This letter was sent by Rose Brewer to Elaine Cartmell Hughey, who forwarded it to her brother, Tom Cartmell. All of them had grown up together in Greenville, Illinois.

Tom read the letter, commented on it in his October 19, 1943 letter, and returned it to Elaine.

I found Rose Brewer’s letter in the collection of wartime letters that Elaine had kept.

Middle East
Sept. 17, 1943

Dear Elaine, Karen & Stanley,

I was “tickled pink” to get your letter and Karens picture. I certainly didn’t realize she was a year old and she is so-o-o cute. I can’t quite make out who she looks like. Is it Stanley?

I’m in my room for the afternoon – – – until I go to work at 6:00 P.M. & I’ve promised myself that I would write some letters or else – We work seven days a week – not too long hours, but – as it is quite hot during the day – we need all the sleep we can get.

Mother has probably told you I am at an Army camp in the desert. I think she has a very good idea where I am and may have told you. There are 4 of us in the Service Club and we do anything that needs to be done. We are secretaries, librarians, dietitians, hostesses; We loan money, plan dances, & parties, write letters, plan recreation, chess, checker, ping-pong tournaments, swimming parties & tours – We sing (imagine me?) at church, shop for the boys & cable home about new babies, sick wives, etc.

We console boys whose girl friends have married (4-F’s[[4F was the military draft code for someone not qualified for military service, on physical, mental or moral standards. 4F’s stayed at home while the others went to war. ]] – as they usually say)(Unfair, I know, for the boys here to say it.). There are oodles of other things too – like distributing A&B kits[[Don’t know what an A&B Kit is]] & magazines that come in. It’s a mighty busy job – all “army” and not so much “Red Cross” as most of the other girls are doing. Some of the girls who came with me have taken over old mansions, some shell torn, etc. & have made clubs for enlisted men. Its hard to get furniture – very little wood here – it is also almost impossible to find glass mirrors – we use distorted metal ones – & in lots of places – not where I am – there is quite a food problem.

Everyone has gyppy-tummy where they arrive in the middle east. Its a combination of violent cramping, vomiting and – absolutely no bowel control. It lasts about 3-5 days – & havbing it once doesn’t make you immune either. I’ve had slight cases of it, but not the real thing yet. Knock knock. The sand storms haven’t started yet but yesterday & this afternoon we have had part of the “Chaiusein” – & that stirs up things considerably. It means “very windy days” and there are supposed to be about 50 of them during the year – at different times.

This is also the month of Ramadan – the time when all Egyptians of a certain religious sect refuse to eat during the day – from sunrise to sunset & then feast at night. They won’t work during the day much & pray a lot – They pray anywhere – get down on their hands & knewws & touch their foreheads to the ground – then stand up & start all over again. You’ll see them along the roads – on the streets & everywhere.

I’ve become a little more accustomed to seeing the turbans & “nightgowns” they wear all the time – & don’t notice them so much now. A lot are in rags & I mean “RAGS.” Most of the women wear black & are veiled – & have a baby on their left shoulder (or elsewhere), with its little dirty head  & hands holding on to its mothers head. Of course the very tiny ones they hold in their arm & there usually walk along balancing some big basket or something on their head & sometimes holding it with their right hand. I see all these things in town – not out here on the desert. – Going into town we pass the public “John“.

There is a heavy hedge around 2 sides – that isn’t quite heavy enough – and is simply a vacant piece of ground – about the equivalent of 10 lots. With practice – I can hold my breath almost all the way past it now if we are travelling at a decent rate of speed. Most of the people just relieve themselves wherever they happen to be.

My visits to Cairo were lots of fun. I saw the pyramids – mosques, took a trip on the nile & saw Memphis & Sakara – & visited the bazaars. I flew to Alexandria in a C47 (DC3) & saw the Mediterranean, but only stayed there 8 minutes. I hope to get back there again sometime. Also hope to visit Palestine – Jerusalem & Bethlehem, etc. Just have to wait for my leave to do those things.

Did you hear the Jack Benny broadcast to the states? He was only a few feet from me while he was broadcasting. Also saw Senatos Lodge – Chandler – Russel, etc – when they were here. I had several pictures made with them.

I bought a movie camera about a month ago & have been successful in getting film for it so far. It is an 8mm, 2.5 Revere. I’m glad I have it because I can really have something when I get home.

 

I must stop Elaine. I reckon I could write volumes about the trip over here – the stops we made & what we experienced. I’ll save it for when I get home. Write me as often as you can. Even the morale builders need a little building sometimes & when the temperature is up to 150 degrees or over – a letter from home is a mighty fine tonic.

I’ve started getting Advocates[[Greenville Advocate, hometown newspaper]]. I believethe last one was June 15th or 17th. They will probably get in more regularly now.

Its wonderful about Italy – isn’t it? I hope I get there someday.

Love to all of you,
Rosie

Hurrah for Tom? – I wonder about Jeffie. I haven’t heard from him for over 3 months now.

The enclosed is a good luck charm for Karen. Really from India. Pull off the top and shake out what is inside.[[This small gold elephant had a ring for attaching to a charm bracelet. Elaine forwarded this letter, with the charm, to Tom, and he returned them. In 2017, in an effort to track down this charm, I contacted Karen’s daughter to see if she had Karen’s charm bracelet with the gold elephant. She reported that she did not, and that the family home had been burglarized many years ago and jewelry stolen. She believes the charm bracelet was lost at that time.]]

I’ll try to send you some pictures of me in my uniforms as soon as I can get them made. They’re practical.