Louisiana Maneuvers - September 17, 18, and 19, 1943

After Johnnie’s regiment completed training at Camp Howze, they moved to western Louisana to participate in two months of war games known as the Louisana Maneuvers. The maneuvers put the soldiers through a series of problems designed to prepare them for battle. The Louisiana Maneuvers were first held in the summer of 1941 and involved close to 500,000 men. General Lesley McNair and Leuitenant Colonel Mark W. Clark selected the Louisiana location, bound by the Red and Sabine Rivers, Shreveport, and Lake Charles.The maneuvers included various types of military vehicles such as tanks, motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, as well as a horse cavalry, parachute troops, planes, and boats. In addition to mock battles, soldiers had to deal with all Louisiana had to offer—swamps, bugs, snakes, hurricanes, lightening, and even snow and ice. The maneuvers were judged by Major General George Patton, General Walter Krueger, and Colonel Dwight Eisenhower and viewed by Generals Omar Bradley and George Marshall. There were 26 casualties the first year, including men killed in vehicle accidents, drowning, lightening, and by a heart attack. The 1941 maneuvers were the largest ever conducted. They were last held in 1944.

Senior officers during the Louisiana maneuvers.
Left to right: Mark Clark, Chief of Staff, Army Ground Forces; Harry J. Malony, Chief of Staff, Second Army;
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chief of Staff, Third Army; Ben Lear, Commander Second Army; Walter Krueger,
Commander Third Army; Lesley J. McNair, Commander Army Ground Forces. US Army,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

On September 16, 1943, a tropical storm that formed in the western Gulf of Mexico became a Category 2 hurricane, the sixth of the season. By the time it reached Louisiana, it had weakened to a tropical depression. Johnnie mentioned the storm in his September 17, 1943 letter to Lucile written “somewhere in Louisiana.”

My Darling,

Well here it is another day about gone, and also missing you that much more. It started raining yesterday at noon and it hasn’t stopped yet. The wind is getting up and an order just came down from headquarters for us to tighten our tent down. They say it is a storm off the coast. Darling, I received a letter from Kate today and she is on the down grade again. She has been sick in bed the last two weeks and she owes some bills. I answered her letter today and told her I would try and help her pay up on her bills. I know she needs help but she is too proud to say so. I also told her that you would try to help her, also. Darling I know we owe money but I was thinking about her two kids going hungry. Don’t you look at it that way? Well Darling I guess this is all the news for this time, except I miss you and also, I love you very very very much.

So, lots lots love, Johnnie

P.S. Honey see if you can get me a cigarette holder and a cheap flashlight with the batteries. Love, Johnnie

Atlantic hurricane 6 track (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

It was still raining when Johnnie wrote Lucile on September 18, 1943. Probably after spending so much time out in the rain, he had caught a cold.

Dear Darling,

Just a line tonight to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping you are doing the same for me. I had most of my hair cut off tonight. You should see it now. I think everybody in the company cut some of it. So, you can see it is really a mess, Ha Ha. Say, will you send me a six-cent stamp so I can mail a letter to Demp? I could send it free, but it takes so long getting there. Darling, how are you? As for myself, I have a pretty dose of a cold. It has settled in my eyes and I can’t hardly read now. I don’t believe we will have to worry about water because it has rained every day we have been here, and I believe it is a rainy season down here now. How are all the folks? OK, I hope. Tell them all to write me and tell Doc I said he shall know better than to go fishing when I am not there because all he has is bad luck, Ha Ha. 

Well Darling, I guess this is all the news for this time so Lots Lots Lots Love, Johnnie

Johnnie and his friend Demp

Training is hard work. On September 19, 1943, Johnnie shared that they were starting a 100-mile hike that night. And, it was still raining. 

My Dear Darling,

Well here it is Sunday and we are starting on that hundred-mile hike tonight. In other words, from tonight on I am not going to have much time to write to you but every chance I get I will write. I want you to write me as often as you can, because I am so lonely for you. Darling please excuse me for being mad at you at times when we were together. But I haven’t been myself lately as you could see that. I am often sorry. I assure you it won’t happen again. It is still raining and my cold isn’t no better but don’t worry about me because I will be alright. The happiest day for me will be when I am back with you. That is all I am thinking of at all times. Well Darling, I have to get my things ready to move out. So be as you always have been to me, sweets and such a good and faithful wife.

