41-I Like My Clothes Plain

Episode 41: Donald hears word from Mac, and it would seem Jack is conspiring to transfer his brother. Meanwhile, Feloma is determined to get her man a ring so all the ladies know he's taken. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Welcome. That's right. Hello, hello. We need to insert the wildcat.

SPEAKER_02 0:22

Oh my goodness. Yes. Back again for another week of 500 letters to Nana. How are you doing this week, Carson? I'm good. Good. I have something in common with Donald. Tell me.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

I've walked. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

How far have you walked? I'm really proud of this. You should be. You should be. Tell everybody.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Okay. Since the beginning of the year and probably two weeks into January, because it was really cold in the beginning of the year. Your girls walk 300 miles.

unknown 0:50

Woo!

SPEAKER_01 0:51

So I feel for Donald, except I was wearing good shoes and I was only walking like two miles at a time. No, but that's awesome. That's so great. Oh my God. I I have a lot of sympathy for Donald and like I can't imagine walking a marathon.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Right. And you're doing it in your safe neighborhood. No one is like nobody's screaming and yelling at me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

There are no hills.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

There are no hills, but that's that's amazing. That's that's great.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

So yeah, I would like to put a dot on the map and have a 300-mile string and just see how far I can walk.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Yes, absolutely. Become funny. It's really great, honestly. Like 300 miles, that's nothing to sniff at. Like that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

Yeah, my husband's like, Well, can you do a thousand? I'm like, what? No.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

I just did it 300. Calm down.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

I know.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

It will get there.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

I know. I was like, no, that's not a goal.

SPEAKER_02 1:41

That's not a goal. What inspired you on this fitness journey?

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Um, well, I don't want to die. Yeah, same. Same. I gotta keep moving. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

I start.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

I'm gonna be a harder target to hit if I can move. Well, I'm out running death.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

100%.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

My my nobody gets out alive. I get it.

SPEAKER_02 1:59

No, but you know, we want to remain functional.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Uh my husband and I say the stronger you are, the more options you have.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Well, you know, I also think how many steps do I have left in my life? Am I using them all on my little power walk every day?

SPEAKER_02 2:15

No, no, you're only building them.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

You promise?

SPEAKER_02 2:18

I promise you.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 2:19

As a as a healthcare professional, I promise you. Okay. Walking is one of the best things you can do. I'm proud of you. I think that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

That's a lot. Interesting. I didn't, there is no goal. Yeah. To be fair, there is no goal. It's just how I just came across, I was like looking at my stats and I was like, oh my gosh, I can see how far I walk this year.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

I remember the last time I told you I had to gross I had to grow some miles.

SPEAKER_02 2:40

That's right. You did. You had to grow you had 144. Yeah. Um, yeah, it's not easy to stay consistent, and that's awesome. And it's only gonna be good for you and help you. It's great.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

I started a year ago walking. And yeah, so but this year, starting in the calendar year of 2026.

SPEAKER_02 2:58

Yeah, you're doing great.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Yeah, me and Donald.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

I swe well just marching along.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Yes. I do. I actually think about Donald when I'm on my walks. Because I think about, you know, I'm outdoors and I'm walking. Sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's cold. I'm not walking when it's wet, but you know, I do think about it. Right. And at least I have something to listen to. He'll he didn't he didn't have that that benefit.

SPEAKER_02 3:23

I think about that too all the time because cardio, and I get it. I get that he's not bored, but I get so bored doing cardio. Yeah. And then on top of it, I'm usually on a treadmill next to my husband, and he will uh surreptitiously increase the incline without me knowing. And I'll be like, why is it so hard? And then I look at him and he's laughing. But um, I get so incredibly bored, and I just think if I had nothing to listen to, I think I I just go nuts.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

That's what I mean. Like I just I do think about Donald when I'm walking, which is kind of funny. Throning on, just yes, and I think about what it would be like to walk forever, right? Like eight hours or however long he walks. Even just like, you know, he talked about drive driving. He talked about walking five miles to the range.

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Exactly. And then you have to do your day, and then you can't do it. My day is done. Yeah. After the gym, my day is done.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 4:20

Don't ask me.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

So, I mean, like, I don't know. I do, I think about it when I and I just, you know, when I'm out there walking, I I think about yeah. I'm suffering, but I'm like, oh, my suffering's nothing compared to thy.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Yeah. Well, you you truly have entered his headspace. So that's good. And I'm I'm glad. I'm proud of you for you should be proud of yourself, but I'm also proud of you for staying consistent. It's a I know, it's a whole thing, but like yeah, it's important for us. Oh, that's that's my big news.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

I have 300 miles under my belt this year.

SPEAKER_02 4:53

Yes, as we enter these years of our lives. I know. I'm gonna have to get some new shoes. Yes. Well, good. That means you're using them.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so we're rolling into episode 41.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

We are, and I actually have um I'm flipping it around a little bit on you today. We're actually gonna start with a letter from Mac.

unknown 5:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 5:16

Yes. Okay. So um the first letter we will hear from Donald this episode, he mentions I got a letter from Mac. Um, okay. So I'm gonna read her letter first. There's nothing that really connects in between, so it doesn't matter, but it's a short one and it's not a bonus. Yeah, it's not a bonus.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

Okay. Are you ready? Yeah. All right, so this is actually March 30th, 1944. From New Jersey. Dear Donald, your letter came two weeks ago, and I'm ashamed for not writing you sooner. Raymond, that's her husband, is still at Benning, but doesn't expect to be there very long. He was transferred to another company and now is awaiting another one. I don't know how the army runs things, but I guess they have good reasons for what they're doing. Not always. That's true. One of the fellows that I know in the ferry command came home from Ireland yesterday. Four days ago, he talked to Jack on the telephone from Foynes, Ireland. Wow. So Foines was, I don't and I don't know if I'm saying that right, so I'm very sorry if I'm mispronouncing it to anybody in Ireland. Um it's on the West Coast and it was a hub for um like a big land and stage. Yeah, exactly, exactly. He told Mackenzie to tell me that your transfer would be coming through soon. Which is a strange thing to say. So then that sentence is actually underlined and then in Donald's writing it says, I don't understand this part.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

I wonder what in the world. Yeah. Right. Your transfer is coming.

SPEAKER_02 7:09

Yes. So then she goes on. He said not to mention anything about it to anyone. I hope it turns out for the best. I suppose you know that mom was operated on and is fine now. She had the vein taken out and it looks good now. So this was her leg.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Okay, the varicose veins. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 7:30

As far as for myself, things are the same. Eat, sleep, and work. I wish all this madness would end soon for all the people of the world. What a statement.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

I tell you what, these Fiorinis are ever hopeful that this war is gonna end any day now.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

I know. Take good care of yourself and be more than extremely careful. I hope the next time you're home, I'll be able to see you. Love and best wishes always. Your sis, Madeline. And then there's not an actual PS, but under everything it says Ray sends his best wishes.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

That's interesting. I wonder if she was trying to help him get somewhere.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

I wonder. I wonder if Jack was trying to Jack is their brother that's in England. Correct. I wonder if he was trying to do something to get Donald over there.

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Yeah, I feel like he probably I think that's probably what it was, and he said, Don't mention it in case it doesn't happen. You know? That's interesting.

SPEAKER_02 8:30

Yeah, I don't I don't know what was going on, but it seems like they were trying to to what's the word I'm looking for?

SPEAKER_01 8:39

Grease the skids to get Donald out of the infantry division.

SPEAKER_02 8:42

Or I don't know to do something.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

To do something, I think be less on the front line somewhere.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

Right. Or at least to be like, hey, go over where Jack is and you two can at least hang out.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Yeah, and um Donald was a good infantryman.

SPEAKER_02 8:55

He was.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

He needed to get out of that.

SPEAKER_02 8:58

No, don't he's not an actuary. Don't do that to him.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Yeah, he's he's not a number guy. He's a fish and pole guy, but he's not a number guy. Yeah. So he that's just I don't see that happening for him. That makes sense. That's interesting.

SPEAKER_02 9:13

Okay, so the next letter is from Donald. And it is April 6th, 1944. Okay. My dear Philoma, I received two letters from you today dated April the third and was glad to hear from you. He got a twofer. He did. I also received a letter from Madeline today. In regards to your letter about you coming out, well, kid, here it is. I don't believe we'll be in this camp another month, and I don't know what really is taking place. By the looks of the situation, I believe we'll be moving out of here shortly, so you know how it is. You know dang well I miss you and Poochie. I even hate to think about it. I would just love to be home for another week. I just came back from the show, or should I say, a two-hour furlough. Four Jills and a Jeep was on. So have you ever heard of four Jills and a Jeep? No. No.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

So I'm not up on my 1940s movies.

SPEAKER_02 10:21

Of course not. Yeah, it's uh another 1944 classic. Classic. It's about four women who are on a radio show together and they decide to join the USO. Okay. Thinking that like the troops would need entertainment, and they kind of laugh about getting sent to the front line. Haha, that would never. But then they do. They get sent to the front line and um they realize that they don't need entertainment, they need nurses, so they end up trying to help as best they can in the situation. That actually sounds like a good movie. I know. And then at the end of it, they end up doing a show anyway to like that's funny. Raise morale. So yeah, anyway, for the first time.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

Well, Donald got to escape for two hours, is what he's saying.

SPEAKER_02 11:04

Exactly. He got a little two-hour break. Okay, he goes on. I see by the paper that a lot of fellows were called for examination. It's gonna be pretty rough on some of them. I see my new address is in there also.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

Well, kid, I haven't Oh, they published addresses so that people could rando skin letters.

SPEAKER_02 11:26

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

Oh, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 11:28

Yes. Yes, it is. Yes, yes, it is, Carson. Well, kid, I haven't much to write about. It's the same thing over and over, but just remember I say your name in every prayer, and I love and miss you as always. I've been thinking more about you and coming home every day since I've been in this camp, and I don't know why I think of this so strongly. I only hope it comes true quick. I love and miss you as ever. Love and kisses, Donald.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

I know why he's thinking about it constantly. The next step is he leaves. I know. And he knows he knows that's coming. He's like, I don't really want to go. I want to go home.

SPEAKER_02 12:12

Yeah, this was all fun and games until now it's getting training is very real. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And they're doing or I should say basic training is over.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Basic training's over, and he's still in training, but but a different kind of training that's getting him ready for the next step. And when that's over, it's over. Right. And he knows it. So I mean everlooming.

SPEAKER_02 12:33

Everlooming. That would be hard. April 7th, 1944. My dear Philoma. Well, another day has passed, and it was an easy one at that, but also lonesome. You know we have mail call here at noon instead of after supper like we used to have at a dare. I received a letter today from a fellow by the name of Jack Hunsinger from Ithaca, New York. And he's saving Army insignia, and he asked me if I would send him one of the 81st Division. So I guess I will. So to your point, Parson. Rando sending letters. Rando sending letters. Yeah. Wow. That's crazy. Yeah. So this guy's just like collecting insignia for fun. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:24

Yo, soldier, send me your insignia.

SPEAKER_02 13:27

Yeah. It's like uh very self-serving. 1944 eBay, but you're not paying. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I was acting as the enemy detail today, and that's an easy job. All you have to do is lay there and wait for the boys to come through and shoot blanks at them. I've been writing awful short letters to you lately, but kid, it just can't be helped. Take for instance tonight, I have to shine all my shoes, clean my mass equipment. Well, what's the use of writing about it? I'll put it this way. Everything I own, I have to clean for another inspection tomorrow again. A fella doesn't have very much time for himself around here.

SPEAKER_01 14:17

You know, poor Donald, he's always cleaning something. I know. I mean, it was just like this at Campadere. I know. I think he has forgotten.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

He has.

SPEAKER_01 14:25

He has very conveniently forgotten that he still had no time there either.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

Well, you know, it's that he's reminiscing. That's right. It's that thing where whenever you have um traumas, your brain just deletes them. And so he's like, uh, how terrible is this? And it's like, sir.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

I mean, it's exactly what he was complaining about at Adair. Yeah, but it's funny, he's like, Oh yeah, so I just don't have any time now.

SPEAKER_02 14:47

Yeah, I just keep cleaning.

SPEAKER_01 14:49

You were doing that an awful lot.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

Mm-hmm. Yes, our gang had a picture taken too, but I never got around to buy one. I didn't even care to have one of them. Yes, I've made some friends. The kid that sleeps next to me is from Allentown, and another Polish kid is from Michigan. Another Polish kid. In fact, quite a few. Well, the area where we where we're at, there's a lot of Ukrainian, Polish, Irish, and Italian.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

I don't know. It's just so funny to hear it ref hear him refer to people that way.

SPEAKER_02 15:25

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

You know, I mean I I get it because I think it was like a sign of the times, but Yeah, and it's still very I would never describe people like based on their where they're from, I guess. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 15:37

Yeah, I I think it's more of like um because he's still connected to his roots. And the Italian roots.

SPEAKER_03 15:49

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 15:50

And a lot of people in the area are closer to their um roots in that way, being closer to when they their ancestors or they themselves came over. So I think it's just kind of like a oh yeah, that guy's from, you know. Yeah. Like his folks are whatever. So I don't think it's anything.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

It's just I don't think it's anything either. I just think it's funny because we don't I I don't know if people don't do that anymore, or I didn't Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Like it's not how I it is different from today. Yes. You may you might ask today, you know, like, oh, you know, oh, your name's McLaren, you know. Yeah, we're gonna be like, are you are you Scottish?

SPEAKER_01 16:30

You're like, uh sure. I mean, I I don't think people know that now the way they did in the 40s either.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

You know kind of Americanized, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 16:41

Yeah, people assimilated. Yeah. Yeah. I believe the boys show a little more respect for me now since I've made the expert infantry test. I hope so. He worked for it. You know, there were eight sergeants who didn't make it in my group, and one of them has been in the army seven years.

unknown 16:59

What?

SPEAKER_02 17:00

You see, they sent about the best they had, and none of the new men was supposed to go out at all. But my platoon sergeant wanted me to take the test because he's a good guy and he knows what a fellow can do by talking to him. So he turned my name in. It's like Harry Potter and the goblet of fire. So when all the fellows heard I was going and was seven months experience in the army, they thought I would never make it. So this is one time I put everything I had into it, because I knew if I passed, they would look upon you as a good man. So now when I walk around, almost all the boys say, Hi, Effirini. They certainly learn your name fast in the army when something like that turns up.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

So in a way he knew he I knew he could do this.

SPEAKER_02 17:50

Absolutely. In a way, I'm glad I made it, and in another, I wish I didn't, because they make you wear everything that you earn around here, and I like my clothes plain.

SPEAKER_01 17:59

Of course, Donald.

SPEAKER_02 18:01

Yeah, but I think I think sometimes it's hard for him, like he doesn't it's it's strange because sometimes he is a little braggadocious, and sometimes you can tell he's like proud of it, but he doesn't want to be you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 18:16

Like, he should be proud of it because he's earned it.

SPEAKER_02 18:18

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

But he also doesn't need to show it.

SPEAKER_02 18:22

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 18:23

Him doing it for himself was enough for him.

SPEAKER_02 18:25

Right.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

He doesn't care, right? But it is also he I think he's glad that he has that respect, he's earned respect. He has shown, like, hey, I can do this. Yeah, it's easy.

