August 8, 1944 -- a V-Mail from Freddie

In August my Uncle Freddie wrote a letter to my grandmother that was sent to them via V-Mail. What is special to me about this letter is that he gives some great details about his visit with my dad, which just happened to take place when my dad was receiving his Bronze Star. I am going to put pictures of the letter, and both sides of the envelope it came in, so that you can see what V-Mail looked like and also how my grandmother and aunt would mark the envelopes they got from their men who were off fighting in Italy. The V-Mail is small, just 4 1/4" wide and almost 5 1/2" long. A transcript is at the bottom.

 

  

From: 36690797

Pvt. Fred Haferkamp

A.P.O. P.M. N.Y. N.Y.

Aug. 8 - 44

To: Mrs. C. Haferkamp

621 N. Laurel St.

Staunton, Ill

Italy

Dear Mother.

Just a line to let you know I am well and hope every one else at home is the same I got a letter from Gus the same day I wrote him I found out where he was so I went Sunday to visit him he sure was surprised to see me he was decorated with a Bronze Star when I was there he whent and asked for a pass to visit me so they gave him 7 days so he came Monday and is staying with me he sure looks good and has put on a little weight since the last time I seen him It sure is hot and dry here and guess it is the same back home I haven't been getting much mail lately got two papers today of June 8 - 15. Gus said he got some dated later don't know of any more news now so tell Henry and the rest hello till later as I will close

From your Son Fred.

August 6, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775
Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. 135th Inf.
APO 34 c/o PM. New York, N.Y.

Italy

Sunday, Aug. 6, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I'll write you a few lines to let you know that Freddie was here today to see me.  He and another fellow came in about 11 a.m. and left about 3 P.M. I had just came back from Division rear to find out for sure where the 8 Rep't. Depot was and he walked up. I sure was glad to see him. We had dinner together but it wasn't nothing extra today. I was (sic) they had came last Monday when we had the turkey. He is located about 40 mile south of here and he came up on a truck. They left early as the other fellow wanted to stop and see some one along the road. I went to see my Captain for a pass and he told me to come back tomorrow and he would send me to another Captain for the pass. This Captain was busy today or else I could have gotten it today. At least I hope he gives me one for several days. Freddie said now since he knows just where I'm at he may come up quite often.

He is looking and feeling fine. I don't think he has lost much weight since I've seen him last.

He thought we had a swell place here and I guess we have. He said the area they are in isn't so nice and the food isn't so good. They took there cots away from them and now they sleep on the ground. Well I've been doing that since last April.

We had our parade today and I'm sending you one of the letters I got. I received 3 of these. I didn't get the medal as yet only the ribbon. This ribbon is red and blue trimmed in white. Here is about the size [he drew a precise sketch that was 1 1/4" wide and 1/4" high with lines that distinguished first a narrow vertical stripe, the white trim he mentioned, then a 1/2" stripe of red, a narrow white stripe, a 1/16" stripe of blue, a narrow stripe of white, a 1/2" stripe of red, and a final narrow white stripe].  It is to be pin on our pockets. Maybe in a few days there will be some thing in the Stars & Stripes paper about it and if there is I'll try to send it to you. The 34th Division band played and there were a lot of pictures taken.

Well that's about all for the present so I'll close and will write you more in a few days. Keep the paper I'm sending and I'll send the other 2 to Dora. This draw where this took place was nicknamed "Dead Man's Gulch." Lot of lives were lost there.

So long.
Gus

This picture, a copy of which always hung in Dad's family home, was taken, I was told, when Uncle Freddie met up with Dad the first time.


This letter was postmarked Aug. 8, 1944.  My aunt wrote "received Aug. 16 -44" on the front of the envelope and "Aug. 6," which she also circled.

The medal he received, as he has written about in some previous letters, was the Bronze Star. The letter he mentions was not in the envelope with the letter he wrote his mother. In fact, non of the items that Dad said he had included with his letters were in the envelope with the letter. It is my opinion that items such as pictures and news clippings Dad has mentioned he has enclosed in this and past letters, were taken out of the envelopes when the letters received so that they could be shared with family and friends and were never put back into the envelopes.

August 5, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775
Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. 135th Inf.
APO 34 c/o PM. New York, N.Y.

Italy

Sat., Aug. 5, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I just received my mail for today and I got the letter & clippings that Mamie sent me on July 27 also letters from Dora and finally a letter from Freddie. I sure was surprised to hear from him.

I went up to see the Red Cross field director to see if he could tell me just where Fred's outfit is located. He didn't know but told me to go to my Division and they could tell me. I'll do that in the morning. I'm pretty sure I know just about where he is but I want to make sure. I also went to see my Captain about getting a pass but he wasn't in so I'll have to go back later. He told me he was at the 8th Replacement Depot 18th Bn. 403 Co. 3rd Plat. APO 398. He still goes by his old address of APO 15241. He said he heard I was near Leghorn which is right and he wasn't very far away from there. He said he didn't get to go to Rome as he came up by boat. Well I'm sure I know where he got off of the boat and that he is located close by. I can get there in several hours and I wouldn't have any trouble getting a ride as there are a lot of trucks & jeeps running back & forth. He said he has a hard time getting away. He got to go to Piombino once.

I really don't know much more to tell you as I just mailed you a letter this morning and told you all I knew.

If I get a pass to go see Fred and I'm pretty sure I will I'll write you a few lines when I get there. They usually give a person 5 to 7 days but I may not get that many if its so close. It soon will be a year since I've seen him as I didn't get to see him when I was home in Jan.

Well I'll close now and write you more later. Hope you are all well and not working too hard. I'm OK and feeling fine. So long.

Love
Gus

Dad dated this letter August 5, 1944. The envelope is postmarked August 8, 1944. My grandmother wrote on the front that it was received August 16, 1944. She also wrote "Aug. 5" on the envelope and circled it. The inspection stamp on the from of the envelope is signed by Lt. M. I. Guest.

August 4, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775
Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. 135th Inf.
APO 34 c/o PM, New York, N.Y.

Italy

Aug. 4, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I received your V mail letter today that you wrote me on July 21st and I was glad to hear from you. I've been wanting to write you the last few days but I put it off thinking I would hear from you soon. I also got a letter from Dora today and she sent me some clippings and I'll send them on to you.

