it isn’t as tough as the little short one. Here’s how it goes:

First we jump a 1 1/2 foot hurdle, broad jump a water-filled ditch, climb an 8 foot wall, but with the aid of a rope & a block of wood to put a foot on halfway up the wall, which makes it twice as easy as the short wall. Then we jump another small hurdle, cross a ladder over a water-filled ditch, swing on a rope across another water-filled ditch, cross a log over another ditch, run up a hill, step thru some crisscrossed wire, climb up a wall made of ladders, climb down the other side, crawl thru a tile pipe, and we’re thru. Of course between these obstacles we have to run short distances So you see, the course itself isn’t hard, it’s just a little exhausting. But I wanted to do it more than we did, on account of my stomach, which I can’t seem to lose.

Then we spent the afternoon and evening out in the field on some very interesting tactical problems. Did some shooting at siloette (all right, I know it’s wrong ) targets. I couldn’t start to explain the tactics. All about flanking movements, security men, mop-up men, & etc.

At night we ran a 20 minute problem, attacking an enemy machine gun nest. We crawled under some barbed wire (only about 3 ft. & very loose, fixed bayonets & attacked. They were firing tracer ammunition over our heads (when we were standing). You never saw a sight like that. Very pretty red color. I was leaning on both elbows watching it, it was so absorbing. After we finished the problem, we watched another platoon go thru it. We were right by the machine gun, the same kind that we’re working with now. What a beautiful picture that would have made. It was almost like the movies. The prettiest red was spurting from the muzzle, this turned into a light green streak which turned into a red streak which went winging its way thru the darkness. Today we worked some more on the machine gun, learning to elevate & transverse it. We also shot an anti-tank grenade.

Friday.........Didn’t have time to finish yesterday, so I’m taking time on my lunch hour. We were working on the machine gun again this morning & went over that obstacle course again.

No Arnette, I’m not kidding about the easy life. We have 5 men behind a machine gun, all sitting or lying down. Only one kid can work at a time & all he has to do is get in position behind the gun, & turn the sighting knobs for about 5 minutes. And then you go to the end of the line. See.............

I got a card from Bob today but he told me the same thing that he wrote in the letter. Say, how’s the weather up in Rochester? Wednesday was a cloudless day, for which we were thankful. Thursday, the sun was out however & today it was cold in the morning. Even though it was chilly, we didn’t squawk cause we’d rather have that than the sun.

So long for now,
Ben

Machine Gun

2009-09-09T13:01:00.001-04:00

Ben is adjusting to Army life. He finds the daily practical work with weapons more interesting than the preliminary study.

September 7th, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Hi Folks,

Nothing much happening lately, although it isn’t boring in the least. Sunday I went to town and had a steak dinner. Then I came back to camp and saw Bob Hope in “Let’s Face It.” It’s just as funny as his other pictures.

Yesterday morning we started studying the light machine gun. Now, there is a neat little weapon. Then half the company went out to the Mortar Range & shot some mortars. After we finished, the rest of the company came out & we marched back to camp. They took one squad of our platoon for K.P. to relieve the regular K.P.’s. They couldn’t very well do anything with 3/4 of a platoon, so they told us to go in the barracks. It was about 2:00 & we didn’t know what to make of it. This had never happened before to us. We kept very quiet in hopes that they would forget us. They probably did because we didn’t have to fall out again. Boy, it felt swell to get off in the middle of the afternoon.

Today we spent the whole day on the machine gun. Setting it up & taking it down. Trying to see how fast we can do. It’s very interesting work, & we have speed trials in it. Tomorrow I think we go on an attack problem, but I’m not sure. I’ll write you more about it.

As I’ve told you before, this practical work is 100 times more interesting than the preliminary studying. We don’t worry about the problems, we just try to compete with one another.

What kind of a position is it that Bob was interviewed for? Send me more details. I got a letter from Uncle Leo and he seems to think that Bob is in the Army. I’m going to write him tonite & tell him all about it, as much as I know. I forgot to mention in my other letter that I received the box Saturday & that the fruit was in excellent condition. I bought a pair of “ropies” at the P.X. so don’t bother sending any. My pen’s been acting up lately, too, so I think I’ll buy a Shaeffers for about $8.75 at the P.X. I had $10 left over from last months pay but the P.X. is out of money order blanks so I’m going to take a chance & send it in this letter. Notify me when you get it. That’s about all,

Love,
Ben

Automatic Rifles

2009-09-07T22:46:00.000-04:00

B.A.R.’s are Browning Automatic Rifles. The training is getting more and more serious. Here soldiers learn how to infiltrate enemy lines.

September 5, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Sunday

Hi Folks,

Boy, I can just imagine the excitement Tuesday when Bob was getting ready to leave. I can hardly wait to hear what’s going to happen. I guess Ruth will have to learn to drive again, or has she already? Well, you won’t have to eat spaghetti every nite now. Speaking of food, yesterday our squad was table waiters. And did we have a delicious meal. Everything was cooked perfectly & we had jello & fruit cocktail mixed. And being table waiters we got all we wanted. We get plenty of butter here at camp, but if he finds some kids wasting it, he holds out on it for a meal or two.

Yesterday, we had a Regimental Parade. There wasn’t much to it. We marched in Company formation instead of by Platoon. There were about 4,000 men in all. We just marched up to the field, stood at attention & Parade Rest (which is no rest, but another form of attention) while they marched with the colors & a band played. Then we did a few Manual of Arms & then passed in review. Last week, we had a Battalion Parade with about 1,000 men.

Yes, I’m still keeping up my correspondence with Bill, & he has got a gal. His last letter was all about her. Her nickname is Cherry, she’s beautiful & she’s part Indian. About my social life, I haven’t any. The Jewish U.S.O. never holds any dances & I haven’t been to town on Saturday nite recently. I’m going to town today for a steak dinner. Haven’t had one in a long time. I’m also going to take in Bob Hope’s picture, I forgot the name.

Gee, I almost forgot to tell you what we did Friday nite. We infiltrated thru the enemy lines. It was another tactical problem. The enemy was simulating machine guns (with flashlights) and B.A.R.’s (with red flashlights) & also used flares. It took us about an hour & half. It was a very practical problem & very interesting. We have been taught all this stuff and now we are using it. Well this is about all for now.

Love,
Ben

Barracks Orderly

2009-09-07T22:36:00.000-04:00

Ben has been in the Army a little more than two months. His father asks questions about a farm because Ben’s sister, Arnette, is marrying a farmer. Bob is his brother who will be working at a new job.

September 4, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina

Howdy Folks,
Well, things seem to be O.K. for the Kaplow family. Everyone has had a vacation. Bob is getting a good job (I hope) and this week is one of the easiest I’ve had.

In answer to Dad’s question, as of now, I think the Army is better than a farm. I was a little undecided at first, but right now it isn’t bad at all. Can you sleep until 10 in the morning on a farm, like we did Thursday morning? No sir, the cows won’t wait. Of course we had a little hike the night before, but it wasn’t bad at all.

Thursday I was B. O. (Barracks Orderly) It’s an easy job. Just have to sweep & keep the water hot. I had it scalding hot. Today was another easy day. Had a lot of movies & other stuff. The only trouble with this easy stuff is that there isn’t anything to write about. Please excuse me for not writing before. It was entirely my fault. I was just too lazy.

There’s only about 4 more weeks of training & that makes us happy too. Maybe after I get to college I’ll change my ideas about the farm.

Well, so long for now,
Ben

Combat Course

2009-09-07T22:20:00.000-04:00

Ben really appreciates the (P.X.) Post Exchange, a store on the base for soldiers. Among other items he could buy a copy of “Life” magazine which was a very popular magazine filled with photos of the world. Here he refers to his sister, Ruth, and his brother, Bob, who both work in the family deli store.

September 2, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Thursday

Hello Folks,
Well the seventh week is almost over and time passes so quickly we hardly realize we’ve been here almost two months. It doesn’t seem so long ago that we had our first hike & were so confused by all the commands. We’re pretty used to all that now. It’s just monotonous.

Still been shooting this week. Tuesday it was stationary targets at ranges that we would have to guess at & then set our sights accordingly. Wednesday was horizontal, climbing, diving, & overhead moving targets. They’re hard as hell to hit. Today we went thru a combat course. That is walking along a path & targets would spring up unexpectedly & we’d shoot in a split second. Tomorrow night is a little hike & practice in setting up tents in the dark. That ought to be fun.

The weather here has been decidedly different the past two days. In fact, it’s actually been cold in the morning. Even had to sleep under the covers. Something I haven’t done in a long time. But we all loved it. Reminds us of the weather up North.

Had K.P. yesterday, again. From 5 A.M. until 9:25 P.M. I wish I hadn’t had it, not that the work was hard, cause it wasn’t, but because I eat too much. And I was feeling so good because I lost some weight during range week. All day long, we were eating strawberry preserve sandwiches. (You may not think it’s much, but it’s a treat to us). We also had some cantaloupes that the cook gave us. Besides the ones that we hooked, also hooked a cucumber. Tasted swell, even without salt. And being on K.P. we eat first & naturally can have all we want, so we take advantage of the opportunity. Had macaroni & cheese for supper. Was very good but not half as good as what Mom makes. I saved that melon until tonite & went over to the Beer Garden & ate it a la carte. Yum, Yum.

Say, you can include “Life” in the packages because I don’t always find time to get over to the P.X. before they’re sold out. But don’t send it until you’re all thru with it, cause I don’t want it for the current news, but just for some interesting picture stories. I just finished tonite catching up on the newspapers.

So the city waits until I get into the Army before they repair Plymouth Ave. Dad probably remembers how I used to go home by a different route rather than ride on that noisy street. Say, Ruth, are you driving yet? You said you were going to learn again. What with the pleasure ban lifted, you ought to get plenty of driving in. Tell Dad that if he doesn’t need the car, too bad, to just ship it down here. I’ll take care of the rest. Say, what’s happening with Bob? Is he going to wait until Ruth takes her vacation or what?

Speaking of vacations. I’m sure that both Mom & Dad hated to get back to the ?XX?lT blankety blank store after spending such a swell time at Camp Yungvelt. Well, I’m writing this letter on the steps because lights are out, but before I close, I want to wish Mom & Dad a very happy wedding anniversary. And I know there will be many more to come. Even though you’ve had your little quarrels, you’ve stuck together for 28 years. Well, I guess that’s all for tonite.

Love,
Ben

A.S.T.P.

2009-09-07T14:53:00.012-04:00

A.S.T.P. = Army Specialized Training Program - Sounds like Ben is thrilled and apprehensive at the same time.

August 31, 1934

Postcard from Camp Croft
Monday
FLASH!!!!!
Have been temporarily accepted in A.S.T.P.
Subjects will be Math, Physics, Chem., English, History, Geography.
-------------GULP--------------------BEN

Village Fighting

2009-09-07T14:46:00.000-04:00

In this letter, Ben writes: “ Someday this week the whole company is going swimming as part of the training.” This innocent statement shows his willingness, but in his November 5, 1943 letter, Ben talks about “a close escape from death.” Swimming was not for him.

August 30, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Monday

Hi Folks
Just a short line tonite, just to let you know this Army life isn’t too tough for me. In fact I think all our tough stuff is over with. We were talking with the Chaplain on the last hike (yep, he marched along, too) & he said the reason we had our village fighting & infiltration in our 8th week instead of our 11th week was just to clear the required training in case the A.S.T.P. (Army Specialized Training Program) called the fellows to college early. That is no guarantee that everyone will go to college or that the cycle will be shorter. He said it would be a 17 week cycle while our Sarge & Lieutenant said it was a 13 week. I should have some more news on the A.S.T.P. this week, but with those limited choices, I don’t know where I stand.

This week we’re taking up mortars. All we did all day was practice setting it up & taking it down & using the sight. And that reminds me. Guess who made the sight. B.&L. (Bausch & Lomb) of good old Rochester & I let everybody know it. What a feeling to know that you’re using something made in your own city. We had a team of 5 guys & 2 guys were working at a time. Very, very, tough time. We had to lay on our stomachs practically all the time. Must have fallen asleep 15-20 times. So you can see how tough it was. It was probably one of the easiest days we’ve had.

Someday this week the whole company is going swimming as part of the training. We’re having it pretty easy lately. Getting more rest periods. We have a lot of fun at Camp. Lot of little incidents that keep us amused. Like today. We marched about 1/4 mile from our drill area for some practical work in map reading. Find out we forgot to bring compasses. So we spent the whole hour telling jokes.

