Month / December 2014

by schrackert

Dear Joe : 12/23/1942 and 12/25/1942

Hello my sweetheart,

I guess I better not start out the same way again tonight. It will only be a few lines again. I am more tired than ever tonight. That party we had at work was really work. More trouble. The milk man gave us the wrong ice cream order. We got the Navel Reserve order instead of ours. We called the milk company and they said we should use what we had. We ordered Bricks of Christmas design and we got Bricks Assorted instead. Then we called the Navy and they were going to send a station wagon over to us and exchange the ice cream. It was 12:00 and they hadn’t come. Well I was in the middle of an argument about where we were going to eat — in Dope or Fabric. Fabric won. It was supposed to be our party.

Oh, well back to the ice cream. Bernice went over to the Guard Room and on the way she met the milk man. As luck would have it he had 8 bricks with him so we exchanged the stuff with him. I still don’t know if the Navy got their ice cream. Who cares?

Well the party after all turned out very well. Mr. LaMont gave a very brief talk and also passed a 1/2# box of candy. Or I should say gave it to us and I passed it.

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12/25/1942

Well it’s Christmas again. A very different kind of Christmas than I’ve been used to. From all outward appearances it was just another day. I got up about 10:00 o’clock. Mom and I made dinner and cleaned up the house. It was dinner for just the three of us. No company for a change. We had turkey and it was very good, but some how it didn’t go over so well. We (mom, dad and I) went over to Darleen’s last night. Spent the evening with them. I went to sleep on the floor. Somehow I haven’t any pep. I guess I haven’t you to get me started.

I got a few things or Christmas. Mostly from Mother as usual. She gave me my 2 pair of pillow cases that I ordered and 4 beautiful print hankies. Dar gave me a bath and guest towel and wash cloth. I gave her a slip and Jerry 50 cig and the baby a pair of slippers. I received two cheap guest towels from Helen. Addie got nice ones and hankies from the kid. I guess I just don’t rate. I gave them a slip to Helen, carton of cig to Ed. Donald overalls and Eileen a sweater. Well I tried to do my part anyway.

I sent your 3 kids each a nice hankie. Just a small remembrance. I went to church the afternoon to see the kids say the pieces. very tiresome but duty demands. Demands what? I’m just a praise sucker. Joe, I sincerely hope you’re with me next year to keep me from spending so much unappreciated money. Please don’t think I’ve forgotten you completely. I’ve just been too busy to get your cookies in the oven. I have almost everything together to make up your box. I know that doesn’t hit the spot but try to be patient with me. I received your try sweet letter yesterday and it made me very happy and sad. Darling I miss you more every hour. Sweetheart, I know it must be hundred times harder for you to be way out there all alone, but I’m lonesome for you too. Darling, we must be married when you come home. At least we will be sure of one another. Then you won’t have any question in your mind as to how true is my DeLores.

I know you trust me but I still want you to be all mine. Sweetheart, I love you so dearly. I just can’t put it in words anymore. It just won’t express my true feelings. You know how I felt when you left, well just double it and add a million and a bit more and you may have it.

Have you heard if boot camp will be 12 weeks or not? Please let me know as soon as you do hear. I hope you are feeling better than you were when you did when you wrote me last. Those darn shots are truly bad stuff aren’t they? The only comfort both of us have is that when I get you back you’ll be more perfect than before. Poor excuse but we must have some encouragement.

I love you my darling but I must sign off for this time. I will do my best to write every day from now on. I have been so busy Christmas shopping and all. God Bless you my sweetheart. Keep your chin up and I will too. Loads of love and kisses from your future wife.

Love,

DeLores

P.S. I mean all the love in the world to the man of my dreams. Take care of yourself for me.

by schrackert

DeLores Ackert : Defense Worker on the Home Front

Three years ago, Kare11 did a story on the WWII gliders that were built in Minnesota. Since so many men were off fighting in the war, Grandma was one of many Minnesota women who worked in the factory to build these engineless aircrafts.

In the shot below, Grandma displays some of the twine she “stole” to remember her time working in the factory. Damn, she’s a spitfire and I love her.

(By the way, if you look closely you can see my wedding picture in the collage behind Grandma!)

kare11

In these love letters Grandma talks a lot about her work at the factory. Grandpa calls her “a defense worker on the home front.” It’s really exciting to see the factory brought to life through this story.

