tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38534106778932010162024-03-05T23:32:16.455-06:00Family ArchaeologistFamily Archaeologist is a blog exploring family letters, diaries, and photos as well as the revelations and insights they reveal about twentieth century history and the humanity we all share.Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-52517210912747389342013-03-20T12:19:00.002-05:002016-10-02T15:08:19.413-05:00New Website for Family Archaeologist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1393159946"></span><span id="goog_1393159947"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>Hello Everyone,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://lindagartz.com/category/family-archaeologist/">Family Archaeologist</a> has migrated to my new website, <a href="http://lindagartz.com/">LindaGartz.com</a>. There you'll find all past and future posts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to thank all my faithful followers for your interest and for the wonderful comments you've made since the blog's beginning on November 17, 2010. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Since then more than 92,000 readers have visited</b> <a href="http://lindagartz.com/category/family-archaeologist/">Family Archaeologist</a>. I'm so grateful to each and every one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do hope you'll drop by my brighter website, with its fresh new look, and leave a comment to say hello. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can also check out the start of a second blog,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "Letters of a World War II Airman," clickable on the navbar at any page at <a href="http://lindagartz.com/category/wwii-airman-letters/">LindaGartz.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I post a transcription and the original of the missives to and from </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my uncle, Frank Ebner Gartz, on or near the 70th anniversary of the writing of each. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The blog begins with Frank's induction date into the Army Air Corps on January 23, 1943. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The letters give a first-hand look at an eighteen-year-old kid transforming into a seasoned airman. Letters from the home front show how friends and family rally to support the young soldier and expose a mother's worried heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the end of April, 2013, I was invited to join a compendium of more than 100 Chicago bloggers at <i>ChicagoNow. </i>Go to this link: </span><a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/letters-world-war-2-airman/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Letters of a World War II Airman on Chicago Now</a>,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> find the latest and all future letters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More changes to come in the future. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks again for all your support.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Linda</span></span></div>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-3025673737807201572013-03-19T02:30:00.000-05:002013-03-19T19:29:35.847-05:00Let's review the rules!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will is the practical oldest brother who finds it so difficult, if not impossible, to be chatty and newsy. It seems he can’t stop himself from chastising, advising, informing, correcting. You can skim it if you prefer, but if you are following along and getting to know the characters through their letters, this one is revealing of Will’s personality. It’s especially poignant when he gets to the part where he recognizes and admits his shortcomings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m amused by Will’s focus on Frank’s misspellings, many of which I corrected in the transcription, but visible in the original. See what you think as you read through this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My grandmother adds a note at the end, again singing the praises of Ebner's girlfriend, Cookie.</span><br />
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Friday March 19, 1943</span></i><br />
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Chicago, ILL.</span></i><br />
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Dear Frank,</span></i><br />
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I am sorry I haven’t answered your letter of March 12th but I’ve been somewhat busy what with a new class. I am now teaching in the C.A.P. [Civil Air Patrol], namely “General Servicing of Aircraft.” Boy there is on way to learn a subject; just try and teach it to someone. Since I received your letter to meof March 12th, we have received your letter to Mother of March 19th, so I’ll try to cover both of them here. </span></i><br />
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In the first place let’s get down some sort of a system by which we can determine whether you receive our letters and packages. You mentioned in one letter that you received one package….Now, have you received the package containing the candy bars (Package #1). And package #2 Containing assorted chocolates, sausage, etc. Sent March 13? </span></i><br />
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I was saying to Mom...if it wouldn’t be a good idea to enclose in each pacakage a self-addressed penny post card so that when you open the package all you have to do is note you had received package # so and os and whether it was in good condition or not.</span></i><br />
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Mom was wonder why you don’t answer the specific questions she puts to you in her letters and if you are having difficulty in deciphering them.</span></i><br />
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By the way, I want to mention something to you...for your own good, some of your spelling is pretty bad especially the phase in which you double the consonant and add the suffix. Example of the worst or more frequent error: you spell “geting” for “getting.” The rule concerning this reads in part “in a word ending in a consenant [sic] and having the accent on the last syllable you double the consenant [sic] and add the suffix.”</span></i><br />
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Well, so you’re sending 4 words per minutes or is it receiving that many? I’ve sort of dropped away from code practise [sic] because of other work but no matter here is a dose of something I’m sending you.</span></i><br />
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MORSE CODE MESSAGE WHICH CAN BE READ IN THE ORIGINAL BELOW.</span></i><br />
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You mentioned that you loaned some $9.00 to some sergeants does this mean you finally were paid? I don’t want to be critical but you know “Borgen macht Sorgen.” [Borrowing makes sorrow.] In other words be generous only if you have evaluated the integrity and honesty of an individual and at all times keep your book business like and dear.</span></i><br />
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Darn, I can’t write anything but cold turkey, which, as you know, is my makeup. Abstainance [sic] from the pleasure of life sure is showing and leaving its mark, but I can’t help it. One of these days I’m going to throw caution ot he wind and have a nice long fling.</span></i><br />
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Hasta la vista</span></i><br />
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Bill</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now Grandma writes in her handwriting:</span><br />
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My Dear Ebner.</span></i><br />
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Only a few words I send you. Your letter March 16, I received 18. You ask [about] Cooky [Cookie]....</span></i><br />
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Once she called [me] at home from work.... She is very busy untill 6 p.m. I called before and talked to her mother and thanked her for your package. As soon as she [Cookie] came home she call[ed] me. Allways so sweet, as you know. </span></i><br />
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We are so busy at home with that snow, beside the other work. Would you like Paprika Spek [bacon]? This is the real one from Kovash, the Contractor.</span></i><br />
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Please send me word if that bread was dry. Again is 12:30 at midnite, so Goot Nite on Paper, then Goot nite to your picture.</span></i><br />
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With Love, Mom</span></i><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-25326137520631842962013-03-16T02:30:00.000-05:002013-03-16T02:30:04.158-05:00Morse Code!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Army Technical School </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>A.A.F.T.T.C.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>3-16-43</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Mom:</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had my reason for holding back this letter so please excuse the delay. The last 3 days I’ve been concentrating pretty hard and today I passed my first code check. I’ve been taking 4 words a minute and barely getting them and now I’m on 8 w.p.m. So it’s time I sent you a letter. Yesterday morning it started hailing and turned to rain and then ice. All of the streets are like glass and slippery as a skating rink. The temperature dropped to below freezing and snow fell all night. We woke up this morning and found a blanket of snow on top of our [streets.] (?)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It wasn’t hard walking to school and I felt like turning back twice but I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. This morning I went to the side room and started taking down the cod and did pretty well, so I stopped and went to sleep at my desk. I was determined to pass so I rested my mind. You’d be surprised how hard you have to concentrate on what you are writing. Then he announced over the speaker, “4 Word Code Check.” </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s all I wanted to hear. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stretched and started in.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> Y</span>ou need only 40 characters in a row to pass and I got 83 and 15 others scattered around to a total of 98 out of a possible 100. This afternoon another fellow whom I’ve been palling around with passed his and sat in back of me. Now we can stall around a bit more and take it easy as this next chen is going to be easier than the first one. I’m sorry, but I can’t send you the articles you asked for this week, but perhaps next.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lent out $9.00 to a few friends who haven’t been paid since they left gunnery school 2 mos. ago. Heard the other gunners are sergeants. Also when I finish this school I’ll wear 1 stripe or a first class private and then might be sent to gunnery school if I don’t pass my physical for the cadet training.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coookie sent me a box of things today. It was very sweet of her. I received chocolate chip cookies, a pipe, tobacco, candy, and a can of oranges. I wish you would personally thank her for me. Does she visit you now and then? How is everthing back home. I still have my watch and am trying to mail it home but I just don’t get a chance. The post office closes at 5:0 and we don’t get through calesthenics until 4:30. By the time you get dress and hike over there it’s closed.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s a little note to Will:</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MORSE CODE -- see below in original</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Well I have to write to LaVerne [</i>Cookie, his girlfriend] <i>and thank her for the package. Lil wrote me and told me your morning greeting to my picture. I ope that it will be bordreed by one in uniform soon. Well, till I write again, I’ll keep as good as I can.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love Frank </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">XXX</span></i></span></div>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-440199532060116792013-03-14T02:30:00.000-05:002013-03-15T09:38:14.867-05:00Radio Days Devotion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenSrCaLEFZh4pscB9-CbDV6KFOG5o5utdoF7rln5MHQHm0fPijue-cu3GyzQ4-tFOQnwXrKAlZ08SlAJnPlSB1jEq64h1LmU3_m0vGrgtc_81OEVGPYqcLo_e65UA_6eTLcoE0HlffLp4/s1600/radio+1940s.