LETTER #33 - 24 JULY 1944

1940s General Mills iron

WWII typical scene for mail call for the soldiers.

Letters received were sometimes their only communication to what was going on back home!

 My Little Notes:
Pretty much a simple letter, but heads up for the next letter!  His buddy from Tennessee is Alvin Lloyd.  He is from Greeneville, Tennessee.  We will be seeing some letters from him down the line.  Don't worry, we will still hear from good ol' Ray Kubick a few more times too.  Maybe, even others now and then.  Just have to follow the blog and see!  :D

LETTER #32 - 15 JULY 1944

Some lovely ladies of the 1940s!

Some 1940s Valentine cards ~ reminds me of Uncle Louie and the college girl he mentions!


















My little notes:
He sounds frustrated with the whole K.P. duty and radio school.  Quite a lot for an 18-year-old!  At least he gets some social life as he mentions he had a date with a young lady from the collage and some swimming.

Goon Squad:   I am not quite sure if he is referring to a "goon squad" at the college or Army base.  I see variations from a "group of thugs" to a group at the college who help the incoming Freshmans and promote the school spirit!  Maybe a term used for new recruits at the radio school like an initiation.  He puts "goon" in quotes so maybe he is referring to feeling like a "goon" - a stupid, foolish or awkward person.

Click Link:  Goon Squad according to Wikipedia...

LETTER #31 - 13 JULY 1944 from bunkmate Ray Kubick

My little notes:
Sometimes the past meets the present.....  As I was scanning this letter to post on Ray Kubick, I decided to search his name since the letter mentioned New Jersey and maybe I could find him.  Lo and behold I found him!  Unfortunately, Ray just recently passed away last Thursday.  I signed the online guest book and told the family how I knew him.  He had 3 children and I am hoping to connect with them and share the sweet letters I have of their father at the age of 20 training at the radio school with my Uncle. This makes me humbled and honored to make a connection with someone who was part of my ancestors' lives.  Please read the obituary below (click on link):

Raymond Albert Kubick Jr. Obiturary ~ please read

I also looked ahead and there are four more letters from Ray; two letters later in 1944, one in 1945 and one in 1946.

LETTER #30 - 30 JUNE 1944 to Tom

This is my Uncle Louie as a cadet taken in 1944 in Madison, WI.  This is probably the picture he is referring to in this letter below.  He is just 18 here and the only badge earned so far would be his Sharpshooter badge with the words "rifle" on the little bar below the pin that he received while at Keesler Field...

The outside of the envelope.  Pretty clever!

This drawing was on the top of the stationery paper done by Don the artist in the camp!  You can see he added the figure cartoon and the words "Allo Tom" to my Dad.  Wish I could make out his last name!

Family pictures of the Thomsens at Bangs Lake, Wauconda, Illinois.

The boys at Bangs Lake, Wauconda, IL.  I think my Dad is being Superman with the cape!

More pics with Louis Thomsen Sr. and his boys, Louie and Tom.

Looks like the end of a fun day!  About 1939, my Uncle Louie, Grandpa Thomsen, and my Dad (the little one) with their 1936 Studabaker at Bangs Lake, Wauconda, Illinois

I am assuming this is the picture he is referring to in the letter showing Louie at Truax Field and the barracks.

Picture of Louie in Combat Training at Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin, 1944.

My little notes:

Wow, quite a bit to share!  I love coordinating pictures with the letters!  Really adds to the feel of the times.  Well, I really enjoy the drawings from Don.  Also, Louie mentions the pictures he sent. I am pretty sure these are the pictures, the formal one taken from Rembrandt Studio in Madison, and the two showing Louie and the barracks.  He also mentions how tan he was getting, though he uses a slang, but this is 1944!  I had quite a few pictures to share of the Thomsen family at Bangs Lake.  I am not sure how often they went there, but seemed to be a hot spot for Chicagoans to go to.  See link below for a little history of Bangs Lake.  Also, their claim to fame of the 1980 movie "Blues Brothers" where the beach scene was filmed at:

Little History of Bangs Lake link


Finally, for us civilian people, a little history on the Garrison Cap.  First originated in WWI as an "overseas cap", but because of his portability became more easily worn and used.  They were either wool or khaki as the one pictured in Louie's photo.  The ribbing was color coded too to distinguish what service branch.  See link below:

WWII Garrison Cap link