Letter 97- May 3, 1944

May 3, 1944
(Camp Crowder, Missouri)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Well, I’m off in the damn Guard House again. Woe is me. This is getting to be a nasty habit. I even wish at times that I weren’t in the army. Am I kiddin’? I’m somewhat lucky, however. The rest of the company has got one of those silly night problems and I’m getting out of that, thus killing two birds with one stone.

As I have [said] many times before, things are pretty much [the same] in radio school, but it’ll probably be the last time I’ll ever say so because training ends this week. I may go out on C.P.X. and then I may go out and have a continuation of radio. Still again I may go to Leonard Wood, then again I may go to another school here. That’s what I like about the army; one is always so certain of what comes next.

I got paid just the other day so my finances are pretty good. I got $23.00 and a bond came out of that. With the money I have left over from last month I’m doing O.K. I wish I had a little more chance to blow some of it.

As the papers say, we’ve been having a bit of “weathuh” up here. No floods but so damn much rain that on rare occasions I see the sun I feel as if I should worship it like a Druid or sumpin’.

Write me all the details of the trial Mudder. I think the laughs will be priceless. Wot a gal!!

Mudder, I’ve been looking for a Mother’s Day gift for you around here but have found nothing really suitable so I think I’ll just send a money order for $10.00 instead. Is that okay?

Best Love,
Your Brat
Bill

P.S. Please pardon the horrible handwriting.

About Dad

Bill's father, William Wellington Taylor, Sr. was born on June 2, 1898 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The first Taylor born in the new world, John Taylor was born in 1641 in Berkshire, Co. Massachusetts. Bill Sr.'s mother, Minnie Phillips Taylor was the daughter of Civil War veteran, William Beynon Phillips, who was captured at "The Battle of the Crater" and spent 8 months in a Confederate prison camp.

Bill Sr. graduated from Lafayette College in 1919 with a degree in English. Following his marriage to Alice Aten in 1920, Bill Sr. was offered a job to teach English at Harvard Military School in Los Angeles, California. His entire professional career would be spent at Harvard School where he would become head of the English Department before retiring after 35 years.

As is evidenced by the photo accompanying this profile, Bill's father had a broad sense of humor in addition to an outgoing personality. Both of these qualities were passed down to his only son.

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.