So Henry Lee got the letter I sent him. I bet he was surprised to get it wasn't he? I wonder what is keeping Fred from writting. Surely if he is real busy he could find time once in a while even if it was only a V mail. I wrote him 2 or 3 weeks ago and as yet I haven't received any answer. If he would write and let me know where he was located or at least give me a hint I could go and visit him as I'm sure I could get away for 5 days. But the way it is they move those replacement depots so much and they have many of them. I wouldn't know where to start looking for him. So the Martini boy wrote his Mother and told her I wrote to him. I finally answered his letter a few days ago. He may have been close to me at one time but I don't think he is now. I heard his outfit was back taking a special training. So was Collie's and I expect to hear soon that they have made another landing somewheres.

 I wrote to Collie and answered his letter a long time ago but never did hear anymore of him. I know his outfit hasn't been on the lines fighting for some time now.

To bad about the accident at No. 7 mine. Seems like every few months something like that has to happen. I bet they were a mess. I think I know all 3 of the fellows. Dora sent me a clipping out of a St. Louis paper about it.

So the grass fires are starting at home again. I guess there will be a lot of them as dry as it was. You must of had a rain & storm a while back as I saw in our "Stars and Stripes" paper where the bridge at Chester fell in the river and was caused by lightning. Bill had the right day off if he was home the day of the 2 fires. I had a letter from Harry Kuehnen several days ago and I wrote him a long letter back giving him a line. I think I wrote him 7 or 8 pages. He & I usually write each other V mails but I was in a writting mood so I wrote him a long one. He is pretty good about writting even if he doesn't say much.

The other day we were all issued 4 - 12 oz. cans of beer. It was Schaefers beer brewed in New York. It was the first American beer I had since I left the States. We had some several times that was made over here in Naples. Wasn't much good.

I got paid a few days ago for the month of July. That made 2 pay days in several days. I sent Dora $25.00 from my first pay and kept the second in case I should go on a pass one of these days.  We didn't get our $10.00 increase yet but will next pay with back pay. They are paying those in combat back pay to last January. I won't get so much as I didn't go into combat until after the middle of April.

This coming Sunday my Regiment is having a parade and citation and are going to award the medals to the fellows who have them coming. That's when I'll be getting my "Bronze Star" medal that I have coming. With this medal we also get a ribbon to wear on the pocket of our blouse but of course we have no blouse. We can wear that when the war is over and we head home. I have several campaign ribbons coming now also. This parade will be lead by the 34th Division band and all ranking officers will be there.

Dora said in her letter yesterday that she had a letter from you and you sent her Freddie's address. She was going to make a package of 8 cigars and send them to him. She sends them to me that way and I don't have to request them. She sends them 1st class mail for 12 cents postage.

I think I told you about the meal we had last Sunday. Well Monday we had a better one yet. We had roast turkey with dressing, corn, tomatoes, gravy; breach & butter; apricots; chocolate cake, and lemonade. We had all we could eat and there was turkey left. They are really feeding us good while we are here in this rest area. We have one cook that makes wonderful cakes & pie.

Every night there is a movie and several nights a week they have a U.S.O. stage show or band music before the movies. The other night at the U.S.O. show there was two American girls in it who sang many songs. It was great to see an American girl again as they were clean and dressed neat and that's more than you can say for most of these Italian girls. The most of them look like they haven't seen any water for months. Even if they haven't the clothes they could at least wash and keep clean.

I went for a shower bath this afternoon and thought I would get a clean O.D. shirt and pants but I never. They never had my size. Looks like they don't keep men size clothes as I've always got trouble getting size 36-33 pants. I did get new sock and also new underwear. We get these every time we take a shower.

I quit writting for about an hour and went down to hear a dance band that they had here for us. There was some swell music and singing. They say there is a good movie on tonight so I may go for a change. I've only been to one once and then didn't stay until it was over. You know I never did care much for shows.

They are sending a lot of fellows into Rome on 5 day passes again. If they don't stop it soon again I may be up for my turn before long.There are about 4 in the wire section ahead of me now yet. That is why I wish Freddie would try to let me know where he was and I could hunt him up in those 5 days. Now that we are in a rest area we can nearly always get a 5 day pass if we have relatives over here that we want to visit. When we go back in combat I may not get a chance to go.

I ordered myself a new pair of shoes today as the pair I have are going bad. I hope I get combat shoes instead of regular shoes as that would do away with wearing leggings. These combat shoes are about 6 inches higher than regular shoes and this part has only two buckels. It's a lot better and saves time. Tomorrow we can turn one blanket in to get cleaned. I have 2.

Well I told you all I know so I'll have to close and I will write you more later. Write when you have time as I enjoy hearing from you all.  So long.

Love,
Gus

This letter was postmarked August 8, 1944, and on the front of the envelope my aunt wrote "received Aug. 16 -44." She also wrote and circled "Aug. 4." This is because on August 16 they received three letters from my father, one he had written on August 4 and the others written in the following days.

July 26, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 366847575

Hq. Co. 3rd Bn 135th Inf.

APO 34 c/o P.M. New York, N.Y.

Italy

July 26, 1944

Dear Mother.

I received your letter a few days ago that you wrote me on July 11. I also got the clippings from the paper that you sent me. I was glad to get the letter and clippings. I would have written sooner but was busy again and never had time. We are to have about 3 weeks rest now so I should have plenty time to write letters.

I wrote to Freddie about a week ago but as yet I haven't heard from him. I hope I do soon. I sure hope he gets my letter. I tried to tell him just where I was at. If he is still in a replacement depot I know just about where he is. We are many miles apart but I wish we could get to see each other.

Sorry to hear it is so hot and dry at home now. I guess you won't get much out of the garden this year again. Too bad after all the hard work. It is dry and awful hot here too but the gardens look real good. I don't see how they raise anything in this hard ground. It is clay and just like a rock. We have been getting tomatoes & corn out of the gardens along the way. Soon the grapes will be ripe and Italy is sure full of them. The spot I'm in now is full of olive trees and I've got my tent under one for the shade.

We just got paid for the month of June. I was wishing that they would wait a few days so we would get paid for July also. I get $20.80 every month and soon we will get another $10.00 a month. I intend to get a money order yet today for $25.00 to send Dora as there isn't many places where we can use money.

