War Time Letters
FORMAT: Victory Mail
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: June 28, 1943
Dear Mom,
How’s things I have arrived OK at my destination which is somewhere in England. I can tell you that much and also that I have visited the town of Norwich last night. We are at a pretty fair post over here. It's almost as good as the states. Norwich isn't a bad town at all. It is a lot more like American towns than I thought it would be. Empkie and I rode our bikes (G.I.) in last night and went to a dance. We got back about 1:30. The A.P.O. I put on the last letter I wrote you is wrong. This one is correct. I went to church this morning. It's afternoon now and I am going to get a little sack time (I.E. sleep awhile) We had a nice trip over here. It took us long enough, but we finally made it.
Jim
FORMAT: Victory Mail
DATE: July 16, 1943
TO: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
FROM: Martin Gerrits (father)
Dear Jim:
I think Mother wrote you that she was at Mercy-Fitzgerald hospital for a check up. The doctor decided she should be operated on for gall bladder, and she had the operation yesterday at 8am. She is coming along fine and everything should go well from here on. They took out pretty big gall stones and no wonder she has been having attacks if indigestion and gas. This should fix it up entirely. She has known for a couple of months now that an operation was advisable, but didn’t say anything to you in the service because she didn’t want you to worry. Now that it is all over and she is coming along nicely you will be glad to hear that she will certainly feel better now.
We have had a couple letters from you since you got across. Write and tell us all the news you can. Things seem to be going better with the United Nations. The news from Sicily is very good and we seem to be sweeping through there much faster than expected. And the Russians are putting on a counter-attack that is giving the Nazi’s a terrific jolt. I note that the Secretary of War is in England and is afraid we will get too optimistic.
Here at home everything is going along very smoothly. One of us stays with mom most of the time. Barbara is cooking meals and taking care of things generally, Ellen is going to summer school and Peter just runs around and plays with everybody in the neighborhood.
Dave writes that he has over 5 hours of dual time in; has made about 16 landings and take off’s and seems to be coming along well. I take it he was discouraged at first because he couldn’t follow the pattern and came out of his banks too late, etc. etc. But now he seems pretty well satisfied with his progress. He is flying the same trainer you flew. So he says; only he calls it the Stearman PT 17. I thought yours was PT18. Maybe about the same.
Well Jim I don’t know what duty you are on but feel certain it’s not the safest in the world. So you may be certain that we are thinking a lot about you and hoping all goes well. I seem to notice a change in our tactics. We seem to have decided to use more fighter protection on our Bomber Raids. That’s the impression I have from the news releases, but it’s never certain just what is actually going on. At any rate we don’t seem to be losing bombers at the rate of 20 and 30 at a time as we were in June. And when invasion actually starts the heavy bomber group should give way to faster and quicker craft. At least that’s what we hope.
Well look around and see things while you’re over there. It’s a good chance and experience you won’t soon forget. And I think it does something for a person to live among a foreign people for a time, and see that things can be worked out in many different ways. And people get along in many ways, and under many difficulties. Again, take care of yourself and I’ll keep you advised about Mom’s progress.
Love Dad.
FORMAT: Hand Written
DATE: July 18, 1943
FROM: David Gerrits <younger brother>
U.S. Army Air Forces, Training Detachment, Clarksdale, Mississippi
TO: Mom
“Victory Letter” Special hospital edition. Sunday, July 18. 1943.
Dear Mom:
I got your letter saying you were in the hospital today along with dad’s saying you had an operation. I’m sure glad your doing fine. (is that sure) Are they sure it was the gallstones that caused the trouble, and that you will be all O.K. when you get out?
I sent a telegram yesterday (collect I didn’t have any change) to 200 Shadeland <refers to address in Drexel Hill, PA> did you get it? The girl that took the message wasn’t too bright I don’t think.
I had 8 hr and 28 min when I went up yesterday (Sat). We shot about 6 landings out on the main field, he sat there while I flew him around. Then on the sixth landing he went over to the wind tee in the middle of the field where another plane was stopped. He asked the instructor of that plane who was just getting out to let his boy solo whereas the 10hr minimum before soloing was very strict. They argued it out and then both decided to let us go solo. My instructor got out asked me if there was any questions and then told me to go to it. I pulled out about 2 min ahead of the other guy so I was the first of 44A to solo. He followed behind me about a half a lap. I had to fly the pattern 3 times and land each time. He was to wave me on each time if I should take off or stop. The first time I used too much field so I figured I couldn’t make a running take off. (He signaled to stop). I came around again and took off. I made a running take off on the next. I had more room. My landings are ok. I had about 9 hours dual (limit is 10) and 36 landings (limit is 25) when I soloed.
I now am wearing the prop and wings on my flight cap and my goggles up instead of around my neck. I hear, the commander said no more solos before 10 hr. when he heard! We wore the wings on our caps at Max.<refers to Maxwell Base in AL> but took them off when we reached here. There will probably be some solos Monday. I got thrown in the pond right after the solo and then the upperclassmen threw me in the shower when we got back to the barracks.
I went to Clarksdale last night. I can’t figure out why they don’t bury it. It must have been dead pretty long. We got the rest of the partial payment we got at Max. I got $17.82 - big dough. You’re in for a surprise when you send me a box to ship it home in. I thought I might sail in down the Miss after the railroad wouldn’t let me use the rails, but I guess I’ll send it in the box.
It’s fairly hot here now. How is it at home? What do you think of the name for Jim’s plane? We’ve been here two 2 weeks today. We’ve layed(sp) off the stalls and spins so I’m ok again. I like landing. We spent a whole hour practicing cross-wind landings. I’m sending Pete some wings (5 ok?) I bet they made 49 cents on them. Ask him to show them to you. Do you get to see Pete at the hospital at all?
We didn’t get to swim last week because we flew in the morning and the pool was open (for shorter) only in the morning. The morning class got to, we will probly(sp) this week. We fly in the afternoon.
I have gotten 4 Tours here so far. All a miss carrage(sp) of justus(sp) I can assure you. 2 for not getting a haircut. 1 for disturbance during close call to quarters (sitting on my bed) they got about 20 that night for the same thing. 19 got theirs taken off but I had walked mine already. 1 for being late to hear the articles of war being read. The army says you must hear them once every 6 months. I’ve heard the 5 times since I’ve been in but they lost about 15 of our records on that so we had to hear them, that’s the Army. I’m free again tho(sp).
We had another USO show here. They send out about 4 people, they give a good show, jokes, dancing, juggling, accordion player, etc. That’s the third one in two weeks. How far is Jim from London? Do you know what other countries Jim might have been in?
We have the old laundry swindal(sp) like Jim had, here. But we had the quarter master at Max. Just like Eustis. <Eustis, FL where they did training> $1.50 month for everything. Here, it is $5.00 plus having khakis, suits, ties and caps done. I hope you can read this. This is one of my “Victory Letters”; fast and sloppy but all the news. I have never seen a 2nd Lt. fixing the cement where I’ve been. Has dad ever? When will Jim start Bombing?
Is the family getting over to see you every night? How does the gas rationing effect coming over to see you?
I just thought of the joke at the USO show. The master of ceremonies got up and said, “I just saw Clarksdale. It’s nicely laid out. Why don’t they bury it?”
The Eastern boys are starting to complain of the weather but its getting to feel like home to me. (Mo.) <they lived in Missouri for a time> I got a good tan now from the sun. I didn’t get much at Max even though we had a lot of sun there.
I’ve run out of “new”. Let me know how things are going.
Love, Dave.
FORMAT: hand written
DATE: July 21, 1943
FROM: Barbara Gerrits <sister>
TO: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
Dear Jim,
How’s North Africa? It can’t be any hotter there then it is here right now. Anyway, you’re used to the heat after Missouri.
We received a letter from Dave today telling us about how he soloed. I’ll send it to you.
