Kendell Round Robin Letter

May 30, 1943 Dear Sisters, I received Sarah’s letter a few days ago but I’ve had such a sore wrist that I could hardly write. I must have twisted it some way while I was doing the spring cleaning. I don’t know whether I’m sorry or happy that you are going to live in Idaho. You will be closer to me but farther from the girls and home. If I get a furlough I can probably stop off in Idaho and see you. I do hope by this time you are feeling better about leaving home. I must have the same thing as you have at least the past few weeks it seems that I just can’t get enough sleep or enough to eat. I’ve gained better than 10 lbs. in little better than 2 weeks. I suppose by the time you get this letter you will already be married. Well, I wish you the best of luck and all the success in the world. What are you going to do with your house when you go to Idaho? Is Thelma going to stay there? Boy, I have a sweet drizzling cold. I guess I slept in the draft the other night. It has gone into my eyes and they are aching like a tooth. I finally got a card from Van. He seems to like his new work quite well. He is in the Field Artillery in Camp Swift, Texas. Porky (my 5X5 cook) and I went to see the show “Crash Drive” last night. It was pretty good. Well I’m going to cut this letter short and go to bed. I feel so miserable but I think I’ll be alright in the morning. Write soon and let me know about the wedding. Good night, Love, Ed June 9, 1943 Ogden, Utah Dearest Sarah, Have I been slighting you? Well my dear it wasn’t intentional. How are you by now and how is Eddy? I ventured in to tell the people in front that they could consider this official notice they are leaving for home Wednesday and she said they intended to pay the rent for the two weeks they were gone if they haven’t moved by then I’ll expect them to. The girls are quite anxious to get settled. I don’t have any doubt about the rent. I’m quite sure they know the price of the front apartment and I’ll let them have it once these folks have moved. I simply can’t imagine trying to sleep a different time every day with the disturbances that take place. I haven’t been out home yet but it’s been stormy and I didn’t feel like wading while I walked eight miles. Oh news. Hilma Ray has a baby girl! Yes I went down to Emma’s last weekend. They were all well. We had spring friers for dinner. Joy but they almost melt in a person’s mouth. The worst of all this living alone is using up the stamps. I just wasted the blue stamps that were no good after the sixth. I think it’s a pack of nonsense. I just about forgot a guard must never criticize the government or what it does, so I really am glad I rationed myself so close. I received a letter from Edward today. He was fine. He said he’d heard from you the same day as I wrote. Guess if we all keep up the fight he’ll have

more letters than he’s ever had. Maybe we should send “robin” letters? Yes—No—Don’t know! You know Sarah this is the first time I’ve written to you (away from home) since the last year you went to S.S. So if these seem dull just think that I’m not too keen about picking out things to write about here at home. I got my helmet Friday. You should see it. It’s a lulu. I look more like Farmer Brown’s hired man than Uncle Sam’s woman “M.P.” I’ve misplaced the letter Edward wrote before he knew your name had changed but I’ll enclose it if I find it. I don’t know whether or not we’ll go on shift this week or not. Our uniforms should be here soon though. I have enjoyed the time I’ve spent with Emma and hope it won’t be too long before we can all get together. Edward said the 1st sergeant was too promising in the possibility of his furlough being granted. I hope he can come. It’s a shame to keep you guessing about what all this scrawl is about so I’d better call this the gong for now. I’ll do my best (upmost) to stick to the guns at the home front, with an occasional break or get away. But do be good and don’t worry too much. I have missed you both. It’s just another case where Hooting Annie was wrong. Absence makes the heart fonder. I haven’t seen him around but let him try it again and he’s liable to catch the tenth shot that missed the target. So for now then, lots of love, as ever, Thelma June 1943 Corvallis, Oregon Dearest Thelma, I received your letter a couple of day’s ago, but have been pretty busy again and just haven’t had time to answer sooner. Enough for excuses. I got a letter from Sarah yesterday. She said that she hadn’t received a letter from me since she has been in Idaho. I can’t figure it out because I have written at least two. Yes! I rather enjoy helping these poor fellows out with their writing. Tomorrow I’ll probably spend most of the afternoon writing for the fellows. They are going to ship better than half of the company out (I Think Fort Lewis, Wash.) I don’t think I’m on the list yet, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to get a furlough until after things are settled again. I have been busy today painting signs on all of my flower, sugar, garbage cans, etc. You didn’t know I was an artist did you?? Well I’m not but you can almost read the signs. Boy I would certainly like to see those nephews of mine and of course you all. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get home for quite some time if I don’t get a job to make some money. You see Fay must have taken out her allotment last June and I took it out in November. Well they payed her from June and didn’t take it out of my pay until Nov. Now I’ve got to pay all that back. That means $132 besides the other deductions I have taken out each month. I’m going to try to work at our club. They pay .50 an hour so maybe I can make enough for a furlough. I sent Virginia 6 rolls of film last week. You didn’t say what size you could use. If you will tell me I’ll try to get some for you. Well, I might be a private before long. I had a run in with two Captains the other day about my kitchen. I slightly blew off to them. They asked me how I would like to be a private again. I told them I would much rather be a private than have to take all their