Last nite we set up an obstacle course in the barracks after lites out. We pushed some foot lockers out in the aisle & put crackers in the beds of the fellows that weren’t in yet. It was funny as he(ll) when they bumped into them all the way down the aisle. One kid fell flat on his puss, & what a noise those lockers make. Like a cannon. We were laughing till the beds nearly fell down.

Excuse the hurried writing but I want to make the U.S.O. show at the Amphitheater’s Hollywood Gaieties with girls - girls - girls & girls. Well, goodbye for now.

Love,
Ben

Troop Trail

2009-09-07T14:30:00.001-04:00

“Ropies” were sandals that could be worn into the shower. “Life” magazine was a very popular magazine filled with photos of the day from all over the world.

August 30, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Sunday

Hi Folks,
I received the package yesterday & all the fruit was in excellent condition. You really don’t have to send so many kinds every week. It must cost quite a lot. But always send oranges. I always take them on the hikes & sometimes in the afternoons. I’d kinda like some plums again, so....You can also send me some “Jeep Notes” & a pair of “ropies sandals.”

Don’t get the idea from the pictures that I’m just a scarecrow, cause I’m not. I’ve still got my stomach. Why, I don’t know. It probably was the photography. They just sit you down and - snap - snap. Took about 2 seconds. All those pictures cost $4. But don’t worry about the money angle. I’ve still got some left, with pay day this Tuesday. A lot of the guys are broke though because they visit all the bars on Saturday nite and get stinko. I’m probably not normal, but I don’t care. I had a sip of beer yesterday. That’s all I could drink. The occasion was this Rochester fellow’s birthday, yesterday. He had cake, candy, peanuts, etc. from home. We held it over at the Beer Garden, which is just like one of those stands in South Park with tables & benches.

Friday nite we had a so-called cross country hike. The rumors were flying fast & thick that it was going to be from 7 P.M till 3 A.M. & all that. But it turned out to be only 3 hours & we only traveled the two hours of daylight by cross country. The other hour was spent on the Troop Trail. We went rather slow & it was a cool night, so it wasn’t bad at all. I wasn’t even tired. And our rolls & coffee were waiting for us. This past week we’ve been having patrol & scout work. That is, advancing across the countryside. An example of it is in this week’s “Life” (I’ve already seen it so you don’t have to send it) where they are advancing on Tronia. Well I’ve got to write some more letters, so.....

Love,
Ben

Air Raid Drill

2009-09-06T23:56:00.001-04:00

Ben is 18 years old. He has been in basic training at Camp Croft, South Carolina for two months.

August 26, 1943
Wednesday

Dear Folks,
Sorry that there was a two day lapse between letters but a card is just as hard to dash off as a letter. I wrote a card last nite but forgot to mail it this morning. Here’s the news of the week. Monday nite we had a 10 mile hike. We were fortunate in having good roads all the way. We weren’t physically tired, just our feet. And when we got back, there were rolls and coffee waiting for us. And after a refreshing shower, the hike didn’t seem so bad after all.

Tuesday wasn’t so bad. We got up at 6:45 instead of 5:15. It was a rest after the hike. Had easy work all day. We all went to bed at 9:30 in preparation for today. I was sleeping peacefully when activity around me woke me up. Everybody was getting dressed & putting on their packs. I couldn’t figure out why everybody was putting on their packs before breakfast. Then I heard that it was an air raid & it was only 11:00. I jumped out of bed & started fumbling for my clothes. It was pitch black outside & I couldn’t see anything. I got my pants but couldn’t find my shirt. I was groping all over, on the floor, on the window sill, but I couldn’t find it. Then the guy next to me tells me that it was hanging from the ventilator in the aisle.

During all this time everybody was laughing & joking because it was so dark & they had difficulty in finding anything. I was just about dressed when some guys down the other end of the room wakes up & wants to know what the hell we’re doing. Perhaps it doesn’t sound funny to you but it came at just the rite psychological moment. We all burst out laughing & couldn’t stop. I then go to the rifle rack, grope for my gun, and am just ready to start down the stairs when the order comes to sit tight on our foot lockers. We’re all wondering what’s up & hope we don’t have to run all the
way over to our area thru the rain when the street lites go on. It all happened in the space of 10 minutes & it was really funny.

They told us this morning that today would be our most exhausting day at Camp Croft. At times it was & at other times it wasn’t. Never did so much double-timing or had so many rest periods as I did today. We marched out near the range & had the following. The whole company ran a 500 yard obstacle course which consisted of going under barbed wire twice & the rest running over logs, across ditches, & up & down a hill.

Then we had demonstrations on demolition & high explosives, mines, anti-tank grenades, dynamite T.N.T., etc. Then we had the village fighting that you’ve probably heard about before. But it was nothing compared to what I thought it would be. It was very safe. You didn’t fire until a non-com told you to. It was fun taking the building & everything. I was as assistant machine gunner, but I didn’t fire today, not even my rifle, for which I am glad because I didn’t have to clean it as thoroughly. They had booby traps set all over the place but they were controlled so they were very safe. They also had dynamite & T.N.T. exploding around all day, just to get us used to the noise.

Later, we each threw a hand grenade, finally, after hours of practice on the drill field. Then we went on the infiltration course, the course that we had heard so much about. You know, crawling under barbed wire with machine gun bullets whizzing over our heads & mines exploding around us. Well there was nothing to lit. The bullets were 30 inches over our head & in the middle was a 15 inch rise which gave us about 5 inches clearance. While on the straight ground it was about 20 inches. It wasn’t all barbed wire, half of it was open space. After we once started crawling, we didn’t even pay any attention to the bullets. Half the time we were so absorbed in getting thru the barbed wire, that we wouldn’t ever hear them. They only had one mine explode & that was controlled.

As on all the things we do in the Army, this was overplayed. It certainly wasn’t dangerous in the least. We were just exhausted and dirty. But there was a small creek near there where we washed ourselves for a half hour. Right after we finished the course, we looked like & felt like a soldier that had been on Guadalcanal. Probably the only time during our training that that will happen at the same time. Had a swell meal out there. Roast beef, mashed potatoes, fresh tomatoes, beets, bread & butter, apple & ice water. Had plenty of it too, and I had an orange, too. Always take one along in my pack.

I bet Mom is glad the company left so soon, especially since it was time for Bob & Ruth’s vacation. Hope your sunburn is better, but bet you’re just as tired. Where are they going on their vacation? Well I’ve got to close again.

Love,
Ben

Slit Trench

2009-09-06T23:38:00.001-04:00

"A tank ran over a foxhole I was in."

August 23, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Sunday

Dear Folks,
Well, here it is Sunday again, and being that I haven’t written anybody for the past two weeks, except home, I’ll have to write a few this afternoon and then go see “So Proudly We Hail.” I saw “The Human Comedy” last night. Good acting, but I thought it was far too sad.

Friday, I had a new experience happen to me. A tank ran over a fox hole I was in. All part of a course in Defense against mechanized attack. How to destroy a tank and all that. We’ve also been doing quite a lot on Techniques of Fire. That is the way a squad of men fire on an enemy position. Getting into concealed position & understanding the fire orders. Just like those landscape targets I told you about, only using the real countryside.

Friday nite we went on a practice bivouac. We went off in a dense woods & pitched our tents while it was just growing dark. Then we had to dig a slit trench 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep, 6 feet long. Nobody dug it that deep however because it was so dark we couldn't even see the dirt where we were digging (no moon) & because there were big roots running all the way thru the earth. It was really funny. Everybody was falling & stumbling over the holes & bumping into the trees. And when we got ready to move out we had to hold on to each others pack until we reached the Troop Trail. Then, marching home in the dark on that trail was really a scream.

Next week we’re going to have village fighting. In preparation for it, we practiced on our own Battalion barracks. The Battalion is arranged like this. I’ll make a better picture. Well anyway half the company took C & D & the other half took A & B. We crawled under the barracks, threw grenades (firecrackers in potatoes) & rushed the building. There were some stationed in the barracks representing the enemy. They blockaded the doors & things like that.

Got your box this noon & was I glad to see those plums. They were out of this world. Don’t know what I need for next week except fruit, bottle of glue & couple of packages of gum. I got a box from Madeline yesterday. Toll House cookies, candy bars & potato chips. Those cookies were very good.

About Dave’s letter. I can’t imagine what the surprise could be. I guess you’ll just have to wait. I bet Mom was glad to see the company drop in on her. If they’re still there when you receive this letter, give them my best. Well, so long for now,

Love,
Ben

Ben's Photo

2009-09-06T23:16:00.000-04:00

Ben is 18 years old. Click over to his web site to see his photo.

August 22, 1943
USO postcard from Camp Croft
Saturday

Dear Folks,
Well, I finally sent you come pictures at last. I don’t like them in the least. In fact I think they stink, but you were yelling bloody murder for some, so take the consequences. I’m in town tonite, so I don’t want to waste any time. I’ll probably write you a letter tomorrow, so until then.

Love,
Ben

Human Body

2009-09-06T23:07:00.000-04:00

Ben requests a dictionary to use when he writes his letters. To read a funny story about "Targets Up" click on Ben's sign-off to transfer to the link on his web site.

August 17, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Monday

Dear Folks,
Well, it seems as if I was wrong about range week being all over. Today we went to a range somewhat nearer our barracks than the other range, where we shot the .22 rifle. In the morning we shot at landscape targets. That is, pictures of the countryside painted on the target frames We would all line up & count off. Then we proceeded as we would do in actual battle.

The squad leaders give the order - 350 yards - right front - Enemy machine gun nest at base of third telephone pole from right of barn - Commence firing - or it could be an enemy skirmish line between lone pine on right of barn to 2nd telephone pole. It’s just practice in everybody concentrating on one point & also, in the case of the skirmish line, everybody firing in his own particular section so that the entire enemy line is covered & not just in spots. In the afternoon we fired at targets pulled along above the ground. That was to learn to take leads.

Say, how about sending me a small size dictionary, not that I would ever use it when writing home, knowing that you don’t care, but I might use it when writing other letters.

Well to get back to more range. Tomorrow, we’re going to a range farther than the one we were on last week & have transition fire, shooting at targets resembling the Human Body. Still rumors flying around about basic coming to an end because most of the non-coms are shipping out & some from Panama are replacing them. Well, I’ve got to go sign the pay roll.

Love,
Ben

Target Scores

2009-09-06T22:55:00.000-04:00

Ben mentions working in the “pits.” Standing in pits about six feet deep, the worker sets up targets shaped like a man for soldiers to aim at in target practice.

August 10, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Monday nite
(In the Latrine)

Dear Folks,
Well, the first day on the range wasn’t bad at all, except for the 50 minute hike to & from, over the worst trail you ever laid your eyes on. Hilly, rutted, & strewn with stones. The sun wasn’t out at all in the morning for which I was mighty thankful because I fired in the morning. It was only practice fire but I made a pretty good score. Here’s the score picture --

    Prone position        54 points    out of sixty
    Sitting        “           36     “         out of forty
    Squatting   “           35     “         out of forty
    Kneeling     “          37     “         out of forty
    Standing     “          34     “         out of forty

(most unsteady position & was only luck that I got 3 bulls eyes in this. This was above the average of the other fellows in this position. But I’m not gloating over this score because it was just practice. I’m worried about the rapid fire but hope for the best.

Your package was waiting for me when we arrived back tonite. Those pears sure were delicious. I’m going to take an orange & 2 pears with me on the range tomorrow to eat with my lunch. The apples didn’t stand up too well, though. Well I’ve got to get to sleep as we’re getting up at 3:30. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I was in the pits in the afternoon. Nice & cool there & wasn’t hard work either. I’m going to be in the pits tomorrow morning too & shoot in the afternoon.

Love
Ben

Latrine Rumors

2009-09-06T22:41:00.001-04:00

It’s not unusual for soldiers to hear “Latrine Rumors.” Yankee Division got their news through the “latrine grapevine,” and not surprisingly, the 26th Infantry Division, 104 Infantry's weekly newspaper in Europe was called “Grapevine.”

August 9, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Postcard Sunday

Dear Folks,
I’m taking it easy this weekend, resting up for the coming week. By now, Mom & Dad must be gone. Hope it’s not too busy in the store, for your sake.