SPEAKER_02 18:36

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

I think a lot of it was easy. I think because he spent so much time outside, he's comfortable doing these things.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Yeah. It's nice. I'm I'm happy for him. He gets a little a little boost there. He needed that. He does need that. Boy, you have to mark your number on everything you own around here. And when you wash it, the number comes off and you have to mark it over. I believe we'll be moved out of here shortly, kid. There's a lot of rumors floating around the latrine, and when rumors start, it usually happens, but not to the place where we usually think we're going.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

Because that's a secret.

SPEAKER_02 19:15

I know. That's right. I also love the idea of rumors floating around the latrine. Latrine.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

That's so funny. Well, I mean, they were in they were in these small huts without a lot of people in them. And so now he like we're we're where's the central command of people.

SPEAKER_02 19:35

Exactly. Where's the water cooler? Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 19:37

It's a latrine. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 19:41

I just lit the stove. It was getting kind of chilly in the hut. I don't know, kid, but I wouldn't be afraid to bet the war with Germany will be over in three months. Wrong again. I don't know why I should say this, but I got a hunch that it will. For the simple reason that when we start I got a hunch. I got a hunch. For the simple reason that when we start our invasion in France, and from what I see in my mind it will be France, that it won't last over three months after they start. For we have a great force over there, all primed up and just waiting for the H hour, which I think is coming pretty shortly. And once they start and they get through the first defense position that the Nazis have set up there, they will move rapidly into Germany, and I do mean rapidly. I don't know, but it's a great morale builder to have this feeling. It sort of makes the days go by a lot faster. So it's interesting to me that they kind of know that we're gonna be invading France and it's going to happen soon. It does happen in you know two months basically, or you know, six, seven weeks. Um yeah, well, it's like two months. But the war lasts, you know, a full another year after that, basically. But in in Europe.

SPEAKER_01 21:00

Yeah. Um I mean it's interesting they think it's going to go that fast.

SPEAKER_02 21:07

Yeah, that they're just gonna tear through. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean it's Or that the Germans will just kind of give up. But they don't know, no, no. But yeah, it is interesting that they he's like, I think it's gonna be France and I think it's gonna be soon.

SPEAKER_01 21:24

Man, that's it's very interesting he knew that. I mean, I guess it's not a secret because everybody knew it. I guess. The Germans I think the Germans knew that it was happening. I think they just didn't know exactly where. Didn't they have the wrong location?

SPEAKER_02 21:40

Exactly. They were trying to Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:42

Yeah. But it is it's kind of cool that he knows that it's the rumor I don't know if it's the rumor mill or just in general, if the US had that same sense sense that it was coming, that they knew that things. Things needed to happen, you know, like the US has to get involved, you know, and this is where we're gonna do it.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

Yeah. Yeah, that was interesting.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Very.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

I haven't sewn on my PFC as yet, and I don't intend to, because as I mentioned, I like my clothes plain. I'm getting your mail. It's wearing the wrong ring. He doesn't care. I'm getting your mail regular too, and it comes more steady than it did at Camp Adair.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

I don't know if that's true. He got letters from her all the time.

SPEAKER_02 22:35

I know.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

This is a good one. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 22:38

Yeah. I'd like to have you come out, kid, but as I said, we're gonna ship out of here pretty soon. I'm pretty sure of that. How is everything at home? I hope everything is going along fine. I'll bet Jake was a stinking mess. Obviously. I don't know why Jake was a stinking mess. I don't have the letter.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

He must have been a skunk.

SPEAKER_02 22:59

Oh, maybe he went after a skunk.

SPEAKER_01 23:02

Absolutely. Probably.

SPEAKER_02 23:05

I only hope that my belief is right and the next time I come home it will be to stay. He's right about that. He is right about that. I love you very much, dear, and I think of you every day. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. I always try to think of what you're doing, and right now it's 15 minutes to eight. So I presume you're in bed. Well, kid, I'm gonna start clean cleaning my equipment. It will be twelve before I'm finished. So that's why I wrote to you first. So you'll get three pages instead of one.

SPEAKER_01 23:38

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 23:39

I love and miss you as ever. Love and kisses, Don. He knew first of all, was her PS. No.

SPEAKER_01 23:46

Okay. He knew he understands what it's like to get a long letter versus a short letter. So he absolutely put some effort into this. And was like, okay, I'm gonna give her a long letter. And I also think it's sweet that he is. I think Philoma wants to come to California.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

Very badly.

SPEAKER_01 24:07

And he is like, I think he wants her there and he doesn't want her there. I mean, of course he wants her there, but he knows there's no place for her there. And ultimately he's like, I'm not gonna be here long enough for you to be here. Right. But I mean it's I just think it's sweet because I know I gosh, I wish we had her letters because I know that she's saying, Can I come to California?

SPEAKER_02 24:29

Exactly. I remember in one of the letters she wrote, she said, My bags are packed. Like I'm just say the word.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

I'm I'm I'm I'll be there.

SPEAKER_02 24:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

I mean, and just think about her back at home with her parents and her grandparents, and she is like, I'm going to California. I'm going to see my husband. I'm gonna go to California.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

Yep. I will do it.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

I'm gonna do this. And they're probably a nervous wreck thinking about her getting on a train, going to California.