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenSrCaLEFZh4pscB9-CbDV6KFOG5o5utdoF7rln5MHQHm0fPijue-cu3GyzQ4-tFOQnwXrKAlZ08SlAJnPlSB1jEq64h1LmU3_m0vGrgtc_81OEVGPYqcLo_e65UA_6eTLcoE0HlffLp4/s320/radio+1940s.jpeg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A radio similar to theone on which my </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grand mother set Ebner's photo to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">greetMorning and Night</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My grandmother explains how she and Grandpa say "Goot Morning, Ebner" and "Goot Night, Ebner" twice daily my uncle's photo, set up as a small shrine atop a radio the the one posted here. It's kinda sweet, picturing them trying to keep a connection through a picture. A refresher on names: Will is my grandparents' oldest son, then Fred, my dad (whom the family called "Sam." I changed it in the letter to [Fred] in brackets, to avoid confusion. Lil is my mom. She and Dad had married just two months, on November 8, 1942, before Ebner's draft date.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Chicago, Ill 3/14 1943</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My Dear Ebner,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I was waiting till 7 minutes before 10 pm Sunday for maybe you would call me on the telefon. But it was for nothing. Were you so busy or have you got school on Sunday. I hope and pray for you in our church that God should bless you everywhere you go and in everything you do. He should be with you, my loving son. The letter you send to [Fred] I heard about two days after and wish to help you.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>As soon as [Fred] read me the news I send you 1/2 salami, a little bread [and want to find out if] everyting reach you. Was the bread dry out or is it o.k.? </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>[I sent you dill pickel and some fruit and nut candy Will bought, so I packt it tight, hoping [it] reach you good.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>[Fred] and Lil send you a package. Sam mail mine with his on Sat 5pm time. Send me a few lines so I kan know and keep going [to send you] the next one.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How is it with the money? You have still or do you need a littel more. As much as I can I will do. Write me more about yourself. Please don’t get discourage. Read some time the verse I give you [from] the Bible or hymn book. I am sure God will be with you if you think on him.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Page 2</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My Dear Ebner,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Your watch you were sending home is not here--or did you change your mind? Your dad is busy. Same [with] Will. Both working so hard, often we have our meal [supper] at 9:00 or 9:30 </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>[At the six flat, a contractor [put in] new front steps to the basement. All the tenants’ leases begin on May 1, 1943, so I was going with the painter and contractor for all the cleaning [of the apartments] and [paid] the last bill of the income tax, and paid the painter, so [that’s the reason] I was not writing. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I don’t know if you can read all. I try very hard with a dictionarie. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Every morning [first thing] I say “Goot Morning, Ebner” to your picture on the radio, and Father, he says it as soon as he comes home...and prays for your blessings for the day. Then [again I say good night to the picture] the last thing before I go to bed.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Those two lights [flanking Ebner’s photo] burn as soon as it gets dark. Often our living room is [lit] only by those green lights.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>So chin high. God will be with you all the time and [will] always bless you. It is now 12 o’clock Sunday the 14th. So good night on paper. Before I go to bed, I stand by your picture two times. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>With loving and more loving from your Mother and Dad and Will</i></span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-55826252944983252022013-03-12T02:30:00.000-05:002013-03-12T02:30:00.218-05:00The War-years work schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwMysbxhyphenhyphenHqV86aEYp4ixCDccqsxFnYdm7LebpFRodIJ5GT1upHw4pPyiYM2M6tFMrTVNeTm25gppCwss2XTtz1UZ7cEyX5cPU3XTORf9hnHc2gQPCdadiCLjOnf0ACOMETrRU8Gyw1dg/s1600/Lil+Gibney's+office;+spring+1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwMysbxhyphenhyphenHqV86aEYp4ixCDccqsxFnYdm7LebpFRodIJ5GT1upHw4pPyiYM2M6tFMrTVNeTm25gppCwss2XTtz1UZ7cEyX5cPU3XTORf9hnHc2gQPCdadiCLjOnf0ACOMETrRU8Gyw1dg/s320/Lil+Gibney's+office;+spring+1938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long hours were common during the war years, as women and the men left behind had to do the work of the men deployed and in training. It was no different for my parents. My Mom, Lillian, was executive secretary for the president of the Bayer Company in downtown Chicago. She</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was an expert typist, resulting in letters like the one below. It needs no transcription, but if the print seems too small, just hold your command or control button and press the + key to enlarge.</span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-30260468932559713712013-03-09T02:30:00.000-06:002013-03-12T19:37:02.307-05:00What's the Pitch? What Gives?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Von Arx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Frank Gartz's first letter from a pal.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun Lingo from the 1940s crops up throughout this very first letter written to my Uncle Ebner <b>BEFORE he was even drafted.</b> That's because his best buddy, Frank Von Arx, had already been inducted into the military the previous December (1942). Here Von Arx chides Frank Ebner Gartz for not writing to him. (Seems the pattern started early, but won't last for long!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Its lighthearted scolding and teasing tone, tell us a lot about these two young men and the friendship they shared. Sounds like Ebner was pretty hard to pin down, always on the go. Frank VA is is doing his best to wheedle a letter out of his buddy, Gartz, still in Chicago. Von Arx is already demonstrating his scribe skills which will eventually land him in journalism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I chose not to post it on the date it was written because that was before Ebner's induction, and I started this thread on that date, 1/23. Here it is now.</span><br />
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<i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 7, 1943</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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Dear Frank,<br />
<br />
Boy are you in for it now. All you better hope is that we get called out to the drill field before I get started here.<br />
<br />
To make myself perfectly plain to you I will put it this way–––<br /><b>
What the hell goes on in Chicago?</b>
<br />
Yes, that is what I said. What’s the pitch? What gives?<br />
<br />
Here is the situation. Two old pals who knew each other for practically all their lives are separated by a cruel stroke of fate. They bid tearful goodbyes and make stout promises to send a good word as often as possible. So here is what happens.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The galoot who stays home [my uncle] send the track-maker one high-class letter on stolen stationery and then promptly leaves his poor lost pal in the lurch, alone in the world to tear out his hair and beat out his brains trying to guess what possibly could have happened at home. <br />
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Now to make it all the worse, you must consider the one pal who made his goodbyes at home. If he were an ordinary guy, one could just about guess what makes at home, BUT this guys is different. Never try to guess what he is going to do or is doing. You just can’t do it! I know I tried. And that makes all the worst, anything could be happening and this poor pal would never know it. Oh Dear!<br />
<br />
Gartz, are you lucky there are five states separating us (or are there? I wouldn’t be too sure of even that ?) or else I would make it tough on you.<br />
</span></i><br />
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<i><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Pause of approximately 5 hours)</span></b></i></i></div>
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So, as I said, What goes on in Chicago? Especially around Keeler and Madison [where Gartz family lived], even though you aren’t at home long enough to get a good night’s sleep at least try to write a letter saying--”Dear Frank, Am feeling ok -- or am not feeling okay, whichever the case may be.<br />
<br />
Get the idea?<br />
<br />
Now I know this isn’t a very good way to talk to a guy’s best friend, but then I haven’t bawled anybody out for a long time so it might as well be you. You at least, have sense enough not to listen.<br />
<br />
I forget when I last wrote you so therefore, I cannot tell you an accurate account of all the heroic deeds I have performed down here in Florida. In fact, just for punishment for not writing, I think I shan't tell you any of them all. So there!<br />
<br />
We are now in our third day of Basic Training (15 more to go). This morning we started drilling at 7:45 am, although we had been up since 4:45, and kept at it until 8:30 when we wit and got a lecture on battlefield first aid. At 10am we went to P.T. (Physical Trn.) and got a dose of exercise and a couple of simple lessons on breaking a choking grip or likewise. Now it is 12 noon and we are in our barracks waiting a call for chow. <br />
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This afternoon I suppose we will get more drilling and then an hour of P.T. Before we go off duty at 5pm. For the afternoon P.T. We can put on our swim suits and take the exercises on the beach, after which we all take a nice swim. It really is nice in ocean water despite the salt. You can’t swim much but the waves sure knock you around a lot.<br />
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There are several basketball outdoor courts, tennis court, volleyball and baseball fields which we get to use in our spare time. I hope to get quite a tan before we get sent to school.<br />
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Which reminds me, did I tell you that they have classified me for either metal worker or armorer mechanic schools? That is just what I wanted. I want to get this in the mail at chow time so I am going to close now. Just want to let you know everything is all right -- except for a couple of tired bones -- and I can’t kick on a thin--except your mail.<br />
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Say hello to your mother, father, and brothers for me. <br />
<br />
Your Pal, <br />
Frank</span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-40689424026942768982013-03-07T02:30:00.001-06:002013-03-07T02:30:04.768-06:00I'd hate for you to go haywire.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin High School, Chicago, Il</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank's former science and division teacher at Austin High School, Miss Hartley, was a regular correspondent, not only to Frank Ebner, but to many of his buddies from his high school class. Harvey Duck was in Frank's same division (see photo above), and his name comes up in this letter as Miss Hartley is keeping all the boys apprised of their classmates doings and whereabouts (See 3/3 posted letter from Frank's Mom.) Miss Hartley also mentions that Cookie, Frank's girlfriend, took over Duck's job. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not transcribing this letter. A teacher's handwriting is pretty easy to read. It's an example of how everyone on the home front rallied behind the boys in training and kept their spirits up with a regular flow of correspondence. Frank's teacher adds a few notes of chastisement for some of Frank's apparently not so "mature" behavior in high school, but, like all good teachers, also leavens her critique with guidance and encouragement.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Miss Catherine Hartley's Division #451 Austin High School, 1942</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Miss Hartley, center 2nd Row. Frank Ebner Gartz, top row second </span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">from right. <br />Friend, Harvey Duck, top row-3rd from left</span></td></tr>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-3031165547092983882013-03-05T02:30:00.000-06:002013-03-05T13:33:46.239-06:00Zero-Dark-thirty-five below<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Gartz left Keesler Field in Mississippi and arrived on February 27th, 1943, at the Army Technical School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for an 18-week stay. His long days of classes, studying, and drilling in a frigid wind will toughen him up. Here's a good description of the town and the first serious courses for an airman in training. He probably wrote this letter before receiving the one his mother wrote to him on March 3rd too, so I'm posting this a little after the date it was written.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARMY TECHNICAL SCHOOL </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A.A.F.T.T.C.