Letters from the World War II

by admin

These are some letters written home from World War II. The dates on the letters go from January of 1944 through March of 1946, with one letter undated. These letters were written by my Father, Cletus Caswell. He was born in February of 1926. This means that when he wrote the first letter we have a copy of, he was only 18 years old and all the way across the ocean and so far away from the Meadow, Texas farm, he called home.

He married our mother, Maurine in October of 1943, and shipped out right around Christmas that year. At that time he was only 17. So hard to imagine.

He had four brothers all overseas at the same time as he was. His Mama would fast and pray for her boys one day a week. They all came home.

The thing that gets to me is how he so longed for home. Asking about crops, was company coming, missing cornbread and peas. Just wanting that simple life back.

Hope you enjoy this glimpse into the past and a time when love for our country and service to our country ran so very deep in our veins. Daddy was a lucky one. He came home. Many, many did not.

January 22, 1944

Dear Mama and all, I will try to scribble out a little this Monday morning. I guess you are all okay back home. I don’t hear from anyone hardly ever. I do hear from you once in a while, but I guess I have about stopped writing is the reason.

I guess Olane is pretty busy isn’t he. I still would like to be there to help out but I guess they don’t need me there. Ha! (It seems that way.) Well does Papa still sleep in his chair just after he eats? I wish I was there. I would fill his shoes with water. Haha! Well, I guess that is enough foolishness.

Does Neal have a girl? Is she pretty? Send me her picture Neal. Norman, do you still have Annie Ruth or do you have another one. If so, send me her picture and address immediately! Olane, do you still use the old Chevrolet? What kind of tires does it have? (Don’t say rubber.) Does it still knock and rattle? I don’t know whether I will get a furlough or not. I hope so. Has Odis moved yet?

Well, Mama you didn’t say how your and Papa’s health is doing. I hope you are alright. Do you still have spells now and then like you used to. I hope not. Tell Papa to write me. I have received one letter from him since I have been in the service.

Well, I am still here and “happy.” Haha! We don’t work much now. I stayed in the field Thursday and Friday nights. It wasn’t bad. They let us build a fire, which was the first time for that. Well, I guess I will close. You little boys write to me. Answer soon.

Love and God bless you,

Cletus

October 8, 1944 Germany

Dearest Odis and Laverne, (his brother and wife)
I will write you a little this Sunday morning. I got here okay and on time. I was a bit lonesome and homesick, but I guess you know how that is. I sure hated to leave, but maybe it won’t be too much longer till this thing is over and we won’t have to leave anymore.

Odis, I guess you will get some kind of an old tractor, won’t you? I guess it will be an old type Fordson. Haha! You might just as well use Old Shorty and Old Blacky.

Well, Odis I will stop. Answer soon.

Love and God bless you,

Cletus Ray

July 27, 1945 Germany (He was 18 at this point)

Dearest Olane, Norman, Neal, and girlfriends of which I know you have one each,

I will write you little fellers a little while I have time and space. I am still a soldier. I am about 80 miles from Berlin and in the 3rd Army and 12th Corps. I am, or my battalion is guarding a POW cage.

Why don’t you little boys write. I have a little stuff I thought I might give you, but if you don’t write, I won’t. For Neal or Nor, I have a little 25 caliber automatic pistol. I might get a .32 caliber like it. I have a .22 rilfe. I have a good big .44 revolver pistol. It is a good one for shooting coyotes. Holds six shells in a cylinder magazine. French style.

Well, boys, I guess you have been working hard in the field, haven’t you? I wish I was there to help. I think I could do better now than I used to do.

Well, I will stop. I hope to hear from you.

Your biggest, stoutest, threading and bolt clipping bother who can make steel dust of the best coal chisels and can shake up any punch,

Cletus

February 6, 1946

Dearest Mama, Papa, and all,

I will write you a little today. Well, today I am 20 years old. I don’t feel any older. Mama, I got your package day before yesterday. I sure was proud to get it. I sure do thank you a lot, too. I wish it had gotten here about 6 or 7 days sooner, while I was sick, but I am going to try to save some of the stuff, then when I am feeling bad, I can eat something besides the slop they fix. We had pretty good fried chicken today. Of course, it was old, but was o.k. for a change.

Well, Mama, I got a letter from you today. I sure am proud Olane got a deferment. Maybe he won’t have to go now. I sure hope not.

You said Papa sold a calf of mine for $35. I forgot whether I had a calf or not, but I guess I must have! Haha! Mama what did that old cow and calf of mine bring a long time ago. I forgot. Have I got any left?

Mama, remember when I was home, you said you were going to give me 25 hens. You can’t back out either, so don’t forget it! Ha!

Well, I hope I can get home by the last of April or the first of May. It will seem like being released from a jail or something. I don’t know though, I may not like civilian life now. Ha!

Maurine said it was raining there. I hope it puts a good season in the ground. Is Papa pasturing the field this winter?

You said Neal had a little skittish colt that Virgil gave him. Why hasn’t he written and told me about it? I bet the boys have forgotten about me. I don’t hear from anyone anymore but you and Maurine.

Well, Mama, I guess I had better close. I will send you some pictures of your little boy. Let me know if you get them.

Let’s all hope and pray that we will all be together again soon. Good night.

All my love, and may God be with you all.

Cletus

March 10, 1946

Grafenwohr, Germany

Dearest Mama and all,

How is everyone this Sunday evening? I am okay. I went to church this morning. Well, winter is breaking up over here. We don’t have any snow anymore. It just rains, if it does anything.

Well, I suppose you are having lots of company this Sunday, just like you usually do. I am just waiting patiently for the time to come me to go home. I still think it will be sometime in April or May. I guess I am the only one of our boys that is in this &%*$ army now. I might as well stay a few more months, as I don’t have anything to do when I get home. Ha! You couldn’t keep me here at a salary of $200 a month!

How is the ham and eggs holding out? I wish you would save some and not let Charlie eat all of them until I get home. I still like eggs pretty well, as you know. I used to fry about six when you and Papa would go to town on Saturday. I believe I could still eat a big plate of peas and cornbread, too.

I have been out playing catch with a boy (hardball).

Say Mama, what kind of place did Earl get? I heard it was close to Odis, but I forgot where Odis lives. I believe you said Burton got the Jones place. I think it was a good one. I believe it had some good pasture.

Well, Mama, I don’t know anything more to say, so I will close.

With all my love and may God be with you all.

Your son, Cletus Ray “Bill” Caswell

The stoutest one in the family.

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