I’m not sure, but I believe that our course is going to be lengthened to 17 weeks. It may be just a “latrine rumor” for our Battalion, but I know that one Battalion has had its cycle lengthened. In case I might forget, send a box of Brillo soap pads in next box.

Love,
Ben

Range Week

2009-09-06T15:45:00.000-04:00

It’s easy to visualize how soldiers learn the various techniques of shooting accurately, as Ben describes in this letter. Click Ben’s name at the end of this letter to get to his website to view a “1943 Army Rifle Training Movie” revealing the Army’s serious determination to have a well-trained force.

August 8, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina

Dear Folks,
Well range week is all through, and all and all, it wasn’t too bad. The shooting itself was really fun, especially the rapid firing. What a nice feeling, just lying there and squeezing off the shots till your clip is empty. We also shot slow fire, shooting at will, and taking our time. But in the rapid fire, we would be standing & at a given signal, all the targets would go up together. Then we would drop into our position, get the proper sight picture & commence firing. There’s really more to shooting than just squeezing the trigger. We have a regular formula to figure out for the elevation & windage

(Wind Velocity x Range   = clicks to turn on Knob).
         10

Once you get that figured out, you can put your shots into the bulls-eye practically every time, providing your position is correct in every little detail. Remember how I used to hate getting in those uncomfortable positions (& I do mean they were uncomfortable) but now I realize that they mean a lot because after you get used to them, they are the most steady. The pits was where we had to keep on our toes. When a bullet goes thru your target it makes a noise like a small firecracker. We have to yank it down, mark it, patch up the previous hole, run it up, & disk it. It’s not hard work, just have to keep alert. And if we weren’t, we would have to double time for about 10 minutes in the sun. And if you had your pack & rifle in the pits with you, you had to wear them while you double timed. I had to double time once, without the pack, & I didn’t have to button up my shirt because I ripped the button out.

Saturday, we fired the Carbine. Boy is it light, you hardly know you’re carrying it. That’s why all the officers carry them instead of the Garand. It’s used mostly for close work because it’s not very accurate over 200 yards. It has a magazine that holds 15 shots.

I probably told you about the Troop Trail. Well, we didn’t have to go home by it since Wednesday. No, it wasn’t for our benefit. It rained like hell Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday at about 4 every afternoon. So we went home by the highway. On no, not on the concrete, but on the muddy shoulder. Walk two steps & slide back one. Boy this Carolina mud. Saturday, they had a band greet us as we entered the gate. Boy, that music lifted us right up. We stopped dragging our feet & started strutting.

When you hear anybody squawking about a 10 hour day, tell them we were on a 15 hour day, plus 2 hours for cleaning the x8?!!%*/* (blankety blank) rifle. You have to keep it free from rust, which seems to congregate in all the dark corners. We have to keep the bore from getting pitted, because if we don’t we have to pay for it. Boy, do we get mad, when after spending all nite on it, the Sarge or Lieutenant finds some rust on it. On the range, the Commanding Officer was going around & putting down names in his little black book. This morning he came around & inspected every rifle in the whole company. There’s going to be inspection for the next three days too, because after firing, we have to keep using bore cleaner on it so it won’t get pitted.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I made Expert (the highest), & I made it honestly. I say that because there was a lot of cheating, not that we wanted it, but because the C.O. wanted everybody an expert (he’s bucking for a Captaincy), so they would jack up the scores, but I can honestly say, they didn’t jack up mine. Also one afternoon, there was cheating in the pits. The officer in charge wouldn't allow any misses, two’s or three’s, just 4’s & bulls eyes. But after a while they had to stop that because the Colonel was paying out too much money ($1) for 9 bulls eyes out of 9 shots. But I didn’t fire that afternoon so I know that I didn’t get my Expert dishonestly. Most of the fellows didn’t like that business because we want to know just what we
can shoot, not what the officers want us to. We had a $60 bet on with the next platoon but there was nothing else to do but call it off. Well you’re probably tired of hearing about the range, so on with the news.

Yes, Ruthie deary, I did write Mom & Dad, but just once. I received all their letters too. I hope you & the rest weren't worried about me because you didn’t receive mail for a week, but you'll have to learn to expect that. Another latrine rumor is going around that there are only 4 more weeks to go. I don’t pay any attention to them anymore. Keep sending the Times. I like to read it when I get time. The other Rochester boys gets the Democrat & we swap. Got a letter from Hessy yesterday. Gave me the usual advice. Got a letter from Bella too. She sends best regards. Also got a letter from Madeline but I’m not writing any more letters this weekend. So if you see her, tell her I’m glad she had such a nice time on her vacation & thanks again for the 2 pounds of Fanny Farmer candy. Starting tomorrow we can sleep until 5:15 because we don’t have 6 stand reveille (?) as a result of having no A.W.O.L’s (Absent Without Leave) during the six weeks. It’s going to be heaven sleeping those extra 15 minutes.

Arnette (Ben’s sister) sure is getting plenty of practice for her married life, from what you say in your letters. If those brownies are an example of her work, you must get swell meals. They were really tasty. I got the box today & enjoyed those pears & peaches immensely. They were a little soft in spots but still delicious. I’m a popular man around here now that I’ve got the cleaning brushes. Say that toothpowder arrived just in time, because this morning I dropped my small box of Lyons in the sink, full of water. I haven’t opened the raisins or figs yet. I’m saving those for the middle of the week. I can just taste those figs in my mouth. My pipes sure needed that pipe cleaner, too.

Here’s my order for next week. Tootsie Rolls, Couple of pairs of underwear because sometimes the laundry is late, couple of pairs of wool socks to replace worn ones. Tell Bob to pick out the best pretty girl pictures from the old desk & include them in next week’s box. Also the color pictures of Veronica Lake & Rita Hayworth. We’re not allowed to have them on the walls but we paste them in our lockers. (Again excuse the style, spelling & English of this letter) Guess I’ll go see “DuBarry” now.

Love,
Ben

Reserve Energy

2009-09-06T15:09:00.001-04:00

Letter to sister, Ruth. Ben’s folks first had a deli in Elmira, New York and when the family moved to Rochester, NY during the Depression, they also had a deli that he mentions here. In this letter, he says that many fellows in his outfit are feeling sick. Eating an orange with milk doesn’t sound like a remedy for a stomach on the bum. Sounds like he has a terrible diet over and above the Army food.

August 7, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Fri. Nite

Dear Ruth,
I’m addressing this letter to you because you’re the boss, now that Mom & Dad are away on their much needed vacation. I really feel sorry for you slaving away in that store, cooped up all day, while I’m out in the nice sunshine all day. That beer must really be a problem. The boys at camp sure go for it even though it’s only 3-point-2. Don’t worry, I haven’t drunk any. And I haven’t gotten into any card games. I’m a good little boy! But my money just seems to flow like water. I’ve spent $6 since last Saturday.

Probably those suppers in the P.X. (Post Exchange) and pop & ice cream. I’m going to try & cut out eating candy, cake, cookies, pop & etc. as much as I can. Because I haven’t lost my stomach yet. Surprised? So am I. I thought I would lose it in a week. And I thought surely I would lose it yesterday or today. I woke up yesterday with my stomach on the bum. Couldn’t eat anything. Had 1/2 cup milk & orange for breakfast & practically no dinner. It’s a good thing we had an easy morning. But in the afternoon we marched out to the range, no shade in the vicinity, for a rifle demonstration with tracer bullets. Didn’t think I could make it back, but I did. I feel fine today though. Probably the reason was that our bowels aren’t free here. But they were free yesterday.

Today we marched out to some hill & built up a defense against attack. We were digging foxholes. Our company did while others were laying mines & putting up barbed wire! Before I entered the Army I always used to think that a foxhole was something like a shell hole, just something to duck into. But it’s very different from that. Here's a picture of it. Hard to dig too. Have to make a firing stoop to stand on when firing & to sit on while a tank goes over. I ran into a rock pile & couldn’t dig over 3 feet down. We have to camouflage it too.

They stress camouflage very much. We also ate C-rations. They come in 2 little cans, something a little bigger than Red Cross milk There are 3 types. Stew, Hash, & Meat & Beans. I had the beans. Pretty good, too. The other can contains biscuits (hardtack), a beverage in dry form (lemon, coffee, cocoa) cigarettes., sugar, candy. We also had only one canteen full of water. That is one of the hardest things to adjust to. They call it water discipline. The sun went in & out all day for which we were mighty thankful. Pretty soon we’ll have to go 24 hrs. on one canteen. (Excuse the mixed up line of thought, but I’m in a hurry. I’m sitting on the steps because lites are out).

For some reason or other, we were all tired & weak as hell. Can’t understand it and 30 fellows were stretched out under the trees. I was almost ready for that pile. I didn’t believe I could make it home. But we always have reserve energy to call upon. But it’s torture when we pass the swimming pool, as we always do, & see guys frolicking around in it. On the way back, everybody was wishing for ice cream. pop, lemonade, etc. I wished I had a watermelon. And what do you think happened. When we got back, there was a huckster selling watermelon. First time we’ve seen any fruit sold inside the camp. We can get it in town before 8 P.M. on Sat., but not on Sun. Not very convenient. Boy, that melon was delicious.

I forgot & wrote on the face of the letter. But to continue. I went over to the Beer Garden for a Pepsi. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but it tasted so good. But now that it’s over with, we’re still in one piece, although tired. That’s the way it is everyday.

Love,
Ben

Dig Fox Holes

2009-09-06T14:53:00.000-04:00

Basic training is finally getting into action.

August 6, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Thurs

Dear Folks,
Hope you didn’t worry about me because you didn’t receive mail for a couple of days, but.... I don’t have to explain any more. Guess I’ll get to bed a 1/2 hour early tonite because we’re going out all day to dig fox holes. Even going to eat C-rations.

So Mom finally got her hair cut. Bet it makes her look lots younger. I’m glad that Mom & Dad are able to get to Canada again. I’ll write them there. How’s Bob’s plans coming along? Well don’t work too hard.

Love,
Ben

Marksmanship

2009-09-05T20:38:00.001-04:00

A.S.T.P. stands for Army Specialized Training Program. If chosen for the program, a soldier was sent to a college that offered the training. A number of colleges throughout the country participated in the program. A.S.T.P. was disbanded in early 1944 because soldiers were needed as replacements overseas.

Ben has been in the Army a little over one month. He enjoys getting the Rochester Times-Union newspaper to keep up with the hometown news. In his August 8th letter, he says, “ Keep sending the Times. I like to read it when I get time. The other Rochester boys get the Democrat & we swap.” Even in Europe he asks about his Times-Union newspaper subscription.

August 4, 1943
Camp Croft, S.C.
Tuesday

Dear Folks,
Not much doing today except marksmanship & map reading. Went over course we are to go over tomorrow nite. No detail tonite because of A.S.T.P. interview. But it wasn’t very important although a couple of kids got disqualified. The Captain told me I had a pretty good chance. But someone else told me they wanted mostly engineers -- Am I an engineer?

Sunday we filled out a sheet & had a lecture on A.S.T.P. Wasn’t very encouraging. Gave you four choices - Engineers, Language, Medicine, & Dentistry. Well, I hope things work out all rite in the end. I am & have been getting the Times. Very enjoyable.

Love,
Ben

Bayonet Drill

2009-09-05T20:29:00.001-04:00

“Rhett Butler” was one of Ben’s buddies who was very adept with his rifle. He was from the South and reminded Ben of the Rhett Butler from “Gone With the Wind.” In the Army about 6 weeks.

August 3 1943
Camp Croft
Monday Nite

Hi Folks,
Well I got another night off. Feels wonderful just to lay around and talk with the fellows. Guess I’ll take a walk over to the Beer Garden and get a Pepsi later on. Tomorrow nite is grass cutting detail and Wednesday is a compass problem. That should be fun. But, gee, I wanted to have one of those nites free because Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe show is coming those two nites at the brand new outdoor theater. I may get a chance tomorrow to see part of it, at least, I hope.

Yesterday I went in to have a steak supper. Had a T-Bone steak but it was a little tough. Then I saw “Her’s to Hold” with Deanna Durbin. Pretty good. Right now they’re playing that tune that Bing sings in Dixie. Something about Sunday, Monday or Someday. Terrific tune, don’t you think. Also right now, Rhett Butler is trying to take apart & put together the rifle, blindfolded. Doing pretty good, too.