I'm glad Bill likes his job better now. Too bad he has to spend so much time on the road. Yes, I know Tom who used to work for Atlas when I did. I guess a lot of those fellows who quit there wished they were back now. Dora said Bob Ehmler works for Curtiss Wright now but didn't say what he was doing. He has night shift all the time over there.

I was surprised to hear about Mrs. Reurup dying. Was she sick very long or what was the matter with her? I suppose you all went to her funeral.

It sure doesn't seem like a year that Vincent was killed but time sure does fly by in a hurry. It was bad enough him getting killed but then when our own guns do it it is worse. Well that has happened more than once. Edward can be glad he is still back in the States. Fellows back there don't know how well off they are. So Evelyn has another little baby boy. It's been some time since I've heard from them.

I guess Henry Lee & Mary come to see you a lot these days don't they? I bet they'll be real big by the time I get home again. Did Henry Lee ever get the letter I sent him?

I believe I told you in my last letter I wrote you that I had a letter from Uncle Henry. He wrote it on the 4th of July. I may try to answer it yet today.

Well I'm out of news so I'll have to close and hope you are all well and feeling fine. I'll try to write more in a few days. So long.

Love,
Gus


This letter was postmarked July 30, 1944. Aunt Mamie wrote "Received 7 Aug." on the back of the envelope.

Dad writes in this letter about the death of Mrs. Reurup, but, though the name seems very familiar to me, I don't know who this would be. I think I have seen this name in my parents' papers but spelled "Reuhrup." 

Bob Ehmler is Dad's brother-in-law, the husband of my mother's sister Virginia Cool Ehmler.

When Dad first entered the Army he was stationed near Chicago, where some of his cousins lived. One of them, Vincent Howard, had recently been shot down by friendly fire. This sad fact is something Dad hadn't written about in his letters home at the time. I wonder if it is something the family learned about after his arrival in Italy. He also mentions Evelyn, who was Vincent's sister, and I think that the Edward he mentions was Vincent's youngest brother.

Henry Lee and Mary Haferkamp, Dad's nephew and niece, lived with their parents, Dad's brother Henry and his wife Leona, on Olive Street, about three blocks from my grandparents' home on Laurel Street in Staunton. I think Dad has mentioned them coming to see his parents more often because school is out.

July 19, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 366847575

Hq. Co. 3rd Bn 135th Inf.

APO 34 c/o P.M. New York, N.Y.

Sunny Italy

July 19, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I have a few hours time today so I'm busy writting letters. I just finished writting to Dora & Freddie. He never did write me so I guess he still has the same address as the one he had when he left the States as you never did send me any other. It is Inf. Co. E APO 15241. That is the way I sent it so I hope he gets it. I also got a letter yesterday from Henry and one from Uncle  Henry several days ago. Oh yes, I wrote to that Martini boy. The one who's address you sent me and I got a letter back from him the other day. He couldn't tell me where he was but I know where his division is and its a long ways from here. He told me that Edgar Lorson from Staunton was in the same company with him. He seemed surprised to hear from me and wants me to write him again. Lorson should have lost 60 or 70 lbs. It is a rifle company they are in. I don't know if I know this kid or not but he said he knew me well. You can tell Clara that I heard from him.

I got another box from Dora last night. It had candy bars; writting paper and ink in it. I still have a box on the way with a box of White Owl cigars in it. Wish it would get here in the next day or two so I would have them while we are in the rest area. I don't know how long we are to have a rest this time but I hope it's a month or so. I haven't heard but maybe I'll get that bronze star I have coming while we are in the rest areas. That is when they give them out. They have all the companies there on parade with a band and then give short talks when the medals are passed out. I also have a expert Infantrymen badge coming. It is a nice looking pin or badge also. This is the one that we are to get the extra 10 dollars a month for having. A lot of the older fellows have them already.

Uncle Henry said that things are awful hot and dry in Athens, too. Not much to his garden. Said he is raising a few chickens this year again. He wrote his letter on 4th of July and said he hadn't heard a single fire cracker. If he had been over here he would have heard a lot of noise and it wouldn't have been just a fire cracker.

I sent some paper money along in Dora's letter. I got it from a German prisoner. I told Dora to show them to Pop and see if it was the German Mark. I have some German & Italian coin money but how I'll ever send it home I don't know.

It is awful hot here too but still at night it gets fairly cool and damp. I guess that is because we are so close to the sea. It makes it good sleeping at nights.

I thought I had more to write you but I can't think of anymore so I'll have to close. Hope I hear from you real soon. I'll write whenever I have time and I'll guess I'll have that the next several weeks. Until later so long.

Love,
Gus


This letter was postmarked July 23, 1944. Aunt Mamie wrote on the back of the envelope that it was "received July 31." Someone else wrote "answered Aug. 3."

July 17, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 366847575

Hq. Co. 3rd Bn 135th Inf.

APO 34 c/o P.M. New York, N.Y.

Italy

July 17, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I'll try to write you a few lines as it has been a long time since I had a chance to write. I've gotten your letters and also Mamie's. I also heard from Uncle Henry. He wrote me on July 4th. I got letters from Primo who is still in Alaska and also from Stump White who is in San Diego, Calif. I don't know when I'll get to write them all. We have a day of rest today but the day goes by so fast. I just wrote to Dora as it has been a week or so since I've written to her. They sent out our packages today and I had 2 big boxes of nuts & candy from Dora; also some writting paper; a Staunton paper of May 25th and 2 packages of cigars. These packages had 6 or 7 cigars in them and she sent them 1st class mail as then she didn't need a request from me as they don't weigh over 8 oz. She said she would send Freddie some if she had his address.

You said Freddie was going to send you a picture of some soldiers and that he thought I was among them. Well I think he is wrong as I don't know of anyone taking it.

You asked if Freddie ever got in touch with me. No he hasn't. I never did write to him as I was waiting for him to be put in a division. I have the old address you sent me when he left the States but I thought he would get another one real soon like I did so I never did write. I wish we could get together and see each other again.

Too bad it is so hot and dry at home. It is the same over here. I guess that will mean not much of a garden this year again.

I guess if Bill got some new tires he will be driving his car back and forth to work. Jefferson Barracks sure does change there men a lot. Seems like every few months they do that.

I believe I told you in another letter that I was going to get a Bronze Star. I guess I'll get it when we get into a rest area. When that will be we don't know. Probably a month or two from now.

