1LETTERS TO CHARLES CLAYTON MORGAN (CLATE)

DURING KOREAN WAR YEARS.His address while in Camp Breckinridge KYPvt Charles C. Morgan US 55049801 Co B 502nd ABN Inf Regit.

101st ABN Div, Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.

Dear Clat,Just got your card I’ll write a little of the main things and send you a book of stamps as I am going to town in a little bit.

Ray & J (John) have just gone back to get some Walnut log west & a little south of Waynetown they had bad luck this morn couldn’t get them so had to come back and take the cab (6 of them). They have been sawing 3 days this week getting Davis & a few other little orders done... Surface for one. Last week they cut and brought in the logs off Roy W & Hole. D. Ball they stopped last night. I guess he got Doc talked into selling so perhaps they’ll start on them next.

I give Ray your address he wanted to write you.

Max S. (Surface or Servies) sure has called home a lot.

The way it sounded like some of them were going down there again next Sun.

Carroll has been helping pretty good. Last week he done fine while we had the sows & pigs for it took 2 to feed them but we sold them Sat to Doris W - $870 & 5 gilts say they weren’t bad at all, we was surprised Dye brought us some warmer Tues night.

We are going to get a good male hog then we will be set... haven’t had time yet to look.

God but it has been windy & cold but it is swell today.

John had an awful cold last week couldn’t hardly go and then I begin Sun & I have felt tough all week.

Carroll milks one cow all the time & helps with the rest of work J took him to show on the Mon night of the 6th.

I think Ray aims to tell you more about the logs than I did. I told him at noon I couldn’t keep up with him & J. I thought he was going to half to tell you more about that so I think he will.

J figures you are in about the same thing he was only they sure are doing things different than they did when he went in.

Well there just hasn’t been much else doing since you left. J did get his 2 tires yesterday $146.50. Freight $3.00 and he is going to get 2 more soon & then have 2 recaps for the front.

I’ll try & keep you in stamps until you can get them easy. Boy sure didn’t dream it would be like that. Am sending Max your address had a short letter from her yesterday. We all got a big kick out of your letters that is just ok to write as it happens. So write.

Love,

Clayton Morgan

Mom. Postmarked Nov 17 1950 -- 11:30 p.m. – Fri 12:20 .

Dear Clate,

Since Mom got your address today I will write you a few lines, it sure took awhile for you to get an address didn’t it? Sounds like you have been real busy though, we all thought your letters were real interesting, we have got several good laughs out of them!

Larry has gone to get a hair cut, I am waiting on him to come back so we can go out home for a few minutes.

I have to work at the factory in the morning, first time on Sat for ages, that overtime really counts. We will need the extra cash as we went in big and ordered us a big radio combination outfit, we are getting it thru Leonard it is a $200 one and he can get it for us for $125, quite a saving wouldn’t you say. We may get it a little early for Xmas, but we don’t care.

I got a letter from Mary & Jack yesterday, she asked me for your address, she is going to write you and ask you to come see them and she said she would be glad to give you a meal, she says a lot of the soldiers from Breckenridge come there on their liberties, also a lot from Henderson work out at the camp. I thought that was nice in them, I know they would make you feel at home if you get a chance to go, their address is 13 ½ S. Main St, it isn’t hard to find. We may get down that way before 1950 is gone. They had hoped to get up to see us.

Wilson Bros. has bought another big shirt factory at Madisonville, Ky, that is where Mary & Jack aim to go next summer, Jack wants to set up in business there with another Dr. Glad you are getting along so well. Do you think you are going to get your basic training there? We were up at Mary Rush’s Sun nite for a party, she really had good eats, Howard, Velma & Phyllis were there, we saw some good television while there.

Larry went hunting last Sat afternoon but he didn’t even see a rabbit, John got two on Friday. Maybe he can go again on Thanksgiving.

Carol Dean has been doing real well helping J with the work, he gets real proud of himself getting up so early.

Larry and I both have had awful colds. We have had such crazy weather, it has been real cold here several mornings.

Our neighbor Kenneth Zachary that bought Joe McKeown’s store is having a time getting a beer license. They turned him down flat. All taverns & beer dealers signed against him, so unless he pulls some other string he is out, he can’t make a go of just grocery trade. He was closed all this week... too bad as they put so much in remodeling.

Well surely Larry will be coming any time now so write when you find time. Always write home first as they watch for your letters.Love, Bet and Larry Nov 17 1950 (postmark)– from Mr/Mrs. L. J. Devitt, 905 E. Market Street, Crawfordsville, Ind – this is Clayton’s sister Elizabeth Josephine Morgan born 28 Nov 1919 in Parke County, Indiana and died 3 June 2004 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Ind. She was a young married woman.

Dear Clayt, Mom sent me your address yesterday so will get busy and write while I have a little time. That sure is some address you have. I’ll never get that one learned. Am glad to hear you are getting along ok. It sure sounds like they are doing things different than when J. went in. We hope the food improves. Maybe they have some new cooks that are just learning. Did you see anything of Servies? Mom said they were coming down last week if the weather didn’t get bad. I’m still wondering about getting you a camera, so you can let me know what to do about it, I’ll know whether to think up something else or not as I got your name for Xmas. I sure haven’t got anything bought for Xmas so far. We hardly ever see Mildred & Russ they are so busy at the store. Richard is down in Texas. I haven’t heard how he is making out except that he hasn’t got in the band so far so things may not turn out to be such a gravy train after all. I’m out of paper so I’ll have to make this short this time. Let me know about the camera. Mom said you were having trouble getting stamps so I’ll put in some. Let us hear from you. Hope you get home for Xmas.Love, Buck & Max. From: Mrs. Gerald Eminger, RR #1 E North St, Kendallville, Indiana) Postmarked Nov 22 1950 Tuesday night . Max/Maxine is a sister to Clayton.

Dear Clat: Carroll & me just got home from the show, thought I had better start this letter. Got your newsy letter yesterday and sent it on to Max today. Dot and me was Xmas shopping about alday today. J is just coming in from a meeting. He was telling me at the supper table about Ray how logger head he is. They cut a log white oak on Beecher and they fell it up the hill and then J wanted to hack on and pull it up the hill aways and then cut it off so it wouldn’t fall over a hill of a bluff but he said it wouldn’t so they cut it off backed on with the truck outfit and some little thing broke & the way she went down the bluff in the creek. J said he never said a word. J said it could of bursted easy for it was such a fall. And White Oak has just went to $30 a hundred is all isn’t that a sight that one on Roy W is going to bring them over $100. J went Sat up to talk to Dr Ball but didn’t get to much out of him. He will go down and look it over & etc so maybe if Don keeps after him they might get it. Roy W is in buying the home place so if he gets it done he is selling everything on it and on him too. J said there sure was a lot of it and some real sugar. I think Carl is going to take the logs all up in a day or 2 and then they are going to start hauling. J is going to have the 2 front tires recapped Fri 18.50 a pc. He has to before he starts hauling for since Rhoads done that work it will be to do over if we don’t get everything right. Some time back Ray tried to buy some Walnut off of a woman over around Christman, Ill & never got it done. So did Carl & Shorty Mays & they didn’t get it done. And Sam Norman got it the other day for $520 & Carl took it up at $2700 boy are they all crying. Shorty said he would of give her $1000 & never bated an eye. Ha! Wed after noon – am going to town to get things for tomorrow – nobody will be here Bet Larry Carroll & me are going to Fry’s tomorrow afternoon might go if Ray don’t want to work. Ray got him a truck $150 off Tippett 40 GMC & I think it is good tires. I’ll find out more about that later. I’ll write you more when we come from Fry’s. Got your newsy letter again. We think you write good ones. I’ll let Bet & Dot read it & after Thurs I’ll send it on to Max. Boy it looks sad for Xmas. I no Max S (prob Servies) has been banking big on Xmas from what they having been saying. That guy is sure showing off not letting you guys out anymore than that. I look for somebody to get pretty tired of him & He’ll wish he had done different. Boy that poor guy you are writing for we sure had to laugh and not very funny either. I’ll write again in a day or two. We are going to butcher a hog next week so is Carl’s. Love,Mom Nov 23 1950- Postmarked 8 p.m. Crawfordsville, Ind – return address John W. Morgan, Crawfordsville Ind RR #3 – 3 cent purple stamp cancelled with Fight TB – Rct Charles C. Morgan US 55049801 Co b 502nd Abn Inf Regt 101st airborne Div Camp Breckinridge KY – Tues nite.

