Last edit of this page 2021.DEC.10
Highlights
July 5 telegram gave Abe’s address with the Quartermasters Corp. July 6 postmark gives insight into attitudes about colored, meaning Negro, troops. The letter postmarked July 10 has the first story of Abe’s ulcer attack. The letter postmarked July 13 has the words “don’t tell Edith,” an indicator of the family’s tendency to keep secrets or of Edith’s inability to process difficult things – or both. It is hard to understand the need for sensitivity for a message of the form was-sick-now-better. There are accounts of Abe’s good recovery path, along with Abe’s praise of the military medical system.
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Letter from Abe to Nate postmarked Camp Lee, Va., July 2, 1942. Note notes in green ink date of receipt 7-3-42 AM. The stationery is U.S. Army.
Dear Nate:
Received your letter and the enclosed Hickman letter. [That letter is not here.] Glad to get them. I was the only one Hickman wrote to. He is in New Orleans and will be shipped either to Chicago or abroad.
Today is some day. K.P. again Our company is shorthanded so all of us are getting a crack at it. But the situation will clear up as some new men come in today.
Yesterday we put up 6 tents for some of the new men.
I hope that by the end of the week I’ll be entirely settled up at O.C.S. The work around her is terrific. Making the place livable. Nothing else to write. Regards to all, Abe
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Note on back of Amoco antifreeze card. This may be a telegram transcribed and typewritten to this card. There is a pencil notation “711 gal 7-21”
July 5, 1942 Telegram
Too busy to write; am well;
Trust all at home O.K. address me-
Cadet Abram Simon, Company ‘B’
4th Q.M. School Regiment;
The Q.M. School
Camp Lee, Va
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Letter from Abe to Nate postmarked Camp Lee, Va., July 6, 1942. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 7-8-42 AM. The stationery is U.S. Army.
July 4th – 8:30 PM
In camp
Dear Nate:
Trust you are all well. I’m fine except that I am so tired it is an effort to stay awake.
We moved into OCS Barracks today and the situation is pathetic. The barracks we were to move in were formerly occupied by a colored regiment who moved out about 3 wks ago and the barracks are absolutely unlivable so we are sleeping on the floor of an old Post Exchange. They are going to use poison gas in the barracks and they be ready for use by next Thursday. We are also confined to this immediate area which is about 2 blocks square until the 13th of the month. So all in all our start here has not been so cheerful but don’t worry about it cause I’m not and am going to do my level best to be a good officer. Our 13 week training does not start until the 13th of July and it is going to be a kinda hot time of the year for our training but even I will overlook that just so long as the time passes quickly.
I am not going to write to the kids for a few days so extend to them my best wishes and I’ll try to my correspondence up to snuff after we get settled here. This is really goin to be quite a grind but we do have nice fellows in our company as are all of them here, and that will tend to make the time here enjoyable.
Will close until the next time.
Regards to all
Abe
My address
Cadet Abram Simon
Co. B – 4th QM Sch Regt
The Quartermaster School
Camp Lee, Va
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Letter from Abe to Nate postmarked Camp Lee, Va., July 10, 1942. Nate notes in green ink date of receipt 7-13-42 AM. There are three items in this envelope.
(1) The stationery is U.S. Army.
Friday [This would be July 10, 1942.]
Dear Nate:
Now please don’t be alarmed when you hear from where I am writing this letter. In the hospital. Its all over. I had an attack a few hours after I had written you my last letter in fact it was about 3 AM. So the luckiest part of the whole thing is that my car was handy and I was driven to the hospital and they found I had a perforated ulcer of the stomach and advised immediate operation I told them to go ahead the pain was terrific. They operated fixed me up and am now on my way to recovery. Do you remember me telling you about a pain in the lower chest the night I was out with the Tuckers? [name unclear] That was it. When I drove back to camp I had the pain all day, and when Hymie Drosnes saw me he almost fained he said I looked so bad. So he takes me in his barracks and gives me some stuff to drink well it helped me. Hymie said he’s an old ulcer man his ulcers have had young ones at the present time he and his brother are on leave.
I have nothing but high praise for army doctors and nurses. Nothing but the best. You remember how people have ill effects from ether at home. Not here they have a system that fastens in one of your nostrils down to your stomach and removes all gas and what not so you really have just the operation to contend with and that really is not much when they get through with you. The treatment is excellent and what food I have been getting has been confined to liquids, Jello etc no fruit juices. Altogether I’m in good shape and await my dismissal from here as I think a furlough goes with it. It will not effect my school as when ever I am ready I can go. Am having the car stored in town while in the hosp. So don’t worry. Tell the rest that I will be unable to write them for a while but will catch up
Love to all Abe
Don’t worry
(2) Postcard Abe to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., July 13, 1942. The card is written in pencil. This was mailed separately but tucked together with the letter above, presumably by Nate. The front of the card notes, in Nate’s green ink 7-14-42 AM, along with “Red Cross reported 7-14-42 1:00 Pm.”
