Everett Schafer's Letters
Letter #3
I’m A Corporal
To “Mom & All”
8 March 1943
March 8 1943
Dear Mother + all,
Well here goes another letter, and I do hope you receive.
Delwin was here all day Sunday March seventh and it was good to see and talk with him. He says you haven’t received any mail from me in three or four weeks. I’m very sorry, for I have written you three letters in the past three weeks. I’m getting along fine, and as you probably know by now through Doris, I’m a corporal.[1]
Delwin was a bit surprised by this place they call N. C. I don’t believe he liked it, well he isn’t alone.
This will be my last letter from here, as we are moving to a new base. Don’t worry, it’s in good old USA.[2]
I’ll let you know my new address as soon as I can.
Delwin says things have improved a little. At least you had a visit from LaFerhn. She’s pretty swell, isn’t she.
Thanks a million for the Bible, it’s a wonderful gift. Tell Etta Joan and Ronny I’m not forgetting them, I think of them very often. [3]
Well clever[?] Mom, with lots of love I remain
Your Son
Everett (Wadsworth)[4]
Footnotes
1. Everett made PFC on 12 January 1943, and Corporal on 3 March. This is a very rapid rise, considering he has only been in the service for five months.
2. The next morning, Everett’s battalion shipped out for Camp Pendleton, California.
3. Etta Joan and Ronny are Everett’s younger siblings, age 13 and 7.
4. A family nickname, sometimes shortened to “Waddy.”