Before I forget, in the next package, send some Pepsodent Tooth Powder, but now in the glass container. I had one but I broke it. Also send some pipe cleaner (liquid). The pipe cleaners that I can buy in the P.X. (Post Exchange) are made in, guess where? That’s right, Rochester. But I’m not proud of them, they’re too thin. One thing about the P,X. is that we can get toilet articles pretty cheap here. Pepsodent tooth brush costs only 30 cents whereas in the city, it costs 49 cents. We can also get Shaffer $12.75 pens for $8.75.

I got a 2# box of Fanny Farmer Summer Candies today from Madeline. They’re delicious. That’s the unanimous decision of all the boys. That’s why I don’t lose my stomach, I’m always eating. That Jelly, cheese, peanut butter & bread sure hit the spot with the boys, too. Those cookies!! Yum, yum. I think I’ll have enough clothes for a while so you don’t have to send any until I write you.

The weather here was pretty cool the last part of the week but it got hot again today. We had bayonet drill, 3 hours of marksmanship. We’ll probably get that every day this week because we go on the range next week, ju jitsu & saw “Desert Victory.” Well, I’ve got to write a coupla more letters, so.....

Love,
Ben

Defensive Setups

2009-09-05T20:15:00.000-04:00

W.A.C.s - Women's Army Corps

August 1, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Friday Nite

Dear Folks,
Today was about the best day we’ve had down here so far. It was delightfully cool all day today, with no sun. It was heaven. And we didn’t do any work all day. We just had lectures & classes on various subjects. This morning we took a walk out to look at defensive setups - (Barbed wire, fox holes, tank traps, etc) This afternoon we just had map reading & spent the rest of the afternoon on booby traps. How to make them harmless, etc. We had dynamite & firecrackers exploding all around us all afternoon. Very good. Everything is getting more interesting as we get into the practical work. Yesterday we had compass & found our way to a certain spot using the compass set on a certain azmuth (I never knew what it meant until I got in the Army). It rained again tonite, but it only lasted for about a half hour. Right now I’m waiting or rather we’re waiting to go out on a nite demonstration. Something about how sound is magnified at nite.

We also had a talk by some of the Chaplains - Catholics, Protestants, & a Jewish (there’s only one for the whole camp). Very nice talk on brotherhood & all that. Just got a letter from the Chaplain today notifying me that there are 3 other Jewish boys from Rochester here. But as they are in different Battalions, & because I don’t have too much time, I don’t think I’ll get a chance to look them up. They are - Dave Silver, Nick Archer, & David A. Falk. Know them? Say, Bob must look like a sharpie now. But I don’t have to worry about styles or fashions. Mine will even be good next season.

We had an air raid sometime last week. It was awful. We had just come in from a hard day in the sun & weren’t even upstairs yet, when the alert came. We had to grab our packs, rifle & a blanket & run all the way out to the woods, way past our drill area. When we got there, we didn’t care if the airplanes bombed us or not. Speaking of airplanes. There are plenty of them flying over head all the time. Mostly B-25’s (Doolittle Tokyo Raiders). They’re really impressive when they come over in formation.

Answer Department:
1. No Wac’s, but expect about 150 soon.
2. Our guard duty was 2 hours, then off. But regular duty is 2 hrs. on & 4 off.
3. I have heavy overcoat, dress jacket, field jacket (best part of our equipment) two flannel uniforms, three suntan uniforms & two fatigues, plus hat, ties, underwear, etc.
4.I have no special pals here. We’re all one happy family here, except for a coupla kids with short tempers. Except for friendly feuds between platoons in the Company, within our own platoon, between lst floor & 2nd floor & also between the 4 squads, we’re all happy together. My squad is judged the best because we won the obstacle course race, even with me on it.

There are 6 Jewish boys in my barracks besides me. But I don’t like most of them. They’re all from New York except one & he’s from Dayton, Ohio. Two are from Brooklyn or the Bronx & they’re both loud mouths, especially one of them. He’s always bragging & shouting & giving his opinion. The boys are getting tired of him. He disgraced our platoon today, too. He was given the opportunity to throw a Molotov Cocktail & he missed the rock. Were we given the horselaugh. The other fellow’s fault is staying in the showers too long. When we come in at nite, we all take a brief shower & then hurriedly dress in our sun tans for Retreat.

Saturday Nite: .........Had to hurry out to the demonstration & couldn’t find time until now. Tonite we got paid but I’m not going to town because it’s too crowded. Maybe tomorrow. Had a lot of fun last night. Since yesterday, we’re trying to see which platoon can shout the commands loudest. Our Sarge figured out the best combination of commands & we cooperated by shouting the loudest. And when we got out to the Area, we sat on the side of a hill singing songs & shouting & arguing. These times are when we feel we’re not in the Army. Then they put on a very effective show showing how sounds & lights magnify at night & how to operate at night going thru barbed wire. When we got back, the good old Mess Sarge had rolls & coffee.

Today we saw another picture on “Why We Fight.” This was the “Battle of Britain.” It was about the best we’ve seen so far. If Germany had only known how little equipment England had in 1940, England would be out of the war now.

Got your box today & the boys sure went for those cookies fast. Also the bread & spreads. Delicious! Well I sorta got off the track about those Jewish boys. Two more of them are Pre-med & are pretty intellectual. One kid is only 18 or 19 with two years of college pre-med behind him. He’s small, thin, with shell rimmed glasses. Looks the part of a smart guy. The other pre-med is the one I like best of all, although he’s a little older. One of the other ones is sorta fat & is always being hollered at for being out of step, or rifle crooked, or something. It’s really funny the way they pick on him, but he’s pretty smart, too. The other guy is a goldbrick & is always getting in trouble, too. He & the loudmouth from Brooklyn are always in the Sunday dice games. One guy won 17 dollars last week. Don’t worry!!!!! I don’t go near them. Well I think I’ll go to the Service Club & get some watermelon.

Love,
Ben

In Army two months

2009-09-05T19:37:00.000-04:00

The rigor of Basic Training is beginning to get some positive results.

July 30, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina
Thursday night

Dear Folks:
I can’t believe that I’ve got the night off again, but I have. I hardly know what to do with myself. I should go to sleep just to get in condition, but I’m not sleepy like I used to be. Must be I’m getting used to this Army life.

This whole morning was spent in camouflage demonstrations. Very interesting & necessary. This afternoon we had compass, drill & the obstacle course again. It was easier this time but I’ve still got to work on my jumping over a hurdle with one hand. It started to rain like hell just when we were ready to go home, but as usual, it was very hard & brief.

I probably won’t write tomorrow night because I hear we’re going on a night demonstration, but I can’t find out what it is. That “U” that you spoke about. His name is Hugh. Yeah, I know he’s down there. He’s in the Navy - England.

About the time passing down here. When we’re out in the field during the day, the time passes, sorta slow, but at the end of the week, we all notice that the weeks are passing very rapidly. It doesn’t seem as if I’ve been in the Army a month, but I guess I have. From Saturday night till Monday morning is when time passes the quickest though. If possible, send some peaches or fruit in next week’s package.

Love
Ben

Rifle Positions

2009-09-05T19:27:00.001-04:00

Bob is Ben’s brother and Marion will become his sister-in-law. Concerned about his parents hard work in the deli, Ben reassures them that it’s okay to take some leisure time.

July 29, 1943
Camp Croft, South Carolina.
Wed. Noon

Dear Folks,
I just received a few letters from you after not getting any since Sunday. I also received a letter from Marion. Very interesting about your leisure time. To heck with a few dollars less. You’ve got to conserve your strength.

The weather here has been pretty good for the past few days & the work hasn’t been too hard either. Had another hike last night. They don’t bother us half as much now. I won’t be needing a radio because we have one up & down & that’s enough.

I don’t think Mom should write the Chaplain about my tonsils. When I have time I might go on sick call & have them examined but the whole thing is that I don’t want to miss work. Glad to hear about Bob getting away & hope he gets a good job. Also hope it won’t place too much of an inconvenience on you folks left home. And what’s Marion going to do? I’m also glad to know that Mom & Pop will be able to get away for a few days at least. Getting ready to move out....

Wed. nite.....As you probably noticed, I finished in rather a hurry. We all had to rush to a very exhausting afternoon. Lying in the sun practicing rifle positions - the most uncomfortable position you can imagine, but in the end- the most steady positions for firing a rifle. Just got back from rifle inspection & think I’ll spend a couple of hours at the P.X. & at the fights. Well that’s all for now.

Regards to everybody,
Ben

$2.00 Steak

2009-09-05T17:23:00.002-04:00

Dear Reader: Every letter or card Ben wrote home is included in this blog. A bit of history shows up in each one as you follow him. Just think, a $2.00 steak! Ben wrote three times on July 26th - This is the third - a post card. The frequency of his letters will lessen when he goes through the Tennessee Maneuvers and then on to the Battle of the Bulge.

July 26, 1943
Mailed from Spartanburg at 3 p.m.

Dear Folks,
Gee, you must get tired of receiving so many cards from me in one day, but I’ve got some spare time in the U.S.O., so..... I thought I was going to the Service Club to eat but it was crowded so I came to town (without checking out) & had a delicious tenderloin steak dinner ($2.00). Then I came here to the Jewish U.S.O. & had waffles & ice tea & saw “Johnny Apollo.” Quite a day, eh.

Well good by now,
Love
Ben

10 Girls at Dance

2009-09-05T17:13:00.000-04:00

Ben wrote three times on July 26th - This is the second letter.

July 26, 1943
Camp Croft - posted 11:30 a.m.
Sunday afternoon

Dear Folks,

As I wrote in the letter this morning, I thought I would go into town but I went to get a haircut (gee, they cut it lousy this time) & had to wait some time & so I decided not to go. I think I’ll spend a coupla hours on letters, then eat supper at the Service Club. They serve leftovers in our Mess Hall on Sunday nite.

Arnette’s account of her operation was very interesting. Perhaps I’ll go thru with it soon. Yes, Ida is the girl I took out. That June Norman is cute, isn’t she. I didn’t know her personally, but had noticed her around school. Say, I just noticed that both Ruth’s & Arnette’s letters were mailed 9:30 Thur. Nite, but I got Ruth’s Sat Noon & Arnette’s, Sun Noon. Queer isn’t it.

About the slippers, they fit all rite but maybe when these wear out, you had better send a pair of ropies because of the wet floor & I would be able to wear them rite in the shower. I don’t think I’ll be needing any dress shirts. I have 3 & the only time I wear them is at retreat & on weekends.

Perhaps I didn’t mention it before, but there was a dance in our Rec Hall last Tuesday. After detail I went up, looked in, turned around & went home. They had 10 girls for a whole battalion. The girls would only dance two steps before someone would cut in on them.

Well, I’ve got to write some more letters. About seven of them. Got a letter from G. Coleman. Hear he’s going home on furlough & then to sea. From his letter, I can tell that he’s homesick. I’d like to be home to see you folks but I’m not real homesick. Perhaps in October I will be home, I hope. (Send more jeep notes.)

Love,
Ben

Sunday Rest

2009-09-05T11:43:00.000-04:00

Ben wrote three times on July 26th. This is the first letter.

July 26, 1943
Spartanburg,S.C. - posted 11 a.m.
Sunday

Dear Folks,
Well Sunday has finally come and I’m going to take full advantage of it. Right now, I’m lying in bed writing this letter & I expect to sleep for a coupla more hours. I haven’t the ambition to write letters like I did last Sunday when I wrote about ten. After I wash some clothes, get a haircut & eat, I think I’ll go to town for a few hours & then come back & see “Stormy Weather.” I was going into town last nite but I took a shower & fell asleep on top of the bed until it was too late. So I went to the P.X. for a half-hour.

Perhaps you’re wondering why I’m so tired. Aside from the regular daily training, we haven’t had a single nite off this week. Monday was a 3 1/2 hike. Tuesday was window washing & grass planting, Wednesday was guard. Thursday was “floor show” and Friday nite we went on a 7-8 mile hike. You’re probably wondering why a 3 1/2 & 7 mile hike should tire anyone out. But when you’re wearing a pack, gas mask, rifle belt, bayonet, & God darn rifle (my best friend) & you walk along an unimproved, rutted, rocky, hilly, dirt road, it’s not a pleasure. And in my sixth week, we’ll be walking that road every day when we go out to the range. Then we’ll get up at 4:00 and get back about 10 at nite.

