P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 2ND PROV. CO. BAR.452 ATLANTA ORD. MTR. BASE ATLANTA, GA. 4 ATLANTA GA. NOV 17 1942 1130 AM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] FREE BUY DEFENSE SAVINGS BONDS AND STAMPS [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope] Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St Mobile, Ala. __ U.S. ARMY [Printed on center-top of letter in black, under the symbol of the U.S. national coat of arms] Nov. 16, 1942 Dear Mama, Well, maybe I can write a few lines tonight without getting called out. Calling home yesterday made me feel about 100% better as I was getting kind of blue. I haven’t been paid yet but am expecting to sign the payroll one day this week. I will be able to send you some then and will have a pretty good pay day. I went to the Ala. & Georgia Tech football game Sat. [Saturday] and had a good time. This girl I met up here is really a swell girl and plenty good looking. I have a date with her Wed. [Wednesday] nite if I can get out of camp and have enough money. I had to stand guard duty last Wed. [Wednesday] nite but I didn’t do much but sleep. The war news we here now all seems to be pretty good. I am sending a little picture home of me and 2 fellows we had made Fri. nite. One sleeps on each side of me and both are yankees. (OVER) Mama tell Ella I will write her in a day or two as it is pretty hard to find time now. Mr Gunter sent me some real pretty handkerchiefs and a nice shoe shine kit. Our company commander called me out at inspection Sat. and complimented me on having such nice polished shoes. I am sorry to hear about Bud, I wonder what run him nuts. Most all the fellows in here are from the north but everyone gets along good. This is our fourth week here and it hasn’t rained yet, so everyone has a cold. Well, I guess Gerald will have to go in the army but I hate to see him do it. We have just been issued heavy comforts but it is to warm to use them. How is Mrs. Lil getting along and do you ever see Mrs. Ketchum. Out of all the fellow in the army I very seldom see one from Alabama. Mama Ill have to close tonight but will write plenty from now on. Godnight and Lots of love Bill xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mobile Public Library, Local History & Genealogy Division
FROM [Printed in blue] P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457TH ORD. AUTO. MAINT. CO. PHOENIX, ARIZONA 2 PHOENIX ARIZ. MAR 24 1943 1230 PM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] FREE GIVE + RED CROSS WAR FUND [Stamped in black on right-top of envelope] Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama. USO UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS [Printed in blue on center-top section, back of envelope] __ USO UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS [Printed in blue and red on top-left of page] Feb. 23, 1943 Dear Mama - I hope this finds you feeling fine and the weather a lot better. Yesterday I pulled a muscle loose in my back but the doctor fixed me up so I am kind of sore today. I worked today but about all I do is sit around and check parts out. The clouds are awful black this afternoon but I doubt if we get more than a sprinkle of rain. I have been going to bed early for the last four nights so I think I will just stay in until about Sat. [Saturday] or Sunday night. I spent more than I intended to on my trip so I am just about broke and payday isn’t until next week sometime. Tell Norma and Janelle that I appreciated their letter and if I don’t feel too sore tomorrow night I will send them one back. The Young Men’s Christian Associations · The National Catholic Community Service · The Salvation Army · The Young Women’s Christian Associations · The Jewish Welfare Board · The National Travelers Aid Association [Printed in blue on center-bottom of page] __ USO UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS [Printed in blue and red on top-left of page #2] Well, I finally got my dog tags yesterday and am wearing them on the necklace Mr Gunter sent me. I also see that they put me down as being Catholic on them. Out of about every 100 people you meet out here only about half of them are from Arizona. I have just finished eating supper and I am so full that I feel like I will explode. We had sauerkraut and weiners, cabbage, boiled irish potatoes, carrots, bread and [Illegible] butter, iced tea and either cherry jello or ice cream. We eat only the best of everything but I still can’t eat beets or liver and thank goodness we very seldom have it. Mama, I am really proud of my fountain pen and all that have used it want to buy it but I wouldn’t sell it for any amount. The Young Men’s Christian Associations · The National Catholic Community Service · The Salvation Army · The Young Women’s Christian Associations · The Jewish Welfare Board · The National Travelers Aid Association [Printed in blue on center-bottom of page] __ USO UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS [Printed in blue and red on top-left of page #3] There is an old guy here trying to talk to me that has been in the army for over 20 years and once served