He remarks in it that he never saw a second Lieut. smoothing wet cement with a brick. Ah, well, our family breeds a new type 2nd Lieut. Nobody ever heard of a 2nd Looie fighting with the Colonel over a stray cat either but Mary Lou does anyway.
I wonder what Dave will go in for when he gets his bar.
Dad’s in New York right now. Ellen has taken every last kid in the neighborhood including Pete and migrated to the picnic grounds.
I just came back from visiting Mom at the hospital. She’s doing fine except for sweltering with the heat as is everybody else.
I’m doing all the cooking here now. After seeing the effects of the first few meals, I’ve altered my menu. Now, instead of dessert, I serve bicarbonate of soda. The rest of the family will be ready for the hospital by the time Mom comes out.
Boy Mom was really surprised when she heard you were in N.A. She thought you were settled in England for the rest of the war.
Have you been to any dances? What language(s) do the girls speak? Maybe you can teach me French like you taught me Spanish. The way one says Carville Blanca soda in French is cheval blanc et soda.
I suppose you’ll need it now as much as you did in Mexico. Or have I misjudged you? Or haven’t they got a bar there?
Now that I’ve started this page I have to think of something to say. I went over to some people’s house the other night to take care of their babies. They had a neat radio. I tried short wave and got some kind of gabble that sounded like the fellow invented it himself. It was probably Italian. But we don’t have to turn on short wave to get Italian on our radios around here.
I’m just contemplating whether I should make an upside down cake. I think I will. Nobody else is home and I don’t mind the heat.
Why did the moron take a ladder to the party? Because he heard the drinks were on the house. Ouch! When I have to stoop that low, I’d just better shut up.
I have your room all fixed up. It has plaid curtains and bedspread and chair. It has my rifle hanging on the wall too.
I shot my rifle the other day. I had an old vase around that Mother didn’t know what to do with. It seemed too pretty to throw away while it was whole. Then we noticed it was made in Japan. So we set it up out in our backyard and I plugged it.
That’s about all there is to say. Dave and Mary Lou think you’re still in England. Will they be surprised when they hear the newest.
Love,
Barb.
p.s. I’m getting to be an expert on sliver stars I fixed the Leyburger’s flag with a silver one the other day. You know, their Pop’s in Bermuda.
FORMAT: hand written
DATE: July 23, 1943
<though written on stationery from a base in Lincoln NE, by this time Gerrits was flying missions out of North Africa hence, “sand and dust”>
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
Well, I am still here. How’s everything going back in the states? Does it look as if the war will be over tomorrow? I am getting pretty used to the sand and dust by now. I guess when I leave this place I’ll think it wasn’t so bad after all. We have it pretty nice here. They set up an outdoor movie and outside of the pictures being old, the seats empty gas drums and the wind blowing the screen so everything looks curved it’s pretty good. We raided Rome a few days ago.
A few of our boys were taken over to Cairo for the reporters and public relations officers to interview and they say they are really playing it up big. We listened to the sob-sister Italian propagandists over the radio the next night. It’s really funny to see what happened and then listen to the pack of lies they hand out. According to them, any Catholic boys on the raid should go shoot themselves. I don’t think much of the advice.
I am enclosing some money I have picked up on my travels. All together it’s worth about $9. I am also tossing in a propaganda leaflet we drop. I’m having a tough time with this letter. The wind is blowing so hard I can’t keep the paper down. We have a big night coming up today.
There is going to be a USO show with women in it at camp. A special order has been issued against walking around camp naked a lot of guys wear nothing but their shorts and a pair of shoes. When they walk to the shower they omit the shorts even if they live a mile from the well and have to go by base HQ. There might even be some movie stars with this gang but I doubt it. They probably wouldn’t be caught dead out here.
It looks as if we can all start singing the old Army tune “there’ll be no promotion this side of the ocean”. I don’t know why it is that combat outfits are always full of 2nd lieutenants and non-combat instructors and ferry pilots are always captains and majors. Mooney* comes over here a captain and all the old pilots in his former groups who have been bombing Germany are 1st and 2nd Lts. One of them rode on a mission with us and boy did he know his onions. He is a 1st Lt. but I don’t know any major in our group who is half as good a man.
Well that’s about all the news. We have a Catholic chaplain here. He is going to write you a letter. I have been told he puts the name of the place we are stationed at on the letter so if it gets through you may know where I am.
Jim
<* Mooney was the pilot of Hitler’s Hearse>
FORMAT: hand written
DATE: July 27, 1943
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom:
The mail has finally arrived. I got a couple of letters from you and one from Dad. Dad’s was the latest of the bunch. They censor all my mail now I guess but yours isn’t censored at all. You can tell Dad his deductions are remarkably accurate. The second letter was right on the head, but you have to go up a little higher for the first. Also, there was one in between the two. It was about the best. If you don’t like St. Louis, you ought to try it.
Things around here are still rolling. I think we annoyed poor Benny a little too much. A good rest cure <?> is all he needs. And some more eager helpers.
You can dig deep in the old bank roll and drag out 36 bucks if you happen to be in the chips. You have finally bought me a graduation present. It’s a shockproof, dustproof and waterproof watch. It’s a Swiss make. A Zodiac. Maybe you’ve heard of it before. It’s a 15 jewel watch. It has a second hand but no stops. I looked at a lot of stop watches and talked to guys who have and them and decided that a good accurate plain watch is better. A lot of the navigators prefer them. This one is really good too. It would probably cost over twice as much in the states. Mooney got one too, the same thing for the same dough and after we showed them around I think half the camp is going down there. The guy wanted 1100 piasters for them but we got him down to 900.
We have renamed our airplane “Hitler’s Hearse” in case you didn’t know. I think those boys can read English the way they always pick on us. We have it all painted up like a Model T Ford such as “Out to lunch” on the tail turret and “Murder, Inc.” on the waist guns.
Things around camp are proceeding as usual too. The movie is doing pretty good. We generally have at least 5 air corps groups, a few divisions of infantry and half the R.A.F. in attendance and then the thing breaks down in the middle of the picture. It’s done that twice so far.
We don’t eat out of mess kits anymore. Good ‘ol Rommel was kind enough to leave his eating utensils behind when he left and we have taken over. We also have an officer’s mess now. We are waited on by Sudanese negroes instead of cafeteria style.
The food is still the same though. These poor mess sergeants rack their brains trying to disguise the meat and then tear their hair when we come in and say, “oh nuts, spam again.” Everything we eat comes out of a can but it’s pretty good.
Was glad to hear the garden is doing ok. Tell Mary Lou that post must be off the ball if they are just opening an officer’s club now. We already have one here. A couple bottles and a barrel to set them on are the only necessities. Not much drinking goes on though. We can’t get any ice and it’s really lousy lukewarm. I got tired of putting on a shirt and having it grimy in the evening so I quit wearing one. I got a little burned but am getting black as a n____ now.
How’s Barb doing at Candy Crafters? She ought to be promoted by now. I don’t know what to, though the president would probably trade her jobs.
Jim
DATE: August 8, 1943 <The raid on Ploesti was August 1st>
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom:
I am interned in a neutral country as I guess you know by now. If you watch the dates with the paper headlines you can tell which one very easily.
It is pretty nice here. We stay in a big building that reminds me of (censored) but is more modern. We sign a parole each day and have the run of the town for 14 hours. It’s a pretty good town too. American movies and quite a bit of English and American food and other stuff. We eat at the leading restaurant which is quite a bit like a night club. It’s a pretty good deal all around. If we don’t like something we just kick to the American Embassy.
I picked up a little flak last time but it was dug out and everything is O.K. now. That’s about all the news. You can still send stuff to me here but it takes along time; 3 or 4 weeks for even a letter to make it either way.
When you send a letter put this address on it
2nd Lt. James Gerrits
0-795937
Interned in Neutral Country
Then put the envelope in another one and address it
James Gerrits, 2nd Lt.
Military Intelligence Service
Mail Room – 1C774
War Dept.
Pentagon Bldg.
Arlington, Va.