Lots lots lots love Johnnie

P.S. Tell the folks all hello for me. Love, Johnnie

August 8 and 23, 1943

In May, Johnnie told his in-laws he was transferring to the parachute troop but as it turns out, that did not happen. When the company commander asked for volunteers to go to paratrooper training, Johnnie submitted his name after learning those who volunteered would be sent to Georgia for additional training. He was not going to miss a chance to be closer to Lucile. Unfortunately, Johnnie was not selected. By the time his name came up, they had met their quota and all positions were filled.

Johnnie was still on maneuvers when he wrote his next letter to Lucile on August 8, 1943. 

Somewhere in Camp Howze = Ha Ha

Dear Honey,

I received your letter today and was glad to hear you were OK. I am sorry I haven’t written you sooner, but we have been on the go ever since Monday at noon. We will return to the camp Wednesday around noon. I will be up there as quick as I can get away so look for me any time when we do get off of these ten days of maneuvers. This is Saturday at about eight o’clock I am writing this. We are waiting for the cooks to bring out our support to us, then we are to start moving again. I have really lost a lot of sleep and I guess weight too. Honey, I am sending the letter I received from your Mother. I received it yesterday. I have sweated a little bit on it, but I guess you can make it out OK. Well, this is all the news for this time, so I will close. Be good. Lots Lots Kisses xxxx 

Love, Johnnie

As you can see from the envelope, Lucile was in Texas.

The soldiers spent several weeks on maneuvers doing combat training while at Camp Howze, enduring harsh weather and physical conditions. They marched long distances in the heat and rain, carrying heavy equipment through obstacle courses that included climbing and crawling through barbed wire over rough terrain and through rain, mud, and dust. They dug fox holes. At times, dynamite and heavy machine guns were exploded nearby. Their days were long and often went into the night hours. They had to deal with insects such as ticks and chiggers. They missed cold showers and “the soda fountain at the Service Club, the beef line at the PX, and that softest of all beds, his own army cot.” To pass the time, one soldier “recommended concentrating all of one’s thoughts on Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, and Hedy Lamarr.” Another soldier dreamt of eating, “Roman style, reclining upon a couch with orderlies bringing him platters full of pealed grapes and placing a tube in his mouth which connects with an inexhaustible supply of rum punch.” Johnnie most likely spent his spare time dreaming of Lucile.

Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, and Hedy Lamarr, photos public domain
(see references tab for attribution)

Johnnie’s August 23, 1943 letter to Lucile written from Camp Howze was sent to her Texas address so she continued to stay in Whitesboro to be near him.

Dear Darling,

I hope this letter doesn’t find you mad at me for not coming up tonight. But if you realize it, I haven’t slept much the last two nights and as we are leaving out so early in the morning, and being as we have to walk about eight miles, I could really need a little rest tonight. Can’t you look at it that way? Darling you know I want to be with you as much as I can, because pretty soon, as you know, I won’t see you in a long time and maybe never. I did not go to Gainesville tonight, like I told you I was. We finally backed out of going and went to a show here in camp. It was a good picture too. I got into my locker tonight and got that letter Nell wrote so here it is. She sure is hurting for Robert, Ha Ha. If you get what I mean. Say what did you do about the signs you were printing? Did you make another? Say if you see Julie and she asks you why I didn’t come up, tell her I was restricted to camp because McClusky wanted me to tell you to tell her that if she ask you when I called you tonight. You know how she is. If she finds out we could leave camp tonight she will give him hell for not coming up. He could use some rest and sleep hisself and I don’t blame him. Well Darling I guess this is all the news for this time except thanks a lot for getting me the socks and things I needed. I hope to see you Friday, if not wait for me.

Lots Lots Love x x x x x, Johnnie

June 22, July 21, and undated, 1943

Johnnie wrote Lucile on June 22, 1943 as he was preparing to go out on maneuvers. She was still in Texas, so he asked her to go to Sherman to get him a knife. Sherman is a city in Texas located about 32 miles from Camp Howze and 18 miles from Whitesboro, where Lucile was staying.

Hello Darling,

Well, we are getting ready to move out this afternoon at seven o’clock. We are going out to stay till Friday night. I expect we will start back in then, so if nothing happens this weekend, that is if I am not on any kind of detail, I will see you Saturday at noon sometime. Say, try to go to Sherman and get me that knife, will you? So, I haven’t heard from any of the family. If I receive any mail from them this afternoon, I will mail it to you. Well, I guess this is all the news. 

Lots Love, Johnnie.