I am so glad this video exists… mostly because I forgot how much I loved my grandma’s laugh.

Excuse me while I go watch it five more times.

by schrackert

Dear Joe : 12/22/1942

Hello darling,

Just a line to let you know I’m still alive. I have been awfully busy tonight. I just washed my hair so writing while it dries a bit. Mom and I went out to Wards tonight to do that last minute shopping. The store was almost empty.

I don’t remember if I told you, Bernice and I planned a party out at work. Well, it’s coming off tomorrow. More work. A couple of days ago Alice said something about having to go places so often because of the cold. She said that whoever had her name should give her a baby diaper, so that’s what she’s getting. Well she will be surprised. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow night.

Mom wants me to have a bite with her, so I’ll continue in a few minutes. Back again in less than 5 minutes. Fast work.

We are having ice cream and cake for the party. Nice, huh?

Well sweetheart, I didn’t hear from you today, but maybe tomorrow. I can dream, can’t I? I bought you a make shift razor tonight. Hope it will serve the purpose when you get it. Don’t worry, I didn’t spend a fortune. You can’t find one to spend a fortune on. How are you feeling? O.K. I hope. I suppose you are still getting shots here and again.

I suppose you have gotten both cards by now. I’ll explain. I couldn’t make up my mind which, so I sent both. Simple isn’t it? I feel in awful good spirits today. No special reason, just do. Hope you can keep up the old peper as I never fear you will. My love at home will keep you strong and yours does make me strong. I never lose you for a minute. I just tuck you in my heart and there you stay. I love you so much and I admit it’s hard being so far apart, but…

Bud we think is on his way across Africa. Although we haven’t heard from him. Alice and Hi are going to get Bernice and her clothes tomorrow night and move her in with your mother. It will make company for both of them.

You still haven’t said whether or not I should call and try to make friends with your mother. Do you write to her as often as you do me? I would like to know, especially if I intend to talk with her. I would not want to hurt her. If you can’t write her every night write as often as you can Well, I guess I’ll put my hair up and turn in for the night. 5:00 comes so early when you go to bed at 10:00. I’ll write more tomorrow.

God bless you.

Love,

DeLores

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

12.22.42 d

by schrackert

Chocolate Ammonia Cookies

When I was a kid, grandma baked chocolate ammonia cookies every Christmas. She called them “poison cookies.” I’ve been talking a lot about these cookies lately, and I  get the same response from everyone. “Did you just say ammonia?!”

Chocolate Ammonia Cookies

Yes, real ammonia. It was apparently used in a lot of old world cooking. You know… the kind of cooking grandmas do. And interestingly is also used for smelling salts. The ammonia functions a a leavening agent. As you bake the cookies the ammonia bubbles up, releasing gas, and creating the necessary leavening effect. Your house will smell like ammonia while cooking… it’s sort of a weird cleaning/baking combo. I’m sure I’m not convincing you to make these cookies with this sales pitch, but I promise, they’re good. The baking process deactivates the ammonia, and the cookies are totally safe to eat. And delicious. They are a bit crunchy and kind of taste like hot cocoa.

Just whatever you do… DON’T EAT THE RAW COOKIE DOUGH!

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These old recipes are kind of hilarious, they don’t actually give many instructions for how to make the cookies… because clearly we all should know what to do…. clearly. Here’s what I did, and they seemed to turn out right.

I didn’t have chocolate baking squares, so I improvised with chips. No big deal. We have a scale and I assumed each square was meant to be an ounce of chocolate.

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Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the vanilla.

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Melt the chocolate. I use the microwave. About 30 seconds, stir, another 30 seconds, stir, and then maybe another 15-20 seconds.

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In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and ammonia. Slowly combine in the mixer so that the flour doesn’t go flying and make a mess of your kitchen.

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Shape the dough into small one inch balls. If you make the cookies too big they won’t get the right consistency and the leavening won’t work exactly right. Place a walnut in the center of each ball.

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Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for 13-14 minutes.