We are kept pretty busy now and doing a lot of walking. I'm sure glad I have good feet. A lot of the fellows have trouble with there feet.

I washed and shaved today and I really needed it. I had to wash as usual in my helmet.

Well, I must close now and I'll try to write you more later.

So long.

Love,
Gus


This letter was postmarked July 19, 1944. Aunt Mamie wrote "received July 29" on the envelope. Someone else wrote "Answered Aug 8."

This is the first time that Dad has mentioned Stump White. Since he is writing to his mother, I assume that this is another Staunton man. There are a could of Whites in the 1940 Staunton City Directory, one of them a pastor at the Baptist Church. I need to do some research to figure out who he is, since "Stump" is obviously a nickname.

July 8, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775

Hq. Co. 3rd Bn, 135th Inf.

APO 34 c/o P.M. NewYork, N.Y.

Italy

July 8, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I received several letters from you lately but never had a chance to answer them. I wrote you a V-mail letter several days ago as that was the only kind of writing paper I could get. Since then we found this paper in some buildings and I may have to send this free instead of air mail as I have no stamps here. I also have gotten letters from Henry & Henry Lee, which I was glad to get. Last night I got a V-mail from Harry Kuehner. He is always pretty good about writing even if he don't say much.

I thought sure Freddie would have written to me by now but I guess he is kept busy where ever he is at. Hope I hear from him soon and I would like to get to see him but I don't think there is much chance. You can tell Clara that I wrote a few lines to Reno Martini. I don't think I know the kid. I'm not near him so I'm told. I think he is way down in the southern part of Italy taking training. I don't know this for sure but the fellows here say that division is down there getting more training. I'll let you know if I ever hear from him.

I guess you are kept busy canning things out of the garden. Hope you are getting a rain now and then so everything grows. You said the ground was so hard. You should see the ground over here. Its all clay and hard as a rock. I don't see how they raise anything but they seem to have pretty good luck. At times we get into there gardens and get onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and etc. Yesterday some of the boys killed some tame rabbits and fried them. I never ate any of it. We have been getting fresh eggs now and then off of the Italians. We usually have rations or cigarettes to trade with them.

I guess you got the letter where I told you I was in Rome. In fact I was there twice. The day we marched thru I stayed there for several hours. We were all tired and sleepy that day so most of us slept the whole time we were there. About a week after I got to go back there on a 1 day pass which I really enjoyed. Sure was a lot of pretty sights to see. I sent Dora some cards of Rome and I know she will show them to you the first chance she gets. While here in Italy I got to see a volcano. It was Mt. Vesuvius. It was worth seeing to as I read a lot about them in school.

I've been getting a lot of mail but so far I've only gotten 3 Staunton papers. Sure do miss getting them but guess someday they will catch up with me. I've gotten 2 packages from Dora so far and have several more on the way. The first package had nuts, candy, and a box of cigars, which she got from Fritz's Drug Store. Walter said he would let her have a box now and then. She has gotten me several boxes but her brother-in-law gets them for her in St. Louis. Maybe if Freddie asks for cigars you can see Walter Fritz and he may let you have some.

It gets awful darn hot here during the day and cool at night which  makes it good sleeping if it wasn't for the flies and mosquitoes. they are awful bad here.

I hope you are all well at home. I'm feeling fine only I would feel better if I was back home. What is Pop doing these days? Helping in the garden or getting the news up at the park?

Well I must close and I'll try to write more later. Write when you can. Do you ever see Jack or hear from him? I wrote him a letter soon after arriving in Italy but he never did answer it.

So long. Love to all.

Gus


On the front of the envelope is the stamped image that signifies the letter had been checked. Over that is handwritten, "censored by Lt. R. O. Foster." On the back of this envelope my aunt wrote "Received July 18" and "Answered July 18."

Dad continues in this letter to say that though he has written to his brother Freddie he has yet to hear from him. He also asks about his brother Jack and says he'd written him a letter but hasn't yet heard from him. Though Dad seemed to enjoy writing letters, and wrote letters to friends and family several times a week even when not at war, I know that his brothers were not good letter writers.

June 23, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 366847575

Hq. Co. 3rd Bn 135th Inf.

APO 34 c/o P.M. New York, N.Y.

Italy

June 23, 1944

Dear Mother & Everyone,

I received 2 letters from Mamie today. One was a airmail of May 25th and a V-mail of June 9th. Sometimes the V-mail beats the airmail letters but most of the time they don't. Your V-mail letters are O.K. and I'm glad to hear mine are also. I often wondered about them as I write them all in pencil. I also got the clippings out of the paper that she sent. I was glad to get them as I don't get so much news from home. So far since I've been here in Italy I've only got 3 papers. I guess one of these days I'll get a whole bundle of them.

So Freddie is here in Italy. I sure would like to see him. As soon as he get put in a division and gets a new address send it to me. The way it is now his address doesn't mean much to me as I couldn't begin to find him with that. You usually can tell what division a person is in by there APO number. You see I'm in the 34th. Collie Kasubke is in the 45th and the Martini boy who's address you sent me is in the 3rd. Dora's brothers Bill & Jackie got to see each other over in England thru the Red Cross. Each one had to go to the Red Cross and have them make the arrangements. They got to spend about 8 hours together.

You asked if I got to Rome. Yes I did as I told you in a letter I wrote last week. I marched thru there and I got to go in on a pass on June 14th.

So Bill doesn't think he will keep his new job. Too bad he spends so much time on the road. Does he drive his car back & forth or does he go by street car?

My name was turned in for a bronze star about a week ago. It is a medal and is for things I done in a battle before we got to Rome. If and when I'll get it I don't know. It probably be 8 or 10 month before I hear from it. They say they are real pretty. If I should ever get it I will send it home.

I guess Bill did have a lot of work to do if he put 475 sweet potato plants and 300 tomato plants besides others all out in a week's time. Hope you have a rain now and then so you h ave good luck with everything this year. How is the crab apple tree? I'll bet it's just loaded with apples.

I'll try to write the Martini boy a few lines yet tonight while I have time for maybe soon I'll be too busy to write to anyone for a while. I don't know if I remember him or not. I believe he use to deliver papers. I know where his folks live. Next door to Press Eller.

I wrote to Henry last week. I hope he got the letter and showed it to you all for I wrote him things I saw in Rome that I didn't write you.

