Hallie Paul's portrait of Harold DahlCourtesy of Janet Freeman Dahl
U.S. Army
Fort George G. Meade, MD.
Sunday
[November 15, 1942]
Dear Lou,
Got your letter today - we get mail on Sunday around here. It has been a quiet week-end spent preparing to leave tomorrow morning. We are not going far away & will be on the rifle range during the day, which should be interesting. I only hope I shoot a good score and keep up with the other Towaco boys.
This morning our Tech. Sergeant, who happens to be Hallie Paul, painted a portrait of me, using a knife from the kitchen instead of a brush. Up close it looks awful - but from a ways away it is remarkable. I’ll be bringing it home after it dries.
I’m glad you took the camera up to H. & F. [Haber & Fink]. -Terry showed me the pictures you sent him - I got mine & will have instructions to add. -As for me, I’d like you to get a few enlargements of the head & shoulders of the one of me alone. Send one to Mr. Ellerhusen [HJD’s sculpture teacher], & if the first couple are good it might be a good idea to get several more to keep around - also Norman & George [Dahl - brothers] might like to have copies.
We didn’t need any eats this week - the barracks was full of food to say the least.
I spoke to Clint [Scilapoti] today to congratulate him on the birth of his new son. If we get back in time I may get part of Sunday off in which case I’ll go down to see him.
We are all excited about the news of Africa, it makes quite a difference to have some offensive action under way. Funny thing - we have all along had a hunch that Africa would be our spot. Next week we get bayonets and start training with them. Just another thing to clean, says I.
I am enclosing a clipping about our Colonel - save it for my scrapbook, will you?
Well, I’m going to run off now to see if I can find Terry re the picture. I’ll add a P.S.
I guess you & Mom won’t hear from me for a week or so, now - but I’ll tell you all about the bivouac when I get back.
Harold
P.S. Terry has marked the ones he wants & I have too - also he put in the dollar - let me know how much more Terry’s cost.
Fort George G. Meade, MD.
Sunday
[November 15, 1942]
Dear Lou,
Got your letter today - we get mail on Sunday around here. It has been a quiet week-end spent preparing to leave tomorrow morning. We are not going far away & will be on the rifle range during the day, which should be interesting. I only hope I shoot a good score and keep up with the other Towaco boys.
This morning our Tech. Sergeant, who happens to be Hallie Paul, painted a portrait of me, using a knife from the kitchen instead of a brush. Up close it looks awful - but from a ways away it is remarkable. I’ll be bringing it home after it dries.
I’m glad you took the camera up to H. & F. [Haber & Fink]. -Terry showed me the pictures you sent him - I got mine & will have instructions to add. -As for me, I’d like you to get a few enlargements of the head & shoulders of the one of me alone. Send one to Mr. Ellerhusen [HJD’s sculpture teacher], & if the first couple are good it might be a good idea to get several more to keep around - also Norman & George [Dahl - brothers] might like to have copies.
We didn’t need any eats this week - the barracks was full of food to say the least.
I spoke to Clint [Scilapoti] today to congratulate him on the birth of his new son. If we get back in time I may get part of Sunday off in which case I’ll go down to see him.
We are all excited about the news of Africa, it makes quite a difference to have some offensive action under way. Funny thing - we have all along had a hunch that Africa would be our spot. Next week we get bayonets and start training with them. Just another thing to clean, says I.
I am enclosing a clipping about our Colonel - save it for my scrapbook, will you?
Well, I’m going to run off now to see if I can find Terry re the picture. I’ll add a P.S.
I guess you & Mom won’t hear from me for a week or so, now - but I’ll tell you all about the bivouac when I get back.
Harold
P.S. Terry has marked the ones he wants & I have too - also he put in the dollar - let me know how much more Terry’s cost.