Reserve Energy

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

Sunday Rest

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