notsofancynancy

Posted by: notsofancynancy | October 3, 2023

8 Lt. John T. Roberts

On October 19, 1944 the Japanese Vice-Admarial, Takijiro Onishi ordered the formation of Special-Force Attack Group of Kamikazes to make suicide Aerial attacks on ships around the Philippines. (Wikipedia)

On October 20th the United States landing four divisions ashore on Leyte. Later that day Macarthur returns to Leyte and throws down his famous “I have Returned” speech.” (OMG I love the internet. Click here to listen to Macarthur’s speech)

General Douglas MacArthur wades ashore during initial landings at Leyte, Philippine Islands. Local Identifier: 111-SC-407101, National Archives Identifier: 531424.
View in National Archives Catalog

20 August

Oahu I.H.

Dear Mother,

I have about four of your letters here that I have received in the last three days. I’ll try to catch them all in this one. They are post marked July second, June twenty-fifth, August fifth, and August eleventh. How am I doing? I don’t know how this thing is going to turn out. Rough night last night. Woe is me.

Beginning with June twenty-fifth the one that knocked me for a loop. So, he’ll finally come home!! Maybe what he saw there will wake him up. My opinion of him has sunk to a new low, but it had risen somewhat. I can’t understand why he didn’t do something to help his mother. I know that he knew about her position and condition, because Lefty wrote him about it. I can’t see it. Guess that I’ll write to him, but I don’t know why. The last letter I got from him was just before I left the Fiji’s He wrote about a page, and all he talked about was his Coxswain’s rating.

I may have heard that word before but come on now. What’s a Coxswain? (It kinds of makes me laugh) Thank God for the internet.

You know that person that sits in the front of the college rowing groups boat? He is the one who yells “ROW, ROW, ROW” or whatever words they use. He is also in charge of getting the boat to steer the way they need to go. He is the Coxswain. Apparently the soldiers who were in charge of the landing crafts were also called Coxwains.

See the guy in the front facing the others? Coxswain. Picture courtesy Matteo Vittocco

The only other references I can find were for the Navy. (Please saliors don’t be mad, I am learning here.)

According to a Google search, Pronounced “cox’s’n” is an enlisted salior who has actual, physical control of an open boat that can be carried aboard another vessel. In the US Navy, Coxwains play an important role in the Navy’s Special Warfare community.

U.S. troops go over the side of a Coast Guard manned combat transport to enter the landing barges at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, as the invasion gets under way. Local Identifier: 26-G-3183, National Archives Identifier: 513194.
View in National Archives Catalog

For larger vessels a coxwain holds the rank of chief petty officer 1st class. On submarines, a coxwain holds the rank of chief petty officer 2nd class. I don’t think I will laugh at that word anymore. See what happens when you take a minute to understand a words meaning.

He said that my Staff Sergeancy didn’t mean so much. I wrote back and told him that his rateing was the equivalent of Sergeant in the Army, so I still outranked him and probably always would. He seemed to be jealous, envious, or something. He never answered that letter. He made me mad, so I gave him the works. I’m glad that you took care of him. Maybe I’ll be in the same place sometime in some town away from home, and hope that if it happens someone will do the same for me.

How is Pop getting along now? He must be O.K., or you would have said something about it in subsequent letters. Probably he is out on the gulf again. Why don’t you go to the doctor and get that ingrowing toe-nail cut out? It’s the only way you’ll get rid of it.

So, the squirt is coming home, is she? I wonder which way Dit is shipping out. He is probably gone by now. Be sure to let me know his address so if he comes here, I can look him up.

O.K. I give up. You go right ahead and have your own little worry. Even that there is no percentage in it. What good does it do? Just gets you grey hairs and lines. No percentage. I was in a foul mood when I wrote that letter anyhow. It’s very seldom that I take it out on whoever I’m writing to though. I think I did one time in a letter to Ruth Sheets, and she shut me up in a hurry when she answered. There’s a gal in a million.

USS ESSEX based TBMs and SB2Cs dropping bombs on Hokadate, Japan. Local Identifier: 80-G-490232, National Archives Identifier: 520989.
View in National Archives Catalog

I haven’t heard from Lefty at all. I have written to him twice. When you see him again tell him to get on the ball.

I took some time off from writing to you for a swim, today being Sunday. I have managed to get out in the sun enough to accumulate a lot more freckles. Look about like I did when we ran the pool. I’ve been playing some tennis too. Maybe before too long I’ll be back in shape. Maybe, if I quit smiling and otherwise dissipating.

Well, it’s chow time and I have to take a shower. Give everyone my love and write soon.

Lots of Love

Johnnamus

I feel like we are really getting to know Leiuteinet Roberts, his family and his friends even though we may not know their names. I can only hope someday these letters will find his family.

5 September

Oahu, I.H.

Dear Mother,

I received two letters from you yesterday. Believe it or not. In addition, I received two from Ruth, one from Diane, one from Sis, and one from Moley. Also, one from a boy you don’t know. Wheeeeee! Jackpot! Never thought it could happen to me. In one of your letters was the money order. I didn’t expect it for another week or two. Thanks a million. I was strictly hurting for it. I haven’t received an issue of the paper for quite some time now. I can’t imagine what’s holding it up. Guess they have so many of them that it’s pretty hard to handle them all.

