Love and War: A Story of World War Ii in 268 Love Letters

By Oneta McCarthy

This is a love story, but it is also a story of World War II. It is the story of a young man who had just turned 20 years of age, and felt it his duty to answer the call of his country and volunteer for the army of the United States.

It is the story of his emotions and frustrations, his love for the young woman who loved and waited for him to come home; and his experiences as he grew into a mature soldier who witnessed the horrors and devastation of war, and saw the results of the Holocaust atrocities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Sep 24, 2008
• ISBN: 9781425130930

Oneta McCarthy

Oneta McCarthy was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is a retired School Business Fiscal Office. She has travel extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Orient. Oneta became a member of Rotary in 1988, when women were first taken into the organization, and was president of her local club in 1993. She was an Assistant Governor in Rotary District 6600 I Ohio, and with the clubs she was in charge of, started a Micro Bank in Honduras. Oneta has always worked with young people; she is a former Girl Scout Leader, a Church Youth Group Advisor, and a Rotary Foreign Exchange Student Chairman. Oneta currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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© Copyright 2008 Oneta McCarthy.

Artwork and Cover Design by Carl King.

Edited by Lindsay King and Carl King.

Illustrations by Carl Ray King.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Note for Librarians: A cataloguing record for this book is available from Library and Archives Canada at www.collectionscanada.ca/amicus/index-e.html

ISBN: 978-1-4251-3091-6

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Contents

Chapter I Camp Perry, Ohio Fort Riley, Kansas

Chapter II Fort Knox, Kentucky

Chapter III After First Furlough Fort Riley, Kansas En-Route to Camp Ibis, California

Chapter IV Camp Ibis, California

Chapter V Camp Polk, Louisiana

Chapter VI En-Route to Overseas

Chapter VII Somewhere In England

Chapter VIII War Is Hell

Chapter IX Army of Occupation Germany

Chapter X France USA

PROLOGUE

This is a love story, but it is also a story of World War II. It is the story of a young man, who had just turned twenty years of age, and felt it his duty to answer the call of his country and volunteer for the Army of the United States.

It is the story of his emotions and frustrations, his love for the young woman who loved and waited for him to come home; and his experiences as he grew into a mature soldier who witnessed the horrors and devastation of war, and saw the results of the Holocaust atrocities.

The story is told by using the actual love letters that he wrote to his future wife.

From October 29, 1942 to January 1, 1946 he wrote 465 letters. 268 of these letters have been transcribed to tell this story. The letters have been reproduced as written in order to preserve historical content and compositional integrity.

DEDICATION

This book has been written in loving memory of my beloved husband; and is dedicated to him, and to our two daughters, our seven grandchildren, and our eight greatgrandchildren.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Since this is my first published work, I was very naive, and was unaware that getting my manuscript ready for publication was a process that would take additional skills. Therefore, it is with deep gratitude that I would like to acknowledge the help of the following members of my family here in Albuquerque who came to my rescue.

First of all, I would like to thank my daughter, Kathy King, who encouraged me to share the letters that I had saved for over sixty years, and write the story they told. She then spent many hours of her very busy time proof reading what I had written.

Next, my granddaughter, Lindsay King, who observing my consternation about putting my manuscript on a CD; about pixels, and scanning, formatting etc. said, Don’t worry about all that Grandma, all we have to do is get a ‘flash drive’, transfer it to my computer, and I can do all that!

Then, my grandson, Carl Ray King, who is an engineer, and knows all about drawing maps, took time out of his busy schedule, to draw a map showing where his grandfather had been during The Battle of the Bulge.

Last, but certainly not least, my multi-talented son-in-law, Carl King, who is an engineer, and an artist, took my idea for the book cover, and turned it into a work of art. He also made sure that all of the illustrations to be used in the book were properly scanned and formatted for publishing.

Thank you, all of you, from the bottom of my heart.

CHAPTER I

CAMP PERRY OHIO

AND

FORT RILEY KANSAS

OCTOBER 29,1942—FEBRUARY 23,1943

Camp Perry Ohio

October 29, 1942

Dearest Oneta,

We arrived at Camp Perry about 7:30 tonight. Our names were called, and the fellows who were drafted were separated from the men who enlisted.