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-3-43</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Mom:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to write tonight because soon I’ll be going nuts studying lots of dashes and electron theory. I just made up my bunk and came back to the day room to write this letter. Soon I’ll have to turn in because it’s after 9 now and I’ll have to get up at 4:30. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we went to school (6:50 A.M.) and got through at 2:30. From 3:00 to 5:00 we went for a walk and covered about 7 miles. From about 6:30 to 8:00 I have been studying and now writing letters. At Keesler* I wrote and told you I didn’t have much time to myself. Here the situation is more acute. I have less time and more things to do. I’ll write as often as I can which will be 2 times a week or at least once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received your $20.00 and have arranged to have my picture taken as soon as I get to town. [Fred's] letter hasn’t as yet reached me but I know it will soon be here. I received a letter from Duck** today and promptly answered it, my first letter to Harvey since I’ve come in the army.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How is Dad and Will? Tell him I’ll write him soon in code to give him and myself some practice. I bought an extra book today called “The Radio Amateur’s Handbook” $1.00.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book I hope will give me the needed extra help. So far everything is OK in schoool. Now I’ll try to give you a description of the field.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can do it in a short sentence, but I won’t. It’s on flat ground which hasn’t an ounce of life on it. It’s dusty and very windy and very, very cold. A mild day is 0∘or two below. A cold day is between -15 and -35 degrees below, but today was nice-only 15∘above. This weather as today was very nice. The wind blows up to 50 and 60 miles per hour. Today only 20 mph. The sun even came out in the late afternoon. When the sun sinks, it throws a red carpet over Sioux Falls and the tall church and water tower throw weird shadows over the town on the hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m with a fellow from Texas who is one swell guy. He is married and is trying to get a call through to his wife. He is a good conversationalist and has almost got me believing that I want my home in Texas when I get out of the army. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again I’m going to try to send my watch home. It’s losing time something awful. I’ll have to send home my garrison hat ‘cause they’re not allowed on the field. The rules down here are very strict and sometimes unfair, but that’s the army. This will be my home for 18 weeks or so and I had better make the best of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Send me some candy (chocolates) if you would. A package would lease the boys very much. A fellow got a cake and some fudge [and] in about 3 minutes they were all gone. The squadron is restricted at the present from leaving the post, so town will be passed up till Restriction is lifted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my barracks all the members are sergeants except the 8 men of whom I’m one who came in last Saturday.*** All the men have passed their aerial gunnery school requirements and now have to take Radio Operator and mechanics courses before they go overseas. Well, I’ll have to turn in now so till I write again,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your son,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Keesler Field In Mississippi, where he was stationed just prior to Sioux Falls, S.D.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** [Harvey Duck--see previous post, 3/3/43 letter from Frank’s mom].</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***The previous Saturday was February 27th, so that’s when he arrived in Sioux Falls</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Original below</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>again, markings are mine on a xerox copy, easier to scan.</b></span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-55993313344011199972013-03-03T02:30:00.000-06:002013-03-03T08:07:03.642-06:00Let me know how you come along<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">LaVerne "Cookie" Karbach<br />(bridesmaid photo) Ebner's<br />high school girlfriend</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Chicago, ILL</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>March 3, 1943</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRvMpIrsrnDm4VncfhrBb07FtIwFV1hpkO8B-MA_eRqrH2lZIQ2H80Tyyu9i3oE3Ct771Nf7A22CrGylvRPmH_xANtxTldoL3g96tEF85w4RwiDmBitYIhqe7eofd05FzZYvtnYXDNjLv/s1600/Duck+in+uniform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRvMpIrsrnDm4VncfhrBb07FtIwFV1hpkO8B-MA_eRqrH2lZIQ2H80Tyyu9i3oE3Ct771Nf7A22CrGylvRPmH_xANtxTldoL3g96tEF85w4RwiDmBitYIhqe7eofd05FzZYvtnYXDNjLv/s200/Duck+in+uniform.jpg" width="100" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harvey Duck</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
Dear Ebner,</i><br />
<br /><i>
I was waiting [for] Will to send you a Letter but he is with his Air Port Working and so busy so I have to try again. </i><br />
<br /><i>
2 March Cooky [</i>Cookie]<i> kam [came] from Work befor going home and we both visit for [a] goot 1/2 hour. She like her work. You know it already [that] she have Duk’s work.</i></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: "Duk" </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is Harvey Duck, one of Ebner’s best friends from Austin High School<i>. </i>His h.s. grad photo (1942) notes, "Ambition: Become a successful sports writer." He did. Read about him <a href="http://www.ragingbuffalo.com/harvey-duck"><span style="color: red;">HERE</span></a>.]</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My grandmother is writing that Cookie, Ebner's girlfriend, took on Duck's job, a typical transference of a job to women when all the men went into the military). She continues her letter: </span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Probably the "insignia" my grandmother refers to</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I gave her one of your insignias. </i>[see right]</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />I just waiting for some lines from you––If only 10 line from you to leave me know how you com allong and how is school. Try hard. God bless you steady and help you to finish what you wish. I will [be] praying steady for you by your picture.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon I sent you $25.00 with a letter. Do you need some sweater or anyting [so] you not get a cold? Send me lines. [i.e., write me.]<br /><br />We have very cold here, [and] steady hard working for Papa of course.<br /><br />I [wish] the best for you [wherever] you go and [whatever] you do. God lead and be all the time with you. With lots of love and kiss.<br /><br />Mother and Dad and Will</span></i><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-30449039517490109092013-02-28T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-28T02:30:00.166-06:00I pray hard for you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My grandmother placed two lights with green beaded shades flanking Ebner's high school graduation picture, as my father mentioned in his 2/21-23 letter. Here my grandmother tells her son how she keeps "in touch" with him through this home shrine she had erected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've edited difficult-to-understand language and taken out confusing parts. Original at end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-28-43<br />
<br />
Dear Ebner,<br />
<br />
20 minute [ago] I talk[ed] with you, so I [tell you now] what I forgot [to say] we did. We was in church today. So many askt about you. [Fred] and Papa made the collection today in church. </span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZVDqk7mGhA-4syrZ0yUaRWSOM1s_c8O1rg1w00JZmGeCCXH9KmzQmaEZaQHUeeS5QqYXMS62Y5Ao-WkTx0MuO5UqFdgNGh9lGFnmOE4kvkM7vmTodikGTtLHF0YtfMdwjnAoCZIuMFKt/s1600/Gartz,+Will+1943-44+Harlem+Airport-1:31:43+ltr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZVDqk7mGhA-4syrZ0yUaRWSOM1s_c8O1rg1w00JZmGeCCXH9KmzQmaEZaQHUeeS5QqYXMS62Y5Ao-WkTx0MuO5UqFdgNGh9lGFnmOE4kvkM7vmTodikGTtLHF0YtfMdwjnAoCZIuMFKt/s200/Gartz,+Will+1943-44+Harlem+Airport-1:31:43+ltr.jpg" width="152" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will at Harlem Airport</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Will is flying at Harlem Airport. Father went to his Work. Today is cold. As soon as I finish the letter, I send it airmail and American Express money order so you have it as soon as possible.</i><br />
<br /><b style="font-style: italic;">
The lights are burning steady by your picture in the living room after the sun is sinking until I go to bed. Then I say “Good night, Ebner.”</b><br />
<br />
<br /><i>
Page 2</i><br />
<br /><i>
Dear Ebner my Son,</i><br />
<br /><i>
At 5 or 5:30 in the morning the 2 green light by your photo from Ebert </i>[photo studio] <i>go on with a “Goot morning and God bless you today, Ebner.” Then I go to work as allways. I forgot not one evening or Morning </i>[to greet his photo]<i> since you left us. So you see, you be with us steady. I pray hard for you that all will be with you well. Now I hope you can read this letter. Try hard to please leave me know if you have understood.</i><br />
<br /><i>
On 23 Feb. 1943 I was working as clerk at the poll [for voting]. I [did] goot so Father teases me </i>[that I am a] <i>Politichen). I like it well. We had to buy a washing machine. It is so much troubel with the Laundry. I got a Maytag and it is swell. You call again (next Sunday). Will tells you the time in his letter when we are all together.</i><br />
<br /><i>
So please don’t forget to pray to God, morning and Night. God be allways with you. As allways, Your loving Pops and praying for you. </i><br />
<br /><i>
Lots of love,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Mother with 1,000 kisses. God bless you.</i></span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-78507403098865291802013-02-23T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-23T17:18:43.009-06:00Mom bubbles over with joy to hear from you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSQppNhAXNI2n08IpkupmH3WgdaLP9nvTjzKXynztUTgcIohfDmKUvnWIjpQRK3tb1yjTASoNgtcsknpB5v5epmzD69CbMdlX_wK4YYnD3vHJcILCwLXfrshLidd8kp_3QFe5U6fID6ug/s1600/Gartz+boys+3-some.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSQppNhAXNI2n08IpkupmH3WgdaLP9nvTjzKXynztUTgcIohfDmKUvnWIjpQRK3tb1yjTASoNgtcsknpB5v5epmzD69CbMdlX_wK4YYnD3vHJcILCwLXfrshLidd8kp_3QFe5U6fID6ug/s320/Gartz+boys+3-some.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Gartz Boys. Left to right, Fred (my Dad) Will, the<br />oldest, and Frank "Ebner." My grandma did a bit of<br />magic by cutting in Frank's grad photo ten years after<br />the photo of Fred and Will was taken.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My father (left above) wrote to Frank, who was his best buddy as well as kid brother. Ten years older than Frank/Ebner, my dad had changed Frank's diapers as a baby, fed him, and entertained him with walks to the park when his Mom was busy working on the apartment buildings his parents maintained and the never-ending housework of era. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feb. 21- 23 1943</span></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grad photo of Ebner that his mother<br />flanked with "two green lights"<br />(see letter for details)</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Dear Ebner: ––</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>
<br />
First and foremost forgive my lateness in writing. It was more than once that I sat down to write but then sleep overtook me as usual or we were interrupted etc. etc.<br />
However I finally finished one letter in German and was about to mail it when I heard that you believe that it might not be good for you. <br />
<br />
My idea in so writing was to keep you from being completely out of touch with German, for after all, you might still some day find need of it and practice makes perfect. Well enough of that. I hope that you are in good spirits and in good health, and that “Soldaten Leben” </i>[military life]<i> agrees with you. If I were you I shouldn’t gripe too much about desk work for you will get enough of activity later on. <br />
<br />
At any rate this will probably give you some inside information and idea how an army runs which should broaden your viewpoint when you return to “active service.” I am very happy to hear that you have been given some responsibility. This is well; make yourself worthy of it. Have you started any of your radio work as yet? I think that you are in an excellent field for radio has an excellent future. I don’t have any of your letters here so that I can’t comment on your various statements as I would want to. You know “shrimp” every time Mom got word from you, she would call me either at home or at work and bubble over with joy about it. We all miss you but mom of course, as you know her, makes the most of it.<br />