in the Russian Army. He doesn’t do much of anything but they are just letting him get in enough time for a pension. Mama, what ever happened to Jennie Dee, does she work or does anyone every see her? Not that I care too much, as I have a sweet one out here, but I would just like to know. Mama, I would like for you to meet this one out are as she is a real sweet girl of 25 and a brunette. I like her a lot but as for staying in the west, well I’d rather be in Mississippi. Well, I will close now and play a little ping pong before bedtime, so Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses, Bill The Young Men’s Christian Associations · The National Catholic Community Service · The Salvation Army · The Young Women’s Christian Associations · The Jewish Welfare Board · The National Travelers Aid Association [Printed in blue on center-bottom of page]
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457TH ORD. A. M. CO. PHOENIX, ARIZONA 2 PHOENIX ARIZ. MAY 31 1943 1130 AM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] [Red postage stamp on top-right of envelope, shows an airplane with “AIR 6¢ MAIL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the bottom] AIR MAIL Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama __ 5-30-43 Dear Mama – Just a few lines tonight to let you know that I am feeling fine and hope you and everyone is the same. I just came off guard last night and have been sleeping nearly all day. It is about all that I can do to find time to write as we are all as busy as we can be packing up. About 20 of the fellows are leaving tomorrow to get things ready for us when we come down. Well, my new address will be the same except I will be in Camp Lockett, California. This camp is up in the mountains on the Mexican border sixty miles south of San Diego. I am real anxious to go, for one thing they sleep under blankets nearly all summer. We won’t be close to any town except El Centro, Calif. And that is about forty miles. You get passes on weekends and trucks to take you to different places and bring you back Sunday night. On these trips you can go over into Mexicali and really have a good time. (OVER). About once a month or twice you can go up to L.A. & Hollywood for three days at a time. Another good thing is that when I get a furlough I can take the train right in the camp and go all the way to New Orleans. Some of my buddies have been down there for about three months and wouldn’t move if they had a chance. If things work out alright I’ll probably get my furlough next month. I had a physical exam. Last week and I am in perfect health and weigh 180. The doctor told me that I would get my teeth all fixed down there as that is our headquarters and they have their own hospital. When I come home I will really have some tales to tell you of some of the places and things that I have seen. You might not be able to read this as I am writing it on my knee. Well, I will close until tomorrow and shave & go to bed. Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill Keep writing me in Phoenix until I tell you.
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457TH ORD. A. M. CO. PHOENIX, ARIZONA 1 PHOENIX ARIZ. JUN 5 1943 330 PM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] FREE [S]TAMPS BUY WAR SAVINGS BONDS AND STAMPS [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope] Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama. __ June. 4 - 1943 Dear Mama – I hope this finds you happy and feeling fine. I am feeling fine but we have really been hustling trying to get things packed and shipped. If we keep on we will probably pull out of here around June 15th. I am stretched out on my bunk writing so you might not be able to read it. I just got a long letter from you and I was sure glad to get it. You asked me what I did, well I issue parts from about 7:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. and then I am through unless we have a rush like we have just been having. A lot of times when our outfit runs out of drivers one of us parts men have to drive. There is always a scramble for this job as everyone likes to make the trips. Mama, we didn’t go to Miss. We just [illegible] them over into New Mexico and put them on troop trains. I just looked on the bulletin board and I see where I am picked as parts man for a three day trip to Yuma and Ajo, Mexico Monday. I want to make this trip and maybe I can find you a present down there. I had bad luck yesterday, we had same visiting soldiers here and when they left $1500 and all my shaving equipment went missing. In all about five men in our barracks came up short and three of them are married. Most of our company is on a big convoy this week and I doubt if there is forty men left in camp. Don’t ever worry about me working hard because there isn’t that much work in the army. One[Once] in awhile we do a little heavy work but we never hurt ourselves. Mama, we are furnished five suits of underwear, sacks and handkerchiefs but in this weather they don’t last long. I don’t have to do any washing as we pay for our laundry but once in awhile the laundry is late so I do a little of my own. If you