Please excuse writing, this pen has gone haywire.

Reading Johnnie’s July 21, 1943 letter to Lucile’s parents, it appears they had possibly been home to Georgia and then returned to Texas together via a bus.

Hello folks,

I am just dropping you all a few lines to let you know we arrived OK. We just got here and I am writing this in the bus depot. Say, one thing we didn’t do and we should have and that was bring enough chickens along, Ha Ha. It really was good. Well, I don’t know when I will see you all again but I do hope it won’t be long. I really enjoyed myself while I was there. Tell Grandma hello and that we will write her right away. Tell the kids hello for us and to write. Well, I guess this is all the news for this time, so lots lots love.

Johnnie and Lucile

Lucile’s mother, Leola, wrote Johnnie and Lucile a letter dated July 1943 from College Park, Georgia.

Dear Kiddies,

I am so glad you got back OK. I thought of you so much while you were on the road and wondered if you weren’t about played out. I knew I would be. It sure has been lonesome since you and Robert left but I hope it won’t be so long before you get another furlough. O say, I am sorry you didn’t have enough chicken. I bet Lucile didn’t put in enough for one of you, let alone two. I was so nervous and upset that day. I didn’t know how they did fix the lunch. I wish anything I was like I used to be. It seems I can’t do anything like I want to. Things didn’t turn out like I had planned them. I can’t seem to cook, keep house, or anything like I used to. I hope I won’t always be this way. Well, I enjoyed your company anyway. If I could show you a good time like I wanted to I would rather be sick in pain than to be so nervous. It seems like I get worse instead of better. The other night I got so worried. Earl didn’t get in from Woodrow’s till about 9 o’clock. It just went all over me I got so nervous I was sick at my stomach. I just walked the floor. He was waiting for Woodrow to bring him home. And after it was all over, I thought how foolish I was. Well, it looks like it might rain tonight. O say, how far did you have to stand up on the bus? I hope not very far. Say, old Mussolini is out of the way isn’t he? I wish that something would happen to old Hitler. I have been busy pulling weeds in the front yard. The weeds were so high you had to get in an airplane and fly over to see if we were still here, Ha Ha. Well Johnnie, you know what I would do if it would not spoil? I’d fry a big box full of chickens and send it to you but I am afraid it is too hot a weather yet. And I am afraid they will be too old to fry by the time it gets cool. Lucile, Mrs. Cochran and her daughter Lual was here yesterday. I haven’t heard from Robert yet. I hope he got back OK. He had enlarged pictures made of him for Nell. She hasn’t got it yet. I wanted to get some pictures made so bad while you all were home. I am going to try again to get some made. Well, I don’t know of any news much, so I guess I will close. And God bless my children bye bye. 

Lots of love, Mother.

P.S. if you can’t read this bring it to me and I’ll read it for you (maybe), Ha Ha.

Johnnie’s brother-in-law, Robert Astin

The next letter is undated but Johnnie mentions being on maneuvers, so it is possible it was written in July 1943.

My Dear Darling,

Well, today makes one week we have been on maneuvers. It seems like one month. I am really tired out. I am not going to say where I am going to make maneuvers or not, it’s really hard to say. Boy I would give anything to get back in a soft bed again. I am sore all over from sleeping on the ground. Did you go to work? If so, I hope not around no men. I am glad you made it home OK. I enjoyed my trip on train OK. I wish it was heading through home instead of here. Gee I miss you. Say, you haven’t had my rubbers used up yet, have you, Ha Ha. Keep them, we will need them all in about an hours’ time as soon as you are back with me again. I am really hurting, Ha Ha. Say, you aren’t writing me as much as you should. Don’t tell me somebody else is taking up your time. If so, you better put a sign up on you saying keep off. I mean just that. Darling, even though we have argued a lot since we have been married and also got sore with each other, I know I have blown my top a lot and act crazy when I get mad, but honest, Darling, I wasn’t really mad. Not deep inside. Luke, I love you, and always will no matter what happens between us. At times, a lot of time people say I don’t appreciate a good wife like you. Well darling, I do, I admire everything you have done for me since we have been together and I love every little part of you. Darling, I know I can’t do much for you now, but someday maybe I can. Darling excuse this paper and the mess it is in, but it’s the best I can keep it in out here. Tell Mickey to write me and tell me all about his new car and also his new girlfriends. Tell them all to write me and I will answer them as soon as I can. Darling, I will close for this time so Lots lots love always.

