Individual Details
Charles Edgar Lovejoy
(14 Feb 1895 - 1 Apr 1986)
The following are a series of letters written to Lucille Mildred Voigts nee Lovejoy. The author is her older brother Charles Edgar Lovejoy. Charles was in the Army during World War One. These letters cover the time; March 13, 1918 to February 17, 1919. At the start of each one I will state the postmark, and address sent to and from. Each is on the following letterhead:
NATIONAL WAR WORK COUNCIL.
ARMY AND NAVY.
YOUNG MEN‘S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS.
WITH THE COLOR‘
The letterhead has in the upper left hand corner, a partially furled flag, in the right the red circle with a triangle inside it. The envelopes have the red triangle with blue YMCA over it. Beneath that is the words ‘with the colors‘. The stamps are all purple three cent stamps with George Washington on them.
Post mark: St. Paul, Minn. March 13, 3:30PM, 1918.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St.
San Francisco Calif.,
St. Paul, Minn. March 13, 1918.
Dear Sis,
I believe it is time I was answering your letter. I would have written sooner but was flat broke and out of stamps at the same time. I have made quite a jump across country since I got your letter, two weeks ago today we left Kelly field and came up here for six weeks training in the aviation school here. When we got up here I expected to see snow but it was all gone except in the shady places. Altho there was plenty of ice on the ponds and in the streams. But last Saturday it started to snow and now there is a foot or more on the ground. Gee but we did have a time getting home from school, we have about five miles to ride in trucks to the Dunwoody industrial institute, and the snow was so deep that the trucks were stalled all along the road, we finally had to take the street cars. Had to walk nearly a mile to the car line and then wait half an hour for a car and all this time the wind was blowing a gale, and the snow was like frost. We were all late for dinner some didn’t get in untill nearly supper time. Gee but it was a fright. We have a dandy barracks to stay in, we are in the Overland storage building, it covers nearly half a block and all of the sides are of glass. The first floors the overland people have we have our quarters on the second, third and fourth floors and down in the basement is the kitchen and mess hall and we have steam heat though out. Saturday I got kicked out of school for not knowing any thing. They put me to learning copper smithing and I didn’t know the first thing about it. I don’t now what they will put me at next, I hope it is my own trade.
Yesterday morning I was put on K.P. Worked there untill noon and got kicked out of there as there was too many of us. I wasn’t sorry.
Had to peel onions all morning, I weep a while and peel some more, had to peel two sacks of them. If I stay in this mans army for a while I sure know how to rustle pots if I don’t learn any thing else. Altho I have been pretty lucky, have been on K.P. four times since I have been in the army. Was in K.P. coming up on the train it sure was a fright, you didn’t know whether you were going to stand up or go on your head in the dish pan. Then we would get smoked out every time the train stopped as long as the train was moving the smoke wasn’t so bad. Thank the lord I didn’t have to wash the supper dishes
some other poor devil had to do that. This country is sure like gods county after two months of Kelly field even tho it is only plains country. That’s all you see from Kelly field, here is flat prairie to rolling prairie not a hill of any size shape or description. There is a rumor going around here that some of us drivers will be sent to New York soon for a few weeks training and then over seas, gee I hope that I am one of them as I am getting tired of monkeying around here. I want to see some thing doing. I’ll have to
saw off now as drill hall goes in a few minuets, will write again soon. What is Henry doing now, has he been called yet. If he is called and wants to he can get in as a cook as they are mighty scarce and they get a sergeants rating and pay. Well good bye & good luck. Address me: Aviation school, St. Paul Minn. Squadron 2ò
Overland building.’
With lots of love,
St. Paul, Minn Apr 29 9 AM 1918 (plain lined paper)
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St., San Francisco Calif.
St. Paul, Minn. April 28, 1918.
Dear Sis,
Guess you think that I have forgotten you by this time. Just got out of the hospital last Tuesday and this is the first chance I’ve had to do any writing, am going to school now and they sure keep us bustling from five thirty untill seven at night and then sometimes untill nine or ten at night. This is the routine we have to follow. Five thirty roll out and dress in five minuets got down stairs & line up for reviele, march up stairs for measle inspection, make up our bunks, then go down to mess, after mess clean up quarters. Eight
clock school rolls around, we get out of school at twelve get up stairs and wash up for noon mess at 12:30. Back to school at one o’clock to five, from five to six thirty we do drill six thirty we stand retreat, march back for measle inspection again and get mess
at seven o’clock.
We are supposed to be off from all duties untill ten o’clock but this last week they have managed to keep us going from supper untill bed time at ten. I had an invitation to got to church and a dinner after wards but had such a bad cough that I didn’t go. The mumps left me with a beautiful cough seems as tho it never will leave me. You should have seen me with my jaws all swelled up, all I could think of when I looked in the glass was a fat berkshire hog, my head was bigger than old Bill Pinches..The next son of a gun that tells me mumps is a childish disease I’ll kill him no the sot. I never had anything hurt so in my life. After each meal for half an hour I’d nearly go crazy, for two or three when I’d start to chew I’d take about three chews, then my blooming jaws would lock so tight that I couldn’t even cuss. Never again for this child. Has Henry been called out yet or has he been put in class four and what is he doing now, gee I wish I could drop in on you for a few minuets as I sure do get blue and home sick some times. We have been having the most beautiful weather here for the last two weeks, clear & warm every day, to day it started to rain a little and I sure hope that it keeps it up as they sure to need rain here, everything was getting dry as a bone..Well Sis I’ll have to saw off for this time as I have run dry of new for the present also noon mess call goes in a few minuets and you have to be on time or you don’t eat. By the way will you send me Smarties address as I have lost it and she will begin to think that I am mad at her or some thing. I got a letter from her just before I went to the hospital and wile I was gone all my things were stolen or lost I don’t know which any everything was gone when I got back.
Well dear girl good bye and good luck for this time. As ever with love,
Chas.
P.S. My address is changed again so address me as:
Private Chas. E. Lovejoy
Aviation Training School.
Sec. I. 864 Squadron.
St. Paul, Minn.
St. Paul, Minn May 26 4„PM 1918
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
Verdi, Nevada,Washoe Co.
C/O Herb Walter.
St. Paul Minn.May 25, 1918.
Dear Girl,
Received your last letter yesterday also received one came weeks age so will answer both at once. Would have written sooner but have had another siege in the hospital was in only a week but that was a plenty. Had a bad case of Bronchitis in fact still have it nearly as bad as when I was in there. Talk about cough, I’ve coughed up everything but my boots and look for them to come any day. Am beginning to feel pretty good in spite of old Mr. Cough guess I’ll survive it as usual. Am pretty near through school now and maybe I’ll be somewhere else by the time you answer this and may still be here for the rest of the spring & summer as they have a new rule here that every one has to take three months of schooling. Gee I hope that they ship me out of here before that takes effect unless they
enlarge the course’s as everything that they are teaching I have been through a thousand times. Mondays class is the only one that I am weak for, that is magnetos & carburetor’s the rest I know by heart. What kind of a county is it that you are in? Sage brush I expect. My but this country is getting pretty around here now as the trees are just getting leaved out and the fruit trees are just in full bloom. All the trees here are hard woods such as oak, maple, ash, cottonwood box elder and birch with a few elms, there isn’t a fir tree
any where around here or any kind of evergreen..Guess I’ll have to quit pretty soon as the movie starts in a few minuets and the flights well be gone. Last Sunday afternoon the ball game was called off on account of the rain so I walked out to Minnehaha park to see the Minnehaha falls. Gee but they are some falls only fall about thirty feet & are about twenty feet across. Old fox creek could put up a better fall any day.
The park is quite pretty but nothing like thought it would be, altho the walk along the Mississippi River was wonderful in it’s way. A foot path runs along the bank of the river for about two miles, wish I had more time to get out and see more of the country around here. The last week they have been drilling the life out of us every evening, for the last week and judging by the kind of drill I think that they are getting us ready for some parade perhaps the thirtieth of may. Last Saturday we had a big red cross parade in minneapolis only a few of us from the school took part in it. I had just got out of the hospital in the morning so didn’t have any part in it, went down and took it in tho my but it was good, it took the parade nearly two hours to pass where I was. I saluted flags untill my right arm was sore. There was some where over thirty thousand in the parade & the majority were red cross workers and nurses, all dressed in white gee but it did look nice. Well sis it is pretty near my bed time so will have to say off for this time as news are rather scarce as everything is the same over & over every day.
So good bye & good luck.
As ever With Love.
Chas.
P.S. do you have any thunderstorms there? This is the worst place I ever saw for thunder every day or night there is a big storm, Tonight while we were out drilling we all got soaking wet. The thunder sounds so funny as there is no echo or roll like in the Mountains, just a heavy crash and it is done for, but the lighting is wonderful the way it darts and runs across the sky in ribbons and stairs.
Good night.
St. Paul, Minn June 18 8:30AM 1918 (no letterhead)
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
Verdi, Nevada,Washoe Co.
c/o Herb Walts.
St. Paul, Minn. June 17, 1918.
Dear Ceil,
Received your welcome letter some time ago and will try to answer it to night. Would have written sooner but it had been so hot the last week there that I didn’t have the
ambition of a jackrabbit, tonight it is real pleasant and is raining to beat the dickens. For a wonder it hasn’t rained for four days but sure made up for it in heat, and it was as hot during the night as it was in the day time. The only way I could sleep was to take a cold shower before going to bed and when I got up in the morning I was tireder than when I went to bed at night. Tonight it is sure a relief, Lordy me but it sure knows how to rain in this county when it starts. I have hopes of getting out of here this week but am not sure, it is rumored that we are going to Riverside or Sacramento Calif. Am not putting much faith in it as it is unofficial but I hope not. We were all trade tested or examined on our school work last week and yours truly and two others beat the whole school with a Grade of ninty per cent efficiant. Believe me it took a load off my mind as I’ was begining to wonder if I could pass the trade test board. Twenty eight in our section fell so low in their exam that they pulled them out of school and put them on K.P. down in the mess hall. I’d rather die that have to work down there on these hot days, I sure feel sorry for the poor devils as it is simply fierce to have to stay down there long enough to eat your meals. It is down in the basement below the street level and no circulation of air at all untill they got fans and blowers and even with them it is unbearable at times. I am going to be mighty sure that I don’t have to go down there to work if I stay here for the rest of the term, They have stretched the school work from six weeks too two months for those who have been through before & the new ones have to go three months. Gee but I dread to think of those two months on this.
course, we are kept two weeks on one subject and it sure does get monotonous after the first four or five days, then it is simply drudgery for the rest of the time. The worst of it is that you have to stand on your feet every minuet from eight in the morning untill four thirty in the afternoon with an hour off for dinner. You can’t even stand up and lean against the benches or walls and as for sitting down, lord help you if you get caught at it by one of these shave tails that are always popping up when you least expect one to show up. My poor feet are giving me fits and no relief in sight yet. Last Friday we had a half holiday and big parade in the after noon. They had a big time in Minneapolis to celebrate flag day so we had to take part in it, We had about twenty trucks in the parade and each one showed the different courses and trades taken up in the school, I was in the transmission room at the time and was picked on to go on the truck.
to demonstrate how we did things while at work. I wished to goodness that they had picked on some one else instead of me as I didn’t get to see any of the parade. We lead the parade and of course I had to be dressed in greasy overalls and jumper, so that I couldn’t drop off and watch the rest of the march after our part was done. The next time they will have to look real hard to find me, to get me to ride one of their old trucks. All we had to do was pretend to work real hard but to really do nothing at all. We got back to post here at three o’clock, I changed, my clothes and came over here to the Y, got me a book and hunted up the coolest spot I could find in the yard and read the rest of the afternoon. It was the first book that I have had a chance to read for over two months, can you believe it, me going two months with out picking up a book. You can see from that just about how busy they keep us don’t even get a chance to read magazines any more.
We have been having some great times here playing base ball. A week ago yesterday we played the Minneapolis All Stars. Played fifteen innings to a tie with a score of three to three. Talk about your crazy mobs we sure ere it, there was about fifteen hundred of us from here and a good bunch of civilians, I’ll warrant you could have heard us for two miles. We would have played it to a finish but the Minnesota law don’t allow any games after six o’clock Sundays so we had to call it off. Yesterday we played them again and got beat for the first time since we started to play were beaten by a score of four to two. We have played ten or twelve games altogether and always won by a large margin or tied the game but this time we met our waterloo. Maybe it will be a good thing that they did got licked as I think that they were getting a little bit too cocky and swelled up over winning all the time. Hope we have better luck next time.
You will probably have received the photo that I sent you by this time. Will have a better one taken one of these days when I get a decent fitting uniform. I’ll have to
saw off now as I have about run out of news and the movies is about ready to start and the light will go as it starts. Yes I got the two pictures that you sent in one of your letters and think they were pretty good. Well, good bye, and good luck.
With worlds of love,
Chas.
Address. Aviation Training School. 864 Squadron Section A .St. Paul.
P.S. What is your receipt for getting fat. as I would like to try it. Have you lost you cough yet. I have a dandy and can’t seem to loose it had it two months and it is the same as it ever was.
Riverside, Cal. Jul 15 3„PM 1918.Riverside, Cal. Jul 15 4„PM 1918
Mrs. Henry B. Voigts.
Verdi.Washoe Co Nevada.
c/o Herb Walts.
March Field July 15, 1918.
Dear Ceil,
I reckon it is about time I was after answering your two letters. Got the one that you sent to St. Paul all right. They hardly ever return the letters that are sent to us, if we move they keep following us up untill they catch up with us after a while some times it takes them a long time to do it. Would have written sooner but have been under the weather for the last three weeks and didn’t care if I ever wrote to any one or not. It will be three weeks tomorrow that I arrived here, gee but it don’t seem that long. I was down to Riverside yesterday for the first time. We are ten miles from there and can get a pass out of the post once in two weeks, that is often enough for me as I am not stuck on towns any how. Riverside is about the size of Baker City and reminds me a whole lot of Baker. It is in about the same kind of country too, it is surrounded by sage and rock hills exactly like Baker. It realy is quite a pretty town all the streets are planted with.
large shade trees and an some of the streets are regular tunnels. I wandered around for a few hours and then spent the rest of the time at the Y.M.C.A. just loafing around killing time the best that I could. After dinner I took in a movie but didn’t think much of it then went back to the Y. and some ladies had cake and lemonade for us. Then at seven had a chance to ride out to the field free so up and beat it. No I haven’t been to any dances since that one on Hats birthday, reckon I have just about forgotten how to dance. I am supposed to be in the Motor transport division of the aviation service as a truck diver or Chauffeur but just at present am not doing a blessed thing and haven’t since I came down here. Have been detailed to the post maintenance department untill they get some more trucks here. Haven’t reported for duty yet, will probably report this after noon so I am’
feeling pretty good again. When I do report will probably get a pick and shovel or same other fatigue work to do. Up untill the last few days it has been unmercifully hot during the day time but at nights it is as cool as old Mendocino was, in fact two blankets come in pretty handy, but the last few days it has been.
foggy in the morning and hangs on quite late so it doesn’t get so awful hot. Every afternoon a steady breeze comes up so that it makes things a good deal more livable, if it wasn’t for that wind it would be fierce here. We are out in the center of an immense grain field and not a shade tree within two miles of the post. We are in a big round valley in the San Bernardino hills and might as well be in the desert as the hills are bare and brown with nothing on them but a little scrubby sage brush and more rocks than any thing else. I like it fine here but some of the fellows are sore as the dickens as it is too far from town to suit them. I guess they were spoiled at St. Paul by having two towns right at the front door..If don’t know what kind of a fourth they had here as I was in the hospital flat on my back and in quarantine at that, was locked in a room by my self and couldn’t see any one but the nurse and the Doctor, so you see I had a real glorious time.
The second day that I was here I went to the hospital with another dose of infectious Bronchitis and the second day I was in there a rash broke out on my face and neck and the doctor didn’t no just what it was so they stuck me into solitary confinement and I was in there for ten days. No one was allowed to come in and I couldn’t do any writing as everything I touched had to stay in the room. I looked as if I had stuck my face into a bee hive or had been badly scratched and believe me it was some sore. I had the Dr’s going as
they couldn’t decide just what it was, finally the last day they gave it a name about a yard long that I couldn’t pronounce in a week. If it had gone to any other part of my body they would have called it small pox captain True said. They were mighty good to me but it sure was a lone some old time. I got out of the hospital a week ago yesterday and have just been loafing around quarters ever since as at first I was too weak to do any thing but am O.K. again. When we came out here we came on the northern pacific railroad, came through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wash. Ore. And down through Calif. The same way as when I went to Kelly Field last winter.
We sure did see some wonderful country on the way but had hard luck as we hit all the high mountain passes at night also came through the Columbia gorge during the night. Crossing Minnesota and the Dakotas all you could see was flat prairie as far as you could see. Didn’t strike any hills untill we got into the Bad lands of North Dakota and they sure are a weird and wonderful looking bunch of hills all I can think of is a lot of different sized hays stacks just stacked up any old way. It surely is a funny country. Through Minnesota & N.D. it was rather cold but as soon as we got into Montana it commenced to get warmer and by the time we got well up the Yellowstone river it was real hot. We struck the Yellowstone river at Glendall Montana and all the way from there to Billings where we left it every thing was under water in some placed the river was several miles wide. They said that they had never seen the river as high as that before. For miles the water was on both sides of the track and within three or four feet of the rails. Believe me we didn’t break any speed limits along those places. At Forsyth the whole town was under water except the N.P. station and it was only a foot out of water. The rest of the town was any where from a foot to waist deep, and in spite of all their troubles they met us with ice cream cones, believe me it sure did taste good as it was fearfully hot. At Miles City they had just got their hay cut and stacked and you could see great stacks of hay half a mile out in the river every where it was the same. We got into Billings at dark and crossed the pass above there in the night also passed Butte and pulled into Missoula in time for breakfast, was there for an hour or more. The red cross gave us oranges and candy also each one got a rose. From there across Idaho to Spokane Wash. was surely some wonderful country through those mountains. Most of the fellows were from the east and along the Mississippi and had never seen any Mountains and they simply went crazy over them. I wish we could have crossed the passes at day time. From Spokane down through eastern Wash. to the Columbia is nearly as dreary as the desert as there isn’t anything but old lava beds with nothing
on them but a little dried up bunch grass. In some of the counties along the snake river was some pretty good ranches, but the rest is nothing but a dreary waste and everything was dry as a bone. Gee but we sure did some going across that country we averaged sixty miles all the way down to the Columbia. We hit the Columbia at dark and was in Portland at daylight. Gee but it was pretty crossing Ore. as everything was so nice and green and everything was a mass of roses of all colors besides other flowers, Oh but I wish mother could have seen it. We passed Mt. Shasta at midnight and I was on guard at that time and got a chance to see it by full moon light, gee but it was worth loosing two hours sleep to see it. I came off guard at Dunsmuir and was pretty well down the Sacramento valley by the time I got up. Got to Sacramento a little past noon & the red cross canteen workers gave us fruit and cigarettes also a stamped post card. All through the Sacramento and San Juaqine valley they were well started on the harvesting.
we hit Fresno at sunset and was in Los Angeles at sunrise the next morning and got out here at eleven o’clock just four hours less than five days on the road. We left St. Paul at three o’clock June twentyth and landed here on the twenty fifth. I was real sorry for the trip to end as we shore had a wonderful trip..Well Sis I guess I’ll have to quit for this time as I ran out of news for the present. I am too far from San Diego can’t get time
to see Gene, it is some what over a hundred miles and I can’t get a pass long enough to go and get back on. Can you get his address and send it to me would like to hear from him and see what he is doing.
Goodby
and Good luck. As ever.
Chas..address me..March Field.Riverside Calif..293 squadron.
Riverside, Cal. Aug 16 8:30A 1918.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
Verdi Nevada,Washoe Co.
c/o Herb Walt.
March Field Aug 15.18.
Dear Ceil.
Received your letter some time ago and have been too busy to answer it. Have just finished serving supper and as this was my afternoon off I have the evening to myself and no dishes to wash. Am still working in the kitchen and the lord only knows when I’ll ever get off of it. Gee but there was a wild time in that mess hall tonight. Supper was a little late as they were frying hamburger stead and some of the tables had to wait. As each dish was brought in about three tables swore that it was their turn you can imagine the racket with a hundred and fifty men all talking at once and at the top of their voices. We sure do have some noisy times in that hall at meal times, I’d sooner try to feed a bunch of squeeling pigs than a bunch of hungry rookies.
Every meal it is a war between the k.p.’s and the men especialy when we have pie or some thing like that. A hungry rookie is the worst liar on earth when it comes to pie or getting an extra piece of meat. I am getting rather expert in telling whether a man has had a certain thing or not altho they do manage to get the best of me now and then. We usualy have water melon every other day and when we do there isn’t very much kicking done, for by the time they have gotten out side of a quarter of a large melon they are so full that they can hardly move. A night or so ago I had a good laugh, for two or three nights ago we had boiled ham for supper and I made some mustard for it out of plain ground mustard and vinegar and you know how hot it is. When they got sight of that mustard they just smeared it on their meat and one fellow got.
away with three mouths full before it began to get in it’s work. Lordy me but you should have seen him fly around after the iced tea and any thing that would cool him off. It nearly burned the mouth and throat off of him. We always manage to scrape up some kind of fun out of the hard work, I am beginning to like the job now as we have got it down almost to a science each man has a certain thing to do and it isn’t nearly
so hard besides we get every second and third afternoon off after they noon dishes are done. So after all it isn’t such a bad job. It would be a lot better if we had two different k.p.’s as two of them are so slow that they can’t get out of their own road. Lerch got me so mad last night that I came near knocking the stuffing out him.
