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Letters from Theodore Katz

February 23, 1944

PictureTed's sketch of reveille

[postmarked February 26, 1944]

Friday – 9:00 PM.
 
Dear Helen –
 
Your letter today – took a week to get here – Somehow or other – although it was plainly addressed to Camp Forrest – it was sent to Fort Meade. It was sent Saturday – so you can see that it bounced around plenty before it got here.
 
Tomorrow – we have another inspection of equipment and the barracks has been a madhouse of preparation. All our time lately seems to be given to cleaning equipment for some sort of inspection. However, tomorrow’s promises to be a lulu! A General with nothing else to do – will come by my bunk to see if my mess equipment is clean, and will inspect all the various impedimenta I’ve ever been issued, look at my rifle, etc.
 
– And all this stuff has to be layed out on the bunk in a certain manner. – A razor a half-inch out of line can spell the doom of the careless soldier. Ah, regimentation, that’s the life.
 
Just ran out of ink – and changing my color – maybe my luck too – Blue is for boys, – yes?
 
I see that the boys are whistling at you – again. Well, I can’t blame them. And if they still want to know what I’ve got that they haven’t – tell them it’s you.
 
Today’s masterpiece is not “September Morn” but a sample of reveille. Will you put this one in the parlor, too? – By the way – that Army chow I sent you to-day – is very fine stuff – It’s Field Ration, – also comes as hash, soup – even scrambled eggs – no kidding. I wish we’d get these to eat – instead of the slop in the mess-hall – If I get any of the other varieties of Army cans – I’ll send them to you – not because I think you’re all starving or anything like that but just to give you a sample – or show you that sometimes Army food is not so bad – but it’s been a long time since I’ve had any of that sort.
 
Nothing new on the furlough situation – but it’ll come – I hope it’ll be sooner than later. Life here continues to be one constant round of uninteresting activity – with nothing during the day to look forward to but Mail Call – Also, as I predicted – the rains have come back – after a slight intermission of one beautiful day. Joke of the day – One of the natives solemnly said today that the rainy season starts next month – Hm-m-m.
 
And now I must be back to the polishing – but, tonight I’m leaving the window wide open – and don’t you dare ask me to close it – or I threaten to comply and wouldn’t you be the sorry one though –
 
My regards to the “Testimonials” and also to you from my Maw and Paw
 
Love,
Ted.

  • Home
  • News
    • The Latest From Us
    • Ghost Army in the News
  • Gold Medal
    • Overview
    • What Can I do ?
    • Letters of Support
  • The Unit
    • Overview
    • Soldiers >
      • Rosters
      • Veteran Bios
      • Bio of the Month
      • Photographs
      • Honoring the Dead
    • Selected Operations and Maps >
      • Operation Brest
      • Operation Bettembourg
      • Mapping The Ghost ARmy
    • Sonic Deception
    • Secrecy and Leaks
    • Links
  • Archive
    • Archive Overview
    • Official History
    • Selected Interviews
    • Curtis Collection
    • Nussenbaum Scrapbooks >
      • Nussenbaum Book 1
      • Nussenbaum Book 2
    • Dahl Letters >
      • Training in the USA
      • Overseas
      • Back in the USA
      • Postscript: Love and Loss
    • Katz Letters >
      • Training in the USA
      • England
      • France
      • Luxembourg
      • Germany
      • Back in the USA
    • Tompkins Diary
    • National History Day
    • Selected Documents
  • About Us
    • Board
    • Contact
  • Donate
  • Multimedia
    • The Ghost Army in Color
    • WWII Museum Exhibit
    • Tintype Photos