I wrote to you about getting the letter in which you told me that I.D. had gotten home. Hope that you have gotten it by now. I have heard from Lefty at long last. He didn’t go back into the M.M. (Merchant Marines). He also wrote about Frank and sent a letter that Frank had written to him. I have written to I.D. but don’t have too much hope of getting an answer to it.

The Merchant Marine’s was the largest civilian Navy in the world, which operated during World War II click the link above to read more.

You know that more I think about it the more I believe that it would be much better if you didn’t take any long rides with Lewis. Things like that just seem to happen to him, someday he is going to get himself and everyone with him killed.

I am glad to hear that Ann Jean and Lewis are getting along better, and that the kids and everyone else are all right. How is Pop getting along? I’d like to be sitting in a boat on the Gulf with a rod in my hand. Guess it’ll be quite some time before that can come to pass though. I’ll just have to sweat it out, I guess. There being no news from this end of the line, that is all for now. Give everyone my love and write soon.

Lots of Love

Johnnamus

With all the turmoil going on in our war thank goodness our Leiuteinet is safe on Oahu.

Until next time friends

2 Comments

Posted in Lt. John T. Roberts, World War II | Tags: letters home, Lt. John T. Roberts, Pacific Theater, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | September 25, 2023

7 Lt. John T. Roberts

It is hard to get my mind off my dad who at this time, in August 1944, has landed on Normandy Beach and they have begun their race across France. I know what is happening there but what about the war in the Pacific? I know nothing about this part of the war.

Check out this link for a timeline on the war in the Pacific. This explains it much better than I could.

Here is a summary, on June 15, 1944 we invade Saipan. Then on the 19th came the Greatest Carrier battle of WWII, also known as the “Great Turkey Shoot” where we shot down so many Japanese planes they still talk about it today. On July 7, three thousand suicidal Japanese Soldiers overtake two US Battalion’s. Then on July 9th Saipan falls to the Americans.

You have to wonder how much of this information, Lt. Roberts knows or is he in the dark about just what is going on. I wish we knew but in the meantime the Leiuteinet is still sitting and waiting and wondering about his destiny.

11 August

Oahu, I.H.

Dear Mother,

Received your letter today and was glad to hear from you again. I also received a letter from Sis today. Yesterday I received one from Diane. Seems that my mail is coming through better now. This place is just about like any other island in the Pacific as far as mail is concerned. There is a bag and then a spurt. In all I received five letters and two papers today. Faith, and tis a day to be remembered.

Ok, so if you don’t know my dad was a lefty and that is how he signs all his letters to my mom, love, Lefty. This throws me for a loop even though I know he is not talking about my dad but…

I have written to Lefty. Seems that he should have gotten it by now. Did Frank come to Fort Myers while in the States? I heard from Harold Moreland the first of the month, and he said that Lefty had written a card from Chicago while on his way back to the coast. From that I gathered that he hadn’t been home. He also said he had heard that Lefty went back to the Merchant Marines.

I would like to send the kid something for his birthday, but I am so broke that it is pitiful. Such a life.

I have written to Helen Ruth but as yet I haven’t received an answer. Is she as pretty as she used to be? I don’t think I have seen her for four years. Tell her to drop me a line if she is still there when you get this.

Well, I guess that this is about all for now. Give everyone my love. There is no change here. Things are always the same. Write when you can.

Lots of Love

Johnnamus.

Only 5 days later Roberts writes

16 August

Oahu, I.H.

Dear mother,

I haven’t heard from you in so long that I am beginning to wonder if something’s wrong. Perhaps it’s just being held up somewhere. My how, I’m stealing a march on you, and writing now. Do my letters come through alright? I hope that they don’t take as long as letters coming this way.

How is everyone coming along these days? How are the kids? I guess that they’ll be so big by the time I get home again that they won’t know me and I won’t know them.

Here he talks about “the kids” again. We may never know exactly who “the kids” are but from the last post he does say this; “Much better someone like me that gets into it (meaning the war) than a man with a wife and kids.” I think we have to rule out the fact that they are not his kids.

How about Ann Jean and Lewis? Are they making out O.K.? This time? I hope so. Do you hear from Jeff and Jimmy often? I have written both of those jerks, but as yet have not heard from either one of them. I guess Jean is happy now that he is in Jacksonville. with “the runt.”

I am not sure who Jean is but he does call “the kid,” “the runt” in other letters.

Sis says that Butch has finally found his place in the sun and is the ringleader of all the devilment that goes on. I guess he’s just like his old man. I haven’t heard from Lefty yet. I wonder if he ever got my letter. If he did and doesn’t answer it, I’ll wring his neck.

I didn’t want to do this, but it looks as though I’m going to be forced into it. When you answer this how about shoving in a money order for fifty bucks? I’m up to my ears in debt and can’t seem to be able to extricate myself. I had hoped to be able to get all caught up without asking you to send me money, because it’s foolishness to make an allotment and then get it back. It costs more to get along over here that it did in the states but that’s the penalty of getting a commission. I was getting along there on twenty-three bucks a month. While here I’m getting ninety-five. I can get along fine if I can just get caught up to the place where all I had coming out would be subsistence, laundry, dues, pitching in for a battalion party once a month, etc. I think that fifty dollars would just about put me on my feet.