Dear Clate, We are out home tonight, we came out about 1 o’clock, it was snowing and blowing so hard we didn’t think we would get to go to Faye’s but it let up so Mom & C.D. ( Carroll Dean) went with us. They weren’t

expecting us. Larry was there, he had come over to help Chick in the corn, but he doubted if they would get to do anything the rest of the week. Chick is fretting as he has got so much corn out yet and he hasn’t been feeling very well. The roads are slick and it is really going to get cold here tonight, close to zero I think. John & Dusty Rhoads went to look at a hound this afternoon, Dusty wants one, I guess Watson has some nice pups he may buy one of them for $15. I suppose the Servies’ got down there today, I reckon you got your box Mom sent. Don’t give up hopes about getting home for Christmas. I’ll bet the kid from Frankfort is pitiful, I’ll bet his folks appreciate you writing for him also. I wrote Max today and told her we might be up the week end after this one if the weather permits, we could leave about 1 on Sat and be there between 5 & 6, we thought we could stop in

Marion Sun afternoon on our way home. Larry went hunting a little while this morning but he didn’t get any, I don’t know if we are going to have any rabbit this season. We may go to the NM ( prob New Market) game tomorrow night, they play Klondike at the armory they have won all games but one. Waveland seems to have a good team, that Greeve’s guy is really pouring in the baskets for them. C’ville got beat there 1 st game but won last night. We didn’t get season tickets for their games since Larry works some nights. He is having a long stretch of days this time probably won’t be in nites till the middle of Jan. Manges’ have a new Chevie ordered they are supposed to get it by the middle of the month. Some of the guys at the Pellet Mill are talking about going to work at Allison’s, Crawford Crane may go back if he can get riders. Maybe the pellet mill will give a raise in wages, there is a rumor to that effect. Well Larry & J have gone to sleep on us, we will have to get into town in a little while. Have you heard from Mary & Jack yet? Will close write when you can, I sure kidded Max in the letter about what a good letter writer you were and how many letters you had wrote home and she averages one letter in two or three weeks. I know she don’t have any more to do then I do and I find time to write 2 or 3 letters a week. Love, Bet and Larry From: Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Devitt, 905 E. Market St, Crawfordsville, Ind. Postmarked 11:30 p.m. Nov 23 Thurs nite. (Bet/Betty/Elizabeth is a sister to Clayton) Dear Clayton, Glad to hear that you aren’t in the par-troopers; I thought sure that’s what it was. Imagine that it is pretty rough to clean up a camp and really don’t envy you a bit while you’re in basic training; you’ll run into more chicken shit than Noel Shaver ever saw. We have had a lot of it here since school has started. We had to open locker stand bys in a week and have had 9 GI parties in the last 3 weeks. In the old squadron (I have changed) we didn’t have any in 4 weeks. School is pretty rough and they expect a fellow to study all of the time; of course no one does. Most of the guys are out of the barracks this afternoon; some of them have low grades and have compulsory study hall. The rest have hanger detail; I am a squad leader in this squadron and lower bay chief in the barrack so I don’t have to pull any detail or KP. I don’t have a damned thing to do since I make out the duty roster. Of course when they don’t get the bay clean I get my ass chewed. The other night on a GI party I told a f-up to clean the latrine because he wasn’t here to help with the barracks. He told me to go to hell, that I was only a PFC: I got p-offed and reported him to the 1st Sgt and he got his pass taken away for a week and restricted to the base. I thought the CO would chew his ass, but not take his pass; everybody was glad though because he does do his work now. This army makes anybody a screw-off. I am getting up at 4 in the morning, so don’t feel so honored that you get up at 4. Say, have you found anyone who likes this damned army down there/ Let me know if you might get home for X-mas a day or two and maybe I can see you. I thin Don will be home for a few days, too. Schools in the AF close for 9 days during X-Mas. I got home for Thanksgiving but had to come back early because the roads were so bad; they were really slick and the weather was below zero. This barracks sure is a cold place and my hair oil froze last night. A guy sure hates to get up when it is so cold. I guess old Cash has lost his girl now – she is going with some guy in the Air Force; I’ll bet he hasn’t got a bag as big as Harold’s. I think about everybody is in or failed to pass except Burkett; suppose he will keep out by some method – he always was lucky with his brown nose. Did you know that Lindy Simms and his brother were in Korea and Lindy has been wounded once and is fighting again; so I guess we aren’t so bad off after all. A guy next to me is opening up a box so I guess we will feast for awhile. You are always glad to see a box come in as you probably know by now. I will send Ewbank your address and he can send you a line of shit. He will probably be a major by the time we are corporals. He sure was a good soldier in basic and I imagine he still is. Well, keep your nose clean and don’t do anything you don’t have to. Write when you get time and I will try to scribble an answer. So long for now, Bob P.S. Please notice that PFC, $7.50 more on the month! From: PFC Robert Buser AF 16336255 – 3347 Sta Sqdrn Chanute AFB Illinois to Pct. Charles C. Morgan US 55O 49801 – Co B 502nd Abr Inf Reg; 101st

Airborne Division, Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky

Dear Clat:I’ll get you a few lines out before I get started on this mess it has just be (sic) so much snow and it has blowed in on the back porch and around the well till we haven’t got anything but a path threw. It had been snowing off and on ever since Sat night till it wasn’t any use in doing much until it quit. I’ll tell you Sun was awful roads were impossible you couldn’t get from here to town up between Coon’s & Dye’s they like to never got it opened up. J said there was a dandy drift just West out of New Market too. I’ll have to hurry for the mail went at 10 yesterday for there wasn’t hardly any roads he could go threw. There isn’t any schools only in C’ville. And Bets paper said last night it would be about the last of week before they would all be open. Got a letter from Max yesterday

wasn’t much in it she said she had wrote you last Tues so you surly have got it by now. But I haven’t got the letter yet that you had written before Servies’s was down there but maybe I’ll get it today. Well for a little news the Gib Stump place sold to Dr. Beeson but I don’t know whether the HOA was in it or not anyway he payed $9,000. O yes every time I wrote I forgot to tell you the old guy come & got his corn crib the last of that week that you left. It had rained and he was all day get out it was almost dark when he left. We haven’t bought any corn yet Roy had asked J if he wanted any corn he told him he did but there isn’t hardly anybody got all there corn out a long ways this spell just come so early. O course Mornot has HA for he has sold off all his cows and gone to work at the Pellit Mill. (this obviously is not the end of the letter but don’t see the rest) No date – think it goes about in here – Tues morn:

Dear Clate, Bob Buser was here today he took some pictures of me & my cat & me & my ? (pie? Pic?). also some with Bill Sands ? so I rekon you will be getting them before long. Me and Bill has got about all the manure hauled I have been helping him shuck corn on Sat. and then he helps me. I haven’t got my report card yet, I was the only one that got A_ in my arith test the other day heard Mrs. DeBusk tell Mrs. Peacock I was the best one in the room in Arith. Mrs. DeBusk is a good teacher. They say we are going to have 50 more kids in our school they live in a trailer camp at Parkersburg we already have 372. I don’t know what they are going to do with any more I guess this is all I no. Carroll Dean there is a picture he drew of a First Sergeant – Is this right? And one of the 7 th

Division so this letter would go much later but no date so I’ll leave it here.