SPEAKER_02 24:59

Exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

I can't even well, first of all, I can't even imagine what that train trip would look like for her. I mean, we've kind of heard what it was like for Donald, but like she would just be a civilian traveling. Right. Okay, but like you're traveling by train for days, you're sitting in a chair for days.

SPEAKER_02 25:14

For days.

SPEAKER_01 25:15

Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:15

Like no cell phone. No, yeah, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

Yeah, that's very hard. Okay, that would be very hard to herself. I know, that's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_02 25:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:25

It'd be very scary doing that. Right. I would be so petrified to be like, okay, I have to stay here. I can't. Right.

SPEAKER_02 25:31

I mean, she is no one to trifle with, but at the same time.

SPEAKER_01 25:35

Yeah, but I mean, she's also she would be traveling across the US. Yeah. Like a lot can happen there. No, and she's ready, she her bags are packed. She's ready to go to California.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

Exactly. And in the five days it takes her to get there, he might be in Texas. You know, like we just can't. I know.

SPEAKER_01 25:50

There just isn't a good and then how would they even figure out where to meet and all that? I mean, but she I mean, she's desperate. I think one, she wants to see him, but two, I think she really wants to go to California.

SPEAKER_02 26:02

She, you know what? I bet she does. I bet she wants to see Hollywood. I think she does.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

Like, you know, maybe she's like a 23-year-old young lady who's like, I want to go to California. My husband's there.

SPEAKER_02 26:15

I didn't think of that angle, but I guarantee you she wanted to go to California.

SPEAKER_01 26:19

Oh, there was a secondary game. Yeah. She got to go to California.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

She's trying to go to Hollywood.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Exactly. She's gonna see her husband and she's gonna go to California. She's like, hmm. I'm gonna be I'm gonna go to I'm a small town girl, guess discover.

SPEAKER_02 26:33

Yeah. That's funny.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

I that's what I think.

SPEAKER_02 26:36

I'll take it.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

I mean, it's sort of like a daydreamy thought.

SPEAKER_02 26:39

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

You know? What else does she have to think about? Well, that's way better than this war.

SPEAKER_02 26:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:45

You know, for sure. That's what I'd rather be thinking about.

SPEAKER_02 26:48

Yeah. She's like, maybe I'll just join a USO troop. I got talents. I got talents. Okay. All right. Next letter, April 8th, 1944. Okay. My dear Philoma, another day has gone and I wasn't gonna write tonight, but I thought I had better in case I wouldn't be able to write to you tomorrow. Oh no. I received your letter where you stated you was to Wilkes bear and got yourself a new dress. That's okay. I bet you will look good on it. Tomorrow is Easter. I hope you will enjoy it. Last Easter I remember we went over and got your Aunt Jane for dinner, but I guess it won't be that way this year.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

Oh that's a that's a crazy thought, isn't it? Mm-hmm. A year ago they could Wow. A lot changes in a year.

SPEAKER_02 27:37

Mm-hmm. We're going on a five-day problem next week, so I won't be able to write to you again for five more days. By the way, did you ever shine that canteen and canteen cup with Brillo that I sent home? If you have some time, I wish you would, but make sure it's good and dry before you put it away, or it will rust all to pieces. I love that he sent a canteen and a cup home.

SPEAKER_01 28:04

Like And also, shine it up. Dry it down before you put it away.

SPEAKER_02 28:11

Yeah, make sure, as if she doesn't know how rust works. Anyway. I just love that he's literally sending home every piece of equipment that he has. It's so funny to me.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

He's literally the song by Johnny Cash.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

He is, he cannot waste things.

SPEAKER_01 28:27

I can't remember the name of the song, but I did it one piece at a time. One piece at a time.

SPEAKER_02 28:31

That's it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

He is he is so there's gonna be a whole surplus.

SPEAKER_02 28:36

Exactly. And the thing is, I remember him having a canteen in a cup. I doubt it was this original one, but he I remember he always kept it in the Jeep that he would take around. Yeah, anyway. All the fellows that made the expert infantry test had their picture taken today to be put in the paper. So next week I'll send you the camp paper, okay? Ooh. Boy, we're having some trouble with our dang stove. It's colder than an iceberg in our hut now. We also had our inspection today, and now tomorrow we have to pack everything in my barracks bags again.

SPEAKER_01 29:14

I wasn't there were just like three separate thoughts in that one sentence. I know. He's he's all over the place. Oh, it's mighty cold in here.

SPEAKER_02 29:23

Mm-hmm. Boy, it's just like moving every week with all these inspections going on around here. All a fellow does is put his stuff in and out of the barracks bags. He's right. Mm-hmm. Um now we're back to Easter. Okay. I wrote you before about your outfit that I thought you would look swell in it, but I guess maybe you didn't get my letter by the time you sent this last letter to me. So Chip is tying his flies. Well, there you go, Donald. There you go. I only wish I was there to help him. The war really looks good at the present time, but old Nimitz has got the South Pacific just about under control at the present. I was reading in the paper where the New England states and the middle all had quite a snowstorm a few days back, and I guess that was when you were to Wilkes Bear. It's been awful nice here lately, but it gets cold at night. These next five days I guess I'll have to sleep with my clothes on to keep warm if that's possible. The ground gets pretty hard and cold. I don't know what it feels like to sleep in a sorry. I won't know what it feels like to sleep in a bed with sheets on. I guess when I was home on furlough, it went by just like a dream.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

I love the idea of him sleeping on the ground without clothes on. He's like, I guess I'll sleep with my clothes on. I'm like, I hope you are, Donald. It's pretty cold out there. Oh my gosh. Sorry.

