April 23,1944

April 23, 1944

 Dear Mother and all.

          Guess it’s about time I was slinging some ink your way. I have been laying around taking it easy today. It has sure been a pretty day today. I was just telling Rosalie in a letter that it would be a swell day for a picnic hear. I heard from Rosalie today. It took her letter three weeks to get to me, but oh it was worth it. I got a letter from Mrs. Whitaker yes – today and one from Kenneth the day before and was tickled to get them all. Since I have been up here in this pretty country I have been doing a lot of thinking. I’ve got a problem. I can’t decide whether Rosalie and I will take up farming or ranching after the war – “or whether we will just settle down and raise kids, ha.” She likes ranching and I like farming. Dad do you think we could combined the two and do any good? Rosalie tells me that a little Ryan girl was run over and killed as she got off the bus from Duncan the other day. Mr. Barlow was driving the bus and sure took it hard.

            I’ve got to write Norman and Hazel today and maybe one or two more. Writing letters is a good pastime in your spare time and haven’t anything else to do since passes haven’t been issued yet. I saw a good show the other night – “Sahara.” It was real good. We are able to see two shows a week here.

            Good old pay day has nearly rolled around again. This month has sure passed quick it seems like. I’d like to know if you got the allotment for last month. Our battery clerks told me it was sent to you, so guess you did. There will be thirty dollars extra either in this month’s allotment or sent separate I don’t know which. I thought I would send it early so it would be there in time for your birthday Dad. Get yourself a new suit of clothes Dad or take Mama and the girls out for a good time. Hell I haven’t any more use for money over here than six legs. Just think I draw right on to 20 pounds now $80 and about five or ten is all I need to gamble with. It sounds funny when you are playing poker and someone bets ten shillings and you raise him a pound, ha. We have the damnedest time with this limie money. I’ve got to study up on it before I go to town or I’m afraid these English will rob me when I buy something.

            Kenneth is still in Fort Bliss at El Paso. He’ll be coming over before long, so he had better take advantage of his nearness to home.

            How is everything at home? I guess you get tired of me writing the same things all the time, but I can’t help it if I’m going to write often.

            Some of the boys found a bee tree last night and decided they wanted some and didn’t know a bee from a blow fly. I sure laughed at those birds, ha, they got the tree cut down, the bees stung hell out of them and they didn’t get any honey. They are all going around with eyes swollen shut and sore places.

 Guess I’ll sign off for now.

 Love to all

Your son,
Max

Aprl 27, 1944

England

April 27, 1944

V MAIL

           I arrived in England safely and am okay. I think I am going to like this alright. You don’t need to worry about me at all while I am here, just imagine that I am still in a camp in the states.

            If you ever have to get in touch with me by sending a cable, me address by cable will be – Cpl Max S. Blazzard 39860630 and AMAGIA that is all. The cable message will get to me where ever I am.

Love to all

Your son,

Max

April 2, 1944

April 2, 1944

 Dear Mother,

                        I was just coming by the post office and thought I would send my tithing. Will you give it to Mr. Palmer for me please?

 Love to all.

Your son,

Max

April 1, 1944

April 1, 1944

 Dear Mother and all,

            I have received your letters of the 26^th and 27^th and was glad to hear from you so soon. You are getting all excited over nothing Mama and there isn’t any use in it. When I do go overseas just don’t think anything of it, just imagine that I am still in a training camp.

            I went to the show last night – it was “Shine on Harvest Moon,” it was good. They have a non-com (noncommissioned officers) club here. I can go to it since I am a cpl. They have dances there and cute little non-com wacs there too.  Boy I go for them. I may get to visit New York while I am here. I would like too, just to see what it was like. I don’t think New York is half what these bragging lads from there says it is.

            I’ve got to get me some other stationary with lines on. You probably have a hard time reading this and I know damn well the censor does too. Or not at all – ha.

            We got paid yesterday. Boy, I drew $48 this month – not bad – with your allotment out too. I want you to let me know if you get that new allotment and all about it.

            Yes I got all your letters before I left ___(Censored)___ and Rosalie’s too. I haven’t got any mail from Rosalie since I’ve been here. I may today – I hope so. The mail boy just went for the mail.

            They first two days I was here it was stormy and cold, but the sun has actually come out now and it has warmed up a little. They must have a long winter here. (I’ve got to go get my mail – it just come in. I just got two letters – one from Kenneth and one from a Miss Pat Chandler from St. Louis, Mo. I can’t imagine why Rosalie hasn’t written me. I sure enjoy Kenneth’s letters. He has been home again since I heard last. He saw Rosalie and went to the show with her – the dog. Ha. “Chow” I feel better now that I’ve had dinner. I just came from the P.X. and had some ice cream and candy.

            I’ll try to get around to sending you girls a box of candy and gum for Easter. We have plenty of candy and gum here.

            While I’m here, I am going to try to call Rosalie and talk to her for a few minutes on the phone.

            Oh yes, I’m sending my tithing to you this month to pay for me and I wish you would pay it next month if you will. I’ll draw $13.20 more a month when I get overseas.

            I’m out of anything to say again so I’ll stop for now.