could see me, which I hope you will soon, you wouldn’t think I did any work & I am a pretty big fellow from all accounts. When we finally get straightened out maybe I’ll have a chance to write everyone, but tell them all to write as I like to get letters and papers. Mom, Ill[I’ll] close for now with, Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457TH ORD. A. M. CO. PHOENIX, ARIZONA 1 PHOENIX ARIZ. JUN 16 1943 1030 AM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] FREE BUY WAR SAVINGS BONDS AND STAMPS [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope] Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama __ June 15 - 1943 Dear Mama – Gee, I just got your mail for the last two weeks and I was sure glad to hear from you. I am feeling fine, only worn out, and I hope you are well and feeling good. Well, I have really had a great trip but I won’t be able to tell you about it for awhile yet. Well, our company is splitting up and I am not going to California but will stay here for awhile with a skeleton outfit and then I think I will be sent down to Tucson, Arizona. I sure hope I go down there as I like the place better and it is closer home. After we are there for a few months I will probably be sent to a camp just seven miles from Hollywood. When I get my furlough I will be glad to be sent to Hollywood because it is about the best place in the U.S. for a soldier. Mama, I have drive through the desert, in places, where you can go far at least fifty miles without seeing a living thing, tree or house. Mama, all I want to make me happy is for you to live in good health until this war is over and (OVER) I can get back home to take care of you. I have lots of good times and don’t mind army life so much but I think a lot of being back with you. I am sorry the Gene is dissatisfied but there is only one thing to do and that is to make friends and obey orders and this lightens it up a lot. From the looks of things this war will probably wind up this year and right now lots of men are getting discharges that no one ever hears about. Everytime you get a chance you go for a visit and don’t worry about me as I always get along fine in the army. Mama, I am going to go to bed now but will write tomorrow so give my love to all and – Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457th MED. A. M. CO. DETACHMENT RANDOLPH PARK TUCSON, ARIZONA TUCSON ARIZ. JUL 12 1943 9 AM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] [Red postage stamp on top-right of envelope, shows an airplane with “AIR 6¢ MAIL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the bottom] AIR MAIL Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama __ July 11 - 1943 My Dear Mama – Well, by the time you get this it will have been a long time since you have heard from me but this is the army I guess. I have had a few letters from you in the ten days that we have been here and I sure hope you are well. When we first got here I and a few others had trouble with our stomachs due to the change but I am just about O.K. now. We came came down in a convoy but I had to bring a liutenants wife down so I drove a nice car and got here a lot earlier so I rode around looking the town over. The days are awful hot here, but at night we have to cover up because it is so high above sea level. We are surrounded by some of the highest mountains in Arizona. Our camp is located in a big park right in back of a beautiful country club. There is quite a few swimming pools around here and we can go in free anytime. This is supposed to be the healthiest spot out here but I am pretty sick of it all. We are on detached service and as yet we don’t know what we are going to do. Mama, I hope you listen to the news or else read about it because I don’t think this war will last much longer. It will be the happiest day of my life when I come back home to take care of you. Our camp is close to a big bomber training field and they are flying all day and night every day and some of the biggest planes I have ever seen. We have new [type?] wooden beds with springs and mattresses so we can sleep pretty good and we work just about seven hours a day. We very seldom have to ride a bus anywhere as these people sure do pick you up. I’ll have to close now but please write often. Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457th ORD. MED. A. M. CO. DETACHMENT RANDOLPH PARK TUCSON, ARIZONA TUCSON ARIZ. JUL 15 1943 11 AM [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope] FREE Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama __ July 13 - 1943 Dear Mama – I hope you are feeling fine and not worrying about me as I haven’t had any mail in the last few days. It is hard for me to write tonight as we are listening to the All-Star ball game and it is pretty noisy in here. It is night there but the sun is still shining out here. Mama, this is one oft of the prettiest shots I have seen so far. Last night we had one of the worst dust storms that I have ever seen, so bad in fact that you could hardly see 100 ft. After all this it started to rain, which is a surprise out here, and then it was just like fall of the year back home. As