SPEAKER_02 30:57

That's so funny. I mean, that's the way he said it.

SPEAKER_01 31:00

Like, what else would you be sleeping in?

SPEAKER_02 31:01

It's the alternative, Donald. Oh no. Yeah, what are you sleeping in?

SPEAKER_01 31:04

I guess he means all of his clothes?

SPEAKER_02 31:06

I'm sure he means like his overcoat and stuff, but that's no good catch. That's funny.

SPEAKER_01 31:11

I mean, it's just, I don't know. It's just it's just kind of funny thinking about it.

SPEAKER_02 31:18

Well, Easter has just come in and it's one minute after 12 at the present. Oh. Two of the fellows just came in now and they're plastered drunk. By the looks of Link, he must have hit the road. His nose is all skinned up. Well, kid, I'm gonna sign off. The way these two canaries are bothering me, I can't write anything. I love and miss you as ever, dear. Love and kisses, Don.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

I love the idea of thinking about him in his hut with these two guys coming in.

SPEAKER_02 31:49

Like just burst blitzed. Yeah, just just telling, yelling at him, that good drunk yell talking. They're happy. They're happy. They're explaining the night. You know, Link has like blood coming down his nose. Like, that is so funny.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

Oh, that is it is kind of funny. Oh my gosh. I can't do anything anyway. These two knuckleheads are in here.

SPEAKER_02 32:12

I love that he calls them canaries.

SPEAKER_03 32:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:16

It is pretty funny. Just chirping away. Yep, just chirping away. All right. Um, okay. Next letter is Easter Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

Oh, he did write the next day. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 32:30

My dear Philoma, I received your letter of April 6th and was glad to hear from you. Well, today is Easter Sunday, and I hope you didn't spend it like I did. Uh-oh. I was packing my barracks bags again for tomorrow. We go out in the field for a week, so you won't be able to hear from me again for another week. That Schrader boy is an A company right down the street a little ways from me. So I must be a local person. It has to be a local person. There are 17 million shraders, so I could not figure out which one was him. Just the Schrader boy. I don't know anything else. So maybe, maybe my mom will know it's a good one.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

It was like wait, it was like that family with those um The eight kids. The eight sons that were all in the military.

SPEAKER_02 33:19

Yeah, there's there's um teen Schrader families in that area, so I have no idea. It was certainly a beautiful day, and it was really sunny, but it gets awful cold at night. I don't understand you sometimes when you say the girls should see my wedding ring you're going to get. Everybody knows I'm married, and they always call me the perfect husband because it's seldom I ever go out of the hut.

SPEAKER_01 33:45

You know, I just want to say she's like all those girls. I'm like, phaloma honey.

SPEAKER_02 33:50

There are no girls. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_01 33:52

He isn't a sea of men out there.

SPEAKER_02 33:54

I know, and I do remember um a while back she was talking about getting him a wedding ring. Um, and it's like she wants to make sure people know he's married, and he's like, Philoma, what what women? What girls?

SPEAKER_01 34:08

What are you talking about? Exactly. It's it is funny. She's like, excuse me, I need everybody to back off my man. Exactly. He's mine.

SPEAKER_02 34:16

Yeah, I can't remember who it was, but a listener sent me, sent us uh that meme of the guy, and it was like a knight on a horse, and he's telling his Guinevere or whatever, you know, I'm going off to war, and she says, Don't talk to any girls there. That is so funny, and that is very philoma coded. Very so funny.

SPEAKER_01 34:37

Gosh, it was the best. It was the best. I was so hard. But it's she's so funny about it. Right. He does it. I mean, when he first of all, he doesn't go out the way the other guys do. He's not drinking, he's not partying, he's not doing these things. No, no. And I mean, there are no women, and that's what she doesn't understand. She does not understand it. She sh he can say it till he's blue in the face. Yeah, and she's like, doesn't know it.

SPEAKER_02 35:04

Just so you know.

SPEAKER_01 35:05

Just so you know, it's just your lifestyle out here.

SPEAKER_02 35:08

Yeah, every woman in California needs to know.

SPEAKER_01 35:10

Well, she is thinking about all the women in California is what she's thinking about. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 35:15

Yeah, I think that's so funny. You were talking about pictures. Well, it just seems as though you mentioned it at the right time. A fellow just got a camera and we took some pictures, but I didn't take any alone. But if they come out good, I'll send them to you and you can put them in the album.

SPEAKER_01 35:33

So he did he have a camera or did he use somebody else's camera? He's using somebody else's. But when he was at a dare, he didn't have a camera. No, he was using someone else's. And she would just send him film.

SPEAKER_03 35:46

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 35:46

Okay. Yep. Because it's crazy the pictures that they have. Oh, I know.

