Mom writes to her sister back home, from near Baltimore where they were stationed.

August 7, 1945

Last Sunday, the news had just some out about the new bomb they’re about to use on Japan, and we were pretty thrilled about it, and speculating what it might mean, etc. Later, when the girls got back from the movie, they invited me downstairs to partake of ice cream with maraschino cherries on it, and I stayed there, talking to them, until a little after ten.

August 8, 1945

I’m so thrilled about all the news of the atomic bomb that I can scarcely wait each day for the paper to come and find out the latest. I do wish we had a radio so we could tune in at night and hear the ten o’clock news.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Japan would give in, now, and we wouldn’t have to invade the China coast and Japan proper? Maybe we won’t have to take a furlough, but will be coming home with the war over. Every time I think such a thing might happen, it gives me the cold chills. I wonder, if Japan had capitulated at the time of our first ultimatum, whether the news of our harnessing the atom would have come out at this time, or if scientists would have kept it mum for years. It is curious to know what might have happened.

Tues. Aug. 14, 1945

Dear Marion:

Just got back from a trip to the Commissary. I hated to leave the radio in case of the big announcement, but it sounds as if it will be quite a while yet.

Last night the boys at the house were talking about how long they’ll be at the camp. Sgt. Naler says he thinks a conservative estimate would be 3 months — very doubtful if they’ll stay that long. We’re sort of forgetting about a furlough until further notice.

Wednesday

The war is really over at last! It’s so wonderful I can hardly believe it yet. When I woke up this morning I was so happy I wasn’t even sleepy.

<Movies were shown at the camp where they were stationed, near Baltimore.>
We went to the movie last night, and about 7:10 or so the lights came on and everyone just knew what it was. Col. Thomas came out on the stage and made a very short announcement, and I wish you could have heard the noise then! The boys yelled, whistled, clapped their hands, and really whooped it up. Pretty quick they started the picture, and quite a few got up and left. Then about 15 min. later the lights came on for a minute while a voice requested all MPs to report to their stations. I was so happy I couldn’t even see the picture, and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. We watched for a while, but decided to leave before the picture was over.

We stopped at the PX and talked to a few of the boys. They were all terrifically exuberant, talking about going home, etc., and then we left as it was just getting dark.

Thorgel was restricted < to the camp >, but he got to walk part way home with me. Wilma told me about the 2-day Federal holiday, at which I was overjoyed. We didn’t know if we had to come to work, put in an appearance, or not, but thought we should.

Thorgel probably spent the balance of the evening drinking beer with his cronies. There have been some pretty large celebrations going on in camp since the night of the false rumor.

When I got home I went upstairs and started to cry, for about five minutes — just nerves and happiness together being too much for me — and then I went down to see Wanda. She looked red-eyed, too, and said later her husband just about cried when the news came over the radio. We listened to the radio till about eleven, and then drank root beer and ate cookies and Jello. Some celebration!

This morning Major Barrick still said he hadn’t heard anything official, but upon being confronted by an office force determined to take two days off whether he okayed it or not, he finally got in touch with Post Hq and verified it, and we all went home again with his blessing.

Sgt. Naler came home a few minutes at eleven and said they wouldn’t parade tonight as V.J. day isn’t official until the treaty papers are signed by Japan. So the boys will come tonight, thank goodness.

My, it must have been some celebration in New York and San Francisco last night. How was it in S.F.? Here a lot of cars drove around full of people honking horns, etc., but it’s such a small place they couldn’t do much.

Our dad was a native speaker of Danish. He never finished high school here in the States; he quit school to work on the farm. So it’s been interesting to read his letters about going back to school in a military setting for a couple of different reasons — well, three actually.

1. I’ve never read anything Thorgel wrote before. Really, I haven’t. Oh, maybe a grocery list, but never what I’d call “content,” nor original writing. He never wrote me a letter. Mom always did the writing for both of them, whenever I was away from home. I didn’t find these letters until many years after he died.
2. He always liked to learn new things, he was a whiz at arithmetic (always done in Danish), and he had incredible mechanical aptitude for building and fixing — especially from repurposed materials and found objects. A true dumpster diver long before the term became common. I’m sure he felt very positive overall about the training and “schooling” he got in the military. He didn’t do a GED process in WWII, as far as I know, but he certainly could have earned the like.
3. Thorgel never quite mastered a few words/phrases in English and he used what he thought he heard, not what would have been correct in written form. Of course, the favorite mom and I had was the way he used to say, “nipped in the butt” instead of “in the bud.” You have to admit the mental picture is memorable. He confused several homonyms, punctuation was arbitrary, there are run-on sentences. He thought “sequins” were “sequence” and he spelled “Santa Clause” with an “e” at the end, 50 years before the movie title. But I have college students whom I teach today whose writing is far less clear and direct and engaging than T. K.’s narratives in these letters he wrote to mom.

1942, the week of Christmas. Stuck in small-town Missouri…

Dec 20, 1942.

Dearest Ruth:

Just a few lines to let you know I got your package today but I can’t open it til Xmas Eve. Our Captain wants to be Santa Clause (sic). He is really going to be busy, there must be over 150 packages for our barracks alone.

