Document <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <?xml-model href="https://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_all.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://relaxng.org/ns/structure/1.0"?> <?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" href="null"?> <TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"> <teiHeader> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title>Zeller Letter 1942-09-07</title> <author>John Zeller</author> <respStmt> <persName>Susan Falciani Maldonado</persName> <resp>University Archivist and Director of Special Collections</resp> </respStmt> <respStmt> <persName>Diane Jakacki</persName> <resp>Digital Scholarship Coordinator</resp> </respStmt> </titleStmt> <publicationStmt> <distributor>Special Collections/University Archives, Bertrand Library</distributor> <authority>Bucknell University</authority> <address> <addrLine>Lewisburg</addrLine> <addrLine>Pennsylvania</addrLine> </address> </publicationStmt> <sourceDesc> <p>John F. Zeller Papers</p> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> </teiHeader> <text> <body> <div> <pb n='1' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_001.jpg"/> <opener>Sept. 10, 1942 <dateline>F-10-4-F.A.R.C. Fort Bragg, N.C.</dateline> <salute>Dear Mother, Dad, + Grandma--</salute></opener> <p>I'm going to write today because there are several things I want to ask you to do before I forget it.</p> <p>1st. Will one of you please go to Dan Ross + get the negatives I had lent to Janet Bold + which she left there. Put them in a tin can + store them somewhere for me. Preferably, put them in my box in the attic.</p> <p>2nd. Select some nice wedding gift for me and <pb n='2' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_002.jpg"/> sent it to Mr. & Mrs. R.E. Thomas, 961 Grove St. ,Elmira. Bob & Jeanne were married on the 3rd, as you know, and they were such good friends, I'd like to give them something. I'll write them later, so you can just put one of my cards in (There are some in the desk.)</p> <p>3rd. Your mail arrived today. Ken Wolfe was over to see me last night - + he says that letters mailed on the [illegible] porter arrive sooner than by other trains - so send them that way if you can. Airmail is not much quicker. We get <pb n='3' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_003.jpg"/> only one mail a day - at 6:30. Mail goes out only at 8:00 A.M. 4th - I won't need those bags - we have foot lockers here. Thanks just the same.</p> <p>That's all for now, I'll finish on Sunday.</p> <p>5th - Just thought of something else. - Will you look on the wedding invitation - or find out from someone in Lbg. - the name of Patty's husband. I went to answer her letter - but I don't know her married name.</p> <p>Sept 13th - Now to finish this letter. I really don't get time except on week-ends to write long letters so I'll try to write a good one every Sunday and perhaps a brief <pb n='4' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_004.jpg"/> one in the middle of the week as well. But if you only get 1 a week, don't wory- it will be just that I'm so busy. We're still in quaranteen so I haven't been anywhere. Even so, I scarcely have time to do all that is required.</p> <p>I don't have enough socks, towels, etc., to send them to the laundry – so I've been washing myself- and when you have to wait an hour in line to get to the washtub - it takes time. Then too we must scrub our rifle belts & leggings each week - as well as clean our rifles, mess kit, and canteen (the later with steel wool).</p> <p>Now I better answer your questions, before I forget. My hay fever is good. Once in a while I have a sneezing spell, <pb n='5' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_005.jpg"/> but my eyes are good and I feel quite well. The air is dry here and there aren't many weeds. It's an entirely different atmosphere from home. My fatigue suit dryed in an hour yesterday when I washed it.</p> <p>We had three shots at New Cumberland and one here yesterday. They were for small pox, tetanus, and typhoid. I have had no ill effects outside of a bit of stiffness. But we'll get more each week, and they get worse as they go along.</p> <p>Yes, we sleep in barracks - but as I remember they are quite different from the ones in the post card folder. Ours are unfinished wood - one big room downstairs and one up. Twenty-eight men <pb n='6' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_006.jpg"/> sleess and live in my room. I'm on the 1st floor. There is a shower + wash room, a heater room, and two small officers room - on my floor also. The second floor room is larger. There are also two officers rooms up there.</p> <p>We have steel beds with the stretched springs. Our mattresses are not at all bad. The beds are plenty long too.</p> <p>We also have a pillow. Linens are changed each Wednesday - when we also take all bedding - including the mattress - outside to air for the day. We have two blankets.</p> <p>I have discovered a few more college men. There are thee or four here at least; but most are not. Garrett Purcell called me on the barracks phone this morning. If <pb n='7' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_007.jpg"/> he can, he's coming over to see me later. George Purcell (Tex's brother) was over to see me twice yesterday. He was in my class at L.H.S. He has completed training and is due to leave here soon. So I've had three Lewisburg visitors. (Ken Wolfe was here, as I told you). But I still haven't heard from the other boys who came down with me.