Tag: letter

May 5, [1943] Lois Shepard to in-laws

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May 5th [1943?]

Dear Dick-

Four weeks ago I left. – with hopes high only to be dissappointed. Just received your letter of the 2nd but none from Bill- Haven’t heard from him for two days- He’s awfully busy I know as they have piled all sorts of responsabilities on him.

I have received two calls from friends of his that have flown in from Moses Lake. His address is-

301 Service Group
Moses Lake Army Air Base
Moses Lake, Wash.

He may get back for a day or two this week- I only hope so

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I went to Club with my neighbor last nite. Played pinocle & had a good time.

Sent you a little gift for Mother’s Day which I hope you like – Would like to see both of my mothers Sunday but guess that is impossible so will just send Best Wishes for the day. Evelyn is having a good time at Aunt Juanitas. She bought Eve a dress – $22.95. O.K. I guess-guess I’ll go visit her too.

The weather is nice again but cool at nights. Sue had a little cold which I hope gets better soon.

My girl from the N.Y.A. took care of the children again last

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without accident for a change. First time I had her she spilled ink on my table cloth- second time broke the baby’s bottle. – Maybe she was jinxed. – Must get asway to clean house as my land lady is coming for the rent today – Hope to see you soon.

Love
Lois

May 1, 1943 William Shepard to parents

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301 Service Squadron
Moses Lake Air Base
Moses Lake, Washington
May 1, 1943

Dear Mother and Dad,

I have been transferred to another squadron, and temporarily to another state. I am doing about every kind of work imaginable. This is a God-forsaken hole and I wouldnt even put a  rat in it. I am fine & so is everyone else. We hope to be in Pendleton again soon. Why dont you plan to come out and stay a month or so mother? We would be glad to have you.

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Write and tell me how everyone is.
Love to all
Bill

April 28 [1943] Lois Shepard to in-laws…

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April 28 [1943]

Dear Dick & Ruth,

Received your box Monday and letter – Was very glad to get both. Ken & Jim played the best of any day – that day. I guess it was just the lack of things to do that made them so biligerent.

Anyway they left Mon nite at 10:00 & Bill took them to the station. Then he got home at 10:30 – to bed at 11 & up at 2:30 – He left at 3:30AM and is now somewhere in the wilds of Washington. No hope of seeing ^him for a while and very little then. But he will try to get about 3 days off sometime this month. That is why he wanted me to stay. And – not knowing how things might work out – there is a possability of his returning to Pendleton after a couple of months

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or going overseas. In either case he wants me to be here so he can see me whenever possible. So if you want to come out, Dick, your arrival will be greatly appreciated at any time. In fact – the sooner the better. Yesterday was my first day alone & if it is any example of those to follow – I don’t want any thank you. Just the knowledge that there is no one that I could go to in this town & no hopes of anyone dropping in for a short visit is enough to make anyone blue. Tho I’m not sorry I came for I did get to see Bill a little.

Just received your letter & one from Gertrude. Guess I’ve answered your questions all ready so whenever you can come it’s O.K. We don’t have much in the way of furniture but we make out. The worst problem is getting ice as they don’t deliver till June 1st. But it gets

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cool enough at nite that things don’t spoil.

We have the softest water immaginable & it is a pleasure to wash your hair. We had beautiful weather the first week but it rains nearly every day now. Not cold but rainy. It clears up some in the afterboon. I use the lady next door’s washer for a quarter but I wash in the bathtub a lot too.

Do write & let me know if & when you are coming. I spect you are busy moving & all. Keep up the good work in writing. Hope Herman gets his deferement. We need a good man on the home front.

I’m in better spirits today than I was yesterday – thank heavens. If Ken would look at me I’d balw. Sue has a slight case of dysreah(?sp). Anyway she sh– to too much.

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Will wait for word from you. And tell all the folks at home that I’ll be seeing them some time this summer.

Lost of Love
Lois

April 25 [1943] Lois Shepard to in-laws

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April 25 [1943]

Dear Dick

Well-Bill will be gone to Washington State tomorrow – & Evelyn leaves tomorrow nite so I shall be all alone. And Bill had to check the beds & bedding back in today so we have one daybed for all of us tonite. Nice life —

Bill wants me to stay here as he can get back to see me at times & there is a chance that he will be sent back to Pendleton Field in a month or two. Here is a proposition — Would you like to come out the last of May & stay until things are decided. Then if I decide to come back to Ohio you can help me with the children which would be one h– of a job alone. Bill is still trying for flight training –

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it will be either that or overseas — and you will want to see him before he goes.

