Back at Camp After July Furlough

After his first furlough, Mike arrived back at Camp Shelby around 5:30PM on Tuesday, July 15, 1941, and  he sent letters to both Mary and Mickey and Andy and Esther two days later on July 17, 1941.

When Mike returns back to Camp after his Furlough, you can tell by the tone of the letters that he sent, that he feels pretty down about coming back.

He tells Andy and Esther in a July 17th Letter, that Camp Shelby is a dreary place compared with the farm.

In both of these letters he says essentially the same things.  In the one to Mary and Mickey, he thanks them for the swell time at their home, he tells them he was on the rifle range all day the first day back and then drilled all day the following day.  He estimates that it will take him about a week to get used to army life again.  He asks that they please tell Jerome hello.  Mike promises to write a longer letter soon.

In the letter to Andy and Esther, Mike elaborates about the Camp being a dreary place compared to the farm.  He tells them that, the day after they arrived back, his company went out to the rifle range, and he never did so lousy in his life.  "I guess I was still thinking of home,"  Mike says.  "But I did qualify for 'Marksman'."  Mike goes on to ask about the hay, and how Father and Mother are doing.  He says he never felt so low in his life than the day after he got back to camp.  He thinks everyone was feeling low as no one said much.  Mike concludes by thanking Andy for the money.  He lets Andy know how much it meant to him and that he will not forget it.  He also asks them to write and keep Father and Mother's spirits up.

On July 19, 1941, Mike sends  a letter to Andy only.  Mike begins with:  "This is a very important letter.  I may be able to get a discharge from the service on the grounds that I am needed at home to work the farm."  He further tells Andy that in order to do this, he will need a statement from Father stating that I am needed very badly.  "If it is worded right and we watch our step, I think we can swing it."  Mike continues by saying that they sure will as hell will try to keep him there another year, but on the grounds that he is needed at the farm, he may be able to get out of it.  "You and Father get to-gether and see what you can do.  Don't do anything until you talk things over good and find out what is best."  Mike tells them to go to The Kent Draft Board and The Red Cross to get information.

"But when you tell them I was working on the farm, they will probably say what was I doing in school.  Well, you tell them I was working on the farm while I was going to school.  Make it sound bad!"

Then Mike tells them that if they can do this he will take care of the farm if he can get out.  He asks them not to do anything until they let him know what they think of it.  He says he might as well try this because he has a good reason.

Then Mike says, "There is no use being a sucker.  I used to think all of this stuff was OK, but there is a lot of (Bull-S) mixed in here and it is all a big joke.  Don't forget.  Look into the matter very, very carefully before anything is done.  And let me know what you think before taking action.  The Kent Draft Board is a good place to start.  Careful tho!  No misstatements.  I figure we might as well try this because there is nothing to lose.  Everything's O.K. here.  I feel fine.  Your brother.  Mike"

On Sunday, July 21, 1941, Mike writes: 

Dear Father & Mother & Sisters,

"This is a Sunday morning about 8:00 o'clock AM.  I am sitting under a shade tree on The Gulf of Mexico.  Raki and Meek are here too.  We got week-end passes, so we decided to go to Gulfport, Miss..  Look on the map.  Also, we were in Biloxi, Miss.."

Mike goes on to tell them that there are some very nice homes there owned mostly by wealthy people.

He says they don't have to be back at camp until reveille on Monday morning at 5:45AM.

Mike tells them that this is quite an experience here.  The weather is quite pleasant, and that the night before they just pulled the car off to the side of the road and slept in the car.

He goes on to say that he hopes that if all would go well that some day they all may be able to see that part of the country.  He believes that the family would enjoy it.

An then Mike tells his sister, Rosie, "Rosie, I am going to try to get discharged from the army on the grounds that I am needed to work on the farm."

He tells Rosie that he wrote a letter to Andy about this matter, and when she sees him, he will probably tell her the details.

"I am quite sure they will try to keep me here another year.  But, if with father's help, I can get out, I will.  I will take care of the farm the rest of my days, if I can get out of here.  There's no use being a sucker.  Everybody else is trying to get out.  So will I."

He then asks Rosie to talk things over with Andy and Father and see what best can be done.  Mike says that Andy has some information on how to proceed.

"Well so-long to you my dear people.  Maybe if things are worked out right, I can be with you again.  But care must be taken.  Look into the matter very carefully.  So-long,  Mike 

On July 23, 1941, Mike writes his brother Andy and wishes him a Happy Birthday.  He apologizes for not having anything to send him, but wishes Andy a Happy Birthday!

He tell him that things are looking black for the men at Camp Shelby waiting to see what Congress is going to do about extended duty for selectees.

He reminds them that they have a plan for Mike to get out of the service, but he has not heard from them for a long time.  He asks them to please write him.

Mike finishes by saying that he will apply for the Army Air Corps if the other plans fall through.  He asks them again to please let him know what is going on.

In a letter to Andy dated July 28, 1941, Mike is very frustrated that he has not heard anything back from his brother regarding the plan for a discharge.

He tells Andy that if they don't act quickly, he will be made a Corporal, and then he will never get out.

Mike received a letter from his cousin Johnny Smreck who says he is doing KP and soon to be transferred to Panama. [At a later date, Johnny Smreck would be shot down as a Navigator on a B-24, and would never be located.]

Mike then asks Andy to at least send a copy of his birth certificate so that he can apply for the Army Air Corps.  He asks about David, Esther, and Father and Mother.  He believes that Father and Mother are probably working too hard.  Mike longs to be with his parents to lessen their work load.

At one point he tells Andy, "I'm tired of this Infantry Monkey Business.  I can't learn anything here!".

On August 1, 1941, Mike writes "Dear Family,", and then he proceeds to tell them that he has seen a piece in the paper about farm helpers being deferred. And then, "Well, go to the Kent Draft Board also the Red Cross in Kent and see what you can do about getting me released so that I can work on the farm."

Again Mike expresses disappointment that he has not heard from anyone for a long time, and then he urges them to get to work on this discharge thing and see what can be done. And then, "Don't hope for too much, though, because it will take some waiting and work."

Mike reiterates his plan that if they do not give him a discharge, he will probably join the Air Corps.  He says that he might as well in that if he can not get a discharge from the army he will be in for another 2 1/2 years.

Then, "Write! Write! Write! Let me know what you have done and are going to do.  I hope everything goes well at home.  Mike"

P. S.  He says, "All guys 28 years old and older are released today. Raki, Schuck, and Rubin will be leaving us soon."

In three short postcards to Mary and Mickey, Mike describes what is happening first on August 12, 1941.  This is the only postcard that is postmarked of the three.

There is a second letter, among the collection, dated August 1, 1941 which is addressed directly to Andy.  In this one, Mike is clearly frustrated and feels abandoned.  Mike says, " I have been waiting and waiting for an answer from you as in what you have done towards that discharge that I wrote you about.  Please go to The Red Cross and The Draft Board in Kent and see what they can do."  Mike then encloses an article that he believes will help the case for discharge: