Camp Howze - December 15, 16, and 17, 1942

On December 15, 1942, Johnnie told Lucile that he was now located at Camp Howze, an infantry training facility in Texas. He was already looking forward to the end of training so he could be with Lucile once again.

Dear Darling, 

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still thinking of you, and haven’t forgotten you. When you write me please do not print my name on the front of the letter. Please write it out in long hand. Say, can you get me a couple of bucks till pay day? I have to have a little to buy some soap and shoe polish and a few other things. Well I’m starting in for training today and it isn’t so hard. There is a lot of boys in I use to go to school with and that’s one reason I don’t feel so bad. But if I could see you and be with you, I wouldn’t feel bad at all. I will be with you, as soon as I take all of my training, I hope. Well, this is all I can write right now, because I have to get ready for inspecting. So, answer right back by airmail if possible where I will know you got this. 

So, lots of love, x x x x x Johnnie

Please write my name out like this:

Pvt. John H. Marston Jr. 34575705
Co “L” 334th Inf.
A.P.O. #84
Camp Howze, Texas

Camp Howze was located on about 65,000 acres of land near the city of Gainesville, Texas. Activated on August 17, 1942, it was the training camp for the 84th and 86th divisions of the U.S. Army. Soldiers stationed at Camp Howze received actual combat training. They trained in all types of weather—rain or shine—to learn about “concealment in the field.” Soldiers were required to train in obstacle, infiltration, and mental conditioning courses, knowing that all of them would make them a better soldier.

Site of Camp Howze Historical Marker (click to enlarge), image from HMdb.org,
photographed by Mark Hilton July 21, 2016; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=96908.

 

Camp Howze poem from an unknown newspaper found with Johnnie’s letters.

Johnnie quickly got into the routine of writing as often as he could, sometimes daily. In a letter from Camp Howze dated December 16, 1942, he assured Lucile that he was alright and told her about the camp. 

Dear Darling, 

Just a few lines to let you know that everything is all right and I am learning fast. We are having some mild weather up here, but I still have a little cold. The way the boys on the train was talking, I thought I was coming to a bad camp. But the infantry is the best outfit there is, especially the one I am in. I have just come in for a two hours rest and have to go out on the rifle range with I go back. I took another shot today and my arm is a little sore. Please send me Arnold’s address and Dad’s address so I can write to them. Also, Louise and Mother and Evelyn. 

Love always x x x x x, Johnnie

P.S. Here is a little note for Dot and Dres and the kid. Tell all hello.

Johnnie sent Lucile this “safe arrival” postcard postmarked December 17, 1942.  

Co. “L” 334th Infantry

APO No. 84. CAMP HOWZE, TEXAS.

I have arrived safely at my new station. I am well, and in order that I will receive my mail promptly please address it to me as indicated below. Notify my friends of this address.

Camp Howze is five (5) miles north of Gainesville, Texas, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad and Santa Fe Railroad. My Regiment is part of the 84th Division, “The Rail Splitter Division.”

Will write you more later.

Pvt. John H. Marston Jr.
Co. L, 334th Infantry, 34595705

APO No. 84, Camp Howze, Texas. 

  

December 17, 1942 safe arrival postcard from Camp Howze

You’re in the Army now - December 13, 1942

Johnnie was inducted as a private in the U.S. Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta on November 30, 1942. He entered active service as a rifleman on December 7, 1942 and was assigned to Company L of the 334th Infantry Regiment, 84th Division. At the time of his enlistment, Johnnie worked as an off-bearer, someone who picks up the freshly sawed lumber and piles it up in appropriate stacks, at the sawmill when he joined the Army. 

Johnnie, now weighing in at 120 pounds, had lost 15 pounds since he had registered in July 1941.

Camp Howze, Gainesville, Texas

It didn’t take long for the Army to send Johnnie to the military training camp he had been talking about for so long. A young new soldier, Johnnie could now tell Lucile he had been sent to Texas in a letter dated December 13, 1942. He couldn’t give her an address yet but still had a lot to say in this first letter from camp.

Dear Darling, 

I finally reached my camp today, and guess what, I am back in Texas again. I can’t give you my address in this letter because I don’t know what outfit they are going to put me in just yet. I just arrived tonight. Well is everything going alright with you? Are you alright? Keep your chin up darling, because I am going to be alright. This camp is just being finished up and I have a chance to make corporal if I want to. What do you think of that? Say honey I made up my mind to do just what you said to do, leave drinking, and gambling and everything else that would make me sorry alone, I am going to be the best a fellow can be. Say honey, how is my little dog getting along? Fine, I hope. Has he had any more fits? I hope not. Tell Dot and Drexted I will write them right away and the rest of them the same. Tell Earl and Geral I said hello and to write me. Tell all the kids hello for me to. And honey don’t worry because I have been treated swell. This camp I have been sent to is a nice place so far. Well Darling that all the news so far, and except I am still reading in the bible and I found out a lot I didn’t know. I will not mail this letter tonight, so I will wait till morning, where I can put the address in here. So, goodnight and lots of love to you mostly, and all the rest the same. 

x x x x x Johnnie

Johnnie also sent a postcard to his mother-in-law on December 13, 1942 to let her know where he was now.

