CAMP CROWDER MISSOURI

Jan 20, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

I suppose you think I have forgotten about home cause I haven’t wrote for so long, but I have been so busy for the last 2 weeks that there has been no evenings at all, ever since I started working on the line from Tulsa to here. We don’t get back till the lights are out. The only time I had off was the night I called from Neosho and that was just a couple of hours.

You can’t imagine how good it was to hear a voice from home again although I was about half asleep yet, and with officers sitting around in the Orderly rooms, there wasn’t much chance to say anything. Being the call was transferred to camp from town it had to be reverse charges. But I sent the money to the folks the next day and told them to pay you whenever you get over there.

We are really having some cold weather here now. Monday night it was 12 below and I was on guard duty that night for 2 shifts, and then back to work yesterday morning again at 7. We stop a couple of times going back and forth to let the boys out and march a mile or so to warm up cause the back of them trucks are really cold riding these days. Have the rest of this week and next left. Then comes switchboard and that’s all inside work.

It was really disgusting to leave A. C. W. but the Army will do some funny things at  times. If I could have stayed with that I would have gone to Drew Field Fla. in another week, but now it may take a couple of months. But rating comes faster at this work and that is something looking forward to mostly for getting out of all the extra detail, as it’s called here.

Tonight we got back to camp at 5 but then a bunch were shipping to Vermont and they had to be taken to Joplin by 7, so that spoiled another evening. Stopped a short time at the bowling alley, they have some very good teams here, both ladies’ and men’s. At Tulsa, Okla. there are 2 bowling alleys, one with 20 and the other with 36 alleys. But they run 3 shifts each night so there is no time for open bowling except Sunday, and it’s too far from here to go then.

Have only seen one movie this year. That was Whistling in Dixie. If you kids get a chance to see it you should go, its very good. It was held over for a week here at camp. Mostly shows are changed every other night.

Haven’t heard from Toots lately < sister-in-law, mother of our cousin Harry > but it’s my turn to write. I am so far behind now that it will take a month to catch up again unless I start some Sunday morning and write all day. If K. P. don’t come again next weekend that’s a 15 hour job each day so they can have that for all of me.

You should see the caps we were issued when the cold weather came along. All that shows is the eyes. We all think they look worse than the gas masks but they are really warm. The fellow that sleeps next to me is on K. P. tomorrow. He said he was going to put his on tonight when he goes to bed so the C. Q. won’t know him in the morning when he’s to wake him up. Hope it works. There are lots of tricks to this game but the next thing is to get by with it.

Well I think I shall quit for now. 5 comes early in the morning. Will try try to write sooner next time.

Love T. K.

CAMP CROWDER MISSOURI

Jan 11, 1943.

Dearest Ruth,

I received your letter over a week ago, but have been out of camp for 7 days. A week ago yesterday I tried to call you from Joplin but Central said it would take 3 hours and I did not have time to wait. So, we went to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

We have been working on the line between there and here since. We slept in tents and caves every night until Saturday and when we got back here, what do you suppose the first thing I saw on the bulletin was K. P. for Sunday, the first time since I have been in the Army.

I can see by your letter that the boys at home had a good time New Years. That day was the same as any other day here. 32 of us in my Company were on 24 hour guard duty from 5 p.m. until 5 p.m. the following afternoon. I was really thinking of home that night when walking out there in the dark for four hours at a time.

When we come off duty we get all the coffee and sandwiches we can eat and sometimes a few beers if we have a good Officer of the Day or one that forget to look under the bed where the case is hidden.

Had a letter from B. Decker today, he is really sick of the place where he is, but in 3 more weeks will become Staff Sergeant so he is doing alright for himself.

12 including myself in A. C. W. were busted 2 weeks ago, the lowest with a 92 grade, and put on filed line and switchboard for what reason we don’t know yet today. But the Army will do some funny things. We were to ship out the middle of Jan. but now it will be 2 more months. But by the way some boys write us from other camps, Crowder is not bad, only for its location.