I got 2 letters from Dora today. One was from May 20 and the other from June 12th. Our mail sure does come in funny. Two days ago I got a letter (air mail) from her written June 13th. She sent me two pretty colored pictures of herself that the lady she works for took of her. I'll have to keep them out of the light as much as I can or they'll fade away.

We had a rain during the night I was out sleeping on the ground with another fellow. We had a shelter half under us plus 2 blankets and a shelter half over us. We didn't get wet but the edges of our blankets got wet a little. Today it is real hot again.

Well I told you all I know for the present time so I'll have to close. I'll write more in a few days when I have time. As you can see I've written this letter in a hurry. Trying to get it done before supper.

Until later So long.

Love,
Gus


This letter was postmarked June 29, 1944. Written on the back, probably by my grandmother, was a note that it had been "Received July 6" and a second note said it was "Answered July 11."

V-mail, which Dad has mentioned in earlier letters, was a very interesting concept. According to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum website, "Victory Mail, more commonly known as V-Mail, operated during World War II to expedite mail service for American armed forces overseas. Moving the rapidly expanding volume of wartime mail posed hefty problems for the Post Office, War, and Navy Departments. Officials sought to reduce the bulk and weight of letters, and found a model in the British Airgraph Service started in 1941 that microfilmed messages for dispatch.

V-Mail used standardized stationery and microfilm processing to produce lighter, smaller cargo. Space was made available for other war supplies and more letters could reach military personnel faster around the globe." (http://postalmuseum.si.edu/victorymail/)

Dad's brother Freddie finally ended up in Italy, and it is obvious that Dad hopes they can get together at some point. It was interesting to learn that Mom's brothers Bill and Jack got to meet up in England. Though Mom had told me that Uncle Jack had been stationed in England during the war, I hadn't known that Uncle  Bill was there, too. It was nice to hear that the Red Cross worked to enable family members to see each other during the war.

Amazing to read how much Uncle Bill planted in the backyard. There truly must not have been any part of the yard left unplanted. The crab apple tree Dad mentions stood in the backyard for many years, bearing fruit into the 1980s. It was finally chopped down in 1990.

Dad writes about "the Martini boy," obviously another soldier from Staunton. He says he knows his parents lived next door to Press Eller. In the 1940 Staunton City Directory, Preston & Cora Eller lived at 912 E. North. Louis, a miner at the No. 7 mine, & Gerarda Martini lived at 916 E. North.

Dad told his mother that he hoped his brother Henry would be sharing with her the letter he'd written telling all about what he'd seen in Rome. Unfortunately, as far as I know, that letter no longer exists.

June 11, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775
HQ Co., 3rd Bn., 135th Inf.
APO 34 c/o PM. New York, N.Y.

Sunday, June 11, 1944

Italy

Dear Mother:-

I've received a lot of letters from you and others lately but I was in a position where I was just too busy to answer any of them. The last letter you wrote me was on May 31st. I also got 2 letters from Henry with pictures of Freddie. I was glad to get them. If I have time I want to write a few lines to him yet today. It has been over 2 weeks since I've written to anyone. One day I got a bundle with 14 letters. Both of Henry's were in it. I finally got the package that Dora sent me on April l7th. It had a box of cigars, candy, peanuts, and some pictures in it. It's the first time I saw the picture of Dora & I that we had taken when I was home. I also got a Staunton paper which had my picture in it. How come no one ever said anything about it being in there? I wrote to Collie a long time ago before I knew he was hurt but he never did answer my letter.

So Bill was called to Granite City to work. Did he take the job? If he did I hope he likes it. I guess that was Otto Biele of Chesterfield Mo. that you were talking about. I wrote him a letter while I was still in Florida but he never did answer it. He did send me a Xmas card. Dora told me a while back that Melon Head Nesslage was Chief at Atlas now. She didn't say what happened to Riley. I guess most of the fellows that Bill & I worked with down there are gone now.

You talked about Freddie in your letter but you didn't say where he was. Dora said he was in North Africa. Hard telling where they'll send him from there.

Glad you have all the garden in by now. Hope you get a rain now & then to help it along. Things over here look real good. The tomatoes are in bloom. The potatoes are about the size of golf balls. The wheat & oats are ready to cut. I guess the climate is better over here.

I can't tell you as yet where I've been but if you have been reading the papers you should know. Maybe later on I can tell you all about it. I'll have a lot to tell you after I get back home which I hope is soon.

I went to the Church services this morning. They hold them whenever they can. We have a real good Chaplain

We had a little shower during the night and it looks like it may start raining any minute again. Since I've been here in Italy we haven't had so much rain.

Henry said in his letter that Bill has a broken cross member on his car and that he was making his trailer. I guess if he isn't finished he won't have much time anymore if he started working.

Well it seems as thou I'm out of news so I'll have to close and try to write more later. If you don't hear from me for days or weeks don't worry as I just haven't got time to write.

Lots of love. So long.

Gus

Here's a fellows address who Bill & I worked with. He is from Pana, Ill. He in the Marines.

     Pvt. Leland White

     Pet 223 R.D.M.C.B.

     San Diego 41, Calif.

This letter, which Dad wrote on June 11, was postmarked June 16. On the back of the envelope Dad's sister Mamie wrote "Received June 26."

Dad wrote about a man he called Melon Head. Although Dad's handwriting is beautiful and very easy to read, I am not sure if the man's last name is Nesslage or Nisslage. I think it is likely the former, but since he isn't from Staunton, I'm not able to confirm that using the 1940 Staunton City Directory.

June 5, 1944

August Haferkamp, A. Hult (Chicago), 3^rd Bn. 135^th wire jeep

February 27, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775

A.P.O. 15164 c/o Postmaster

New York, N.Y.



Sunday, Feb. 27, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I'll try to write you a few lines before I go to bed to let you know I'm OK and feel fine.

I just got off of K.P. again. That's 2 Sundays straight that I had it. It was the easiest K.P. that I had since I've been in the Army.

I guess my address has you wondering where I'm at. Well I can't tell you but I'm not in New York but I am on the east coast. That's all I can tell you. So don't worry as I'm O.K.

How is Freddie getting along? Does he still think he may get a discharge? He should be through his basic training now if he wasn't set back too much. I hope he can get out soon.

