Winsor War Notes-Luther Snow Winsor's WW II experiences

Sunday, July 30th How does it feel to be really a Daddy, darling?  Isn't it wonderful! I'm so happy sweetheart, there is only one thing to make every thing perfect.  And you know what that is. Little Lynn is such an adorable baby darling that you know I'm going to give her lots and lots of lovin. If it's true that you can spoil children with lots of love, then ours will be the most spoiled child you will ever hope to see. I get to see the baby so seldom that I can hardly wait to get home where she will really and truly be mine and I can put sweet little white clothes on her. Gee honey, you surely knew your stuff when you sent that sweet little pink jacket. She's going to be blessed in it you know. The hospital gives out a birth certificate with the baby's feet prints and Mother's thumb print. It isn't a legal document but it's awfully nice to have. I feel much brighter today. The prospect of going home is getting me so excited.

England July 28, 44 Dearest mom & all      Got your letter of the 15th last night. It's hard to say for sure that air mail will always be faster than 'V' . Those first few of mine were held up I know and probably went out about the same time aas the air mail sent the 7th. I know I'd rather get air mail than 'V' because it seems much more personal and from now on I'll send as much of mine as I can that way. Decent stationary and Envelopes are hard to get though, while plenty of 'V' mail is handed out gratis.      I've had 3 letters from dad since I got over here and I should be able to hear from him faster than you do now. He does seem very happy having some L.D.S. western boys close and I wish there were more in the 16th. So far there is only one more besides myself and hes in "A" Btry so I don't get to see him much.     Don't worry about me and colds mom. So Far, in spite of damp weather, I haven't had a

Leona and Lynn Thursday, July 27th Lu Darling, Hello  Daddy, How do you like the idea now that it's really real! You should have the cable and your Mother's letter by Now. July 28th Jeepers sweets, at this rate I may cover a whole week to cover one page, rather disjointed isn't it. I tried sitting up yesterday and it made me kinda sick. So I'm just propped up a little bit now. Oh honey, our baby is so sweet, she's such a darling, you could just eat her up. She's good too, just never, never cries. I get her about every 4 hours to feed her. -Sounds as though the babies are coming now. Lynn has been fed and very soon it will be time for my lunch. Guess I should start from the beginning darling and tell you all about it. Right now it's really hard to remember all I went through. At the time I thought I would perish, but everyone said I was so lucky, my bad pains didn't last too awfully long and the baby came fast. Of course coming

England July 24 Mom Dearest, Got your letter yesterday along with a batch from Leona and a nice long one from Dad. Dad sent a picture of himself with with 3 other Mormon boys, it seems they've been able to get together quite often. Pat is still my choice for today's celebration. After all, she is the sweetest and the prettiest of them all. I just wish I could be there in Utah today and you can bet your boots I'll be there for the next one. Haven't heard whether I'm a daddy yet or not but I know I won't have to worry with so many helping and loving hands about. Thanks mom for the bathinett and all the other things you've sent over to Leona. Things are going swell over here and I'll have lots to tell you when I come back. With all the beauty here though I still want Salt Lake Valley opening in front of me-Love to all-Lu

                                                                             England                                                                              July 7, 1944 Mom Dearest,      A batch of mail came in yesterday with yours & dad's letter of the 21st and yours & Pats of the 27th. Gee but it's good to get mail from home!      Mom I'm writing Leona a 'V' mail which I'll send at the same time as this. Check with her so that I can find out which goes the fastest. For now I'll send a few of each (Air & 'V' mail).      Dads letters are really coming over in record time aren't they? It sounds as if he's right back in his old stride again and I just hope he doesn't wear himself into the hospital again. I'll get a letter off to him just as soon as I find out how to send it from this side.      This is a beautiful picture of Pat-but then she's a very beautiful girl. No doubt by now she is the 'Princ

Towards the end of getting mom and dad's house ready for sale I found some additional letters from the time period of WWII starting before the August journal entries. Although I was unable to get them published here on the anniversary of when they were written, I want to get started with these to lead into the time of the Journal. To: Mrs L. M. Winsor            Cpl. Luther S. Winsor 1202 Crystal Ave                    A.S.N. 39829849 Salt Lake City -5-                   A.P.O. 5384 Utah                                        c/o P.M. New York, N. Y.                                                Somewhere in England                                                July 3, 1944 Mom Dearest, I hope Leona is giving you all the news about me cause of course I spend most of my writing time on her. Mail delivery from here isn't so hot in any form so don't be worried if there is any lapse in my letters. I've always heard that England was beautiful but it's eve

July 2 1944 Luther My Son- It is indeed a pleasure to have your lovely letter of June 6. Even tho we are far apart I could feel your wonderful spirit while reading. It seemed that you were talking to me rather than writing. How happy I shall be when I can really hear your voice again and feel you near to me. A few days ago one of my new friends who is here with the Millspaugh mission had the thrilling experience of having his son fly in from Russia, and call him on the telephone from the air field. Then they were together for two or more days. I met this splendid young aviator and had dinner with him and his father. He is just your age within a few days, and he made me think of you so much I fear I was quite lost in thought a few times, and I guess my eyes were moist several times too. For I could not help but put myself in this happy father's place, and picture what i should do under similar circumstances. Your new A. P. O.  address card has just arrived so I

Mon. June 19, '44 Mom Dearest, By now Leona must have told you what's in the wind, but detailed information I couldn't give her and you either. Much as I'd like to tell you just where I am and what I'm doing I'll just have to bow to army security regulations. From now on you'll only know my general location such as the east coast as the army deems fit to reveal. They have given permission to let us tell about our pass to New York though. Bill Gross and I went into town with Edie Kahner and visited with Eddie's Folks over a swell dinner (in a neat restaurant-combined with Bar, etc). Then Bill and I went down town to do a little Night Clubbing. Of course you know that all night clubs make their money on Liquor and to stay in a place you've got to order a drink or in most places if you take a table, pay a minimum or cover charge. Bill was drinking Bourbon and Soda most of the time, but me? I had to vary it once in awhile-I'd take a coke