<br />
Your dresser must remain “as is” or rather, as was, with all of your paraphernalia in its respective place. Furthermore, and this is quite faithful of her, she has flanked your graduation picture on the front room radio with those two small green nite lamps from the bedroom and at sundown the lamps are lit and remain lit until sunrise.<br />
<br />
Yesterday (2-20-43) Lil and I and Kenny and Arlyene went to the Schiller Liedertafel at the Germania Club. We had a good time and believe it or not, we left at two o’clock. At every other Liedertafel affair we never left before 4:30 or 5:00. Of course it was packed. This was a summer formal, their annual February concert. We missed most of their singing, but what we did hear was grand. I got an application to join. It might give me some much needed practice which I’ve missed since choir days. <br />
<br />
Also there is now a new field of some new songs. Next Saturday the Rheinischer Singverein von Chicago [Rhein singing group from Chicago] is giving a Masquerade at the Lincoln Turner Hall. Lil and I are planning to go. As no doubt you know these affairs are loads of fun and in a most congenial atmosphere. </i><br />
<br /><i>
Mrs. Von Arx’s mother died during the past week </i>[see Mrs. Von Arx’s letter of 2/8/43]<i> and the folks went to pay last respects. Dad got the Pastor and Mrs. Kaitschuk into such a laughing fit at the wake with some of his stories that they had tears in their eyes. Same old Pop.<br />
<br />
Marvin Newman from church was also drafted and is at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin. Also Jack Magnuson was given a 12 hr notice to be ready to leave and for the present he is stationed at Loyola University and he flied at Palwaukee Airport. <br />
<br />
Lil and I stopped off at Mrs. Grac’s today to deliver to her her pictures of the wedding, and we exchanged quite a number of stories.<br />
<br />
Feb 23, ’43<br />
<br />
Well here it’s Tuesday nite and I still haven’t mailed this letter. As you can see by the handwriting above, I was beginning to doze, as usual. Today I was 13 1/2 hours at work so there is little time left for all those things which one wants to do and has to do such as income tax returns, etc. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow is registration for canned and processed food rationing. Well here at last is the method that will shorten my waist line. <br />
<br />
The days since Sunday have been very springlike so at noon, “Steve, Katz Grazt & Borkin” go out to play ball. We roll up some fluffy packing material into a ball (or close facsimile) about 3” - 4” in diameter and use a parked car for a net and play volley ball. I know it’s screwy, but it’s fun, fast, and exciting. <br />
<br />
Both brights and dims are out on Blitzbuggy [took Ebner to draft board 1/23/43]. They went out all at once while driving the other day. Essy [The Essex car my mother drove to her job with the Bayer Company at Chicago’s Wrigley Building]. Had a bit of misfortune. She had a rip about 3 inches long in her roof at the front end. That night there was a stiff wind from the west and in the morning the covering of Essy’s roof was hanging over her rear. Until we get it fixed, scotch tape is keeping her together. So I’ll have something left to say in the following letters I stop this one now. Take care of yourself and when you get time, drop us a line. <br />
<br />
Auf Wiedersehen,<br />
<br />
Love, Sam [Fred]<br />
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>
(Like Ebner, the family usually called my Dad, by his middle name, Sam).</i></span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-10769846325955087402013-02-21T16:00:00.000-06:002013-02-21T16:01:18.803-06:00Screwball Instructor looking for stripes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Von Arx, Ebner's best friend, is writing to Ebner again from Von Arx's locale in Florida. The photo below is from the Von Arx's archives, of soldiers stationed with the Army Air </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Force drilling at Miami Beach. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Von Arx "gives Ebner hell" in mock anger at Ebner for not writing his "Ma and Pa." He writes with lots of cynicism toward his training routine and how he gets out of it.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Army Air Corps troops training in Miami Beach. From Von Arx collection </span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the ARMY AIR FORCES in Florida</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>February 19, 1943</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /><i>
Frank Ebner Gartz,</i><br />
<br /><i>
Chief Yeep of the Yeep Flight.</i><br />
<br /><i>
Guy, you are really in for it! Yes sir, you may stop the yeeps in your flight from talking back in ranks, but brother, you’re still Private Gartz to me so get your ass out from under that bunk and take this like a man!</i><br />
<br /><i>
Now look, Hup, two, three, four, Gartz. </i><br />
<br /><i>
I got connections back at home and what they have been reporting is very bad. Agent G.B., who reported the condition first says, “Today was the first time she (your ma) got a letter from him (meaning you) since he’s been in this so-called tough life. Maybe he is just ignorant.” That was on February 13th, Gartz.</i><br />
<br /><i>
And the agent W.G. [</i>Ebner’s older brother, Will] <i>reported that “haven’t had written word from Frank yet except his telegram that he sent about a week ago….”</i><br />
<br /><i>
All of which makes this headquarters very irritated that the big Flight leader doesn’t even write home. Don’t be surprised if you end up on some goon platoon for the next couple of Sundays. You don’t have to write another damn letter down to this damn state of Florida if you‘ll only write one to 15 N. Keeler </i>[Ebner’s parents’ address]<i> at least twice a week. </i><br />
<br /><i>
I don’t want in my [illegible] discovering you as a [illegible] guy because they will sure make it tough on you when the army discharges you. I’m going to let you off easy this time Gartz, but if I hear another word about you missing the boat your ass is going to be in a sling, but good. </i><br />
<br /><i>
It’s really bad when your ma says I do better than Ebner––and I’ve only written her two letters in two months! </i><br />
<br /><i>
I don’t know, Gartz, I just don’t know what can be done to a guy like you. We’ll drop the subject right here.</i><br />
<br /><i>
Everything is lousy in Florida. We’re in our second advanced training and still no shipping orders for sheet metal. Yesterday we got a chance to shoot the Thompson submachine guns. They’re not bad, but as they have a strong pick up and to the right. This idea of getting drilled day after day is out </i>[? illegible] <i>so I am becoming a professional fuck off.</i><br />
<br /><i>
Today is Friday and it was the first day this week that I was on the field in the morning. They have us doing mass commando all morning and that is screwy. When they tried to make me do P.T., well that was the last straw. I ducked out of that field so fast and got back here to the hotel. I don’t even think the Major saw me go by.</i><br />
<br /><i>
There are only 3 guys left of Flight 232, three out of a hundred, and we are put in Flight 12, which is a patched-up affair of left-over soldiers. Naturally us enlisted boys of 232, who were the best boys on the beach, don’t like to be put with the Indiana Hoosiers so we just are in a state where we don’t give a damn!</i><br />
<br /><i>
The time goes faster and it’s more interesting trying to find an easy life rather than dragging your carcass around the drill field all day long while one screw-ball instructor tries to get himself another stripe by making our tongues hang out.</i><br />
<br /><i>
I wish they would send me to school so I could feel that I was really doing something while iI’m in the army. </i><br />
<br /><i>
This is all I’ll bother you with now, Gartz. I hope everthing is ok in Mississippi and that they are really giving you the works––and no girls (I’m only kidding!)</i><br />
<br /><i>
Your constant admirer as</i><br /><i>
Miss.</i> [Mississippi's]<i> Best Driller,</i><br />
<br /><i>
Frank</i><br />
<br /><i>
P.S. Did you hear my Grandmother died last Monday? She was buried on Thursday. I’ve tried my hardest to get a furlough, but they wouldn’t give me one in time to get home for the funeral. It sure seems funny knowing you won’t see her when you do get home. This is the first letter I wrote since Monday so don’t blame me it is goofy.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Original will be added later</b></span></div>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-14125726274793525972013-02-19T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-19T13:20:30.527-06:00Watch your spelling!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will Gartz writes this letter</span></td></tr>
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In an earlier letter, after his family expressed concern they hadn't heard from Frank, he assured them he was writing at least every 4 days and suggested they start numbering the letters so that he'd be sure he received them all. His older brother Will, starts doing that numbering here. Will also tries to smooth Frank's ruffled feathers at the apparently sarcastic letter Will had sent regarding not hearing from the young soldier.<br />
<br />
Will, ever the older brother, chastises Frank/Ebner for his spelling (which I had corrected in the transcription to eliminate confusion.)<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LETTER No. 1.</i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Friday Feb. 19, 1943</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /><i>
Dear Frank:</i><br />
<br /><i>
We have just received your letter of Feb 16 and as you will note we’ll start numbering from now on, this being no. 1. Later letters will be designated by L-2, L-3, etc.</i><br />
<br /><i>
Now, as to the tone of my first or second letter, don’t take it so hard. We had no word from you and were getting worried, particularly since we hear you had written someone else. So I hope you’ll excuse its curtness since we were only wondering whether you had forgotten us. Since thenn we have been receiving your letters on schedule.</i><br />
<br /><i>
Don’t crowd yourself in the writing. So long that we hear from you at least once a week and know that you are alright. By the way, not to be critical though, watch your spelling for you will be tested for that in O.T. School examinations. For instance , “geting” for “getting” and “appreatiated” for “appreciated.” Another rule is “I before e escept after c as in “believe” and “receive.” </i><br />
<br /><i>
Talking about examinations, we have just taken our officers qualification examination with C.A.P. </i>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Air_Patrol">Civil Air Patrol]</a> <i>Boy, what an exam--about 20 T and F questions and 40 questions in essay form -- all in 2 hours. </i><br />
<br /><i>
Mother and I are sending you five dollars apiece via the enclosed money order for ten dolars and hope you can use it to help replace your pen and anything else you might need. If you can’t get a pen, let us know and we’ll get one for you.</i><br />
<br /><i>
Have you had time to write Pastor Kaitschuk? </i>[pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, where they attended]. <br />
<br /><i>
Oh, by the way, we are receiving your letters 2 days after you send them. How much time elapses in your receiving our mail and packages?</i><br />
<br /><i>
So long,</i><br />
<br /><i>
Will</i><br />
<br /><b style="font-style: italic;">
“By transcription for Mother:"</b>
<br /><i>
My Dear Ebner, </i><br />
<br /><i>
Here are but a few lines that are racing through my mind which is crowded with so many things that it would fill a book. How are the chances of getting a snapshot of you? Have you lost any weight? We did not receive your watch as yet, but we have arranged with Sam to have it repaired fro you. Your letters have made me very happy and I wish to think you for them.</i><br />
<br /><i>
God bless you wherever you may be and I pray that you may be alright every day. </i><br />
<br /><i>
Lots of love and kisses from us</i><br /><i>