crap. I don’t know what will become of that but I don’t care very much. If I get broke I’ll probably be transferred into an outfit where I can do some good. Don’t worry about it. Well, it’s terribly late and I must get some sleep. Goodnight with love, Ed. Menan, Idaho June 25, 1943 Dearest folks, In Edward’s last letter he asked if I would start this circle letter. Since I have just finished a letter to each of you telling you of my few short trips, of the flood waters of the Snake and of my wash day, that being the only news there seems to be just now, I thought this was a good time to start such a letter. You are all even for the start. When Edward wrote last he said it looked as if I needed some practice on the typewriter. It still looks as if I did. I’ll try to do better as time goes by. The typewriter is Eddy’s and is a new Royal portable so I should be able to do better work than this with it. Yesterday I went fishing with a pitch fork like we used to do when we were kids. Between Charles and I we caught 14 large suckers. We gave away 6. I cleaned the other 8 and we had 2 for supper. The rest I salted down for use later. With meat rationing and all we will be glad to use them. I think I will get some long envelopes to send these letters in when they really get large. I will also try to write the things which I think will be interesting as soon as possible after they happen, not waiting for the family letter to arrive because I may have something else which must be done the day the letter comes and I may not have time then to answer it. In that case it would either have to go without my bit of news or have to be delayed until I could get time. Let’s keep it rolling as fast as we can, sending it out in the next mail if possible. It may take extra postage some of the time but it will be worth while I am sure. June 26, 1943 Just had a letter from Emma telling me that Mrs. And Mr. Ewell’s house and cellar and all that was in them burned to the ground the other day. They had gone to SLC with Martha Ann and Mable to a funeral. While they were gone the house caught fire and with a wind and only the little girls there it soon went up in spite of all they could do. It certainly is a shame. As mother would have said even in a case as bad as that “It might have been worse.” We just as well try to find the sunny side if there is one. Of course it is all right to use those old clothes for any purpose you care to. I can think of nothing that I would rather they be used for than to make clothing for some of them if you can do it Emma. Was anyone hurt? I surely hope not. If there is anything we can do let us know. Were they able to save any of their fruit? They can get the money for their bond by making application at the proper place even though they don not have the number. I’m glad it was a bond and not stamps in which case it would not be returnable. Are they hoping to build another house or buy on from Eureka? Where are they staying now? I also had a letter from Edward today. I think your idea of going to Cook’s and Baker’s school as an instructor is very good. More power. I hope you will be able to do whatever will be for your own good. If you were an instructor where would you be sent then?

Eddy’s Mother came back today. She has had a very nice visit. We were all glad to have her back again. Eddy’s sister Margaret brought us two lovely blankets for a wedding present. One is blue and one is rose. Edward, you had better send that deed to Mr. Wilson as soon as you can. We have all been sort of sick and yet not sick if you can guess how that may be. We have been full of gas and a bit sick at our stomachs but not enough to vomit. Whether it is something we have eaten or because of high water in the well or some type of intestinal flu I don’t know. I have been much worse with something similar and we are feeling much better now so don’t any one worry. And don’t worry about my working too hard. I have never done so little in a month in my life. The few beets I did were only to keep me from going crazy from sitting here with nothing to do. The danger of flood seems to be over now. Margaret came home from Arco expecting to see the whole place under water but it isn’t out of its regular channel at this point. It was very nice of Fae to send you a father’s day card. I meant to get one for you but I didn’t get to town. Charles ex-wife sent Eddy and I a best wishes card the other day. I hardly expect Fae to do that. Have you told her that I am married or did she find out some other way or does she know yet? What is news from Virginia’s point of view? I wish she would write to me but I’m afraid she won’t have time when she gets and of her letters written to the boys in the service. Does she ever mention seeing Fae? I haven’t done anything about my teeth yet. I may not now they seem to be getting bad again faster. It is so hard to get to town. I would like to see you get a job as instructor for the cooks and bakers. That seems like a good job to me. How do you go about getting it? I believe we are going to American Falls tonight. I got some coveralls for Eddy when I was there Monday with Charles which are too small for Eddy. We had to look all over town to get them so we may have some trouble getting them exchanged. We will probably be moving up to our own house today or tomorrow. Eddy has been called to the Stake Mission. He was asked to be Sunday School Teacher but had to give that up because of his work. If you hear of any especially good jobs let us know and we might be on the move. We are not buying anything we can get along without just now so we wouldn’t have too much to move. This job isn’t working out quite like we had expected. Don’t say too much about it but I’m rather sure he won’t stay with it many years. He is staying with it now mostly for experience. It is very worthwhile from that angle. I believe I have exhausted you all with this rambling letter. Hope by the next time to have something really to say so I can make it a bit more interesting. Be good and keep smiling. Lots of love, Sarah June 29, 1943 Corvallis, Oregon Dearest Sisters,

