Another explanation

There were not many letters written in April due to the fact that is when we took our trip to California to see Dad.  By me I mean both my grandparents, Margie, and I.  Margie was Dad’s girlfriend and is mentioned a lot in the letters.  I remember her.  Tall blond.

Margie seemed more in a hurry to get there than we were, so to the best of my recollection I can only remember stopping once on our way out there but we must have stopped over night some place else.  I know one night was spent in New Mexico at a motel that was shaped like Indian Teepees.  I remember stopping at the California border and having to surrender any fruits and vegetables we might have been carrying with us.

I remember seeing Dad as we drove up in the evening standing by his barracks and the guest house we stayed in.  The people who ran the guest house were black and I spent a long time talking to a very attractive black lady.  I guess she thought I was a cute little boy.  A black soldier walked in on us as we were talking and told me he was going to tell her husband that she had been talking to me.  Sort of scared me.  When we checked out my grandfather gave me some oranges to give to the lady.  The same soldier was standing there as I went to the lady’s door and I still remember being some what intimidated and afraid he would tell her husband.

The only two things I remember about Camp Roberts is we went and played Bingo and one of the prizes was a pin that wrote underwater.  I thought that would be a neat prize.  We didn’t win anything.  The other thing is when my grandparents and I were driving around the base one afternoon and ended up on a road that we discovered was restricted for civilian traffic.  An army vehicle came up upon us and my grandfather grabbed my army cap and put it on his head so they would think he was a soldier.  I am not sure to this day if he was serious or not.

The weekend we were there we all drove to San Francisco.  My grandfather wanted to two three things.  Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, which we did; eat in China Town, which we did; and ride the cable car, which he didn’t for reasons now I don’t recall.  We took a boat and drove around Alcatraz, visited the Red Wood Forest, and I am sure much more but that is all my 5 year old brain can recall. 

I don’t remember taking Dad back to Roberts but I do remember Margie stayed there, we stopped in Los Vegas, by grandmother bumped my head with the handle of a slot machine, some place in Arizona or New Mexico we saw tumble weed, got caught in a sand storm, went through the Petrified Forest, and saw the Painted Desert.

Dad mentions a couple of more new people in his letters of April but I did not know any of them.

The last letter Dad wrote in April was the first and one of the few times he mentioned anything about some “special training” he was going to receive based around “army intelligence.”   If you want to find out more about that go to my blog “The Adventures of Conley McAnally” and find the blog I wrote in November 2010 called “Spy Dad.”  It really is an interesting story and was not finished until dad's funeral.

April 30, 1953

Thur April 30, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I guess you are home by now.  I am still on the 60mm motor.  Margie and I went to the show last night again.  I don’t know what I will do tonight. 

I had something happen today that may be good news and may not.  They called 16 of us out at noon to go to be interviewed by Government Intelligence.  It is a secret of some kind.  They sent 5 back because they had been charged with some crime.  They took down our life history, every place we lived, when you and Dad were born and where and all that kind of stuff.  All he told us was that we would finish our basic here, take our leave as usual and then go to a 2 week school which has something to do with aircraft in one way or another.  Then we would go to our port after school.  We will still be infantry as far as I know but will have two weeks of some kind of training.  I will have to wait and find out.  It may work into something good I hope.  They told us not to talk to anyone about it and even among our selves.  They will probably be around checking on my credit and character references.

I don’t want you to say a word about this to anyone at all.  I will let you know more when I find out more.  It must be pretty secret or they wouldn't have told us not to talk about it.  They picked us up in a truck and they just told us to get on, that was all they said.

Well how was the trip?  I got your card you mailed Monday.  I guess I will close for now, I’ll write later on.  I sure miss having you here to see at night.  I really had a swell time when you were here on your trip.

Love, Ted

April 29, 1953

Wed morn  April 29, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Thought I would take a few minutes this morning to write you and tell you I had a swell time last weekend and I sure hated to see you go back.  Margie is still here.  I saw her Monday night for a little bit and went to the show last night.

Guess you will be home by the time you get this letter.  Wish I had made the trip back with you.

We had the .45 pistol Monday and it rained all day long.  Got kind of wet.  Tues we start the 6mm motor and will be in it for about a week.  That will just bout finish our weapons.  Won’t have many more.  Will close for now.  Will write later.  I miss having you here.