Our barracks are quite bare compared to my room at home. The camp seems very large at night. In the morning we will really find out how large the camp is.

I didn’t bring any addresses with me or any ink, but I will write to my best girl and a few friends of the family.

The ink that I had on my desk didn’t get into my bag, and I can’t get any ink tonight.

Our stay here will not be very long, but we will probably get a few fundamentals on saluting and marching.

The fellows are all around my age except one, who is around 40, and he is pretty good at that.

When I have some more time to write, and have bought some ink, I will write again.

I will really miss you. Will you miss me?

Love,

Al

Pvt. A. McCarthy

Company A

Reception Center

Camp Perry, OH

November 3, 1942

Darling,

I haven’t much time, but I must tell you that I am in the Army now. We were sworn into the Army yesterday. This is the first chance that I have had to write to you today.

The first sergeant came in at 5:30 this morning to wake us up and let us know that this was THE DAY. We got our uniforms this morning, and mine fits all but the pants. They have to be shortened to 31 inches. When I come home again you will be able to see what I look like. This is going to be a turning point in my life.

No longer do I feel like a boy, for today I am a young man for sure.

We have to be over to our Company’s headquarters in about 10 minutes, so I will write you later and tell you what we did today.

Thanks for the letters darling. I received 3 of them today. Please write and send the home front news to me. My address is on the front for awhile. I am going to number my letters darling.

Love forever,

Al

Somewhere in Indiana

November 7, 1942

Darling,

While I write this we are passing through a quiet part of Indiana.

Our train is full of soldiers going somewhere. I don’t know, no one knows where we are to be stationed. The train is rather old, and we are getting a bumpy ride. I will write as we go along, and my letter will probably be long, because I can’t mail it until we get to camp.

We left camp at 10:30 this morning, and we are now pulling into Indianapolis. Our train just passed Fort Benjamin Harrison. This was where quite a number of soldiers were stationed at first.

Now we are stopped in the Indianapolis station. Our first meal was in Toledo, and it was pork chops and mashed potatoes with strawberry ice cream for dessert. Most of the fellows thought we were going to eat in Indianapolis, but we have put on an engine on the other end of the train and we are pulling out of the station. I hope we are going to eat here, for I am becoming hungry.

The train is pushing us forward and backward for some reason or another. I think we are going on to another track and will go farther south. Some of the fellows say Texas, some say Georgia, some say Florida, and some say Kansas. I wish I could be close to home, because I am really missing you being close to me.

Darling, every night I wish you were near so that we could be together. During the day I think that it would be fun to go hiking or riding somewhere together. Last night I had that one dream about the Spanish house that we had, and about swimming in our little lake in South America that I have picked out.

November 8,1942

We pulled out into St. Louis about 12:00 midnight. The sleepers we were supposed to get were already taken, so we had to ride on in our old train. Our Camp is Fort Riley, Kansas. Can you beat that? We are a thousand miles away from you.

This is quite a large camp, and we will have quite a few bunk mates. Our non-commissioned officers are all very young and soft spoken Southerners. Our major marched over to the barracks with us and had us taken to the mess hall as soon as possible.

My address is on the front. Please write soon darling.

Love,

Al

Camp Funston, Kansas

November 11, 1942

Darling,

We are really getting down to our training. After we got here Sunday, we were taken to our barracks where we were bunked down for the night. Our staff sergeant is only 20 years old. He was 20 in May, and he is a swell fellow to give us orders. The only trouble is that we were transferred to Company E from the Maintenance Company. We are in with a bunch of Kentucky and West Virginia hillbillies who are the darnedest bunch of fellows I ever thought I would get into.

We are crowded into a barracks with 34 other fellows. Early this morning, our 2nd Lieutenant took us out on the drill ground for our exercises. We exercised for about an hour, and I am tired out tonight.

We are really going to get going now, and maybe I will get a rating soon. Our whole barracks is in quarantine until a week from this coming Sunday.

Our overseas caps must be worn on the left side of our heads. One finger width above our left eyebrow and one finger width above our ear. We have to wear our clothes quite cocky. Gee!

I wish I could show you my uniform, and be close to you again.

If you only knew how much I miss the softness of your lips on mine, and the touch of your hands on my hair. My thoughts are with you nightly, and I was just looking out of the window at this Kansas moon. The sky has been very clear and cold in the morning and warmer during the day.