Mother</i></span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-81369270369014415862013-02-18T08:00:00.000-06:002013-02-18T15:26:25.485-06:00Money all gone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Frank's letter to his Mom, below, he refers to "boilers." These were the furnaces in the many buildings my grandparents cared for. In this era, and for many years afterwards, they burned coal, requiring lots of coal shoveling when the weather was very cold, often several times a day, even overnight. They could be finicky and required a good deal of attention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ebner gives a detailed description of Keesler Field, MI, where he's stationed. He even includes a drawing of his barracks) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>2-18-43</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Dear Mom:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How is everything at home? Please don’t work too hard on those boilers. I still want to see you standing up if I ever get home. Your letters get here in about 2 days and packages take a day longer.I have been writing you every other day or so. I don’t know why my letters haven’t been reaching you. Today I received the package from Powers and I want to thank you for sending me those cookies; they were delicious. The Mississippi miserys are almost over for the time being. [The "Mississippi Miserys" is apparently </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">some illness the boys came down with at Keesler].</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I’m waiting for that picture [of Cookie, his girlfriend] impatiently. I wish the time was up to collect that $5.00 from Lillian because my money went too fast down here. I bought a garrison hat last Saturday which cost me $5.00 with the pin and rain cover and seven arm insignia at 15 cents apiece. I bought more shoe polish and an almanac which cost me 98 cents. Now all my money is gone. I was shopping for the boys who couldn’t leave camp and I over ran my money so I owe three dollars to one of the fellows. He trusts me but I hate to owe anyone money.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Note: Lil and Frank made a bet about Fred or Frank losing more weight, and Frank, apparently is winning. See 2/15/43 letters]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>There is a nice U.S.O. down here, but I didn’t stay long because I wanted to see the town. Then I started drinking, first Boilermakers and ended with Tom Collins. It was my first drink since I left Chicago and it tasted good. They have military beer in camp but the stuff isn’t even 3.2.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank [Fred] for changing his letter just for my sake. </i><span style="color: #cc0000;">[Fred, my dad, had written a letter in German but after Ebner's request to send no letters in German, Fred rewrote it in English. This letter is coming up soon</span>]<i>. I really appreciate it. As I told you in my last letter, I have received that $20.00, but I haven’t a cent left. If you could send me $10.00 soon I could really use it.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>John Hetzel and I have been together ever since Camp Grant and are still very near. I owed him seven dollars before I received your money order and promptly paid him in full. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I’ll give you a detailed description of <b>Keesler Field</b>. It’s about a mile away from Back Bay on the Gulf of Mexico near Biloxi, Mississippi. In fact it’s on the outskirts of town. The terrain is sandy and the roads built in camp are based with clam shells. We live in huts which house a maximum of 28 men at the present time. See diagram on the back of this sheet.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The weather down here is mild. At night it’s cold and during the day it’s warm, but not hot yet. The last three days the moon has been so bright that you don’t need a flash light any more. It even casts a shadow. I must close now but I want to ask one more favor.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Please send my camera in a well protected case for the mail is mistreated something awful. The cookies were broken but most of them were in good shape. The boys down here are talking about girls and it takes concentration to keep on the beam. Please protect my camera well and send my equipment with it.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I must close now but I’m very happy here and I’m fighting a clean battle for leadership. In about 10 or 12 days I hope to get shipped to Chicago? If so, I’m going to show the boys that come with me some Northern hospitality. I must close now so goodnight. It’s 10:45 now and I must turn in so till I write again I’m just</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Your Loving Son, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Frank</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m going to send my watch home soon. You can tell [Fred] that it’s losing time one day and keeping it another. I can’t figure it out. Still, Frank.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is the original letter and the drawing Frank sent along of his bunk house, "hut."</span><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-16171651322240942132013-02-17T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-19T13:21:42.995-06:00Mississippi Miserys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ebner writes to brother, Will, about “The Mississippi Miserys,” [I'm spelling it the way he does in the letter.] It's a word apparently created by the men to dub an ailment that affects many soldiers in the camp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He describes his duties as <b> flight leader </b>(referred to in a previous letter), most of which appear to take place in the "<b>Orderly Room,</b>" a room set aside in the barracks for general administrative purposes. Ebner is still asking for a picture of his high school girlfriend, Cookie, aka LaVerne Karbach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>No date on this letter, but </b><b>probably early February because the content fits in with other letters from this period. </b><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Air Corps Technical School</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keesler Field, Mississippi</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Dear Will, </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Never fear about my watch. It will be safe as along as it’s with me but I’m sending it home as soon as I can get around to doing so. It’s losing time fast and is of no real value to me in that condition. I wish you would give it to [Fred] and have him take it to a reliable watchmaker to have it timed. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
We have a good man on the Field here but he hasn't the wrench to work with on this type. I’m sorry to hear about your bad weather up there and I hope it will clear up soon. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Down here it’s damp always. In the morning it’s very damp and chilly but there’s always a clear sky or slightly mottled with fleecy clouds and in the afternoon and late morning it’s warm and clear The camp is only about a fifteen minute walk to town but so far we haven’t been able to leave the camp. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I might get a class B pass and I tell you the reason why soon. This pass is good until 11:00 P.M. Well here’s the pay off. I’ve been made Flight leader and responsible to the sergeants in the Orderly room. That’s over approximately 200 men. At first I was scared as hell but after I got over that I had and am having a good time. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I sit on my tail in the orderly room all day doing odd jobs for the sergeants while the Flight drills like hell. Boy! Is there red tape in this man’s army.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I have what is called the “Mississippi Miserys.” It’s a sort of a cold. I’ve had it about a week now and there’s no change for the better. Nearly all the men down here have it and it’s hell. It’s a cough that almost chokes you and a clogged up nose. It comes from the damp weather. I sent home some personal papers I want kept for me. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Also before I forget, remind Mom not to write to me in German. If she thinks that I can't read her English then you write it for her. I’m up also for Officers’ Candidate School, but I’m going to pass that up right now until I’m done with my Radio Operator Mechanics course. Well, that finishes this letter right now. Maybe I’ll have more time to write now so you can expect more letters than one a week.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Your dear and loving </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Brother</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Frank.</span></i><br />
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P.S. I’m only kidding</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Just as I was finishing this letter I heard something like the rumble of thunder and asked what it was. It was the big bombers dropping their load about 14 miles away.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Send that picture of Cookie soon.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Frank</span></i><br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-48617522097800214472013-02-16T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-16T14:35:15.928-06:00Writing as much as I can<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ebner responds to his mother's desperate plea for more letters, and his oldest brother's (Will) apparent chastisement about the "dearth" of letters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To read about the history of Keesler Field click <a href="http://www.keesler.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123269251">HERE</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Air Corps Technical School</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keesler Field, Mississippi</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-16-43</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Mom,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m sorry to hear you are not getting my mail regular but I’ve written as often as time permitted. Maybe you haven’t been getting all the ail I’ve written because I’ve never postponed it over 4 days. I have received the $20.00 and thanks a lot. I’ve spent most of the money now. You see that I’m writing in pencil. That is because I was too generous and lent my pen to someone who shipped out, pen and all. Until I get another pen I’ll have to write like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have received your letters and I suggest that you number your letters up to 10 and then start all over again. This way I’ll know that I’m getting all your letters. Will’s subject and item letter which is very facetious and not appreciated very much for I’m trying hard to keep writing as much and to as many as feasible. [Older brother, Will, just have chided Frank/Ebner for not writing enough. I don't have this letter from Will, which obviously upset Frank/Ebner with its sarcastic tone.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven’t written to Holub or Hatley as yet. We have a bugler now and he just blew lights out. I’ve been switched as has everybody else in the 953rd T.S.S. In Hut City (our area’s name). I’m now flight 675’s Flight leader. A fellow (southern) just came in and displayed the provincial Southern hospitality by giving the fellows of the orderly room cake and candy which was sent to him. I must close now, so lots of Love</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your son,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Original letter below:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: xx-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">© Copyright Linda Gartz - No part of this blog (photos, letters or letter quotes, written work, etc.) may be used without the express permission of Linda Gartz or a link back to this blog.</span></div>
Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-14632905297503196712013-02-14T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-14T08:43:09.307-06:00Lots of Love on Valentine's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a30ng9bqHVyOuwRaKmrr93eFB-vGEvmXDNwJ7ljAcJiNnUwTmsGE8ktkvokz_3O6gaU9ZviR41MZ4WyVCWza39X_osf-SCAJ5s6LHE2jzBAfuD1j8Nply_4N3-1nXWpY3z0bW5CFozX_/s1600/Lisi+Gartz+MCU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a30ng9bqHVyOuwRaKmrr93eFB-vGEvmXDNwJ7ljAcJiNnUwTmsGE8ktkvokz_3O6gaU9ZviR41MZ4WyVCWza39X_osf-SCAJ5s6LHE2jzBAfuD1j8Nply_4N3-1nXWpY3z0bW5CFozX_/s200/Lisi+Gartz+MCU.jpg" width="123" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisi, Ebner's Mom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisi Gartz, my grandmother, struggles again with English, writing in her tortured spelling and syntax to Ebner, her youngest son, who's</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in basic training at Keesler Field, Mississippi.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She enlists my mother, Lillian, to take over midway through the letter to help with the writing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My father's family seemed to prefer their son's middle names to their first ones, so just Grandma addresses Frank Ebner as "Ebner" my father, Fred, is often referred to as "Sam" in the letters. I'm going to transcribe his name as "Fred," so his identity won't be so confusing, but he's "Sam" in the original, which is, again, at the end. About midway through the letter, my mother's handwriting appears, clearly taking dictation from Grandma to ease Grandma's English problems. Mom refers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to herself by her middle name, "Louise,"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which<b> </b></span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>no one</b></u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> called her. I think she does it tongue in cheek, repeating </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the "Middle name syndrome." Again, I kept her name "Lil' in the transcription to avoid identity confusion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Chicago, Il </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Feb 14-43</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My Dear Soldier Son Ebner,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Here I come with my best, as always. I am allone, father on his Work. We have today a bitter cold strong wind from north and west. Will is on the Field [flying]. They have there many new members from a Chicago school so he hat to go. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My Dear Ebner you never know how I was sick for a few line from you...to hear what you are doing. Now I am so happy I don’t know if I am shouting or lafing or crying. Don’t leave me watching for so long for one word from you, I beg you, or I come there. Or like father said, send a telegram and find out what it happening to him.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>God bless you and be all right with your miseries? Get cough drops and Anacin tablets. You know how we do it for coughing. If you got turpentine (?) take two drops if you can in sugar once dayly.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzZwRpp1jrx6a0aer2dy1INBITy7pcwwHAwd8o1-NSh-uLsh87is4voWHXWq43sKXSo4j9l5633yKHuentJiPq9hMOaAF_TKo4IRrV1OdepIPmkJddaxLLXYrVa_tngsF160gfo90Ycsx/s1600/Gartz%252C+Fred+%2526+Lil+1%253A16%253A43+from+family+foto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzZwRpp1jrx6a0aer2dy1INBITy7pcwwHAwd8o1-NSh-uLsh87is4voWHXWq43sKXSo4j9l5633yKHuentJiPq9hMOaAF_TKo4IRrV1OdepIPmkJddaxLLXYrVa_tngsF160gfo90Ycsx/s320/Gartz%252C+Fred+%2526+Lil+1%253A16%253A43+from+family+foto.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fred (aka "Sam") and Lil Gartz, who<br />
took over writing the letter for<br />
Lisi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[My mother’s handwriting continues the letter so Grandma must have dictated the rest for her to write.] </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My Dear Franz,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I took the picture of LaVerne (aka "Cookie") and you to Ebert’s [a photography studio] to have a print made to fit into your bible. As a matter of fact, on one side, the picture of LaVerne and you will be printed and on the other, the family group picture will be printed (two for the price of one). </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Then if you like, you can send the group picture you now have on to Frank Von Arx, or home, whichever you prefer.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>[Fred] is very busy working overtime and Lil is kept going keeping Sam’s stomach from shrinking. (It looks like you will win that $5.00 bet from Lillian </i>[This is obviously my mother's personal comment about a bet they must have made about who could lose more weight, Frank or Fred].</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Franz, you don’t know how happy it made me to receive that lovely Valentine. I felt very blue and sad not having heard from you except for the telegram. So when I received the Valentine, I suddenly felt happy again for it seemed you were with me in spirit. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Below in my mother's handwriting, writing <u>for</u> Grandma:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>[Lillian] and [Fred] just dropped in now so [Lillian] is finishing the letter for me so that you will have less trouble reading it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Also, on the 11th I wrote you if you received the $20.00 money order and underwear I sent you immediately upon receipt of your telegram. Did you get this all right? As to the letters I wrote you in German, I hope sincerely they did not hurt your standing in any way.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Congratulations on becoming a flight leader; we are very proud of you and hope you keep right on going up the ladder. We are glad you plan to finish or complete the radio course before going to officers Training School. That, we are sure, is the best thing.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sam started a long letter to you in German and was aboutt o mail it when he heard you would rather not receive anyt mail written in German, so he will write you soon in English, as you wish.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Both Father and I are working long, long hours each day as you well know is the case in this weather.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Are you in the same company with any of the boys you knew in civilian life? Also please let us know near what city Keesler Field is located.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We know you are busy, but if you knew how much cheer your letters would bring, you would write once a week.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Yesterday (Saturday) Lil ordered a box of cookies from Father and me to be sent you via Parcel Post as a Valentine Gift. Please let us know if you get this in good condition. We would gladly send you a package once a week if we were sure it reachs you o.k. Let us know.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>[Then my grandmother’s handwriting again]:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Pleas wen you get [this letter], how many day it took to reach you?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A big hug and love from your Father and Mother</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxItApS_KOCvJGj25nyWsSTvAKgYGbnTZFHBvY86kYpiY8nsFSRKFMEPa-KU7NGxxemPAqrSZGkwaKnbELOK0HO3xP44JSfWHl3qAG24so1pRLnTcR1TrNU4wR1lV_9gL2Bo09O_9TBeP-/s1600/Gartz%252C+Will+1%253A16%253A43+family+foto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxItApS_KOCvJGj25nyWsSTvAKgYGbnTZFHBvY86kYpiY8nsFSRKFMEPa-KU7NGxxemPAqrSZGkwaKnbELOK0HO3xP44JSfWHl3qAG24so1pRLnTcR1TrNU4wR1lV_9gL2Bo09O_9TBeP-/s200/Gartz%252C+Will+1%253A16%253A43+family+foto.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will Gartz, who wrote</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the P.S. (note oval photo behind</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">him: that's of Lisi's father and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">brother, both called Sam</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. [<b>Will’s (the oldest Gartz son) handwriting</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Have you made any arrangements to take the $10,000 insurance policy available to service men? Let us know.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: Per Ken Burns’s documentary and book, “The War,” parents would receive $10,000 in the event their son were killed, and this must be the policy that provided that "benefit."</span><br />
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Note: the underlines, circles, and notes were mine to note important parts on xerox copies I made of the letters before I had a scanner. </div>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-42090302509102243802013-02-12T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-12T07:28:55.172-06:00In charge of 200 men...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mississippi. See detail at right for<br />location of Keesler Field</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank's Mom wrote a desperate plea to her son, Frank Ebner to send her "some lines," i.e., WRITE! Little did she know the responsibilities he had already taken on. Before he could have received her letter of February 11th (posted yesterday, click <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-troubled-heart.html">My troubled heart)</a>, he had already written this letter from Keesler Field, near Biloxi, Mississippi. The War Department started an Aviation Mechanics school at Keesler Field, which was activated in June, 1941. "The first shipment of recruits arrived at Keesler Field on August 21, 1941. Many stayed at Keesler to become airplane and engine mechanics, while others transferred to aerial gunner or aviation cadet schools." (Info from "</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keesler_Air_Force_Base" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Keesler Air Force Base</a>," Wikipedia)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ebner was so busy that he had lost track of the date, thinking it was still Feb. 11th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on his stationery, Ebner was in Aviation Mechanics School, probably part of basic training here at Keesler, as he had just been drafted on Jan. 23rd. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">location of Keesler<br />Field</span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-12-43 (Misdated on letter as 2-11-43) </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Dear Mom,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It’s 10:15 now and I’ve been on the run all day since 5:00 AM and am dead, but I’m only going to dash off a line or two. This is not such an easy job in charge of 200 men because they all have to know about this or that. I may be able to do my work if they day was 50 hours long.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Well, tomorrow is Lincoln’s Birthday</i> <i> and a leader we will never forget. My letters have been irregular, but I’ve been busy; very busy and it’s not only my flight whose number is 750, but my old flight and 5 or 6 new flights who ask my instructions and whose requests I can’t refuse.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I think that tomorrow I may get a pass into town. I’ve got my fingers crossed because I’ve wanted to see Biloxi ever since I reached my destination at Keesler. <b>I made a mistake on the date for today is the 12th, </b>but one day is like another, even Sunday. I’m getting sleepy and I still have to wash up so God bless you all and write soon even if I can’t write often. I received my first letter from “Cookie” today since I’ve been in the service.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Frank</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>P.S. Still address my flight as 684 and all in the same in the address. How about that picture of “Cookie.” </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-86309654464977149702013-02-11T02:30:00.000-06:002013-02-11T08:11:16.891-06:00My troubled heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elisabeth (Lisi) Gartz, Jan. 1943</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ebner's mother was undoubtedly finding that writing her son in English was so difficult, she fell back to writing to him in German. Below is a translation into English of what she wrote, but she'd soon find she had no easy way out of her struggle with English. After Ebner received this letter, he requested that no one in the family write future letters to him in German. It was, after all, the language of the enemy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(To see my father's own run-in with anti-German sentiment during the war see the posts: <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2012/01/war-and-bigotry.html">War and Bigotry</a>, <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2012/01/fbi-investigation.html">An FBI investigation</a>, and <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2012/01/anti-american-hobbies.html">Anti-American Hobbies</a>,</span><br />
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<b>Translated from the original German, edited for length and interest. Original at end.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feb. 11-43</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Lieber Ebner…</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">
Dear Ebner,</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">
I have to ask whether you have received the money that on January 31 you asked me to send. I sent you the money on the same day––20 dollars––with a letter from me and also from Bill [brother Will]. On Feb. 1, 1943, I sent you the underwear about which you asked. Now 11 long days and nights and I wait to at least hear whether you received everything. Are you sick or haven’t you received it?</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">
On Feb. 3rd Will sent you a letter with a few lines from me. Haven’t you received that either, or what’s going on? I have the receipt from the money order, so I can get the money back.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">
Your two girls, LaVerne* and Shirley ask about you on the telephone––not once but several times, twice a week up to now. What do you think I should tell them with my heavy heart. Not once a word [from you]. So I ask you, if it’s not possible to write a lot, just write a few words how it’s going for you.</span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>