We are having some nice weather here but it rained yesterday. I sure hope it stays nice from now on as I don't like cold weather.

Well I'll close as I told you all I know and all I can tell you so I'll try to write you more later. Write whenever you can.

Love,
Gus


Again, as with his last letter, this had on the envelope the signature of Lt. Alfred V. Johnson. My grandmother noted on the envelope "got this on 3 March. Answered March 3."

February 24, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775
A.P.O. 15164 c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.

Thurs., Feb. 24, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I guess by this time you got the postal card with my new address. I just got it so I'll try to write you a few lines yet tonight. I got your letter and Valentine with the clippings out of the paper while I was still at Ft. Meade. I always wanted to answer the letter but I never had a whole lot of time and didn't have much to write about.

How is the weather up in Illinois now? I guess all of the snow and ice is gone by now. The weather here is swell. The sun was out so bright today and it really was warm. I hope all of the winter weather is over with now. I didn't see a whole lot of bad weather this year.

I saw Joseph Vrsnick from Staunton in the mess hall today so I guess he'll go across with me. I didn't get to talk to him but I saw him several times at Ft. Meade. He is the only fellow from home that I ever met.

Dora said she never did get our pictures that we had taken at Mrs. Pierce while I was home. She sure is slow with them. She sent me the picture of you, Pop and I that she took. I thought it was a nice picture of us. I suppose she showed them to you and gave you some of them.

I still have my cold but it isn't as bad as it was. I went on sick call once and got some cough medicine and some nose drops.

How is Freddie getting along? I guess he still has to go to the doctors. Maybe he will get to come home soon. I hope for good.

Dora said the dog that bit Pop has bitten someone else and a lot worse. They had better have it killed if it is that mean.

Did Bill have any fire calls during the cold weather? I guess they have the new pumper all in running order by this time. I saw a hand pumper in Baltimore that was built in 1764.

Well I told you all I know and all I can tell you so I'll close and I will try to write you more later. Write whenever you have time.

Love,
Gus


This letter, like the majority of those that Dad wrote while he was still in the United States, was sent with no postage stamp but rather with "Free" written in the spot where the stamp would normally go. His mother wrote on the front of the envelope that it was received March 3.

His address has changed to an A.P.O. address, and this letter appears to have been read before it was mailed. Written on the bottom left corner of the envelope is "Alfred V. Johnson, 2nd Lt. Inf." I think this might also explain why the letter took so long to reach Staunton.

January 16, 1944

Pvt. Aug. Haferkamp
Co. A 225th Bn. 69th Regt.
Camp Blanding, Florida

Sun., Jan. 16, 1944

Dear Mother:-

I've been getting your letters and the clippings out of the paper that you have been sending me but  I've been just too busy to answer so I'll try to write you a few lines this morning.

Well we came in from our 2 weeks bivouac yesterday morning about 9:30. We were all sure glad to get back. I'm also glad I'm not out there in the words this morning as it turned pretty cool over night. Those 2 weeks that we spent in the woods wouldn't have been bad if we wouldn't have had so much rain. It rained the day we left and every time we moved to a new location and also yesterday when we came in it rained fairly hard all the way. We got up at 4 o'clock and at 5:30 we started for camp. It was just a little over 10 miles back in. After the first week out we kept coming in closer. I guess at first we were out 25 or 30 miles. We slept in our tents. Two fellows to a tent. The ground was always wet and cold. We laid our rain coats down and then 4 blankets and then covered up with 2 blankets. In the 2 weeks we were out I never had my shirt off and only took my pants off once to put on a pair of heavy underwear. We slept with our clothes on all the time even our shoes and leggings and overcoat. We had fairly good meals while we were out and ate canned rations a few times.

Dora sent me Harold Regenhold's address. He is down here in Camp Blanding in the 215th Company. I started out last night to find him but it started raining so I came back. I'll try to look him up today or before I leave here. I guess he will be surprised to see someone else is here from Staunton.

So Freddie is out on a camping trip to. Have you ever heard how he got shot and how he is getting along.. He should be over his basic training soon to. It would be nice if we both got a furlough at the same time but I guess there's not much hopes for that. It would be nice if the Army gave him a discharge after his basic is over. I guess John Lee would sure like to have him back.

Well next week this time I hope I'm all packed up and ready to head for Staunton. I'll be riding a troop train as far as St. Louis. I guess I won't be able to find out when it leaves or when I'm due in St. Louis as they are pretty careful about giving out information about troop trains. The way our Sergeant talked yesterday that we would have to take a barracks bag full of clothes home with us. I sure hope not. We are to have our names and number printed on our bags today. Yesterday when I got back I had all my clothing replaced that was lost in the laundry some time ago. I came out ahead as I got all new things and they were out of face towels so I got bath towels instead. Tomorrow we have to lay out all of our clothes for a inspection and if any needs replacing they are going to replace it before we leave.

So Skipper still comes up to see you quite often. I just wonder if he would remember me if he saw me. I bet he would.

Have you ever heard from Uncle Henry lately? I wonder if he got the letter I wrote to him. I also sent Lillian a folder of this camp about the same time. I got a card while I was in the woods from Kuehnen. He told me they had a good time New Years day.

Well I told you all I know so I'll close as I have a lot of things I want to do today and if I don't get started I won't get them done. Well I hope to see you all in about a week and a half from now. If I hear when I'm to leave I'll try and let you know.

Gus


It was interesting to read in this letter that Uncle Freddie had been shot. I had never heard that. When reading Aunt Clara's letter about visiting him in the hospital down in Alabama, I just assumed that he was sick. Apparently this would be a training accident.

Funny to read about Skipper going to my grandparent's house from across town. Mom used to tell stories of how he would go looking for my dad, and my impression was always that he continued that most of the time that Dad was away.

February 8, 1944

Pvt. August Haferkamp 36684775

Co A 3rd Bn 1st Regt.

AGF Repl Depot No. 1

Ft. George G. Meade, Md.



Ft. Meade, Md.

Tues., Feb. 8, 1944

Dear Mother:-

Just a few lines to let you know I got here and I'm OK. We made very good time as I was here in camp at 7:30 A.M. Sunday morning. We never had a special car but rode right in with the civilians coming here. We changed trains at Harrisburg, Penn. and only had to wait about 5 minutes. I got off the train just out of Baltimore, Md. as this camp is 15 miles from Baltimore and 20 miles from Washington. A bus brought us the rest of the way which was about a 5 minute ride. The kid from Staunton was also on the train. His name is Joseph Vrsnik and was also at Camp Blanding. I haven't seen him since Sunday evening.

