"It feels good to be called Lieutenant,"
John Edward wrote home on September 26.
A recent graduate of the Quartermaster Corps Officer Candidate School,
John Edward received his Commissioned as an Officer
and was assigned to the Truck Company of the 138th Quartermaster Corps:
"Got my first assignment -- 138th Qu M Corps (TRK)
at A.P. Hill, Mil. Res., Va." (26 Sept).
Anticipating deployment at this point, most of the men made sure
that family arrangements were up to date for insurance, power of attorney,
who to notify in case of emergency or death, and a will.
After his list of instructions, John Edward reassured his parents:
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| John Edward letter home, September 19, 1942, family scan |
Regarding the will, he wrote:
"PLEASE -- will not to be opened until necessary.
As I said, please don't open it.
And for heaven's sake, please don't let your imagination
run wild -- I'll be O.K. for a long, long time.
You know us Texans -- rough & ready, and quick on the draw" (10 Oct).
While they did not yet know it, troops assembled at A.P. Hill Military Reservation
would soon be deployed overseas under General Patton.
This was his
headquarters and staging area for an upcoming operation.
20 2 1/2-T G.M.C. trucks
to baby around.
Dad, you ought to
be jealous,"
John Edward wrote
on the 26th of September.
Nicknamed CCKW,
there were
over 600,000 of
these trucks
manufactured for the war. Like the newly developed jeep, they were reliable,
easily repaired, and rugged off-road. They could transport up to 25 soldiers or 2.5 tons
of supplies such as rations, munitions, or gasoline. And they were easily modified
for use as an ambulance, fire truck, or mobile maintenance workshop.
%20'Capt%20Cook'%20Dukw%20Anzio.png) |
| Friend of John Edward examining a DUKW, 1944 family scan |
The month before, they
had been converted into an
amphibious vehicle
and used successfully
for the first time against
Japan in the Pacific.
With a boat hull and
propeller built over a truck,
the DUKW (as it was nicknamed)
could directly transport troops and
cargo from water to land.
John Edward would also be responsible for those vehicles.
For now, though, his specific duties included:
"Platoon Leader of 2nd Platoon, Motor Officer, Motor
Maintenance Officer, Camouflage Officer, Recreation Officer,
Recorder for the Company Council Book.
Not to mention a heck of a lot of other duties that will
no doubt be assigned at a later date" (29 Sept).
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| John Edward letter home, September 29, 1942, family scan |
He added, "we have some very fine cooks, and
Erstwhile expects to gain a few pounds in the next few weeks."
The camp itself -- as usual -- left much to be desired.
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| John Edward letter home, September 29, 1842, family scan |
"But really, so far I like this immensely."
He ended with another note to his father:
"And Pop -- aren't you proud of your son?
Just think -- another mechanic (?) in the family."
With his next letter:
 |
| John Edward letter home, October 10, 1942, family scan |
Every kind of preparation was being made for deployment.
John Edward and other platoon officers from the 138th
were sent to pick up equipment, supplies, and uniforms for their troops.
 |
| WWII veteran's gear, grandchild on Pinterest |
"Right now, your son is in New Joisey, drawing clothing
and equipment for his boys" (17 Oct).
 |
| John Edward letter home, October 19, 1942, family scan |
Across the country, manufacturing for the war effort was frenetic.
After the First World War, many countries,
including the United States, had reduced their military.
 |
| List from "Quartermaster OCS during WWII" |
But that war
had not turned out
to be the
"War to End All Wars,"
as much of the
world had hoped.
John Edward
experienced first-hand
how military readiness
lagged far behind need.
As he wrote,
uniforms, supplies,
and equipment were
not yet stocked
in Eastern seaboard
warehouses. And the
Quartermaster list
for clothing and
personal care alone,
just a portion of
each soldier's equipment,
conjures extensive
manufacturing challenges.
Upon production though, delivery of any military supply redoubled.
Tanks, trucks, equipment, uniforms, and supplies sped to the east coast.
 |
| Trucks transported by rail to east coast, autumn 1942, still from army video |
"There
seems to be an awful lot of activity around here -- the
eastern
seaboard, I mean. There's an awful lot of talk about a second front
(tho
everyone has a different idea where it will be) and a lot of
the troops
expect to be sent across soon.
Sure wish they would send Erstwhile" (17 Oct).
The United States would soon enter the war in Europe.
Secrecy was essential for success of the operation under planning.
No one knew when or where it would happen, nor its name,
but Operation Torch was approaching.
John Edward and others continued to send home extraneous belongings.
He asked his parents to look for: "my Longhorn Band key on a chain that broke ...
since it is one of my prize possessions and I don't want to lose it,"
his watch, for he had purchased a "shock-proof wristwatch, because it is a 'must' for officers,"
have a couple of pleats made in the back -- be sort of sporty, you know" (28 Oct).
 |
| Near Broadway and Times Square, New York City, WWII dim-out, Public Domain |
He concluded the letter:
"This is my first real evening off, and probably my last
for awhile, so I'm going to sling the red paint in the town. Won't
do much good, I'm afraid, because of the dim-out" (28 Oct).
From the Sloane House YMCA it was just over a mile to Times Square
and the Broadway Theater area. All of the neon signs were turned off, and
many buildings were in full black-out. But even with the dim-out to protect
from air or naval attack, night-life in the city continued.
Another outing was with"an Italian woman who took me out to her house
for supper -- real, honest to goodness, Italian food. Oh, it was wonderful!
She has a brother in the Marines who is in the Solomon Islands now.
All of which makes me wonder and think about
the way the folks here are taking the war" (25 Oct).
Attending USO dances, hosting and cooking for soldiers, and writing letters
were all ways women across the country supported the troops.
John Edward's mother had recently mailed several scrapbooks;
he planned to take them back to the camp hospital where he was "certain the boys
will really appreciate them. You really are a brick to take that time for the boys" (28 Oct).
Reflecting somewhat philosophically about such things,
John Edward wrote about the war itself.
 |
| John Edward letter home, October 25, 1942, family scan |
Before mailing the letter he added this postcript:
"Just saw the Italian woman again, and she gave me a 'Rum cake' she had baked
this morning. Something like a cheesecake. Mmmmmmmm" (25 Oct).
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