Our family has a fairly large number of the letters he and my grandmother, Rose Marie BRAQUET Jackson (1909-1989), wrote to each other over the course of his enlistment. They wrote nearly every day to each other; she kept all or nearly all of the ones he wrote, and he kept as many of hers as he could. But his constant movement from training, to combat in northern France (where he has wounded), convalescence in an Army hospital in England, and service after recovery as an M.P., necessarily kept him from being able to keep many of them. Nevertheless the body of the letters we do have provide a priceless snapshot of life as my grandparents knew it during a particularly turbulent time in history. And through their discussion of memories and friends, they also provide a glimpse of ordinary life as they knew it.
I intend to post a number of these letters in this blog because they provide a large amount of genealogical information of great interest to me and any others who might be researching lines that include my grandparents.
This first letter to be posted (transcription below the following images) was written on two different days while he was being shipped back to the USA from France. The ocean voyage lasted from 25 October to about 6 November 1945; he was transported on a "victory ship" christened the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory. I have some information about the Chapel Hill found on the Internet and will post some of that in a subsequent blog post.
Click on each image to enlarge.
Here is my transcription (so that it can be more easily read and searchable):
From:
Pvt. Wm. O. Jackson 38545484
M.P. Pln. 66 Div [Military Police Platoon, 66th Division]
℅ P.M. N.Y. N.Y. [care of Postmaster, New York, New York]
To:
Mrs. W.O. Jackson
2338-14th St.
Port Arthur
Texas
Postmark:
New Brunswick, New Jersey
November 7
6 P.M.
1945
VIA AIR MAIL
POSTAGE DUE, 20.
S.S. Chapel Hill Victory
Nov. 1 - 45
Darling Rose & Edith Faye,
By the time you receive this you will have already heard from me that I have landed but maybe you will be glad to have a line or two from me written while at sea and telling a little of the trip so far. I hope the last letters I wrote got home O.K. And am pretty sure they did. At least they said how I was and how I was missing you two. Sure hope you both are fine and aren't working too hard. How about that Edith? I am writing in the mess hall and the ship is vibrating pretty bad as you can tell from my shaky writing.
We boarded this ship Oct. 25 at ten in the morning and sailed at 3 P.M. So far have been through one good storm and one small one. A good many were sea sick. I wasn't but did have the G.I.s for seven days, three before coming on board. Five of them I couldn't eat any thing so would have been hard had I gotten sick. Am O.K. now and can eat every thing I can find. The food has been wonderful. Fresh eggs each morning and Fresh Milk, the first I have had since leaving home. Have a half pint in front of me now thawing out. We have two good meals a day and soup about noon. There are over 1900 of us on board so you see that's plenty for one kitchen to feed.
We passed through the straits of Gibraltar the 27th. I felt so bad I didn't take any pictures. Just stuck my head out, took a quick look and went back to bed. Looks just as the pictures show though and can understand why the Limeys hold it. It's really the bottle neck of this sea.
This A.M. about sun rise this ship over took another and took a sick man off it as they were going so slow. He has yellow jaundice and must be in bad shape. We lost about two hours by this but sure hope the man makes it O.K. Later in the day we met an aircraft carrier going to France to pick up a load of G.I.s. I didn't see it as I was below decks playing poker but it was a large one from what the boys said. Am even on the poker since being on board as have been running about the same. Was hoping I might pick up some more vacation dough and may yet you can't tell.
I have a few things for you two I picked up before I left but not much as things were scarce. There was lots in the papers about what could be bought at the P.O.E. [Point of Embarkation?] but was a lot of hooey and every one is growling about it too as most waited until there to get something for home. Did my last package get in in time for your birthday? Hope you like the scarf as it was about all I could find.
It still doesn't seem as if I were going home. Maybe because I have moved around so much or perhaps I feel as if the Army will change their mind at the last minute. They will have to be fast though if they hold me long after I get ashore for if they try I'll be long gone. Most of the men feel the same they say and you can watch their faces as they sit around, and tell its true. Most look sad and am sure are remembering many things also wondering what they will find when they get home.
Girls, I am going to stop now as there is going to be a show here in a few minutes. Will write more in a day or two. Good night with all my love.
Jack.
Sat. Nov. 3
I haven't much more to write of but guess you two won't mind a few lines more. We have had two very pretty days since I started this letter and have really enjoyed lying around on deck in the sun. The ship has made better time since have no high wind to buck. We hear we will land Monday P.M. at New York but may go to Boston or New Port Virginia [probably Newport News, Virginia] if New York harbor is filled with ships. With in 24 hours after landing will be headed toward Texas for discharge.
I found a man to-day who was in the next bed while I was in the hospital. His name is Baliff and is from Tennessee. We had a long talk and lots of fun talking of the boys [we] both know and where they went. There are some I am going to try to get in touch with after I get home.
Am going to stop so good night and look for me home soon and when I do am going to hug you both half to death.
All of my love to you both.
Jack
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