I was in a hurry to finish up for the night as I wanted to attend a lecture here at the Y. and that lazy devil sat down and chewed the lay (?) with several of the fellows for half an hour before I could get him started. My but today has been simply grand, not to hot and the air was as clear as crystal. This morning it tried to rain for a while then gave it up and the clouds broke up into big fleecy bunches. The last few days it has been foggy in the mornings and the days were quite cool. But two weeks ago it’ was something fierce here, on a Friday it was a hundred and twelve in the shade and the following Sat. it was even hotter. Sat. morning it was ninety six at five o’clock when we got up so you can imagine what the sleeping was like. It was a regular sweat bath and in the kitchen standing over a steaming pan of dishes for two
hours or so was simply murder. The whole camp was out on the dump cleaning it up for the general inspection and one of the cadet flyers were over come with the heat. When the fellows came in from work they were as wet as if they had been in the river. Believe me it sure was some relief when it turned cooler. It seems as tho our angel of good luck had deserted us for good by the accidents we have been having here lately, one of the Cadets started it by turning his machine upside down while doing a spiral descent and couldn’t get it right side up again. He got out of it with a leg broken in three places one arm and several ribs broken and a scalp wound. If it hadn’t been for the groove the engine dug in the ground when it struck, his
head would have been torn completely off. Next the mail orderly was run into by an auto, he was on a motor cycle, and he is in the Riverside hospital with a fractured skull and wasn’t expected to live. The same night the second mail orderly was coming into camp and ran down three fellows, who were on foot and all four went to the hospital. Two days later I saw one fellow smash a motorcycle on one of the hanger posts where they are building a new hangar, he ran clear across the road and over a hundred feet to bump into that particular post. He wasn’t hurt but the motorcycle had a broken leg. The last I saw of him he was headed for the guard house. Yesterday two lieutenants came near going over the one way trail when they turned a place up side down. They were making cross wind langings (landings?) And turned turtle. The place was a
total wreck but neither one of them had a scratch. The ambulance ran over the camps pet bull dog and killed him, he was buried with full military honors. This morning two k.p.’s in the 215 hall got in a rage and one laid the other out with a broom, busted his head open so that he had to go to the hospital. We sure are having great times here and the worst calamity was when the cook burned the stew and the dinner was spoiled lordy what a row there was. Well sister mary I guess I’ll have to begin to bring this to an end as they will start a stereoptcon show pretty soon and I want to see it as there is a lecture going with it too called the lure of the mountains. Last week we had one on Alaska and it sure was great.
Last night after the lecture we had the Boss of the Lazy A and a short comedy it was good and the best of it was that I had just finished the book that the play was taken from. We have movies three times a week and the other nights we either have a musical evening or some sort of a show. Tomorrow night we have a big boxing bout an believe me it will be good. Well sis the show is starting so good bye and good luck for this time. With heaps of love.
Chas..Address.293 squadron
March Field.Riverside Calif..
Riverside, Cal. SEP 6 8:30A 1918
Mrs. H. B. Voigts
1065 Hampshire St., San Francisco Calif.
March Field sept. 5/18
Dear Ceil,
Received your’s and Henrys letters some time ago and reckon it is time I was after answering it. Have just gotten back from the ball game between our squadron and the sixty eighth and we won by a two to one score and last night we beat the Cadet team four to one, so that leaves us the champions of the post also we have to meet all the civilian teams now. The Cadets were the champs up to last night. Had a great chewing match at the game. I thought that there would be a fight for a while. This coming Monday there is to be a big relay race between the different squadrons on the field, but it is really a tryout between the sixty eighth and our team. I hope that we beat them good this time as they have been a little too cocky over beating us last time, altho we will have to go some
to beat them as they have a wonderful team. We were supposed to have a big field meet at Riverside last Monday but fell through an account of a lack of interest. I do wish that I could ditch this k.p. job so I could join the different teams. As it is I don’t have any
time to do anything but wash dishes. Have been trying to do a little mathematics in the time that I have to spare after working hours, but haven’t made much progress as I only get half an hour or so each evening. I am going after the Sergeant Major and see if I can’t be transfered to a different job. I don’t even have time to go to the swimming pool for a swim. This afternoon was my day off duty and by the time I shaved and took a bath I was so darned sleepy that I hit the bunk for a couple of hours then got my supper a little ahead of time and have been here ever since writing letter, as I have gotten
so far behind that I never will catch up again unless I put in half of some night scribbling, time does fly so fast that half the time my letters are a week old before I know it. It seems only a day or so since I received your letter and it is, considerable more than a week. I did have plenty of time for writing last Sunday and Monday but was having to good a time to do any writing especially Sunday. Saturday evening after our evening dishes were done we had a pass off the post untill Monday night at eleven o’clock and believe me we made the most of it..After I got my dishes done I and Lerch beat it for the Canteen dance at San Bernardino, We got there a little late but had a great time while it lasted, at least I did I lost Lerch after we had been there
an hour or more. I don’t know where he went to and didn’t care as I was two busy myself. I beat it for bed sometime after twelve and along about four in the morning I woke up to find two of the fellows from the squadron in bed with me. They couldn’t find a room and seeing my name on the register they hunted my room up, and tried to wake me but I must have been dead to the world. So one crawled in through the transom and opened the door, and I didn’t hear them untill they’ were in bed with me, it was a good thing that I had a big double bed. The next morning we went up to the canteen and I lost them as I had a date for dinner. I guess that they made out as one of them Bradford by name has the nerve of a missouri mule as I found out later. At noon I went down to Mr. Evans for dinner and spent the day and evening with them. They have one
son in France in the ambulance works and another too young to go yet. He was away at Los Angeles so I was there with them alone and they sure did show me a good time. I had dinner and supper there and we all spent the evening in the park listening to the submarine band from San Pedro. Their next door neighbors went to the park with us a Mr. & Mrs. Wright and their daughters and we surely had, and enjoyable evening and had some ice cream on our way back and spent the rest of the evening at the Wrights. On the fourteenth of this month I am going with them to Hylands to an entertainment that the Canteen is to give over there. Mrs. Evans is one of the Canteen workers here at San Berdoo and she is a real lady too. She is about mother’
Monday I took in the labor day parade and later went to the park to take in the speeches and games, was there most of the morning where Bradford came along and asked me to go out to some of his friends for dinner and l like a darned fool I took him up but never again. like his brand of nerve as he is rank rotten and his friends are the same or they don’t know him. Any how I’ll never get caught in his company again for some one of there time he is going to get into serious trouble. I, finaly, finally, got away from them at nine thirty and by that time it was time to think of getting back to camp. I didn’t wait for
the interurban car but tried calling autos in the way to Riverside. I changed cars four times getting out to camp. Got one from San Bernardino to Urbita (?) springs from there to Colton, there to Riverside. Got in to Riverside too late for the army buss and there was five of us.
stranded there, Finaly,,Finally, a ford came along and took us aboard. Believe me that was some lizzie as there was seven in it, and she made all the hills on high. He brought us out within a mile of camp and we walked the rest of the way and had an hour to spare before the gates closed. I have been trying to catch up on my sleep for last four or five days and am still sleepy as I am not used to this running around nights. Yesterday I got a package of fruit from Hattie, gee but it was good to get an apple to eat again, she put in some pears but they were too ripe and most of them were a total loss as they were all squashed to pieces, any way I got enough for all the fellows to have a taste. Also had a letter from Mama yesterday and she says that everything
is fine there but they were thinking of giving up the hotel as soon as they can find some thing else. I hope that they do as it is too much work for Mother. Well Sister Mary I’ll have to close as I am about out of news for this time and it is getting late. They are having a lecture in the other room and It must be a funny one from the amount of laughing going on. Am awfully sorry that Henry had to go but what can’t be helped must be endured, send him my best regards when you write him.
Good by with heaps of Love,
Chas.
P.S. will try to write to Gene tomorrow some time. Thanks for his address.
Riverside, Cal. OCT 2 8„30A 1918.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St..San Francisco. Calif
March Field Oct 1. 1918.
Dear Ceil,
Received your letters some time ago and believe that it is time that I was after answering it, don’t you. One thing I have been pretty busy of late during the days and have been putting in every spare minuet evenings into studying mathematics and Sat. and Sunday was my week end off the post so there wasn’t any chance to do any writing then. Gee but I did have a glorious time Saturday night and Sunday. Went to the canteen dance at San Berdo had a hep of fun there and spent the night with Mr. & Mrs Evans in fact they won’t hear of my sleeping any where else when I am overt there. They claim that they have adopted me and they are such nice people. Sunday after noon I went to a christian science lecture with them and after it was
over we went in a car out Mrs. Evans, sisters ranch and sure had a good time. Her sister gave me a big package of fruit and I am making it last as long as I can, every time I open it I discover some thing different. So far I have found grapes, apples, peaches, pears and fresh figs. I sure had some job lugging it home as I was catching rides on passing machines and had a lively time as it was getting pretty late. We are regular hold ups when it comes to getting a ride any place. When I get back to civilian life I am apt to get good many call down’s as I should be so used to holding cars up for rides. Before going to the dance I took in a supper that the ladies of the Macabees gave at the Riverside Y.M.C.A. gee but it was some swell feed. We had mashed spuds, roast beef, coffee, and french rolls, for dessert we had grapes and
sago pudding. Every Saturday night some of the nomery (?) Societies give a supper for a hundred men and believe me it is always well attended usually they are swamped with extra fellow. I am having a great time herding a ford truck around out in the line pumping gas into the airships. One day we, my partner and I pumped over twelve hundred gallons of gas. Suffering, Moses a saw gas pumps in my sleep that night. Nearly every day is the same, yesterday was pretty easy as they were breaking in a new class and most of the day was taken up with lectures. Gee girl I wish that you could have seen the ships when they were taking off this morning. They sent out over sixty machines at once, usualy they string them out one at
a time but this morning they sent the whole line out at once, about a hundred feet apart. For twenty minuets the air was simply lousy with ships it was a great sight untill the dust cloud blotted them out. Saturday morning we had a bad accident over at the second solo field. Two cadets, went into a tail spin at two hundred feet up and smashed the ship into splinters but both escaped with their lives. One was pretty badly shook up and some cut up around the head and the other just got a scratch under his eye. I don’t under stand why one or both weren’t killed. The machine is good for nothing but scrap or junk. So far we haven’t had any fatal accidents. Now Sister Mary I am going to tell you a thing or too. Please don’t be backward about going to’ Call on Mrs. Marks as I know that she will be more than glad to do any
thing that she can for you. I know how lovesome it is to go to a strange place away from all your friends and relatives but it seems to be the way of life and we have to make the best of it so cheer up and don’t be afraid to call on old friends. Find out Miss. Spragues address and Miss Wheelers they are too old friends of ours for you to back ward about going to see. Good Lord girl you have a hundred people that would be glad to see you. I know pretty well how you feel bout calling on them but don’t be afraid to do it, I used to be the same but I have gotten pretty well over it by now. Why don’t you go to see Ruth Sparks mother if you know where they are. Lordy me girl you could have a wonderful time if you would only let yourself go to it. Now please
don’t be so sensitive about calling on other people and I am sure that they will be glad to see you. I am trying to get a fifteen day pass to go home but haven’t much hope of making it. I wish that I could get time to see you two girls again. I got a letter from Henry the some day that I got yours. This morning I got a letter from Mother & Dad and they wrote like they were having a pretty good business and were making it find. Well Sis I guess that I ‘ll have to way off for this time, as it is nearly chow time. So good by with heaps of love, and please remember and do as I told you too.
Chas.
P.S. Please send Mrs. Marks address to me as I wish to ask here something.
Good by
Riverside, Cal. Oct 17 8„30A 1918.
Mrs H. B.Voigts..1865 Hampshire St.(crossed out, 1065 is written in above).
San Francisco. Calif..Try 1865 Hampshire St. (crossed out).no such no„141„F.
March Field Oct. 16'18.