And to top that off, I got a letter from Alphonse down in Camp Stewart, Ga. in A.A.A. He said he’s been on a couple of hikes, both about two miles & one time they had to carry rifles with their packs. And they were so tired. When I told the boys about that, did we have a laugh. Can you imagine, 2 miles!

Your pkg arrived Saturday & everything was in perfect condition. Dad sure is a swell packer. Everything was delicious too. That cheese & bread hit the spot. And that peanut candy, send more of that. Also send more undershirts. (They sure get dirty fast. Yesterday we had a little Ju Jitsu, and everybody had red clay all over their backs.) Also if possible send a few Florida oranges with the California’s. The crackers were the only things that were broken but they were eaten anyhow. Say, you time the packages just right, too. They arrive on Sat. & that’s just when I want them, rather than during the week when I haven’t much time. The last couple of days have been pretty good here. Although it was awful hot in the sun, there was a nice breeze in the shade. Well, I can’t think of anything else to write, so I’ll go back to sleep.

As ever,
Ben

Guard Duty

2009-09-05T00:04:00.000-04:00

Ben is in Camp Croft, South Carolina He's 18 years old, and began basic training in the middle of June.

July 24, 1943
Thursday

Dear Folks,
Well, we just got finished with another “floor” show & after we clean our rifles, shine our shoes, make our beds, (they were out to air), & take a shower, we can all hit the hay, & are we tired.

We all had guard duty last night as you undoubtedly know by now. I was a supernumerary & with another fellow was put in the guardhouse watching the prisoners, letting them in & out to wash, drink, etc. It was the easiest job on the post because we sat all the time, could go next door to the P.X. (Post Exchange) & get cokes & stuff. And then just as I was about to be relieved, I was called upon as a super, to walk a kid’s post who had bad feet. And what a post. Up & down a hill, up a dirt driveway, down a gravel driveway, up some stairs & up another hill. And when I got back, I couldn’t sleep on account of the other kids were always getting up to go on their posts. In fact, the air was so still, none of us got any sleep.

And what do you think they gave us. Two more A.S.T.P tests (Army Specialized Training Program) - in Sciences (Biology, chemistry, physics, etc.) & Mathematics. Oh well, I didn’t want to go to college anyway. It seems that whenever we take tests in the Army, we’re always tired. At Camp Upton, when we arrived & the last A.S.T.P. test I was on Kitchen Patrol & got all wet washing dishes ( have to work at high speed) & as a result was squirming all over my seat. About that bugler. Is he lousy. He actually stinks. One day he was playing retreat & even the officers couldn’t hold back their laughs. Say, in the next letter, would you mind sending me a list of what I requested. I’ve forgotten most of the stuff. And don’t forget to put in that subscription to the Times Union.

Saw “Dixie” last Sunday & there were a couple of scenes in there where we hit the ceiling. Bing’s wife was pleading to go South & says something to this effect, “The sun will be good for me”!!!!!! Also in another scene, Bing tells the cast of the show, - “Okay, Take a 10 min break.” You don’t know how we’re always on the lookout for that message. You probably don’t get the full effect of those scenes....but we did! Hope Arnette’s feeling okay & everything is well at home. Well, I’m sort of in a hurry & want to get to sleep, so.....

Love,
Ben

Rationing

2009-09-04T23:50:00.000-04:00

Americans on the home front supported the war by buying War Bonds which helped to cover the cost of the war. Certain items were rationed at home and could only be purchased with stamps from ration books supplied by the government. Driving less, carpooling, riding bicycles saved gasoline for the war effort. Many families grew Victory Gardens as a supply of food for themselves.

July 21, 1943
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Dear Folks,
Just got off a window washing detail after a very hot day. One kid keeled over with five about to. But they didn’t take their salt tablets which are essential if you want to stay on your feet. Went on a four and a half mile hike last nite. Nothing to it. Used very leisurely stride. Going on another one Friday. Our Sarge knew just what we wanted. He bought us a few cases of Pepsi. He’s the best Sarge in the Company. He’s only 25 but looks older. He’s from Buffalo. Practically everybody here has “prickly heat.” It’s not serious but it’s very itchy. Mine is going away now. Going on Guard Duty tomorrow.

We’ve just added another gripe to our list. The laundry is just a government racket. They take $1.50 out a month regardless if you send or not. So we sent. You should see all the creases in the uniforms. From now on it’s the dry cleaners for me. Didn’t get any of my own handkerchiefs back. One guy got back civilian shorts when he sent G.I.’s, and the condition! They just run it through a wringer, not pressed or anything, just a mass of clothes.

When you send next box, send oranges, life savers, few undershirts, a few sweat socks and more jelly candy. Here’s something on the classification system. A man who had been a mailman for 15 years was classified as a machine gunner. When he complained that the army needed postal clerks and why he wasn’t put in that classification, they answered that since he had been walking on his feet in the sun and rain for 15 years carrying a pouch weighing 25-30 pounds that he was the ideal man for a machine gunner. Simple, eh?

I don’t know whether to put the money in Bonds or not. I think you better put it in my account in the bank. They invest anyway. Be sure to pack cookies securely. Well, I guess that’s enough for now. Until next time.

Love,
Ben

Mustard Gas

2009-09-04T15:29:00.001-04:00

Included in this letter is Ben’s story of exposure to Mustard Gas, etc. Could his exhaustion have been a result of this poison gas exposure? World War 11 Vets were used in research with poison gases.

July 19, 1943
Camp Croft, S.C.
Sunday

Dear Folks,
The one day of the week when I can sleep late & I still wake up early in the morning & can’t get back to sleep. And I’m soooooo tired. The Army’s getting me in a rut.

I was going to go to services this morning, like I did last Sunday, but the Jewish chapel is on the other side of camp practically. It’s a 20 minute walk in the broiling sun & when we do get there, we’re bothered by the flies that fly in the open window. I haven’t had a chance to go to Friday night services because I’ve been on detail, but I may get a chance sometime.

Today, I think I’ll answer my pile of correspondence, get a couple of hours sleep, go to the Service Club (it’s about one and a half miles & I haven’t been there yet) and then come back & go to the theater & see “Dixie.” I’m hoping “Stage Door Canteen” will come back soon. Last night I went into town but I was so darn tired I came back early. I’ve told you before, join the Army and you see and do everything. I had to be in the Army before I took my first taxi ride. Yep, I took a taxi to & from town. It costs more but it’s worth it not having to wait & wait & then be squashed to death. The only drawback is, we have to walk further to the taxi stand.

I took my watch to a jewelry store & got some strap pins. The others had rusted & one came out. Guess what it cost? Fifty cents for 2 little pins. They didn’t have any radium hands, so I guess I’m out of luck. See if you can get any in Rochester & how long it would take to get it fixed. Otherwise the watch runs swell. As far as I know it runs without gaining & without slowing down. You really need a watch in the Army because everything is run on a tight schedule.

Yesterday it was 109 degrees or hotter & we had to go through the gas chamber. First we ran through 4 gases in the open field. Mustard Gas, Lewintin, Phosgene, Chlorine Pictron (I don’t know if those are spelled right.) Then we went into the chamber with our mask on, took it off & had to walk out. Boy that tear gas burned especially where we sweat. Then we ran in without the mask, had to stop & put it on. I never put it on so fast in my life. We also had a 2 hour lecture in the sun on the effects, aftereffects & what to do for it. They sure do have good equipment for combat. Capes that fit right over you. Impregnatic clothes that gas won’t penetrate. Best gas mask in the world, too.

We’ve also been having practice in throwing dummy hand grenades. I’ve just thought of something else in connection with the gas chamber. We had to march to & from it around noon when it was hottest. We were sweating like hell & it was tickling our faces. And when we’re marching we can’t move a hand or face. Even if you sneeze, you can’t take out a handkerchief. Well, anyway, we went up & down a couple of hills & cross country, too. I would rather have gone through the gas chamber (bad as it was there) more than have gone on that little jaunt. And we’re having our first hike this week. Woe is me.

I get good mail service here. You mailed a letter Thursday night & I got it Saturday noon. They’re holding mail call outside now. I wonder if I’ll get any mail. I hope so. Your package arrived the same time Saturday & was it welcome. Those cookies, candy, & other stuff sure came in handy. The next time, send a few oranges. I like to eat them at night. Some fellows just got some packages of food. We won’t go hungry. About the money, I don’t think I will need any, even though I am getting low. I may want $5 of my $35 just to be on the safe side. But I don’t need it now, maybe in a week or so. Well, I guess I’ll close now.

Love,
Ben

Gas Chamber

2009-09-04T15:15:00.001-04:00

In 1994 Senator John D. Rockefeller issued a report revealing that for at least 50 years the Department of Defense had used hundreds of thousands of military personnel in human experiments and for intentional exposure to dangerous substances, including mustard gas. Little did WW11 soldiers know the danger they were exposed to while in their Stateside camps.

Coming from a northern climate, Ben is having difficulty adjusting to the weather in the South. He writes that, “we’re going thru the gas chamber tomorrow.” And in a subsequent letter, he will describe the gas chamber experience and the lecture that followed while sitting in the hot sun.

July 17, 1943
Camp Croft
Friday nite

Dear Folks,
Here I sit, on my bed, smoking my pipe & listening to Spotlight Bands & shooting the bull at the same time with the fellows. Almost like home but not quite. Had quite an easy day today, a lot of lectures on various subjects & also close order drill with the whole company (about 200 men) in the broiling sun, & I do mean broiling especially in the middle ranks where no air penetrated. And at the lectures the air makes us so sleepy that we can hardly keep awake. We get put on detail if they catch us, but so far I haven’t been caught yet, although I’ve caught myself dozing.

Well, it’s almost the end of my second week of basic training & I don’t seem to mind it as much. Maybe that’s because it hasn’t been as tough this week. I think we’re going thru the gas chamber tomorrow & on a 3 mile hike next week. I don’t know if I’m going into town this week or not. My two Sun Tan uniforms are in the laundry & my other one is 2” long. If I can baste it up inside the cuff, I might go. Although I should stay in Sunday & catch up on correspondence & sleep. I haven’t noticed any loss in waist line. Perhaps that’s because whenever I get the chance, I go to the P.X. & gorge. Also couple of fellows got cakes, cookies, candy, etc. So as a result I’ve still got my weight. Well, it finally happened. So you’re closing on Sunday from 2 on. I never would have believed it.

I finally had to move down to the latrine because lights went out. There’s the usual bunch taking showers, washing & defecating. Say, what’s that you say about me getting up at 5:30. Don’t be so good to me. Here’s the schedule. Up at 5:00 - make bed, sweep, dust, & wash, fall out for reveille, go back in & finish up work. Fall out to police up grounds. Breakfast at 6:00. Go out to drill area between 6:30 & 7:00. Work until 1:15 when we have orientation in Barracks - then mail call & then chow. About 12:30 - out again until 4:30 (a rest period for 10 minutes every hour. It sure comes in handy.) Then take a brief (very) shower, change to Sun Tans & fall out for retreat at 5:15. Then supper at 6:00 & if we have no detail & after we clean rifle, shoes, etc., we have the nite off. (I was a human lawnmower tonite.)

So, Mr. Stiles spilled the beans, huh? Well, to tell the truth, this was the first year I ever skipped & only about 3 or 4 times anyway. It was mainly during the winter when we were afraid to be late because the bus was late. Keep up the good work with the U.S.O. Ruth. I never used to think much about it, but since last Sunday, I think it’s one of the best things for a service man away from home. Even if I haven’t gone to a dance yet, it was a comfort to walk in, listen to radio, play games, rest, & eat. I really appreciated it. The fellows are saying now that A.S.T.P. men have to sign up for 5 years after the war. If that’s true, I’m not going to be an A.S.T.P. man.

I wonder how long Uncle Louie & Sam & Dad would love to have a farm if they had to work it. Answer me that, will you. Don’t forget to send those slippers, also siscors (excuse spelling). Well, I’m getting tired, so until next time,

Love,
Ben

P.S. There are about 6 Jewish boys in my barracks & plenty in camp. The reason they rush us so is so that we won’t have time to get homesick. It works.

How to Kill

2009-09-04T00:35:00.002-04:00

Ben’s been in the Army almost 3 weeks.