I’ll send you a picture of me in civilian clothes if I get one.
Jim
TO: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
FROM: Nellie Gerrits (Mom)
DATE: August 17, 1943
Dear Jim:
We just had word from the War Dept. this morning that you are interned in a neutral country. We are not to tell anyone but the immediate family, the letter says, so as not to [______censored_______ ]We thought you might be interned in [___censored____] right after the [____censored_____] because we read of funeral services [____censored______] in [____censored_____] for a Capt. Robert Mooney of Dallas, Tex. whom we though might be either your first pilot or possibly his brother. However, when we heard nothing for so long, we began to think we were wrong. Maybe we are wrong now, maybe you are interned somewhere else since that time. Anyway, we hope you are alright and we feel that, at least, you aren’t in danger any more if your are interned. I suppose you haven’t been getting many of our letters. We had one from you yesterday, written on July 27th just before the raid. Of course, you didn’t mention it. You did say that you had at last gotten some mail from us, a letter from Dad and two from me. I suppose you never got much [___censored___] and never got the package we sent. We have been given an address to____________ we can write and ________you. I write yesterday to your old address _________ you will never get that mail. I’ll give you a brief sketch of the family happenings during the last month or so.
Everyone is fine at present. We are at Ocean City for two weeks, came down Saturday, August 14 and going back Aug. 28th. We have a very nice apartment, six rooms and bath, good beds, near the ocean beach and boardwalk. We have a gas stove and electric refrigerator so it is as comfortable as at home and much cooler. We wish our three in the service could be with us. Peter is enjoying the sand. Barb is having Edith and Anna Jo down for a few days next week and has met one of her girlfriends down here now.
Mary Lou is fine as usual going to dances and movies and nursing the soldiers as a side line, I take it. David is doing all right in Primary. He soloed [____censored____] in the class of “44A” and has kept up a good record. He had over 45 hours in when he wrote last. About half the class was washed out but Dave feels he was still doing fairly well. He is an upperclassman in Primary now and I think it is nearing the end of Primary.
I suppose you didn’t get Dad’s letter telling you that I had been operated on at Fitzgerald Mercy hospital on July 15th, I had my gallbladder removed and that is supposed to fix up all my troubles of gas and indigestion, etc. It was a serious operation but I came through it fine. I am feeling good and getting my strength back fast now. I was in the hospital for 20 days but some was before the operation.
I hope you can write us and let us know about yourself. Daddy thinks you must have landed your [____censored____] since [____censored____] was either wounded or killed on the trip. I’m wondering if you were wounded too. Our letter just says there are no details. It is a relief to think you are all right. We’re always praying for your safety.
Love, Mother
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
DATE: about the 18th of August, Sunday, 1943
Dear Mom,
There isn’t much use writing; since you probably wont get the letter for 3 months anyway but I’ll take a stab at it. I am still at the same place and have been here 10 days now. As one of the guys here put it in a letter: “I can’t tell you where I am but I am ____censored____that may be ____censored____ but the censor let it go. It wasn’t all true either; we really have a set-up here. The town gets better every day. A few days ago the AP correspondent for this joint threw a beer party for us (hoping to get a good story of course). He scraped up all the English speaking girls in town and brought them along too. He didn’t get a story since the military attaché was there to keep an eye on us but we sure had a big time.
I am picking up a lot of the local lingo and will really surprise you when I get home. I met a fellow here who was formerly an interpreter between the British and ____censored____ technicians. He speaks good English as well as ____censored____ and a half a dozen others. Since about half the people in town are working for Heir Hitler I’m a little suspicious of him but I’m pretty sure he’s ok.
I bought myself another graduation present. You can cancel the first one and save yourself $11 since this one only cost $25. It is a 17 jewel Swiss-made chronograph and if there were any available in the states they would be worth at least $150. This is the second one I have bought here. The first one I paid $19 for. I guess you are wondering what I am going to do with three watches. I like the one I got in the ____censored____ (back at my base) so well I couldn’t get rid of it either. I can always give one of the chronographs to Dave though and even a hock shop would give me more than I paid for any one of the three. Also the import tax amounts to more than the cost of the watch and I can get them in duty free. They give us more money than we know what to do with so I’ll probably have a few more before I am through.
I am on guard in the barracks today from 1:30 to 6:30. It’s not a bad deal; all I have to do is sit here. How is Dave doing in the Air Corps? He ought to be in Basic by now or maybe Advanced. Tell him to take a nice soft ground job if he washes out. I think I would rather be a grease monkey than a bombardier or navigator. Tell Mary Lou to write me a letter next time you write her.
Jim
Ask Dad if he has ever seen one of the appliances I have enclosed a picture of. I think they ought to have my name in there somewhere since I practically invented the thing. Well almost anyway.
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: August 20, 1943
Dear Mom,
I am still here. I am in the lobby of the movie right now. There is a double feature on today, Moontide and Andy Hardy’s Secretary but I saw the first one so I’ll write this letter instead. Everything is o.k. here. It’s getting a little monotonous with not much to do but its no worse than the summer vacations used to be.
There are lots of rumors going around concerning our release but that’s all they are. The ____censored____ hope we get back to the states as non-combatants if we are released. My crew, they are my crew since the last trip, are all out of the hospital and doing O.K.
How’s things at home? I suppose you are getting a lot of the letters you mailed me back again but you can just re-address them and mail them again and save some work. Maybe I will stay here long enough to get some mail. How is Barb doing at Candy Crafters? But I guess she will be back in school when you get this letter. I can only write on one side of the paper so the censor can cut out part without cutting the back too.
Well that’s all the news. I hope the “duration” is over pretty soon. I think we moved it up a lot.
Jim
TO: Dave (younger brother)
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
DATE: September 2, 1943
Dear Dave:
If my calculations are correct you should get this letter when you are almost through Basic. The last I have heard of you up to this date you were in the upperclass at Maxwell but I take it you haven’t washed out. I can’t say much about this place. It isn’t bad at all; I could easily spend a few months more here. It’s monotonous but it’s better than combat anyway.
If I were you I’d try my darndest to go to single engine advanced and if you have a chance at A.T.C. or instructor I’d grab it in a minute. They are pouring pilots into just one thing right now, heavy bombers, and the chances are if you get into that you will end up bombing Germany which ain’t worth a damn to be truthful. They require 25 missions to go home and if you live through them you are a wreck anyway. So if you have washed out and are now a buck private at some flying school I would feel exceedingly happy and boy I ain’t kiddin’ either.
There are some things that are dirt cheap around here. Watches are one and I think cameras are cheap too but I don’t know much about them so I haven’t bought one. Clothes are really high. We wear civilian clothes here and my shoes alone cost $17.00. And are they lousy. In the desert all we ever wore was “G.I.s” and that’s what I wear here most of the time. Well, that’s about all the news.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
DATE: September 3, 1943
Dear Mom,
Well the news is finally starting to catch up with me. I got seven letters today all forwarded from my ___censored____ and all marked M.I.A., missing in action. I hope you didn’t get a telegram to that effect. I guess it took them a little time to get the report of our internment back to my base. The earliest letters was June 5 and the latest was June 24. One was from Mary Lou, one from Dad and the rest from you.
Was glad to hear Dave soloed but you can tell him he’s a little slow. I made it in 8:50. I didn’t lead the class though. It sounds as if Dave has a little trouble with spins and stalls too or rather his stomach does. I could give him some advice on it but he will probably be graduated by the time he gets it. It doesn’t bother you after the solo anyway. By the way tell Dave the difference between a Lt. who smooths concrete with a brick and a Lt. who doesn’t is essentially the same as that between a combat Lt. and an instructor Lt. A case of good ol’ combat nerves ya’ know.