Dear Clayton: How do you like this cold weather? It sure is cold here. Zero this morning and just 7 above at noon so it isn’t warming up very fast. How do you like the Army? As well as some of the rest I’ll bet. I talk to your mother 3 or 4 times a week. She calls when ever she hears from you and when any of us hear from Max we call her. Was you surprised to see my folks Thanksgiving Day? I saw your mother Wed. evening in town and ask her if she would like to go with the folks and she said she thought it would be to big a trip for her. Did you have an ice dinner Thanksgiving? We sure did we had turkey and chicken broth and every thing that went with it. Well, I better close for now will try and write again.Yours truly,Mary Alice Douglas (Max’s sister) On the back of this letter in Clayton’s writing was jotted 1 pr. Cotton socs; 1 pr wool socs; 5 handkerchief, 1 pr field pants, 2 t-Shirt; 1 pr. Wool bottom under. Nov 24, 1950 -- 102 E. College Street, Crawfordsville, Ind

Dear ClatI’ll get you a few lines out before I get started on this mess it has just be so much snow and it has blowed in on the back porch and around the well till we haven’t got anything but a path threw. It had been snowing off and on ever since Sat night till it wasn’t any use in doing much until it quit. I’ll tell you sun was awful roads were impossible you couldn’t get from her to town up between Coon’s & Dye’s they like to never got it opened up. J. said there was a dandy drift just West out of New Market too. I’ll have to hurry for the mail went at 10 yesterday for there wasn’t hardly any roads he could go threw. There isn’t any schools only in C’ville and Bets paper said last night it would be about the last of week before they would all be open. Got a letter from Max yesterday wasn’t much in it she said she had wrote you last Tues so you surly have got it by now. But I haven’t got the letter yet that you had written before Servies’ was down there but maybe I’ll get it today. Well for a little news the G. Stump place sold to Dr. Beeson but I don’t know whether the 40 a was in it or not anyway he payed $9000. O yes every time I wrote I forgot to tell you the old guy come and got his corn crib the last of that week that you left. It had rained and he was all day get out it was almost dark when he left. We haven’t bought any corn yet Roy had

asked J if he wanted any corn he told him he did but there isn’t hardly anybody got all there corn out by a long ways this spell just come so early O course Mornot has Ha for he has sold of all his cows and gone to work at the Pellet Mill. I saw in yesterdays paper where Tommy Servies got fined for speeding don’t say anything to Max he might of already told you. J took me to town yesterday boy I never saw such a mess you can’t park on the west side at all they had Kirk Quinn out with his Cat when we left J& Earl are going to work on a rate for the pick up so the can haul the hogs to have them butchered when it gets so a fellow can get anywhere. Did it snow down there much Sat night & Sun our drift any we don’t seem to get much on the radio in that part of country everything is

about PA & West VA & Cleveland Ohio it is so awful in them places. Well write when you have a chance and I will too. Love,Mom Nig had Eva to call out Sun night for your address to send to Harold. Rct Charles C. Morgan US 55049801 Co B 502nd ABN Inf Regt. 101st Airborne Div Camp Breckinridge, Ky – from : John W Morgan, Crawfordsville, Indiana RR #3 – postmarked Nov 28 1950 1:30 p.m. Tues morn

Dear Clate,I just finished writing to Mary and Jack, I heard from them today, Mary Jo has been real sick. She told us they had had a big snow and it was cold down there, no doubt you have had it bad there over the weekend. We sure are witnessing one of those “old fashioned” winters. Some of the county roads are still blocked, still no school in the county. The road men are really getting a work out, the city street dept worked all nite last nite trying to clear the streets, they hired a lot of extra trucks to haul the snow. We had planned to go up to Maxs this week end but I guess that is out now, we got a card from her today she said they had a big blizzard also she hoped we could come but you just can’t plan anything. These farmers sure will be all winter getting their corn out, I’ll bet Chick is really on tin pins now. I’ll bet Faye & her boyfriend didn’t get to the Sonja Heinie show Sun nite. We were out to Bob Morgan’s Sat nite they are going kind slow on the house now, have part of their furnace in, they sure are going to have a nice home. Nig is proud of his new electric stove and electric coffee pot he had to show it to me. I wonder what he will do now that he got let out at the college. I guess Woody’s girl got an official notice that her husband is officially dead so I suppose they will be thinking about getting married. Harold Wayne ask for your address & Aunt Hazel wrote Mom today asking for it also, maybe she is going to send you a box of candy she sent Harold one. Today is my birthday, I got a lot of cards & hankies, Mom gave me some things for the kitchen, Manges’ gave me some jewelry. Larry was going to take me out for supper but it is so nasty out I told him we would go some other nite. We are staying in tonite, we were out home last nite, Carol had a new toy, a caterpillar with a trailer, Mom said, “I made him buy it out of his own money.” Ha! He thinks it fun not to have school, we tried to tell him he would have it to make up but he can’t see that. There were 32 out at the factory yesterday, all girls that lived in the country. Thurs Eve – Received your welcome letter today was glad to hear from you, sounds like the weather has been rough there also. I hope I have your address right this time. We have to go get groceries after supper we will go on out home awhile I will take the letter for them to read. Mom said she would write tomorrow, It thawed a little here today. Write when you can. Love, Bet & LarryClate had made notes on this letter too – Head open to loose leaving cart part way out of chamber causing ruptured cart. Care & cleaning of MG Bore Cleaner – Dry Bore or bore will pit – use plain soap & hot water- soda ask Preservitives oils light – medium cool damp special – everywhere except damp. Most important on barrel extent is breech lock. November 28, 1950 Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Devitt, 905 E. Market St, Crawfordsville, Ind

Dear Clayton, I called Mom this morning and got your address, so will write a few lines. I expect Mom has told you all the news, but will write anyway. I couldn’t find any paper to write on but “this.” Delores write on everything she gets in her hands. Dale Wayne ask what I was going to write to you for he said, to ask him if hes going to come back for Xmas. I heard him tell Don the other day he would sure be glad when Xmas come, Don ask him why, he said cause Clayton will be home, I have got about all the kids things bought, I am sure glad for it don’t look like Hap’s going to get too go out this week, he was suppose to go to Ohio this week but the roads are to bad. I guess it is worse there than it is here. It sure is bad around here, we can’t get anywhere. Hap did get me up town yesterday and got Dale a new pair of four buckle boots. We got him a new pair of engineer boots for Xmas, they are something like Cowboy boots but they have low heels. We are going to get Lois Ann & Delores dolls something this week. Hap said as soon as the street got better he would take me back to town and then I will have about

everything. I guess mom told you about Hap luck, wining the Turkey & Ham. We are still eating Ham. Well have the turkey Xmas. Pretty cheap eaten both for a dollar. Lois Ann is flipping the catlog sheets now wanting this and that. Ha! I have got dinner dishes to do and my hair to wash so I had better close. I cann’t think of much to write, but maybe this is better than nothing. A s Hap said just to get some mail is better than none at all. I will try and write again in a few days. We are all OK here. The kids cols are all better. Love, Dorothy (sister to Clayton)PS Hope you can read this. Will get some better paper when I can get to the store. November 28, 1950 – Lawrence Breedlove, 1010 B Parkway Dr, Crawfordsville, Ind

Dear Clayton:Well just droped a few lines to Max. So thought I would write you. How are you getting along in army life. I’ll bet it has been cold down there. We have had the worse snow we have in a long time, no school all week. We had a shower for Ruth Webb Lester last night; so bad only3 4 came had 84 invited had a good time. They are planning a shower for Kenneth Lewellen and his wife soon as the weather gets better. She is 17. The paper said she was a baby sitter, Mac said what in the dickens is a baby sitter, guess he never herd of that before. Darrel Patton gets home on 23rd Dec then moves on 1st Jan, his mother said last night she had a letter from him Tuesday. I guess he is getting very home sick she said. Bunch of boys goes 5 th of Dec on 6th 12 goes for examination. Things don’t look very good at present. Bob wants to get in Air Force. Went to see about it yesterday before he went on to work. He don’t want to stay in the guards. Well must get busy. Take care of yourself. The Cash Family. Nov 30, 1950 Thursday -- Rct Charles C. Morgan, US 554049801 Co B 0’02 Abn. Inf. Regt. 101st Airborne Div, Camp Breckinridge Kentucky