</p> <p>Purcell saw Meehan & Brownell- they are together in the 12th Br. Hackenburg is taking infantry training with the 2nd Reg., I hear. George also said that he Leard Paul Johnson had been sent over to the main post.</p> <p>The shower slippers have not yet arrived, but I imagine they'll <pb n='8' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_008.jpg"/> come in tomorrow's mail. ( Monday) Thank you for getting them for me. Thank you also for the air mail stamps.</p> <p>Which remends me. Do not mail anything special delivery. They don't have that service here. Air mail may be a bit quicker, but we only get one mail a day. anyway – so the [illegible] is just as good.</p> <p>I'm sorry to hear Reno won't be back. Hope you don't have too much trouble getting a tenant. How about the Olivers. College people would be best, don't you think?</p> <p>I have half a notion to get a portable radio. I could get it here at the post exchange. On the other hand it would be just something else to <pb n='9' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_008.jpg"/> bother with. I'll think it over awhile first.</p> <p>While I think of it, if you ever send me money - but not yet - I don't need it - send it money order. I can't get checks cashed around here.</p> <p>The letter was from Patty. She was much pleased with the vase. Our gifts seem to make a hit.</p> <p>I don't think I told you but on the way to New Cumberland, we had a half- hour stop in Sunbury. I went up + said goodby to Fred Schaffer & Helen at the office.</p> <p>The boys who went, just got back from church. They said they had a good sermon. I meant to go, <pb n='10' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_010.jpg"/> but my sunburn on my neck was so raw, I decided I better do something about it - so I went on sick call to get a salve- and hence missed it. I hope to go tonight.</p> <p>The papers were received + read. I'm looking for this weeks now. I'll save them + pass them along to the other boys.</p> <p>You may be interested in what equiptment was issued to me. I'll list it. 1 heavy winter overcoat - 1 water proof field jacket - 1 raincoat - 1 winter uniform coat - 2 wool shirts - 2 pr. wool pants - 2 cotton summer shirts - 2 pr. cotton pants - 2 green fatigue suits - 2 brown + 1 black tie - I overseas hats will red braid to designate field artilley - 1pr leggings - 1 rifle belt - 5 pr cotton underwear. <pb n='11' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_011.jpg"/> - two towels (I've bought more) - 1 jeep hat - 2 pr. of heavy shoes - 6 pr socks (3 wool) - toilet articles - 1 gas made - 1 rifle - 1 canteen & cup - 1 shelter half + tent pole + pegs - 1 mess kit including fork, knife, + spoon + two aluminum dishe - and 1 haversack.</p> <p>Dry cleaning goes out on Tues, Thurs, + Sat. Laundry goes out on Thurs + takes a whole week. $1.50 is deducted from our pay each month for laundry regardless of how much we have done. We pay for our own dry cleaning.</p> <p>This week we have seen training movies - drilled - learned how to handle a rifle - learned the manual of arms – learned about army vehicles - 4 wheel drive - special gear-shift <pb n='12' facs="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BucknellDSC/zeller/refs/heads/main/IMG/1942-09-10_012.jpg"/> etc. - learned military courtesy etc. -</p> <p>Already I've lost weight. I'm beginning to get toughened up too.</p> <p>The post exchange sells everything (almost everything) a soldier needs. After quaranteen will be able to go there whenever we want.</p> <p>The movies show all the very latest films much earlier than they're shown in regular theaters. They have two shows a day. 6:00 and 8:00.</p> <p>Lights go out at nine. Everyone must be in bed by eleven unless he has a pass. The inspecting offices comes around then & check each bed.</p> <pb n='13'/> <p> Shoes must be polished at all times. Clothes must be reasonable neat and clean. Hair dare not be less than 1/2 inch nor more than 1 1/2 inches long. The men must shave each day.</p> <p>The food is not like at home by any means, but it is fairly good. Today we get fryed chicken. This morning we had pan cakes. Coffee for breakfast. Fruit drink for lunch. And water for supper. Usually milk for breakfast too. I still don't drink coffee - but I do drink raw milk.</p> <p>In many ways it seems much longer than a week since I've left home. In others it seems as though <pb n='14'/> it was only yesterday. We are so busy that time passes rapidly.</p> <p>The course for this type of service is 13 to 15 weeks - we have completed only one. So it will be Xmas before I get home, if then. Some of the other boys in different group will be here only six weeks.</p> <p>Perhaps you and Dad could come down here for a few days in November before the Christmas business starts. They have a guest house here, and it would be a nice vacation for you. Think it over!</p> <p>I'll have to close now - time for chow.</p> <closer><salute>With love--</salute> John</closer> </div> </body> </text> </TEI> Document Download Object Type XML document Related Item No