Getting along (in the states) fine on $23 a month? Wow, then he is now getting $95. That is certainly a big difference. I know things cost a lot less back then but can you imagine only needing $23 a month? With a little digging I found a 2nd Leiuteinet made about $150 a month, so does that mean he was sending over $100 dollars home?

Things are the same here as they were last time I wrote, only I’m in a better frame of mind. I’ve been playing tennis and doing swimming when I get a chance, that’s about the crop. It’s late, so I’ll close for now. Write when you can. Give my best to the clan.

Lots of Love

Jonhnnamus

I am really glad he is mentally in a better place but with everything that is going on in the Pacific I wouldn’t blame him for feeling any different.

Until next time friends

6 Lt. John T. Roberts

This next letter hit me in my nerve. It hurts my heart because of how many letters I read of my father’s that said the exact thing using almost these exact words.

31 July 1944

Dear Mother,

I received your letter the other day, and I’m just getting around to answering it. You seem to be taking the pessimistic viewpoint as far as my participation is concerned. Personally, I’m using the optimistic side to it. It’s lot’s more fun, and besides, what kind of shape would a man be in after a week of continuous thinking he is a dead duck? As for not knowing where I am at times, well that is something that can’t be helped. It will happen again and again before this war is over. And too this outfit is bound to move on sometime.

Well things have settled down into the old Army routine. When in garrison nothing ever happens. Same old thing day after day. I haven’t been receiving a whole lot of mail.

Not getting mail and having nothing to do but sit around and think about war, and then more time to just sit around and think, all kind of things could have been going through his head. It could have set the mood for the day. Can you imagine standing in a group of soldiers waiting for your name to be called, excited and hopeful, then nothing, then happens, again, the next day.

but maybe it’s because the eighteen or twenty people I correspond with, that is, the larger percentage of them, may have contracted writer’s cramp. I haven’t received the paper at all. Guess it has being held up somewhere. This is a short letter and a case of quit or go to sleep sitting here. Give everyone my love and write when you can.

Lots of Love

Johnnamus

I know Roberts mom is worried about him but it is almost like we, as their loved ones need to keep that kind of worry to ourselves rather than make it uncomfortable for the soldiers. There sure are a lot of things we can learn from what went on in this war.

3 August, 1944

I received your letter today, and certainly was glad to hear from you again. I also received a letter which you wrote on the nineteenth of June, and three copies of the paper. Will wonders ever cease? That letter had really been around. The papers were for the eleventh, twelfth, and fourteenth of last month. Perhaps my mail has finally begun coming through, I hope. I am sorry if I sounded slightly peeved when I wrote last. Frankly, I was. You know how I feel about somebody worrying about me. It makes me feel bad and I don’t like to feel bad. It’s hard to explain just how I do feel about the thing. I’m quite happy about the prospects of getting into this war after four years of messing around in the Army. I feel like a picker. Thats what I’m wearing this uniform for, and I don’t mind saying that I’m fed up with it; The quicker this thing is over the happier I will be. I think that after being in as long as I have, I’m currently entitled a crack at the jerks that caused it. Much better someone like me that gets into it than a man with a wife and kids. What’s the use? I haven’t the imagination it requires to put the subject over.

How are Jeff and Jimmy coming? Tell that dope to write sometime. How are Jimmy and Dean? Do you hear from Martha at all? How are all of the kids? Are Ann, Jean, and Lewis making it this time? I haven’t heard from Diane. Has Dit shipped out yet? Sad! you can fill up ten pages answering those Questions. Give me all the dope when you answer this letter.

I’ve been trying to figure out what I’m going to do when I get out of the Army, but I still draw a blank. I just don’t know. I don’t know whether or not I want to go back to school. Things are going to be rough after this thing is over.

Things are still going along fine here. Just the usual routine. The President was here a while ago. Didn’t get a good look at him, just caught a glimpse. I don’t know what is going to happen next around here. I’m kept pretty busy running the detachment. Interesting job.

Running the detachment? This is the first we have heard of him running it. Although I guess that is what a leiuteinet might do.

Well, it’s kind of late, so I guess I’ll quit and go to bed. Give my love to eveyone.

Lots of Love

Johnnamus

I did hear him say something about the President being there. This is what I love about the internet. I found two video’s of President Roosevelt’s visit to Hawaii in 1944. One has some audio and shows him talking to the residents and visiting a hospital. The second he is viewing the troops. It has no audio but I am sure you will be able to feel the pride of the officers in it.

Click here to see a video President Roosevelt on his visit to Hawaii in 1944. This video has some audio but it is not great.

This video is from the same visit to Hawaii. It had no audio but Roosevelt is reviewing the troops.

I know these men were proud to be there. It actually brought a tear to my eye to eye watch it. I can see in my mind’s eye how proud my dad was when the flag was presented in any situation. He would stand tall with his hand over his heart. You could feel his pride, just standing next to him.