I got a letter from Barb in with Dave’s or rather the other way around so I’ll have to say a few words to her. I was really sorry to hear Barb quit C.C. Ah the dear old sweatshop. I wish she had beaned the forelady with a bag of her mints as she left. When they start timing me on a job that’s when I would hand in my resignation to take effect 10 seconds later too. Tell Barb to go out to the mill (paper) if she wants another job. They pay girls 50 cents an hour to work in the napkin room and it’s not hard. They had a good gang there when I was there too. Tell Barb I appreciate her efforts and the terrific expense in hanging up a silver star. Tell her if there is another color for a wounded soldier to stick that up too (though she could probably lay greater claim to a wound than I can if she cut her finger hanging it.)
Tell Dad thanks for his letter too. That trainer I flew was the PT 17 too. That old Sect. of War ain’t kidding either about over-optimism. Things are going O.K. but boy, I wish everybody who thinks it’s a snap could fly a raid. It’s a rude awakening even for the combat crews. Mary Lou’s letter didn’t say much as can be expected. She seems to be having a good time up there.
Things are going O.K. here. We just eat and sleep and have a good time. I bought a nice hunk of leather today and am going to try to duplicate the wallet you gave me. I have had plenty of money and nothing to do with it so, I have bought some more watches. About a week ago I finally found my hearts desire, a Longines 20-jewel chronograph; the best that money can buy. I got it for $52. The only other one I ever saw was Empkie’s first pilots’. It was the same thing but it cost his wife 200 bucks. This one I got is the only one in town I think. I have been offered more than I paid for it by other ____censored____ but I wouldn’t take 3 times the dough. I have been rating it and it gains about 2 seconds every 48 hours which is about as close as you can get a big navigator’s chronometer let along a wrist chronograph.
I have delayed writing about your operation till now because I guess you will be all O.K. by the time you get the letter anyway. You must have had it almost 2 months ago from the date of this letter. I didn’t know you needed one but I am sure glad to hear you got it. It may help your headaches too don’t you think? Well take it easy now and don’t forget to uphold the Hall tradition of no worrying too. Just drop a line to Stella. I don’t know what will happen to the package you probably sent to the desert. Maybe I’ll get it here. We can’t send any packages out of here yet but we can receive them.
Well how was the rabbit stew? The last I heard Pete and Dad were sweating over the cages but that was several months ago. The latest around here is for one guy to say to the other “What’s cookin’ Doc?” The other guy replies “Wabbitt stew” at which the first guy says “Rabbitt Stew! Hey, I’m a rabbit” and takes off like a streak. All the officers pull this on each other and get the greatest enjoyment out of it. Combat nerves ya’ know. Maybe you can remember seeing the above scene depicted in a cartoon; the characters being Porky Pig and the sarcastic rabbit he is forever trying to catch. It affords great amusement to the rest of the barracks when done properly. My bombardier is about the best guy at it.
I just read the letter in which you said one of your nurses was a German trained in Cologne. Tell Barb if she wants to get in a little practice at her favorite profession she should come over here. This is the original stomping ground for them and I have seen every type from the blind fiddler to the slinky blonde. In fact I know several of them very well and could get Barb in on the ground floor if she didn’t mind which gang she worked for. Well I guess this letter is about long enough. Sun Valley Serenade is on the movie tomorrow and it has “In the Mood” and "Chattanooga Choo Choo” in it so I guess I’ll go. You can’t imagine how crazy everyone is to hear an American tune. Well take it easy now.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: September 13, 1943
Dear Mom:
I received your first letter written to my M.I.S. address yesterday. You wrote it August 17th so that’s only about till I got it. I thought it would be a lot longer than that. By the way, you had better start writing on one side of the paper. Since the letter travels in neutral hands your mail is censored as well as mine and it cuts out all the writing on both sides. There were about nine words cut out of your letter but it was very easy to guess what they were. The censor even left a few dots to the I,s and the crosses to some T’s to confirm my guesses.
I ____censored____ all the mail you addressed to my old address has been coming here. It is all mixed up. With your letter yesterday I got a letter from Dad dated July 10 and addressed to England. I have received 10 letters here so far. I take it from one of your letters you sent me a package. I hope it was wrapped well because they will probably forward it here from my base. The War Dept. sure took long enough to inform you of my whereabouts. The embassy told us a week but it was close to 3. Hope you are having a nice time at Ocean City. This town here reminds me of the Atlantic City boardwalk on a smaller scale and without the water. I was glad to hear Dave is doing so well in Primary. After you have 45 hours and are doing pretty good there isn’t too much chance of washing out.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: September 18, 1943
Dear Mom,
I am writing chiefly to send you pictures of me in civilian clothes. Just another draft dodger, that’s me. The other fellow is Sgt. Henderson, my tail gunner. He is a tow- headed Kansas farm boy. I don’t know how I managed that supercilious stare I have in one of the pictures. The other one is better though. Henderson still has on his uniform but it looks so much like civilian clothes that it gets by O.K.
We are still doing nothing ____censored____ I got your second letter written at Ocean City, yesterday. Keep writing and tell anybody else who might get up the ambition to drop me a line too. Mail is sure the big thing here.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: September 28, 1943
Dear Mom,
I am in Cairo, Egypt at a replacement camp. I can’t give you any details but you can guess most of it. From here, I will probably go back to my outfit. If I do, I’m going to ask for pursuit in a very determined manner so if they say “either you fly a bomber or be a buck private” well a buck private has a pretty easy time of it.
They have offered us 5 days leave here and we will probably take two weeks. I think I’ll go to Alexandria. I could go to Tel Aviv, Palestine which is supposed to be a good spot but they stick you too much for everything.
Rock, the bombardier, is the only one of my crew who is here with me. We have a pretty easy time of it, this place is just like Salt Lake City. We got our clothes back O.K. The outfit shipped them all up here to a warehouse. Well that’s about all the news.
Jim
FORMAT: hand written
DATE: October 13, 1943
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom:
I am on my way back to base. We are traveling more or less like tramps. Our orders just say to get back to base via any transportation we can and they also allow us $7 per day to travel on. There is no time limit on them and it is harder than a so and so to get a ride so I have no idea when I will get back.
We have just left Algiers after a four day stay. It was impossible to get a ride out on an American plane so we inally talked the RAF into taking us. We are going to Casablanca and we'll probably hang around there awhile before going on. We will probably eventually reach England via South America or the North Pole. Everything else is going OK. I probably won't get any mail for several weeks and then will get a big stack when it catches up to me. I suppose everything is going as usual back there. Dave ought to be ready to graduate pretty soon. How did he go through, single or twin engine? Tell him to ask for “38s” if he can. From talking to the boys flying them over here I think it's the safest ship we have. Well that's really about all the news. I hear the tinkle of the postman’s bell so I must close.
p.s. (Miss Clark of the Westchester institution claims this ending is not in the best of taste, but I don't see anything wrong with it.)
Jim
p.p.s. one of the boys got off the plane just before we left because he remembered he had left some laundry in town. I remembered all the stories about planes crashing when a passenger gets off so I dug up a chute and put it on. I wonder why that pilot gave me such a dirty look? I'm really “sweatin him out” back here.
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: October 20, 1943
Dear Mom,
I have been moving around quite a bit lately and have really been seeing the country. Since I left Ankara, Turkey I have been in Aleppo, Syria for a week, Cairo and Alexandria for about 10 days, Tripoli and Algiers for four, and Rabat and Casablanca.
I am heading for England but don't know when I will get there. The only one out of my crew who is with me is Rock, the bombardier. We are flying with the Air Transport Command and are in Marrakesh right now waiting for a ride up to England. Our orders are to report to our old outfit which is in England now. I saw this news item which I am enclosing, in an old copy of some US paper. I thought I recognized the name. How are things going at home? I have just come back from the line where I talked with a crew who had finished their mission and gone home and had just come back again. They say they really had a wild time. Maybe I can finish my hitch without any untimely interruptions this time. I never did get the box of stuff you sent over and I haven't had a letter for well over six weeks now, but maybe they will have a few waiting for me in England.
