Dad's Letters

One day I shared, literally, a box full of my dad's memories. In it was a stack of letters that he had written home while in the Air Force during the 60's. I've decided to share with you those letters, one by one, week by week.

---

29 Nov 64 Sun

Dear Mom, Dad, Sharon, Mary, & Grandma

       Boy I was happy when I found out I would be able to call home. It was a real comfort when I did too.

       Mom will you please send me about $10.00, I hate to ask for it but the money they gave us was not enought. A least for the majority of us. 

       We spent almost all of it on things we need. I only have $3.00 left and that goes for all my laundry and cleaning. The next time I get paid is in about nineteen days so you can see I'm pretty bad off. So please if you can afford it please send it. Thank You. I'll understand if you can't.

       Boy was it cold over here the first three days. Lately its been real warm. One day it was about 90° to 95°. Boy was it hot. I had my first coke in 9 days today. It tasted pretty good.

       You should be getting my picture pretty soon. They took it the other day. I hope it looks o.k. I usually take a bad picture as you all know.

       My first week is over now, it was the hardest. From now on it should get easyer. I hope so. I got my shots 3 days ago, by needle & air gun. The air gun hurts a little more then a needle but I prefer the airgun. It doesn't look like a needle.

       I should be home after newyears not Christmass, thanks to my recruiter! I really miss your cooking especialy on Thanks Giving. Well thats enought about me, how are all of you. I glad to hear that Grandma's feeling better, tell her I love her. OK. I glad to hear that your feeling good too mom. Dad how is the Eagles comming OK I hope. I wish I was there to help you. I really mean it. Are the Browns still in first place or have they won the N.F.L.? Please let me know O.K.? I don't know whats going on in the outside world. You know I won't be able to go to the Eagles Club in San Antonio. If I would happen to walk in the Air Police would nab me and throw me in jail. We're not allowed to drink at all.

       Sharon, I haven't met any Texas yet because I haven't received a town pass yet and won't get one until about my 5th week here. I glad to hear that your playing your sterio. That really broke me up when I read that, in fact the whole letter broke me up. Mom probly told you that, ha mom? Was that you I said goodby to Sharon? I hope so cause I wantn't to talk to everyone. I glade to hear that your going out and having fun and dating John M. It's music to ♪♪ my ears. ♪♪ Tell Helen P. that I'll write her I soon as I get a chance. Tell her I didn't forget O.K. Thank You. Tell John to write O.K. Whats going on in Geneva, anything? Are you O.K.? I hope so. I love you.

       Mary, are you being good? I really miss you. I look at your picture all the time. Are you doing good in school? I'm still looking for a pony for you. If I don't find one will you be happy with a fuzzy toy pony? I love you very much Mary. xxxxx

       Mom, its getting better every day. Oh! I received Holy Communion 28 Nov & 29 Nov Sat & Sun for all of you. I said the Rosary for you all too, today. I prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help all the time and She's helping me too. Mom I'm sorry I had to ask you for money. Boy I'll be glad when I get home. Are you still as beautiful as every? I may get base liberaty next Sunday if we all do good this week. P.S. excuse my writing & spelling O.K.

       I love you very much. Tell Keith & Barb, Norm & Betty I said hello and that I love them O.K. Thank You. Tell them I'll write as soon as possible O.K.

       Grandma, are you staying in bed like a good Grandma should? You better. I'm glad to hear that your feeling good. You are my main worry. I pray for you all the time. Don't worry about me I'm doing just fine now and am use to this life now so its O.K. I love you very much Grandma.

       Dad tell Grandma S. that I hope she's feeling fine and that I love her and will write as soon as I can O.K. Thank You.

       Well I better close for now I've got to shave and shower and polish my brogans (shoes) Then I go to bed because I have to be in bed by 9:00 so I can get up at 5:00. It's 7:30 now. Well by for now.

I love you all,

Darrell

P.S. Mom tell Phillis & Art I said hi and hope there're all doing fine O.K.

Ech boogum no I mean  Sech boogum.

---

I just have one question for my Aunt Mary: A PONY!? (ha!)

Being that my dad didn't know if the Browns won the NFL Championship, I thought I'd look it up, because that's not really any information that I retained, and you know what? They did! That was probably the last time my dad was proud of his hometown team.

I hope my great Grandma Pianowksi really was staying in bed like a good grandma.