I only wish for a few words. From Frank [ probably Von Arx] I received a long letter. It made me very happy, but I would much prefer a letter from you. Papa had the flu.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
With a thousand Greetings and kisses from us,</i></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>
Ma and Pa</i></span>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Don’t let me worry or be troubled in my heart any longer.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>* "</i>LaVerne" is the birth name of Ebner's high school sweetheart, whom everyone called "Cookie."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-62825796625341753712013-02-08T03:00:00.000-06:002013-02-09T06:31:56.132-06:00Slow Starvation?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elsie and Bert Von Arx, parents of <br />Ebner's best friend, Frank Von Arx.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ebner's best buddy, <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2013/02/one-instructor-we-tied-in-bed.html">Frank Von Arx, wrote him on Feb. 2, 1943</a>. Seventy years ago today, Von Arx's mom took her turn filling Ebner in on the home front. She reports her mother is dying. I've edited the letter for clarity and length. Original at end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago, Ill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feb. 8, 1943</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Frank:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How nice it is to hear from our second son Frank. Well. It looks like you are in the Air Corps also, so I take it from the heading of your letter. Also that your pal Johnny is with you. Knowing someone does make a difference when away from home, not that it would take Frank Gartz very long to pick out a few buddies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Received three letters from Frank V.A. today, after telling us a week ago not to send anymore mail as they would be on the move. Imagine his disgust in still being stranded and with nothing but repetition of maneuvers and marking time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third letter of course was an S.O.S. For funds. Nothing to do and no money would wear on anybody’s nerves. So pronto things will be straightened by air mail unless he gets the sudden request to move on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Was out today for our an hour’s fresh air after ten days of imprisonment. Mother is right down in bed now and can’t be left at all alone––must be fed, if [I] succeed in so doing, and all other necessary duties of nursing. Thought she would leave us last week, but somehow rallied back a little again, but it just can’t be very long with no food to speak of (Imagine that, Frank, slow starvation?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. V.A. Is very busy. Do you know him ever to be otherwise? Being property man for the OCD he is presently in the throws of giving out some 700 fire extinguishers to block captains in this territory. Those are assembled at the fire barns at Wilcox [Avenue] South. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The girls are both busy with work, school, bowling, and what not. Not much time left over. All are out tonight. I’m just alone with Grandma who is sleeping in a steady stupor so it is very lonesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haven't’ seen many of the church people as I have not attended lately. Just Ruth has been holding up the family good name.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your letter was addressed to Mr.[Von Arx] but I took the liberty to open it. Therefore the early answer from me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[I] suppose you are getting your dose of shots and drilling etc. Never mind boy. You can take them and show ‘em all up. What say you? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best wishes to you for your health, happiness, and good luck for a speedy return home to family and friends and in the meantime, may God bless you and keep you from all harm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sincere love,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. E. Von Arx</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4431 Wilcox Street</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ORIGINAL LETTER BELOW:</b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">© Copyright Linda Gartz - No part of this blog (photos, letters or letter quotes, written work, etc.) may be used without the express permission of Linda Gartz or a link back to this blog.</span></div>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-5940297616739652842013-02-02T03:00:00.000-06:002013-02-02T14:47:57.741-06:00"One instructor we tied in a bed!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Von Arx, DOB 3/1/1924</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of son, Frank E. Von Arx</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Von Arx was my Uncle Frank Ebner's best friend. Ebner's brother, Bill, mentioned in his 1/31/1943, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">letter</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2013/01/unlimited-opportunities.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Unlimited Opportunities"</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) that the Von Arx family was asking about Ebner. Here's a letter from Frank Von Arx to my uncle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Von Arx was two months older than Ebner, He enlisted and took the train to Camp Grant on 12/12/1943, for basic training, same place Ebner would go in January. Most of Ebner's friends were training for the war, bonding a generation in shared experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two Franks must have been a handful for their moms, full of hijinks and high spirits. This is actually the 2nd letter I have from Frank Von Arx, The first was written before Ebner was drafted. I'll publish it at a later time. </span><br />
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<i>February 2, 1943</i><br />
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<i>Dear Frank,<br />
<br />
Boy you sure had me excited. Two shipments in over the weekend and both times I nearly broke my neck getting over here to find out if they were from Camp Grant. <br />
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I just got your letter and a couple of us guys snuck into supper a little before time so now I’ll have more time to write. I’m glad to hear you got into the Air Corps, both you and Johnnie are together. What is Johnnie’s classification? Radio operator isn’t bad at all––but how did you do for aerial gunner? That is one thing I wish I could be.<br />
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What do you have to wear the leggings for Frank? The barracks sound alright. You should try to keep hotel rooms clean like we do. (Joke) Our room never passes inspection––not once in 18 days of basic. <br />
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Now that you are in the army, Frank, I can gripe a little to you and you’ll understand because they may be the same things that bother you. We really are training in a hole. The red tape is really thick. Fatigue hats always rim down. Shirts always in. Only G.I. belts. Inspection every morning. Walk on one side of the road. Every little things we do is by “Order of Colonel Kimberly”––who is our big chief.<br />
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You probably feel the same way, but I guess I’ve gotten under the influence of our Flight. We’re the best outfit on the beach––the captains and Lieutenants have drilled us themselves and they didn’t have any criticism. But we play around all the time. We always talk back to our instructor when he says some command. I don’t know why, but I guess there are just that sort of guys in our Flight. He always gets so sore at us, he drilled us one whole morning––4 hours––without stopping once. We threw him in the drink and then got K.P. One instructor we tied in a bed and the poor guy was missing for three hours.<br />
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We really have had a lot of fun and now that we are in advanced training it really is good. <br />
<br />
Most of the guys in our flight have been sent to schools already and that is what we are waiting for––our shipping orders. We moved from our hotels today and now bunk in former bathing houses on the beach. They must have been former resort cabins and hur [whore] houses in the good old days because that is about all they’re good for. Sand blows in and you can’t keep ‘em clean. Four bunks in a 6’ by 15’ room. Really a crowd.<br />
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It’s tough you guys being restricted to camp. We have got it nicer that way. There are girls––but they are scarce, but that is better than none.<br />
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Wish you guys would have gotten down here. My roomie was A.W.O.L. for three days, just roaming around Florida enjoying himself. The guy came back and was shipped out today. Boy was he lucky he didn’t get the guardhouse. Spent $30––all of his pay. <br />
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We have had so much drilling and P.T. that we are sick of it and can hardly wait until we get sent to school. But just the same I really like this army––I hope you do as much. It would be nice if we ever got close enough to see each other. I’d like to see you guys in a uniform! Ha ha ha!<br />
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Oh, ya––we got paid last week. I got $25––but some of the guys got as much as $50. P.S. I’m broke already.<br />
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Well, Frank, I’m sure glad to know where you’re at anyways. You probably will have plenty of writing to do, all you want, so write when you want to and let me know how you are doing––but don’t force yourself.<br />
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Always your pal –– Frank<br />
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ORIGINAL LETTER BELOW:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPhEexaW6yBeQZNcRrIqG03u496SbH2551UvsCpOxewxH4bZzC6fPsyMKihXc9FZrGxFo76Ot268eWH1MPr38rw8xGvZLUhxz_J4iCj6tmg5vnkjw-VqpXx_WBP2juubzllpDdQOBnv-4/s1600/Ebner+LTRs+1943-02-02+from+Frank+1-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPhEexaW6yBeQZNcRrIqG03u496SbH2551UvsCpOxewxH4bZzC6fPsyMKihXc9FZrGxFo76Ot268eWH1MPr38rw8xGvZLUhxz_J4iCj6tmg5vnkjw-VqpXx_WBP2juubzllpDdQOBnv-4/s640/Ebner+LTRs+1943-02-02+from+Frank+1-3.jpeg" width="490" /></a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">© Copyright Linda Gartz - No part of this blog (photos, letters or letter quotes, written work, etc.) may be used without the express permission of Linda Gartz or a link back to this blog. Thank you.</span></div>
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-11473009254558357362013-01-31T03:00:00.000-06:002013-02-02T12:20:59.005-06:00"Unlimited opportunities..."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will Gartz, Harlem Airport, 1943-1944</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing Ebner became focal point of Gartz family life. Here's a letter from the oldest Gartz brother, Will. Born in 1913, he was eleven years older than Ebner. Age 29 when Ebner was drafted, Will was probably too old for the draft himself, but he did his part, by becoming a pilot in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Civil Air Patrol.</b><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The previous <b>November, 1942, the month my <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2012/11/happy-70th-anniversary-fred-lil.html">parents married</a>, Congress lowered the draft age to eighteen</b>, just in time to require Ebner, who was born May 14, 1924, to enlist. As you'll see, Will was a serious fellow. The eldest, of three boys, he was the "good boy," always following the rules, and offering advice to his younger brothers.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've shortened the transcription of Will's 1/31/43 letter just a little, to eliminate uninteresting or confusing sentences, but you can read it in its entirely at the end.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Note</b>: The Von Arx family, mentioned in Will's letter, included another Frank, who was my uncle's best friend. They called each other's mothers "Mom." A letter from Frank Von Arx, also in the military, is coming up soon, a window into these young men's experiences and their adorable senses of humor.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday Jan, 31, [1943]<br />
7 p.m.</span></i><br />
<i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Hello Frank:</span>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Just arrived home from the field after quite a day of weather changes that started with a fog which partly cleared, then closed in, then a rain with wind from the southeast which gradually changed to snow and wind from the northwest. The transformation was a typical “cold front” leaving all the streets covered with ice.</span></i><br />
