Feb. 17, 1953

(Post card)  Los Angeles, Feb 17, 1953

Arrived here at 4:00 AM Calif time.  Have to lay over for 2 hours.  Ate at the restaurant at the Airline.  First class place.  Leave here around 6:15 AM.  Weather is just cool.  Air is fresh.   Love Ted

(Post card)  Camp Roberts, Feb 17, 1953

Pvt Teddy S. McAnally US55337884

Batry. A  440  AFA Bn

Camp Roberts, Calif

Dear Mom and Dad,

Got here this morning.  Didn’t have time to send you my address.  Call Margie and tell her I am here.  (Tues night)

Feb 18, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad,

I haven’t had anything to do this morning.  So I am writing a letter.  We got to Roberts yesterday morning.  They split us up last night and sent us to training centers.  I got to stay with Underwood and Keith (Keith says his dad is a salesman at Davison Furniture)  Charles Kirk got separated from us.  We are going to be split up again in different platoons today. 

 The weather is sure nice here.  70 to 75 in the day and 50 to 60 at night.  Reminds me of Mo in the spring time.  The country looks like the Ozarks only bigger.  They still feed good.  

This is an armored field artillery battalion.  But it is going to be Infantry training.  I flew up the coast most of the way here and landed at Paso Roables and took the bus.  The Sergeant told us we wouldn’t get anything to eat until we arrived so he took orders for food and stopped at a drive-in and got us food.  I ordered coffee and collected the money from the guys.  I knew he was going to make something on it so I helped myself to hamburgers.  I played the same trick on him as he was playing on us.

They told us we will be here for 16 to 18 weeks.  We won’t start basic for another week or two.  We are confined to our company area for 2 or 3 weeks.  No shows, beer, or PX.  We can go to the PX at night in formation. 

 I like what I have seen of Calif so far.  It was light when we left LA.  The ocean is pretty.  I think you would like it out here.  Well let me hear from you and let me know the news.  I will write you later on.   

Love Ted.

Pvt Teddy S. McAnally

US55337884

Btry. A. 440^th Armd. F.A. Bn.

Camp Roberts

Calif.

Write my address just like this.  It means Battery A, The 440^th Armored Field Artillery.

Thurs 19 Feb 53

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

How is everything.  Had some time so I thought I would write you.  Started pre basic yesterday.  It lasts for a week and then next week we start basic (next Wed)  We went to the dentist yesterday.  I am going to have to have that tooth pulled that I lost my filling out of.  I weighed at the PX tonight.  I weigh 169 now.  We marked our clothes and drilled and had classes today.  I am in the 2^nd Platoon Barracks now with Wm Keith.  Underwood is in the other Platoon #4.  I bought a cartoon of cigarettes, clothes hangers, a cloth marker tonight.  Everything is cheap but it takes quite a lot at first.  Not much more to tell.  I haven’t received any letters yet.  May be I will by the time you get this letter.  I will write again when I get some mail from you.  

 All my love Ted

Sunday Feb. 22, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad

How is everything.  I started a letter Friday but didn’t hardly get started.  Had my tooth pulled Fri morning and had classes all day then that night we had what they call a GI party.  Moved all the bunks out and mopped and waxed the floors.  Sat. I had to do KP.  Worked in the kitchen from 5:00 AM till 8:30 PM.  I had to wash all the dishes, trays, and silver.  About the time you get done with one meal they start arriving in for the next.  It usually lasts longer than 8:30 but the cook wanted to go some place and let us get away early.  Everyone does KP.  I will have to do it again before long.  I went to bed about 9:00 last night.

Margie called me last night about 5:15 here.  Said she hadn’t got any mail yet but that you had.  She should have some.  Do you ever see her? 

I got up at 6:30 this morn and had breakfast.  Pancakes, bacon, and coffee.  It is nice here today.  I took some pictures here and I will send them when I get them back from the PX.  I polished my boots, dyed my shoes this morning.  I still have a pair to dye.  I may do that after this afternoon.  