This is a real nice camp. We live in big 2 story barracks like we had at Camp Grant. The eats are swell and we get a lot of it. This place has men coming here from 45 different camps. A lot of them are from Freddie's camp.

So far I haven't done a darn thing since I've been here but lay out my clothes to have them checked. We will turn in most of the things for new clothes. I think they are going to start drilling some of us tomorrow. We had to get another G.I. haircut today and boy! they really cut them short. I haven't much hair left.

It was warm when I got here Sunday morning but by evening it got real cold. We wear our overcoats now every time we go out.

We can leave the camp here on pass twice a week and on week ends but I haven't been out yet. I may go to Washington or Baltimore Saturday and Sunday to see the sights.

Well I believe I told you all I know for the present time so I'll close and will write you more later. I just wrote a postal card to Freddie a few minutes ago.

So long--
Gus

January 29, 1944, from Clara Haferkamp

Anniston, Ala.

Jan. 29, 1944

Dear Mom & all,

Just received your letter yesterday (and was glad to hear from you). Well, Mom, Freddie is getting along fine. I'd guess he will get out of the hospital next week. He ask the doc to let him out today but he said not for a few more day's. So I guess that will be next week sometime. But he got a pass for today to come to Anniston till 9 o'clock tonight. I guess Gus is home by now I hope. It would of been nice if they both could been home together. But I guess we just have to make the best of it till he does come back which we don't know when that will be. But I do hope soon.

Well, I guess John Lee is trying pretty hard to get him out. He should of done that before. Maybe Freddie could of been home by now. He never got that box yet. It may be there when he gets back.

Well Mom I hope you are all feeling fine & don't worry about Freddie because he is getting along fine and looks good. Well I guess I will be coming home next week about Thursday. I will be home sometime Fri.

Will close.

With Love,
Freddie
& Clara.

If you ans. this letter, write it to Freddie.


This letter was written by Clara Haferkamp, my Uncle Freddie's wife, to my grandmother, her mother-in-law. Apparently Uncle Freddie was in the hospital and she had gone to see him.

December 12, 1943

Sat. 3 P.M. Dec. 12, 1943

Dear Mother:-

I received your letter a few days ago and as you know I was glad to hear from you. I have this afternoon and tomorrow off so I'll try to write a few letters. I have so many to write I hardly know where to start. About the only time we get time to write is on the weekends. I got a card from Lillian and also a Xmas card the first part of the week from Uncle Henry. I believe I told you in my last letter that I got a Xmas card from the Ed. Roberts.

We have been having some awful hot weather this last week but today it is cloudy and has rained a little today. I sure hope the weather stays nice the few weeks that I'm here yet.

I got my pictures last week and set them to Dora. I guess by this time she brought you one. They aren't very good but still they are better than I thought they would be.

Well next week this time I guess Dora will be in Jacksonville waiting for me. I sure hope I can get a week end pass so I can meet her. I should be able to get a pass if I haven't K.P. or guard duty as I never did ask for a pass since I've been here. I guess she will have a time getting a room after her 3 days are up here at the camp. Rooms are awful hard to get down here now.

A lot of fellows left this afternoon on a sight seeing trip to St. Augustine which is the oldest city in the United States. There bus fare was to be about $1.25.

We had 4 hours schooling and a picture show on malaria fever this week. They tell us about this as the camp is in a low spot and a lot of mosquitoes breed around here. They have men out working every day spraying oil on the ponds and cutting weeds to keep the mosquitoes from breeding.

We were kept real busy this last week. We had night classes until after 9 o'clock 2 nights. During the day we had code; pole climbing and hooking up switchboards and telephones. Just 6 more weeks basic training here. Time has sure flew by fast since I've been here.

I was just out to see if I had gotten any mail but I never. I thought maybe I would get the Staunton paper. the mail is coming in very slow now. I guess there are too many Xmas cards & packages to slow things up.

Have you heard from Freddie this week? He never did answer my letter but I guess he is like I am most of the time, just hasn't time to write. I guess some of that Army life is tough on him as he is pretty big. Couldn't they do any thing about getting him a discharge for being over 38 years old? I thought John Lee was going to try and get him out. Has he forgotten again?

Well I believe I told you all I know so I'll close and will write you more later.

Gus


Dad seems to fill most of his time off writing letters. Sounds like he had been getting mail from family and from Staunton townspeople. His cousin Lilly Glenn has written, as has her father Henry Brackhane, both of whom lived in Athens, Illinois. His brother Freddie wasn't ever much of a letter writer, even when away in the Army, so Dad has been asking his mother in nearly every letter he's written whether she's heard from him.

I think that this picture, because it is so different from other pictures of him from this period and because only a couple of copies were found, is probably the one that that he write of in this letter and in a couple earlier letters.

October 16, 1943

Sat. Oct. 16, 1943

Dear Mother & All:-

I received Mamie's letter this morning and Bill's a few days ago. I was glad to hear from both of them. I just stopped writting and went out to mail call. I got the Staunton paper so I read the news. Dora sent me all the back issues of the paper.

I had a busy week again and they say next week will be worse. Monday we go out to the rifle range and start shooting our rifles. We have to get up about 4:30 A.M. as we are to have chow at 5. We will go out there 5 days straight. I was on K.P. yesterday. Had to get up at 5 a.m. Wash, make my bunk and go eat breakfast before the other fellows got there. I started washing dishes at 6 a.m. and never had my hands out of the water until we finished the dishes at 9:30 A.M. Sure was a hot job and today the four fingers on my right hand are all full of blisters from the hot water and G.I. soap. That soap I believe is about 50% lye. The fellows ate in the field at noon so there wasn't many dishes then but they came in for supper. I kept myself away from washing dishes then. After they were all done we had to scrub the place. We got thru about 8:30 P.M. Sure hope my turn don't come so soon again.