Love, Ted

April 13, 1953

April 13, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I guess you thought I had forgotten how to write.  I have been busy.  My training is about the same.  We double time a lot.  We went for about 3 ½ miles without stopping the other day.  We are still on machine guns.  I fired this morning and came in at noon for KP to relieve the guys who were on KP so they could fire.  Everyone has to do it.  I got off just a while ago.

Sat Keith and two other guys and myself got a pass and left about 1 pm and went to Pismo Beach.  It was really nice there.  We stayed in a motel looking out over the beach and the ocean.  We hitched hiked and had no trouble getting a ride.

Sunday night when we got back I went to the guest house in the East garrison and put a deposit on the rooms.  It cost only 1 dollar a day per person.  Margie cannot stay there because she is single.  I stopped at another guest house on the way backs in the west garrison and made a reservation for her.  It was the same price as the other.  Girls only can stay there.  It is kind of an inconvenience that way.  I paid for a day for you $3 and a day for Margie, $1.  The reservations are for 22 April.  When you get here come to Btry A-44 orderly room and ask for me.  If I am not there they will tell you what time the troops get back.  Better just send Dad in because they don’t like a lot of people in there, it gets confusing.  There is a parking lot on the next street back of the parade field. 

I have been looking forward to you arriving for quiet awhile.  I don’t know just what we wan do when you get here.  But we can see when you get here.  It has been cool here so don’t forget your coats.

I just got your letter.  Glad everything is ok.  I don’t have any tires left to give him.  I let them go with the car.

Well Saturday they took some of us to be interviewed for leadership school.  I signed my name but may not take it.  It’s a sharp school.  Shoe strings have to be pressed, floors so clean you can eat off them etc.  It would be another 8 weeks of training after I finish my 16 weeks here.  It would be in the heat of the summer.  You have to give a 5 and 20 minute talks on different subjects etc.  I don’t think I would like that.    The guys that don’t go to officer’s candidate school go directly to Korea.  I have until about my 15^th week to decide.  I might be lucky enough to get some other school.  They interview us in our 8^th week for schools.  Very few guys with A1 profile get to go to most schools unless they have had some college.

The guy who got his money stolen never did get it back.  They made us go to bed at 9 instead of staying up all night.

Margie said she saw the note Jan gave Arkie.  Arkie showed it to Margie.  That makes me mad that she does that.  She had better not cause me any trouble personally more than she has.  I would just as soon she didn’t keep my name.  Sometime why don’t you go down and talk to a lawyer and see what he says.

I guess I will see you before long.  You probably won’t get to many more letters from me before you leave.  I will write again when I get a chance.

Love, Ted 

Ps  I got a letter form Lowell and Virginia and one from Jimmie Miller.  Tell them I will write before long if you talk to them.

Out of order letter date uncertain.

(received and posted out of order)

Dear Mom and Dad

I received your letter last night.  I got 6 letters all together.  Was glad to get them.

Sunday night after I wrote you I went to the service club and ate in the cafeteria.  Got a good meal. 

I found out that you will have to stay in the East Garrison guest house.  I tried to call but couldn’t get anybody.  I found out that I have to get a form signed by my Btry Commander though.  I am having a guy get me one tonight.  You can only stay there for three days..  Let me know as soon as you can the approx date you will be here.  If you get here during the week you could stay here and then I would get a pass on Sat and we could go some place else.

I think Richard Jacques is at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.  He may be put in the infantry or artillery.  He may be lucky to get something better.  Nice he is close to home.

I had classes all day yesterday and another hour of bayonet training.

We had a Btry complaint session last night with our Btry Commander.  Did I tell you he is just 24 years old.  2^nd Lt.  He is pretty good and plenty smart.  He said we will have a party before long and have steaks and beer. 

We went to the field again today for class.  We always eat noon out.  If it is cold we have coffee in the morning once in a while, when it is hot we have orangeade or lemonade in the afternoon.

I am mailing something home to you all for Easter.  Hope you like it.  I didn’t get to go to church last night because of the meeting. 

I got you letter awhile ago and the newspaper.  Didn’t know you put my picture in the paper.  I was sure surprised.

To bad about Sad Sack, I hated to hear about him.

We got paid tonight, I got $74.  You should get the allotment check before long.  Jan should pay you what she always does, regardless of what the check is.  It will be either $40.00 or $51.30.  When we get paid we line up in alphabetical order and walk in the orderly room.  The 1^st Sergeant has us sign our name.  Then one of the officers sits at a desk in another office.  We walk up, salute and say “Sir, Pvt. McAnally reporting for pay.”  He counts outs the money.  I pick it up and count it and then walk out.