July 16, 1943
Fri. Nite

Dear Folks:
Since I’ve cleaned my rifle, taken a shower, shined my shoes, been to the P.X., and glanced through my “Life,” I might as well take this chance to write you. Tomorrow is the big day for inspection. We have to make up our beds a certain way & everything has to be extra clean. I hear we are getting up at 4 in the morning to prepare for it. It’s rained for the last two nites here & it’s been raining all evening tonite, so it’s been pretty cool in the morning (by cool I don’t mean the same as it gets in Rochester. There we call it warm, but here it’s cool. It’s just cloudy).

We had a pretty easy day yesterday. Except for a little drilling we were in the cool forest listening to a class on map reading and the operation of the M-1 rifle (Gerand). We had a brief exercise in the morning & did my legs ache when I got up this morning. They must have realized it because they didn’t make us carry packs. But as soon as we got over to our drill field we had some terrific exercises. Now, I can hardly walk. Tell Bob to limber up in his 3-week furlough (The lucky dog).

I’ve washed some of my laundry already because they didn’t take it to be cleaned like they’re supposed to do. They take $1.50 a month out of our pay regardless if we send anything to the laundry or not. They also take out two months insurance this first month, also bonds. We also have to keep our hair down to one inch. That means a haircut every one or two weeks. To add to that, I think I’m a little reckless with my money in the P.X. I’ve eaten my last two suppers there besides candy, gum, ice cream, pop, towels, & other necessary equipment. I’ve only got $16 left. Today we saw first of a series of pictures on “Why We Fight.” Very good propaganda. Makes you want to fight like hell. It traced the rise of the dictatorship. Just what they taught us in school, only more interesting in picture form. This is new system as they used to do this by lecturing. We also had drill in gas masks & different kinds of gas. We’re always having talks on every subject under the sun. For instance we had instruction on how to kill a man with the palm of the hand & also with the bayonet.

You’ve probably read that propaganda in the papers & magazines about U.S Army getting at least a pint of milk a day. Yeah, they get it -- at the P.X. We didn’t have any milk today, not even for breakfast. Had to eat cereal dry. Look at that advertisement in “Life” about the food the boys overseas get. It’s better than what we get. But I shouldn't complain. The Mess Sarge said it was better than dog food, although the hash we had today looked like something Dad mixes for the cat. By the way, has she had kittens yet?

My sunburn is OK - It was all better before I left Upton although it started to peel here. I’m not getting a tan here except on my hands because we have to wear fatigues & helmet liners (just like the real fighting helmets, they fit over the liners) at all times. And I wear my sun glasses at all times, too. I’d be lost without them. I asked my Sarge & he said he never heard of the Army giving sunglasses. By the way I’ve got a swell Sarge who really knows his stuff & a couple of swell corporals. The Lieutenant is really fine too. I wish I could take a picture all dressed up with pack, bayonet, rifle, etc, but no cameras are allowed.

If Mom’s worried about my drinking tell her not to worry. I haven’t drunk any beer since I’ve been in the Army, I haven’t smoked a cigarette & I haven’t been in a card game. Tell Arnette if she & Bill get married, not to get a farm down South. It’s too darn hot. We’re always dozing off during lectures.

Boy, I certainly am glad I’m away from the hectic store life although I feel sorry for you poor folks. It’s almost as hard a life as the Army. I’ve written Grandma but not to the customers. I just can’t find time. Explain for me.
About reading matter, I won’t have time to read comics so you don’t have to send them. Since “Life” only costs a dime I can buy that. I’ll probably find time to read on Sundays. Boy, I’d like to read a Rochester paper. I buy a New York News sometimes but I’m not interested in international & national news.

About the watch, I haven’t anyway to check it accurately although it runs swell. I’m afraid this damn weather is going to ruin it though. I was wearing it on my wrist & sweat got in somehow & acted on the radium hands a little. I leave it in my pocket during the day now. The sweat also turned my hand black under the band so I bought a cloth band tonite.

We have lites out at 10:00 PM & “Hit the Floor” at 5:00 am. If you don’t get up, you get tipped out. Haven’t met any French generals although a Brigadier General came around today to observe us.

I’ve been talking to a lot of fellows & they don’t seem to look too bad for having been here 13 weeks. All day we can hear the machine guns & dynamite exploding along that obstacle course. It’s not too tough, so they say. The only thing I don’t like is that the Infantry course is the hardest Basic & if you happen to flunk out & not go to college, they put you in the Infantry. I’m caught both ways. I don’t feel like studying all nite & I don’t want to be a 2nd Louie. They have to know too darn much.

We’ve got quite a lot of Southern boys here & they’re fighting the Civil War over again. We have a lot of fun with them & their drawl. There’s one fellow who’s really a Rhett Butler - Handsome hair, teeth, features - 2 years military school, swell personality, knows quite a lot although he’s only 19 but he looks about 24. Very handsome. Well, lites out in 2 minutes, so...

Love
Ben

Many ASTP Tests

2009-09-04T00:24:00.000-04:00

Ben was impressed with the little town of Spartanburg having two radio stations and two newspapers.

July 15, 1943
Camp Croft, S.C.
Wednesday night

Dear Folks:

Before I continue with the general news of my Army life, I want to wish Arnette & Bill the best of everything. Tell my future brother-in-law that he’s getting nothing but the best in Arnette. I’m sure that peace & happiness will always throng the path of their life. I bet Dad is mighty pleased, as we all are, but it looks as if he’s finally going to have a farmer in the family.

Now, more about the A.S.T.P. (Army Specialized Training Program). I was a little misinformed about this program before, but today we had the first of many A.S.T.P. tests. They told us that some would not go to college if they didn’t get good scores on the tests & if they didn’t come out good on a personal interview. They also said that even if we went to college, there are only a very limited amount going to O.C.S. Previous, everybody with a score over 115 went to O.C.S. So they’re tightening up.

Well, as I prophesied in the record, I had K.P. today - 15 hours of it. This kitchen here is smaller & isn’t as rushed as the one at Upton & they aren’t as strict on the cleanup. We had more time to goldbrick, too. But it was still very tiring. Right now I’m sitting in bed listening to a radio that one of the kids got sent to him. Very, very good. I just found out that little Spartanburg (35,000) is the third largest city in S. Carolina & it’s just a little burg. It’s got two radio stations & two papers though.

I’m sorry for Bob’s sake that his eyes aren’t good enough for the Army, but I know they don’t handicap him in his work, so everything is OK. Is he going to get a job or devote his time to the work a manager?

Thurs Nite......Didn’t have time to finish last nite. Had an easy day today. Sighting the rifle on a 200 yard range (not with bullets yet), exercises, 3 hour lecture on moving under cover & drilling. Finally sent laundry.

When you send the slippers (for wet floor) send some candy, something like that toffee that you sent, also about 2 pair of wool socks like I got before. I had to buy more polish & brush & toothbrush & other incidentals today, but we signed payroll yesterday, so we should get paid about the first of the month. Well, I can’t think of anything else to say, to

Love,
Ben

Letter from Rabbi

2009-09-03T00:10:00.000-04:00

How heartwarming it must have been for Ben’s mother to have received such a gracious letter from the Jewish Chaplain.

OFFICE OF THE JEWISH CHAPLAIN
EIGHTH REGIMENTAL CHAPEL
CAMP CROFT, SOUTH CAROLINA

July 13, 1943
Dear Mrs. Kaplow

I had the pleasure of seeing your son Benjamin at the Jewish religious services last Sunday morning.

I want you to know that we are anxious to be of assistance to him in every way possible, to make his stay here pleasant and comfortable and of the greatest value to himself as well as to the Army.

If at any time you think that we can be of help to him, please feel free to write to this office. If you should visit Camp Croft, I shall be happy to have you favor me with a personal call.

With kindest regards, I am

Very sincerely yours

David Max Eichhorn
Chaplain

Writing in Latrine

2009-09-02T23:47:00.001-04:00

Apparently the U.S.O. helped soldiers record their voices onto vinyl 78 rpm records to be sent home to the family. According to this letter, Ben recorded one but it’s not to be found. Here Ben has been in Camp Croft for one week. His letter writing continues even from the latrine.

July 13, 1943
Monday

Dear Folks:

I’m writing this letter in the latrine because it’s lights out & I didn’t have time before. All around me fellows are shaving, washing, taking showers, (I had one, you don’t know how refreshing they are), cleaning rifles, and etc.

As I said in the record, sometimes it doesn’t even seem like I’m in the Army. After I left that first U.S.O. house where I recorded the record, we went to three other nice ones. We had iced tea & donuts. At the U.S.O. operated by the Jewish Welfare Board, we had salami sandwiches, coffee, cake & coleslaw. Tasted pretty nice. They’re having a barbecue Friday so I might come out.

The fellows in my barracks, 59 in all, (32 on my floor), are between the ages of 18-23, most of whom have been to college, even if only a few months.

I received the box Saturday & it sure came in handy. I was just ready to wash out some towels & shorts. And say, both sizes fit so they are O.K. About the slippers, anything to wear on a wet cement floor (the latrine is located right in the building). The ropies (shoes for the shower) will do all right. And about the chain. I don’t want you to spend that much money because I might break it or something. I didn’t try it on until tonite because I was undecided whether to keep it or not. After all you’ll probably have to spend more money on me as time goes by. The majority of the fellows use heavy string. The plastic is no good because the sweat rots it. Well, anyhow the hole in the dog tags is too small for the chain. Tomorrow, I’m going to try & enlarge the holes to see if it will fit. I still don’t think you should have spent so much.

One thing I would like is a subscription to the Times Union - Got a lot of fun out of reading the hometown newspaper. The people in Spartanburg are also buying a
carrier named “Shangri La.” I couldn’t find any of those “Southern Belles” in Spartanburg. Only 3 good looking girls that I could see.

I can’t figure out whether the Army is trying to build us up or make us all 4-F’s. Our legs ache from the exercises so we can hardly walk, our fingers are stiff, & our shoulders are sore from the rifles & we had another injection Saturday so most of the fellows arms hurt.

Had a good meal on Sunday, four desserts (cake, ice cream, fruit salad, plums). Had a piece of baked Virginia Ham & a tiny piece of bacon but I don’t like them although I’m getting acclimated to the rest of the food. We have a nice Mess Sarge. If we don’t have enough to eat, he gives us something else. In fact, he makes you eat something else. He made a guy eat 6 eggs after a fairly decent meal & another fellow had to eat about the equivalent of two full lemon pies, just because they complained. What a Mess.

Croft is the best training camp in the country (everybody says so) because it is the most complete basic training course & teaches more discipline than any other camp. I’d rather be some other place.

Either it’s hot as hell or it’s raining like hell. The rain springs out of the sky all of a sudden, rains harder than it ever did in Rochester & then disappears. Next day, ground is all dusty. It’s rained for the last two nites & practically all today. It was a funny sight! (We saw “Hit the Ice.” Remember that scene where he puts in & takes clothes out of a bureau). We were doing the same thing with putting raincoats on & off every 10 minutes, until finally we had to call it quits at 4:00.

Cookies come smashed but send them anyway. I’ve received mail regularly since a week ago - At least 2 or 3 a day. I’ve written all the relatives & most of my friends.

Got overcoat, another fatigue & Kaki outfit today - 2 sizes in Army - too large & too small. Pants all too long. This seat is getting very tiring, so I’ll have to quit & get a few hours sleep.

Love,
Ben

Ammunition Training

2009-09-02T23:35:00.003-04:00

Joseph Pizzimenti, the infantryman’s photo shown here in full military attire was also at Camp Croft. Camp Croft’s website has a portfolio of his photos. His son, Joe, was contacted for permission to use the photos in Ben’s web site, and he graciously agreed.

In an email to Florence from Joe, he writes about his father, his letters from Okinawa, his photos, and the things that he’s discovered over the last 7 years. He says, “Like you with Ben’s letters, I received my father’s letters after he passed away. I understand every emotion and thrill that you’ve gotten by reading them because I’ve experienced them too. I also share your yearning for the chance to ask questions and the wishes of receiving the letters sooner. It’s nice to meet someone else with a passion for history and preserving it.”

July 10, 1943
Camp Croft, S.C.

Sat. Night

Dear Folks:

Well, another week is over, with probably the toughest week coming up. We'll be on the range for four days or more. The work itself won’t be hard. We’ll either be firing, in the pits, on ammunition detail or resting (in the sun as there is no shade out there).
The whole thing will be the strain & tension that we will be under, because they stress this shooting so. And why shouldn't they because the rifle is the Infantryman’s protection. And all the platoons are betting against each other, so there’s another tension. I hope I make good on it though.