SPEAKER_02 35:51

Crazy. I'm sorry to hear that the weather is nice one day but bad the next. That's spring. That's spring. Boy, we certainly had a circus here last night. Oh dear. Old Link was drunker than a monkey. And so two canaries were singing. That's that's right. So we found some camouflage paint and painted his face all up with it. And boy, was he a mess this morning.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

I wonder if he was awake when the painting was going on.

SPEAKER_02 36:21

Absolutely. I'm sure not. I'm sure not.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Is he the one who scuffed up his nose?

SPEAKER_02 36:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 36:28

He's like, what happened?

SPEAKER_02 36:31

He's he goes on, what a headache he had. Boy, this old hut is a mess. Bags and clothes all over the floor. Boy, kid, I haven't a hell of a lot to write about, but I'll keep trying. Maybe I can make two pages.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

You know what? If you would just tell us more of the antics of going on. Yes, tell us about Link. Tell us kind of everything. I mean, I know that she doesn't want to hear it, but I would love to know more.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

But here's the thing, she would like to hear it. Like tell me the drama. Tell me. Funny. On this problem next week, it's just an endurance problem. All we get to eat is C and K rations, one canteen full of water every day, and 20 miles of hiking. So by the time you get this letter, you better eat an extra pork chop for me, okay?

SPEAKER_01 37:21

You know, he says it's gonna be so hard, and last time it wasn't. Remember it was like one meal, one canteen of water.

SPEAKER_02 37:28

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 37:29

I don't think that's true, but that is what they that is the scuttle buttons.

SPEAKER_02 37:33

Like, exactly. And they might try to scare him a little bit. I don't know. Maybe they want them to kind of have that mindset.

SPEAKER_01 37:40

Well, I think you have to consider when they go to war, they're not gonna get right.

SPEAKER_02 37:46

You're not always gonna have a chow truck coming. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:49

So I do kind of get that. You never know, so you need to kind of be prepared for that, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 37:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:56

Face the hardship.

SPEAKER_02 37:58

Exactly. I also looked up, I don't know if this is interesting to anyone but me, but I looked up the different types of rations. Okay. So, like in a nutshell, this is a very broad overview. Okay. Okay. But like an A ration is the stuff that you get at the mess hall. So it's like the good stuff, the fresh stuff, the actual cooked stuff, you know, like the freshly cooked stuff.

SPEAKER_01 38:21

Yeah, the the couple episodes ago we had a K ration.

SPEAKER_02 38:24

Yes. B ration is like a little bit more, like might be dehydrated, um, but doesn't need refrigeration, and that's normally like out in the field, but still getting cooked by somebody. Okay. Okay. So then C ration is what you think of when you think of like an MRE. So like you're making it yourself in an austere environment. That's a C ration. Okay. D-ration was a chocolate bar that was filled with vitamins. Okay. And the idea was that is like this is a high energy thing that they can nibble on if they need it, if they don't have anything else. That was a D-ration. Um, and actually, that specific chocolate was made by Hershey, and it was made to not melt at higher temperatures, so that if they were in the Pacific, it would and so like melt in your mouth, not in your hand.

SPEAKER_00 39:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:24

Yeah. That's where it came from. Oh my gosh. Yes, I know. Crazy. And then um K ration is similar to C ration, only pared down more because it was for paratroopers, so it needed to be lighter. Okay. So, but the same kind of idea, like a light MRE. It was a K ration.

SPEAKER_01 39:43

That's kind of interesting. Yeah. So never even occurred to me. What did he say he was getting?

SPEAKER_02 39:47

He is getting C and K ration. So basically MREs.

SPEAKER_01 39:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 39:51

Yeah. Okay. I just it bothered me. I didn't know what he was talking about. Okay. Okay. So then he goes on about what they're about to do. It's a 100-mile course called the Burma Road. And it really looks like the Burma Road. Just a one-way cut through the mountain. And boy, what mountains.

unknown 40:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 40:12

So now, are you familiar at all with the Burma Road? No. Okay. So it was made in the 30s. Okay. Okay. And it was from uh present-day and Myanmar. Oh yeah. Okay. To China. Okay. So it was like a 700-mile road. Oh, I'm halfway there. Sorry. You are halfway there. Keep going.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

Yeah, your goal should be the Burma Road. Okay. I'll hit 700 miles before the end of the year. Guaranteed.

SPEAKER_02 40:44

When you get to 700, you need to let you know something. Yeah, please do. So, but some of the parts are super mountainous. So the road literally looks like zigzags.

SPEAKER_01 40:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 40:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:54

That's okay.

SPEAKER_02 40:55

Yeah, here's a picture of it.

SPEAKER_01 40:57

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 40:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:59

So that looks miserable.

SPEAKER_02 41:01

Exactly. So, but you have to, you know, kind of follow the path of the mountains. So I'm not sure. Well, I mean, that's an easier.

SPEAKER_01 41:08

That would be an easier path than going up and down. Up and over. You know, you're just walking on the those are like ridgelines, but still it just looks like it is twice as far as it needs to be.

SPEAKER_02 41:19

Yeah. Yeah. So that's the Burma Road. So that was important for like supplies and all that kind of stuff. And um the movie Bridge on the River Kwai. Oh, yeah. That takes place on the Burma Road. It's fictional. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, that's where that comes from.