Dear Cuz, Well, you’re a doggie now. I always knew it would be the Army for you when it finally came to it. I guess it was natural though, Woody a navy man and John an army man. I know you’re going through the roughest part now. Basic training is no snap. Boot camp, I didn’t like and the army is rougher in basic. It’s no fun getting up early and starting the same old routine, and getting adjusted to a military life. I only hope you get a good deal out of this mess. I’ve been having a pretty good time lately. Hawaii is pretty nice in the summer. A lot of good beaches to go swimming, trips around the island and it never gets cold here. A party damn near every week-end. I’m not saving much money there’s only one way to keep from getting homesick. That’s to pull all the liberty you can. Do anything to keep you from thinking about it. By the way, Clate, if you ever get homesick just stick your head in a barrel of wine and inhale. It’s a sure cure. I thought I would get a thirty-day leave for Christmas, but since the war in Korea all leaves from this island have been frozen. I was pretty disappointed. It’s been 19 months since I was home, and it looks like it will be two years before I get there. That’s a long time. I guess you knew I got a little promotion to Seaman. That’s the same as Corporal in the Army. I make a little over $100 a month counting my sea pay. I suppose you knew Connie got married. It came as a little surprise but that’s about all. She once thought she loved me, but I was pretty sure she didn’t. I hope she got a good man. She was a damn good girl. That about makes a bachelor out of me for good. I sure would like to see you get duty in Hawaii. We could pull some good liberties. I could show you around Honolulu. Well, Clate, that’s about all there is. I’m not going to try to give you any advice on how to get along in the service. It would sound corny. You just have to learn it. I hope like hell that you like it or at least don’t hate it like I did when I first came in. Write and let me know what you are doing and how long your basic is, and let me know where they send you. I want to know that most of all. Take it easy cuz. Love, Harold (Morgan, cousin to Clayton) Dec 1, 1950 – Pearl Harbor –U.S. Navy stationary

Hi, Clayt: Kinda figured maybe you might be a little lonesome and would enjoy a few lines. Not much news around here to write about. Freddie is still at Goodmans but has high hopes of getting the Mail Carrier job here. It takes forever – they go thru your whole life’s history and of course there’s a couple others trying hard to get it. Freddie and the twins have been attending all the basketball games. Waveland has really got a hot team this year. They haven’t lost a game yet They’re playing some of the bigger teams this year. Rockville – and we beat Fillmore the other nite. You know they’ve the ones that beat Waveland by a couple points in the tourney last year. But we won the county. Last Wed. Nite Freddie & I went to see Sonja Henie. It was wonderful –seems it was better this year than we’ve ever seen it. Then on Fri nite we took Mom & Sis. Hired a babysitter. While they went to see Sonja and just horsed around. Do you get weekend liberty? If so, I suppose you get to see some shows. We’ve seen a few good ones lately. My Blue Heaven, Frontier Girl and To Please a Lady. You should see Karen. She is just about as rough as the boys. She’s got a stick (“MY butt tanner’ for the boys), and she chases them with it and just about

gets the best of them. That gals a corker! Well Clayt do write us even if its just a line or two and let us know how you are and all about army life. We’ll write you often if you’ll just drop us a line (even a line on a post card would do) once in awhile so until then – so long,Cousins Kate & Freddie. From: Kate & Freddie Bazzani (Kate is 1st cousin to Clayton) Box 63, Waveland, Ind. Postmarked Dec 3, 1950

Dear Clat – I’ll drop you a little news while I am getting dinner. Carol has gone to Bills today to play he was up here last night while they cured our hams got the meat back to yesterday the hog weighed 245 lbs. J didn’t think she would weight that much. Sander’s sent his yesterday but he wouldn’t no until today but J said they were sure big but he said he had a lot of feed in them too and I figure they were off yesterday for there was 14000 of them in Indpolis yesterday. I nearly no he didn’t get over 17c we took our other 3 yesterday but J didn’t stay there was so many waiting on there checks & Ray was with him too he was wanting to see about his truck. He got a late start for Ray had come in the first time since you left. Only J had met him & R Grimes on the road one day when he was hauling logs. J has gone now to unload Bob’s coal him and Nig went after it yesterday afternoon but he forgot the scoop so he waited to unload this morn and then Bob wanted to haul his finishing lumber up town to the plainer. They are all done plastering. I haven’t saw it but J said it sure was nice. They can’t hardly wait to get in the furnace is in waiting on a piece that didn’t come with it. Bet & Larry are starting to Max’s this afternoon about 12 or 1 they called Russ this morn he said it was warm up there and snow was bout all gone. So they thought they could get there and back before it got bad I guess it is supposed to get cold but it will dry cold. Larry called yesterday at noon & his new radio was seting at the back door I guess it is a nice one. Is there anything you can think of that you can use for Xmas so we can have it for you when you come. Name it if possible for we don’t know what you can use. I hope you get to come the same time Max does for they aim to be right there after him as soon as he gets off and they said they was bringing you too or any others coming this way close until they had a load. Larry said maybe you could arrange it ahead if you new it was that way we didn’t no whether they told you or not. Hady sent for your address she had sent Harold a box of candy and wanted to send you one. The war news was terrible this morn everybody is up in the air. I have tried to call Dot several times this morn and that was all you heard so I figure the papers will be full. It looked so good just before you wrote that letter and then such a blow. I think it is and awful blow to McArthur too the way the radio news sounds. Well I think I have told about all I can think of this time. Bet said she would write as soon as she come back telling you the news form up there. I’ll tell you in the next letter what the hogs weighed. I am just getting the hog price for yesterday they were ups o maybe Arba ? didn’t do so bad. Love Mom – another piece of paper put in – I’ll mail this in town – I missed the mail man got your letter wrote Wed night I read it to Bet before she started so she could tell Max. The hogs lased (?) 10 lbs being 200 apiece 1750 per hundred. J got a notice about his bonus he’ll get $358. From his Mom. Sat morn

Dear Clate, It is almost bedtime but will write a few lines now and finish it in the morning. Are mail don’t go until about one or one-thirty so I will have plenty of time. We just got in from out home, we went out about 3 o’clock. John & Earl went hunting left about seven. Bet & Larry came just as we were getting ready to come home. They had been up to see Max & Buck. They went up Sat. afternoon. We read all your letters that the folks had got. I saw Mrs. Servies in town yesterday also Mary Alice. They said Mae’s girl was going back to see Max this week end. That the first time I’ve seen Mrs. Servies in a long time. I do see Mary Alice once and awhile. It is nine o’clock so I had better quit and get the kids in bed or I’ll never get them up in the morning. Will finish in the morning. Mon morning – Just got the kids off to school so will finish this letter before I do anything else. I am going to Waynetown in the morning to Charlene for the day. Hap leaves this evening for Ohio. I guess the roads are all open now. I just got through talking to Mom. She said Bet sent you a letter last nite, so she probly told you about going to Max’s. Did Mom tell you Nig lost his job at the college. I guess they told him he couldn’t see good enough to work at nite. It sure took them a long time to think of something to get him out. I expect somebody else was wanting the job. I guess Woody bought Joan a ring for Xmas. I am wondering what she is going to think about it, for I don’t think she had to much plans on getting married. Anyway Charlene don’t think so. I never will get this wrote for Lois Ann has to have my pen ever five minutes. She just spilt a glass of cho. milk. I feel like botten her. I will close for I’ve got a lot to do before the kids come home for dinner. I will try and write again Thurs.Love, Dorothy PS The kids are all fine. They are all over there cold. I sure hope they don’t take anymore for awhile. Dec 3, 1950 -- Sunday Nite (from Dorothy, Clate’s sister – address above)