Rock and I are going to take a little vacation in London. We have been on one since August 1st, but a little more won't hurt. We are going to ask the Colonel for a leave to recover from the rigors of captivity too.
Well, that's about all the news. I guess I'll write JD, the navigator, a note and tell him to get my clothes out of the Shihi Banyo (Turkish laundry).
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: October 30, 1943
Dear Mom,
I am in London at the Red Cross club. We are on a seven day leave and are having a pretty good time. We came up from Marrakesh a week ago, but we haven't been back to the outfit yet. We have changed from sun tans to winter uniforms and go around feeling like Lord Fauntleroy’s in these blouses and ties.
I sure miss the good old North Africa sunshine up here. A couple of us dug up an ice rink and went skating yesterday. We could only rent figure skates, but we made out pretty good with them.
How is Dave doing with flying? I have a watch I am going to send him if I ever get around to it. By the way, I took my watch in a hock shop here and the first price they offered me was 25 pounds or almost twice what I paid for it. And a bombardier here at the Red Cross is trying to give me a $100 for another watch I paid $26 for. I only smuggled 5 out, but I could be a millionaire if I had gotten 50. Well take it easy.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: November 6, 1943
Dear Mom,
I am back at my old base in England, the same place I was before. Rock and I spent our seven days in London and then took the train out here. We arrived about 6 in the evening just as the boys were coming in from a raid. They were all in the officers’ club and the place sounded like old home week for a while. Even old Major Cross our C.O. jumped up on our necks.
There are really a lot of new faces around here and a lot of the old boys are gone, but there were quite a few of them left. Lubin, our radio operator, had beat us back and told our tale so we were really heroes.
I asked for a transfer to fighters, but they say it's impossible, so I guess I'll stick here. So far as I know I'll be checked out as a copilot again and then when I have the feel of the ship, I'll be a first pilot. They're treating us pretty good here and giving us about anything we want. If I can get Rock and Garrett (engineer) back on my crew I won't mind being a first pilot.
I really cleaned up on the medal deal. I got the Air Medal the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart and have been recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross. I put both Garrett and Rock in for the Silver Star and I think they will get it. Mooney got the DSC and of course the Purple Heart.
We are busy right now getting organized here, but everything is going OK. I really got a stack of mail when I got back here maybe they sent some of it back, but I got letters dating from back in June. I had a letter from Dave saying he is an aviation cadet now and also one from Alvin and from Mary Lou. That fellow Dave met in basic was Luther Freas. He went all the way through school with me from the start of Maxwell Field till the end of Advanced. I had heard he was an instructor at a basic school in Alabama but you didn't mention the name of the school, so I still don't know.
I received your letter saying you had mailed two more Christmas packages to me. I have some stuff to send home, but I just picked it up here and there to send individually so I guess you couldn't call it Christmas presents. I have been moving so much I haven't had time to send any of it. If any of the kids want something expensive so that you don't want to buy the whole thing, just take some of my money and put it on it. Pete's bike might be a good example. My finances are all messed up over here, but I am getting them straightened out and will get quite a wad of dough.
By the way one of the letters I received from you was the one in which you said Dad had read about the Ploesti raid in the paper and called up Forest about it. In case you want to call again you might as well skip it because families are never notified until quite a while after the raid, sometimes 6 months. By August 5th, our group had just been notified that we were down in Turkey. You can get a lot of false rumors that way. In fact, the one you got was false. It's best to just “sweat it out” and not believe anything except War Dept. stuff. Well, take it easy.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: November 16, 1943
Dear Mom,
I am not out of stationery, but this paper is better than the stationery available. Things are going OK here. Rock and I usually have a hard time getting up in time to make dinner. Now and then we go to a class in the afternoon but mostly we just piddle around. We haven't drawn any light equipment yet and the Major doesn't seem very anxious to get us flying. The rest of the old crew are coming in from day-to-day and I think we will make up a new crew with me for 1st pilot. I received the box of candy and cookies you sent and Rock and I cleaned most of it up. It was all in good shape except a few of the cookies were crumbled but that didn't hurt them any. Don't bother sending any more Readers Digest, we can get them here but funny books are at a premium, so put in all you want of the old time ones especially.
Don't bother trying to send much over here for Christmas it's too much work and I don't need anything. I'll send that stuff I have here, but I don't know when it will get there and I guess you and Pete will be left out anyway. Also, Mary Lou. If you can find anything for Pete (which ought to be very easy) take some of that money of mine and get it. I guess you'll have to buy your own present too. Can you think of anything England ought to have that you would like? I haven't been into town since I got back so I can't make any suggestions.
I'll be sending about $500 home via the army wireless service pretty soon. It's mostly per diem for my travels. I have been getting mail from you pretty often. About half of it is mail coming back from Turkey but it's all very acceptable. I am enclosing a couple of rough copies of citations I wrote up for two of the boys. We really had a good crew believe you me. All the others did swell jobs too, but I couldn't recommend them all. The the rest got DFCs anyway.
I got a letter from Mary Lou yesterday it only took twenty days to get here. She was about ready to go on her leave then. I also got a letter from Dad which was written to Turkey. His clippings were all taken out. Well, that's about all.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
DATE: November 28, 1943
Dear Mom,
Got your and Dad's letters. Also the package. Those cookies were really good and with candy rationed we really appreciated it too. Don't bother with any more books though, we can get some here. We sent some stuff to you. Barb and Ellen can split the junk jewelry. I picked it up between Ankara and London. The pipe is supposed to be meerschaums, I don't think it's much good, but dad can always say it came from Turkey anyway. (Turkey produces most of the world's meerschaums) I'm still trying to get Dad a real briar, but they are very scarce.
You asked for details of the Ploesti raid. Rock and I are going to be interviewed by a war correspondent tomorrow and the story will probably be in Philly papers. Glad to hear Dave's doing OK and Mary Lou got her leave. I asked the Colonel about a transfer to fighters and he told me to write a letter requesting it and he would recommend me for it. I have written a letter but could have used Dad's help I think. I am back on a new crew
NOTE: the page ended here. It was written on the back of the Valier&Spies stationery letter Jim received from his Dad dated November 11. Given his typical closings, it is unlikely Jim ended the letter without even signing it.
TO: Mom
From: 2nd Lt James Gerrits
Date: December 7, 1943
Dear Mom,
Things are going as usual over here. I have been working a lot lately dragging in a bucket of coal per day and chopping a little wood and sitting by the fire the rest of the time. I guess I told you I was on a crew again, Lt. Bilby, one of the copilots of our two wing ships is the pilot. He is a good boy. I'm going to get my hand in again with him and then take a crew of my own if my other “iron in the fire” doesn't pan out. I went in and saw the Colonel a week ago or so and asked him to transfer me to fighters. (say, did I write you all this once before?) He told me to write a letter and I wrote one and got Major Cross (squadron C.O.) to recommend me and from there it went to Colonel Wood. I am sweating it out now.
I haven't flown any missions yet, but Rock flew one as an extra a while back. We had most of our old enlisted men on our crew but we are losing two and maybe three of them. Garrett and Leibowitz (top turret) are going back to the states by order of General Eisenhower. Lubin wasn't on the order so he is sore about it and is trying to get in on the deal. He will probably quit flying if he doesn't get to go home and I can't say I blame him. I ought to try to get in on it myself. If I had played my cards right back in Turkey I would be. I didn't know it at the time though. I told Garrett and Lebo they were going home and I never saw a happier gang in my life.
Empkie and I are getting to be real chow hounds. Every afternoon about 4 we wander down to the line and meet the American Red Cross club mobile “Milwaukee”. It dispenses all the coffee, tea and doughnuts we can hold. I guess the city of Milwaukee donated it so if you write Bess or Roselle tell them we appreciate it.
The other day I was talking to Benny Truskowski, our squadron engineering officer. He went to Cornell for five years and knows Chase's son very well. I guess Dave must be about ready to graduate. Maybe he will get P-38s or A-20s out of this twin engine deal.
