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Correspondence

letters

Letter written from Private First Class Kenneth S. Latham to his neighbor in New Brunswick, Marian Schumacher. In the letter, PFC Latham describes his daily life in the Army and talks about mutual friends.

Pvt. K.S. Latham
32916417, B-8-3
F.A.R.C. Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Miss Marian P. Schumacher
217 Howard St.
New Brunswick, N.J.

May 25, 1943
8:28 P.M.

Dear Marian:

Don’t be surprised at receiving so prompt a reply. It doesn’t usually happen. It’s just that I figured that if I didn’t write now, it would be a long time before I got some more time to write.
You asked about army life, I think its going to be alright. I really don’t know. Today is my 28th day in the army and I’ve spent 16 of them in one hospital or another.
I just saw “Casablanca” at the Red Cross. Those Red Cross people do a good job. I’m putting this in a R.C. envelope.
Tomorrow I’m supposed to go to my Battery. There I live barracks. In Dix I lived in tents, very dusty tents. In the A.M. we rolled up the tent flaps, and during the time between 8 A.M. + 12:00 noon the dust got on our sheets, mess kits + personal property. At noon we tried to dust of the linen + merely ground the dirt in. It is decidedly better in barracks.
Jerome swore to me that he wasn’t going to take another deferment. But that was a month ago and anyway it’s his business. Excuse the blot. I do think, however, that he + Potter, Jimmy, will be the only ones from that bunch to join me.
Jimmy’s A.P.O address doesn’t necessarily mean he is crossing the pond. My shrimp cousin has had an A.P.O. since he’s been in the army.
Those numbers B-8-3 mean Battery B, 8th Battalion, 3rd Regt. That is technically speaking my home, although haven’t been there much. The man in the next bed saw Bobby’s picture + immediately became interested. He thought she was 23 or 24 years old. He was sadly disillusioned when I told him she was 15.
It is now 9:04 p.m. + lights are supposed to be out, but I am continuing in the latrine. Every night we have a round table discussion in here after lights out.
Tomorrow I am leaving here. At least I was told that, but that’s what they’ve told me since Sunday. So I’m hoping tomorrow will not find me here.
It’s tough that you missed the Bridal Bouquet. Better luck next time.

Now its my turn to tell you to be careful + good,

As Ever,
Ken

Marian Schumacher grew up in New Brunswick during World War II (1939-1945). This collection encompasses memorabilia from that time period including menus from restaurants, letters from a neighbor who was in the U.S. Army, photographs, diaries and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings. The collection has been arranged into folders by item type.

http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore00000002126.Manuscript.000060414

doi:10.7282/T3G73CRD

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Manuscript

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2764800

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