Dear Clate,While I am sitting here in Max’s kitchen watching her get dinner, I will write a few lines. Don’t you think I am real ritzie writing on *rose scented stationery, Max gave me this for my birthday, it really does smell like roses. We got here yesterday evening at 5 o’clock, we called Russ yesterday morn to tell them we were coming as the weather had been so bad all week we about give it up, but it got warmer Fri nite and the snow about all went off so we thought we had better come while we had a good chance, we made it in 4 hrs, got in quite a lot of fog about 25 miles from here, they still have a lot of snow on here. After supper we went up town and shopped, but before

we got around all the stores it started raining and it really was like a spring rain it thundered & lighting, we went to the Firestone store and stayed the rest of the time, they sure were busy in there. After the store closed we went out to eat, then went over to Russ’s, he had to show us his television set, he sure has a big outfit, radio & phonograph. We stayed there til about midnight. We came home and went to bed, we were all tired. Mid is working at the store all the time now, they gave her a rise, she is making $40 a week now. Richard is in Texas, he thinks he will get home for Xmas. Larry & Buck have gone up to his folks to get some hickory nuts for Mom and I. Buck’s Dad gathered several bushels but I guess a lot of them had worms in them. The kids have a real nice place here and their furniture is nice. I am taking some of her Xmas things back with me, they hope to get down on Sat before Xmas on Mon. I haven’t quite got all of my shopping done yet. We aim to leave about 2 so we can stop in Marian and visit the folks on our way home. Well we got our Xmas Friday, our radio, it is pretty, we really like it, we listened to the C’ville Lebanon game Fri nite on AM it was a thriller Cville won by 1 point. I bought 2 records yesterday they are 79cents, I guess we will have to get one a week until we get some as that is kinda high for them. If you ever see that you can use our little radio let us know, we have it by our bed now. Sounds like you are really busy now are you getting more letters now seems like it is hard to write but I know you enjoy getting mail. Sun nite – Will finish this we got into home at 6:45 we were in Marion just one hr, we had good traveling all the way back. We came on out home, Mom fixed us a bite to eat. Dot, Hap & the kids just left. J has gone coon hunting with Joe Snellenbarger. Max says she won’t know anything to write for a few days since I am writing. Will close write when you can. Love, Bet & Larry*Note: In March 2009 there is a musty smell to the paper but you can STILL smell a faint hint of roses December 3 11:30 p.m. postmark – Sun morn –

Dear Clayton,On behalf on my family and myself, I am extending you an invitation to visit us. Through your sister Betty, we learned that you are located at the camp. We have come to think a lot of Betty since she has been in the family. Let us know when you have some time off as we would like to have you up some evening for dinner. We will be looking forward to hearing from you in the near future. Sincerely, Dr. A.J. Miller From: Dr. A.J. Miller, 13 ½ South Main Street, Henderson, Kentucky – postmarked Dec 7 – Dated Dec 6, 1950 –(his wife was Mary Elizabeth Devitt, sister to Larry Devitt, Clayton’s sister, Betty Morgan Devitt’s husband)

Dearly ClaytonAm writting letters this cold night and my fountain pen just broke down so will write anyway as I intend to write you all last week. How are you this zero weather/ The roads are a glare of ice here today and its almost zero now. I went to Montezuma with Louisa this afternoon to get groceries and I was glad to get home. Two weeks ago on Sunday night it was slick and I rode clear to Ind to see the ice show so I can’t complain. We were 4 hrs getting to Indianapolis that Sunday eve. We drove 20 miles an hr and slide 12 or 15 times slightly that was enough zero for me, I got home at 1:30 that nite but the ice Revue was real good. I sure hope the weather is better for everybody by Xmas. I imagine you will get home on Fri. before Xmas. So I will send you a box of some kind of eats the last of next week so you can eat it up before Xmas comes it might taste better. I guess I’m going to be busy in Jan. Mrs. Antey says her farm sale may be the first week in Jan. Chick hopes to get his trailer the first week in Feb. Chick’s sinus got better but he complained so much with his back the past 2 weeks the doctor said it was a sprained muscle. We picked a little more corn this week but we won’t be done by Xmas. I don’t think he still has 8 acres in the sugar creek bottoms and 24 over by Hobson’s on the hill. He has gone to Frank’s a while tonight. Roy and Haworth’s planned to go to the ice show at Ind (Indianapolis) tomorrow nite but they called it off. I just got

through writting to Max so must ring off for this time sure hope you are OK. I had an awful cold for 2 weeks but am OK now. Sincerely,Aunt Faye Dec 7, 1950 -- From: Faye Warner, Montezuma, Ind R 1 –

Dear Clate, The mail has done gone today. But I will send this letter out tomorrow. Just thought I had better write a few lines now while Lois Ann is asleep. I don’t now anything to write, but will try to think of something. It has been a long old day for me. It snowed last nite and has misted rain about all day so it is sure a mess around hear the water is standing in the yard so darn bad I cann’t hardly get out I went to Waynetown yesterday had a good time. Lois Ann had a big time playing with the kids. Hap got home about noon. I don’t know whether he has to go back

again tonite or not, but I think he does. Mom just called she didn’t know anything for they hadn’t done much all day because of the weather. There telephone has been on the bum all day, you can’t hear anything over it. I am having a Sunday school part for Delores Friday nite. I sure hope it is better weather than this. I guess we are going haft to buy some more coal this week. I sure hate that. But maybe it’s better now, for maybe it will last tell after Xmas. We got the girls dolls. Lois Ann can’t hardly wait she wants a doll so bad. She is awake so I won’t write much more. Charlene (probably Charlotte dau of Joan by previous marriage) said yesterday Joan knew Woody (Woody is a cousin to Clayton) was getting her a ring for Xmas. SO I guess they will get married some time this summer. This isn’t much of a letter but will close and fix the fire for it is about time for the kids. Love, Dorothy –P.S. I don’t have any stamps but if it isn’t to cold in the morning I will go to the store or maybe I can find somebody that has one around here. December 8, 1950 - Wednesday afternoon

Dear ClatHave gathered up a little news so will start this letter sent it in by J tonite when he goes to the VFW meeting. I send a few clippings and then it wont make quite so much writing. J& Ray have gone down to see Dr. Richard about his walnut so I’ll tell you what they got done at the end of this letter They went Walnut hunting Monday it was a pretty nice warm day for that but didn’t do any good. So they hauled logs to Indianapolis Tues they hadn’t never gotten any of that hauled that Carl had taken up on account of the weather had been bad. As they come back Kelly was cutting a few trees just East of Jamestown so they stoped and bought them off of him. Just a good load. They had aimed to finish haul what was here yesterday and then haul them today for they called Carl when they got home but the weather steped in the way again. It is most darn cold here today and I no it is going to be a dandy tonight if this wind don’t quit blowing. The funniest thing just as they were loading them logs in comes Sam Norman to try to buy them. He said, “O I’m a little late, somebody told me you had a big bunch laying up here.” He’s out buying now for the National People he said that bunch he bought over in Ill was the last he bought for hisself. Ray said to him you kinda made a piece of money on them didn’t you. He said he didn’t do bad. So he let on to the boys he could of give them more than they got for the ones they were loading. So if they get the Dr. R logs they are going to feel him out for fun. He told J he had his truck & Cat from sole J asked him what do you want for your cat well expect I’ll half to have $2000 well J said I’d better keep mint then it does the work. It hasn’t give them a bit more trouble & what log cutting they have done Kelly has done it for them. They never have been fit. Well I guess that is the log news. J went to get feed yesterday and corn has jumped to $1.54 isn’t that a sight. Roads was out here Sun after noon to build a dog house so he took our starter in off the pickup it went bad Sat. He really took the one that had been laying here but J went after it and it couldn’t be nothing done without costing more than a rebuilt one and they are 16.78 so J come back and finely got the one off of it and took it up & Rhoads thought he could do something with that one (We hope). We have got a nice rack on it. Well a little news Johnnie Les 2 boys Kenneth & the next one are married & getting married. Kenneth’s girl is out of Ky and the other one married a baby siter – that’s the way it give it in the paper. Well they’ve come back but didn’t get much of anything done he did say there wasn’t any of that timber that was going to get any better but J thought what was worrying him the most was the mess on the ground and how he would get it up, they also offered him $100 ore money. So they think he will think it over and probably talk to Pointer too. Ray said he was just going to keep after it, it don’t pay to drop it like he did the Ill piece that Sam Norman made so much money on. Well Carol got his grade card his grades were a lot better except spelling was vexed it was F. B on conduct C on everything else only Arith it was A. Well about the clippings Harry was in a new pickup and it happened just as the school hack had crossed the state road & Ray’s boy saw it. And about Dice’s fire we’re glad we had our tires done & out of there. Had a letter from Fay Tues she said she aim to write you on Mon night. I went to town Mon and Servies brought the shoes and put them on the back porch then she called me and told mea bout them. J was sure glad to get them he had been aiming to get a pair before long. They just fit he got him a pair of hip boots

