Here are a few excerpts from some letters from the autumn of 1943. I'm skipping the scanning this time, and am hitting just the highlights.
Sept 15 '43
Dear Ma,
...
Every one here is worried about the draft. It looks as though it is going to get a few of the draft dodgers. They say they personnel office is packed with them also the draft board.
The have also been talking about putting us on a 9 hour day & having only 2 shifts and every other Sunday off. It would avg us 2 hours a week more than we have it now. I don't know how it would work out but I think we have the best set up we could want, we only put 8 hours on the job and only supposed to work 7 it would really add 2 hours a day to us. We get paid for our lunch time the way it is the other way we wouldn't. Oh well they wouldn't do it the way I want then so what do I care.
...
Every one is talking about going deer hunting. the season opens Sun. I would like to go but what would I do with one if I got one & I don't have a gun so I guess there's not much sense in wishing.
Well I don't have any more to write so I'll close and hope you get this before or on Sat.
Jack
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Sept 22, '43
Dear Ma
I received your nice long letter yesterday so I will try to answer it.
You may some day learn to listen to your little son. I am glad you went up and got your glasses. I told Florence that if you didn't go up and get them that she should break your old ones so you would have to. I guess you beat her to it.
...
They tell me they are planning on taking 700 workers out of the yard between now & the first of the year. I don't know but I think I am probable include in that group. They say the are calling in all deferments on guys from 18-25 so it wouldn't do me much good to have a deferment. I doesn't seem to make any difference what rating you hold or how much of a family you have if you come between the age limits.
I got those pictures ok but I discovered one happens to be missing. I am sure the fellows here would enjoy looking at it and would compliment me on such good picture taking. How bout that picture of Bo.
...
Sat
I imagine you have been wondering why I haven't been writing. Just lazyness.
Now listen & get this straight. I want you (right now so I can get it by Sun) to go up to the Folks and go up to Wayne room and ge me a little 30-30. It is sitting near the left hand side of the rack. The barell is a darker color than the rest of the guns looks like stove blackening on it and it chips off. Then get dad Kruse to go out in the shop and see if he can find 2 boxes of 30-30 shells, first try the big box under the lathe. I imagine they are in there it will say 30-30 on the box. about the gun it has a price tag on it that says $12 or $15 I forget just what but its between $10-$15 make sure the shells fit the gun. Now as 2nd and last resort if for some reason you can't do the other. Take my gun out of the box and ask Dad Kruse for about 20 shells for his gun tell him I want some hunting loads. He has some for his Krug also make sure they fit. Don't send either gun in a wooden box put it in card board.
Maybe Glady could call Mr. Woodall he will help if he is in town. I want to go deer hunting next Sunday if possible so please dear Ma don't put this off till this after noon or tomorrow. I would have sent you a night letter but was afraid you wouldn't get it till Mon & I hope this is there by then. I hope you can get the 30-30 together it is a lighter gun & etc. Please try & send it. The 30-30 will be out in the shop so try hard to find them.
I am sending you $30 to cover the cost of handling and packing. I'll pay the express.
Well I'll close for now & hope like LLL that the gun get here on or before Sat. Ask about air express if it is not over $3.50 send it by that.
Jack
Put in Hunting Knife
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And the payoff.....
October 22 43
Dear Ma
May be I ought to drop you a line to let you know I'm still alive. I have been deer hunting just about every day & we I get home (if I do get home) I am so tired I can hardly walk. Yesterday I slept about 13 hours, but the day befor I had 3 hours sleep & the day befor that I had 5 hours sleep - so you see I really had earned a little sleep. Sat morning I went out to one of the welders house & stayed all day Sat & Sun. I sure had a lot of fun, Sat night we went out & they got drunk. I was afraid of getting sick so I didn't. We stayed up til 2 AM Sun & then got up at 8 I then went to sleep around 7 and slept till around 10. It really think I start finding out what a bed is for I haven't been in one enough lately to really know. Sun I went out in the bay and picked up some oysters. We fried and ate them. They were small but good. They do have some big ones on ??? fried they are about the size of the palm of your hand. I am going out again some day when it is sunny & take some pictures out there - it sure is pretty.
We haven't had much luck as far as deer hunting the only thing I got was a heck of a cold.
...
We did catch a big salmon in the creek day before yesterday - the salmon are just starting to run & it is easy to reach down and grab one. The one we got was a dog salmon they are ugly but pretty good eating. I guess thats the kind they smoke. If I had my camera along I would have taken a picture of it.
It has been raining almost every day since I got my gun & it sure makes it miserable to hunt even after it rains because the ferns and underbrush hit me just about the waist.
Well as I don't plan on going out tomorrow & am sleepy I'll close now.
Sat
Well I guess I am going hunting again today, I'll have to get that buck today or tomorrow or never Sun is the last day.
Well we moved over on the West Va last night and really put out for a change.
...
Enclosed $25
Jack
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