Johnnie

Johnnie and Lucile (1943)

May 18, June 7, 18, and 20, 1943

Shortly after Johnnie wrote the letter on May 10, we learn that Lucile was in Texas, her second trip there. It is not known if he made it to Georgia and brought her back to Texas with him, or if he went straight to Texas and she met him there. On May 18, 1943, Johnnie took the time to write two letters; one to Lucile’s father to let him know Lucile was safe.

Hello Doc,

Well, how does this letter find you? Is business OK? I heard you bought a lot of chickens. I wouldn’t mind being there to help you eat of couple of them, Ha Ha. I might be in Georgia sometime next month. I asked for a transfer to the parachute troop. They said they would give it to me, so be looking for me. I will take my training in Georgia. Lucile is getting along OK. I don’t get to see her hardly except on the weekend. How are all the mill hands? Most of them are still with you aren’t they? Tell them all hello for me. Well, I guess that’s all the news. So, take care of yourself.

Johnnie

P.S. Has Atlanta got a good ball team this year? What team is ahead?

The second letter on May 18, 1943 was to Lucile’s mother. He told both of her parents he was transferring to the parachute troop.

Dear Mom,

I am writing you a few lines to let you know that me and Lucile are OK. I hope this finds you well and the rest of the family the same. Say, has Robert left for the Army or Navy yet? I hope he makes out OK. I am getting a transfer over to the parachute troop. I will take my training in Georgia. It won’t be at Fort Benning. It will be at a new training camp they have in Georgia. It is about a hundred miles this side of North Carolina. I will be leaving sometime next month if nothing doesn’t happen. I will let you know more about it later on. How is Doc getting along lately? Is he still going to the ball games? Lucile said that Estil got turned down. She said he had high blood pressure. I bet he is happy over that. Well, I guess this is all the news for this time. So, tell all hello for me.

Love, Johnnie

Lucile wrote her mother a letter on June 7, 1943, postmarked from Whitesboro, Texas, 14 miles from Camp Howze.

Dear Mama and all,

I received your letter and my check. Sure was glad to get it and to hear from home. Hope this finds all well, as it leaves us OK, all except I have a headache pretty bad. I went to bed with a headache and got up with it. Sure is hot out here. I got a letter from Francis this morning. I sure was glad to hear from her. I guess she is pretty big now for she is so run down. I hope she don’t try to work in the field this year. She said she had two girls staying with her. I hope they will help her. How is Grandma getting along? I am going to write her tonight. Mama, did you take any pictures Sunday? When you get some made, send them and let us see them. We have been trying to get a camera ever since I have been out here to take some pictures. Poor little old Johnnie, he wants to come home so bad. He said to tell Daddy he had better get to protecting in playing horseshoes, for when he did get to come home, he would beat him, Ha Ha. Well Mama, as I am expecting Johnnie home now in a little bit I will have to close. So, write me soon. Thanks a lot for sending my money. Lots of love to all.

Lucile

Lucile

Johnnie’s next letter was to Lucile’s mother on June 18, 1943, when he shared that Lucile was still in Texas with him and would be writing her as well.

Hello Ma,

Well, I finally got time to answer your letter. I hope this finds you and Doc and the kids well. We are OK. I received the watch and the money. Thanks for getting it fixed for me. You talked about hot weather; we really are having some here also. I received a card from Robert and wrote him back but have not received an answer from him yet. I guess they are keeping him pretty busy training him. Well, that’s all I want to tell you; Lucile will be writing you so there isn’t much in getting two letters with the same thing. So, I will close. Lots love to all.

Johnnie

Lucile's mother, Leola Stacks

Lucille was still in Texas on June 20, 1943 when Johnnie wrote a letter to her dad, Sam “Doc” Stacks. We learn that he has been playing baseball at Camp Howze.

Hello Doc,

Well, how does this letter find you? It leaves Luke and I OK. Say, are you all having hot weather there? We are having our share of it. Say, how is Earl and Gearl running the farm? Have they got a big crop this year? How is the lumber business coming along? OK, I hope. Is Atlanta winning any ball games lately? What team is ahead? We have a good team in my outfit here. We have played six games and have just lost one. Not bad, is it. I still play my position I played when we played back there. As you know I was always good at shortstop, Ha Ha. Well, Doc as news is short, I will close. Hoping the family is all well and tell them all I said hello.

Johnnie and Lucile

Lucile’s father, Sam “Doc” Stacks