The war years 1942 Sept. - Oct.

 

I found a short stack of letters send to Selma and Roy and Arlene and Geneva so the next few posts will be the war letters. There are several from the Mom's of service men who were stationed at the air base in Soux Falls, Grandma and Grandpa would invite them out for Sunday dinner, these are thank you notes for their hospitality.  Some are from Roy's Cousin Ernest Sanford who served in France, Selma's nephew Arnold Nelson who served in Hawaii, Selma's cousin George Holm who served in the Pacific, and letters from Luther League boys/men written to Arlene and Geneva. I tried to put the letters in chronological order. I gave these letters to the Siouxland Herritage Museum, Old Courthouse in Sioux Falls, they are planning an exhibit about the air base. 

                                                                                                                                                                    September 27th, 1942                                                                         Sunday

Dear Mrs. Sanford,

I really must apologize for not answering your letter sooner.  Do Hope you will forgive me.  It was such a lovely letter, Mrs. Sanford, You’ll never know how good it made me feel to know that Bud (as we call him) had such and enjoyable time and a good home cooked meal at your home.  We had a letter from him a few days after I had received yours and it was so full of his trip to your place and the grand meal and his going to church.  Said he’s told everybody about the good things he had to eat so often, he can just rattle it off without thinking.  He enjoyed the church services very much although it was a bit different from our own service.  However that doesn’t matter a whole lot as long as he is able to go to church.  

I am very glad that your son is too small to be in this war and truly hope that he may never be called upon to serve in the capacity of a soldier to fight.  God willing.  My oldest boy may be called sometime in the near future.  He is married and has a small son, 2 1/2 yrs. old.  My daughter, only one I have, is engaged toa young man serving in Hawaii.

I suppose you have been quite busy with canning etc. like everyone else these days.  Well Mrs. Sanford, I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Bud, and I know he can’t put into words how much it means to him.

I do hope that you will drop me a few lines whenever you find the time.  Because of your kindness, feel that I’ve known you for years.  Will be looking forward to hearing from you.

With kindest regards,

Mrs. Philip Krebs

Massillion, Ohio

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                                                                                                                     October 3, 1942

                                                             304 Williams St.

                                                             Middlesex, N. J.

Dear Mrs. Sanford,

Thank you for your very nice letter and thank you very much  for your wonderful hospitality to Myron.  His letter came the same day as yours come, and his father and I really spent that Sunday with him at your home and at church, so well did he describe it all.

The countryside is very different from ours, and the climate much colder, I think, but warm hearted people seem to be found everywhere.  I doubt if he (Myron) will ever forget, whatever the future hold for him,  all the fine food and the companionship you offered him.  

He thinks you have a “lovely family” the girls and the little boy, and you and Mr. Sanford are tops with him.

Thank you again for your real neighborliness, and very effective way of bridging the gap the new young soldier must face, the break between home and that period when he is “at home”, or as much as he can be “at home”, in the army life.

Most sincerely yours,

Sara Pratt

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                Mrs. Brookings T. Andrews  -  5 Sage Terrace  -  Scarsdale, N.Y.

                                            Post marked Oct. 31, 1942

Dear Mrs. Sanford,

Your letter was here when I came in this afternoon,  This is the Friday the 30th and your letter is post marked Oct. 28th 4.p.m. which makes South Dakota seem no too far away.

Almost every letter from William has said he hoped he’d find a “home”soon.  I think yours is it, first one he has been invited to.  It is nice of your church to invite the boys and so nice of you mothers and take our boys in.

Your boy seems so little to me.  William as you know is just twenty-two and Craig his brother is 15 but almost as big as William.

I have a troop of Girl Scouts who are eleven and at Church School I have some children as young as six but I work more with those a little older so six seems very young but it doesn’t take them long to grow up.

Perhaps William told you that I am an American Red Cross First Aid Instructor.  I nursed in the last war so this work seemed the thing I was best suited for — Sometimes I am afraid it keeps me too busy but then seems so needed just now I keep thinking it will be up but then I will go into a hospital while will probably take more time.  Both boys are pretty independent so perhaps they haven’t been too much neglected.

Thank you for what you did for my son and especially for your nice letter.

Sincerely yours

Mary Andrews

Friday evening.