April 2, 1945, Southern France

Tom still smokes an occasional cigar, but has given up cigarette smoking. He trades his cigarette rations for tomato juice. He mentions a well-known bandleader, Charlie Barnet, who performed at Hammer Field, but speaks disparagingly of him. I don’t know what that issue was.

Tom’s Flight Log: Tom flew as co-pilot the B-25C aircraft which the 417th NFS used for utility purposes. He accumulated 4 hours and 35 minutes of flight time.

B-25 attached to the 417th NFS in Corsica
B-25 attached to the 417th NFS. Tom flew as co-pilot on April 2, 1945.

While censorship rules did not allow him to discuss this flight, he alludes to the flight in his letter.

Mon. night.
2 April 45.
“S. France”

April 2, 1945, Southern France, Page 1
April 2, 1945, Southern France, Page 1

My Dearest, –

Not an awful lot of letter writing time tonight but I did want to tell you I received your letters of Tues. and Thurs. both of March 22 so I am alittle confused. However, Hon I don’t care about the dates as long as you write the letters. Don’t worry about the letters piling up because I haven’t gotten too many and they don’t pile very fast.

Thank Fay Coleman and your Mother’s cousin (our distant cousin, off hand can’t think of the correct title) for the wedding present for me. It seems funny though feeling like a papa and receiving wedding presents. That’s speed sister.

About my smoking, no I don’t smoke much. Once in awhile I smoke my cigars but I have been trading my ration for tomato juice which taste pretty good. I have been trading 4 pacs for one large qt. can. Of course I have to drink it all at once which starts things flowing or rather I mean floating.

April 2, 1945, Southern France, Page 2
April 2, 1945, Southern France, Page 2

Also Hon – with you wearing out my blue p.j.”s what am I suppose to wear when I get home? On second thought I have it all figured out, go ahead and wear them.

I really had a day today, sometime remind me of it and I’ll tell you all about it. Just remind me of the major and his co-pilot so I’ll remember it.

I told the boys about Charlie Barnett being at Hammer and after several unrepeatable words the conversation continued on normally.

I haven’t received the papers from Fred Martin as yet but should in a few days. Hon, don’t worry about Jr. as yet because he might not take after his old man.

Thank Ruth for the clipping, I read it to the boys and I am surprised we can still live together. Everyone thins it’s a perfect description of himself.

Goodnight Darling, see you soon and until then I am sending all my love.

Forever,

Tom.

The page has been cut into two parts, and on back side of the smaller part is a cryptic note written by Tom. He talks about sending shrimp and sauce (though that would not be possible) and signs it in an unusual way. I believe this is some sort of coded message that I don’t understand the meaning. Another puzzling element is that on the back of the smaller piece, there is a Sorento, Illinois postmark, accompanied by a stamped “1” inside a black, football shaped background. This postmark could only have been made after the letter arrived in Sorento, and only after the letter had been opened by the local postmaster. Why? I don’t know.
April 2, 1945, Southern France, Page 3
April 2, 1945, Southern France, Page 3

Honey,

Send as much shrimp and sauce as you can because there are several of us over here that like it. If it takes point forget it as we can live without it.

Lt. T.E. Carmell
417th N.F.S.

April 2, 1945, Southern France
April 2, 1945, Southern France

A Young Man Went Off to War