Well, I can finally touch the ground with my hands. Before I came in the Army, I couldn’t even touch my shoes. You know, I was thinking a few days ago of what I used to think before I got in the Army. I used to wonder if the Army would let us take showers after we finished our physical training. No kidding, I even asked a couple of kids. If I had only known how sweaty we would be after a day’s work. I couldn’t imagine.

We get no greater pleasure than when we’re marching back to our barracks at 4:30 and are dismissed. No matter how tired we are, we can all gather up enough energy to rush in to get undressed & take a shower. What a glorious feeling.

I was glad to get those pictures but I never realized I looked that horrible. You’re still as cute as ever though. And Arnette & Bill are looking in tiptop condition too. How about some more pictures of the whole family. I’ll try & get some of me. So don’t be impatient.

Have you any apples in Rochester. I had my first apple in about three months today. It was just a small green one but it sure tasted delicious. Send a few next week. Well, I don’t want to waste the precious night, so....

Love,
Ben

March - Light Pack

2009-09-02T23:25:00.002-04:00

Almost two weeks in camp, Ben reveals his commitment to letter writing when he decided not to write, “But then” he says, “ I remembered how it felt to receive mail.” So begins Ben’s dedication to keep his family informed with his letters. And here, coming from a Kosher home, he has to adjust to having spareribs every nite or at least every day, by trying to eat supper at the P.X. Gradually his diet will change.

July 9, 1943
Camp Croft, S. C.

Wed. Nite

Hello Folks,

Just a brief note to let you know what’s been happening to me. It’s 10 minutes before lights out so I wasn’t going to write, but I remembered how it felt to receive mail, so --- . Yesterday & today we were marching & drilling with light packs, gas masks, cartridge belt, & Bayonet, & rifle. Boy, did I sweat & I wasn’t the only one. It was so hot that there was even sweat under the watch. We even had a trial run on the obstacle course.

I don’t think I’ll ever be a commando. We had rifle drill all day - executing the Manuel of Arms & taking it apart. I just finished cleaning my rifle. I’ll get hell if it doesn’t pass inspection in the morning. We see 1 or 2 training films a day. Very interesting.

Perhaps I didn’t mention it before but there are two Rochester fellows in my company, one in my barracks. Both are alumnus of Madison. One kid named Zander lived near Plymouth. I haven’t time to answer Bob’s questions, maybe later. Oh yeah, I cleaned windows upstairs, too.

Thurs. Noon.............Lights went out so I’ll finish now. This morning I was starved but I just came back from having the best meal I’ve had here. Hamburg, whole kernel corn, pickles, lemonade, pie & ice cream & potatoes. We usually have spareribs every nite or at least every day, so I’m going to eat supper at the P.X. (Post Exchange). We had quite a rain last night so it was pretty cool today. We had bayonet drill today & discussion on Booby Traps. Also had exercise.

Love,
Ben

No cameras allowed

2009-09-01T16:02:00.003-04:00

In the Army for 10 days, here is Ben's description of his first day of drilling. Food is mentioned in most of his letters, and in this letter he draws a picture of the small portion size of meat he had. He was probably famished after all the day’s drilling. He’s in the Army now!

Camp Croft, S.C.

July 6, 1943

Mon. Nite

Dear Civilians,

Today was our first day of drilling at Camp Croft. And it was murder. Hot as all get out. And it was supposed to be cool compared to what it gets sometimes. It was 97 degrees today & it rises to 130 degrees sometimes. The sweat was rolling in buckets-full. The only consolation about the whole thing is that all the “looies” & even the Company Commander was with us all the time. You don’t feel so bad then. Even on the train, the lst Lieutenant in charge of us slept right with us.

We just went out and got our gas masks. We’re going to wear them within the next couple of days. Our appearance today (sweat) is about one quarter of what our appearance will be from now on. They warned us that we will come in all muddy tomorrow. So rush it on that underwear. About 4 pair white, like Pop’s. Also about three large white Turkish towels. Make the slippers white canvas, that I can wear in a shower. Also hangers & anything else I might have told you. I have to stop now to memorize the General Orders. I’ll finish this later.

.....Well, I memorized 4 out of 11 so I’ll continue now. I’ve written you about the Mess System here & I repeat I don’t like it. There’s not enough to go around. Some get big portions, some little, & some none. Yesterday all the meat I had was this big. This noon I didn’t get any salad. Don’t believe all that propaganda you read in the papers & magazines. We only get less than a cup of milk a day. Tonight I was right in front of the meat, so I made a hog of myself, & I didn’t care.

Boy am I glad I got my G.I. haircut. No hair in my face & I don’t have to comb it in the mornings. I like it although the barber didn’t do such a good job. About some more propaganda that you read in the papers. I’ve talked with a lot of fellows & none of them have ridden in a Pullman. We’ll get paid about July 31st, I think. Please excuse the way I’m writing, the mixed up paragraphs, misspelled words, because I’m so rushed I don’t even remember what I’m writing. Perhaps I won’t write for a couple of days so I can catch up on other mail, but you have no excuse.

No cameras are allowed in camp. Maybe when I get to town I can get some. About that I.Q. test. The mark was 120. Everything over 115 qualifies for Army Specialized Training Program. You have no choice in the matter. They put you in the A.S.T.P. I wasn’t going to tell you this until I finished basic training but I might as well tell you now, all the fellows I came down with are mostly college men. Pre-Med & Engineering. After we finish Basic, they send us to college. We have no choice. That’s what I don’t like. They even select your course for you. We had a classification test today & the guy said it was a great opportunity. I told him I wanted to get into something motorized. He told me to forget it because it was beneath my class, with my I.Q., even though I like it. I didn’t want to tell you this in case I flunk out.

About my tonsils, I’m undecided. I’ll have to make up all the work I miss at night or later & I don’t want to do that. Also the Army does not give you sunglasses, or so the Sarge said. About the movies. They have them. At Upton “Stage Door Canteen” was starting last Sunday. Naturally I missed it & it’s already played here & I so wanted to see it. About the furlough bag, I kept all my underwear, towels, socks & personal stuff in it so it wasn’t too big & I carried it in my barracks bag on the train. Here at Croft, you have to display every item in a foot locker & store it. I don’t know what size I’ll need for little furloughs. Probably the same bag.

I wish I wasn’t in Infantry training because it’s the hardest there is. It was raining like hell for about an hour but it’s stopped now. Well, I got to memorize the rest of the Orders so I’ll sign off. Don’t forget to write because you don’t know the feeling you get at mail call when you receive a few letters (one from Katz). I haven’t had time to write anyone else my new address so you might spread it around.

Love,
Ben

P.S. A couple of white face towels - small ones - Also bar of face soap, & little scissors in First Aid Kit.

Many requests

2009-09-01T15:43:00.004-04:00

This is the first of Ben’s many requests for his family to send items from home. Being away for the first time might have seemed like going off to summer camp for this 18 year old in 1943. His requests through the years change to mainly food items which he shares with his buddies. Serving in Europe, there was a time when he never changed his clothes for 67 days. It wasn’t summer camp, but days of war.

Greetings from Camp Croft, South Carolina

July 5, 1943

Pvt Ben Kaplow
35th I.T.B. (Infantry Training Brigade) - Company B - 2nd Platoon

“Dear Folks-

Send about 10 wooden or wire hangers immediately. Prefer wooden. Also slippers, & if you can find heavy chain for dog tags, not plastic. Also handkerchiefs & white underwear, not v-type, like Pop’s. Will be busy so might not write. Afraid I will run out of money in few weeks. Only 20 bucks left. High prices in P.X. (Post Exchange) on equipment. Also large white Turkish towels.”

Train to Camp Croft

2009-08-31T15:03:00.009-04:00

Ben leaves Camp Upton Induction Center and is sent to Camp Croft, S.C. for basic training.

Sunday
July 4th, 1943
Hello Everybody,

Boy, did I get a good night’s sleep last nite. Best sleep I ever had. I slept for 10 1/2 hrs. But I guess I deserved it, because I’ve just traveled 21 hrs. on a day coach, not a pullman. We started Friday nite & got into Camp Croft, S. Carolina in the afternoon.

Camp Croft is an Infantry Training Replacement Center. But this does not mean I’m in the Infantry. I’m just getting my 13 weeks basic training here & then I’ll be shipped out again. It’s located near a jerk town called Spartanburg. It’s a very big camp, from what I’ve seen of it all ready.

Last nite we packed all our clothes & accessories in our locker. I need hangers but first I’ll see if I can get them in the P.X. If not I want about 10 wooden ones. Also canvas slippers, & a package of jeep notes. You don’t have to send this stuff rite away until I see about the hangers. We also got our field equipment - Pup tent, pack, cartridge belt, & rifle. The hardest part about dressing in the morning is putting on our leggings that lace up. But I suppose we’ll be experts soon.

I don’t like the chow system as well here as the one at Upton. At Upton we had it cafeteria style with trays divided into sections. Here everything is put on the table & passed around with one plate. It’s a smaller mess hall & more crowded.

But to get back to the trip, I always said join the Army & see the country. Who would have thought that I would ever see Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, & the red clay of Virginia & the Carolina’s. I never knew Virginia was so big. It must have taken us 10 hrs to cross it. And who said there were no more frontiers. You should see the wilderness of Virginia and the shacks that the people live in! We also saw all the big plants of the Tobacco Companies, Lucky Strike, Old Gold, etc.

They say the drilling here is going to be tough. Our Sarge at Upton said Upton will seem like a Country Club. I haven’t received any of your mail yet, but it should reach me by Tues or Wed. I may not write you every nite so I can catch up on my other mail. The Sarge just taught us how to roll a pack.

Love,
Ben

Ben's family sent "Jeep Notes" with military cartoons to make writing home more fun!

Homesick??

2009-08-31T14:54:00.002-04:00

July 3, 1943 Ben is at Camp Upton, Long Island, an induction center for new soldiers. He’s waiting to be transferred to a permanent camp for basic training. Perhaps there’s a touch of home sickness here. Eventually, he will be going to Camp Croft, South Carolina.

Front of Picture Post Card: “I could die dancing with you Amanda.”

July 2, 1943
Friday Morning

Hi,
Well, it finally looks as if I’m going. Not sure but hope so. If you don’t hear from me, you’ll know why. Why in hell don’t you write.
Ben

K.P. not hard

2009-08-31T14:47:00.004-04:00

To make a call home, soldiers had to stand in line for the call to be put through by an operator. Many times Ben wouldn’t wait because the line was just too long.

Camp Upton
July 2, 1943
Thurs Nite

I’m too tired to write much - I just had K-P again - 14 hrs of work. I was in the cafeteria putting stuff on the boys’ trays. Also scrubbing & cleaning. I don’t mind the work, but it’s the hours that kill me. I think I’ll go get a haircut now. I was thinking of calling you up but the line was too long. If I get the chance I might call about noon or 7:00 p.m. But don’t count on it cause I don’t want to disappoint you.

Best,

Ben

1100 Recruits Today

2009-08-30T15:14:00.012-04:00

We begin to see Ben’s sense of humor when he writes, “ Boy I get such a kick out of saluting the officers, They haven’t taught us how to salute but I get a thrill or rather a kick of making them salute us back."

June 30, 1943

Wed Nite

Hi Civilians,

How’s the world treating you? Are you still bothered by ration trouble? You are? Well join the Army. Boy, did we have a swell dinner today. It was super. But that was the only meal since I’ve been here that they wouldn’t give us second helpings. Expecting more recruits, so they said. About 1100 came in today, so I should go soon. Practically all the fellows that I came with have left already. Perhaps, you’re wondering why I’m so interested on leaving this camp. When I’m at permanent camp I get Sundays off and every nite. Here, we are on call at any time.

Boy I get such a kick out of saluting the officers, They haven’t taught us how to salute but I get a thrill or rather a kick of making them salute us back. I was going to the U.S.O. dance tonite. I’m even all dressed up, the first time I have been. But I just found out I have to have a ticket to get in and they’re all given out. And the line to get into the show is a mile long. “Bombardier” was playing - “Five Graves to Cairo” is playing more - So I might go down to the P.X. again after I finish this. I had an easy job today boy. I was sent down to another P.X., the one where the warehouse that supplies the other P.X.’s is located. All I did most of the time was sit on my fanny. I just unloaded a truck of cigarettes, candy, matches, and loaded two small trucks.