Bill said he may get the job as fireman at nights for 4 months at home. Well, I hope he gets it as I know he is the best fitted fellow at home for the job and he sure put enough work in for them already and never got a cent out of it. I got a letter yesterday from Bob Ehmler and he said that they had another lay off in the fire dept down there. They now have 6 men on a shift and work 7 days and off 1 which makes 3 men on a shift and 7 shifts. They want to put them on 24 hrs on and 24 hrs off. He said the Chief has been mad ever since the lay off. Bob Simon is down in Baton Rouge, La. I guess that's were I would have been now if I wasn't the extra man when they left.

I'll try and write to Freddie yet tonight as I guess he likes to get mail to as I know I do. I don't see why he couldn't get out of the army if he went after it in the right way.

Dora said her brother Bill was home on a furlough again. I don't see how he gets so many. I won't be able to get one before my 17 weeks are up which will be about February 1st and then I'll get shipped to another camp and maybe won't get one then.

It has been real warm here the last few days but tonight's paper said it was going to be colder by tomorrow. They say it gets down to about 30 above here in the winter. Well that's not so bad.

I got my package which Dora sent me last night. Sure glad to get my pen also the handkerchiefs & towels. I took my field jacket to the tailors today to have the sleeves shortened. I'll get it again Tuesday. That is a real nice coat. Too good to wear in the fields.

One of the fellows in my hut came back today. He was in the hospital since last Sunday. He got sick from his shots & vaccination. I thought I would get a shot today but I never. Most of the fellows are getting there teeth pulled or fixed but so far I haven't been called. When they looked at mine they marked down 4 what ever that meant.

Well I think I told you all I know so I'll close hoping to hear from you all real soon. I'll write when ever I get time. I had a lot of letters to write and I should get caught up this week end.

Gus


What a picture Dad paints here of life in basic training. This is the first letter that he has written in ink. All the earlier ones were written with a pencil. The explanation is that my mother, in the package that she had sent him, included his pen. 

In this letter he mentions his sister Mamie and his oldest brother Bill. Bill, like his youngest brothers Freddie and my dad, had served in Staunton's volunteer fire department. Though I haven't found confirmation, I believe the fire department was trying to staff some positions as paid, filling gaps left by the men who had left for the military. Dad also writes of Bob Ehmler, who was married to Mom's older sister Virginia. They lived in the area of St. Charles, Missouri. I don't know who Bob Simon is. The context makes me think he was from Staunton. Though there is no Bob Simon in the 1940 Staunton City Directory, there are two Simon families.

Dad has mentioned in this letter and some earlier ones about his brother Freddie trying to get released from the Army. I remember hearing about this as a kid. He had been drafted in 1943 just before his 38th birthday. On November 11, 1942, Congress had approved lowering the draft age to 18 and raising the upper limit to 37. Dad seemed to think there was no reason that his brother wouldn't be able to gain a release from military duty. It didn't happen. 

September 26, 1943

Pvt. Aug. Haferkamp
A.S.N. 36684775
Co. D, 210th Bn, 65th Regt.
I.R.T.C.
Camp Blanding, Florida

Sunday, Sept. 26, 1943

Camp Blanding, Florida

Hello Mother & Everybody:-

Here I am way down in Florida. The land of sunshine. This camp is 40 miles south west of Jacksonville, and 7 miles from Starke. We left Camp Grant at 10 to 6 Wednesday night on the C.B.&Q. There were about 500 of us. We rode Pullman cars and slept 2 nights on the train. I had a lower berth. There was 12 cars filled with soldiers, 1 with our barracks bags and 2 served as a kitchen. We ate right on the train. It took us about 55 hours to make the trip. We traveled the freight routes. We crossed the river at Quincy after leaving Aurorua, Ill. We got into St. Louis Union Station about 6:30 A.M. We stayed there until 8 o'clock when the Frisco R.R. took us to Memphis, Tenn. We got in there about 4 P.M. That's the best town I saw on the way down here although we didn't go thru many towns. The cars were serviced here and the Southern R.R. left there with us at 5:15 P.M. During the night we went thru Chattanooga, Tenn. The next day at 9:15 A.M. we arrived at Atlanta Georgia. We stayed there an hour. At 1 o'clock we got in Macon, Ga. We were told to get out of the cars to take a stretch. That was only for 10 minutes. This was the first and last time we were off the car. At 3:30 P.M. we went thru Cordele Georgia and at 4:45 we passed thru Tifton and at 7 P.M. Friday night we crossed the Florida border. I think it was about 1:30 A.M. when we got here. We didn't get to bed until 3 and had to get up again at  Saturday morning. I saw a lot of cotton; cotton gins and pine trees on the way down. There wasn't so much scenery to look at. I don't see where people think the south is a pretty unless it is down farther.

I don't like this camp very much. There are 15 fellows to a barracks or as they call them, huts, and they are huts. Just like a chicken house. The beds aren't so good. We only got 1 sheet and you use the mattress cover for the other sheet. I don't care much for the food. I never ate breakfast here yet.

The officers are all young fellows and are real nice so far. This camp is a Infantry Replacement Training Center. We are in the heavy equipment division dealing with machine guns, mortors, and etc. I don't like that much but have to make the best of it. I missed my best chance by not getting with the fire fighters. It is very sandy here. We have old wooden walks enough for 1 person to walk on. If you meet someone one or the other of you has to get off. When  you do you sink into the sand several inches.

They told us to write but not to receive any mail yet as we may get transfered to another company, but the devil with them. If you want to write you write as I haven't had a letter since I've been in the Army. There is 4 different branches open here. Buglers, truck drivers, wire men, and radios. Some of us may get into one of those and get put into a different company. Some of them went at 2 o'clock this afternoon. I don't know if there will be more or not.

I wrote Dora a letter last night and told her all I know and told her to tell you what I wrote as I may have missed some things in your letter. I never did hear from her either or in fact from no one. If you wrote like I told you to Camp Grant, the letter will come here someday, soon I hope. I wrote Freddie a letter last week. Did he tell you? Just a few more days and I guess he will be leaving. Camp Grant is a palace against here. We will be here for 17 weeks for our basic training.

Well, I told you about all I know for the time being so I'll close and will write you all later when I have time. Write me here and if I get moved I'll let you know.

Love--
Gus


This letter impressed me. The way he wrote about all the towns they went through on their way to Camp Blanding, including the times of arrival and the names of the train companies is so precise. I can only assume that he was writing these things down as they rode along, so that he'd be able to write home with all the details. The "Freddie" he mentions is his brother who he referred to as "Fritz" in past letters.