Until next week, friends

5 Lt. John T. Roberts

Next in line we have a V-Mail (Victory Mail). When I first started blogging my father’s letters, I found these tiny little letters called V-Mail.

First let’s look at the logistics of the regular letters that have been censored.

Someone has to open each one, read it, cut out offending words, re-fold it, put it back in the envelope, tape it shut, and stamp the censor stamp on it.

In my dad’s letters there were a couple of letters that had holes cut into the letter. It was as close as they could get to just the offending word. That had to have been a lot of work just for one letter. There were over 16 million people who served in World War II. Maybe they all didn’t serve at the same time but just one million letters a day had to be overwhelming. So, they decided to come up with another system and in comes V-Mail. The V-Mail System was used from June 1942 to November 1945, and they produced over one billion letters.

Click here to learn more about V-Mail

With V-Mail each letter is written the same way then that letter is taken and microfiched, shrunk down cut to size, folded and put into a new envelope. The envelope is about 3×5 inches. The letter is 5 1/2 x 3 inches then folded to get it into that little envelope. If you look at the image below it looks like they gave you an official form to write your letter on. Also, the letter glows like it were written in silver ink but if you look at it from afar it is black. It must have been some kind of magic because I don’t have any other way to describe it.

I bet a lot of people had to buy magnifying glasses to read them because it is so small. I know I did.

The first part of the V-Mail is a change of assignment. It looks like Roberts is now assigned to Medical Detachment, 193rd Tank Battalion. Let’s see what he has to say.

No change in general situation. So far, I am satisfied with my assignment. I think it may probably prove to be just what I’ve wanting. Will Write later.

Love

Johnnamus

I wonder exactly what it means, is he is assigned to the Medical Detachment that is assigned to the 193rd Tank Battalion? I have a few followers that should be able to tell us.

Lets jump right into the next letter.

11 July 1944

Dear Mother,

Just thought I’d drop a few lines to let you know all I know that I am still O.K. and I’m getting along just fine. I’m pretty disgusted, though due to the fact that my mail hasn’t arrived as yet. All of the others who came over have received all or part of theirs but not yours truly. It seems that I’m usually last in things like that. Its a good thing that I like the job I have. If I didn’t that would be all I need to make be blow my top. During the day everything is O.K. but at night when there is nothing to do it’s bad. I guess that the reason that I’m so disgusted is because of that mail. You know that stuff, which according to experts is so good for morale.

My dad said the same thing in his letters. Always waiting for that next letter arrived and pissed when it didn’t.

This place isn’t so bad. In fact, I have been lots of places which are much worse. Quite a few of them in the states. Recently I have taken up golf. which just give me something else to cuss about. It looks easy. Other than that, there is very little to do besides go to a show. They do have some good ball games here. Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mise, [sic] (Mize) “Flash” Gordon, and several other big leaguers are on various teams here on the island.

This is the part of transcribing these letters I love. I love putting words to what was going on around these soldiers. Above Roberts mentions three baseball players. Let’s see what we can find.

During World War I baseball stopped. When World War II commenced President Roosevelt decided it would be a boost to morale to keep baseball alive. Hence the saying “America’s Pastime” was born. So, the next thing you know baseball players who were serving, were shipped around and games were scheduled.

I have heard of DiMaggio, because he was married to Marilyn Monroe, but I had not heard of Mize or Gordon. Let’s see what we can find out. Although I will put a disclaimer here. I am not after stats on these players but how did they find their way to be playing baseball in 1943, in Hawaii. I will put links in their sections so you can look at more information. Just look for the blue text and click on it.

First let’s look at Joe DiMaggio. In early 1943 Joe was playing with the Yankees making great money for the day. He felt the pull of doing what was right and with honor, he enlisted into the Special Services in the Army. The Army pay was just a fraction of what he was making playing ball. It is said he was making about $44,000 a year with the Yankees and only $600 a year with the Army. Although he is reported to ask for no special treatment he worked hard and reached the rank of Sargent in August of 1943. In spring 1944 he was transfered to Hawaii where he would join other players to do what he was good at, play ball.

Johnny Mize was born and raised in Georgia. He showed promise early on and played for the local college while he was still in high school. In 1930 he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and made a lot of good records including coming in second in the National League with a .364 average. He led the league in hits in 1939. He continued to be on the top of the stats until he passed his physical and was inducted into the Navy where he continued to play. In 1944 he was shipped to Hawaii where he met with other ball players and joined the group of men who played when our lieutenant saw them.

Joseph Lowell Gordon (photo public domain)

Last but not least let’s look at Joesph “The Flash” Gordon. He was an impressive player and in 1936 he joined the Yankees. Take a look at his stats because they are pretty impressive, and it is easy to see how he earned the nickname “The Flash.” He entered into service in May of 1944 and was sent to New Mexico, then on to San Francisco, and in July he was off for the Hawiian Islands. He was a spectacular player and played his way through the rest of the war. He was discharged in 1945 and by 1946 he was back with the Yankee’s.