Oh, and Dad's funny language at the bottom of his letter are two Polish phrases, spelled somewhat phonetically, that I also grew up saying. BUT. I don't remember what they mean. I know it was something along the lines of "God be with you"; can anyone confirm?

(All spelling errors are that of my father's. He was often tricked by homonyms, so this disclaimer saves me from having to constantly type in "sic".)

Dad's Letters

One day I shared, literally, a box full of my dad's memories. In it was a stack of letters that he had written home while in the Air Force during the 60's. I've decided to share with you those letters, one by one, week by week.

---

22 Nov 64

Dear Mom, Dad, Sharon, Mary, & Grandma,

       Well I just got back form church and breakfast and am waiting for the Protestant detail to get back. I have a little time so I'll start this little letter.

       Boy I'm homesick! I sure wish I could see all of you. Please write soon, O.K., I'm loansome I miss you all!

       Their pretty rough on use hear and I don't like it. Theres so much that we have to know and learn its terrible. If I could get out, I would. But I can't so I'm going to stick to it. With God's help I should be O.K. Don't forget to write please? You know I haven't had a cig in 3 days! Its killing me.

       How is everybody fine I hope. Is grandma O.K? How are you feeling mom, good I hope. Dad are you O.K? Sharon, how are you? Mare are you O.K? are you being a good little girl? You better be.

       Well there really isn't too much more to say so I better close for now. 

       Tell everybody I said hellow.

       Mom, give Linda my address and have her write to me. Tell her I'll write as soon as I can. You see we're only suspose to write to are direct family at first. So tell her that, O.K. Thank You. Well by for now.

With all my love,

Darrell,

P.S. please write soon.

My return address is-

AB Stancliff, Darrell

AF 15721764

FLT 174 Box 1508

Lackland A.F. Base

Texas

---

Looks like my dad was really ready to go home at this point! And probably pretty stressed. Not only does he miss his family and not really like being in the Air Force, he also went cold turkey on the cigarettes; that can't be easy.

I still want to know what Linda said.

(All spelling errors are that of my father's. He was often tricked by homonyms, so this disclaimer saves me from having to constantly type in "sic".)

Dad's Letters

One day I shared, literally, a box full of my dad's memories. In it was a stack of letters that he had written home while in the Air Force during the 60's. I've decided to share with you those letters, one by one, week by week.

---

20 Nov, 64

Dear Mom, Dad, Mary, Sharon, & Grandma,
        

       Well I finnally made it. I arrived at lackland at about 9:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. your time. I am kind of scared right now but I think things will work out OK. From what Ive seen so far its going to be rought. But I'll stick to it don't worry. Right now I'm an Airman Basic and my serial number is AF 15721764. How do you like that. That prop I flew in from Cleve. to Detroit was murder. Boy did I get sick. Everytime it hit an air pocket the plan dropped. It was worst thin a rolly coaster. The two jets I flew on were beautiful I didn't feel a thing in them. 

       How is everybody fine I hope. Is grandma O.K.? She better be. Tell everyone I said hellow and that I won't be able to write anymore for about 4 to 5 days. 

       Sharon if anyone wants my address give it to them ok. I love you. Mom & Dad I love you both Mary & Grandma I love you. Well I have to close for now so by and God Bless you all.  

Love Darrell 

---

Along with the letter, there was a post card with the same date. It's intention was to be a generic fill-in-the-blank information card, but it seems my dad decided that it should be another letter instead. What should read: 

Dear ___________________________          
          Mom, Dad, Family, etc. 

I arrived safely today   (date)   at         (name of post)            

                                         
My mail address will be ________________________________ 
 
____________________________until I let you know otherwise. 

                                                Signed ______________________

A Service of GREATER CLEVELAND RED CROSS CHAPTER

But it seems that dad just wanted to send a few more thoughts. He scratched out most of the wording and wrote between the lines.

---

Dear Mom, Dad, Sharon, Mary, & Grandma
         Mom, Dad, Family, etc.
I just learned how to make my bed, march, and
I arrived safely today _______ at ________________________       
          am learning quite a (date) few other (name of post) things.
          I think I'm finnally getting use to this life.
My mail address will be ________________________________ 
Theirs an awful lot to it. I hope everyones O.K.
I miss you all very much.               until I let you know otherwise.
I love you all very much and may God bless
you all. I get my shots tomorro.
By for now.                                       Signed With all my love Darrell                                         I had two sigs today!
A Service of GREATER CLEVELAND RED CROSS CHAPTER
P.S. Please write soon O.K., I'm loanly.

