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
About Me
- Pfc Benjamin Kaplow
- In 1943 I was drafted into World War 11 right out of Madison High School, Rochester, NY. This is my story as told in the letters I wrote home. They’re all here, all 192 of them. Spend some time with me as I describe my experiences in basic training and then off to war. They were written in an attempt to help me feel close to my family and to let them know what was going on in my life. It’s the first time I was away from home and I have to confess that I was homesick. My folks were Esther and Jacob Kaplow. We were four children in this order: Arnette, Ruth, Bob, and myself.
Troop Train
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.
U. Conn
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
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