Dear Ceil,
Received your letter some time ago and will try to answer it this afternoon as I am off duty untill seven thirty tonight. I tried to get some sleep over in the barracks but nothing doing as there is too much noise also am feeling rather bum to day as I have a devil of a cold in my head and night work doesn’t seem to do it any good either. They had me up in the hospital for influenza but I wouldn’t believe them and finaly finally they turned me loose. They had me in for two days and I didn’t develope any symptons symptoms
so they turned me loose. There is only eighty cases of ‘
here in camp ant everything is under a strict quarantine even the Y.M.C.A., they only allow fifteen men in the building at a time and have an M.P. in here at night
to see that no more than that get in. We were lucky that they didn’t put us under quarantine last Saturday. I was out Saturday night and Sunday so I should worry. Went to the Canteen dance and stayed with the Evans and Sunday morning took a trip to the Submarine Base at San Pedro and’ sure did have a wonderful trip. Mr & Mrs Evans and I went with a Mr & Mrs. Graves and their daughter. The Grave’s went to the Sub. Base to see a son of their’s that is in the Naval Reserve. We weren’t able to get inside of the reservation as it has been quarantined for two weeks. We had to stand back fifteen feet from the fence to talk to the boys. If one of them got any closer than that he had to have his mouth and nose sprayed out, and believe me it is rotten tasting dope. It tasted like a
cross between Coal Oil Distillate and Creosote, lordy but it is sure rank. I have to go to the hospital every night and morning and take a dose of the same stuff. This morning the fellow gave me enough to float a Battle ship, I half believe that he was trying to drown me. The Y has arranged to have the moving pictures outside now but that don’t do me any good as I have to work nearly all night so don’t get to see anything like that. Last night I didn’t get to bed untill three o’clock this morning and have had only half an hours sleep since six thirty this morning. I was in hopes that they would string some on else with that night job this week they probably would have if I
t have gotten caught in the hospital. Last week I had a snap as they only had five men in the night class and I used to get through at nine thirty and ten o’clock but that was too good to last. Gee Sis I wish that you could have been here last Saturday to see the planes when they left for Los Angeles in Battle Formation. There was a hundred and ten ships in the one formation. That night when they were coming back all I could think of was a flock of gigantic ducks coming home to roost. Lordy but it sure was some sight. Of the hundred and ten that started only two failed to get back and neither of them was lost both had to land on account of engine trouble. Maybe you don’t think that we gas house men didn’t do some hustling to get those ships gassed up in a hurry so we could get to town. For two hours & a half
we never stopped a minuet, one man drove the truck while the other pumped gas into the ships. We had two trucks and four men it was a race to see who could gas the most ships in the less time but I believe that we had a little the best time of it as we had a shade faster pump than the other men. Now I don’t reckon that we will have to race to see who can get to town first for some ñ weeks or two months. This sure will be a grouchy and sore headed bunch by that time. Well sis I guess that I saw off and go lay down for a while. This is rather a poor apology for a letter but I am feeling to darned bum to think of any thing more. I hope that you have see Hattie by
this time. I got a letter from her yesterday also a picture of her last week. Gee I wish that I could drop in on you two right now. Have been trying to get a furlough home, but it would take an act of Congress to get a fifteen day pass out of this post. Tell Henry that I’ll answer his letters in a day or so should have done so long ago.
Good By & good luck,
As ever With Love,
March Nov 18 530PM CAL.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St..San Francisco Calif.
March Field.Nov. 18. 1918.
Dear Ceil,
I reckon that it was time I was after answering you letter. There isn’t very much news around this camp at present as we have been under quarantine so long that there isn’t any thing to write about as it is the same old grind every day. We are going along on the some schedual that we did before peace was declared. Haven’t slowed up a bit..We are laving a rest this forenoon as it has been raining since early this morning but is trying to clear up now so I reckon that we will do our flying this afternoon. I hope that it keeps on raining as I don’t feel much like work today. Was lucky last week and drew a pass for the week end and feel rather tired today. The quarantine was lifted at mid night last night or
at least it was supposed to be and guess that it was if no new cases of flu showed up this morning. We had a great time last Thursday night drawing for passes. There was bout fifty men that could have passes and only twenty passes, so we held a lottery and drew for passes. I was one of the lucky ones and got out for the first time in a month gee but it was sure good to get out once again. I went over and spent the day with the Evans family. If I get out next Sunday I think that I’ll go to Pasadena and see if I can’t find Dan Dicky. I don’t expect that I’ll find him home tho. Lordy me I do hope that they give me my discharge soon now as there isn’t any fun left in staying in here now all I want to do is go home, and there isn’t any telling when we will get out either. Say sis that is sure some picture of you. What have you been feeding on of late?
Gee but it has been cold here for the last two or three weeks, the days have been fine but the mornings are sure fierce and we have to pile into on open truck and ride fifteen or twenty miles and she sure is some crimpy. When I get up I put on all the clothes that I can find loose and in a couple of hours begin to peel them off. She sure does make you feel like working. Well sis I guess that I’ll be after closing as I can’t think of any thing more to write at present.
So Good Bye With heaps of love,
First part of postal mark is illegible, I think the date is Feb 18, possibly 830AM.
March Field.Feb. 17. 1919.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1068 Hampshire St..San Francisco Calif.
Dear Sis,
Please forgive me for not writing to you sooner but I thought that I had answered your letter some time ago reckon I must have had a fit of absent mindedness. Your postal rather woke me up, there isn’t very much news in this dump any more and I get so discouraged about getting out that I don’t care whether I do any thing or not. The C.O. is up at ñ Frisco before the Western Department Headquarters with our requests for discharges and we ought to know by the end of the week how we stand about getting out. I hope that they bounce him off the post and give us a new C.O. Then we would get rid of this chunk of rottenness that is in charge of the school ñ detatchment ñ detachment ñ
I wish that you could be down here to take in the orange show,
it is real good. I spent all Sat. afternoon in it by myself and yesterday Mr & Mrs Evans and I took it in again we spent part of the evening and afternoon there then I had to beat it for camp. I put in most of my time in the Auto and Tractor show believe me for a small show it is real good. Gee but we are having wonderful weather here, just like a June day. When it rains it only lasts a day or two then turns off nice and warm and isn’t damp or foggy. I am beginning to get stuck on this country and if it wasn’t for Service wanting me so badly and if I could persuade uncle George to come down here I’d be more than likely to stay here. If you folks are still in San Francisco when I get out will stop off and see you if I can do it. I’ll have to go back to Vancouver Barracks to be discharged and consequently it has up set all of my plans as I wanted ñ out here and see you girls on my way home but no such luck.
Gee girl I wish that I could have been up there to go sliding with you folks. I hope that I don’t have to stay on the post this coming week end as there is going to be some big doings in San Bernardino Saturday afternoon and I want to take it in. It is to be soldiers day at the orange show also it is the last day of the show. We fellows in uniform can get in free and can come and go when we please while the civies have to dig up half a buck to get in, that’s one good thing about being in here yet. I have just about run dry of news for this time So Good Bye,
With Love.
Chas.
How soon are you folks going up to the ranch at Verdi?
This is the last letter to my grandmother Lucille from her brother Charles. The next letter is from either a family friend or an Uncle of Charles and Lucille’s
San Diego NOV 7 1PM 1918 CAL.
Gene Bluis
Squadron C
Rockwell Field.San Diego Cal.
Mrs. Henry Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St. San Franscico, SanFrancisco
Rockwell Field.Nov 7.
Hello Ciel,
I never fainted but was sure surprised to hear from you. Ora has moved back to Westport. Gee you still give my old Home town a dig. Now look here, Ciel, if we continue to be good friends don’t knock the old Burg. She went over the top in all the Liberty Loans, and gave more men to the army than any other town in the State of the same size. So you see I have reasons to be proud of her. As for as some of the people are concerned well, I won’t express my views. I neòly loved some one in the old Town once, so
it has pleasant memories. Sophie, I know you remember her, is engaged to a Boy across the pond. He is a prince of a lad. I am glad she is going to get a good fellow. She is all wool & a yard wide. So Hat said Jess was probably across. All, no, I guess was unless it is a recent happening. He was in Mendo. Co a short while ago. He has that yellow streak that would take him across untill he is drafted and has to go. So Hat got on her ear when you mentioned my name Did she? Well I should worry. We were alright untill a certain party came up there. And when I was going to give him a beating which he deserved she stuck up for him. I will thrash him if I meet him.
even in Sunday school. Bob & I got along alright untill she chipped in. Hat has done a lot for me in the past, and I am greatful for it but she can’t get it into her head, that she can slip one over on her Uncle. It can’t be done, I was young and foolish once, But know better now. I was going to try and take a trip up and see Charley, but this doggone epidemic put a stop to it. Don’t try and tell me how those measles feel I already know. I would just as soon wear a gas mask as one of them. I have wore both, and they haven’t any thing on the gas mask for comfort..The Influenza isn’t severe down here. They have hopes of checking it soon. I look for the War to be over by Xmas. The time has flown like a dream since last Xmas. I guess it hasn’t for the Boys across the pond tho. I don’t think that there will be many more go across. I don’t blame Peg for liking Satonville there is some one up there that I could learn to like very easy myself. Sure I will stop in and see you on my way up home. That is providing you are still there when I come thru. Mamas address address is the same..Well Ciel this isn’t very long but am going on duty in a few minuets so will have to quit.
Write again Soon.
As Ever Your Old pal,
Squadron C.
Rockwell Field.
San Diego Cal.
Ukiah Dispatch Democrat (Ukiah, California) Fri, Nov 19, 1926, Page 5
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lovejoy have been enjoying a visit from Mr. Lovejoy's nephew, Charles Lovejoy, of Baker City, Ore. He started on the return trip Monday, motoring through.
NATIONAL WAR WORK COUNCIL.
ARMY AND NAVY.
YOUNG MEN‘S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS.
WITH THE COLOR‘
The letterhead has in the upper left hand corner, a partially furled flag, in the right the red circle with a triangle inside it. The envelopes have the red triangle with blue YMCA over it. Beneath that is the words ‘with the colors‘. The stamps are all purple three cent stamps with George Washington on them.
Post mark: St. Paul, Minn. March 13, 3:30PM, 1918.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St.
San Francisco Calif.,
St. Paul, Minn. March 13, 1918.
Dear Sis,
I believe it is time I was answering your letter. I would have written sooner but was flat broke and out of stamps at the same time. I have made quite a jump across country since I got your letter, two weeks ago today we left Kelly field and came up here for six weeks training in the aviation school here. When we got up here I expected to see snow but it was all gone except in the shady places. Altho there was plenty of ice on the ponds and in the streams. But last Saturday it started to snow and now there is a foot or more on the ground. Gee but we did have a time getting home from school, we have about five miles to ride in trucks to the Dunwoody industrial institute, and the snow was so deep that the trucks were stalled all along the road, we finally had to take the street cars. Had to walk nearly a mile to the car line and then wait half an hour for a car and all this time the wind was blowing a gale, and the snow was like frost. We were all late for dinner some didn’t get in untill nearly supper time. Gee but it was a fright. We have a dandy barracks to stay in, we are in the Overland storage building, it covers nearly half a block and all of the sides are of glass. The first floors the overland people have we have our quarters on the second, third and fourth floors and down in the basement is the kitchen and mess hall and we have steam heat though out. Saturday I got kicked out of school for not knowing any thing. They put me to learning copper smithing and I didn’t know the first thing about it. I don’t now what they will put me at next, I hope it is my own trade.
