Somewhere in New Jersey
Dear Pongee and Family,
Well here I am in New Jersey. Only been here a week and I've already seen the whole state. Since last Monday morning we've been out on a maneuver which has taken us all over New Jersey and around Philadelphia. Right now we are camped just outside Atlantic City and this afternoon our whole outfit gets to spend the rest of the day on the beach having a good swim.
I'm now attached to the 4th Division 13th Corp which by the way is President Roosevelt's pet outfit. It seems that the General of our outfit is a personal friend of F.D.R. This bunch has been stationed in this area for the last 28 months. It's really a big outfit and has in it about 14,000 picked men.
I was up in New York last weekend and as usual I had a lot of fun. Shucks I can get around in that city as easy as if it were Portland, Oregon. In fact I really have a lot of fun on the subways. Boy how they travel. I'll swear some of them go at least 60 miles an hour in between blocks. I was at the Astor House in New York Sunday with the intention of seeing Harry James in person. 'Twas such a crowd though, I gave up the idea and took in the show at the Stage Door Canteen. Danced with several of the cuties. Could have taken one of them out to a show or something but my pocketbook was too flat. Haven't got the guts yet to let them pay for the check.
Boy you ought to see the crowds in Grand Central Depot on Saturday nite. People heading for all corners of the earth.
I suppose Barbs will be back working in the harvest this summer. Wished I'd got to see the kids. I have a 10-day furlough coming up in a couple of weeks. Could make it home if I could afford the plane ticket. Haven't inquired as to how much it would cost.
Write. Love, Chuck
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July 17, 1943 Chuck's letter has no stamp. Instead, it has "Free" written where a stamp would usually be. No postmark.
Return address: Staff Sgt. Chas. Pressentin, Btry B 475th AAA(AW) Bn), Ft. Dix, New Jersey.
Fort Dix, New Jersey
Dear Pongee, Al, Barbs, and Noel.
Guess I better see if I can't do a bit of catching up while I still have time. Things have been popping the last two weeks or so around here. As you know—we'll be out of here in just a couple of more days for the Pacific coast. It's rumored we'll leave from San Francisco when we embark. Of course we really don't know what our destination is going to be. I just hope it winds up to be Alaska. Lots of troops have shipped out of Frisco for there.
I called the folks last night. It makes the 5th time I've called them in the last two weeks. After I leave here I may not have a chance to talk to them for a long time. Still who knows how things are going to work out.
I've been issued all new clothing. Everything must be A-1 before we leave here. I also was issued a nice wrist watch. Another thing I'm proud of is the new carbine 30 caliber semi-automatic rifle I've been issued. Had it out on the rifle range the other day and made expert with it. All I seemed to be able to hit was the bulls' eyes. I hope I have the chance to open up on a few Japs with it. It's really a beautiful little gun though. It's just like all the officers have.
I was awarded an efficiency and good conduct ribbon the other day by the War Dept. Only three of us made this honor in our outfit. My record for the past year has been perfect so it says in the letter accompanying it. I sent it on home to the folks.
I've taken out $10,000 insurance for the folks and I intend to send them my wages as soon as we hit a boat. I've got this all arranged through an E-allotment plan. Guess I won't have any use for money over there anyway.
I had another picture taken last week. I sent Mom two big ones, 8 x 10. Maybe you can talk her out of one of them. That is if you want it.
Well Pongee, guess I'll close. I hope I'll have a chance to see the family again before we start across the puddle.
Love to all, Chuck
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Chuck's formal portrait, taken at Fort Dix, while he was waiting to ship out to the Pacific Theater.
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Aug. 8 1943 Chuck's letter has "Free" written over the cancellation mark. Postmark on envelope is New York, N.Y.
Return address: Staff Sgt. Chas. Pressentin, Btry B 475th AAA(AW) Bn), Ft. Dix, New Jersey.
The letter is on his hotel's stationery: "Hotel Algonquin, Two Squares from Grand Central Station. Walking Distance of Best Shops and Theaters, West 44th Street between 6th and 5th Avenues New York." [The AlgonquinHotel is still a celebrated New York hotel.]
Dear Pongee,
Had a long letter from Pop yesterday and he mentioned something about Al being back here in Washington, D.C. I'm sure going to be disappointed if he don't try and look me up while he's here. We are located only about 3 hours from Washington by train and I know I could get a pass to get in and see him. Besides, he really needs a chaperone in that city. The ratio there is 14 girls to one man.This sitting around and waiting for something to happen is really monotonous. Pop sure wrote a good letter. Boy when he wants to, he can sure cram a lot of stuff on two pages of paper. John Guddall senior passed away. It's nice that Johnny was still close enough so he could get home to see his dad before he died. Guess he lived several days after he had his stroke.
Believe Pop and Mom are on their vacation now. I talked with them Tuesday on the phone and they said they were leaving. Hope they have a good time. Write------
Love, Chuck
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