Category: letter

August 5, 1954 William Shepard to Parents

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5 August 54

Dear Dick & Dad:

Lois & the kids are undoubtedly on their way home by now. I just want to thank you for having them up. From what they wrote, I know they all enjoyed it.

Work has been pretty heavy again. I let up on the office work for the last part of July and did nothing but fly. When my jet training was finished & had to go back to the office. So Im about caught up now. Ill be flying part the time & pushing a pencil the rest. Id rather fly now.

By the news, Canada is the place to spend summer. The heat has certainly been terrific hasn’t it?

We have had it cool – only the last month it has been raining very heavy. – 6 inches in 5 hours several times.

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There isnt very much news. I just wanted to write to let you know I was around. –

Its only about 6 months until I start home. Cant get finished soon enough to suit me, but I cant complain – I picked this business.

Take care of yourselves

Love
Bill

July 10, [1954] William Shepard to Parents and Son Kenny

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10 July

Dear Dad & Dick & Kenny

You wouldnt know a week ended. We are working right on, as it looks as if the weather would be good. Good flying weather is scarce in Korea during July & August, so we must make the best of it.

Lois writes me that she expects to start up about the 25th of this month. I hope they all have a good time.

Wish I could taste some of the lake trout now. Perhaps next year I can.

Getting a lot of flying time now. Will get about 25 jet hours & 10 conventional this month. Like the jets best. They sure fly easy.

Down to weight now and have stopped dieting — Im at 180# now and so help me Ill try not to get any heavier. Feel so much better when Im not fat.

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Kenny — have you been catching any fish? And how about wild game? Is there any around? It has been so long since Ive been up there I have forgotten how it looks. Why dont you take some pictures?

You know I bought a .35mm projector the other day. It is a TDC with automatic slide changing – a beauty. So we dont have to borrow any more.

No real news so Ill close the letter. Wish you all good health and good fishing.

Bill

July 5, 1954 William Shepard to His Parents

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6 July 54

Dear Dick & Dad:

Very happy to hear from you. and also happy to hear that you are all well and having a good time.

Yes-I received the box of candy and thank you very much. It was sure tasty. [Hey Gramps aren’t you on a diet?]

By the time you get this – I will have about 7 more months to go. That isnt so long is it? Time is going by so fast now that I’m busy. I have all this office work I can do and I am learning jet fighters in my spare  ? time. Should get 20 hours flying time in jets this month. Still instructing in the C-47 too so it keeps me humping.

You tell Kenny that he had better take time out to write me a good letter because Im his old man and I said for him to do it!

That cartoon of the boat reminds me of our little 12 footer & the 25

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horsepower Johnson. The time has come to go to bed so Ill have to close. Have fun.

Bill

 

June 21, 1954 William Shepard to Parents and Son

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21 June 54

Dear Dick, Dad & Kenny:

When you get this you will have had time to get settled. How have you found everything at the cottage? I suppose that you are eating some nice golden brown lake trout by now. What I wouldnt give for some right now.

Work is heavy here. Im trying to do my regular work, and get my jet schooling in too. Start flying them next week. Im happy about it because they are easier to fly, and faster too.

I have been watching my weight lately with the help of the Flight surgeon and weigh less than anytime since OCS in 1942. Im at 184 now, and have 6 more pounds to be to my proper weight of 178#. It feels so good to be where I should be.

Kenny dont you make the mistake I did and eat that little bit too much of fat & fried food I never watched it and was always about 30 pounds overweight. The Doc says a person is healthier when

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they stay slim, and who wants to be unhealthy when they dont have to be?

I know I dont have to tell you to enjoy Canada, but dont overwork up there.

Ill try to write next week. Cant before then as I will be in an air-ground school which teaches us how to support the troops with our F-86’s. Ill be with the army for the next few days. (roughing it.) Well goodbye for now.

Bill.

May 27, 1954 William Shepard to his parents

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[I believe that Gramps is in Korea at the time he is writing these letters.]

27 May 1954

Dear Dick & Dad,

Received your letter of the 17th a few days ago. Im not much at writing outside the family. When I write Lois and each of the kids once in a while Im wrote out!