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CHOCOLATE AMMONIA COOKIES

1 1/2 C. Butter

2 C. Sugar

4 Squares Melted Chocolate

1 tsp. Vanilla

3 C. Flour

2 tsp. crushed Carbonate of Ammonia

1/2 tsp. Salt

Shape in balls. Place nut on top. Press. Bake in slow oven 12-15 minutes (325 – 350 degrees).

by schrackert

Dear Brother Joe : 12/14/1942

I thought I’d take a little detour from the love letters to share a letter from my Great Uncle Hi to my grandpa.  Hi is the brother that my grandma mentioned in her first letter. He and Alice brought my grandma to Minneapolis to see my grandpa off when he left for basic training in Idaho. They believed in my grandparent’s love, even when grandpa’s mom disapproved.

Family is a crazy thing. Great Uncle Hi is no longer with us. He was about 25 years older than my grandpa, so he passed away quite a while ago. But I grew up with his great grandchildren! We still do family Christmas together. This one I share for my cousins.

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Dear Brother Joe,

Received your letter, we were very glad to hear from you, and also that you arrived safe and sound. We hope that everything will be O.K. Bernice got a letter from Ralph. By this time our dear brother is many miles out to sea.

Mother is quite lonesome, having to take care of the fort [??] is quite a job. The kids are all O.K. Hope everything will be O.K. with you. Keep your chin up and everything will be all right. Just two more lessons to go to finish my course.

It’s been trying awfully hard to snow. The streets are awfully slippery. Had a black out here Monday night.

Love,

Hi, Alice and Kids

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by schrackert

Dear Joe : 12/21/1942

UPDATE: So after I posted this, my mom read it and commented below. She made the connection that the beautiful bright red velvet robe that my grandma talks about below was actually given to me by my grandma when I was little. She gave it to me for playing dress up, and I loved that robe. It made the perfect royal cloak, red riding hood cape, blanket… you know, the normal stuff. I’m sure my grandma probably told me about the robe when she gave it to me, but it clearly didn’t stick with me. It’s too bad… because who keeps their dress up clothes? I’m sure that red robe was sent to Goodwill a long time ago.

Hello My Sweetheart,

Just a line tonight as I’m rather tired. Went downtown right from work and it’s about 8:45 o’clock now. I received your two letters and was very happy to hear from you. Boy, that Navy is sure giving you a work out, isn’t it?

Darling you sound as though you aren’t in favor of my freedom. Could be, I’m really being the girl you want me to be. Even if I go out with the girls I’ll conduct myself in a way you would approve of. Remember sweetheart, I’m planning on marriage.

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Mom and I bought almost all of our xmas gifts. I got Eileen an awfully cute red sweater and mom bought her a pair of satin P.Js. Not bad. I got Dad a couple of neck ties, Ed some cig. and some for Jerry. Donald got wine overalls and Baby Jerry a pair of slippers. Mother bought me a beautiful robe — bright red velvet. It’s just beautiful. I hope you’ll like it sweetheart. After all, it’s for our wedding outfit.

Have you heard anything about a leave as yet? Don’t mind me, after all there is a 1,500 mile lap between us. Say, I think I’m going to like this having a well trained husband. I’ll get my breakfast in bed yet. However, I would be satisfied if I could have you in my arms right now, trained or otherwise.

Don’t wait for a box. It may take a few weeks to get it all together. Are you running low on funds yet? Let me know if you want for anything other than me. I’ll send you anything you need. Tell me what you want for xmas as I don’t know what you can have.

Darling please forgive me for being impatient about your mail. I hear from you quite regularly. Two letters today. 17th and 18th. Well, I’m very tired so will retire soon. Will write more tomorrow. I love you so very much darling. Please keep up the old spirit. I’ll be everything you want me to be, Sweet. God bless you all.

Love,

DeLores

P.S. Guard these as you would have me guard yours. I missed your heart and I’ll take extra special care of our hearts. Please let me know if you hear anything about a leave. I love you more every hour. xxxxxxx

by schrackert

Dear DeLores : 12/19/1942

Hello darling DeLores,

How is my dear future wife this evening? I hope you are fine and at least out seeing a show with some of your girlfriends.

I couldn’t write you last night to save my soul. We got a double Typhoid shot yesterday morning and on top of a bad head cold it nearly knocked me out. I felt pretty rotten last night and went to bed about 7 o’clock. Most of the fellows went to bed about the same time as they were all pretty rotten. We had to send two boys to the hospital as they had such high fevers and went partly out of their heads. I guess they’ll be all right in a couple of days or so. These shots are really sore on the arms. When you have K.P. duties it makes it twice as tough. I’m pretty good tonight so I guess I’ll survive.

