Letters from James #3...
“A Letter to Miss Ruth Carlson, Sunday, February 14, 1943” (Published 04/11/25, S2/L19)
Dear Fellow Hikers,
Time for another Letter From James, My Dad. But first, some background and context details* on today’s letter…
Who received and saved these letters?… This letter is addressed to his younger sister Ruth, (who eventually became Ruthie at her request.) So why address the letter to his sister, but title it with a Dear Everybody? I’m guessing he wanted Ruthie to get some mail from her big brother. Maybe to make her feel special? I really don’t know, but that’s what I like to think. And who is Dear Everybody? That would be his Dad Ivar, Mom Elsa, (Swedish Immigrants who came through Ellis Island) younger Sister Ruth/Ruthie and a much younger Brother Johnny.
Who and Where was Dad at the time of this letter?… Pvt. James I. Carlson… Platoon 91- R.D. MCB… San Diego, California… a member of a platoon known as “The Running 91st” (a consequence for “failing to shine their shoes.”) But who was he just two weeks earlier? He was a South Minneapolis kid who went downtown with a buddy to enlist in the Marine Corps on January 27, 1943. As the story goes, after he signed the papers, the recruiter told him to go home… pack up his stuff… say his goodbyes… and report back that evening to catch his train to Camp Pendleton for basic training. He was 18 years old, left home with only a few hours of notice, and didn’t return home or see his family until January 12, 1946… just two weeks shy of three years.
Sun. Feb. 14 [1943]
Dear Everybody
Well, today is Sunday. It’s 12:45 and it’s the first time I’ve had off. I’m actually laying in my bunk. We don’t do any drilling or anything, but there is always something. We got up at the same time, went to chow and then to church. Came back, put on our uniforms, took our rifles and took our platoon pictures. Then we washed out some stuff and then chow at 11:30. I got the letter you wrote on Thurs. and a card from Jean Colbinson (sp?). Thank her. I went to see Marvin Johnson, but he wasn’t in. Two guys in our hut got cakes yesterday so we had a feast. Some got candy. If you send candy send hard candy or some candy in bags because it has to go for 20 guys.
Boy is it hot out. One more week and we go to the rifle range. I’m pretty sure we keep the same address. See if you can’t get me a small duffel bag a Dayton’s or someplace. That other bag is swell for my soap, toothbrush and stuff but I’ve got stuff laying all over my sea bag. Soap, scrub brush, thread, Foot powder, (unreadable word) outfit and junk. I got another shot yesterday. Boy is my arm sore. And then we did rifle exercises and ran double time because our shoes weren’t shined. They call us around here “the running 91st.”
Well, I suppose there is more to say, but I can’t think of it. Oh, yes yesterday when we were out on the bayonet course we saw a transport pulling out just packed with marines. Boy, I’m not kidding when I say some of these guys that are through with advanced training are the toughest guys alive. You’d be surprised what they could do. As long as there are guys like that there surely isn’t much to worry about. Our Sarge has seen action, on Guadalcanal and he says they aren’t supermen but just tricky. Well, I’m going to close now and walk around for a while.
Love, James
I got a head start on our letter this week and had most of it done on Tuesday. But here it is Thursday afternoon, and I just can’t seem to finish up this closing paragraph. My intention was to share something I learned from Dad’s letter above… something that inspired me… but I got stuck. Not because there isn’t enough quality material, the problem is that there’s just way to much stuff to dig into. So, I’m just gonna end with hopes that you folks can find something interesting, maybe educational, hopefully inspirational with what Dad had to say as a young Marine over 80 years ago… timeless!
With Care and Gratitude… Just Dan
Postscript…
Re: Next Up: “TBD…” (Friday 04/18/25, S2/L20)
Re: *Background and context details… Most of these background details came from the actual letters and envelopes (when available) and through our personal conversations. In 2006 Dad also wrote a self published booklet about his USMC experiences. That writing has been very helpful in understanding his actual wartime experiences.
Re: James I. Carlson, USMC Service Timeline… The PDF below is a timeline my dad wrote and gave to us to help gain additional perspectives on his military service. I share it with you, our readers, for the same purpose.