Say, if you can find any of A.J. Cronin’s or James Hilton’s books that I haven't read send them over will you. I have read the Keys of the Kingdom, Hatters Castle, Lost Horizon, and some other books by Hilton about Russia.
That 500 bucks I am sending should get home before Christmas. Don't forget to take 50 or 100 of it and buy some Christmas presents for you and Dad and the kids. What is Dad's current hobby. I followed him through the boat building, photography, and rabbit raising, but I have lost track lately. Mine right now is plumbing and heating. I have been beating my brains out for a month trying to make a burner for our stove to burn old airplane oil but all I get is smoke. I am also planning on a shower but it is still on the drafting board. Well never a dull moment anyway.
Jim
Article I am enclosing is from Stars and Stripes – 3 men mentioned in our group.
DATE: December 19, 1943
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I have just returned from a two day leave in London. I really accomplished something there. I got a genuine briar pipe after a 5 round bout with the manager of Dunhill’s and a couple of preliminaries with his customers. I started out bright and early one morning and after visiting 50 shops got a tip that Dunhill’s were going to get in 15 pipes that day. They were just putting them out when I walked in. I backed off, then plunged in and when I couldn't shove any farther, I thrust my hand forward and Eureka! I had a pipe. Well, all right, maybe it wasn't quite that bad but the whole 15 did go in less than 5 minutes. I'll tell you how much I paid for it since that is always far more interesting (at least to me) than the looks of the article itself. It was 1£ and 7s or $7.50. I saw a beaut of an ashtray with a little silver model of a Lib mounted on the end of it. I was going to go up to $30 on it but unfortunately they wanted $48. That was a little too much for an ashtray. I'll send the pipe tomorrow and also the Purple Heart medal. Just keep hanging on Mom and one of these days I'll find something for you. Don't forget to give me some suggestions. As for the news around here life goes on as usual. Jimmy Stewart is over here now as C.O. of a Lib squadron. His outfit will be helping us one of these days I guess. Well, the more the merrier. I received the Town Talk and also the Upper Darby paper you sent. There are quite a few hometown write-ups floating around here now and we have a big time heckling each other about it. Mine if you recall said I flew as pilot and the rest of the mob pretty near beat me to death over that. I received a letter from old Orv Gorline. He is an aviation cadet and is at Syracuse V. for five months right now. Good town Syracuse. We had a one night stand there. We all had a big time in London. We left a little early and grabbed a slow milk train that left here at 10:00 PM and didn't get to London till the next morning. We stayed at the Red Cross club in London. Have you seen any good movies lately? I saw one that had just arrived here but I suppose you've seen it already. It's “Shadow of a Doubt”. It was pretty fair, different anyway.
Jim
FORMAT: Victory Mail
DATE: December 26, 1943
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I received Dad's newsletter. That's a real hot idea he had. You seem to have trouble getting my letters. It takes a long time, too long in fact. I received yours about a month after it was written. Maybe this V mail is faster. I am back flying missions again. I really sweat my first one out. It was worse than the first mission I ever flew. We went into Hitler's backyard and that didn't help any either. I am back in the groove now though and everything is OK. I have sent Dad's pipe home along with a couple of medals. That is the second package I have sent. I hope you get them OK. We had a pretty good feed yesterday, turkey and so forth. I just remembered you asked me about sauerkraut. We sure get enough of it over here. Tell Dave not to let the AT-10 worry him. The B-24 checklist reads like an income tax blanks.
Jim
DATE: January 8, 1944
FROM: 2nd Lt. James Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I have swiped a sheet of paper from the orderly room, so I'll write you a few lines. I received a letter from you today that you had written on Christmas. That is pretty good time, only 14 days. I received a Christmas card from Mary Lou and have written her a letter. I am sending you a picture of me and my pilot and navigator, which was taken alongside the barracks. The fellow on the left is John Powell, the Navigator, and the one in the middle is Bruce Bilby, the pilot. John, by the way, has a Silver Star for floating around the Med Sea for a couple of days in a rubber raft after Ploesti. Also a Purple Heart.
We did all right on the Christmas dinner deal. We had plenty of Turkey. Tell Dad I know just what he means by sweet sauerkraut. We bought a dinner of pork and sauerkraut in Reykjavik, Iceland and it was the same way. Boy, was it lousy. I hope Dave gets his 10 days. He will be lucky if he does. Our crew just came back from another 48 hour pass which we managed to stretch into an 84. We went to Leicester for a day and then up to Nottingham. We had a swell time in both places. We have a six day pass coming up the end of the month. I broke my good watch and am thinking of sending it home and having it fixed at a Longines shop. I don't think much of the jewelers over here.
Here's one for Barb in answer to all those moron jokes. The Van Swanks of New York decided to adopt an English refugee. They expected a little blonde blue eyed pink cheeked kid, but they got a little girl from the London slums who has never heard of soap and thought water was made exclusively to drink. They took her anyway and tossed her right into the bathtub. After about the fifth scrubbing, she came up for air, spit out some soapy water and says, “Hi, say you don't want an English girl. You want a blewmin’ duck.”
Jim
I am enclosing a poem from Stars and Stripes. It's really the truth.
DATE: January 13, 1944
FROM: 2nd Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
How's things? I'm still here in Merrie Old England doing a huge amount of nothing most of the time. There is nothing new to report. I still get up at 11AM, wander over to the mess hall, mess around the line in the afternoon, and read or write letters at night. Occasionally I go into town. I should have gone tonight since Thursday is ration day and all the pubs get in their supply of Scotch. Most of the boys did make tracks for town, but there is a pretty good movie on at the post theater, so I stayed here. Rock and I took our hand crank phonograph into town a while back and we just got it back yesterday. It plays pretty good now. It ought to, it cost a pound to get it fixed. Records are practically unobtainable over here, so if you can pack some o.k. we would appreciate your sending them over. Just take some of the old ones that are in pretty fair shape and send them. Let me know where Dave went when he graduated and so forth. I am getting a six day leave pretty quick and I guess I'll go up to Scotland. Edinburgh is the usual hangout for six day passes. --------- Just got back from the movie, Silver Skates, a stinkeroo.
Well, that's all that's worth writing about. I got another letter from Mary Lou a few days ago.
Jim
DATE: January 15, 1944
FROM: 2nd Lt. Gerrits
TO: Dad
Dear Dad,
I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. I was surprised to hear you liked the pipe so well. It was a pretty crude outfit with no filter and so forth, but maybe it smokes OK. The medal deal is still a little muddled up but I'll let you know which ones to get as soon as I get them.
As for me being disappointed about the copilot deal, I wasn't because I asked for it. The Major asked me if I wanted a ship of my own when I got back, and I told him I'd rather copilot. Over here they are only too glad to give anyone a crew who wants one. My first pilot is due to finish up in a week or two and they want me to take the crew then. I might but I'm not sure yet. No ambition I guess. I like copiloting though. Mooney was so good he didn't need a copilot but since I am flying with a new man, I do a lot of the flying and handle all the power settings and so forth to suit myself. He's only too glad to leave a large part of the job up to me, so we make a pretty good team.
As for my transfer, I am still “sweating it out”. It went through the squadron, group, division, and 8th Air Force Bomber Command with approvals and hot recommendations and was sent back by a Colonel in 8th Air Force HQ with a letter attached: “request additional information as to single engine time and gunnery to assist in determining a suitable assignment for Lieutenant Gerrits.” Now, it's been back in again for two weeks and I haven't heard anything yet. I don't think it has to go to Washington though, since both fighters and bombers are under Eighth Air Force. I've been in the army long enough so that I haven't got my head in the clouds yet, though everything else is going as usual. We fly once in a while and do nothing at all in between. It's not a bad life at all.