I just received this letter from Sarah so I’ll get it answered and sent on its way. I hope you all pass it along as fast. I was sorry to hear about Mr. and Mrs. Ewell’s house. Sarah asked most of the questions that I had in mind so I won’t bother to ask. They are still asking me to go into the Cooks and Baker’s school but I’m going to wait until I find out just what they are going to do about the Stockade Mess. It is still in the air about the M.Ps taking over the Mess. I don’t think I want to transfer into the M.Ps so I might go back cooking or be shipped out or transfer to the school. Nothing is for sure yet so I’ll let you know when anything happens. The commanding officer, Col. MacCoy is going to have a tea or something in my Mess Hall next Monday. They are going to dedicate our new Day Room and all the women who had anything to do with it are going to be here. I don’t know if Fae knows if Sarah is married yet or not. I don’t think I told her as I haven’t written her since before. I still get letters from Virginia quite regularly. She really writes a nice letter. Sarah you know you might write to her. I’m sure she would answer you. I think she would like a letter from all of you. Virginia has never mentioned Fae in her letters that I can remember. I don’t know whether or not I can get in the Cook’s and Baker’s School. I think you have to be limited service. It doesn’t look like writing on both sides of this kind of paper works out so good. How do you like your new house by now? There is a lot of work around Portland now in the shipyards, but the rent is so high that I don’t know if it would pay or not. Well, Emma how are our boys getting along? Boy I would like to see them. What is the matter Thelma. I haven’t had a letter from you for quite a while? The Camel Co. is bringing a big show here tomorrow and the next day. It should be a good show so I’ll try to go. Boy it is really hot here now, but it gets cool at nights so it’s not so bad. Well I’ll sign this off for this time. Do hurry this along. Love, Ed Genola Utah June 24, 1943 Dearest Sarah and Eddy I am terribly sorry I am so slow in getting a letter off to you. I wrote one some time ago and never did get it off to you and I started one again Friday and decided I’d wait to finish it until Thelma came and we’d both write on it. However, we didn’t get around to it and now I can’t find what I had written. I am surely ashamed of myself, but we have been so dad burn busy that I don’t get time for anything. We get up all the way from 4 to 6 A.M. and are on the go steady until 9:30 and 10 o’clock at night and then don’t do what we should do. The weeds were so bad in the garden that I had to get busy on them. It seems that the chicks and chickens take so much time that I ujust get to think I’ll be able to sit down and write or do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and then it’s time to gather eggs, brush them, feed or water them, feed the baby or else start a meal or wash dishes. Oh well as long as we are busy, well and happy, what should we

care. Farm life is a great old life for anyone who is able to put in 24 hours a day and like it. That’s what it amounts to when you are up all hours of the night with a baby. Well enough for that. I just don’t want you to feel too sorry of not living on a farm. Ha! Ha! But if you want five minutes a day to rest you’d better be glad you don’t live on a farm. About the letter idea, I think it is fine. I’ll try to write and send it off to Thelma soon. Thomas says for me to go to Ogden whenever you and I can get together on a date. I hate to go until the hay is up but of course I will if you come before that and I don’t see how I could possibly come for more than two or three days. Mrs. and Mr. David goes to SLC every Mon and Friday. I thought perhaps I could go that far with them on Friday and back from there and Monday meeting in SLC. That way it wouldn’t be so hard for me to handle the two babies. Thomas thinks maybe I should leave Kendell with his mother but I hardly know what I should do. I’d like to get out to South Weber to Sunday School once more, wouldn’t you. Well I have the baby on my lap and Kendell riding my foot so I am really having fun. Thelma has brought Kendell something each time she has been down until he really counts on it now it seems. At least his old face sure beams whenever we mention Aunt Thelma. We have almost finished her suit. There is plenty of fruit here in the valley I think for us. About rhubarb Thomas and I hardly touch it. It seems that it seems that it is hardly worth while to bottle it. Every bit of our fruit was taken with the frost. All last week I was busy with an MIA outing. Two days all I did was tend the babies in the car while I went around to the homes in the valley. I really had fun. Well it is time for the mail so I had better get this off or I’ll misplace it or something. Have you thought of anything you’d like for a wedding present, send me a list of things you would like that you haven’t got. I will see what we can do. You know I haven’t much of an idea of what you have so you could help me out if you would. I haven’t heard from Ed for a while. Well I must close for now and hope you will be able to puzzle it out. Write real soon. Love to you both from all of us, Emma and family