I am going to try to get a second hand bed next week to do me. The kids are having a good time with their Easter basket this A.M. And bill hasn’t had a day at home yet. We went to a formal dance at the Officer’s Club last nite & had a very good time. I initiated the skirt & it held its own with all the other formals & I had one Tom Collins a& after one fast rhumba it started its effects but I managed to conrol myself. I only wish Bill could stay for it would be so much fun to go all the places with him. We have got to go a little in spite of this dam army– One day Bill will come home & pack to go somewhere

& then come back & unpack.–It keeps you guessing till you don’t care whether it happens or not.

Well Sue must have her bath so please write & let me know if you will come or not. Bill wants you to & he wants me to stay for a couple of months at least. I might have gotten ready & come back with Evelyn but we now know what might happen.

Love
Lois.

March 3, 1943 Lizzie to Dick and Dad

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Casa Traude Arizona
3-4-1943

Dearest Dick: will write you I get so home sick to hear from you and see you.

How are all of your family and where is your boy that is in the Army My Bob is in Algeras Africa I have had two letters from him he was shipped across the 3 of October all the rest of the children are OK. accept Joe and he is still sick but a lot worse than he was when you and Jess were here.

How is Jess I am going to write her.

I am sending you a picture of Pats two children and  Bonnies baby and one of Jeanne she is almost grown the picture of Jeanne isnt very good but you can tell what she looks like anyway I will put a cross on[?] Bonnies babys picture and the other two are Pats babys.

Dick I sure wish you could

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come to see us. This old war has made things hard for us and I think it is going to be a lot harder before it is over.

I am sure having a tuff time and Joe sick so I cant work. I have give up all hopes of him ever being wll so I just have to make the best of it.

Donna & family are in Clifton Ariz her husband is on the defence work they have rented their home in Phoenix and bought them n a 27 foot trailor house to live in they come home real often and I am so glad we get so lonesome.

Well I must close I have to go to the store I do hope you will ans? I love you with all my heart send us a picture of your self iff you have one to spare bye bye with love Lizzi.

NOTE: I am not sure who Lizzi is in relation to Dick and Dad. Relation, friend. She is not a sibling to Dick because Dick had no sister named Lizzi or Elizabeth, only a Lydia. (Lydia was married to a Charles William; they had a son Charles jr. and possibly a daughter. It also appears that they always lived in Ohio. So…not Lydia).

ALSO NOTE: My old man insists on getting credit for noticing that Casa Traude is probably Casa Grande. I never said it wasn’t : ). I write what I see.

April 16, [1943?] Lois Shepard to Dick & Dad

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This is Lois Shaw Shepard, wife of William A. Shepard (my grandparents), writing to her parent’s-in-law back in Ohio…

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April 16, [1943]

Dear Dick & Dad

Bill left this morning for Redman, Oreg. & won’t be back  till tomorrow nite. Then Monday he goes to Walla Walla, Wash. for a few days. Busy guy. K. W. & I’m here outside playing. The weather is always so nice & it is so nice that they can get out.

I received your letter of the 14th today. Glad to hear from you. Was surprised to hear about Herman. I hadn’t hardly thot of him going I guess. What is Ruth planning to do? So many are going I guess it is only to be expected.

I really should get busy & clean house. Also wash my hair. Then I have to call the electric company to4317052338_999e828a64_z

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fix my stove. I turned the oven off the other day and it doesn’t come on any more. So I can’t bake. And I want to make mince meat pie.

Evelyn is taking the kids pictures in Bill’s helmet & gas mask. They think it is fun.

Dick you don’t need to send any of those things as I don’t need them & they would only take up space. Unless you could send a few of Kenny’s toys. There is one thing go to the .10 cent store & get me some knives & a couple of table spoons. Silverware is a thing unheard of in the stores here. I have 4 spoons & forks but no table knives. We use Kenny’s for a better knife. One of Bills men built us a table that does very

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nicely.

Let me know what those telephone calls were & I shall send the money. I have a phone in case there is any need to call me ever. The number is 1139 J.

Well-I must get busy. Write and let us know about Herman. Bill will be surprised to hear about him.

Love
Lois

I don’t know what Lois is referencing regarding her brother-in-law Herman. There is no letter in the grandparents boxes for that time period from Dick & Dad.