We have to salute all the officers on the base if they are walking or in cars.

Did I tell you they play bugle calls at different times of the day.  All the cars stop at 5pm.  They call this retreat.  I saw Donald tonight.  He said he didn’t think Betty was coming out.

I enjoy getting the packages you sent.   Seems like the last package I got was on Thurs.  I will let you know when I get the next one.  I am fixed up on shaving lotion and tooth paste.

Well not much more to say, I will close now and write again.  I can never think of all I want to say.  I always think of it after I write.

Love, Ted

 A personal comment from Me

If you have been following this blog you may have noticed that the last two entries are out of order.  The last one was Dated 31 March and the one before that April 8, Easter.  Although Dad wrote them in order they were not postmarked correctly and received out of order by my grandparents.  Either the US Post Office lost them in the mail or the Army messed up.  Either way that is the way Dad filed them.

After the last blog entry dated the 31^st I thought that this might be a good time to stop and provide some explanations as to who, what, where, when, and maybe how.  I think I will start doing that after every month to cut down on some confusion, you, the reader, might have. 

For instance Dad wrote about Camp Crowder.  Camp Crowder was a staging and processing Camp that was used for those who were drafted in the Midwest.  It is about a three hour drive from Kansas City and is nestled near Joplin, Carthage, and Springfield, Missouri.  Ft. Riley is in Kansas and home to the Big Red One Division.  Ft. Leonard Wood is between Rolla and Springfield, Missouri and was a major basic training facility.  Camp Chaffee was also a basic training facility.  Crowder and Chaffee have been turned over to their respective states and used as training facilities for national guard units.  I have spent short tours of duty in all the places Dad mentions except for Camp Roberts which is close to San Francisco.

Jan was my mother and she must have done something to irritate Dad but what it was she did exactly I don’t know and have never asked.  Why they were divorced one can only speculate and again I have never asked.  My mother as of the present is still alive and has her wits but I don’t think it prudent for me to ask her what was going on back then.

Most of the guys Dad mentions are unknown to me.  He writes about a Keith Underwood several times, but I never heard him mentioned any other time while I was growing up.  He makes a passing reference to “Jim” whom I did know well and was like a best friend to Dad for many years after the war.  The guy named Arkie (which one time in Dad’s letters was called Archie) was a friend of his from Arkansas that had moved to Kansas City and they hung around the Bars together.  The Bar where Arkie met “Jan” is no longer there.  I did meet Arkie a couple of times, but from what I heard later he was not the type of guy Dad would want me to be around.  A fellow name Richard Jacques was the son of friends of the family and Donald, the one who had to go home because his father-in-law died and later recycled was a boyhood friend of his.  Betty was Don’s wife.  I never met or heard about them after Dad returned.

Sad Sack was my dog that got ran over by the school bus driver one morning while all of us kids were waiting to get picked up and taken to school.

Dad was a Christian Scientist so that is what CS stands for and my grandmother use to send him pieces of paper with CS information on them to help him through some of his hard times, especially when he had his lingering cold.  Mr. Clark was the CS representative at Camp Roberts and ministered to those of his denomination.

One thing I have noticed is that the training in 1953 was very similar to the training I went through in 1968. We had plenty of GI parties, doubled timed a lot, pulled KP, changed floors in the barracks now and then, had many classes, ate K-rations, but they were C-rations by 1968, spent many hours on the rifle range but did qualify with M-14’s and not M1’s. The procedure they used to pay us was identical and lasted well in to my own National Guard tenure.  I was a pay officer more than once.  I had a “Negro” drill sergeant in Ft. Benning, who for some reason made me guard a tree once also.  Some things never change.

Love, Ted

April 5 (Easter) - April 8, 1953

Easter Sunday (April 5)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Here I am in Paso Roables again.  Keith Underwood and I came in.  Every place was crowded.  We got a room in a motel for 2 dollars.  Four of us stayed there.  Three slept in a bed and the other guy slept on the floor.

I got your package.  Sure liked it.  I am pretty well set up with candy and gum now.  Cookies were good.

We have been firing the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle.)  That is all we have done that amounts to anything. 