SPEAKER_01 41:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 41:39

Moving on.

SPEAKER_01 41:40

So what did he say about the Burma Road?

SPEAKER_02 41:42

He said the hundred-mile course is like the Burma Road. Okay. It looks like it. Oh. Because it's like a cut road between mountains. Yeah. So it's that kind of the company pulled guard again today, and boy, I was lucky not to get on that or KP for today. I tore that Easter card you sent me that had the powder in it and took the cotton out and put it under my pillow. And boy, what a lovely smell. I don't know what he's talking about. I don't know if she like spritzed it with perfume and him like ripping it like interesting. Letting it let it out a little more or like the powder. I don't know. I looked up like cards, like perfume cards or powder cards. Yeah, nothing.

SPEAKER_00 42:30

Nothing.

SPEAKER_02 42:31

Nothing. So I don't I don't know. I'm I'm thinking maybe she spritzed something on it for him. But I I truly don't know.

SPEAKER_00 42:38

Perfumed.

SPEAKER_02 42:39

Yeah, or like sprinkled some I don't know. Not phaloma sending white powder in an envelope, you know. Yikes. Okay. It's kind of really there's oh, moving on. There's a lot of suckass around here. And they squeal on one another to the first sergeant. And I don't care for that too much.

unknown 43:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 43:07

But then he doesn't explain. Okay. I bought myself. Rando thought. Yep. I bought myself a pair of shoe trees. They will keep my slippers from getting all smashed up in my barracks bags, I hope. Well, kid, Easter is just about over. I only hope I don't have to tell you the 4th of July is over via letter. I hope to be home if that's possible. You know, Donald, I think I think you're gonna be home by July 4th. Yeah. Here's the hopin'. Here's the hoping, kid. Well, kid, it's gonna be another spell before you hear from me. And I hate that. I love and miss you so very much, and Herky does too. Oh Herky. Loving missing you as ever. Love and kisses, Don. Yeah, they've been bringing up Herky and Pooch. Mm-hmm. Happy Easter, dear twenty seven X's.

SPEAKER_01 43:59

Awww. That's very sweet. It is very sweet. You know, they're ever hopeful that the war is going to end. I don't think it is. No. I don't know how long it's gonna be before he sees her, but I think it's gonna be longer than a couple of months. Yes. I would assume so. So the very first time you ever told me really about these letters, you did tell me some details of letters that I know are coming. Okay. It's so funny to have an inkling of what's coming.

SPEAKER_02 44:36

Oh, I've been saying yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:39

And like, I mean, this was you told me this before the podcast was ever even an idea, right? Right. So it's kind of funny, like knowing how far he has to go.

SPEAKER_02 44:51

Exactly. I've been, you know, as I have been talking to people about this project, I've been saying it's very funny because it's like reading a book, but you already know the ending. Yeah. So it's interesting from that perspective to Yeah, and that's I think that's exactly what I'm trying to say.

SPEAKER_01 45:10

Is that I know a couple of tidbits at the end. Okay. I'm not gonna say what they are. When we get there, I'll say that. Oh, I remember you telling me this. Yes. You know, but I mean, I just know that gosh, there's so many, there's so many letters between now and then. Like, he's hoping that he'll be home in a couple of months. Well, it is called 500 letters to Nana. We're at letter like 140 something. Right. Okay. And like we have like 400 letters left. At least 350. We have a journey. And it's just kind of crazy to think about that. You know, and I mean, I think if Donald had been told at the beginning you're gonna write your wife 500 letters, he'd be like, No way I'm here that absolutely not.

SPEAKER_02 45:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:57

He would not have believed it.

SPEAKER_02 46:00

He's it's very interesting how mentally he he does very much hope for the best, but internally he does prepare for the worst. Like he always says, Oh, I know I'm gonna get the worst duty. I know it's gonna happen to me because you know, he he kind of acts like he has terrible luck and all these things.

SPEAKER_01 46:19

But he is But I think you're mentally preparing yourself for you do that. Absolutely. You're like, okay, I I don't want to have to do this, but if I do, this is what I'm gonna do. You know? But I think it's just I'm so sad for him because he Yeah. The invasion's coming, the war's gonna end, and I'm coming home, dear. Yep. And it's like oh see on the fourth. I mean, we got we'll cook up some dogs. Hundreds of letters left here. Yeah. Yeah, cook up some dogs. Yeah. If only.

SPEAKER_02 46:52

Yeah, if only. Oh man. All right. Well, that's where we're we'll stop today. Okay, that was a good one. Yeah. I always say that though. Well, they're he's he's a good writer. Yeah. Um, so thank you so much for listening to us. Um, you can follow along with Donald's Journey at 500letters to Nana.com and at 500letters to Nana on Instagram. And we are signing off from uh camp San Luis Obispo, California. And we are about 2400 miles from Nana.

SPEAKER_01 47:27

Oh. So long to go.

SPEAKER_02 47:29

Yeah, almost there. Let us know when you hit 700, Carson.

SPEAKER_01 47:32

Oh, it's gonna be a minute. Okay. Bye. Bye.