I had a picture taken and it turned out so good I'll send you one. You don't have to bother sending the records I asked for in a previous letter. The Day Room’s phonograph broke down, so they lent us a mess of records. Let me know how Dave makes out, will you? I hope he gets a good job with the ATC or flying bombardier or navigator cadets or something similar. I wouldn't worry much about making flight officer if I were him. We have a few in the group and the only difference between them and a 2nd Lt. is that they get 20% increase for overseas while a 2nd Lt. gets a 10%. That gives them about $290.00 and a 2nd Lt. $265 and has resulted in several of them refusing a 2nd Lt. commission. One of them here is a first pilot and has a 2nd Lt. for copilot. I guess the Army is getting to be more democratic and the Air Corps has always been more that way anyhow.
I'll be glad to get the books you are sending. I can use some new reading material. I must really be getting a lot of write ups in the local sheets. I'll have to go into politics when I get back. It'll be worth a million dollars.
I borrowed an MP's motorcycle a few days ago and took a little spin. It really felt good. I'll have to squander some of my millions on one. Well, take it easy. This paper is pretty thin, but easy to read if you lay it against a heavy sheet of white paper.
Jim
DATE: January 21, 1944
FROM: 2nd Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I have been transferred and am at a new station. I haven't flown yet but am going to be checked out tomorrow in one of the fat stubby jobs. I have been out today sitting in the cockpit and I think I can handle it OK. They haven't got any of the planes Dave and I both wanted to get in, but they are going to get some in and I think I can get in them if I want. In fact, I am rather the fair-haired boy around here. That D.F.C. really shines around here too. I'll be here awhile and then I'll go to an operational outfit. I'll be glad to get back in combat, not that I like it but it's a lot better than training. Your time is your own when you are not on a mission. I went into the town of Shrewsbury yesterday. It's not a bad place. Well, that's about all the news.
Jim
DATE: January 30, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I am still at the same base. I have checked out in a T-bolt and now have 12 hours in them. I like them swell. I took one up to altitude today and it's a honey up there. This is a good base too. The food is good and they have a pretty nice club. I am a First Lieutenant now too, as I suppose you have noticed from the envelope. A First Lieutenant really rates around here. In my old outfit, Major was a low rank, but here everybody is a Second Lieutenant. I have been into the town of Shrewsbury a couple times. It's about the same as East Anglia towns. There is a pub there called the O.P.O. which is the favorite hangout. Outside of that, there isn't much else. I guess Dave must be assigned to an outfit for sure by this time. I haven't received any mail lately due to the change, so I don't know all the latest news. Well, I guess I'll go to the show tonight. I flew 4 hours today. I'm going over to my old base one of these days and give them the big buzz.
Jim
DATE: February 5, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I received several letters from you yesterday. They were sent over from my old base. From the way it sounds, I must be getting an awful lot of publicity back there among the relatives and stuff. In fact, if they hear much more about it I have a hunch they will be sort of asking, “does that Gerrits kid think he's winning the war by himself?” So, I wish it would get toned down a little and so forth. I guess just about everybody has some relative in the services now and they are always more interested in their doings than in anybody else’s.
I got your Christmas boxes OK in case I haven't told you before. I was glad to hear Grandpa dropped in to see you. I'll see if I can get you some napkins. You were right about their probably being hard to get, but I think I can get some cloth coupons for them. Over in neutral Ireland I hear they have all that stuff but I can't get there. You take some of that $500 like Dad said and buy yourself something. I don't need that stuff at all. If I had any use for more money over here, I would decrease my allotment, but it would be in the way. The financial situation seems OK. I didn't think I had that much money but I guess it does build up. Just keep buying bonds or putting it in the bank or playing the ponies or something.
I got your 4 books OK. Did you read The Robe? I have started it and it seems pretty lengthy and slow, but I think it will pick up. I got a letter from Dave and one from Mary Lou. I am doing OK here. Kicking the old T-bolt around the sky. It's a good airplane. Not much other news.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt. Gerrits
DATE: February 16, 1943
Dear Mom,
Well, the ship must have come in. I received 5 letters from you and Dad today. Was glad to hear Dave got 2nd Lt. O.K. I got the books you sent me, O.K. And also the woman's address. I am to forward The Robe to. It sounds like a typical English address all right.
I am still at the same base having a good time. I asked the boss here for a cross-country over to my old base and he said O.K. I got over there and found it fairly easily. I was supposed to return the same day but I got weathered in and had to stay 2 days. I really had a big time. My squadron threw a party one of the nights and I had to stand up and take a bow as, “one of the fighter boys who is looking out for us now”. When I left, I naturally had to “beat up” the field. I think I did a good job too. I saw a lot of guys on their knees anyway. The old T-bolt really looks wicked.
Tell Dad I was glad to hear he has a new job and likes it so well. I never thought much of that Valier and Spies when I worked for them either. The mill workers were the only good guys in the place. This dehydration is big stuff too, I guess. At least we get plenty of it here. A big heap of shekels always makes a job more interesting also.
Was glad to hear you had a birthday Mom or sorry, whichever is proper. I missed Dad's too last October. I want you each to take $100 out of those allotment checks or the bank, whichever is handier. I was going to write a money order or check, but all my money is going back to the states, so it's easier this way. Be sure and do this too. I have more cash than I know what to do with, even with the allotment taken out. I get about $30 more as a 1st Lt. and also I sold another one of my Turkey watches for $50.00. The guy I sold it to was offered $75.00 for it an hour after he bought it but refused it. I believe in the share the profits system, so it doesn't bother me. I paid $16.00 for it.
Got a letter from Neil Juliff, my old roommate at Westchester. He is in New Guinea. Also got a letter from Alvin. He is a proud papa of a boy now.
Jim
TO: Mom
FROM: 2nd Lt. Gerrits
DATE: February 23, 1944
Dear Mom,
Nothing to write about but I guess I haven't written for quite a while. Been grounded for 10 days now for fog. About all I do is eat and sleep and go into town. You know, most of the guys over here detest England and are always moaning for the States, but I kind of like the place. You can have a pretty good time in even a small town. Some of the boys must find it OK though. It seems I run into a fellow everyday who has married an English girl. I think if the war lasts another year or 18 months, half the gang will be coming home with a wife.
How about sending me some stuff, a couple pair of silver wings (clip on or pin - a pair of each if available). 2 pair of U.S.’s, two pair of little wing of prop ins, two pair of bars and a few metal buttons, both large (about an inch in diameter) and small (about 2/3 inch). You know the kind, those with the coat of arms in the center. All that stuff is hard to get here.
I mailed my watch to you yesterday. It needs a new stem and the reset button pushes too hard. Take it to a Longines jeweler if one is handy. By the way. Get pretty good quality insignia, even if it costs a lot.
Jim
DATE: March 17, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I just got back from a four-day leave. I didn't have anything special in mind, but they owed me a pass so I took it. I went to (censored) and (censored) and (censored) and stayed a night in each place. I am back early but am going to mess around in (censored) tonight.
How are things at home? Still rolling as usual, I hope. I picked up a bunch of ribbons at Leicester and have just sewed them on my blouses. I had them put on at a service joint, but I redid the job myself.
I have my own room in the barracks now. I did (censored) with about 20 fellows (censored) big but when they all left I moved into (censored) room at one end of the place. The sergeants just got commissioned though and (censored) back into the barracks so I guess I'll go out there again. Two of the boys got Second Lieutenant and one got F.O. The one with the F.O. is the best pilot of the three but he made a belly landing a while back and I think that's the reason he got it. They claimed it was his fault, of course.
Well, I guess I'm about ready to leave here. I am in no hurry but you can't fight a war here, I guess. By the way, I was going to go to London on my leave but one of the boys went there and got blitzed five nights in a row.
Jim
Date: March 17, 1944
From: English Speaking Union, Leicester, UK
To: Mrs. Gerrits
Dear Mrs. Gerrits, your fine, tall son called in her this morning and I thought you would like to know that he is looking very fit and well and is in excellent spirits.
He came in to have his imposing row of ribbons sewn on. I know how much you would have liked to do this for him, but if you knew how much I enjoyed doing this little service, you would not grudge me this privilege.