I went to church this morning.  Every where we go we have to go in formation.  I didn’t  have to go to church but I did.  They gave us our rifles today and will have to keep them clean now.  They gave us our field equipment the other day.  Helmets, field jackets, wool sweater, etc.  

I am running out of stamps.  I will try to get some more from the PX.  We had steak and French fries to day for lunch, green beans, salad, cake.  They were out of coffee.

We may not have to do anything tomorrow because of Washington’s Birthday.  

I have a single bunk on the first floor.  It is a lot better than a double.  Lot more room.  We have footlockers and a place to hang our clothes behind the bunks.  Everything has to be just right.  They are not to rough now but they will be when we start basic.

Well not much more to say now.  I will write again when I get a chance.  Sometimes it is hard for me to write so you might not get a letter every day.   

All my Love Ted

Monday Feb 23, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad

How is everything today.  I guess dad is home.  We didn’t do much yesterday.  We got to the PX last night.  Drank a couple of beers and bought some things.  Sure didn’t seem like Sunday.  Thought about you all day.  

We have an automatic washer in our shower room now.  25 cents a load.  I might do my white stuff then send my dungarees to the laundry.  They should be ironed.  2 or 3 of us go in together and it doesn’t cost much.  

We had rifle drill this morning and this afternoon.  We are going to play ball.  Best platoon gets to eat first and won’t have to serve.  They said we might go to the show tonight.  

I have picked up a cold.  Some days it is worm and some days it is cold.  Night is always cold soon as the sun goes down.  Yesterday it was worm and today it is a little cooler.  

I wonder if you would send me about two pairs of the innersoles for my boots.  Size 10, Katz has them.  They are white and made of sponge rubber.  I want to put another pair in my boots.  I can’t buy them here.  

Stamps are in a machine.  1 airmail and a 2 cent stamp cost 10 cents.  One 3 cent and a one cent cost 5 cents.  Some things are cheap and some are not.  They have a Christian Science Service on Monday night at 1930, that is 7:30.  I won’t be able to go till I get off restriction.  Well not much more to say now.  Will write again.  

Love Ted

Feb. 10, 1953

Feb 10, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad,

I ended up leaving KC about 4 P.M on the KC Southern.  Arrived at Camp Crowder about 8:00.  Had dinner on the train.  Good food.  It was raining here when we got off the train.  They gave us blankets (3,) two sheets and a pillow.  That is about all so far, nothing to do but go to bed and sleep, it’s about 9:00 now.  

I forgot to tell you to change my insurance on the car.  Change it to the Chevy.  It wont cost as much either.  

I guess I’ll write tomorrow or the next day when I know something new.  Tell Snapper hello. 

Love Ted

(post card)

Feb 12, 1953.  Thursday morning.

Dear Folks,

Everything OK so far.  They feed us good and gave us plenty of clothes yesterday.  

I talked to Margie.  I plan to call you tonight.  

I got up at 4 A.M. this morning.  No reason for it.  We had to wait till 6 A.M. to eat and fall out at 7:00 again and go to different places for processing.  

My boots are 9 ½ D.  I dyed them brown last night and polished them.  

The lights go out at 9:00 in the barracks.  

I went to the show Tuesday night, felt a little homesick this morning.  

I don’t know where I will go from here.  I hope I go to Ft. Riley from here so I can see you once in awhile.  

All my love   Ted

P.S.  Don’t write me here.

Feb 13, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Had a little time this morning so I thought I would write you a letter.  

We haven’t been doing anything much except process ect.  We got up at 4:00 this morning and I am waiting to go to breakfast.  I don’t know whether I can get home Sat or not.  I haven’t got my uniform yet, it is at the cleaners.  

I sure do miss you.  I hope I get sent close to home so I can see you once in awhile.  Ft. Riley or Ft. Leonard Wood would be good.  If I can’t get there I probably won’t see you for a while.  