Yesterday morning I was put on K.P. Worked there untill noon and got kicked out of there as there was too many of us. I wasn’t sorry.
Had to peel onions all morning, I weep a while and peel some more, had to peel two sacks of them. If I stay in this mans army for a while I sure know how to rustle pots if I don’t learn any thing else. Altho I have been pretty lucky, have been on K.P. four times since I have been in the army. Was in K.P. coming up on the train it sure was a fright, you didn’t know whether you were going to stand up or go on your head in the dish pan. Then we would get smoked out every time the train stopped as long as the train was moving the smoke wasn’t so bad. Thank the lord I didn’t have to wash the supper dishes
some other poor devil had to do that. This country is sure like gods county after two months of Kelly field even tho it is only plains country. That’s all you see from Kelly field, here is flat prairie to rolling prairie not a hill of any size shape or description. There is a rumor going around here that some of us drivers will be sent to New York soon for a few weeks training and then over seas, gee I hope that I am one of them as I am getting tired of monkeying around here. I want to see some thing doing. I’ll have to
saw off now as drill hall goes in a few minuets, will write again soon. What is Henry doing now, has he been called yet. If he is called and wants to he can get in as a cook as they are mighty scarce and they get a sergeants rating and pay. Well good bye & good luck. Address me: Aviation school, St. Paul Minn. Squadron 2ò
Overland building.’
With lots of love,
St. Paul, Minn Apr 29 9 AM 1918 (plain lined paper)
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St., San Francisco Calif.
St. Paul, Minn. April 28, 1918.
Dear Sis,
Guess you think that I have forgotten you by this time. Just got out of the hospital last Tuesday and this is the first chance I’ve had to do any writing, am going to school now and they sure keep us bustling from five thirty untill seven at night and then sometimes untill nine or ten at night. This is the routine we have to follow. Five thirty roll out and dress in five minuets got down stairs & line up for reviele, march up stairs for measle inspection, make up our bunks, then go down to mess, after mess clean up quarters. Eight
clock school rolls around, we get out of school at twelve get up stairs and wash up for noon mess at 12:30. Back to school at one o’clock to five, from five to six thirty we do drill six thirty we stand retreat, march back for measle inspection again and get mess
at seven o’clock.
We are supposed to be off from all duties untill ten o’clock but this last week they have managed to keep us going from supper untill bed time at ten. I had an invitation to got to church and a dinner after wards but had such a bad cough that I didn’t go. The mumps left me with a beautiful cough seems as tho it never will leave me. You should have seen me with my jaws all swelled up, all I could think of when I looked in the glass was a fat berkshire hog, my head was bigger than old Bill Pinches..The next son of a gun that tells me mumps is a childish disease I’ll kill him no the sot. I never had anything hurt so in my life. After each meal for half an hour I’d nearly go crazy, for two or three when I’d start to chew I’d take about three chews, then my blooming jaws would lock so tight that I couldn’t even cuss. Never again for this child. Has Henry been called out yet or has he been put in class four and what is he doing now, gee I wish I could drop in on you for a few minuets as I sure do get blue and home sick some times. We have been having the most beautiful weather here for the last two weeks, clear & warm every day, to day it started to rain a little and I sure hope that it keeps it up as they sure to need rain here, everything was getting dry as a bone..Well Sis I’ll have to saw off for this time as I have run dry of new for the present also noon mess call goes in a few minuets and you have to be on time or you don’t eat. By the way will you send me Smarties address as I have lost it and she will begin to think that I am mad at her or some thing. I got a letter from her just before I went to the hospital and wile I was gone all my things were stolen or lost I don’t know which any everything was gone when I got back.
Well dear girl good bye and good luck for this time. As ever with love,
Chas.
P.S. My address is changed again so address me as:
Private Chas. E. Lovejoy
Aviation Training School.
Sec. I. 864 Squadron.
St. Paul, Minn.
St. Paul, Minn May 26 4„PM 1918
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
Verdi, Nevada,Washoe Co.
C/O Herb Walter.
St. Paul Minn.May 25, 1918.
Dear Girl,
Received your last letter yesterday also received one came weeks age so will answer both at once. Would have written sooner but have had another siege in the hospital was in only a week but that was a plenty. Had a bad case of Bronchitis in fact still have it nearly as bad as when I was in there. Talk about cough, I’ve coughed up everything but my boots and look for them to come any day. Am beginning to feel pretty good in spite of old Mr. Cough guess I’ll survive it as usual. Am pretty near through school now and maybe I’ll be somewhere else by the time you answer this and may still be here for the rest of the spring & summer as they have a new rule here that every one has to take three months of schooling. Gee I hope that they ship me out of here before that takes effect unless they
enlarge the course’s as everything that they are teaching I have been through a thousand times. Mondays class is the only one that I am weak for, that is magnetos & carburetor’s the rest I know by heart. What kind of a county is it that you are in? Sage brush I expect. My but this country is getting pretty around here now as the trees are just getting leaved out and the fruit trees are just in full bloom. All the trees here are hard woods such as oak, maple, ash, cottonwood box elder and birch with a few elms, there isn’t a fir tree
any where around here or any kind of evergreen..Guess I’ll have to quit pretty soon as the movie starts in a few minuets and the flights well be gone. Last Sunday afternoon the ball game was called off on account of the rain so I walked out to Minnehaha park to see the Minnehaha falls. Gee but they are some falls only fall about thirty feet & are about twenty feet across. Old fox creek could put up a better fall any day.
The park is quite pretty but nothing like thought it would be, altho the walk along the Mississippi River was wonderful in it’s way. A foot path runs along the bank of the river for about two miles, wish I had more time to get out and see more of the country around here. The last week they have been drilling the life out of us every evening, for the last week and judging by the kind of drill I think that they are getting us ready for some parade perhaps the thirtieth of may. Last Saturday we had a big red cross parade in minneapolis only a few of us from the school took part in it. I had just got out of the hospital in the morning so didn’t have any part in it, went down and took it in tho my but it was good, it took the parade nearly two hours to pass where I was. I saluted flags untill my right arm was sore. There was some where over thirty thousand in the parade & the majority were red cross workers and nurses, all dressed in white gee but it did look nice. Well sis it is pretty near my bed time so will have to say off for this time as news are rather scarce as everything is the same over & over every day.
So good bye & good luck.
As ever With Love.
Chas.
P.S. do you have any thunderstorms there? This is the worst place I ever saw for thunder every day or night there is a big storm, Tonight while we were out drilling we all got soaking wet. The thunder sounds so funny as there is no echo or roll like in the Mountains, just a heavy crash and it is done for, but the lighting is wonderful the way it darts and runs across the sky in ribbons and stairs.
Good night.
St. Paul, Minn June 18 8:30AM 1918 (no letterhead)
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
Verdi, Nevada,Washoe Co.
c/o Herb Walts.
St. Paul, Minn. June 17, 1918.
Dear Ceil,
Received your welcome letter some time ago and will try to answer it to night. Would have written sooner but it had been so hot the last week there that I didn’t have the
ambition of a jackrabbit, tonight it is real pleasant and is raining to beat the dickens. For a wonder it hasn’t rained for four days but sure made up for it in heat, and it was as hot during the night as it was in the day time. The only way I could sleep was to take a cold shower before going to bed and when I got up in the morning I was tireder than when I went to bed at night. Tonight it is sure a relief, Lordy me but it sure knows how to rain in this county when it starts. I have hopes of getting out of here this week but am not sure, it is rumored that we are going to Riverside or Sacramento Calif. Am not putting much faith in it as it is unofficial but I hope not. We were all trade tested or examined on our school work last week and yours truly and two others beat the whole school with a Grade of ninty per cent efficiant. Believe me it took a load off my mind as I’ was begining to wonder if I could pass the trade test board. Twenty eight in our section fell so low in their exam that they pulled them out of school and put them on K.P. down in the mess hall. I’d rather die that have to work down there on these hot days, I sure feel sorry for the poor devils as it is simply fierce to have to stay down there long enough to eat your meals. It is down in the basement below the street level and no circulation of air at all untill they got fans and blowers and even with them it is unbearable at times. I am going to be mighty sure that I don’t have to go down there to work if I stay here for the rest of the term, They have stretched the school work from six weeks too two months for those who have been through before & the new ones have to go three months. Gee but I dread to think of those two months on this.
course, we are kept two weeks on one subject and it sure does get monotonous after the first four or five days, then it is simply drudgery for the rest of the time. The worst of it is that you have to stand on your feet every minuet from eight in the morning untill four thirty in the afternoon with an hour off for dinner. You can’t even stand up and lean against the benches or walls and as for sitting down, lord help you if you get caught at it by one of these shave tails that are always popping up when you least expect one to show up. My poor feet are giving me fits and no relief in sight yet. Last Friday we had a half holiday and big parade in the after noon. They had a big time in Minneapolis to celebrate flag day so we had to take part in it, We had about twenty trucks in the parade and each one showed the different courses and trades taken up in the school, I was in the transmission room at the time and was picked on to go on the truck.
to demonstrate how we did things while at work. I wished to goodness that they had picked on some one else instead of me as I didn’t get to see any of the parade. We lead the parade and of course I had to be dressed in greasy overalls and jumper, so that I couldn’t drop off and watch the rest of the march after our part was done. The next time they will have to look real hard to find me, to get me to ride one of their old trucks. All we had to do was pretend to work real hard but to really do nothing at all. We got back to post here at three o’clock, I changed, my clothes and came over here to the Y, got me a book and hunted up the coolest spot I could find in the yard and read the rest of the afternoon. It was the first book that I have had a chance to read for over two months, can you believe it, me going two months with out picking up a book. You can see from that just about how busy they keep us don’t even get a chance to read magazines any more.
We have been having some great times here playing base ball. A week ago yesterday we played the Minneapolis All Stars. Played fifteen innings to a tie with a score of three to three. Talk about your crazy mobs we sure ere it, there was about fifteen hundred of us from here and a good bunch of civilians, I’ll warrant you could have heard us for two miles. We would have played it to a finish but the Minnesota law don’t allow any games after six o’clock Sundays so we had to call it off. Yesterday we played them again and got beat for the first time since we started to play were beaten by a score of four to two. We have played ten or twelve games altogether and always won by a large margin or tied the game but this time we met our waterloo. Maybe it will be a good thing that they did got licked as I think that they were getting a little bit too cocky and swelled up over winning all the time. Hope we have better luck next time.
You will probably have received the photo that I sent you by this time. Will have a better one taken one of these days when I get a decent fitting uniform. I’ll have to
saw off now as I have about run out of news and the movies is about ready to start and the light will go as it starts. Yes I got the two pictures that you sent in one of your letters and think they were pretty good. Well, good bye, and good luck.
With worlds of love,
Chas.
Address. Aviation Training School. 864 Squadron Section A .St. Paul.
P.S. What is your receipt for getting fat. as I would like to try it. Have you lost you cough yet. I have a dandy and can’t seem to loose it had it two months and it is the same as it ever was.