It sounds like everything will be going North in June, so this is the last letter Ill write to you at Park St. The address is Route 3, Thessalon Ont., isnt it?

I have been receiving the Sunday papers and they are sure welcome. I read every want add!

Had a touch of the flu for several days, but it is all cleared up by now. The next time I get to Tokyo I want to get some things and send them home. Ill send your present at that time. Ill try to get you something to wear but keep your fingers crossed.

The rain, real hard rain hasnt started yet. It is suppose to about now. Everything is green, the rice is about knee high. I have

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a lot of pictures on the way home now, so when they get there you can see how some of the things look.

If Kenny goes north with you, he will have a good time, I know. I wish that there was a way for me to spend a little time up there. Just doesnt seem to work out.

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This is Gramps in Korea.

 

Take care of yourselves. Ill write you in Canada.

 

Your Son
Bill

P.S. The fudge was good, in case I didnt tell you- Everyone in the barracks liked it too (too much)

April 6, 1954 William Shepard to his parents

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16 April 54

Dear Dick & Dad,

Received your letter yesterday. Even if I am out of ink, Ill write. Lois has probably kept you informed of what little news I have.

Work is  not very heavy. When I get my files straightened out the way I like them I wont have too much to do. That is, unless I get another job too.

The time goes fast enough, as there is plenty to do. I seem to be getting 9-10 hours sleep every night & feel like a million. The food is very good. Weather is typical spring weather. In fact it is hot today.

I have met quite a few people I knew previously, but that is to be expected

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expected. Ive been in the service almost 12 years now.

I suppose that you will be going to Canada soon. It will be time to fish in a few weeks!

When I get home next year it should be about April 1. If it isnt too cold I would like for Lois & I to go up for a week or 10 days. I cant remember when we have gone on a trip by outselves. Its our own fault I suppose because we were parents so young.

I hope that you & dad are feeing OK. Take it easy. Ill write gain sooner that you think! Not a year between letters any more!

Goodbye for now
Bill

March 28, 1954 William Shepard to parents

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28 March 54

Dear Dick & Dad:

Things have slowed down enough for me to write a letter now. I have been managing to write Lois, and that is about all.

I had a good trip over, leaving 17 March and arriving on the 20th. I rode in a Lockheed Constellation, which is one of the more luxurious planes. We stopped 6 hours in Honolulu and one hour on Wake Island. I spent three days in Japan and arrived in Rosia[?] on 24 March.

Was assigned to the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing at Osass Kova[?]. They call this base K-55. I am communications — Electronics Staff Office for the wing. They have F-86s, however, I am flying C-47s and letting the young fellows have the jets.

I am just settled down now and ready to put in my time and today is Sunday, so Ill close to go to church.

Bill

July 7, 1953 Herman Shepard To Parents

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Columbus, Ohio
July 7 1953

Dear Dick, Dad & Ken:

How are you folks getting along? the weather here has been mostly hot and stuffy. According to the Omar Weather man on T.V. you have been having much cooler weather than here. We were glad to hear that you found everything O.K. How is the motor running? I kinda wondered about it as I didn’t get to try it out before you left. Ralph & Johnie [his brothers-in-law] Kring were to Harbor View with us over the 4th and he brought the Old Sea King along but it still wasn’t any better. Ralph is going to work on it some more, maybe he’ll run across the right solution some day. I’ve given it up for lost. Our boat broke loose in a storm last week, but didn’t do any damage to the boat, but did tear several places in the cover. Mr. Daymon saved the day by going out and retrieving the boat for me. Simon & Hazel are not coming over for their vacation, we received a letter from them yesterday and they gave 18 dozen different reasons why they couldn’t make it now. I was in hopes they could come over for a while.

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Dosh & Burch [Aunt and Uncle on his Mother’s side] were over to Parkersburg over the 4th and I guess every body is OK as of now. Hod & Edna [Aunt and Uncle on his Mother’s side] went down south for their vacation so guess they weren’t so interested in going to Canada after all.