I was in Joplin today after a load of raincoats. It’s rained here for 2 days and a lot of the boys did not get a raincoat until now. It’s 32 miles from here and that’s the only town around of any size. It’s around 8,000 population. Had to wait 1½ hours to get loaded, so I went around town and got a few things. The small towns around here have been sold out long ago so I was about to give up hopes of doing any Xmas shopping until today.

When I got home tonight I had 12 cards and letters, most of them from Minn. They must have got my address from my buddy at Miami cause they had been there first. I am ashamed of myself for not writing to some of them but I guess they won’t mind too much.

Here we wear our O. D. trousers and tan shirts and black ties, with blouse for dress. We have coveralls for everyday. I really like them better than trousers and jacket like we wore at Miami.

You were wondering if I had rode in a Jeep yet. Yes, ever since last Friday I drive one every afternoon out in the woods a few miles to a receiving station out there for the A. C. W. school. It’s just like riding one of these Mo. mules, herding it down the trails in the woods, but they can really plow mud and climb the hills.

We are going to have both Thursday and Friday off here, there will be services Xmas Eve at 11, and 9 and 2 Friday. There will also be a play at the Field House Friday afternoon so it won’t be bad after all, although it won’t be like home, by far. But the Army is doing its best for each and every one here so what more can be expected under the circumstances.

Sunday I sent you a picture. I had 6 like it taken at Miami. I was also to have 2 big ones like the one the folks have. You can see it when you go over home. But I shipped out before they were ready so if I will ever get them now is a question. I had intended to give you and Harold one of those instead of the small ones.

I hope it’s a picture of you that’s come today. It’s a good thing it’s only 3 days to wait or it would maybe mean K. P. (A few have tried to open their packages and that’s what they get.) It’s kind of rough but orders are strict here and it’s best to stick with them.

Well, I think this will be all for tonight, I haven’t read all my letters yet and we have another mail call at 10. We have 3 a day now until after the holidays. So Good Night and lots of Love, Thorgel

Tell them all Hello! from me.

I love the wings/propeller and the logotype at the top of this military notepaper where our dad went for gunnery training in 1942. I can’t remember having seen that design anywhere before. For my Printing students, notice the gap designed into it between the red ink plate and the blue ink plate. That makes it less expensive to produce, as the registration is not close at all. Even the red initial caps on the right will “work” ok if they’re not aligned perfectly.

It’s December 1942 and soon Thorgel will find out where the war will take him next…

Air Forces Basic Training Center
Miami Beach Schools
Miami Beach, Florida

Dec 5, 1942.

Dearest Ruth,

I am now through with my training here, wish I could have stayed here this winter. It’s really nice to be where it’s warm this time of the year, but I guess there is nothing to do about it.

Tomorrow I am on shipping order, hope it’s to the west coast from here. I would like to see some more of this southern country before leaving.

The last lecture we had this afternoon was by Capt. B. Bie < ? > and he told us this squadron would be in combat zones within 60 days. I hope we have some good hunting where we are going cause them machine guns are a lot of fun shooting. This last week I had 6 hours every day, we shoot as high as 400 rounds a minute so you can imagine what a chatter it really is.

I am on guard duty tonight at 10 so it won’t be any use going any place till then except for a lunch. My buddy from Minn. left yesterday so it’s quiet here tonight except for a few British boys that came in this morning. They think it’s a treat for them to come to this country for training. They have a lot of interesting things to talk about but some of the Scotch (sic) are hard for us to understand. They seem to cut their words so short.

I had some more pictures taken, will send them when I get to a Post Office somewhere. Haven’t been able to get away during the day here to send them.

How are you getting along with your bowling? It’s too far here to go bowling, 47 blocks, that’s a long walk and no transportation here after dark.

Well I guess that will be all for tonight, have 45 min left until I go on duty for the last time under a Miami Moon.

Love,
Thorgel

On the back:
THIS ENVELOPE TO BE USED ONLY MY MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES.

Camp Ritchie Md.
Nov 19, 1943

Dearest Ruth:

Received your letter this afternoon. This makes two now since I have gotten around to write. Even though we are in nights, it gets late before we have everything ready to move out at 6 a.m. Now it’s 9:30 and I have yet to shower and shave before the daily routine is completed. These days we go out in teams, and then when we get in, take a couple of hours BSn around trying to settle the arguments which ones have had the most experience through the day.

At times it gets almost as interesting as the tales like those old fellows tell. I always like to listen to them telling about what they used to do years ago.

Whereabouts in Minn. is that uncle’s farm of yours? Maybe I might know it cause I’ve almost been all over up there.

You know honey, I was just thinking next time I get home you will maybe have the piano out on the porch < This was at the front of the house, not outside. >

I remember you saying something about moving the radio out there. You kids could play it more without disturbing your mother too much. I don’t think I ever heard you play that I remember of. Are we going to have a piano in our living room or haven’t you found a place for it yet? Now I know what I can use for picture frames.

The boys sure got a big kick out of it. This will be one more to hang on the bulletin board. At times it’s covered with poems and stories so there’s hardly room for what’s supposed to be on there.