February 27, 1943 William Shepard to home…

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Pendleton Field, Ore.
February 27, 1943,

Dear Mother, Father, Herm & Ruth
[Translation – Dear Rachel, William, Herman[brother], Ruth[sister-in-law]]

At last I have time to write. Everything is going along alright as it can go. I am learning an entirely new job. I have studied for everything except transportation. I have a swell bunch of men to work with. About 125 of them. $500,000 to $750,000 worth of equipment. I have charge of the repair and dispatching of all the vehicles and the record keeping, many of my men are non-commissioned officers who have at least 2 years service. Im in a good outfit.

My box arrived, thank gosh. Ill send you some pictures of me in my field equipment soon. You know the pack an’ everything. I was issued a pack, bedroll & a lot of equipment. Sure is good stuff. I think I’ll bring it home with me if I can.

On some of my trucks & jeeps I have 30 calibre  & 50 calibre machine guns. They sure are “honeys”. Ill bet they could puncture a jap[nice language gramps!] to suit anones[anyone’s?] taste.

The weather has cleared up here. When I first came here is was foggy all day, but now

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It is clear.

The other day I had a car break down way up in the “Rockies”. I sent  a wrecker crew up and decided to drive up myself. It was a beautiful drive. 2 ft snow on the mountains and what scenery. It is beautiful out here.

Lois will be coming out in a few weeks, as soon as I can find a place. Homes are hard to find and rent is high, but I want her to come out and she want to.

Say mom how about getting the insurance straightened out for me & write & tell me how it is. I want to pay it myself and would prefer to pay the General office wherever it is. Fix it so I can pay it up quarterly, and send me the data.

Well I’ll close wishing I could see you all.

Yours
Bill

February 24, 1943 William Shepard to home

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Pendelton Field
February 24, 1943

Dear Mom,

Enclosed is my income tax return and the $4.00 I owe on it. Please take it or send it immediately to the place you took or sent Dads. This is important because it must be in.

Everything is O.K. except that Im busy. The country here is beautiful. I know you all would like it.

I am a transportation officer. The only job I never thought of. I have 80 trucks and about 50 different trailers to supervise. I handle the maintenance ships and dispatching with a force of 90 men. This field isnt so large, only about 2000 men. Ill have to close now and get to work. Write & give my love to everyone. Dont forget to send the tax return in right away

Love
Bill

January 31, 1943 William Shepard to home…

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January 31, 1943

Dear Mother & Father:

How do you like our daughter? I bet that she is as homely as K.W. was at first. Ill have a family when I get home.

Dont you know that you civilians have a hard time of it? I have been wondering how you get along without gas, coffee, sugar and many other things. We have it pretty easy in the army. All the T bones & coffee we want. Funny thing that we dont take advantage of it. Nearly everyone drinks milk and goes easy on meat

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and sugar.

Dont worry about me looking thin. I weigh about 184# now and seem to be gaining. I have many friends and keep busy.

Say, Lois mentioned something about a package, and I havent received one since Xmas. What was it all about?

Please dont worry about me. Im healthy and happy. If my unit goes overseas Ill be glad to go with it and I wouldnt want you to want me to stay here in a swivel chair. I want to go where I can do some good so I can help end this war.

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Im not in a dangerous job and its a good place to be. Please dont worry about me. If you want to worry think about the children and mothers of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, France, Norway & Russia. Some never had a chance. If I can help, in my own little way to keep the horrors of war away from my own loved ones I am going to jump at the chance.

I didnt enlist because I thought I would be drafted, it was a convenient excuse. I enlisted because I was afraid of what could happen.

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You wouldnt want me to be a slacker would you? I see too many men who pull strings to get to stay here. Thats enough though. You understand, Im sure.

I will try to write more often now that my schooling is about over. I finish here Thursday. If I can get a plane home Ill fly, but If I cant, it isnt any use trying to get home on 7 days leave.

Give my love to all
Your son
Bill

January 27, 1943 William Shepard to home…

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Finally the letter we have all been waiting for, mom’s birth.

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January 287, 1943

Dear Mother,

I received your telegram this noon. Im relieved and happy. We have quite a family now don’t we? You & Lois & K. W. and Susan can come out the last of Feb. if everything goes OK.

Im trying to get to come home but I may not make it.

Mom Im sending ten dollars home and I want you to go to a flourist and arrange to have him deliver Lois a few flowers each day she is in the hospital.

Send only a few, but get real

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good ones. If you can get an orchid each day. (If they don’t cost too much) If you cant, get a few roses 1/2 doz or like) use your own taste, but get something good and have them sent each day. Im enclosing some of my cards to have put in with them. See to this right away please mother.

Im real busy so Ill have to close. I appreciate all you’re doing mom and you know it.

Ill send Lois some money the first of the month.

Let me know about everything

Your son
Bill