We went to church service Fri afternoon and yesterday we didn’t get away from Camp until about 6pm.

You never did say if Snapper got the T shirt I sent.  Let me know if he got it.  I mailed a picture to you and Margie that they took of us the first or second week of basic.  I got yours back twice and Margie’s once because I did not have enough postage on it.  I guess you will be later getting it.

I don’t remember anything I said about calling.  I might call this afternoon though.  Well hope you have a happy Easter.

Love, Ted

Wed night  8 April 53

Dear Mom and Dad

Well have been busy lately again and haven’t had time to write.  Monday we fired the BAR again and Tues the same thing.  We are finished with that.  Today we started on the 30 cal machine gun.

I got to come in early today and work in the supply room.  We had K rations today.  This morning I had beans and franks and tonight I had sausage gravy.

Some body stole $90 out of a guys foot locker and they restricted all of us until further notice.

We have been digging around the barracks again so they could put sod out.  That is why I haven’t written you. 

I got your pictures, they sure were good looking.  I enjoyed talking to you Sunday.  I went to church Monday night again.  Mr. Clark has the servicemen take turns reading as 2^nd reader.  He asked me to read next Monday but I told him I didn’t want too.

I am getting along alright.  I just got a letter from Arkie.  He is in Tacoma Washington (Ft. Lewis)  He is waiting for his orders.  He said when he was home he saw Jan at Bakers no. 2.  she was with some girl and she offered to buy him a drink.  He said Jan married a truck driver.  Later he comes in and asked Arkie if Jan was a nice girl.  Arkie told him that he just knew her through me.  He said Jan went out with a friend of his and mine and when she left she gave Arkie her phone number.  That makes me plenty sore that she does me that way.  Has she changed her name yet?  I would just as soon she doesn’t use my name anymore.  She probably lies about why she got a divorce.  Find out about that name.

Well hope you still come out when you plan.   To bad dad has to work Sunday before you come out.  Do you think you will be here before to late in the week?  I am sending you another picture.  This one is of the boys I live with, they are in my platoon and barracks.

Keith isn’t in the picture.  He was gone when they took the picture. 

They just told us that no one goes to bed till the $90 is returned. 

We still double time a lot.  It’s easy anymore.  We double timed for about 3 miles with out stopping the other day.  My legs don’t tire out a bit.  I run out of wind before my legs tire out.  My feet bother me once in a while.  Well let me hear from you.  I will write more later.

Love,  Ted

PS  the box you sent was fine.  It’s all gone now except for a few chocolates.  I don’t need anything.  I have plenty of gum and stationery.  We don’t get to chew gum much.

March 25 - 31, 1053

Wed.  March 25,  1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I got two letters from you tonight.  They were long letters.  I am ok.  Still have a little cold but it doesn’t bother me much.  My feet get sore off and on.

I wrote Margie and told her to come out if she wanted to.   I have taken it for granted she was going to come out anyway.  I think it is all right if she comes out.  I want you to come out anyway.  The trip will be nice to make in your new car.  Bet it is nice.  I think you should have reservations at the guest house.  I don’t know which one.  May be you should write right away in advance.  There are a couple of towns close by, Paso Roables and San McGill.  You could stay there if something would happen.

I didn’t get the package yet.   I can use the springs this weekend.  I have guard duty Fri at 5 pm till Sat at noon, on two hours off two hours.  Your rifle and yourself have to be clean (the army says standing tall)  I use the springs in my trousers to make them stand out like this (Dad draws a picture of his boots and boot blouse)  They make a ring out of the springs and put them in here (draws arrow).  Makes them neat and takes the wrinkles out.  The rubber bands have to be tight so they will hold my pants in place around the top of my boots.  I thought you knew.  That is the way we wear out trousers.  Hardly ever wear our low top shoes.  Have worn them two or three times since I have been here.  We also wear helmet lines all the time.  Steel pots go over those.  Never ware them except when we fire.

The other day we went out to the entrenching class.  Learned how to dig fox holes.  A lot of work for nothing.  We got them dug then filled them back up.  We learned how to put bob wire up.  Then we had a class on protecting against enemy aircraft.  They had us walking across a hill all spread out and then a plane came over and dived at us and dropped four sacks on us.  It was fun too.

Yesterday we went out and fired the carbine.  It’s a US 30 Cal M1 Carbine.  A light semi automatic rifle.  4 ½ lbs.  Regular M1 30 Cal weight  is 9 ½ lbs.  I scored 129 out of 140 first time I shot.  This is the bullet Jan made.  These come from LC.

