Reconnaissance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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!

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

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

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