I realize how much you must miss him, and how anxious you must be for his safety therefore I hope and pray that this terrible war will soon be over, and that you will soon be welcoming him home again.
With best wishes.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Muriel Whitechurch
DATE: April 18, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
Don't be alarmed by the return address on this envelope, it's misleading. Well, your son James knows what a parachute jump is like now. Very pleasant too. Was flying in an overcast at about 20,000 and fell into a spin. Couldn't get it out so went over the side.
All I got was a simple broken arm. My flight leader screwed up so I am pretty well clear of any blame. It's the upper arm that's bust, so they got me in a traction splint. Won't be for long though.
How's things at home. I haven't received the watch package yet but suppose it's waiting at my base. Everything is going as usual with nothing new to report. Haven't had a letter from you for quite a while, so haven't anything to answer.
How's Dave making out these days. Sounds like my old days in 24’s.
Well, take it easy now.
Jim
DATE: April 23, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I am still “sweating it out” in the hospital. I have my arm in a cast now and it is doing OK. They took another X-ray of it today. It's Sunday evening and there isn't much doing. We have a radio in the ward and listen to the American Forces Network all day. Almost all their stuff is recorded (except an occasional ball game), but it's all good.
They have Jack Benny and Fred Allen and stuff like that. We also have the Hit Parade. I don't know if it's right up to date, but I think it is. They probably fly the records over here. Have been having nice weather lately. Hope it stays that way.
By the way, here's something for Barb in reply to that adolescent corn she used to send me. Upon hearing a citizen bemoaning his sad fate in the army the proper two cents worth is, “are you nervous in the service”, or “are you at ease overseas”, or “do you have hysterics in the barracks”? And don't tell me you've heard that one before either.
The nurses are all good Joe's at this place and the docs too. Couple nights ago, the Catholic chaplain came in to say hello to us boys. I got to talking with him and he says he is a Jesuit and was stationed at Priest's Farm for a long time. So, I told him I used to work there and we really chewed the rag about it. He was a Captain and a talkative old Irishman. He knew a lot of the guys I know there, such as Bother Dave Chon, my old boss.
Well, that's about all the news. I sent you a silver dish with a cover on it just before I came here. Hope you get it OK. I haven't had any mail yet but they are pretty slow at my old base.
Jim
DATE: May 4, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Format: Victory mail
Dear Mom,
Got quite a few letters from you and dad today. I even got about 7 of the first ones you sent to me in Turkey. The War Department must have held them up for some reason. I'm getting around on my own power now. My arm is in a cast. By the way, I am almost sure this is going to mean a trip home. The doc told me yesterday. “Well, Jim we’ll fix your arm up and send you home. How's that?” I said that was perfectly OK with me. It's not official yet, but I am almost sure it will be. It's my left arm by the way, as you have probably noticed since I am writing.
Hope Dave had a good furlough at home and I hope he went to a good combat zone. It's getting a lot easier these days or I shouldn't say easier because it takes just as good or better man for these long jobs. But it's safer anyway. I would have liked to have flown combat with a T-bolt. But a trip home will be nice too. And it's a long war.
Hope Dave didn't sell the bike, I'm looking forward to a ride on it. 2 or 3 or three times I have talked good-natured MP's into a ride and I really had a good time. I had a letter from the woman I sent the book to. She invited me up to see her, but I guess that's out.
I was bicycling in the country before I got laid up and met some very nice people. I was trying to buy a few, fresh eggs. (Black market, of course. That's the universal pastime here) and I stopped at what I guess you would call an upper middle class English farm. Not an estate but sort of the next step down. I talked with the old man a while and he invited me in at which point his wife drags out some really good home brew and scrapes up a dozen eggs and gives them to me. She had spent a year in the States, in Philly in fact at the George McClellan School. That was about 1906 I think though. They invited me back for tea next day if I could make it, but I couldn't. Maybe I'll get back there before I leave.
I haven't received the package yet, but it's still early. Got a letter from Mary Lou today. I'll write her one too. I also got a letter from Doris Mae of all people. Mary Lou gave her my address. She reports that Edward Jene is beating up on all the Southerners who call him damn Yankee. Last guy had three stitches taken in his nose. Civil War never will quit I guess. I don't blame poor Ed. Most northerners never dream there is still any feeling about that scrap till they get down there and find a few stupid lugs trying to make fools of themselves. My old navigator was one of them.
Tell dad I deeply resent his hinting I almost didn't graduate from high school. Though I did hand in my last homework to the superintendent of schools on graduation night. But I made it by at least an hour.
Jim
DATE: May 8, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
Well, how's things at home? Still going as usual, I hope. I have been transferred to a new hospital. It's a nice place set in a pretty woods. My being transferred has no significance as to my condition, just the army's messing around.
I am OK and I'm out of bed most of the time now. My cast is pretty big. Waist to neck and down to my left wrist but I am used to it and it isn't bad at all. I was in traction for two weeks, as I told you, and that was the really pain in the neck situation. They found the traction wasn't doing any good though, so they operated on the arm and sewed the bone together with kangaroo skin sutures. The guy who did the job was one of the finest orthopedic surgeons in the states. He is a major and was attached to Loyola U. medical school in Chicago. He really did a bang up job according to a couple of the docs who helped him.
I am still campaigning vigorously to go home but have nothing to report either way. The army moves slowly. Well, in another five or six weeks I will be out of the cast and good as new. And that will be a gala occasion anyway. I'd like to see the thing come off at the Valley Forge General though.
Well, that's about all. Happy Mother's Day or whatever you say for Mother's Day. Having nice weather over here now. Hope it holds out. By the way, this hospital is near my old fighter station. Maybe I'll get over there someday.
Jim
DATE: May 12, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
Well, I'm still here, just goldbricking all day. Been having nice weather and I have been outside a lot. Nothing else to report. Here's something about my group that was in the Stars and Stripes. Boy oh boy, another ribbon to wear. Ain't we the heart shots?
I read the piece in The Town Talk. The first article made sense, but I can't figure this one out. Maybe the idea is that we should have gone to some other school and maybe we'd have had better luck. That's the old TT for you.
Jim.
DATE: May 22, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
I'm still here. I'm at the same hospital and doing OK. This afternoon I had my cast taken off. It was on three weeks. My arm is in a sling now and is very stiff. It will pass though in a few weeks. I am getting rather used to hospital life. Today makes 5 weeks and a day for me. It's not bad at all at this place. I am about 15 miles from my old outfit. I went down there a couple days ago to get my clothes but they had shipped them to the first hospital. I called the place and they said they hadn't received them yet but would forward them when they did. Hope I get them soon.
I also checked up on the package you sent but could find out nothing. They often take a lot of time though, so it's nothing to worry about. I'm more anxious to get the candy right now.
About the coming home deal, it's still no news, but I am pretty sure of it. The big question in the ward is, Does anybody hear a boat whistle?”
Well, that's about all the news. Just when I get started on a new sheet of paper, I run out of news. I would throw in a request for candy, but I think it might have to chase me back again.
Jim
DATE: May 23, 1944
FROM: 1st Lt. Gerrits
TO: Mom
Dear Mom,
Your package got here today and also a couple of letters. The package was in good shape. I was sure glad to get it and it arrived at a good time. One of the boys here (a B17 copilot) has a birthday today and we are all throwing a surprise party for him. So I gave him one of the boxes of candy. The brawl hasn't started yet, but it ought to be a good one.
The Insignia is swell, it couldn't be better and I was glad to get the watch back too. I am feeling OK and now that Dave is over here I wish I were staying. I sure would like to be in on the invasion. I'll come back as quick as I can though.
I went over to a QM depot near here yesterday to get a pair of shoes. One of mine fell off when I jumped. I got a ride over but had to get back by myself, so I ended up with a nice morning walk of about 3 miles through the English countryside. It was about the first time I had been out, so I had a good time.
Well, that's about all the latest.
Jim