Back to the letter,

Bob Hope, Francis Langford, Jessie Colonna and some others put on a show here on the post a couple of nights last week, but I didn’t see them. I am not much for going to something I’d have to go, two or three hours ahead just to get a seat.

Click here to listen to Bob Hope in 1944. “Somewhere in the South Pacific.”

How is everyone getting along? I hope that you all are well. How are the kids? Has Jim Albert gotten his notice yet? I guess that Pop is still fishing (a foolish guess) and still wondering “what in forty-seven hells happened to that damn pair of pliers?!” I’ll still lay even money that, given half of his luck, I can catch more trout than he can. How is “Da Da” getting along? Has there been any change in his condition? Give he, “Mama” and all the rest my love. Guess that I’d best close for now. Write when you can, and tell the rest to do the same.

Lots of Love,

Johnnamus

Well that was a lot all packed in one, well two, letters really. I would really like to know exactly who “the kids” are. Will we ever know?

Until next time friends

2 Comments

Posted in Lt. John T. Roberts, World War II | Tags: 193 Tank Battalion, World War II, WWII letters Home

Posted by: notsofancynancy | September 5, 2023

4 Lt. John T. Roberts

Let’s take a gander back to the last three letters and see what we have learned. First, we found Lt. Roberts at Camp Stewart, in Georgia, the next letter found him at Camp Beale, in California. The third letter finds him in only what we can assume is a base in San Francisco, California. Let’s see just what was going on in San Francisco in 1944.

According to National Park Service: Note, this area of San Francisco has been designated as a Historic Site and is managed by the National Park Service. There is some great information on their website.

Fort Myers, San Francisco Port of Embarkation, courtesy of National Archives

“By the late 1930s, world war threatened and President Franklin Roosevelt launched the country into a massive mobilization effort to quickly modernize the army and navy’s outdated resources. The SFPE (San Francisco Port of Embarktation) had been working well as the supply pipeline to the Pacific Islands. However, as more and more men were assigned to Hawaii, the Philippines, and other island outposts, a new and enormous demand for overseas supplies developed.”

“The numbers of men and supplies that passed through the San Francisco Port of Embarkation were staggering. During the 45 months of war, 1,647,174 passengers and 23,589,472 measured tons moved under the San Francisco Port of Embarkation into the Pacific.”

I can’t even imagine over one million men going through this Port. Since my dad was shipped out of somewhere on the east coast, I never even considered the possibility of them going out of California.

Let’s look at the next letter.

This letter looks much the same as the last one. Mrs. Roberts in Florida, it has been censored, from San Francisco, and has been stamped by the Army. All of these letters I have read I have always wondered what “APO” is, that is written in their return address but I never thought to take the time to research it. Could it be as simple as Army Post Office?

The one thing that is different on this letter is the “4th Armored Group.” Once again it may just be a “Group” Roberts is attached to, until he gets to his permanent assignment. Let’s open this letter and see what information we can learn from it.

These envelopes are brittle, and the letters are written on thin paper. I wish you were here so that you could smell them. They really don’t have a heavy smell to them but yet it is very distinctive. It smells exactly like my father’s letters. It actually brought a tear to my eye. I have missed dads letters, and that journey.

30 June, 1944

Oahu, I.H.

Dear Mother,

Well, here I am again, back in the pacific. This time though, it seems I got a break. I never figured I would end up in Hawaii. It’s kinda like all the rest of these islands down here and down under, painted a whole lot brighter than they really are. Since we have been here, we have been to Honolulu and Waikiki a couple times. The famous Waikiki Beach looks like a sand spit to me in comparison to our Florida beaches. The only thing it has that Fort Meyers doesn’t have is some good size breakers. Our beach is lots wider and longer and has prettier sand. Of course, they have much more on this beach in the way of entertainment. All and all, after seeing some of the islands down under, I figure that is a good deal.

Did you catch that? I wonder if he was “down under” while he was serving or was he there on a vacation? It does sounds like he is not impressed.

I just had to check to see if Australia was involved in this war. The answer surprised me.

According to the website Australia War Memorial “in 1939 Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced the beginning of Australia’s involvement in World War II.”

“They fought in all theaters of Germany, the Mediterranean, North Africa, as well as Japan. It seems that Australia was under direct attack. The Japanese bombed two towns in northwest Australia, as well as their midget submarines attacked in the Sydney Harbour.” Almost a million men and women participated in world War II. Over 30,000 servicemen were taken prisoner and 39,000 were killed.”

Japanese Midget Submarine
courtesy of Navel History and Heritage

There is so much more to Australia’s involvement, more than we have time to go over here. I wonder how I could not have known about it until now. It still does not give us a clue to whether Roberts was there on vacation or military reasons. I do have to say that if I reach far back in my memory, my brothers-in-law’s father was married to a woman from Australia he met while he was in the service. I guess I never put that together with the war. Now back to the letter.

Had to stop for awhile [sic] on account of that we have been assigned. I’m not going to mail this till I learn my permanent A.P.O. Its changed now that we are assigned. I’m glad that this sitting around in pools is over; after seven months it begins to get tiresome.

Is he talking about swimming pools or pools of soldiers? I hope it is pools of water.