at Lizton as he came from Indpolis Tues he had been hunting with Earl twice lately and got his feet wet with them old ones. Well write when you have time. Max mom said you had been with the kids some over the weekend so I didn’t figure you would get much wrote this weekend. Eva called me this eve Fredie was working on there kitchen floor tonight they have got there lights finish yesterday there plastering all done and the furnace going. I think they are planning on moving in about a week. I haven’t got to see Eva face to face so I don’t know yet what Nick is going to do. Maybe I’ll no next time.Love,Mom Dec 8, 1950 Postmark – Thursday afternoon – we got a 5-2 milk test today.

Dear Clate, Will write a few lines before we go tout for supper. I went to town this morning then Larry and I went up again this afternoon, we went to the household goods sale of Ray Thompson’s they used to live on JD’s place. Eva & Mom were there. We sure are enjoying our radio, in fact w2e stayed home four nites in a row this week, believe it or NOT. I bought two new records today, we have 5 now, we like to play the records. Have been listening to the C’ville ball games, Brazil beat them last nite, they just haven’t got any team this year. They aren’t broadcasting any county games this year, why I don’t know. NM is still winning, I expect they will get bumped off the 21 st

when they play Waveland, the game is at Waveland, a person wouldn’t stand much of a chance getting in as it is too small to accommodate the crowd. Well it doesn’t look very promising that you are going to get home for Xmas, it was in the paper that they had cancelled Xmas furlough’s some might get 72 hr passes of course you might be lucky to get that as that would give you time to get home. I heard from Mary today, she said Jack still aims t write you but hadn’t found time as yet. They had heard a rumor that Camp Breckinridge was going to be tripled in size, they were going to take over a lot more land. Mary says Mary Jo has a light case of whooping cough. I guess Russell Smith has started as a fireman on the railroad running from Logansport if he continues on the job he aims to move there, I guess Betty Jane and the kids are going to say with Lon & Verna. They have to move, I guess Lon wants to buy a place. Verna isn’t very well, has sugar diabetes and high blood pressure. We haven’t had very good weather all week, was slick a morning or two. The woman I ride with always makes it in her old jalopy, the doors fly open, the glass out of back, no wind shield wipers, pretty bad I’d say, she has more nerve than I would have to drive it. Ha! We girls that work together are having a supper and Xmas gift exchange at a girls house at Hillsboro next Tues nite. Herschell Priebe has set up an office in Hillsboro, I guess business wasn’t quite fast enough here. I guess he is moving the family down there. Mom got a letter from you yesterday and today. I guess you have been very busy, nearly all of boys that go from here & surrounding counties are going down there. Well there isn’t any news so will close, I have 2 extra stamps I will put in this letter then Mom will send you some in her next letter. I know you don’t have time to write many letters so I won’t expect one unless you find time. Love, Betty & Larry (Note: Stamps were still in the letter in March 2009) Dec 10, 1950 Postmark – Mr. & Mrs. LJ Devitt, 905 E. Market St, Crawfordsville, Ind – Sat Eve

Dear Clat I’ll put this little note in with Carols card & you some stamps that I’ll get while I am at town. I don’t know much news. J has gone rabbit hunting and was going over on Waver to see if he could find some ash logs for they are wanting some Ash & over at Indianapolis. 4200 per 1000 would take 5 or 6000 ft he is doing that while Ray is taking his wife to town this morn. They hauled the Jamestown logs yesterday made $40 a pc. Well I just heard J shoot I must ring off and I’ll write more by tomorrow as they are going ash hunting this afternoon Love,Mom (Clayt had made notes on this envelope such as “after combat, clean, oil & check pts, before combat – check ammo, well lub, check hand space- Machine Gun – Failure to Feed, failure to load, failure to fire and other notes) – dated Dec 7 –

Dear Clayton, Well, this won’t be a very long letter as I’m using my last sheet of paper but I think a short letter would be better than none. What weather we are having – rain, then a freeze and now snow. Guess the roads are pretty bad. The Chevrolet garage is getting all fixed up for Saturday. The showing of the new 51 Chevrolet, painting and cleaning like house cleaning. Well so far as the basketball season, tourney time should be exciting, Waveland & Ladoga haven’t been beaten yet. Guess NM has lost just one. Joe & Louise lost one of their cows last week. Fell on the ice

and broke her leg & they had to kill her. Just heard a weather report. Suppose to be still colder & more snow. How’s the weather down your way & How’s your food/ Answer if you can find time & Good luck. Your friends, Don, Doretha & Bob December 11 1950 postmark– Donald K. Myers, Ladoga, Ind

Hi Clayton After dad got your address, it was decided by the members of our family, that I should write you. Things are sure moving slow in this part of the country during this kind of weather. With all the ice, rain and snow always being on the ground, dad hasn’t as yet got the corn in and it don’t look like he will for sometime. Dad said if it doesn’t clear up soon, he’s going to leave the corn in the field and get him a job. What doing he doesn’t know. Because of the snow and ice, we had a weeks vacation from school two weeks ago. I took advantage of it by working at the grocery a few extra hours to make a few extra dollars for Christmas. Basketball is still the highlight of indoor

sports at school. With one of the big games being the 21st with Waveland. Friday night we had a game with Roachdale, after the last six seconds of the game it was a cinch that we would win, but before that it could have been anybodys game. Fortunately ending with a 49-45 score, favoring New Market. Our second game was with Ladoga, and so far our only loss. It was a wonderful game an overtime, ending with five points in their favor. I went to the shower given for Ruth Webb a few nights ago. She and Jim Lester were married around three weeks ago and are living in Crawfordsville Pat and Merdith Busenbark had the first new addition to their family last week. A boy, weighing 9# 3ozs. Looks like he’s taking after both his mom and dad doesn’t it? Didn’t you go to school with Betty Tremble? She was married today I don’t know the boy she married, some guy from Crawfordsville. Her step dad came in the store last night drunker than well really drunk anyway and said he was going to stay that way until after it was all over. Have you heard anything for sure about a leave at Christmas? Right now things don’t look hopeful for anything I heard a rumor today that the guards from this section are to leave the 1st January. If you have a few minutes to write we would like to hear from you. Sincerely, Sue Carr Dec 11 1950 Postmark 2:30 p.m. Crawfordsville, Ind from Miss Edith Sue Carr, Crawfordsville, Indiana RR #7 Dec 10, 1950 Dear Clat,Well, I haven’t got but a little news but you’ll about fall over like we did. Ray’s dad died sudden this afternoon and in the toilet. Him and I had been out this morn bying logs down at Charlie Rushs’ for $230 little bit of everything some going to Guen C and Indianapolis too. And then they went up to see Kelly for he was getting some on the string too and they wanted to see about ceiling these. So Ray was going to take his dad down to his sisters at Jungle Park to stay awhile for there house was so much warmer And Della said he had been fine all morn so happy about going down there so he went to the toilet just before they started they had just ate dinner and he stayed up there longer than usual so Ray went to see what the trouble was and he was dead. So they just had to leave him there until Proffit come. For him and her dad couldn’t carry him and there wasn’t nobody else at home around there. It caught him broke so J had to let him have some money until they got the money out of the Rush timber. They haven’t found no Ash yet. He told J the other day he just had one more payment on his car thank God he said J thinks he payed cash for the truck out of the other logs they sold. Had a letter from Max today and she said it had her puzzled about your camera for you didn’t tell her in your letter what to do. They wouldn’t let Rich keep his. So I may just drop her a card and tell her to wait until we see farther and get to talk to you for we could easy pack it good and send it. J (John) & Carol went up to Nicks (prob Stanley Morgan father of Bob) tonight a while but Bob was out on a meeting. Eva said she had wrote you a little news. Ha – maybe you think he isn’t getting things in a mess. He is sorta mad at Bob’s and he slips around and talks when they ain’t around. It’s a laugh at some of his big ideas. I must get to bed. Love Mom (I left this open till about mail time thought maybe I would have some news but J (John) hasn’t come back he went to break the news to Kelly so him and Kelly may be hunting timber you can’t tell.) Postmarked Dec 14 1950 -Wed night –