Love to all

Your son,

Max

P.S. – I took the time to fix the girls up a package this evening. I had enough trouble getting a box for it and getting it wrapped up so you better like it. I sent Rosalie a box of chocolates and gum too. It is eleven o’clock and I’ve just got to write to Rosalie. Bye.

March 22, 1944

Camp Claiborne, Louisiana

March 22, 1944

 Dear Mother and all,

            I got a nice sewing kit and pen from Aunt Seva and Uncle Frank today. I guess it was meant for my birthday. I wish you would thank her for me next time you see her cause I probably won’t be able to write her for a while.

            I sent a package of junk home today. I don’t want to lug it along with me. I guess this will be the last letter that you will get from me for a while Mama. I’ll keep writing but the letters won’t be mailed until after we leave here. You will probably get all my letters in one day. You keep writing Mama and I’ll get your letters. You will get another one of those cards with my change of address on it.

            We have been working like the devil the last three days getting things ready to move. This damned army will let you loaf for weeks then make you rush the last minute to get things ready to go. They say there is a right way and an army way of doing things and they want things done the army way of course.

            I was on guard last night and it just rained cats and dogs. I didn’t get wet though. I see why they pay corporals $16 dollars more a month now – they damn well earn it on extra details. Ha.

            I hope I get some letters from you and Rosalie at this mail call, I didn’t get any today at noon or yesterday at all.
            Oh yes, I got that bracelet and it is just right. Thanks a lot, I like it.

            How is everything at home and are you all well? I hope so. I have got to write Rosalie just a line since I can’t write anymore for a while.

            Mama I don’t want you and Dad to worry about me at all cause I’m going to be alright and I’ll write lots where ever I go and let you know how I’m doing.

            I’m sorry that I didn’t get to go visit the Cilutats while I was so close to them, but I didn’t ever get a chance. I’ll have to write her a short letter and tell her why I couldn’t come. She was coming down here to see me the first of April I think. Bye.

 Love to all,

Your son,

Max

March 10, 1944

Camp Claiborne, Louisiana

March 10, 1944

Dear Mother and all,

            How is everything at home? Everything is the same around here – just lovely. It looks like rain today. Just 19 years ago today, Mama, was when the unlucky day came and also the black sheep of the family. Ha. You said I was irrigating last year on my birthday, well this year I am walking guard. Ha. I’m guarding a big water supply pump, so it is still having something to do with water. When I got up this morning, all my buddies started the morning off by singing happy birthday dear Maxie and would have beat hell out of me if I hadn’t been the biggest.

            I don’t go on guard again until eleven this morning so maybe I can answer some of my letters. I owe Rosalie a letter and several others. I have heard from Jolinda a couple of times. She has a heap of a time with all her boyfriends.

            I went on guard last night at five and get off at one today. This afternoon, we are all going through a gas chamber with our gas masks on to see what poison gas is like.

            I’ve got to go to the dentist tomorrow to get a couple of teeth fixed – filled I think. I lost six pounds out on those maneuvers but the way they are feeding us now, it won’t take long to gain it back. I weighed 222 when I first went out in the field. Now I’m down to 216 – just a mere skeleton.

            I have picked up a couple of new nick names here lately. One is Jr. The boys in communication call me Jr. Because I am the biggest one and the youngest. The other nick name is “Big un.” A kid from Kentucky started calling me that one night in a crap game and it has followed me since. Everybody gets nick names in the army. Now our mess sergeant calls me high pockets.

            I better quit at this and write a couple of others.

Love to all

Your son,

Max

February 29, 1944

Shreveport, Louisiana

February 29, 1944

 Dear Mother and All,

            We moved again today and guess we will move again tonight. We will get another rest period tonight that will probably last until sometime Sunday. The reason we have been moving so much the last couple of days is because the red army is whipping us and we are retreating. I think the two generals of the two army’s – red – and blue – get together each night and decide who is going to win the battle the following day.

            We were paid today. I drew $28.64, the most I have ever drew next month I will draw a little over $40 and $37.60 thereafter. I collect $24 that I had loaned out and darned if the little games haven’t been very profitable. I have been doing right pert. As soon as I can get too or have one of the officers do it for me – it will be a day or two – I’m going to send you a forty dollar money order and I want you to put it into a living room set. You know a couch and nice chairs for the front room. See, I’ll get the good out of the nice couch on long evenings with Rosalie when I come home. This money is honest money that I have worked for Mama, so don’t be afraid of it. I am keeping over twenty dollars for my own use and what I am keeping is the dishonest money. Now Mama, if you don’t use the money as I say or in some useful way, I’ll start smoking and drinking wine. And by sending this money to you to use will be just that much I won’t gamble away, so Mama you had better not dare put it away for me in any other way than that set.

            Don’t feel bad about me shooting dice cause we have no other use what so ever of our money out here and no other recreation.

            I am sending you three dollars tithing to turn in for me Mama – it is the most honest money that I have. Ha.

            How are you all? Aren’t you working too hard by putting in two eight hour shifts a day Dad? Better take it easy.

            I got a letter from Rosalie today – real sweet. One from John J. and one from a kid I chummed with in Wallace and Helen. He is in Tennessee on maneuvers. He left Helen one week after I did.

            I have got to write a line to Rosalie.

Love to all,

Your son,

Max