How is the family getting along? I haven’t received my mail over here as yet, so I don’t know the deal on any of them. Tell them to drop me a line when they get a chance. Next time Tom Kelly comes around ask him where Everett is. If he is at Pearl Harbor, I’d like to look him up. If there are any of the boys from home stationed on the island maybe I can get in touch with them.

The crossing this time certainly was different from the last one. The food was better, it wasn’t crowded on the ship, and the ocean wasn’t nearly so rough, didn’t get sick this time either. In fact, very few men were sick, even if it was the first time for most of them.

There is more evidence Roberts traveled on a ship somewhere else, another time. I have to believe he was traveling with the Army.

Well, guess that’s about all for now. Give the family my love and tell everyone hello for me. I should be able to mail this tonight. Write when you can and don’t worry about me.

Lots of Love

Johnnamus

I guess we can now add Hawaii to the list of places the Lieutenant has been. He has traveled so much in the letters we have read. I was not expecting him to tell us where he was and then to not have it censored out is curious. I wonder how long that crossing took. I sure am glad those boys had a better trip than expected. Our journey started with that first card dated May 1944, it is hard to believe it has only been two months since our journey began. I expect that Roberts letters will be conveying less information to his whereabouts but let’s see what we can find out.

Until Next Time, Friends

11 Comments

Posted in Lt. John T. Roberts, World War II | Tags: 1944, Hawaii, Oahu, World War II, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | August 29, 2023

3 Lt. John T. Roberts

It has been a busy week. I finally got a new computer. It is much better than typing, reading, and editing, on my phone. I still have to go to my phone to enter pictures. At least I until figure how to get them on the computer.

I transcribed most of the following letter and put it away for the night. When I got the letter out of the envelope this morning this card fell out.

I noticed the post office stamp on the front of this card. It is from Fort Stewart, Georgia. The date on the card is May, 1944. That means this card predates the first letter. Let’s see what we can learn about Camp Stewart.

Camp Stewart, located 40 miles west of Savannah, Georgia was created in 1940 as an antiaircraft training facility. That gives us insight into where Roberts has been. No wonder his mom is so scared he will be put into the “infantry.”

Look at the address, he sent the letter to his mother in Graymount, Georgia. I wonder why he sent it there when the next letter was sent to Florida. Was she visiting family? Will we ever know? Now I wonder if she went to Georgia to visit her son.

Now back to your regularly scheduled WWII letter.

But first let’s find some more information about Camp Beale. After a bit of researching I found that 225,000 men were ordered to ship out of Camp Beale during the movement of troops to get them to the front. According to the memoirs of Harlan S. Byrne (for more info click on Harlan’s name. There will be links anytime you see blue text.) This was just another stop on Lt. Roberts journey.

Last week we found that Roberts was already a Lieutenant. Let’s take a look at the next envelope.

The return address was, Lt. John T. Roberts, (his number), Casual Det 107, PO 1901, Postmaster, San Fransico, California.

If you read the return address on the above letter you see this “Casual Det”. Soldiers were assigned to this detachment as they wait to go on to their permanent assignment.

In reading Harlan S. Brines testimony he was sent to San Francisco as seen on this letter. He was then shipped to the Pacific Theater. I have a feeling that this is where our Lieutenant is headed.

I searched around and found that a “lieutenant” is a commissioned officer. The act of granting authority to someone is the act of commissioning.

By searching around to several websites, I found that an individual that has at least a bachelor’s degree and meets the Army’s lieutenant requirements, can enter the Army as a second lieutenant. There are other ways to obtain the rank of lieutenant including, a military academy, or Officer Candidate School. We don’t really know how he earned that title but maybe somewhere in the letters he might say.

I do know that it seems that Roberts has a bit more education than dad had. He uses a lot more punctuation and it seems like he knows where it goes.

On first look at this letter, I noticed that it has been censored. You can tell by the dark marks on the left side of the letter. That is tape discoloration where it was taped back up after the censor finished with it.You can also see where it is stamped on the left. “Passed by Base Army Examiner 0901.” Both signs of censorship.

Let’s open this letter and see what the lieutenant has to say.

20 June 1944

Dear Mother,

It certainly seems strange to be writing under censorship regulations again after almost a year of writing in the clear. I expect it will take some time for me to get back into the habit, so don’t be surprised if my letters come to you slightly mutilated for a while.

Well look at that. Confirmation that for the last year, at least, Roberts was writing without censorship but my guess is he had been under censorship after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Where was he? Will we ever know? I think I have an idea where but let’s read on before we come to any conclusions.

Maybe I won’t slip up though, because more than likely the restrictions are the same as they were when I was down there before.

Where? Where were you lieutenant?

I ‘m not allowed to say where I am but you should be accustomed to that by now. I saw some beautiful scenery on the way, even better than that I sent you the post card of, on my way to Beale. I intended to get some cards today, but they will be held up by the Censor until we leave. They will measurably show our location. So that would hold them until we leave then it would not make a difference.

This makes it kind of rough. There is a lot I’d like to write, but all of it is taboo. That makes for short, uninteresting letter’s from now on. It is hard to figure out something to put into a letter.