Dear Clat I’ll start his letter while I am seting up so the night wont be so long on the fire for it sure is cold. It was just 3 above a little while ago so I think it will be some below in the morn. I sure am glad there is siding on this house but yet it takes a lot of firing but when you set back you don’t feel the wind going down your back and I feel such a difference on my feet. The milk man is just coming every other day now. I sure am glad he wont be here in the morn. He didn’t come last Sun and I didn’t get up until seven. If I half to get up and fire in the night I don’t think

Ill get up until 7 in the morn either. Boy I’ll tell you there was a lot of stalled cars this morn there wasn’t none here that would start. J ( John) had to start a fire in the stove out there and right after dinner he run me to town after a few things and got feed to run over weekend. Lowe’s come up and wanted him to pull some of their cars so they all had to push the pick up over the hill to start it. But he never did get there old cars to go. Dot said theres started right off somebody up there wanted to be pulled she didn’t think it would but the truck didn’t they had to come and pull it so Hap could go to Chicago. I don’t remember whether it’s you or Max Hays got a turkey or ham down at the Eagles but he took the ham and I’ll be darn if he didn’t draw one at the VFW so I put that one in the locker and we are having it for Xmas. J took the 2 front tires in this morn for recap after he got the pick up going. Carl was up here taking up the logs this morning. On Beecher Weirs, Holes and one tree they got of Underwould. Oyes a few Walnut they got over by WayneTown they come out $299 a piece profit. They pulled one on Underwood they was just getting his cut and out and halled and that was all they was getting but it had 840’ in it 2-8 ft logs while Oak any way they just give him $100 J could remember jus what it brought but it was a

honey at $30 was $25-2 it might have been more but I’ll tell you later. They brought them and the cat in yesterday morn before it got so bad. About noon yesterday it really snowed if it had kept it up the rest of evening I am telling you we would have had a snow. J has gone to VFW tonight, Mary Alice called me a few mins ago. Telling me more about what her mom had to say about there trip I would of like to of come but I just couldn’t of stood it in that length of time. Boy I never fixed a box in such a short time. If I hadn’t run in to Mary Alice in at the meat market when I was after hap’s turkey to put in locker you wouldn’t got no box but as I went back to car I begin to pick up stuff and there I hurried and baked the cup cakes. I hope I don’t have that short of notice again. Well this is sat morn and most darn cold the wind is getting up so and not a darn car would start we got the pick up down here along the road she wouldn’t do a thing we are going to get Larry after dinner to pull it so Carroll can haul up some block would the guys that cut the logs cut us off some more blocks. The radio said it was cold down your way this morn. This spell went far and wide. I’ll be there was many a guy didn’t get to work on time this morn. Well I think I’ve told about every up to present. There hasn’t been anything in the paper to tell you and it has been so cold we haven’t saw anybody. So you see we don’t know much news. Its about mail time. I missed the mail he must of come early so I am sending this in by Larry. I didn’t get your letter today. I thought sure I would. I didn’t hear from Max either. Love, Mom Very smudged but postmark looks like Nov 30 1950 – Fri night –

Dear Clate,Well seems like I’m always behind with my letter writing. I got your letter this week. I was glad to hear your rest did you some good. It probably does get pretty bad when you have to be on the front all the time. I sure hope you get to go to Japan. That will be a welcome relief I know. It won’t be too long until Jan and then maybe you will get to come home. You have sure gone right up there in advancements. That helps make you more money. I suppose Mom told you we were down home. While we were down there our car caught fire. We had a magnified shaving mirror laying in the back window and the sun shined on it and set the upholstering on fire. It burned a big hole beside the rear window. Our insurance will take care of it so we are going to have a new top put in. The whole thing would probably have burned but the windows were up and it couldn’t get air so it just smoldered. Joy & Gerald discovered it when they come home from Kellys house Sun morning. It sure scared Gerald when he opened the door and smelled smoke. He beat it out with his hands. It sure did smell awful for a long time. It’s raining here this morning it sure is cold & damp. The past 2 weeks we have had hot & humid weather & now it is cold this morning you sure notice it when it jumps from one extreme to another. Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. I got Gerald a wedding ring. He is real proud of it. I guess we are going to Fort Wayne this afternoon Gerald only has to work until noon. We sure like our apartment. I never lived anywhere I feel more at home. It sure is nice living on the ground floor & not having your landlord under your feet all the time. I guess Bet & Larry are coming up the 19 th. You know they have to see what kind of a place we are living in – ha! Well I have just about written the news. I had better close & Start dinner. Love,Max No date but about ….. from his sister, Max – Sat. Morning –

Hello Morgan

Will try to let you know that I am still in Korea. Will leave there around 21 st for Japan. We stayed for a day at Div Reaf ? got on the train and came to Inchone Morgan there is nothing I can get to send from here but will try to get you something in Japan when we get there. What of all of the boys doing now. Boy as we getting good chow not much but good steak, chicken, ham, pleanty of bread no sure that some good beans for dinner today. Tell the boys that they get no money when they come throw Div Rear only if you have not been paid for that month. But we got pay in Japan when we get there. Well Morgan I don’t guess you can read this but never the less it will let you know that I am still in Korea. Ans when you can your buddy JD Davis, Carthage, Tennessee RR 1 PS NO clean clothes yet - HA Sept 19, 1951 – Inchone, Korea –

Dear Clayton, I was so pleased to get your letter that I could hardly wait for Selwyn to get home to tell him. Your mother & I had a good talk about you, too. She has always been an object of my admiration. She is so capable and always

appears happy in the face of any of life's situations. One day I saw her in the cold storage locker at Shaw's Market and she told me of your whereabouts. It was a coincidence that the day your letter came, I had been teaching down at New Market. Mr. Wilson fell on an injured knee and was out for 3 weeks. First time I had been back there since your class graduated, but I enjoyed the association with New Market students again. The Senior class was out on money making schemes, getting their pictures made etc. as all senior classes are. Mrs. Quigg, Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Douglas, and Mr. DeBusk are the ones left on the teaching staff. Several new ones have been added. Mr. Mills, the janitor is still there. I always enjoy him, too. We are all thinking much of you now, Clayton, during this present fighting. The news tells us of increased attacks so we think more of all of you and remember you in our prayers - that's all we can do, which is little enough but I won't forget. Your letters we all enjoy, so I hope we'll have more. If there is something I might do for you here, please ask - maybe something for your mother's Christmas or anything else you would like. I'll be only to glad to help in anyway. May God bless and keep you. Mrs. Husted Oct 3, 1951 -