The rest of the time, I sat out back in the shade. I seem to be getting all the easy jobs. You should see all the Nestle Bars and Gum they got. Maybe I should send some home to you! Incidentally you should see the two WAC’s (Women’s Army Corps) I was working with! Surprised? Maybe I forgot to tell you that there’s a WAC camp right next to us. It’s the funniest thing to see them driving big (great big) trucks around while we had to shell peas in the kitchen.

I also swept all the office and overheard an officer dictate a letter going to Rochester. You should see the beautiful civilian gals working in that office. WOW. Especially the two that were in the Canteen. I actually enjoyed my job today. Who wouldn’t? While I was at the Canteen, a prisoner escaped from the prison down the road. All of a sudden there was a lot of shouting and running MPs with the siren in the background. They finally caught him. They’ll probably make him eat every bit of food from all 3 meals. That’s about the worst. Don’t forget to write. (Regards to everybody. I don’t feel like writing to anybody.)

Love
Private Ben

Prisoners drafted.

2009-08-29T14:53:00.009-04:00

This is Ben’s 4th letter home describing his experiences at Camp Upton. He says, “Now, don’t get the idea that I’m homesick just cause I write you every night, because I’m not. I just thought you’d like to know what’s happening to me.” He claims that he’s not homesick but he probably is.
Camp Upton, Long Island, NY

June 29, 1943
Tues Nite

Hi Everybody,

Well, as usual, I’m tired tonight, but who wouldn’t be, especially after 14 hours on K.P. (Kitchen Patrol). Yep, they woke us up at 3:45 a.m. Monday night & marched us down to the mess hall. But I had an easy job. I was in the washing room & my job was to empty the bowls & cups, put them in a rack & shove them on to another guy who put them through the sterilizer. We would only be busy during meals & loafed most of the rest of the time except when we had to scrub the walls & scrub the floors (about 15 to 20 times)

I find that the Corporals are toughest of the lot. Always yelling & giving orders. But we had one swell corporal who told us confidentially to take it easy, don’t rush & don’t kill yourself. During a lull period, he took about 12 of us out to sweep the walk around mess hall. It was the funniest thing to see. We were all in a row, each sweeping what the fellow ahead had already swept. About every 30 seconds, we would stop & talk until we would see a non-com & then we would start again. When we went around once, we started back the way we had come. Then we started sweeping dirt up on the sidewalk for the fellow behind to sweep.

The only thing wrong with K.P. was that we were on our feet all day, even when we were loafing. If the Sarge finds you sitting down, he gives you a hard job. One kid, the kid who was put in charge of our group coming from Rochester started shooting off his mouth. He got 7 days K.P. You know, it’s funny the people you meet in the Army. Hawaiians, Philippines, Chinese, etc. In the group that I was working with was a Spaniard & 4 fellows who have served time in Prison. One fellow told me he had tried to escape but someone squealed & he was caught. Then he beat up the stool pigeon. It was funny when they were discussing which prisons were best.

I finally got to the P.X. (Post Exchange) tonight. It’s swell. Everything is cheaper than hell. I suddenly remember today that I have lost contact with the world. That I haven’t heard a radio or read a paper, so I bought one tonight. Then I found out that I don’t give a damn what’s going on in the world (excuse the language, but you should hear the way it’s thrown around camp.)

Maybe you would be interested in the way they make the food. They have great big bowls. When they make salad, they dip the salad dressing out with their bare hands & mix it up with their arms. I don’t think the food is very sanitary. One day I found a piece of gum in my bread pudding.

I don’t think it’s entirely the governments fault that there is a waste of food at Camp. They have signs up telling you not to take what you don’t want. And they have such a big variety that you can let a couple of courses go by & still fill up. But it’s deceiving, you think you can eat it all, but you find that you can’t, I know, it’s happened to me. And if there are any leftovers, they use them over. I think that the men would eat their share if the food tasted better (sorry, but I ran out of ink, but to continue). Since I’ve been here, they had coffee, cocoa, & Iced tea & they all tasted lousy - also egg plant, some tomato crap & other stuff. I must admit however that some of the food is delicious, especially the desserts, & we get a fairly decent meal, most of the time. They had Virginia Baked Ham today but I didn’t eat any. That & Bacon is probably the only meat that I haven’t eaten.

My sunburn is getting better now. The fellows had me worried for a while. They said that if a sunburn is bad enough they put you in the hospital & don’t pay you for the time you’re in. But I’m not worried about it now. This morning, my stomach didn’t feel too good so I asked the Mess Sarge for a BiCarb & that fixed me up fine.

Well, it’s getting close to 11:00 now, so I better get to bed. Now, don’t get the idea that I’m homesick just cause I write you every night, because I’m not. I just thought you’d like to know what’s happening to me. Don’t forget to write to me. It will reach me if I move on & I hope I move out tomorrow.

Love,
Ben

Eat meat & butter!

2009-08-28T17:57:00.014-04:00

Ben describes his experiences of settling in on his second day at the Army’s Reception Center. The excitement prevents him from sleeping even though he’s tired. He’s looking forward to going to permanent camp. Envelope Addressed from Camp Upton, Long Island, N.Y.

June 27, 1943
Monday Night
9:15

Boy, I’m tired but I can’t sleep. It’s my own fault too. I was goldbricking today. I had easy jobs all day. In the morning, all I had to do was help clean up barracks - move all the beds all around a few times - sweep - clean every nook & cranny - cleaner than home ever was - blankets folded a certain way - duffle bags put just rite.

In the afternoon we went to the Officer’s club where they're building a tennis court. In 3 hrs I dug 3 post holes & took a sun bath the remainder of the time. I fell asleep & have I got a case of sunburn. Everything went pretty well today. Wasn’t as sweaty although the sun was out all day. Boy if Grandma could see the food I eat - meat & butter.

Couldn’t get in U.S.O. tonight - Officer’s dance. Most of the bunch that came down with me pulled out today. I got hopes to go Tuesday. Disregard first letter & write me - Didn't go on K.P. (Kitchen Patrol) - next barrack did. I think it’s our turn tonight.

Finally got my equipment arranged - Winter in one duffle bag & other equipment in other bag. Wish I had a smaller furlough bag but I guess this will be alright. - P.X. (Post Exchange) was closed all day so haven’t spent a single cent in camp - except New York City. Swell bunch of fellows here - make friends with everybody - but non-coms are tough as hell. Give my best to everybody & write me & hope that I leave for Permanent Camp tomorrow.

Ben

IQ tests, Got shots

2009-08-27T10:57:00.037-04:00

Ben arrived in Camp Upton, Long Island, NY yesterday. This is his first letter home describing all his experiences as a new soldier. With all the excitement of being away from home for the first time, he marvels, “I’m not even homesick.”

Page 1: Sunday Night

9:30

June 27, 1943

Hi,

Excuse the pencil but my pen is somewhere in the jumble of clothes in my two duffle bags. Boy has it been hot today. In fact, it was a very hectic day. You probably received my card telling about the grueling train ride where we all looked like miners. We got into New York City & were switched all over N.Y. - underground. Ate in Childs - Took Pennsylvania Railroad to Camp Upton - which took a few hours. Got into camp about 11:00. Got into bed about 12:00. Had about 5 hrs sleep. Then had breakfast -

Page 2: Then we were on the go from about 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. - We took our I.Q. tests the first thing. We were so g-- d--- dirty & sweaty & sleepy but I still got 120 on it, I think, if I interpreted the card right. You need 115 to qualify for O.C.S. (Officer Candidate School) Then we were issued 2 bags of uniforms & equipment. What a job. My shirts are too big but the jacket seems all right. Everybody is crazy about the “zoot suit” fatigue suits. They’re light green, & the hats!!!!

Page 3: They’re perfect. Then we had the needle. - They call it the “hook” out here. My arm didn’t hurt before but it’s beginning to throb now. At first the army shoes were comfortable but my feet are tired now although the veteran of our barracks (9 days in Camp) told us we wouldn’t trade them after a while. We finally got a shower this evening & got the soot out of our hair. Everything is rush-rush out here with strict

Page 4: rules for everything. Right now I’m writing in the writing room off the barracks because it’s lights out for the sleeping rooms. I’m going to be pretty brief because the Corp told us he was going to wake some of us up at 3:15 for K.P. (Kitchen Patrol). I’m sending home the Insurance & Bond forms - just keep them for safety. I didn’t have time to read the back of the Insurance paper but from what the man told us -

Page 5: the rates will go up after the war but still way below civilian insurance. In from 1 to 5 yrs. we will have to renew our clauses & change it to 20 yr. paid up life or 30 yr. & there’s one other alternative but I forgot it. Tell Bob to wear old clothes - something light weight that won’t stick when sweaty - not white for heavens sake. You should have seen the shirts on that trip,

Page 6: we looked like hell. The army gives you as personal equipment besides your other equipment - a plastic razor, toothbrush, shaving brush. I think I’ll send home Louie’s gift & put the stuff in the one that wraps around the waist - When I get settled at a camp maybe you can send that small toothbrush holder. I think I’ll like some slippers like Bob’s too. If I haven’t gotten a plastic dog tag holder by that time - you can send one.

Page 7: I’m undecided whether to keep my big bag or not - maybe when I arrange the jumble in my duffle bag & find room - I’ll send it home - But it won’t be any good home so I might as well keep it.

We are always sweating out here no matter what uniform we wear - we can wear fatigues all the time - Our undershirts are soaked - Even our bills in the money belts are all wet. - Don’t write to me at this camp because they told us they won’t allow it. You know, I wasn’t

Page 8: nervous or tense at any time during the trip. In fact, right now I’m not even homesick - Maybe you’ll resent that but this is a good experience - have a lot of fun. The food is damn good, too. Imagine!!! I ate butter, milk & meat at the same meal!!!! I wouldn’t touch the bacon though. I’ll say one thing. They sure fill you up. You’re not even hungry when you go to Mess. Well, I’m getting tired, so I’ll say goodbye & I’ll drop a line when possible.

Love,

Private Ben

Postcard, Camp Upton

2009-08-26T20:40:00.023-04:00

A gentle person, Ben’s letters to his folks were carefully written with descriptions of his experiences. His concern was to avoid worrying them, so he includes some humor as he keeps them informed. And he definitely shows his appreciation for all the letters and packages sent to him by family and friends.
The viewer will see Ben’s growth from an innocent, young Jewish boy who begins basic training to become a soldier, and who, as time passes, will be exposed to the atrocities of war. So many soldiers had the same experiences, but Ben chronicled his.
June 26, 1943 Ben is at Camp Upton, Long Island, an induction center for new soldiers. He will be transferred to a permanent camp for basic training.

This card is the beginning of Ben’s many informative letters to his family. http://www.benkaplow.com

Front of Picture Post Card: “They sure make you feel at home here!”
Ben, writes on the front, “Like Hell!”
Back of Post Card - Addressed to Ben’s mother

June 26, 1943
Hi Everybody,
Arrived in New York after a train ride that was really funny - We all looked like miners out of the mines.
Love,
Ben

Intro to Florence

2009-08-26T14:22:00.059-04:00

Dear Reader,

This is the beginning of a blog to honor my husband, Pfc Benjamin Kaplow, who died on March 23, 2007. It will include transcriptions of all his letters mailed to and saved by his family. I shall forever regret that they were never read by me in our 53 years of marriage. Yet, now I am able to go back to a time in Ben's life, long before I knew him, to meet this 18 year old and learn why he captured my heart. Ben and I were always a team. Even now, he as a young soldier of 18 years stays by my side into this period of my life of 75 years. Apart? Not really!

So for over two years I, along with the help of many volunteers, created Ben's web site. Because I couldn't choose which letters to omit, plus I added photos, videos, and historical links, as well as the readings done by students at Brighton High School and the University of Rochester, both in Rochester, NY, the site has become huge. Hence, the reason for this blog.

Those who prefer the letter transcriptions may read them here. And a visit to the pages of the web site for its historical information is available, too. http://www.benkaplow.com

Don't hesitate to comment on how I'm doing. The web site was a demanding learning curve for me. Now with the blog, I'm venturing into some new curves while you will be adventuring with Ben at his web site or this blog.

Florence