Lt. Roberts has left Camp Beale. We have to wonder where he is now. I have checked my dad’s timeline and found that by June of 1944 he and his fellow soldiers were in Cornwall, England getting ready to head to Normandy Beach where the real fighting was to begin for them. Now back to the letter.

I have run into another Roberts. He and I run around together now. The other day I went ice skating for the first time. Such an experience. You have probably seen those ice arenas. We found one and being as he is a Yankee, he has been in those things before. I’ll try anything at least once. So, in we went. I didn’t fall but once. I had a lot of fun. If the things had wheels on them, I could have done a lot better.

It looks like Roberts may still be in the United States.

I ran into a boy from home the other day. He is on this shipment, too. He went into the Army with me and into the National Guard with me in nineteen-forty and was discharged due to “over twenty-eight laws” which were in effect at that time. He was discharged on December sixth, nineteen forty-one, and has been back in for about seven months. His name is Minor, Coleman Minor I think, he lives in Alva.

Ah ha! National Guards! My father joined the National Guard Sept. 5, 1940, with promises that he would only serve a year. Little did he know he would be mustered into the Army in a short amount of time. I have to wonder if Roberts suffered the same fate. It looks like he was also in the National Guard in 1940. How many other young men did the same. Thinking they would be out in one year. My dad ended up serving five. It has been at least four for Roberts and with the dates on the letters and depending when he joined it will be close to five.

I tried to research “over 28 Laws” as mentioned above and could not find anything. Anyone out there heard of them?

How is everyone getting along? I haven’t heard from Diane since I wrote to her last. I guess that Pop is still out in the gulf, sitting cussing the trout because they won’t bite. Such a fisherman. I think I will challenge him to a contest when I get home. Has Jimmie gone into the Army yet? Give everyone my love, and write as often as you can. I have to sign off for now. Don’t waste your time worrying about me. I’ll be O.K.

Lots of Love,

Johnnamus

Well there you go. Two letters down and I feel like we have learned a lot about Lt. Roberts. Where he is and where he has been. With the censorship we may not know more.

I know Mrs. Roberts must have been worried sick with all that was happening with the rest of the Armed Services. I know if it were me, I would have been terrified. Can you imagine your son being mustered into the army after the promise of one year of service in the National Guard? She must be so worried. I don’t even know him and I am worried. There is only one way to find out what happens and that is to get to the next letter.

Until next week friends

4 Comments

Posted in Lt. John T. Roberts, World War II | Tags: 1944, Camp Beale, Camp Stewart, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | August 22, 2023

2 Lt. John T. Roberts

I spent yesterday putting small Post-a-Notes with the dates on each letter. Then put them in numerical order. I am a little OCD, I admit it. Especially anytime I can organize something. It gives me joy.

The letters are from Lieutenant John T. Roberts. They are all written to the same person, Mrs. JD Roberts in Florida. I did some checking on Find-a-Grave and found two candidates who may be Mr. Roberts.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47789076/john-tharp-roberts

Or could it be this John?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93527658/john-theo-roberts

I checked both cemeteries and neither one has a JD Roberts. So who knows? Maybe our John T. Roberts was not buried in Florida.

There are 881 records for a John T. Roberts world-wide on Find-a-Grave I have checked each one that had a birth date that coincides with our Mr. Roberts. None of the cemeteries had a JD Roberts.

Mrs. JD Roberts would not be easy to find since we don’t have her first name. So that is all we have for now on her.

So let’s take a look at the first letter. On the outside it looks exactly like one of my dad’s letters.

The date is June 6, 1944. The postmark is from Camp Beale in California. Around this time my dad was in Camp Rucker, Alabama getting ready to go to the Tennessee maneuvers.

Established in 1942 Camp Beale was located east of Yuba City, near Marysville in central/norther California. It was named for General Edward F. Beale. It housed sixty thousand people in it’s heyday. In this Camp they also housed German Prisoners. In 1947 the camp was turned over to Air Force and it was deactivated. In 1951 the camp became Beale Air Force Base which it is to this day.

Check out that great stamp. Is that a B-17?

You can read more about Camp Beale at:

https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/5622/Camp-Beale.htm

Next let’s look at the return address.

I can’t decipher all the c/o letters but I do see: A.S.F.P.R.?. Any ideas what this means? I am not real sure about the last letter though.

And now let’s finally open the first letter… slowly… grabbing… opening… Here we go;

June 6, 1944

Dear Mother,

Well there you go. One mystery solved. Mrs. J. D. Roberts is John’s mother.

I have been holding off writing in hopes that my check came and I can send you some more of the money I owe you. I hope that you received the hundred dollars I wired a few days ago. I haven’t received the check as yet, but I should soon. I have. Made out an allotment to you for a hundred dollars a month commencing this month. Use any of it you need, but what you don’t need put in the bank or in bonds. I am going to need some lettuce when this thing is over.

I had a swell trip out. I hit New Orleans at 2:30 AM on the twenty-sixth and had to wait until nine o’clock that same morning. Caught the plane out of there O.K. and hit Chi (Chicago) at three thirty that afternoon. I had to lay over there till three o’clock in the morning of the twenty-seventh. Had quite a time. Got a room at the Palmer House right off the bat. Quite a ritzy joint.

