June 16, 1942 While working in Alaska, Charles received a notice from the local Skagit County draft board that his induction into the US Army would take place during the first part of July, 1942. Charles was now 28 years old.
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July 30, 1942 Charles was at Camp Callan, Calif, now the site of the Torrey Pines Golf Course, in La Jolla, near San Diego. His rank was Private. He was in telephone technician's school, in an anti-aircraft training unit.
Camp CallanBefore it was a world class golf facility, the land that would become Torrey Pines Golf Course was Camp Callan, a military training center. With the advent of World War II, the U.S. Army leased 750 acres of Torrey Pines Mesa from the City of San Diego for training purposes.The camp was created as an anti-aircraft artillery replacement training center.About 15,000 men went through a 13 week training cycle with a strong emphasis on modern coast artillery and anti-aircraft defense weapons. The camp opened during January, 1941, and closed November, 1945. The buildings were torn down and used for lumber to build homes for veterans. By 1942 the post had over 297 buildings, covered 23 blocks, had 5 post exchanges, 3 theaters and 5 chapels. It extended from the southernmost boundaries of Torrey Pines Park towards the Muir Campus of UC San Diego. In return for an occupational permit to use the lower portion of the park, the military had to guarantee that no part of the park would be damaged. The park itself was kept open to the public. |
July 30, 1942, Postmark is Camp Callan, Calif.
Return Address:
Pvt. Chas. Pressentin U.S. Army, Battery C 53rd A.A. Tng.Bn., 2nd Platoon,
Camp Callan, Calif.
Dear Pongee and Al & family,Well I'm kinda getting situated and so far all I can say is that I believe I'm going to like the place. Oh! I can think of lots other things and places that I'd rather be, but I still consider myself very lucky to be chosen to come into this training school. We are supposed to be the cream of the crop. "Officer Material" After we finish our 12 weeks course here, those who can qualify then will be shipped on east to complete their training and receive a commission.
Even if I don't make the East Coast I'm sure to leave here with a non commission rating. I don't believe I can pass the trigonometry course required to go east. They say here that they'll help me on it. They'd like to see everybody make the East Coast school.
There is certainly a nice bunch of fellows here. We all have to work mighty hard. We will receive here in six to 12 weeks what used to take one year in the regular Army. We have to drill and attend classes all day then at night we must study like the devil for the next day.
My puppies are sure barking. I've managed to get one pair of shoes broke in. Now I'm starting on my second pair. My clothes will all have to be changed too. Gosh they gave me size 17 shirts, my size being not over 16 and I can wear 15 ½. I guess they don't have any half sizes around here though.
You better drop me a card. I'm sure I'm one up on you. Love, Chuck
Chuck added a note: This place is located right on the seashore. The climate is a lot like home. It's really rather cool.
[The top of the stationery has a drawing of the " Coast Artillery Replacement Center, Camp Callan, Torrey Pines, San Diego, California."]
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Aug. 27, 1942, Postmark is San Diego, Calif.
Dear Pongee and Family,
I just about had you on my black list. It seems like weeks since I've heard from you.Well in the next letter I'll try and send some pictures of me in the different uniforms. Yes we have to change uniforms every time we eat. We call our dress outfit O.D.'s and then we do our drilling and training in "fatigues" or overalls. Whenever we have to fall out for formation, sick call, mess call or anything special we must change clothes. It seems like we spend half our time dressing and undressing. Really though in just the ordinary day we dress and undress 4 times.
Say can I make a bed now. I've got to a point where I can even do it in the dark. Shucks, when I came home Sat. nite my bed had been short-sheeted so I had to make it over in the dark. Next morning I found I'd done as well in the dark as in the daytime. Our training schedule is really beginning to get tough. It doesn't leave me much time to waste. It seems like it's always 8:30 before I get my work and studies caught up, by that time it's too late to go any place. I go into San Diego on Sat. nite and then Sundays I've been doing a little swimming. I broke my wrist a week ago but I've already got the cast off—just an adhesive tape binding now. We were having gun drill and a couple of us got to playing too rough.I had a letter from Pop, Tudy and Carol. ["Pop" was Chuck's father, Charles von Pressentin; Tudy and Carol were Charles' sisters—Mildred and Caroline] Tudy says she's sending me some cookies. I try to call the folks every week. It only cost $1.75 and it's sure worth it. Mom gets a big kick out of it. As long as I can keep winning at poker I'll be able to keep the phone calls up. I've sure been lucky so far. I bought a pair of dress shoes with my winnings tonite. Well write soon Pongee. I expect you're more than busy though getting the kids ready for school.
Variety of uniforms at Camp Callan, August 1942
Left Photo: Chuck, second from left, Right Photo: Chuck, on the right
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Sep. 23, 1942, Postmark is San Diego, Calif.
Dear Pongee,
Thanks heaps for the Cookies. They are swell. I'm eating one right now. All the boys think they are O.K. too. They arrived in the best of shape.Louise [sister of Pauline and Chuck] sent me a piece of Grams' birthday cake. [Probably Wilhelmine von Pressentin] It was also very good. I must write her tonite. She insisted I be sent a piece of it. She wrote her name on the card that came with it. She's really remarkable for her age.