Riverside, Cal. Jul 15 3„PM 1918.Riverside, Cal. Jul 15 4„PM 1918
Mrs. Henry B. Voigts.
Verdi.Washoe Co Nevada.
c/o Herb Walts.
March Field July 15, 1918.
Dear Ceil,
I reckon it is about time I was after answering your two letters. Got the one that you sent to St. Paul all right. They hardly ever return the letters that are sent to us, if we move they keep following us up untill they catch up with us after a while some times it takes them a long time to do it. Would have written sooner but have been under the weather for the last three weeks and didn’t care if I ever wrote to any one or not. It will be three weeks tomorrow that I arrived here, gee but it don’t seem that long. I was down to Riverside yesterday for the first time. We are ten miles from there and can get a pass out of the post once in two weeks, that is often enough for me as I am not stuck on towns any how. Riverside is about the size of Baker City and reminds me a whole lot of Baker. It is in about the same kind of country too, it is surrounded by sage and rock hills exactly like Baker. It realy is quite a pretty town all the streets are planted with.
large shade trees and an some of the streets are regular tunnels. I wandered around for a few hours and then spent the rest of the time at the Y.M.C.A. just loafing around killing time the best that I could. After dinner I took in a movie but didn’t think much of it then went back to the Y. and some ladies had cake and lemonade for us. Then at seven had a chance to ride out to the field free so up and beat it. No I haven’t been to any dances since that one on Hats birthday, reckon I have just about forgotten how to dance. I am supposed to be in the Motor transport division of the aviation service as a truck diver or Chauffeur but just at present am not doing a blessed thing and haven’t since I came down here. Have been detailed to the post maintenance department untill they get some more trucks here. Haven’t reported for duty yet, will probably report this after noon so I am’
feeling pretty good again. When I do report will probably get a pick and shovel or same other fatigue work to do. Up untill the last few days it has been unmercifully hot during the day time but at nights it is as cool as old Mendocino was, in fact two blankets come in pretty handy, but the last few days it has been.
foggy in the morning and hangs on quite late so it doesn’t get so awful hot. Every afternoon a steady breeze comes up so that it makes things a good deal more livable, if it wasn’t for that wind it would be fierce here. We are out in the center of an immense grain field and not a shade tree within two miles of the post. We are in a big round valley in the San Bernardino hills and might as well be in the desert as the hills are bare and brown with nothing on them but a little scrubby sage brush and more rocks than any thing else. I like it fine here but some of the fellows are sore as the dickens as it is too far from town to suit them. I guess they were spoiled at St. Paul by having two towns right at the front door..If don’t know what kind of a fourth they had here as I was in the hospital flat on my back and in quarantine at that, was locked in a room by my self and couldn’t see any one but the nurse and the Doctor, so you see I had a real glorious time.
The second day that I was here I went to the hospital with another dose of infectious Bronchitis and the second day I was in there a rash broke out on my face and neck and the doctor didn’t no just what it was so they stuck me into solitary confinement and I was in there for ten days. No one was allowed to come in and I couldn’t do any writing as everything I touched had to stay in the room. I looked as if I had stuck my face into a bee hive or had been badly scratched and believe me it was some sore. I had the Dr’s going as
they couldn’t decide just what it was, finally the last day they gave it a name about a yard long that I couldn’t pronounce in a week. If it had gone to any other part of my body they would have called it small pox captain True said. They were mighty good to me but it sure was a lone some old time. I got out of the hospital a week ago yesterday and have just been loafing around quarters ever since as at first I was too weak to do any thing but am O.K. again. When we came out here we came on the northern pacific railroad, came through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wash. Ore. And down through Calif. The same way as when I went to Kelly Field last winter.
We sure did see some wonderful country on the way but had hard luck as we hit all the high mountain passes at night also came through the Columbia gorge during the night. Crossing Minnesota and the Dakotas all you could see was flat prairie as far as you could see. Didn’t strike any hills untill we got into the Bad lands of North Dakota and they sure are a weird and wonderful looking bunch of hills all I can think of is a lot of different sized hays stacks just stacked up any old way. It surely is a funny country. Through Minnesota & N.D. it was rather cold but as soon as we got into Montana it commenced to get warmer and by the time we got well up the Yellowstone river it was real hot. We struck the Yellowstone river at Glendall Montana and all the way from there to Billings where we left it every thing was under water in some placed the river was several miles wide. They said that they had never seen the river as high as that before. For miles the water was on both sides of the track and within three or four feet of the rails. Believe me we didn’t break any speed limits along those places. At Forsyth the whole town was under water except the N.P. station and it was only a foot out of water. The rest of the town was any where from a foot to waist deep, and in spite of all their troubles they met us with ice cream cones, believe me it sure did taste good as it was fearfully hot. At Miles City they had just got their hay cut and stacked and you could see great stacks of hay half a mile out in the river every where it was the same. We got into Billings at dark and crossed the pass above there in the night also passed Butte and pulled into Missoula in time for breakfast, was there for an hour or more. The red cross gave us oranges and candy also each one got a rose. From there across Idaho to Spokane Wash. was surely some wonderful country through those mountains. Most of the fellows were from the east and along the Mississippi and had never seen any Mountains and they simply went crazy over them. I wish we could have crossed the passes at day time. From Spokane down through eastern Wash. to the Columbia is nearly as dreary as the desert as there isn’t anything but old lava beds with nothing
on them but a little dried up bunch grass. In some of the counties along the snake river was some pretty good ranches, but the rest is nothing but a dreary waste and everything was dry as a bone. Gee but we sure did some going across that country we averaged sixty miles all the way down to the Columbia. We hit the Columbia at dark and was in Portland at daylight. Gee but it was pretty crossing Ore. as everything was so nice and green and everything was a mass of roses of all colors besides other flowers, Oh but I wish mother could have seen it. We passed Mt. Shasta at midnight and I was on guard at that time and got a chance to see it by full moon light, gee but it was worth loosing two hours sleep to see it. I came off guard at Dunsmuir and was pretty well down the Sacramento valley by the time I got up. Got to Sacramento a little past noon & the red cross canteen workers gave us fruit and cigarettes also a stamped post card. All through the Sacramento and San Juaqine valley they were well started on the harvesting.
we hit Fresno at sunset and was in Los Angeles at sunrise the next morning and got out here at eleven o’clock just four hours less than five days on the road. We left St. Paul at three o’clock June twentyth and landed here on the twenty fifth. I was real sorry for the trip to end as we shore had a wonderful trip..Well Sis I guess I’ll have to quit for this time as I ran out of news for the present. I am too far from San Diego can’t get time
to see Gene, it is some what over a hundred miles and I can’t get a pass long enough to go and get back on. Can you get his address and send it to me would like to hear from him and see what he is doing.
Goodby
and Good luck. As ever.
Chas..address me..March Field.Riverside Calif..293 squadron.
Riverside, Cal. Aug 16 8:30A 1918.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
Verdi Nevada,Washoe Co.
c/o Herb Walt.
March Field Aug 15.18.
Dear Ceil.
Received your letter some time ago and have been too busy to answer it. Have just finished serving supper and as this was my afternoon off I have the evening to myself and no dishes to wash. Am still working in the kitchen and the lord only knows when I’ll ever get off of it. Gee but there was a wild time in that mess hall tonight. Supper was a little late as they were frying hamburger stead and some of the tables had to wait. As each dish was brought in about three tables swore that it was their turn you can imagine the racket with a hundred and fifty men all talking at once and at the top of their voices. We sure do have some noisy times in that hall at meal times, I’d sooner try to feed a bunch of squeeling pigs than a bunch of hungry rookies.
Every meal it is a war between the k.p.’s and the men especialy when we have pie or some thing like that. A hungry rookie is the worst liar on earth when it comes to pie or getting an extra piece of meat. I am getting rather expert in telling whether a man has had a certain thing or not altho they do manage to get the best of me now and then. We usualy have water melon every other day and when we do there isn’t very much kicking done, for by the time they have gotten out side of a quarter of a large melon they are so full that they can hardly move. A night or so ago I had a good laugh, for two or three nights ago we had boiled ham for supper and I made some mustard for it out of plain ground mustard and vinegar and you know how hot it is. When they got sight of that mustard they just smeared it on their meat and one fellow got.
away with three mouths full before it began to get in it’s work. Lordy me but you should have seen him fly around after the iced tea and any thing that would cool him off. It nearly burned the mouth and throat off of him. We always manage to scrape up some kind of fun out of the hard work, I am beginning to like the job now as we have got it down almost to a science each man has a certain thing to do and it isn’t nearly
so hard besides we get every second and third afternoon off after they noon dishes are done. So after all it isn’t such a bad job. It would be a lot better if we had two different k.p.’s as two of them are so slow that they can’t get out of their own road. Lerch got me so mad last night that I came near knocking the stuffing out him.
I was in a hurry to finish up for the night as I wanted to attend a lecture here at the Y. and that lazy devil sat down and chewed the lay (?) with several of the fellows for half an hour before I could get him started. My but today has been simply grand, not to hot and the air was as clear as crystal. This morning it tried to rain for a while then gave it up and the clouds broke up into big fleecy bunches. The last few days it has been foggy in the mornings and the days were quite cool. But two weeks ago it’ was something fierce here, on a Friday it was a hundred and twelve in the shade and the following Sat. it was even hotter. Sat. morning it was ninety six at five o’clock when we got up so you can imagine what the sleeping was like. It was a regular sweat bath and in the kitchen standing over a steaming pan of dishes for two
hours or so was simply murder. The whole camp was out on the dump cleaning it up for the general inspection and one of the cadet flyers were over come with the heat. When the fellows came in from work they were as wet as if they had been in the river. Believe me it sure was some relief when it turned cooler. It seems as tho our angel of good luck had deserted us for good by the accidents we have been having here lately, one of the Cadets started it by turning his machine upside down while doing a spiral descent and couldn’t get it right side up again. He got out of it with a leg broken in three places one arm and several ribs broken and a scalp wound. If it hadn’t been for the groove the engine dug in the ground when it struck, his
head would have been torn completely off. Next the mail orderly was run into by an auto, he was on a motor cycle, and he is in the Riverside hospital with a fractured skull and wasn’t expected to live. The same night the second mail orderly was coming into camp and ran down three fellows, who were on foot and all four went to the hospital. Two days later I saw one fellow smash a motorcycle on one of the hanger posts where they are building a new hangar, he ran clear across the road and over a hundred feet to bump into that particular post. He wasn’t hurt but the motorcycle had a broken leg. The last I saw of him he was headed for the guard house. Yesterday two lieutenants came near going over the one way trail when they turned a place up side down. They were making cross wind langings (landings?) And turned turtle. The place was a
total wreck but neither one of them had a scratch. The ambulance ran over the camps pet bull dog and killed him, he was buried with full military honors. This morning two k.p.’s in the 215 hall got in a rage and one laid the other out with a broom, busted his head open so that he had to go to the hospital. We sure are having great times here and the worst calamity was when the cook burned the stew and the dinner was spoiled lordy what a row there was. Well sister mary I guess I’ll have to begin to bring this to an end as they will start a stereoptcon show pretty soon and I want to see it as there is a lecture going with it too called the lure of the mountains. Last week we had one on Alaska and it sure was great.