Our Company will be out marching very soon, and I will be trying my best to get my stripes as soon as possible. The Sergeant says that the ratings come out every month or so, and I might be able to get on the list.

Please say hello to everyone for me.

Love,

Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

November 16, 1942

Dearest Darling,

Was I a surprised young soldier this afternoon when I got that large package of goodies from you. The fellows all dashed around, but I told them to stay clear until after awhile. Perhaps I will have to open the package after awhile, but no one is going to get near to it until I have looked at it awhile.

Darling, when the mail call came and my name was called, I nearly lost my speech for a minute. The fellows handed the package back to me. I didn’t know whether to turn around after I got my package, or just to stand there and look at it. My mother sent me a box of nuts, and I got them right after they handed me your package. Then they handed me two letters from you darling! I haven’t gotten some letters that you sent to me at Camp Perry yet, because I didn’t get the letter that you told about the ducks eating the goldfish. They should be coming soon because they are certainly missed by this soldier.

We had more drilling and marching today, plus about two hours of rifle aiming. Wednesday we are going out on the rifle range to shoot real bullets at a target. Our instructors aren’t so very bad, but they swear more than the hillbillies.

To get back to that lovely box that you sent me. It is so very pretty that I don’t want to open it for now. Maybe tomorrow I will open it and admire it again. I know what is in there but I haven’t broken the cellophane.

How is your work coming along? Do you still have to walk down that dark street at night? Walking down that dark street at night worries me every night. Please be careful darling, because I don’t want you to get hurt.

Say hello to your mother and father for me and pat Bobbie on the head for me too.

Love forever,

Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

November 29, 1942

My darling Oneta,

Well, here it is Sunday again, and I will have some free time today. We have to work this afternoon on our tanks. Yesterday afternoon our company was out changing the tracks on the tanks. We were out there until 6:30, and everyone was nearly frozen to death. The tracks are about 25 feet long and have about 75 rubber blocks in it. The rubber is worn on the outside, and the inside good rubber is put on the outside. It has been really cold and windy for the last few days. Yesterday it started to snow and we had to work in the cold. My hands and feet were cold, so I was in by the fire every once in a while.

We have been on the gun range firing at targets. We haven’t been firing real bullets, just learning how to aim the gun at the target, and learning the names of all the parts.

Last night I dreamed of coming home and taking you away with me. It wasn’t by automobile either. My dreams still revolve around a Spanish atmosphere no matter what happens. It was about 100 years ago, and you lived about twenty miles from where I lived. Your father wouldn’t let me come near the place, but your governess would let me see you every few days. One night I came over on my horse and took you away with me. We went away from that section and made a home of our own. We had several children, I have forgotten how many, and we had our hacienda.

Being out here has made me love you more and more mentally and morally darling, and that is the better way.

Yours forever, my beloved,

Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

November 30, 1942

My own Snuggles,

Today we had more machine gun practice, and I still have a very bad cold in my chest. This morning I woke up early and I lay awake thinking about you.

This is going to be a very personal letter, Dearest, so please read this at the last moment before you go to sleep. Snuggles, I have always thought of you as mine, and I have always known that you are to be mine forever. Do you think it is wrong of me to be so possessive when you aren’t really mine? When I think of having you near me with your warmth next to me, and the thrilling sensation of your hand running through my hair, a burning feeling runs through my blood.

If we could be together forever darling in a place of our own, I would really be happy. My dreams have always been with just the two of us alone, and being very happy with each other, but maybe you wouldn’t like to be alone and away from everyone else.

Snuggles when I come to the top step of our house, I will pick you up into my arms, and walk across the threshold into our home. It will be comforting to hold you to me and whisper to you, Darling, you are mine, really mine forever and a day. To see your eyes look up into mine with that quizzical look in them that always makes me want to protect you from everything that you fear.

Dearest, I do hope you will melt into my arms, so that our true love may be fulfilled. Would you shiver very much if I put a cold hand down the back of your neck?

Sweet dreams my love. Forever yours, my beloved.

Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

December 8, 1942

Darling,

I missed writing to you yesterday, because I had to go over to Fort Riley again. Last night I was going to go early, but we had to go to retreat, and I didn’t leave here until 7 o’clock.

