November 1, 1943

Note: Here's some information on Camp Young. Ogilby is now a ghost town.


Monday
November 1, 1943

 

Dear Folks:

 

I’m a little behind in my writing but I’ve sure been hitting the ball as far as being busy is concerned. I’ve got a squad now and that amounts to eleven men and myself and six trucks that I have to look after. After I got back we moved to Camp Young near Coachella, California. This camp is about 125 miles from Los Angeles. Four days after I got back we were on maneuvers again. We are camped about eighteen miles northwest of Yuma, Arizona at a little railhead called Ogilby, California on the Southern Pacific Railroad. We been hauling gasoline about eighty miles north of here for the Blue Forces which are maneuvering against the Red Forces up there. They tell us we will be on the desert for about four to five months yet. I don’t know how long we will be on maneuvers this time. My furlough sure slipped by fast, sometimes I wonder if I even had one. I thought we had it tough on those last maneuvers but they were mild compared to these we’re on now. Now that I have this squad I have to see that these men and trucks are ready to roll at any time they are needed and that don’t leave a fellow much time. If I’m a little slow in writing sometimes I hope you’ll overlook it and won’t let that stop your letters from coming. I was in Yuma, Arizona a week ago Saturday night on pass and looked the town over. Well that’s about all I have time for as we are about to pull out with another convoy of gasoline and I have to get my trucks lined up. So long.

 

Mel

 

P.S. I have a new address. Copy it exactly as it is on the envelope.





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