Last night after the lecture we had the Boss of the Lazy A and a short comedy it was good and the best of it was that I had just finished the book that the play was taken from. We have movies three times a week and the other nights we either have a musical evening or some sort of a show. Tomorrow night we have a big boxing bout an believe me it will be good. Well sis the show is starting so good bye and good luck for this time. With heaps of love.
Chas..Address.293 squadron
March Field.Riverside Calif..
Riverside, Cal. SEP 6 8:30A 1918
Mrs. H. B. Voigts
1065 Hampshire St., San Francisco Calif.
March Field sept. 5/18
Dear Ceil,
Received your’s and Henrys letters some time ago and reckon it is time I was after answering it. Have just gotten back from the ball game between our squadron and the sixty eighth and we won by a two to one score and last night we beat the Cadet team four to one, so that leaves us the champions of the post also we have to meet all the civilian teams now. The Cadets were the champs up to last night. Had a great chewing match at the game. I thought that there would be a fight for a while. This coming Monday there is to be a big relay race between the different squadrons on the field, but it is really a tryout between the sixty eighth and our team. I hope that we beat them good this time as they have been a little too cocky over beating us last time, altho we will have to go some
to beat them as they have a wonderful team. We were supposed to have a big field meet at Riverside last Monday but fell through an account of a lack of interest. I do wish that I could ditch this k.p. job so I could join the different teams. As it is I don’t have any
time to do anything but wash dishes. Have been trying to do a little mathematics in the time that I have to spare after working hours, but haven’t made much progress as I only get half an hour or so each evening. I am going after the Sergeant Major and see if I can’t be transfered to a different job. I don’t even have time to go to the swimming pool for a swim. This afternoon was my day off duty and by the time I shaved and took a bath I was so darned sleepy that I hit the bunk for a couple of hours then got my supper a little ahead of time and have been here ever since writing letter, as I have gotten
so far behind that I never will catch up again unless I put in half of some night scribbling, time does fly so fast that half the time my letters are a week old before I know it. It seems only a day or so since I received your letter and it is, considerable more than a week. I did have plenty of time for writing last Sunday and Monday but was having to good a time to do any writing especially Sunday. Saturday evening after our evening dishes were done we had a pass off the post untill Monday night at eleven o’clock and believe me we made the most of it..After I got my dishes done I and Lerch beat it for the Canteen dance at San Bernardino, We got there a little late but had a great time while it lasted, at least I did I lost Lerch after we had been there
an hour or more. I don’t know where he went to and didn’t care as I was two busy myself. I beat it for bed sometime after twelve and along about four in the morning I woke up to find two of the fellows from the squadron in bed with me. They couldn’t find a room and seeing my name on the register they hunted my room up, and tried to wake me but I must have been dead to the world. So one crawled in through the transom and opened the door, and I didn’t hear them untill they’ were in bed with me, it was a good thing that I had a big double bed. The next morning we went up to the canteen and I lost them as I had a date for dinner. I guess that they made out as one of them Bradford by name has the nerve of a missouri mule as I found out later. At noon I went down to Mr. Evans for dinner and spent the day and evening with them. They have one
son in France in the ambulance works and another too young to go yet. He was away at Los Angeles so I was there with them alone and they sure did show me a good time. I had dinner and supper there and we all spent the evening in the park listening to the submarine band from San Pedro. Their next door neighbors went to the park with us a Mr. & Mrs. Wright and their daughters and we surely had, and enjoyable evening and had some ice cream on our way back and spent the rest of the evening at the Wrights. On the fourteenth of this month I am going with them to Hylands to an entertainment that the Canteen is to give over there. Mrs. Evans is one of the Canteen workers here at San Berdoo and she is a real lady too. She is about mother’
Monday I took in the labor day parade and later went to the park to take in the speeches and games, was there most of the morning where Bradford came along and asked me to go out to some of his friends for dinner and l like a darned fool I took him up but never again. like his brand of nerve as he is rank rotten and his friends are the same or they don’t know him. Any how I’ll never get caught in his company again for some one of there time he is going to get into serious trouble. I, finaly, finally, got away from them at nine thirty and by that time it was time to think of getting back to camp. I didn’t wait for
the interurban car but tried calling autos in the way to Riverside. I changed cars four times getting out to camp. Got one from San Bernardino to Urbita (?) springs from there to Colton, there to Riverside. Got in to Riverside too late for the army buss and there was five of us.
stranded there, Finaly,,Finally, a ford came along and took us aboard. Believe me that was some lizzie as there was seven in it, and she made all the hills on high. He brought us out within a mile of camp and we walked the rest of the way and had an hour to spare before the gates closed. I have been trying to catch up on my sleep for last four or five days and am still sleepy as I am not used to this running around nights. Yesterday I got a package of fruit from Hattie, gee but it was good to get an apple to eat again, she put in some pears but they were too ripe and most of them were a total loss as they were all squashed to pieces, any way I got enough for all the fellows to have a taste. Also had a letter from Mama yesterday and she says that everything
is fine there but they were thinking of giving up the hotel as soon as they can find some thing else. I hope that they do as it is too much work for Mother. Well Sister Mary I’ll have to close as I am about out of news for this time and it is getting late. They are having a lecture in the other room and It must be a funny one from the amount of laughing going on. Am awfully sorry that Henry had to go but what can’t be helped must be endured, send him my best regards when you write him.
Good by with heaps of Love,
Chas.
P.S. will try to write to Gene tomorrow some time. Thanks for his address.
Riverside, Cal. OCT 2 8„30A 1918.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St..San Francisco. Calif
March Field Oct 1. 1918.
Dear Ceil,
Received your letters some time ago and believe that it is time that I was after answering it, don’t you. One thing I have been pretty busy of late during the days and have been putting in every spare minuet evenings into studying mathematics and Sat. and Sunday was my week end off the post so there wasn’t any chance to do any writing then. Gee but I did have a glorious time Saturday night and Sunday. Went to the canteen dance at San Berdo had a hep of fun there and spent the night with Mr. & Mrs Evans in fact they won’t hear of my sleeping any where else when I am overt there. They claim that they have adopted me and they are such nice people. Sunday after noon I went to a christian science lecture with them and after it was
over we went in a car out Mrs. Evans, sisters ranch and sure had a good time. Her sister gave me a big package of fruit and I am making it last as long as I can, every time I open it I discover some thing different. So far I have found grapes, apples, peaches, pears and fresh figs. I sure had some job lugging it home as I was catching rides on passing machines and had a lively time as it was getting pretty late. We are regular hold ups when it comes to getting a ride any place. When I get back to civilian life I am apt to get good many call down’s as I should be so used to holding cars up for rides. Before going to the dance I took in a supper that the ladies of the Macabees gave at the Riverside Y.M.C.A. gee but it was some swell feed. We had mashed spuds, roast beef, coffee, and french rolls, for dessert we had grapes and
sago pudding. Every Saturday night some of the nomery (?) Societies give a supper for a hundred men and believe me it is always well attended usually they are swamped with extra fellow. I am having a great time herding a ford truck around out in the line pumping gas into the airships. One day we, my partner and I pumped over twelve hundred gallons of gas. Suffering, Moses a saw gas pumps in my sleep that night. Nearly every day is the same, yesterday was pretty easy as they were breaking in a new class and most of the day was taken up with lectures. Gee girl I wish that you could have seen the ships when they were taking off this morning. They sent out over sixty machines at once, usualy they string them out one at
a time but this morning they sent the whole line out at once, about a hundred feet apart. For twenty minuets the air was simply lousy with ships it was a great sight untill the dust cloud blotted them out. Saturday morning we had a bad accident over at the second solo field. Two cadets, went into a tail spin at two hundred feet up and smashed the ship into splinters but both escaped with their lives. One was pretty badly shook up and some cut up around the head and the other just got a scratch under his eye. I don’t under stand why one or both weren’t killed. The machine is good for nothing but scrap or junk. So far we haven’t had any fatal accidents. Now Sister Mary I am going to tell you a thing or too. Please don’t be backward about going to’ Call on Mrs. Marks as I know that she will be more than glad to do any
thing that she can for you. I know how lovesome it is to go to a strange place away from all your friends and relatives but it seems to be the way of life and we have to make the best of it so cheer up and don’t be afraid to call on old friends. Find out Miss. Spragues address and Miss Wheelers they are too old friends of ours for you to back ward about going to see. Good Lord girl you have a hundred people that would be glad to see you. I know pretty well how you feel bout calling on them but don’t be afraid to do it, I used to be the same but I have gotten pretty well over it by now. Why don’t you go to see Ruth Sparks mother if you know where they are. Lordy me girl you could have a wonderful time if you would only let yourself go to it. Now please
don’t be so sensitive about calling on other people and I am sure that they will be glad to see you. I am trying to get a fifteen day pass to go home but haven’t much hope of making it. I wish that I could get time to see you two girls again. I got a letter from Henry the some day that I got yours. This morning I got a letter from Mother & Dad and they wrote like they were having a pretty good business and were making it find. Well Sis I guess that I ‘ll have to way off for this time, as it is nearly chow time. So good by with heaps of love, and please remember and do as I told you too.
Chas.
P.S. Please send Mrs. Marks address to me as I wish to ask here something.
Good by
Riverside, Cal. Oct 17 8„30A 1918.
Mrs H. B.Voigts..1865 Hampshire St.(crossed out, 1065 is written in above).
San Francisco. Calif..Try 1865 Hampshire St. (crossed out).no such no„141„F.
March Field Oct. 16'18.
Dear Ceil,
Received your letter some time ago and will try to answer it this afternoon as I am off duty untill seven thirty tonight. I tried to get some sleep over in the barracks but nothing doing as there is too much noise also am feeling rather bum to day as I have a devil of a cold in my head and night work doesn’t seem to do it any good either. They had me up in the hospital for influenza but I wouldn’t believe them and finaly finally they turned me loose. They had me in for two days and I didn’t develope any symptons symptoms
so they turned me loose. There is only eighty cases of ‘
here in camp ant everything is under a strict quarantine even the Y.M.C.A., they only allow fifteen men in the building at a time and have an M.P. in here at night
to see that no more than that get in. We were lucky that they didn’t put us under quarantine last Saturday. I was out Saturday night and Sunday so I should worry. Went to the Canteen dance and stayed with the Evans and Sunday morning took a trip to the Submarine Base at San Pedro and’ sure did have a wonderful trip. Mr & Mrs Evans and I went with a Mr & Mrs. Graves and their daughter. The Grave’s went to the Sub. Base to see a son of their’s that is in the Naval Reserve. We weren’t able to get inside of the reservation as it has been quarantined for two weeks. We had to stand back fifteen feet from the fence to talk to the boys. If one of them got any closer than that he had to have his mouth and nose sprayed out, and believe me it is rotten tasting dope. It tasted like a
cross between Coal Oil Distillate and Creosote, lordy but it is sure rank. I have to go to the hospital every night and morning and take a dose of the same stuff. This morning the fellow gave me enough to float a Battle ship, I half believe that he was trying to drown me. The Y has arranged to have the moving pictures outside now but that don’t do me any good as I have to work nearly all night so don’t get to see anything like that. Last night I didn’t get to bed untill three o’clock this morning and have had only half an hours sleep since six thirty this morning. I was in hopes that they would string some on else with that night job this week they probably would have if I
t have gotten caught in the hospital. Last week I had a snap as they only had five men in the night class and I used to get through at nine thirty and ten o’clock but that was too good to last. Gee Sis I wish that you could have been here last Saturday to see the planes when they left for Los Angeles in Battle Formation. There was a hundred and ten ships in the one formation. That night when they were coming back all I could think of was a flock of gigantic ducks coming home to roost. Lordy but it sure was some sight. Of the hundred and ten that started only two failed to get back and neither of them was lost both had to land on account of engine trouble. Maybe you don’t think that we gas house men didn’t do some hustling to get those ships gassed up in a hurry so we could get to town. For two hours & a half
we never stopped a minuet, one man drove the truck while the other pumped gas into the ships. We had two trucks and four men it was a race to see who could gas the most ships in the less time but I believe that we had a little the best time of it as we had a shade faster pump than the other men. Now I don’t reckon that we will have to race to see who can get to town first for some ñ weeks or two months. This sure will be a grouchy and sore headed bunch by that time. Well sis I guess that I saw off and go lay down for a while. This is rather a poor apology for a letter but I am feeling to darned bum to think of any thing more. I hope that you have see Hattie by
this time. I got a letter from her yesterday also a picture of her last week. Gee I wish that I could drop in on you two right now. Have been trying to get a furlough home, but it would take an act of Congress to get a fifteen day pass out of this post. Tell Henry that I’ll answer his letters in a day or so should have done so long ago.