Max Hinkle and family were camping up at the State Park at East Harbor over the 4th so he took his boat and I took mine along with Johnie & Ralph and we went out to Middle Bass. We found Bess’s place and talked to her for a while. I enjoyed the trip a lot and hope to go again soon maybe we can do some fishing over around the islands. Ruth caught a 2 1/2 lb. cat fish week before last which is some what of a record us as far as Lake Erie fishing is concerned. That about all the news I can think of now so will turn it over to Ruth for a few lines, hope you are not catching all the fish leave a few for starter etc.

Herm

September 3, 1952 Herman Shepard to Parents

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Columbus Ohio
Sept. 3 1952

Dear Dick & Dad:-

Just a line to let you know we arrived home okay we had dinner in St. Ignace and got across the straight about 2 P.M. We took Route 23 down to Standish where we stopped to ice the fish which lasted until we got home today. We ate supper in Vasser and got to Harbor View at 12:30 A.M. Every thing at Harbor View was O.K. we left there at 11:45 AM 11:45 A.M. today and arrived home about 3 P.M. found everything here OK. the fish were still frozen solid when we got here.

Charlie & Julie surly had a wonderful time and want to thank you for everything. Charlie said he forgot to thank you for the bread you sent home with us.

I surly hate to go back to work in the morning but at least I have some swell memories to take along with me. Ruth & I really enjoyed ourselves and want to thank you for the swell time. We all talked about different little incidents happened while we were there. Every time we eat one of those fish we will be catching it all over again.

We are going to take Ruths mom and dad out a couple of the Pike tonight and get all the latest news from Gahana. Also we are going to take Ralph a loaf of bread. Ruth is now getting supper and we are having bread and tea.

So will write you later when I get all the news Ruth & Herm (over)

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P.S.
We will call Edw to nite if we can get him that is find him home.

I just called aunt Dosh and she and Burch are okay. She mailed your check. Pauline & Lloyd & Jamie were over for Labor Day weekend. Jenny started to school this week. Brooks & Zara & the kids were up Sunday evening. Tommy just got over a bad case of poison ivy. The baby is getting real cute.

Ada wrote that Aunt Lib isn’t a bit good. Her heart doesn’t pump enough blood and she blacks out.

Well I guess this is about all the news. So will close. Ruth.

The fish kept swell. The frozen ones were stiff and the iced ones were so cold I could hardly handle them when I put them in freezer.

We had chilly weather all the way down. The rain was behind us most all the way. Only got in one little sprinkle.

Shirley says it’s been cool here in the last four days, but it sure was hot last week.

Margie was down home last weekend. She said Opel almost died from a miscarriage. She had twins at five months. They couldn’t tell for a while if she was dead or alive, but she pulled through. She must’ve been at the hospital because Margie said she was at home now and doing alright. The doctor said she must have an operation as soon as she can stand it. I hope she does before it is too late.

Everyone else in W Va was okay I will call Margie tomorrow, as I won’t have a chance to-nite. I want to go out home write. The bread is not spoiled Ha! Ha !Love Ruth.

We sure had a good time.

August 16, 1952 William Shepard to Parents

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August 16, 1952

Dear Dick & Dad:

Summer is on its last legs now. About another month and the weather will start to be cool.

It wont be too long until you folks start west. I know you will like the winter here in California.

Kenny and I went deer hunting last week end. When

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opening day broke, I was sitting in one side of a tree on a ridge, and Kenny was on the other side. Kenny saw the dear and tryed to show him to me. It took several minutes & when I saw it was a buck I asked him to shoot it. Kenny was a little shaky and asked me to do it. We are eating venison now. I hope to take K W out again next week and let him get one.

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Havent seen Elsa lately. I was going to go fishing with him this summer but didn’t seem to make it. Perhaps we can before too long

Jean & Jenny haven’t been over for several months. We will have them all over when you get here.

Dont use up all your energy Dad. We have a walnut plantation that has to be harvested this fall.

Have you had any luck on selling the place yet?

What do you think of the Election? there seems to be more interest than in any since 1932. Its pretty divided out here. You want to be sure to get here before the election & football. We have TV!! Well Ill close. Take care of yourself and let me know when you are coming.

Bill