October 28, 1944 (to Marie)

A happy birthday card to his aunt Marie.

 


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Drafted!

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On December 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, Milton "Mel" Janis was roping at Rivermont Ranch in House Springs, Missouri. Horses were his life, and he had no interest in going to war.  He had hoped for a deferment, but along with many others, he was drafted for military service.  On December 8, 1941, he was told by the Festus, Missouri draft board that he was to report to Jefferson Barracks on January 15, 1942 so that he could be inducted into the U.S. Army. He was 22 years old.  On January 21, 1942, he was inducted into the Army and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas. The picture above was taken just a few days before.   The following are letters he sent to his dad (Lawrence), grandma (Julia), aunt (Marie), and uncle (Clarence) from 1942 through 1945. He often signed them "Brown Jug," but unfortunately the origin of that nickname is lost. He called his Uncle Clarence "the dude" and he and Marie would spell each other's names backwards.
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June 11, 1945

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