<i>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Enough of this now and greetings old boy. How are you and how do the regulated hours agree with you? So you’re slated for radio work. Well, it’s a great field with unlimited opportunities, so apply yourself and go the limit. Just what phase are you in anyway? </span>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The <b>Von Arx</b>’s have been asking for you constantly and Mrs. Nielson has asked for your address so she can write you. Things sure are quiet around here and we all miss you. Until our next, hasta la vista.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Will</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
P.S.<br />
Have you still possession of your watch? We have been told that watches disappear quickly in the service, especially in your neighborhood....Eyes open.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-66082676344596401392013-01-30T03:00:00.000-06:002013-01-30T14:40:56.713-06:00Here to help.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebner and his Mom,<br />
Lisi Gartz, 1/16/1943</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My grandmother's letters to her son were written in a foreign language––English. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisi Gartz's schooling back in Austro-Hungary, before it became Romania after World War I, only went as far as the fourth grade, so even in her native tongue, spelling and grammar had never been mastered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time her youngest son was drafted on January 23, 1943, she had been writing to her relatives back home for more than thirty years. Now, for the first time, she had to write in English. I know that she kept a German English dictionary by her side, struggling to put into words what was in her heart and mind. She became Ebner's most loyal correspondent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her letters are written with a German accent, as she tries to work out the phonetic spelling of English words she knows, but probably never saw in print. I've corrected some of the spelling and grammar in this and all future transcriptions, only as much as needed to make the letter understandable, but I've left much of her syntax as written to be as true to the original as possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until I read her letters, I had no idea how much my grandmother's religion meant to her. In virtually every letter, she wrote of her prayers to God and her trust in Him to protect and guide her youngest son. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The family usually addressed the "baby" of the family by his middle name, Ebner (ABE-ner), my grandmother's maiden name. This is her first letter to Ebner, written a week after he left for training. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notes: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) At the time of my uncle's military induction, my grandparents had been making their living for more than 20 years as janitors for several large apartment buildings on Chicago's West Side. They cared for up to sixty-five apartments. It was hard, non-stop, physical work: all repairs, window washing, cleaning vestibules, shoveling coal and snow in the winter, repeatedly climbing multiple flights of stairs to take down the trash. That's just a tiny sampling. They had lived frugally, saving $200/month of their $250 income, and supporting the whole family of five on the remaining $50. Their savings allowed them to buy at least one six-flat, by this time, mentioned in the letter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) The "green light" she mentions in this letter were two small table lamps with green, beaded shades, flanking Ebner's high school picture. My grandmother's original letter appears below this shortened transcription.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago, Il 1-30-43</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Dear Ebner,</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You had to wait five days befor I anserte your letter, but you know how it is in our work some days––running the whole day up and down especially in morning time.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 27 Sep I sent you sweatshirt and some banana. Have you received everyting? Please tell me next time.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all happy that you have a goot room mate from Minnesota you picked yourself.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is very goot. We are all proud of you that you get the best road in life.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even [if] you got it hard, trust in God all the time and always you [will] get the best for you. Even your wishes will come true in time. Did you gain or lose weight? I hope you are healthy and happy too.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put 2 dollars in for you till you get your pay. We got [hit] so hard with the income tax. Both Pa and me have to pay from our allowance of man and wife $1300.00 for a year. From that we have to take out $200.00 for the 6 flat one payment and then all of our life insurance.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>So, my Dear, I have to learn now how to do the figuring</i><i> real goot. But I will be always ready for you at all times, whatever comes up. I am here to help.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God be with you always. All the time I am praying, standing by the green light.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of love and kisses,</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your Mom</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love from Dad and Will</span></i><br />
<br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-13201279911779494342013-01-27T09:43:00.001-06:002013-01-30T08:28:27.385-06:00A WWII Draftee's First Day.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arial photo of Camp Grant, probably WWI<br />
Public domain</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Ebner Gartz, my uncle, was drafted into World War II on January 23, 1943 (see previous post: <a href="http://familyarchaeologist.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-world-war-ii-draftee70-years-ago.html">A World War II Draftee- 70 Years Ago</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day he wrote from his new home at Camp Grant, near Rockford, Illinois. Until I found the letter below, I hadn't know where he had started his training. Here's how the first day in training was reported by a new inductee on his first day in camp. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Note: I corrected spelling and added punctuation to make reading easier. Original below transcription.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1-24-43</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Mom,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just came home from church. It's 9:30 and our barrack woke up at 6:45 this morning, one hour later than usual. We made our bunk, washed, and ate. now we have the day to our selves. Tomorrow (Monday) we get our uniforms and our classification. We arrived at 8:05 P.M. last night. OUr train was very slow. A normal trip of two hours took us twice the time, four hours and fifteen minutes. I'm going to read the paper now. There's nothing else to do. I might get in a card game that is just starting. Hope everyone at home is well. I got the upper bunk and it's very warm near the ceiling. Take it easy and I'll write again soon. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your loving son,</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Frank</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. You can't write me here because Camp Grant hasn't a receiving station for mail.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
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Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853410677893201016.post-9455855212019256132013-01-23T02:30:00.000-06:002013-01-31T12:18:20.853-06:00A World War II Draftee––70 Years ago<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfRdUSYbQ7wHBs84HO39u_x8zRUzHnxacU9LlURq5l6qvvMrbP1Knk-KtnTK6SvJ6O6KLUk1rxzLPwIeKJCTqF3tJehEh0Dg-o8bVyaGqIVgGfhDI47esJyPdkljfNAgvKhA_4UDvW0iL/s1600/Blitzbuggy,+1943+23+Jan+takes+Ebner+to+draft+board.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfRdUSYbQ7wHBs84HO39u_x8zRUzHnxacU9LlURq5l6qvvMrbP1Knk-KtnTK6SvJ6O6KLUk1rxzLPwIeKJCTqF3tJehEh0Dg-o8bVyaGqIVgGfhDI47esJyPdkljfNAgvKhA_4UDvW0iL/s320/Blitzbuggy,+1943+23+Jan+takes+Ebner+to+draft+board.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blitzbuggy at the Draft Office, Chicago, 1/23/1943</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seventy years ago today, my grandparents and newly married parents faced a foreboding task, one that was shared by just about everyone in America with a young man of draft age in the family.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On January 23, 1943, they climbed into Dad's Model A Ford and drove the five blocks from their home down Chicago's Washington Boulevard to the draft office, where my Dad's ten-year younger brother, Frank Ebner Gartz, would officially report to begin the training to become a navigator for the Army Air Corps in World War II.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vOYYyXP20wj0ohyphenhyphen0pG9QGSJHA8mMZzUEp-b9DM0PhxwSJhzGsLtjUpyKrTVxSQhjIH75AmjfIys6iqG4hDDsYYgnG3XL1TlmQwVXP3vrD2-sv2MYCv-Se3rvylGI3CItpsu5O12Pp69m/s1600/Gartz+Family+Jan.+16+1943+per+album+label+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vOYYyXP20wj0ohyphenhyphen0pG9QGSJHA8mMZzUEp-b9DM0PhxwSJhzGsLtjUpyKrTVxSQhjIH75AmjfIys6iqG4hDDsYYgnG3XL1TlmQwVXP3vrD2-sv2MYCv-Se3rvylGI3CItpsu5O12Pp69m/s1600/Gartz+Family+Jan.+16+1943+per+album+label+-+Version+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gartz Family, January 16, 1943 L-R top Fred (Dad), </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will, Ebner. Seated: Lil (Mom), Josef, & Lisi Gartz</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The photo to the right is the first "Gartz Family Photo" that includes my mother. Taken just two months after my parents married, and one week before Ebner was drafted, my guess is that my grandmother wanted a family picture with the "new Mrs. Gartz" as part of the family before her youngest son left for training. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the dates of both photos because each was labeled, but the car photo had more than a date. Coming upon it, I saw only an unremarkable old car parked on a snowy street, with no identifiable people. But it was on the back where I learned the critical event this photo documented.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to finding the photo of the car, Blitzbuggy had only existed in family lore. My father had probably told us what vintage the dear little car was, but it hadn’t stuck in my memory. Dad’s notes not only identified the car--its year, model, and make--but also recorded the contribution Blitzbuggy had made to one of the pivotal events of the 20th Century -- and our family’s connection to it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are his exact words--in italics (my comments are in brackets. Parentheses are his): </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 23, 1943</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ebner’s drafting. Saying farewell. Grandma </i>[Dad's mother] <i>in Blitzbuggy</i> (<i>1929 Model A Ford</i>). <i>Lil</i> [my mother] <i>on right side.</i> [Only the back of her coat and hair are visible.]</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In front of the Draft board</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4748 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, Ill </span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank Ebner, (ABE-ner) Gartz, born May 14, 1924, was my grandparents’ youngest son. His middle name was taken from my grandmother, Lisi’s, maiden name, one you’ve read in numerous past posts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The photo reveals a familiar Chicago winter scene: the snow is piled on the sidewalks, and greystone apartment buildings, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">typical of the city,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> form a backdrop. The entire atmosphere of the photo--its blurry focus, the gloomy, colorless weather, the faces of the two women in the photo hidden or indiscernible, the lone black auto on a strangely empty street--create a visual metaphor for the emotions of a family about to send its youngest off to war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This date also started a flurry of letters back and forth between Ebner, as everyone in the family called Frank, and his family and friends. I hope to post excerpts of several of the letters, on or close to the day they were written. So keep tuned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Note: parts of this post were published in February, 2011.</i></span></div>
Linda Gartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740477693031139484noreply@blogger.com6