I don’t know what to say about that list of things you wanted to have me make, of things I wanted for Xmas. You know Ruth, the more stuff one has the more you have to move around with. There is only one thing I would really like and that’s one of those sleeveless G.I. sweaters. Some had them given to them by the Red Cross. When I came in the Army they gave me a shaving and sewing kit.

< I found this photo of one such vest at http://www.sid-vintage.com. >

You are way behind with your Xmas shopping honey. I done all of mine the last time we were out of camp.

I remember last year it was all sone at the last minute. Here one never knows when you get off. So that’s one thing that’s over with except for the wrapping. I haven’t decided on what color of ribbon to use but I think it’s going to be the lavender. < He must mean this as a joke; he was color blind. >

A little while ago some of the boys were talking  about what they were going to get their girlfriends. I believe Sgt. Williams has an idea. He said he was going to get his girl mad at him till after the holidays. That way he would get out of it. Isn’t that some way to talk about his girl?

He’s about as bad as the Bodens. I sure can’t see why Albert quit a job like his to get to driving a cab. Something like that may be alright for a side line but not for steady. Unless he wants to get acquainted with some other lady soon, then he is on the right track for sure.

This last week we have also been having swell weather. It’s just like when I was home except here we really have a cold gray dawn. So about the first thing we do when we get out in the morning is get a real fire going here. There are woods all over so it don’t take long.

You know honey, I was just thinking that if it would have been this year I would have been at Crowder < Ft. Crowder in Missouri > you could maybe have come and seen me there. Wouldn’t that have been swell? That’s one time a person wants to be home more than any other other time that I know of, but let’s hope that next year we can be together by then. This war surely could go on much longer the way it looks now.

< Occasionally Thorgel was sent to bring back a soldier gone AWOL. Sounds like they got kitchen duty as part of their punishment. >

The way our K.P.s tell us they even look to be back within another year. By now we are getting pretty well acquainted with some of them. It beats all how fast they catch one. After this month two of us CSU men can take one of them along the movie when we wish to. I guess they figure when there are 2 to 1 it’s O.K. Ever since they started working at the Mess Hall were are all getting too fat cause they give us whatever we point to as much as we want.

Well there’s not much space left so I must quit for now. Lights out, 11 p.m.

Love,
T.K.

I’m sure my dad got this from one of his buddies, but there are no credits for it. Enclosed in a letter sent to mom just after Christmas, 1942.

CAMP CROWDER BLUES

I am sitting here and thinking of the things I left behind
and would hate to put on paper what is running through my mind.

I have washed a million dishes and have peeled as many spuds.
I have paid as many dollars for the washing of my duds.

The many parades I have stood for is very hard to tell.
I hope it’s nice in heaven, for I know what it is in hell.

I have walked a thousand miles or more and never left the post.
I have studied till the dawning hours for the course I wanted most.

When my final days are over and my life cares laid away
I will do my final dress parade on the golden judgement day.

St. Peter then will grab me, and suddenly he will yell,
“Come in if you are from Crowder, you have served your time in hell.”

In the fall of 1942, our dad, Thorgel Klessen, quit his job driving a beer delivery van in SIoux Falls, SD, and enlisted in the Army. Not sure yet what year it was when he was naturalized as a US citizen, but likely in the late ’30s. (His family had been emigrés from Denmark.)

I have a bundle of letters he wrote to mom over the next two years. This is the first one.

Miami Beach Fla.
Nov. 8, 1942

Dear Ruth:

I am now stationed at the Normandie Hotel living like a king. I have a private room and bath. This is the life for a soldier. I am sending a card with a picture of the hotel and a circle around the window of my room.

40 of us came here from Leavenworth, we rode in a Pullman all the way. It took from Tuesday 7 p.m. until Saturday 10 a.m. to get here, had several stops along the way. One night we stopped at Atlanta, Ga. for 4 hours. 5 of us went to watch them bowl. That’s the largest bowling alley I have ever seen, 52 alleys and they were all going. I got a picture of it and sent to Freddie at the Recreation.

It’s beautiful around here. There are 306 hotels along the beach and they are all filled with service men. They say there are 40,000 men here. From my room I can see ships of all kinds going all the time.

9:00 p.m. — all the shades are drawn and blue bulbs all around. No street lights or cars out after dark. It makes one feel lonesome with all this darkness.

We get up at 6:45 a.m. and eat at 7, 12, and 5. From then until 11 we can do what we please. Tomorrow I start with Examination for 4 days, 6 hours daily. I hope I come out as good as at Leavenworth. After that there will be 20 days of training, and then we move again, where to I don’t know.

Well, so much for the Army life. I would rather haul beer anytime, and that goes for all the rest I talk to here. There is another fellow coming in now just as wet as a duck. It rains all night and daytime is so hot, it’s just like it was at home in July.

Well, I think this will be all for tonight. Don’t raise too much hell, course I am saving mine for later. I am going to try to get back to Soo Falls when I leave here. There are only 4 schools like that in the U.S.

Good night and lots of love,
T.K.