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In this photograph
of John Edward
as Staff Sergeant,
his garrison cap has a
Quartermaster Corps pin
that is much like
the one he sent
to his mother
with the letter below.
The garrison cap
and tucked tie,
following uniform code,
maintained an orderly
and streamlined look.
They also served
practical purposes;
a garrison cap could
be folded flat
when not worn,
and a tucked tie
would not interfere
with field work.
and tucked tie,
following uniform code,
maintained an orderly
and streamlined look.
They also served
practical purposes;
a garrison cap could
be folded flat
when not worn,
and a tucked tie
would not interfere
with field work.
On Mother's Day that year, May 10th, John Edward wrote to his mother that
the Chaplain's sermon "set me to thinking about all the mothers
in the world that had sons in the army" (10 May).
He continued:
the Chaplain's sermon "set me to thinking about all the mothers
in the world that had sons in the army" (10 May).
He continued:
 |
| John Edward letter to his mother, May 10, 1942, family scan |
Mother's Day had been designated a national holiday shortly before World War I.
When America entered World War II, mothers began to wear a sterling silver pin
with one blue star for each son serving in the war. The rectangular pin
had a red 'frame' around the blue star(s) set against a white background.
with one blue star for each son serving in the war. The rectangular pin
had a red 'frame' around the blue star(s) set against a white background.
additional pin to wear, the
Quartermaster Battalion crest for
the 36th Division. He included
an explanation about the
meaning of its colors and emblems.
Its motto, Venio Cito, signified
the prompt delivery of services and
equipment for troops. He wrote,
"wear it and be proud of it. I am."
 |
| John Edward letter to his mother continued, May 10, 1942, family scan |
The battle streamers he mentioned each represented a distinctive military
event or achievement for a Battalion. They were attached to the poles of
military flags where they could freely swing in the air. The 111th Battalion's mass of
streamers was noticed by General Marshall during the recent American-British review of troops.
event or achievement for a Battalion. They were attached to the poles of
military flags where they could freely swing in the air. The 111th Battalion's mass of
streamers was noticed by General Marshall during the recent American-British review of troops.
Such visits had been made to training camps around the country, and an
Army Times newspaper clipping about them was included with the next letter home.
Army Times newspaper clipping about them was included with the next letter home.
 |
| John Edward letter to his father, May 12, 1942, family scan |
As always, he inquired about his parents and attended to their lives with some detail.
And, while he had several pieces of bad news that month, it
was only about the personal one that he wrote home:
"Ruth wrote 'finis' to our affair on the 1st of May. That's the worst blow
that I've had in a long, long time. But that too was in the cards,
I guess. I wrote to her yesterday" (10 May).
was only about the personal one that he wrote home:
"Ruth wrote 'finis' to our affair on the 1st of May. That's the worst blow
that I've had in a long, long time. But that too was in the cards,
I guess. I wrote to her yesterday" (10 May).
Other bad news was received several days later:
denial of his application to attend the Adjutant General's Officer Candidate School.
denial of his application to attend the Adjutant General's Officer Candidate School.
 |
| Memo from Adjutant General's office to John Edward, May 15, 1942, family scan |
Around this same time cousin Maj. Jim Caviness
wrote about John Edward to his mother Johnnie:
wrote about John Edward to his mother Johnnie:
"he is favorably regarded by his officers,
even if he does become discouraged at times."
even if he does become discouraged at times."
 |
| Letter from cousin Maj. Jim Caviness to John Edward's mother Johnnie, May 14, 1942, family scan |
With unwavering confidence cousin Jim added his oft-written words
of encouragement -- this time accompanied with an empathetic comment:
"He will come through O.K. if he just keeps plugging, yet I can
understand his feelings at times" (14 May).
of encouragement -- this time accompanied with an empathetic comment:
"He will come through O.K. if he just keeps plugging, yet I can
understand his feelings at times" (14 May).
There are two friends we hear about during the next
few months. Henry Gomez was also in the 36th Division,
and John Edward asked his mother to write to him.
If she wanted to.
few months. Henry Gomez was also in the 36th Division,
and John Edward asked his mother to write to him.
If she wanted to.
He explained that a
woman in the Corona Women's Victory Club
"admitted" that she wrote only because the organizer "Mrs. Kay asked
her to, and that she was just 'doing her part.'" He added:
"Our morale is o.k. without getting a kick in the pants" (21 May).
Of course, Johnnie had been writing to soldiers for some time,
as we have learned in other posts. Sometimes on her own initiative,
and sometimes at the request of John Edward -- such as the medic
who befriended him during the extended head injury hospitalization.
"admitted" that she wrote only because the organizer "Mrs. Kay asked
her to, and that she was just 'doing her part.'" He added:
"Our morale is o.k. without getting a kick in the pants" (21 May).
Of course, Johnnie had been writing to soldiers for some time,
as we have learned in other posts. Sometimes on her own initiative,
and sometimes at the request of John Edward -- such as the medic
who befriended him during the extended head injury hospitalization.
 |
| John Edward letter home, May 21, 1942, family scan |
And Milton is
a friend from
California, who
"always remembers"
John Edward's
birthday with
a card.
a friend from
California, who
"always remembers"
John Edward's
birthday with
a card.
 |
| John Edward letter home, May 21, 1942, family scan |
There is also news about the intensive training that
continued at Camp Blanding.
sometimes twice a week; and
"we also have to swim 100 yards
with full equipment on our backs" (21 May).
The troops were being prepared for battle.
"We are starting maneuvers soon, and they will last (I think)
until August or September.
Lots and lots of maneuvers. Long ones and short ones" (24 May).
until August or September.
Lots and lots of maneuvers. Long ones and short ones" (24 May).
.png) |
| John Edward letter home, May 24, 1942, family scan (with hand-written insert "pounds") |
The "startling news" that John Edward refers to will be good news
this time. It arrived a few days later by Special Order.
this time. It arrived a few days later by Special Order.
 |
| Special Order to promote John Edward from Staff Sergeant, S/Sgt, to Sergeant Grade I, Master Sergeant, M/Sgt., May 27, 1942, family scan |
John Edward was promoted -- again within just
a few weeks of his previous promotion.
a few weeks of his previous promotion.
We have now accompanied John Edward through 73 letters
written home during his 18 1/2 months in the Army.
Much of this time had been spent struggling with bias and disregard
because of stuttering. He had been overlooked and bypassed time and again.
"His frustration could be overwhelming.
He fought back with whatever was available to him
and then he let his natural talent and passion for the job and army take over.
The next thing you know, reading on through the letters, is that he
then becomes the youngest Master Sergeant in the US Army."
--John Edward Binnion II, August 1924
written home during his 18 1/2 months in the Army.
Much of this time had been spent struggling with bias and disregard
because of stuttering. He had been overlooked and bypassed time and again.
"His frustration could be overwhelming.
He fought back with whatever was available to him
and then he let his natural talent and passion for the job and army take over.
The next thing you know, reading on through the letters, is that he
then becomes the youngest Master Sergeant in the US Army."
--John Edward Binnion II, August 1924
As John Edward wrote in his letter of May 28, he
"had reached the highest point (and I repeat, the highest)
that an enlisted man can obtain."
"had reached the highest point (and I repeat, the highest)
that an enlisted man can obtain."
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