I had never heard of the Palmer House so I wanted to find out more. It looks like it WAS “a ritzy joint.” Check it out here:

https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/palmer-house-a-hilton-hotel/history.php

Caught the plane out of there O.K. and hit Salt Lake City at eleven-thirty and there I was thrown off along with quite a few others. Somebody with higher priority. Had to catch the bus from there to Sacramento. Just a twenty-two hour trip by bus, and about three by plane. However I am not sorry because I saw some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen on that trip. If you love the mountains like you say you do, you should have seen the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We got there in plenty of time.

Lately I have been taking a course of instruction in the garand rifle. She’s a sweet gun. I bet that James Albert would like to fire it. I have been on the range all day firing it. Tomorrow morning we go out and finish up.

If you are interested you can read the history of the Garand Rifle at just click the link below:

https://thegca.org/m1-garand-history/

After that I don’t know what is lined up for us. I am ready to go anytime they give the word. Being as I have to go again I’d just as soon get it over with and find out what’s it all about. I can tell you this much. I don’t think you need to worry about me getting assigned to the infantry. That isn’t going to happen, I don’t think, darn it! In fact there is nothing to worry about.

How is everyone getting along now? Give them all my love. Tell the kids hello for me. It’s time I quit. Write when you can and I’ll do the same. Every thing is hunky-dory with me. Lots of love,

Wait a minute! Wait a minute, John signs his name “Johnnamus” check it out!

Well I wasn’t expecting that. I did a cursory look on Find-a-Grave using Johnnamus and didn’t find anything.

Also I found this statement interesting: “Being as I have to go again I would just as soon get it over with.”

Did our John already serve? I sure hope we have answers somewhere in the letters we have left. I do think we have a clue by his rank but we have to leave something for next week.

Until then Friends

2 Comments

Posted in Lt. John T. Roberts, World War II | Tags: Camp Beale, letters home, Lt. John T. Roberts, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | August 16, 2023

Cleaning House

If you see posts going up, I am cleaning house. I am trying to get rid of stuff that does not pertain to WWII. Well, WWII and some personal things I don’t want to delete. I hope it will be easier to get to my dad’s letters and The Suitcase journey. Bear with me.

3 Comments

Posted in Grab Bag

Posted by: notsofancynancy | August 16, 2023

Then and Now

The Arlon Courthouse 1944-45 When my father was there

The Old Arlon Courthouse Present

My dad spent a few days here during the war. Interesting to see it both then and now. Make sure to stop by tomorrow to read the next chapter in my father’s story

6 Comments

Posted in Daily Ramblings, Grab Bag, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Blog, family, My Father's Letter's, photo, photograph, Post a day, postaday, The Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge, World War II, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | August 15, 2023

1 The New Adventure, Lt. John T. Roberts

I wrote the following post and came back to add this note to the beginning.

I mean no disrespect to the soldiers or their families in these posts. I have nothing but the upmost respect for these men. I write so that their stories can in part be told and preserved. I would love to eventually return these letters to the family, if I can find them. First though, I want to share their stories with nothing but respect. I feel like it is important to honor these men. It is with gratitude and thankfulness I write.

I guess I should have checked out my equipment before I started this new journey. I laugh at myself now. I do that a lot. If you can’t laugh at yourself how can you laugh at anyone else?

For the last 3 hours I have been trying to get my laptop to cooperate with me but I fear that is a lost cause. The first post was written on my phone. This one on my tablet, so it is a crap shoot on where the next one will be done. If there was one thing my dad taught me it was to persevere and never quit. So with that in mind forgive my typos. Lets get on with this.

(Now I realized the pictures are on my phone. You guessed it, I am back on my phone.)

Carefully I open the plastic covering the stack anticipating what I might find. I slowly peel the tape back, push, and they all come out still in the order in which they came.

First out are the V-Mail’s, there are 8 of them. Next is a telegram, I am not opening it just yet. Then we have 49 letters from Lt. John T. Roberts. It looks like they are all written to the same person, Mrs. J.D. Roberts, in Florida. I wonder who she is, mother? Sister? Cousin?

The letters are dated 1944-45. I realized I am going to need a magnifying glass to get a clear look those V-Mails. Thank goodness for Amazon.

There is 1 letter from an Lt. Ed Coffey, 1 letter from Alonzo Jones, T-Sgt, Dresden, Tenn, 4 Letters with no envelopes. Next we have 1 envelope with with no letter and another with a letter, both from Sgt. Chas H. Sapp, AAF Weather Service POA. They are all written to Mrs. Roberts.

Now we have a mystery inside a mystery. Will I find the missing letter in one of the other envelopes? Or is it one of the letters with no envelopes. What happen to said letter and why is this Sargent from the Weather Service writing to John’s family member?

I marvel at my self control. I want to check out the open letters, the telegram, and letters with no envelopes but I want you to experience them when I do. So I am restraining myself. All in due time.

Until next week friends

9 Comments

Posted in Lt. John T. Roberts | Tags: 1944, 1945, Army, Lt. John T. Roberts, soldiers, WWII