I tried to get some Valentines but they were sold out.  So I guess I can’t send one home to you.  

The army isn’t so bad itself it is just the idea that you can’t go home or do what you want.  Well not much more to say now.  

Margie may be down tonight and if I can get a ride to KC I will come up.  I will write you again later on.  You had better not write me any more letters here because I will be leaving here most likely the first of next week.  Some of the guys get sent all over the U.S.  

Lots of love   Ted

How is my boy Snapper 

Monday Feb 16, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad and Snapper

I have some time this morning so I will write you.  

We got up at 5:00 this morning, had breakfast and mopped the floors.  The boys that are shipping out are not doing anything but playing cars, sleeping, etc.  

I wrote Margie a letter and sent Jimmie Miller a card.  I feel a little better today.  It was harder to say goody by this time than last time.  It was the best two days I have had.  I really enjoyed being with you.  Why don’t you have Margie come out once in awhile?  We got to camp last night about 9:30.  

Had a good trip.  Ate at Boot’s Drive-In in Carthage.  I went to bed as soon as I got here. (at 10:00 that is)  You might send me another book of stamps when you write.  They buy them in a machine here at Crowder.  

I don’t know what it will be when I get to Roberts.  I will write you as soon as I get there.  I will write along the way if I can..  

We are going to fall out at 3:30 P.M. and take a bus to Springfield and get our plane.  I am not sure of that yet.  I will let you know.  

Well not much more to say now.  I will write again later.  

All my love Ted

(post card)  16 Feb. 53

Dear Mom and Dad

I left Camp Crowder about 5:00 and rode to Springfield Airport on a charted bus.  I was supposed to leave there at 10:00 on Continental Airlines but they changed our flight and I boarded about 8:30.  I called Dad and I could not get Margie.  

The engines on the plane would not start so I got off and called Margie again.  I am sorry Mom I didn’t talk to you.  I will write you again in the air and have it mailed. 

Love Ted

(post card) Feb 17, 1953

Left Springfield at 9:45.  Stopped in Tulsa for about 30 min.  We are now flying straight through to LA, non stop and should arrive in LA at 4:30 A.M.  It is just now midnight .  Going over New Mexico, can’t see a thing but lights.  Just ate another steak, Pepsi, roll, milk and coffee. 

 Don Charles and myself are sitting together, Bill Keith is in the plane to follow.  I will mail this on the plane.  You will probably get it from LA.  Write later 

Love Ted

Drafted

Teddy Stone McAnally received his draft notice on December 26, 1952.

On February 9, 1953, Dad took me to the Nuway Drive-In in Fairmount and bought me a hamburger.  He said he was leaving for the army the next day and asked me if I would miss him.  I said no.  He was a little surprised but realized it was the talk of a 5 year old boy who was probably masking his feeling.  I think I realized as soon as I said it, it was the wrong thing to say.  I leaned over and with tears in my eyes I hugged him.

Dad did not want to go to Korea.  He didn’t even want to be in the army.  He tried to avoid the draft by telling the draft board that he was my legal guardian.  The draft board called my mother and she told them that he was not my legal guardian, that she was and that I was only living with my grandparents, his parents, out of necessity for the time being.  

Dad made the best of his time in the army and was some what successful as far as those types of things go.  He was a little older than most draftees at the time, around 25, but he was just as homesick and frightened, according to the letters he wrote home, as any younger draftee would have been.

He wrote many letters home; almost one each day, and usually included me in the introduction.  My grandmother kept each letter.  Before she died she gave all the letters to Dad, who organized them in chronological order, put them in a shoe box and upon his death instructed that the letters be given to me. 

The task of copying, putting on a blog, deciding whether to edit them, and reading over 365 letters is a daunting one, but for those joining me in this endeavor it provides an insight to a time long gone, both social and personal.  

It is also a chance for me to gain some insight into what turned that 25 year old boy into the man I knew later in life.