I received your letter today dated the 15th. I sure was glad to hear from you. I can’t explain how much a letter from you means when I’m so far away. The boys just jump on the mail orderly when he comes with the mail. Please darling, try and write me as often as you can.

I had my identification pictures taken today. I don’t suppose it will look very good as my hair is quite short. But it is only for identification purposes. If I get into town in a couple of weeks I’ll have a picture taken and send it to my future wife.

I love you very much darling. I long to hold you in my arms but that will have to wait for a little while. After this job is done we’ll be together in our own home. Darling please stick by me like a real trooper. You give me the thing to keep on going for. Sometimes it is plenty tough but I’m out here because when we win this war we’ll be able to have our freedom and liberty. It’s a great thing and worth fighting for.

How is the weather. back home? It sure is nice out here. It doesn’t even look like we’ll have a white Christmas out here. But we’ll sure have a nice dinner. The kitchen just got in turkeys for our Christmas dinner. Something all right. I hope I won’t have to be away from you another Christmas.

How is everybody back home? Please say hello to everyone for me. I sure would like to write each one separate but I just haven’t been up to it. Please try to explain to them for me.

Well! I guess I’ll have to close for now. The Merriest Christmas to everyone and may God bless you and keep you well. All the love in the world to the swellest honey out.

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Love and many kisses to my future wife,

Joe

P.S. I love you more than anything in the world an hope you do too.

I couldn’t get the greeting  finished so here is to a Merry Christmas. Well, a pretty merry one. I mean that from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

by schrackert

Dear DeLores : 12/17/1942

One of the most incredible things about these letters from my grandparents is that we live in the age of Google. I can plug “Camp Hill Farragut Idaho” into Google and connect these letters to the real world. It reminds me that there was a war going on and this stuff ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Of course it happened… but man, this literally brings it home.

So Google just taught me a few things. My grandpa’s training camp opened on December 2, 1942. That’s when these letters started. So he was there at the beginning. It was open for 30 months and trained over 293,000 recruits. So yep… here it is.

RecruitingBooklet-FrontCover-500

Dear DeLores,

Well! I just got off of K.P. duty a little while ago and am a little tired. Not too bad today as I got off the pan washing job in the kitchen and was on serving line. That gave me about two hours off this afternoon. But I had to wash some clothes so I didn’t get any rest.

You really are going to have a trained husband when you get me. I have learned to wash my own clothes and boy is it tough on the hands. Especially when you have to use a brush and scrub the clothes by hand. My hands are all full of blisters. Don’t let it bother you as they heal in a short time and I’ll be all right.

I have another cold. I don’t seem to be able to lose it. But I always have them anyway so I’m used to them.

Am glad to hear that you and Bernice are having a little fun. You might as well enjoy yourself for both of us. I don’t have any time for any real enjoyment but I’m looking forward to the future when both of us may have our enjoyment together.

Sure dear, go ahead to the dance if you wish. I want you to have some fun. You know what I expect of you. I know you won’t ever do anything that I wouldn’t like you to do. All I want you to do is to remember me and be my sweetheart all the time.

No! There isn’t any special address for mailing boxes. Just the same as my letters. I sure would be very happy if you would make some cookies or something for me.

I believe that I have explained how this camp is located. It is in a large basin completely surrounded by mountains. When the sun shines it is really beautiful. One of the largest lakes in the country is located here. The lake has 515 miles of shoreline. The training station is made up of 6 separate camps. Each camp contains a 10 acre recreation hall, a large mess hall and a ship service, same as a canteen, and I don’t know how many 2 story barracks. Each camp also has 2 dispensaries. Each camp when full will hold about 5,000 men. Our camp is only half full and it has been open only 2 weeks. Here is a diagram of the barracks I live in.

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I hope you get some idea of the place I live in. The bunks aren’t bad as when I go to bed I’m so tired I fall to sleep nearly right away. I’ll have to close for now as I’m getting pretty tired. Please say hello to Marie, Addie, your Mother, Dad and anybody that may ask.

Give my special hello’s to Hi and Al and all the kids. Tell them I’ll write them very soon. To my future wife I send my whole heart. It is a little cracked from being away from you but I know you are taking good care of it.

I put a kiss there in return for the one you sent me. Take good care of yourself for both of us, Darling.

Your loving husband to be,

Joe