About Mudder

Bill's mother Alice Aten Taylor was born on September 26, 1900 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The first Aten arrived in the new world from Holland in 1650. Not much is known about Alice's early life. The Aten family consisted of Elijah and Elizabeth Aten, two daughters, including Alice and a boy and girl from Elizabeth's first marriage.

Alice married William Wellington Taylor in 1920 and shortly thereafter they moved from Scranton to Los Angeles. The Taylor's only child, Bill Jr. was born in 1925.

Although little is known about Alice's formal education it is clear that she was well educated and very informed about current affairs. She had a keen interest in politics and was very opinionated. Much of Bill's political awareness, cynicism and sarcasm is inherited from his mother. Alice characterized herself as a housewife and homemaker. She was devoted to her husband and only son.

About Letter 96

Invasion speculation continues to run rampant. The latest prediction is between May 2nd. and May 17th. It is the last week of Radio School and Bill says unless "they remove me" he will go out on C.P.X. or as Bill contemptiously calls it "a Boy Scout Signal Corps version of buvouac."

Letter 96- May 1, 1944

May 1, 1944
(Camp Crowder, Missouri)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

This has been some Mayday, rainy and windy as hell. I guess there’s not a “hellova” lot to write again tonight. I certainly haven’t been doing anything outstanding so I might as well not try to write much along that line.

I’m still in radio school. I’m very much mystified to say and this is the last week. After that unless they “remove” me we go out on C.P.X. That’s a Boy Scout Signal Corps version of bivouac. There’s only 2 things I don’t like about it. We don’t come in over the weekends and “wood ticks”. There’s no use saying anything about this either since nothing is definite yet.

Murphy, who was to get clerk schooling here went to Ft. Leonard Wood and from what he writes it’s pretty nice. They told him he’d get a furlough as soon as he finds out where he goes next.

Speculation is running high here over when the invasion will come. I hope it’s soon. I don’t like this lousy war. I heard an announcer predict that it’ll come between May 2nd & 17th. Who knows—not me.

What’ll I write now? I haven’t got any good ideas at all. This business of letter writing at night ain’t so hot. I’m always too sleepy to really tell you anything interesting.

I hope I get a furlough pretty soon. I’d like to get home before you forget what I look like.

How’s the bloomin’ lawsuit coming along??

Love,
Bill

About Letter 95

Invasion rumors are "humming" around Camp Crowder. The Germans have announced that the Allies are massing shipping in England. Delsin, a company "screwball", and former soldier in the British Eighth Army predicts the invasion will come in 10 days or less. Bill says that he is "just as dumb at code as ever, but still in radio."

Letter 95- April 28, 1944

April 28, 1944
(Camp Crowder, Missouri)


Dear Mudder and Dad,

Here I am again, way behind in my writing, Tuesday Guard Duty, Wednesday night hike 22 miles, Thurs. went to show, tonight “G.I. Party” so I’m still behind. I'm a bum.

I’m still in radio—just as dumb at code as ever but still in radio. The course is good as over so even if I do get kicked out I’ve had a course in radio. However, they’re beginning to hint around that somebody’s going to be dropped, but they’re nice about it anyway. They just say some fellows just aren’t cut out to be radio operators.

There’s a lot of rumors humming around here and most of them are about the invasion. There’s a fellow named Dalsin in our company who served for over a year in the British Eighth Army. He’s quite a character. One of those screwballs who probably get a commission but who’d rather be a private. He’s obviously very well educated and a very interesting talker. He’s spent some 5 or 6 years travelling in Europe and the Near East and can tell and show a person many interesting things. Anyhow—this Dalkin predicted this afternoon that the Invasion would take place in 10 days or less. He admitted it was quite a bold prediction yet who knows? This afternoon the Germans announced that the Allies are massing shipping in England.

Haven’t much else to write—Sorry. Guess I’m just getting sleepy.

FOREMOST THOUGHTS: FEELING FINE!
HOMESICK!
WANNA COME HOME!

Best Love,
Bill

P.S. Could use some stamps.

About Letter 94

Bill is "floating in the middle of a great void", waiting to be "tossed out of radio school." Turning to "pleasanter things" he notes that he heard the last few words of the popular Bing Crosby song, "The San Fernando Valley" and it sounded "swell".

Letter 94- April 24. 1944

April 24, 1944
(Camp Crowder, Missouri)

Dear Mother and Dad,

I received 3 swell letters from you today so I thought I’d at least better write you a note. It looks as if I’ll be out in the cold for the next 2 nights so I won’t be able to write. All this Boy Scout stuff you know. Things are pretty much the same around here—lousy in short—so I really don’t know what to write. I’ve been expecting to get tossed out of radio every day but they still haven’t heard anything so; I haven’t heard anything rather; so I don’t what is coming off. I find radio installation pretty interesting but without code there’s not much profit in it. I’m really floating in the middle of a great void. Nobody seems to know what goes and myself most of all.

Let’s talk about some pleasanter things. At the very most I’ll be out of here in about a month and maybe sooner, and the minute I get out of here I can apply for a furlough and don’t think I won’t be quick about it. They really don’t have to give me a leave but I’ll make ‘em wish they had. I’ll make an application every day if I must. I think I’ll be able to, however.

All I’ve heard about that song about San Fernando is the last few words I happened to hear in the Recreation Hall. You know, “and make my home in [the] beautiful San Fernando Valley.” That little bit sounded swell.

When you wrote about how Richard felt about leaving I felt awfully sorry. As much as he used to talk and all that he seemed to me less suited to military life than any of the rest of us. It’s probably pretty hard for him.

Best Love,

Bill


[Note: “The San Fernando Valley” was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943. It was a huge hit. Bill was raised in "the Valley"]