Letter, William N. Bogan, Jr., to Juliette Chamberlin, November 9, 1945
Dublin Core
Description
Correspondence from William N. Bogan, Jr., to Juliette Chamberlin. Bogan served in World War II in the 283rd Combat Engineer Batallion. In this letter, Bogan describes hunting for deer and rabbit, and thanks Chamberlin for sending him candy, peanuts, caramels, and books.
Creator
Date
Subject
Cooking, American--Southern style
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Language
en-US
Type
text
Format
Identifier
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MFM_MSS_693_1945-11-09_Letter_005.jpg
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Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.
Publisher
Scripto
Transcription
12 Calhoun St.
West Point, Miss.
April 22, 1943
Dearest Dad,
Private Bogan reporting. I was sworn in yesterday afternoon. I wanted to write you from there, but I didn’t have time to do anything but just what we had to, and then too, I found out we would get to come on home last night.
For some reason known only to the bus company, I suppose, we rode specials all the way down, but had to follow the regular schedules. We got to Columbus about 12, ate dinner there, and then waited ‘til 1:30. We then got back on the same bus with the same driver. We got to Meridian about 4 and were suppose to leave about 5 so we didn’t eat there. Well, our special didn’t get there til after six so, by the time we got to Hattiesburg a little before 9 we were all starved. We ate, and just missed the 9:30 bus to camp, and had to wait til 10. We got to camp about 10:30. Almost 12 hrs. on the way. The bus driver thought we were a bunch coming back from furlough, so he took us to the reception center instead of the induction center. The fellow in charge there realized almost immediately that we were in the wrong place, but the bus had already left so we had to hike about ¾ of a mile over to the induction center. I went in and told a private at the desk that we were a new bunch, and he took over our papers. Then he marched (?) us over to a kind of commissary where we were issued sheets and pillow cases. They assigned us to a cabin, and told us to leave our things there and then report back right away. They then prepared all our papers for the next day by getting our names, addresses, parents names, and so forth. After that they took us to the examination building where we were x-rayed. They do this as soon as you get there so that you can leave the next day. After this we were allowed to get some sleep which we were plenty ready for. It was after 1 o’clock then.
At the sweet hour of 5:30 they got us up, and we had to sweep out the cabin, and leave the mattresses, pillows, and top cover just like we found them. Then we turned our sheets and pillow cases in, and went to breakfast. By the time we finished it was almost eight, and we went and started waiting to take our physicals from then on about ¾ of our time was taken up waiting, usually in the most uncomfortable places and conditions possible. All in all however it was a [darn?] sight better than I had any idea it would be. All but Allen, and Doster (the fellow in the red jacket who kept wandering off) passed. They were both turned down because of their hearing. Harry McGhee, Zeke [Zimmer?], and Claude Lesley are all in the Navy. They stayed down at Camp Shelby last night and were to go to Jackson this morning. They are supposed to get home tonight. I tried again to get in the Navy or the Coast Guard, but no soap. I’m not on limited service however. We don’t find what we are in until we go back next week. After dinner, which we had to wait on, we were finger printed, and then about 4 o’clock were sworn in. We left immediately (after waiting an hour) with a bunch of fellows from Booneville. Ate in Laurel, then cam straight on up to Columbus, and got there about 11. Changes buses & driver, and came on home.
I saw a few of the fellows from school in the E. R. C. at breakfast yesterday, but nobody else I know.
I’ll let you hear from me as often as I can, and you do the same, please.
All my love,
“Son”
P.S. I hope your trip was no as hard as mine and that you are about to recuperate. It sure was swell to have you home with all the family last week.
Son
West Point, Miss.
April 22, 1943
Dearest Dad,
Private Bogan reporting. I was sworn in yesterday afternoon. I wanted to write you from there, but I didn’t have time to do anything but just what we had to, and then too, I found out we would get to come on home last night.
For some reason known only to the bus company, I suppose, we rode specials all the way down, but had to follow the regular schedules. We got to Columbus about 12, ate dinner there, and then waited ‘til 1:30. We then got back on the same bus with the same driver. We got to Meridian about 4 and were suppose to leave about 5 so we didn’t eat there. Well, our special didn’t get there til after six so, by the time we got to Hattiesburg a little before 9 we were all starved. We ate, and just missed the 9:30 bus to camp, and had to wait til 10. We got to camp about 10:30. Almost 12 hrs. on the way. The bus driver thought we were a bunch coming back from furlough, so he took us to the reception center instead of the induction center. The fellow in charge there realized almost immediately that we were in the wrong place, but the bus had already left so we had to hike about ¾ of a mile over to the induction center. I went in and told a private at the desk that we were a new bunch, and he took over our papers. Then he marched (?) us over to a kind of commissary where we were issued sheets and pillow cases. They assigned us to a cabin, and told us to leave our things there and then report back right away. They then prepared all our papers for the next day by getting our names, addresses, parents names, and so forth. After that they took us to the examination building where we were x-rayed. They do this as soon as you get there so that you can leave the next day. After this we were allowed to get some sleep which we were plenty ready for. It was after 1 o’clock then.
At the sweet hour of 5:30 they got us up, and we had to sweep out the cabin, and leave the mattresses, pillows, and top cover just like we found them. Then we turned our sheets and pillow cases in, and went to breakfast. By the time we finished it was almost eight, and we went and started waiting to take our physicals from then on about ¾ of our time was taken up waiting, usually in the most uncomfortable places and conditions possible. All in all however it was a [darn?] sight better than I had any idea it would be. All but Allen, and Doster (the fellow in the red jacket who kept wandering off) passed. They were both turned down because of their hearing. Harry McGhee, Zeke [Zimmer?], and Claude Lesley are all in the Navy. They stayed down at Camp Shelby last night and were to go to Jackson this morning. They are supposed to get home tonight. I tried again to get in the Navy or the Coast Guard, but no soap. I’m not on limited service however. We don’t find what we are in until we go back next week. After dinner, which we had to wait on, we were finger printed, and then about 4 o’clock were sworn in. We left immediately (after waiting an hour) with a bunch of fellows from Booneville. Ate in Laurel, then cam straight on up to Columbus, and got there about 11. Changes buses & driver, and came on home.
I saw a few of the fellows from school in the E. R. C. at breakfast yesterday, but nobody else I know.
I’ll let you hear from me as often as I can, and you do the same, please.
All my love,
“Son”
P.S. I hope your trip was no as hard as mine and that you are about to recuperate. It sure was swell to have you home with all the family last week.
Son
Files
Citation
Bogan, William Neill, 1924-2012, “Letter, William N. Bogan, Jr., to Juliette Chamberlin, November 9, 1945,” Mississippi State University Libraries, accessed April 24, 2024, https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/items/show/91.
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