Good By & good luck,
As ever With Love,
March Nov 18 530PM CAL.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St..San Francisco Calif.
March Field.Nov. 18. 1918.
Dear Ceil,
I reckon that it was time I was after answering you letter. There isn’t very much news around this camp at present as we have been under quarantine so long that there isn’t any thing to write about as it is the same old grind every day. We are going along on the some schedual that we did before peace was declared. Haven’t slowed up a bit..We are laving a rest this forenoon as it has been raining since early this morning but is trying to clear up now so I reckon that we will do our flying this afternoon. I hope that it keeps on raining as I don’t feel much like work today. Was lucky last week and drew a pass for the week end and feel rather tired today. The quarantine was lifted at mid night last night or
at least it was supposed to be and guess that it was if no new cases of flu showed up this morning. We had a great time last Thursday night drawing for passes. There was bout fifty men that could have passes and only twenty passes, so we held a lottery and drew for passes. I was one of the lucky ones and got out for the first time in a month gee but it was sure good to get out once again. I went over and spent the day with the Evans family. If I get out next Sunday I think that I’ll go to Pasadena and see if I can’t find Dan Dicky. I don’t expect that I’ll find him home tho. Lordy me I do hope that they give me my discharge soon now as there isn’t any fun left in staying in here now all I want to do is go home, and there isn’t any telling when we will get out either. Say sis that is sure some picture of you. What have you been feeding on of late?
Gee but it has been cold here for the last two or three weeks, the days have been fine but the mornings are sure fierce and we have to pile into on open truck and ride fifteen or twenty miles and she sure is some crimpy. When I get up I put on all the clothes that I can find loose and in a couple of hours begin to peel them off. She sure does make you feel like working. Well sis I guess that I’ll be after closing as I can’t think of any thing more to write at present.
So Good Bye With heaps of love,
First part of postal mark is illegible, I think the date is Feb 18, possibly 830AM.
March Field.Feb. 17. 1919.
Mrs. H. B. Voigts.
1068 Hampshire St..San Francisco Calif.
Dear Sis,
Please forgive me for not writing to you sooner but I thought that I had answered your letter some time ago reckon I must have had a fit of absent mindedness. Your postal rather woke me up, there isn’t very much news in this dump any more and I get so discouraged about getting out that I don’t care whether I do any thing or not. The C.O. is up at ñ Frisco before the Western Department Headquarters with our requests for discharges and we ought to know by the end of the week how we stand about getting out. I hope that they bounce him off the post and give us a new C.O. Then we would get rid of this chunk of rottenness that is in charge of the school ñ detatchment ñ detachment ñ
I wish that you could be down here to take in the orange show,
it is real good. I spent all Sat. afternoon in it by myself and yesterday Mr & Mrs Evans and I took it in again we spent part of the evening and afternoon there then I had to beat it for camp. I put in most of my time in the Auto and Tractor show believe me for a small show it is real good. Gee but we are having wonderful weather here, just like a June day. When it rains it only lasts a day or two then turns off nice and warm and isn’t damp or foggy. I am beginning to get stuck on this country and if it wasn’t for Service wanting me so badly and if I could persuade uncle George to come down here I’d be more than likely to stay here. If you folks are still in San Francisco when I get out will stop off and see you if I can do it. I’ll have to go back to Vancouver Barracks to be discharged and consequently it has up set all of my plans as I wanted ñ out here and see you girls on my way home but no such luck.
Gee girl I wish that I could have been up there to go sliding with you folks. I hope that I don’t have to stay on the post this coming week end as there is going to be some big doings in San Bernardino Saturday afternoon and I want to take it in. It is to be soldiers day at the orange show also it is the last day of the show. We fellows in uniform can get in free and can come and go when we please while the civies have to dig up half a buck to get in, that’s one good thing about being in here yet. I have just about run dry of news for this time So Good Bye,
With Love.
Chas.
How soon are you folks going up to the ranch at Verdi?
This is the last letter to my grandmother Lucille from her brother Charles. The next letter is from either a family friend or an Uncle of Charles and Lucille’s
San Diego NOV 7 1PM 1918 CAL.
Gene Bluis
Squadron C
Rockwell Field.San Diego Cal.
Mrs. Henry Voigts.
1065 Hampshire St. San Franscico, SanFrancisco
Rockwell Field.Nov 7.
Hello Ciel,
I never fainted but was sure surprised to hear from you. Ora has moved back to Westport. Gee you still give my old Home town a dig. Now look here, Ciel, if we continue to be good friends don’t knock the old Burg. She went over the top in all the Liberty Loans, and gave more men to the army than any other town in the State of the same size. So you see I have reasons to be proud of her. As for as some of the people are concerned well, I won’t express my views. I neòly loved some one in the old Town once, so
it has pleasant memories. Sophie, I know you remember her, is engaged to a Boy across the pond. He is a prince of a lad. I am glad she is going to get a good fellow. She is all wool & a yard wide. So Hat said Jess was probably across. All, no, I guess was unless it is a recent happening. He was in Mendo. Co a short while ago. He has that yellow streak that would take him across untill he is drafted and has to go. So Hat got on her ear when you mentioned my name Did she? Well I should worry. We were alright untill a certain party came up there. And when I was going to give him a beating which he deserved she stuck up for him. I will thrash him if I meet him.
even in Sunday school. Bob & I got along alright untill she chipped in. Hat has done a lot for me in the past, and I am greatful for it but she can’t get it into her head, that she can slip one over on her Uncle. It can’t be done, I was young and foolish once, But know better now. I was going to try and take a trip up and see Charley, but this doggone epidemic put a stop to it. Don’t try and tell me how those measles feel I already know. I would just as soon wear a gas mask as one of them. I have wore both, and they haven’t any thing on the gas mask for comfort..The Influenza isn’t severe down here. They have hopes of checking it soon. I look for the War to be over by Xmas. The time has flown like a dream since last Xmas. I guess it hasn’t for the Boys across the pond tho. I don’t think that there will be many more go across. I don’t blame Peg for liking Satonville there is some one up there that I could learn to like very easy myself. Sure I will stop in and see you on my way up home. That is providing you are still there when I come thru. Mamas address address is the same..Well Ciel this isn’t very long but am going on duty in a few minuets so will have to quit.
Write again Soon.
As Ever Your Old pal,
Squadron C.
Rockwell Field.
San Diego Cal.
Ukiah Dispatch Democrat (Ukiah, California) Fri, Nov 19, 1926, Page 5
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lovejoy have been enjoying a visit from Mr. Lovejoy's nephew, Charles Lovejoy, of Baker City, Ore. He started on the return trip Monday, motoring through.
Events
| Birth | 14 Feb 1895 | Elder Creek, Wilderness Lodge, Mendocino, California, United States | |||
| Education | Jul 1910 | graduated from 8th grade - Elder Creek, Mendocino, California, United States |  | ||
| Military | 1918 - 1919 | WWI - Training camps, United States | |||
| Marriage | 14 Feb 1933 | Iowa Falls, Hardin, Iowa, United States - Verna Viola Kohlstedt | |  | |
| Census (family) | 1950 | Vernon Township, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States - Verna Viola Kohlstedt | | ||
| Death | 1 Apr 1986 | Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States | | |
Families
| Spouse | Verna Viola Kohlstedt (1900 - 1993) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Patricia Joan "Pattie" Lovejoy (1939 - 2008) |
| Father | Loriston Hale Lovejoy (1863 - 1958) |
| Mother | Lucretia Mary "Lulu" Lockhart (1871 - 1936) |
| Sibling | Bessie May Warren Lovejoy (1893 - 1976) |
| Sibling | Lucille Mildred "Ceil" Lovejoy (1896 - 1988) |
| Sibling | Arthur Benjamin Lovejoy (1905 - 1910) |
Notes
Education
The Mendocino Beacon (Mendocino, California) Sat, Jul. 23, 1910, Page 4GRADUATES
BOYS AND GIRLS WHO PASSED EXAMINATIONS
Those Who Were Successful in the Seventh and Eight Grades of the Grammer Schools.
The Board of Education has completed its labors and given out a list of the successful ones who passed the examinations for graduation and promotion in the 7th and 8th grades of the grammar schools of the county.
The following is a list of those who graduated:
...
Elder Creek - Charles Lovejoy, Bessie Lovejoy.
....
The following is a list of those who have been promoted from the Seventh to the eighth grade:
...
Elder Creek - H. M. Lovejoy.
...
Marriage
Witnesses to marriage Mr & Mrs. Clyde Brooks1st marriage for both
Charles E Lovejoy's occupation - Mechanic
Census (family)
Charles E Lovejoy, Head, WM, 55, married, Farmer Farm CAVerna Lovejoy, Wife, WF, 50 [1900], Iowa
Mary L Lovejoy, Daughter, WF, 15 [1935], Oregon
Patty J Lovejoy, Daughter, WF, 10 [1940], Iowa
Lorriston H Lovejoy, Father, WM, 89 [1861], widowed, Maine
Death
In Memory of Mr. Charles E. Lovejoy, February 14, 1895 - April 1, 1986.Services United Methodist Church, Fenton, Iowa, Friday April 4, 1986-10:30
A.M. Clergyman: Rev. Donald Jones, Organist: Mrs. Maxine Osborn: Hymns by
the Congregation: How Great Thou Art & Amazing Grace. Pallbearers: Ralph
Weisbrod, Milford Elbert, David Naig, Arnold Naig, Kenneth Hansen, Donald
McEwan. Services Concluded at Methodist Cemetery, Fenton, Iowa.
Arrangements by Beiter Funeral Home, Inc. Emmetsburg, Iowa.
From a Memorial handout in Harriet Lovejoys, bible.
Endnotes
1. "Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951," database, Ancestry.com (: accessed 12 November 2021), Certificate of Marriage Charles E Lovejoy & Verna Kohlstedt; citing Iowa State Board of Health.
2. Slade Grossl, Susan D., Lovejoy genealogy emails on the descendants of Abial. (Susan D Slade Grossl