Sat Jul 11, 1942
Dear Nate,
I am feeling so very much better that I can see the improvement myself. Hope all at home are well. It looks like this ulcer was a long time coming and just got to asserting itself. Trust the Red Cross did not worry you but they do all of that sort of thing when a patient is unable to write under his own power. So please do not worry about me. I may eke out a furlough when I get out of here. Love, Abe
(3) An Amoco anti-freeze card written by Nate in green ink. It is not clear how this card got to Abe and how it ended up in this envelope.
(12:20 Noon) 7-13-42
We sensed trouble. Thankful you recovered. Distance prevents rushing to you. Write details. Sincerest wishes for speedy recovery.
Brother Nathan
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Postcard Abe to Mr. Morton Reisner 106 Conklin Ave, Binghamton, N.Y., postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Jul 13, 1942.
Saturday
Dear Kids:
Trust all are well. I’m on the road to recovery after a nasty operation. But it is all over and I am getting well fast Thankx loads for the card they’re the last word. Regards to all and don’t worry don’t tell Edith. Kiss Jesse for me – Abe
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Letter from Abe to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Jul 14, 1942. Note notes date of receipt in blue ink (possibly faded from green) as 7-15-42 AM. There are two items in this envelope.
(1) Letter on U.S. Army stationery, return address Cadet Abram Simon/Station Hospital/Ward 2/ Camp Lee, Va. This is written in pencil.
July 12, 1942
Dear Nate:
Trust this finds all in good health. I’m coming along very well but still in bed. My condition is improving nicely and the doctors are very pleased. I hope I didn’t excite you with this bombshell of being in the hospital. Gosh it sure was sudden. It woke me up early Sunday morning July 5 about 3 AM with a terrific pain in my abdomen. They took me to the hospital and diagnosed it immediately as a perforated ulcer and advised immediate surgery which was done. And thank God I’m feeling 100% But I really was afraid of it all. Talk about good doctors, nurses and treatment it can’t be beat. My company commander from school as over to visit me today and said I shouldn’t worry, if I didn’t make this term class I would get into one as soon as my health warranted. So all in all it will com out OK so don’t worry.
I hope that business is good and stays good.
Got your letters also from Dora Ruth and Ida, Edith and Carol E and Esther. It is a little problem writing in bed so if I miss someone tell them to excuse me. I missed the first few issues of the Times-Leader the first one I got was lost. Friday, July 10th so I guess I didn’t see the article, mail me the clipping if you can. I’d appreciate it.
Nothing much else to write of so will close with love to all and best wishes.
As ever
Abe
(2) Postcard Abe to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Jul 14, 1942. Nate notes date of receipt in blue ink (possibly faded from green) as 7-15-42 AM. Items (1) and (2) arrived at the same time, and it seems that Nate tucked the postcard into the envelope. The postcard is written in pencil
7-14-42
Dear Nate:
I’m feeling right good to-day especially after you called. Please do not be alarmed I am recovering nicely and in the mean time getting a good rest. As yet I am not allowed out of bed but expect to be up in a wheel chair in a few days. But you can bet that they really take care of you. Trust all are well and that biz is good. Will try to drop the kids a line when I get out of bed. I’ll call you by phone.
Love to all –
Abe
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Letter Abe to Nate, postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Jul 17, 1942. Nate notes date of receipt in blue ink (possibly faded from green) as 7-20-42 AM. There are two items.
(1) Postcard Abe to Nate. This has no postmark; it was included with the letter.
July 16, 1942
Dear Nate:
Not enough news for a letter so the card. I’m feeling right good and mending fast. The weather here has been not too bad so therefore not too uncomfortable in bed. Tell Dora to have the paper sent to the hospital and I will get it sooner. Hope all at home are well and that business is good. Please do not worry about me as I am truthfully in good shape and convalescing nicely. Regards and best wishes to all. Love – Abe
(2) Letter on Quartermaster Corps stationery
July 16, 1942
Dear Nate:
Writing this short note, since I did write you a lengthy card this AM. The purpose of this is to enclose the clippings. [Not in this letter.] Thanks a lot for sending them. I enjoyed them a lot. Nothing else new except I feel fine and am also eating well, prescribed food tho.
Love to all
Abe
Been nice and cool today
Thursday
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Letter Pete [presumed Grodsky] to Nate, Callicoon, New York, July 20, 1942. This is included here because of its relevance to Abe’s condition.
Dear Nate,
I hope that this letter finds you all in the best of health.
First of all Nate I want you to write me how Abe is. Esther and Dora told me that he is not feeling well. Please Nate don’t neglect this and write to me. If there is anything I can do I will be more than glad to do it. I hope that you will write me good news.
Now Nate I want to tell you that Mom is [hard to decipher] years younger since she has seen the girls. Seeing them was better than taking medicine, she tells me.
Nate if the man did not take the two forlights please let me have them because our Nate [Grodsky] is in need of them very badly.
Regards for all to all
Cousin
Pete
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