---

Actually, I just realized I lied. This post card was actually dated November 27th, which there is also a letter from that day, so you just saw what should have gone into next week's post! Oh well.

Anyway, I think my favorite part of this letter was Dad's deeming the ride on the prop plane as worse than a "rolly" coaster.

(All spelling errors are that of my father's. He was often tricked by homonyms, so this disclaimer saves me from having to constantly type in "sic".)

Dad's Letters

Last week I shared, literally, a box full of my dad's memories. In it was a stack of letters that he had written home while in the Air Force during the 60's. I've decided to share with you those letters, one by one, week by week.

---

Dear, Mom, Dad, Sharon, Mary, & Grandma 

       Well here I am at Fort Garland, Colorado. We three our living at the old Fort Garland which is about 82 miles from Trinidad heading in a south west direction. Joe, Gary and myself are working for Trinidad State Junior College doing Archology & Anthropology work. In other words we are apprenitce anthropologists. Right now we are unearthing Fort Mass. which is about 10 miles from Fort Garland. It is in a valley which is surounded by very huge mountains. It is located on the R Bar ranch which is very large in area. The fort is very large and will take quite a long time to escavate. Right now we have only dug down about 10" and have found some very interesting archofacts. 

       Archofacts are what we find at the diggings. They range from small pieses of glass to beams, fireplaces, poetery, nails, bone, & etc. So far I have found about three breams, two nails, 101 bets of bone, & 9 bets of glass. The bone I found was in one of the fireplaces and is not human. It is most likely deer bone for there are countless numbers of deer in this area. Yesterday I counted 5 bucks and 4 doe that I saw. Every morning I see about 6 deer on my way to the diggings with the rest of the crew. Right now there are about 14 of use left. We we started out with 19. 5 are in the Hospital. All five took sick yesterday. Two were taken to Alamosa, & three girls were to Trinidad. Mr. Backes, head Anthropologist from Trinidad State Junior College thinks its a virus of some sort which is very catchy, so today the remainder of us cleaned up the barracks, scrubed the Kitchen, & and cleaned the girls barracks here at the Fort. It took about 5 hrs. We scrubed the whole place from top to bottom with chlorox. I'm O.K. so please don't worry. 

       This is very interesting work and I like it but the pay is low. We're starting out with $20.00 a week and if we do good we get $40.00 next week. But all I want to do right now is come home. I miss every single one of you. I want to leave as soon as possible. I don't like it here, theres nothing to do. It gets very boring. 

       Mom could you possibly Send Me 20 dollars so I can come home. Could you have dad pick up my check at the Eager Beaver R. and send it also. That money plus my pay check here ar the Fort should be enought for bus fare home plus food and lodging. O.K. I've been working here at Fort Garland for seven days. I started last Monday. Did you get my post card? I hope so. I sent you one from Illinois but I forgot to put the address on it. (What a nut I am!) Ha! Ha!
 
       Is everybody O.K, I hope so. Tell Keith & Barb, Norm & Betty, I said hi, OK. How is Mary?, is she being good?, she better be else I won't bring her anything. Is grandma OK, how dad and yourself? I pray for all of you every night. 

Well, I better close for now, its about time for supper. We're having spagetti & meatballs tonight. So please, if you can, send the money. I want to come home so badly. I miss you all very much. Mom please don't worry, Im alright. 

I love you all,
Darrell 

P.S. Tell everybody I said Hello 

P.S. My return address:

Fort Garland State Museum
Fort Garland, Colorado 

P.S. Did you call Linda?, What did she say? 

God Bless You All 

By 8/28/64

---

This photo from last week's post is actually my dad's little collection of things he dug up during his time "escavating" at Fort Massachusetts. 

My favorite thing about this letter is his admitting to sending a post card and forgetting to address it. This is funny enough on it's own, but being that I've done the same exact thing, it had me laughing. I'm also wondering about Linda. What message was my gram supposed to relay to Linda? Or what question? What did Linda say?!

(All spelling errors are that of my father's. He was often tricked by homonyms, so this disclaimer saves me from having to constantly type in "sic".)