Dear Clate, I have a few mins. Before I go to work. I don’t know where time goes I just can’t keep up, maybe someday I will decide to quit the factory and I won’t have to rush so at home. Since the time is changed back it even seems worse, it gets dark so early. Maybe Larry can get the garden cleared off and the storm windows in the week he takes off for vacation. I expect it will be week after next. We plan to go up to Max’s Fri afternoon the 19 th and stay until Sun. I think Faye is coming up that next week end so I will try to have them for a meal. She sure is having a time on her job, I think she is going to give it up before long. I guess Mom wrote to you that Chick is coming back, he may be home now. He told somebody in a letter he might go to Florida. Mom & I got letters from your Mon, glad you got to stay in rest camp that long, seems like a lot are going to Japan now, so maybe the rotation will keep moving. I suppose you will be back from R & R By the time you get this. We were invited down to Marnout’s Sun Eve for a wiener roast sure had a good time, Lloyd & Isabel were there, there were around 25 there. Harold Cash is up for overseas duty but he doesn’t know where he is to be sent. Russell Cash is working at Allison’s now. We played cards afterwards, I ate too much and I didn’t sleep all nite. Thurs nite – I just got my ironing done and now I am stewing some apples, we got them over at Aunt Minnie Devitt’s last nite, seems like everybody has got apples this yr. Woody told Larry today that Harold Wayne would be home tonite on a furlough, said he called for them to send him 20 that he was broke. Mom called said she got a letter form you today telling that you got your watch, glad you liked it, don’t you think you should have the things you want as long as a person can get them. Some of your letters come thru quicker than others. I am sending you a little sample of what I sewed today, it sure was hard, it is real silk, we are still making army shirts. We are getting ready to start spring & summer orders. It sure is hot tonite, it doesn’t seem possible for this time of year. John’s are coming over from Marion Sat morn for the weekend. I ask Harold’s over for dinner Sun also. I got my stove Sat, it sure is a dandy, we are really proud of it, it sure cooks faster than my old one and bakes so nice. I will cook you a nice big meal when you get home you name it and I will fix anything your heart desires. I am invited to a baby shower for Barbara Hardaker Mon nite. Well what Sgt are you now, Staff or Tech, I think we are all a little mixed up. J. says he thinks you might make Master or 1st he says that would be a goo deal if you did. Well we must get to bed and I am out of news anyway. Tell us all about your trip to Japan if you get to go? Write when you can. Love,Bet and Larry Thursday Oct 4, 1951--

Dear Clate,

Received your welcome letter today, this one came thru in 7 days. I’ll bet you were busy with the clothing deal and not much help either. You said this guy was wanting to get the CIB have you already got it, you never did say. By the way what does SFC stand for, we think you are Tech is that right/ They didn’t use this (SFC) in the last war did they? We all thought at first you were 1 st Sgt, I guess you will have to keep us informed, sometimes we all get mixed up. Well you finally got to go on R&R, and did you have a good time? We all got a bang out of the part where you fell out of your bunk on some guy, I’ll bet that bunker was nice. We read in the paper about a lot of fighting in western Korea. We are having cool weather again down around freezing of a morning it was bad all weekend, rained both Sat & Sun. John & Thelma came over Sat morn about 10:30. We had dinner then Thelma & I went over to Harold’s they are all thru remodeling now, their house looks real nice. After supper we went down to Hoge Devitt’s (Larry’s Uncles) and watched television. I had Harolds & Johns for dinner Sun, I sure gave my stove a good try out. Everyone is crazy about it. I guess The Morgan’s had a big party Sat nite, celebrating since Harold is home. J went with some of them down to Jeff’s Sun. Mom heard from Max today, they are expecting us a week after next for the week end. She also heard from Faye, she is quitting her job, around the

20th, Chick thought she looked bad, I guess she has been putting in 12 hrs a day, she has had the flu. She didn’t say when Chick got in or how he was. She is coming up on a visit. Hazel Cochran is still in Indianapolis has been for nearly 2 months has been almost laid up with arthritis in her knees. Wed night – Before I get ready for bed, I will finish this, I have been working like mad ever since I got home and now I am pretty tired. Larry helps me or I couldn’t keep up. We haven’t been any place this week, won’t be long until the ball games start, NM has a lot of games scheduled a good ways off, their 1st game is the 9th of Nov, I believe. Well I just can’t think of anything to write so will close, you write when you can we always enjoy your letters.Love, Bet and Larry – Tell us about Japan & your visit there. (Note: there was a return envelope and some writing paper in this one but it was not used). Oct 9th – Tues Night –

Hello Chas(hope you don’t mind)—you know it’s pretty hard to write to someone you’ve never met, but I’ll try. First off, I’ll tell you what I’m like (let’s see). I have Brown eyes, brown hair, fair skin my hair is cut to my shoulders and I have bangs, I’m 16 (sixteen) 5 ft 1 in that’s not very tall I know. I get razzed about it all the time. I’m not going to school. I’m waiting for a job. Bill told me you were very smart (oh, dear). I didn’t go to high school. The reasons are I’m not ambitious enough besides I don’t like school that much, my mom & dad don’t really mind, because my only brother goes to college “University of Conn.” He’s studying to be a Biology teacher (so they are happy??). Thurs I go to dancing school Sat I go to the football game, then at night I go to the football dance. Sunday I go to church then to the movies. Well Chas I won’t write a long letter until I hear from you, okay? Well so long for now. Diana – PS My friends’ call me Nina. My address; Diana Pappas, 106 School Street, Norwich, Connecticut Oct 21, 1951 –

Dear Clat, Well its about my bedtime but will write a few lines as I have tried to get to it ever since Wed. nite to tell you we got the box from Japan OK. Carroll wrote you an ote right away in case I got you a letter out but I had so much to do to get things ready to pull the pump for we new we would never be able to use the water to drink or wash in for about a week you never saw such a mess one joint of pipe had a hole in it instead threw and we had to get a new one and was it cold yesterday the wind was so strong it was just 10 above yesterday morn the sun come out and it wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t blew so hard. It was a blistered last night people couldn’t hardly see to drive I haven’t told the kids about there things yet for I wanted some of the folks around here to see the things for everybody has went crazy about the things you sent the girls – people have saw the jacket and like them during the other war that was sent back here. But I am going to tell Bob this week. Dale had been sick with his stomach & Lois Ann has got the chicken pox. I found Dale a good used bike the other day at Good Rich, just need to be painted so we are going to get it done before Xmas. And Dot bought Max’s old watch for Delores. Boy you never saw the like how things are changing making new laws and changing taxes right & left. I am sure glad we kept our calf to butcher if we can find a place to get it done. Arba said they had stoped so many of these little places only let the bigger place butcher so many thousand lbs a month. Fay is coming this week so if we have time me & her will run over to that place by Wesley & see what we can get done. She wants to get your box out too. If I don’t here from you about your gloves I asked you about I’ll put them in her box anyway, as it will be the first box to go. J cut out the (ball S) for you - you can put it in your bill fold he told Bill S (prob Servies) to try & get a card for him & you. I’ll put some clippings in the box also. Well this is Mon morn and a barrel to do. I think the

boys are going to cut some trees in town today I have got to get feed as J want to take the car tomorrow & put a thing in to step up the heater you no. Me & Mrs. Sanders did aim to go to Lafayette this week but tomorrow is election day and Fay is coming too if she isn’t sick. Had a letter Fri she hadn’t been very good. We aim to start the deep freeze this week for the 1st of the month light bill will be the 10th and I figured J will try & hunt rabbits Sat. O yes do you suppose that will mean you too half to stay back there four months? So will you get out in Jan as they had said. Well I must ring off. I figure I’ll here from you today.Lots of Love, Mom Anything you want say so – anything you can handle. (Note: this is dated the day Clayton was killed Nov 4 1951 Sun nite:)