Tell all hello

Hello Mother,

Just a line to let you know I am OK and hoping you are the same. I was shipped into camp today and I am a pretty good ways from home. I am in Texas. I will send you my address as soon as I get my station address. Well, I will write you a letter next time. So, lots of love.

Johnnie

December 13, 1942 postcard to Johnnie's mother-in-law

Nov. 19 and 26, 1940, marriage, the draft, America attacked, and Selective Service

In Johnnie’s November 19, 1940 postcard to Lucile, postmarked in Atlanta, you begin to see his sense of humor.

Dear Darling,

Just a little note on this card to let you know I feeling I have you, but can’t reach you, Ha Ha. But putting all jokes aside, I hope this finds you well and happy as I am. Darling I will be down Wed nite if possible. But I sure will be down Thursday afternoon, about one or two o’clock. So, break all your dates and stay home. As you know by now, I am boss. So, this in an order so obeying with Lots of Love. 

Johnnie

That postcard was followed by a letter Johnnie wrote from Atlanta on November 26, 1940 in which he expressed concerns of losing Lucile to another boy while he is away during his military training.

Dear Darling, 

I guess you think something has happened to me writing you a card and following it up with a letter, but I just can’t help it because every time I get to thinking about you, I want you with me more and more every day and always. Darling I am afraid when I am on that year military training that you will meet some other boy, and that your love or care for me will die. And that’s just about what I would do if I lost out with you. So, lots of love. 

Always, Johnnie x x x x 

Approximately one and a half years after meeting his darling Lucile, they were married in a simple ceremony by the Justice of the Peace in Jonesboro, Clayton County, Georgia on December 27, 1940.

Six months later, Johnnie registered for the World War II draft in College Park on July 1, 1941. He was 21 years old at the time and lived at R.F.D. #1 there in College Park. Johnnie listed his father, J. H. Marston living at 487 Forrest Road NE in Atlanta, as the person who would always know his address. Johnnie was still working as a stock clerk at the F. H. Jackson Dental Supply Company located in the Mortgage Guarantee Building in Atlanta. His employer was Mrs. Leila C. Jackson. Johnnie described himself as being 5’ 8 ½” tall, weighing 135 pounds, and having a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and hair. His registration card noted that he had a scar on his right cheek under the eye. 

Johnnie's World War II Registration Card

As we all know, the attack on Pearl Harbor took place on December 7, 1941—a day that changed America and the world forever. Like many others, Johnnie and Lucile probably listened to the radio as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his “Day of Infamy” speech to congress the next day. 

Attack on Pearl Harbor (photo taken from a Japanese plane; public domain)

USS West Virgina after the attack (U.S. Navy, Office of Public Relations, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) 

At some point, Johnnie received a 3-A classification in which he was deferred for dependency reasons. On February 26, 1942, he received a letter from the Selective Service System notifying him that his “present classification of 3-A will be reconsidered by this Board on Wednesday, Mar. 4, 1942 at 2:00 p.m.” The Selective Service System must have determined that Johnnie was no longer eligible for deferment.

Notice of 3-A classification hearing from the Selective Service System (click to enlarge)

October 9, 29, and 31, 1940

Four months passed since Johnnie’s friendship with Demp became strained and it appears to have gotten worse. In a postcard dated October 9, 1940 and postmarked in Atlanta, Johnnie made it clear he didn’t want to be near Demp.

Dear Darling,

I receive your letter and didn’t like it at all. Me and Demp still don’t like one another, and if you go to that shower and expect for me to come you are going to get fool. Don’t say anything about this to anybody because I don’t want it to get to Demp’s Mother. If you go, I am going to get Bill to come by for you. But if you rather stay there, they will see you later next year. 

Love, Johnnie

October 9, 1940 postcard

In a postcard dated October 29, 1940 and postmarked in Atlanta, Johnnie referenced attending a party with Lucile. 

In a hurry

Dear Lucile, 

Just a line to let you know I am OK if you care to know and hoping this finds you the same. I really enjoyed myself at the party Sun___ night. Tell Dot I am trying to find that flower jar for her. I will write you a letter following this card. 

Love, Johnnie

October 29, 1940 postcard

Johnnie worked as a supply clerk at F. H. Jackson Dental Supply in Atlanta. It was from that business that he sent his next postcard to Lucile on October 31, 1940. His job was keeping him busy at the time. In the postcard, Johnnie mentions his old friend Demp, whom he must have mended fences with. Unfortunately, it appears that Demp was still letting Johnnie down when it came to rides to College Park though. 

Dear Darling, 

I am sorry I didn’t get down Wednesday night, but Demp didn’t come by like he said he would, and I didn’t have no other way to go. Darling I hate to tell you this, but I won’t get to come down there till about three weeks, one reason I won’t be able to is this is our busiest season and I will be working till 8 and 9 o’clock at night but please don’t be mad at me. I will write you every day till I see you. 

So, lots of love, Johnnie 

October 31, 1940 postcard