The War Letters

January 30, 1944

Today started with church at 7 bells - "you never saw a place so jammed in all your life. The middle aisle was completely jammed. The alter itself was packed with men and small rooms on both sides of the alter were packed". Afterwards he went out to drill, which he did OK. He and his buddy Lou Harwick just finished the 2 plain Nestles bars he brought with him. They've been smoking quite a bit - cigarettes are a soldiers best friend teh the carton of Camels he brought have been a Godsend. He saw his record of his transfer and it looks like he should get into the Air Corps, but he's not completely sure. The day ended with seeing a stage show through the Recreation Hall window - it seems that in order to get in you have to line up 2 hours before the showtime if you want to actually get in...

The War Letters

January 29, 1944

One of the most important items today he tells his family is that he finally "crapped". He was worried, but he's back on track and feeling OK now. Today he took his IQ test, but had no idea of the results and wouldn't until his interview Monday. He dreads the day he's finished processing as he's pretty sure he'll start getting the "shit" jobs, but he's a fast learner and has his eye open for a soft job. Tonight he and two other fellows went to the PX and had a few beers - "great stuff! Pabst on draught even if it is only 3.2". So far, he's stuck with a few of the same fellows - a Jewish fellow, 35, school teacher, an expert in ball bearings, Harwick, a catholic - these guys are more mature, married, and they like to do what soldiering we have to do first and "Goldbrick" afterwards. The younger squirts just gripe and fart around". In closing, he's on his way to a hot Pinocle game in 20 minutes. "Take good care of youse and Mike."

The War Letters

January 28, 1944

The day started with getting up at 5:45, and formation in the company street at 6, then straighten the barracks and off to breakfast. Meals are OK, but you MUST eat all you take. Processing will take at least two days and after that he expects he'll "get some of those dirty details". He tells his family about his first impression of the fellows he's been meeting, explaining "here we rub shoulders with everything and anything but my first impression is that most of them seem to be a damn good lot. We're all in the same boat." His regular uniform is fatigues, "you never saw a bunch so sloppy and dirty looking". This morning was a physical, but no IQ test as yet. No sooner had he started his letter than he had to stop and learn how to GI his bed, and clean up the barracks for an inspection the next day. After catching hell for writing letters, he headed for chow. He's worried now that he won't get into the Air Corps, and the ASTP is practically closed, and the O.C.S. is closed. If he doesn't get in the Air Corps, he fears he'll be out of the country in 6-8 months. He should know more tomorrow.

January 27, 2018
In 2014, I discovered over 500 letters my father, Pvt. Frank G. Thompson, had written during WWII. Beginning today I will post summaries of his letters and I invite you to follow his story from reporting for duty to his honorable discharge. He was a B-17 Radio Operator Gunner in the 95th Bomb Group and one of The Unfamous Ones.

Follow his story at theunfamousones.com or twitter.com/theunfamousones. #WWII #WWIImuseum #History #MilitaryHistory #WWIIToday #wwiistories #wwiimemories #wwiistories #WWIIhistorynet #95thBG #WW2Facts #WWIIletterlover

The War Letters - 1944  

January 27, 1944
On this day 74 years ago, Pvt. Frank G. Thompson left Niagara Falls, NY to report for duty at Fort Dix, NJ. He was 21 years old. En route, he heard the conductor announce something with "town" in the name of the next stop. Believing it was his stop in Jenkintown, he got off only to realize he was actually in Quakertown. This mistake resulted in a 3 hour "layover", which he didn't seem to mind as he wrote "they grow Grade A Red-heads there"...Upon arriving at Fort Dix, he was checked in, but not classified yet, completely outfitted "GI", assigned to Company C Barracks #8 "but God only know where we really are" and had his first experience at the Mess.

Thank you for your service Jay Zeamer, Jr...an unfamous one who should never be forgotten...

War History Online

December 18, 2017 at 1:01am · 

Jay Zeamer Jr. (1918-2007), a pilot of the United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific and the Medal of Honor recipient. Zeamer died in a nursing home at...

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Another unfamous one...thank you for your service James “George” Marcantonio!...

War History Online

43 mins · 

“A Different Breed” – PT Boat Veteran Served in Europe and the Pacific during World War II

"A Different Breed" - PT Boat Veteran Served in Europe and the Pacific during World War II

War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Jeremy P. Ämick, who is a military historian and writes on behalf of the Silver Star…

WARHISTORYONLINE.COM

Had to share this...another Unfamous One is recognized...Thank you for your service S/SGT Vince Bolevich...

WWII Veterans History Project

56 mins · 

Watch our incredible interview with 100-year-old WWII Veteran USMC Staff Sergeant Vince Bolevich. He fought on islands in the Pacific while serving in the 2nd M...

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Interview with WWII Veteran - Vince Bolevich

WWII Veteran Vince Bolevich shares his incredible experiences while serving the Marine Corps during the war. He fought on the islands of Saipan and Tarawa in the Pacific, serving in the 2nd Marine Division. His…

WW2VETERANSHISTORYPROJECT.COM

Another unfamous one...thank you for your service Lt. Jim Downing...

‘There’s a Bond Between Us.’ 104-Year-Old Pearl Harbor Veteran Reflects on 76th Anniversary

"It’s been so long that many of [the survivors] are not able to travel... That makes it all the more important for those of us who do come." 

TIME.COM