June 12th 1944 Dearest Mom and All, Gee Mom, I don't know what I'd do without letters from you, Leona and the folks at home. Anyplace outside of Utah can be so darn lonely without that spark from home to show that those you love are thinking of you. Polly honey, I know what you must be going through thinking of Jim with this invasion going on, but don't you fear-he's OK, and so are the boys entrusted to his care. I'm glad to say that we've got some swell officers to go over under now. Lt Tyler from Tyler Texas is a lot like Jim. He's a young Red Headed kid who thinks of the boys before himself and a guy you can trust with your life. Tell me as much as you can about where Jim is, etc. - Who knows I may get a chance to contact home somewhere soon. Ken really sounds as if he's going places. Passing Civil Service exams already! Just keep that up bud and you'll find your place in the world. As dad will tell you, Ken, a male steno who knows

May 7th 1944 I'm having to send yours and Muriel's pictures home to Leona. I hated like all get out to pack them this morning but five pounds of personal belongings won't allow for more than my toilet articles and one or two pair of garments (if they allow them). I'll bet Mip has been right in her glory there at home. I do hope you got to see her for awhile and get acquainted again. This business of scattered families isn't so hot. I'm so sorry to hear about Aunt Louise's death and I can imagine how grandma feels about it. I wish I could be with grandma for awhile. I know I could cheer her up, it's so hard for her to see the beauty in life when most of her grand children have been taken so far from her that they can't throw their arms around her and tell her how much we love her. The past week hasn't yielded any startling news for me to tell. I'm getting down into the routine of surveying and of course there are routine duti

April 30th '44 Dearest Mom & All, I enjoyed your letter very much today mom as I always do. By now you've received my letter which will answer most of the questions you ask. No mom I don't think too much of these two little stripes They mean no K. P. and not walking guard. (Cpts. merely post the sentinels) and $16.00 more a month and that's all. This stuff about the honor of being a Non Commissioned officer in the United States Army doesn't cut any ice. Besides if you 'look cross eyed' around the 16th you're liable to lose your rating and I won't kow-tow to anyone just to keep a rating either. I have been getting a lot of valuable experience at Camp Butner the past two weeks and I hope I can gain some more. Don't know whether we'll go back there again or not. We went through the gas chamber at Butner which was quite an experience. It certainly proved that. our masks are all right. We went in three times. First in tea

Dearest Mom, Just got back from camp Butner last night and received your letters-one dated the 10th and two the 18th with dad's letters in one of them. Gee it's good to get mail again after a week away, there were 9 here too from Leona. No mom, you don't have to put on my serial No. (36826849) That's just army post regulation for my return address so that I can use "free" mail. Mom I do wish Tec 5 meant Tec sergeant but I'll just show you how the ratings furn: (see image of page 1) Tec. stands for technician and the No. for the grade. Camp Butner was good experience for me because all we did was survey and didn't have to take time out for any details. The artillery range at Butner is an old worn out Plantation land. Most of the old Tobacco plantations have been bought up and the buildings and log cabins left empty. It was very interesting to wander through those old cabins that slaves probably once lived in. It's hard to tell

Dearest Mom & All, I've been holding off writing this post two weeks because every day I've expected to ship out. We were all set to go on our furlough when orders came thru to ship about 70% of us. Last Tuesday morning they had us pack our bags and be ready to leave by 10:00. Well 10:00 rolls around and every one leaves but those shipping in section 20-A There are 11 of uswho seem to be special cases. The rest of the boys (about 700) went to the university of Illinoise.  As far as we know, no one knows what is going to happen to us.  Of course rumors are flying thick and fast but none have been substantiated.  We may go to another university because none of us has failed any class, but then again we may go back to troops or to some special school. We all came into the program with the understanding that they could take us out at any time for no reason at all. They don't have the facilities for teaching a large number of adva

18 April 1944 Mom Dearest, I'm not trying to write a letter tonight just a note to let you know I'm all right and to ask a favor of you. Leona's birthday is May 2, and as yet I've been able to find nothing that I can get her. I do want to Surprise her with some flowers through mom. I could wire them I guess but delivery on the right day might not be certain and I know my mom won't let me down. If I were there & could be with her I'd give her an orchid corsage which she's always wanted but now I think a half dozen or a dozen of those deep red satin roses would be perfect. I don't know what the flower situation in Salt Lake is but will you just use your best judgement and get what you can? I'll enclose a note which I wish you'd put in and envelope and put in with them. Thanks loads mom. Right here i want to tell you mom how much I love you-only words just can't express the love this soldier feels for his mom. That is somet

To start off, I've been able to organize the letters I found from Dad's military service while packing up. In the coming days I'll be publishing the letters that lead up to his deployment on the continent.  Images followed by a typed version.  Feb 6, 1944 Dearest Mom & All, I meant to get this started earlier in the evening but Slim & Red grabbed me and took me over to the Field House on the other side of camp. The Roanoke Kiwanis club brought MP their Minstrel show and it was a 'hum-dinger'! They certainly raked up a lot of talent for a town of 60,000, the prettiest chorus line I've seen in an army show. We stayed a while after the show and talked to the manager and some of the troupe. Their next stop is White Sulfur Springs (Where our Sigma Nu Convention was held in 1941). It is now a big army rest home. Yes mom, I got your wire the day you sent it-you must have hopped right down to Western Union. I feel much relieved right now.