They had a map reading class.  We went to the top of Map Hill.  It is almost straight up.  Quite a climb.  You can see it in that picture of CR.  It is way out and to the left a little bit.  You can see it by the roads and paths as you go to the top.  There are seats there at the top and a big board.  See if you can find it.

My legs are hard as rocks.  That is about all the infantry builds up for you.  I get more tan everyday.

Tomorrow I go out and fire for the rifle team or something like that.  4 of us who had high scored take the Btry’s new rifles out and 0 the sights. 

I don’t think I know Taseter, but I will look him up when I get the address.  Try to find out what Donald’s address is too.  I haven’t seen him sense he left.  Don’t know where he is.

Well I can’t think of much more to say.  We have been cleaning the barracks for a regimental inspection.  Here is a cartoon to give you an idea.  Looking forward to the package.  Enjoyed the last one.  Didn’t last long.  Where did they send Richard Jacques?  Well I will write again soon.

Love,  Ted

Sunday.  March 29, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad

How is everything.  I took a pass yesterday.  Keith and I came to Paso Roables.  Stayed all night here.  Not much to do here.  Came to the USO to a dance last night.  It was crowded with GI’s so we left and went to a dance at Eagle Hall.  Same thing there.  We went to bed about 1100 and got up at 11 this morning.  We are just fooling around now.  Going back to camp in a little while.

I bought some infantry brass and some 7^th Armored shields and an infantry belt buckle.  I can’t wear them until my 8^th week.  I wont be in basic then.

 I can get a pass alright as far as I know.  You can stay in the guest house but you should have reservations.  I will try to make them.

I did get to go out and fire the M1 on the rifle team but they postponed the actual firing for awhile.

We learned to crawl through barb wire and over trenches Fri morn.  I came in at noon so I could get ready for guard duty.  But I didn’t do any guard duty, they had enough.  I left and went to the show and saw “Trouble Along the Way.”  The troop did not get back until just before midnight. 

Sat we had 2 classes and inspection till 4pm.  I had my pass then.  Sure felt good to get away.  This isn’t much of a town, too many GI’s.  They treat you like dogs everywhere but the army stores and the USO.  I bought Snapper a T-Shirt.  I got a size 8.  Didn’t know the size.  Let me know what size he wears. 

I am doing ok.  I sure liked the box.  The candy was really good.  Didn’t last long because it was my favorite.  The springs were just right.  They sell the springs here for $1 a pair.  I sure could use some razor blades and tooth paste etc.  My lips were ok by the time I got the chap stick.  They healed over night.  The garters were just right 2, the adjustable ones.  I like them.

Well not much more to say.  I will write you again before long.

Love,  Teddy

Sunday.  March 29, 1953

Dear Mom and Dad

I got back from Paso Roables a while ago and I picked up some pictures I took last Sun  and Tue before.  They are a little better than they have been.

Not much new to say except I wish I could be home  Easter Sunday.  I am going to clean out my foot locker and go to the show later on or go to bed.

Let me know what day you think you will be here for sure.  I am going to try to call the guest house now and let them know.  I think I will tell the 1^st sergeant you will be here and may be he wont put me down for guard or KP.  I have to tell him in advance.

Well let me know if you get my cards and 2 pictures.  I could use some more stamps too.  Take the money I have in the bank to pay for things I have you send me.  I will get paid Tuesday and you should get an allotment for Snapper within a week or two, let me know how much it is.  Also if you need any money for the trip use mine.  Just leave me enough to fly home in case I don’t have it when the time comes.  Tell Dad he may as well let my car go the first chance he gets.  I should get 1500 or more.  He can put his car in the garage and let mine set out.  Well I will close for now.

Love,  Ted

March 31, 1953

Dear Snapper

How have you been.  I sure miss you a lot.  Are you looking forward to coming to Camp Roberts next month.  I am glad you are doing good in school.  Keep it up.  Do you like the pictures I send home?  I got your picture you drew for me.  I keep it in my foot locker.  Did you like the T-shirt I sent you.  If you want another one let me know.  I wish I could be home Easter and be with you.  Well be a good boy and go to school and learn all you can and go to Sunday School every Sunday.  Mind your Grandma and Grandpa.  I still love my boy.

Love,  Daddy