We are having some wonderful weather here so it’s nice working outside except for climbing them 40 ft poles to couple our wires. We dig them spurs in the post as deep as they can go. Sometimes one comes sliding down full speed, that makes a good laugh for the rest. I have had some good spills myself so it is fun to see the others do the same.

Well I think this will be all for now. Tell them all Hello!

Love,
Thorgel

Every picnic basket needs some “No-Tipsy” bottle holders made with BUTTONS from your stash. 

I once heard Elizabeth Zimmermann call a knitting method an “un-vention” — meaning she couldn’t be sure that process was never done before, but it came from an original thought of her own, based on applied, practical experience.

That’s exactly how I developed these “No-Tipsy” holders to keep bottles from falling over when the lawn is not perfectly flat. I’ve seen commercial versions used to support wine glasses.

Here’s how to make your own!

(1) For each “No-Tipsy” you will need… one BBQ skewer with a loop/ring at the top, one button (with 2 or 4 holes, not a shank) that fits inside the skewer ring, one very large button (a great use for those big, vintage buttons you inherited), a bracelet or other sturdy hoop that’s big enough to fit over your favorite bottles, some strong thread, a needle, and scissors. (Or, instead of thread, some wire, a wire snipper, and really pointy pliers. I have never used wire, but it should work out OK.)

(2) Be sure to test the bracelet for sufficient diameter of the hole. Any design will work as long as it’s strong enough to support the bottle. I usually use bangles.

(3) Thread into the small button, through the ring of the skewer, into the large button, back through the second hole of that one, then back through the ring and the second hole of the small button. Wrap the ends around the bracelet and tie a firm knot. It’s OK if it’s just a little loose, it will tighten up later.

<If you are using wire instead of thread, use your judgment according to the gauge and tighten as needed by twisting. YMMV. Be sure to roll under the cut ends so no sharp points stick out, hence, the pliers.)

(4) Assuming you are sewing, repeat the process so the thread goes at least four times round. If your buttons have four holes, you’ll alternate, sewing through each.

(5) Next, wrap the thread a few times around the “thread shank” as you would when sewing on a button (perpendicular). This tightens the attachment.

(6) At the end of the process, fasten with an overhand knot. You’ll likely have to slide it up into place by using the needle as a tool. It’s hard to get your fingers into the confined space.

(7) Cut the thread and tuck the ends in, between the buttons.

(8) To use, push the skewer into the lawn as far as needed and drop the bottle in. Voila!!

CAMP CROWDER MISSOURI

Dec 25, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

Thanks a lot for the Xmas present, just what I wanted most of all. We had a good time last night after all the presents were passed around. Captain Newell makes a good Santa Clause (sic). We all ate candy and cookies till we were full in the face. At 11 o’click most all went to church, it was filled to the roof.

Both yesterday and today we slept till 7:30, went to breakfast, and back to bed till noon. I am sending you a menu so you can see what a dinner we had today. But there don’t seem to be the spirit to it like home, even if it is as good as it would have been at home. This afternoon we went to the Field House for the broadcast, maybe you heard it.

Both Tom Brown and Robert Preston < actors > are in our battalion. Here they are only Pvts. like all the rest, even when it comes to K. P. Both are on duty Sunday.

 Tom Brown, actor
 Robert Preston, actor, show poster

I am waiting to get it New Year’s but that day will be the same as every other day here except for pay on New Year’s Eve. I have only 47¢ and 2 pkgs cigarettes left so there will be a hot time in camp that night.

Had a letter from Dayton < Sneve, a neighbor back home > today. You can let him see the menu for he was wondering if we would have a good Xmas dinner. I haven’t got time to answer right away. Only been in school 2 days this week and a test coming up tomorrow so I will have to do some studying tonight yet, before lights go out.

Wishing you a Happy New Year.

Love, Thorgel.

P.S.

Has Marion seen her sailor sir? Or is he froze in at the lakes.
< This is a joke. My mom’s sister later married Art Serr, who was in the Navy at Pearl Harbor. >