I made some phonograph records and sent them home—you'll no doubt hear about them. I made them at the Chinese Graumans Theater in Hollywood. I'm getting along fine in school. I've been doing instructing for the last week now. I'm really beginning to like it. Seems funny though—me telling a bunch of fellows about telephones & etc.
I'll close Pongee. Love, Bub~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chuck's Letters from Los Angeles
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October, 1942 Charles was sent to Los Angeles for a 9 weeks course at the "National Schools" for special training in electricity. He was billeted at Casa de Rosas Inn, 2608 South Hoover St., Los Angeles, Calif. near the University of Southern Calif. Charles was now drawing a sergeant's pay but he would not get any increase in rank as long as he was in this school.
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Casa de Rosas, also known as the Froebel Institute and the Sunshine Mission, is a historic building in the West Adams district of Los Angeles. The building was designed by Sumner P. Hunt and built in 1893. It was originally an experimental kindergarten and has also been used over the years as a prestigious college preparatory school for girls, an inn and restaurant, a military barracks in World War II, the headquarters of L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics Foundation, and a shelter for homeless women. |
Oct. 2, 1942, Postmark is Los Angeles
Return Address: Pvt. Chas. Pressentin U.S. Army, Casa de Rosas Inn, 2608 South Hoover St., Los Angeles, Calif.
Dear Pongee & Family,
Well this is the last of my [Camp] Callan stationery. I kinda hated to leave the place. Every day I spent there, I'll remember as long as I live. I did have a lot of experiences there. Yes! I believe I did everything that was shown in the "Ozzlefinch." [See below **]
I'm pretty lucky, I passed the examination and was one of 80 picked from all over the U.S. for this 9 weeks course here at the National Schools. It's the first time or the first Army group to receive this special training in electricity. After I finish my course here, I'll go to Camp Davis N. Carolina for six weeks more training and should have a commission of some kind by that time. It seems like all I've done so far is study and all the future holds is more. I should wind up though with a darn good rating.
We are being quartered in a pretty nice place here. We are only 4 blocks from the University of Southern Calif. and only 15 minutes from downtown. We go to school from 8 to 5 weekdays and have the reset of the time to do as we wish. We don't have any bed check or any more marching to do. We eat all our meals in a big cafeteria and get what we want [and] all [we] want. In fact we are living pretty much as civilians.
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I've had a raise in pay but we don't get any increase in rank as long as we are here in school. I'm now drawing sergeant's pay. Lord I've sure had to study. All of this stuff is advanced algebra and trigonometry. Another thing that keeps me hustling is the fact that nearly all the fellows have college degrees. They've all got the jump on me. So far I'm managing to keep up.
Gosh! I sure got a long letter from Snooks [Charle's sister, Louise] tonite. I guess Pop and Mom don't know what to do with themselves since Bunk [Charles' youngest sister, Erma] has left. I really believe they have fun though. Well I'm gonna send a couple pictures. I'd like to write more but have lots of studies.
Love, Bub
[Enclosed with this letter was a cocktail napkin from "Larry Potter's Stardust", 6445 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California" and the card from the "Casa de Rosas Inn,"]
** From Wikipedia: Oozlefinch is the unofficial historic mascot of the Air Defense Artillery - and formerly of Coastal Artillery - of the United States Army. Oozlefinch is portrayed as a flightless, featherless bird that flies backwards (at supersonic speeds) and carries weapons of the Air Defense and Coastal Artillery, most often a Nike-Hercules Missile. Oozlefinch has been portrayed in many different forms and artistic interpretations through its history. Oozle's motto is "If it flies, it dies. Blazing skies." reinforcing the purpose of the Air Defense Artillery. |
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Nov. 24, 1942, Postmark is Los Angeles
Return Address: Pvt. Chas. Pressentin, Casa de Rosas Inn, 2608 South Hoover St., Los Angeles, Calif.
Written on stationery, with a red, white and blue "V" logo at the top.
Dear Pongee & Family,
I called the folks last night and had quite a talk with them. I'm kinda crowded for time, but want to get caught up on my correspondence. I've made the grade Pongee. I'm to receive my diploma tonite in Electrical Engineering. It's been pretty tough keeping up with all these college guys but I came through the course with about a 79 average. For the class the average was 73. I know I wasn't at the bottom of the list so I feel mighty good about the whole thing.
We still don't know definitely where we are going. We are to receive more schooling, but where? It could be any place in the U.S. Pop sure seemed glad to hear from me last night. The phone was sure clear. It seemed like they were in the same room with me. I might even call you collect before I leave here. Would you mind?
Today we are being instructed on electronics. It has to do with the working of a radio. They sure want us to know everything. My head's got so darn much stuff crammed into it, I've very nearly forgotten about the women. Notice though I said, nearly. As soon as I arrive at my next post I'll write.
Love to all, Chuck
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