When I got back, it was almost lights out, so I didn’t have a chance to write.

This is our noon hour, and I am trying to get this letter written. My cold isn’t any better, and I don’t know what I can do for it. It just hangs on in my chest and it probably won’t get any better for awhile.

This morning our company went out on the obstacle course for almost two hours. The first obstacle is a board wall about 8 feet high. You go over the top and jump down onto the ground. Then you have to run around a zigzag fence and scale a wall about 10 feet high. Then we jumped over a 7 foot ditch, crawled over two small fences, jumped another ditch, and then we were finished.

Darling, if you have a very small first aid kit, please send it to me. If it has a bottle of iodine, a few band aides that will be enough.

Dearest, I am glad that you do not think I am too possessive. I had tried to love you just enough, but you can tell how much I really love you, can’t you? I love you with all my heart and soul, and my heart beats so terribly hard for you.

Please say that you love me darling, for that is what I want. Write to me soon, so I can dream of you.

Yours forever and a day. Your Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

December 10, 1942

Dearest,

When I received your letter today, I was surprised to hear that you haven’t received a letter from me since last Friday. I have been writing every day, and I missed only one day in the last two weeks. Please check on the postmarks to see what the difference is in the dating. Please tell me what the x’s mean on the letters darling. Could they be kisses, my sweet? If only I could kiss you now my homesickness would leave immediately.

How has work been coming along? Have you been wanting to change jobs lately? I have been so selfish darling, just thinking about myself and not asking about you. Gee, darling, I don’t want to ever become so selfish as to never ask you what your hopes, wishes, and dreams are.

Please write to me soon, because I really know you are near when I can sit down on my bunk and read your darling letters.

Snuggles, will you please put a drop of your perfume on a letter, and put a real kiss above your signature on the letter?

I will be waiting for your next letter with bated breath.

To my Love,

Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

December 14, 1942

My dearest Oneta,

At noon today I got your package. I was really tickled pink when I opened the package and found that you sent me another snack kit. Darling, you shouldn’t do that, because I really don’t deserve it.

Yesterday afternoon four other fellows and I went into Junction City for a few hours. We were shopping around for awhile, and I missed having you holding on to my arm going down Euclid Avenue in Cleveland.

Four of us are from Ohio, and one fellow is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. They don’t drink, so we stopped into the China Clipper Restaurant for a chop suey dinner. While I was sitting there I remembered how you and I used to eat Chinese food together. I felt like I was going to let go, but I held myself together until I was in bed. After I was lying there awhile, I closed my eyes and presto you were standing there beside me! I reached up with my hands and took you into my arms.

You were so close to me that I could feel your heart beat synchronized with mine. The softness of your kisses made me feel real dizzy, and I drifted into a wonderful sleep with you.

Dearest, please close your eyes when you lie in bed tonight and see if you don’t find me beside you. Just squeeze me to you and love me with all your loveliness.

Yesterday I wore my uniform with my olive drab pants, shirt, jacket, tie, and overseas cap. You forgot to tell me what you had on, or did you wear what you were going to wear in the letter the day before?

Camp Funston, where I live, is on the Fort Riley Reservation, but about 10 miles from Fort Riley proper.

Yours, as you are mine,

Al

Fort Riley, Kansas

December 16, 1942

My dearest sweet beloved honey my lovely beautiful package of love,

I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you. I got two letters from you today, my love, and I am happy! My heart beat rapidly; my pulse throbbed through my veins when I read your letters.

Sweetheart, today I am writing to you just the way I feel about you. This evening I got my wonderful Christmas gift from you.

Gee, Honey, what a surprise that sweater and kit and most of all that picture of you was! When did you get the pictures? You didn’t tell me that you got them. Was that a surprise? Do you look beautiful on the picture darling! That dress always did appeal to me, and I loved to see you in it. Darling, did you have on your pin? I can’t see it on the picture. I got your other snapshots today also, and I realized again how much I miss you.

Darling, I miss you, miss you, miss you, miss you. Please be mine forever and ever, because I want to feel you near me.

Sweetheart, if only you knew how much a man misses the woman he loves, I could open my heart to you. Please don’t think bad of me my beloved, but I miss your warmth and loving that is in your body