we are on detached service we don’t have very much work to do except keeping things straightened out. We have a pretty nice bunch of men here and my little buddy X. Johnson still sleeps in the barracks with me. From where I am sitting I can look across at the El Conquistador Hotel that charges $300 per week board. This is also the place the Gen. Pershing stayed so long for his health. We are eating out of our mess kits but I don’t mind as we really eat pretty good. There is a boy from Mississippi sleeping next to me and when I got the papers from home yesterday he enjoyed them as much as I did. I haven’t heard from Ola, Ivey or Anna in a long time so I guess they must be pretty busy. I have kind of lost my desire to go to town as we have so many things to do in camp so I stay in most every night. We have a ball park nearby in our backyard and there is a game nearly every night. I still haven’t heard from my furlough but I am pretty sure it will be quite soon so just keep praying that I do. Mama, I will close for now and maybe I will have more news next time. Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses Your loving son Bill
Letter: 14 Jul 1943 #1 (Sent with 13 Jul 1943 letter)
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457th ORD. MED. A. M. CO. DETACHMENT RANDOLPH PARK TUCSON, ARIZONA TUCSON ARIZ. JUL 15 1943 11 AM [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope] FREE Mrs. D.O. Sullivan 2152 Senator St. Mobile, Alabama __ July 14 - 1943 Dear Mama – Just a few lines to let you know that I am feeling fine and hope you are the same. There is no one in the parts section today but me so I am writing this as I find time. I haven’t heard from you in a few days so I am waiting on the mail call to see if I have any letters which I hope I have. A lot of the fellows here are trying to get a transfer into another outfit and if things don’t change I might put in my application for something else. When we moved down here some of my equipment and money was lost so I will be out that I guess unless it happens to be found. One of our men just came by and told me that I had plenty of mail so I can hardly wait until 4:30 for mail call. The sky is getting cloudy back over in the mountains and I sure hope we have some rain tonight because it sure does make good sleeping. Some of the fellows that are married and come down with us are already having trouble with their wives running around back in Phoenix. I really feel sorry for some of these boys as they are just about Gene’s and Gerald’s age. Mama, I’ll bet Inez’s baby is cute and I would sure like to see her and by the way how is little old Janelle making out. Well, I guess when I get home the kids will hardly know me and I will hardly know them. One thing when I do get home I won’t be so heavy because you just seem to sweat your weight off out here but you also seem to feel better when you do sweat. I guess D is still making plenty of money and keeping it as usual and people like that are the very ones that talk about soldiers raising hell. Mama, from all I can gather by reading the Mobile papers it really must be some place since I left. Out of all the places I have been in if I had to pick a place out of Mobile to live in it would be Salinas, California. I will have to close now but say hello to everyone for me. Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill
Letter: 14 Jul 1943 #2 (received 16 Jul 1943)
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457th ORD. MED. A. M. CO. DETACHMENT RANDOLPH PARK TUCSON, ARIZONA TUCSON ARIZ. JUL 16 1943 3 PM [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope] FREE Mrs. D.O. Sullivan c/o V.S. Cain Bayou La Batre, Alabama __ July 14 - 1943 Dear Mama – Just a few lines to let you know that I am feeling fine and I hope you are the same. I had two letters from you yesterday and I was sure glad to get them. We aren’t doing much or going many places so there isn’t very much to write about. Some of our bunch went down into Mexico today but I have been so much that I didn’t care to take the trip. Mexico is something like New Orleans, about all there is to do is have a good time and that is one place to go to have one. We take exercise and drill a little in the morning while it is cool and then go to work and just about spend the day sitting around shooting the bull. We quit work at 4:30 and either sleep or bathe or read until 5:30 when we go to eat. Lights aren’t turned out until 10 P.M. and it doesn’t get dark until around 9 P.M. There is a negro M.P. camp close to us and we have a lot of fun just watching them sing and dance. Two of them got into a fight with bayonets one night but were stopped before they could do much damage to each other. Mama, tell Ola that every chance she gets to send me a paper as that is about all the news I can get out here. If I don’t have any thing to tonight I am going to look up Gene’s address and write him a few lines as it might make him feel better. I had a letter from my old lieutenant yesterday and if things dont go better here I think I will transfer to his outfit over in California. His car is in our camp and if I get a furlough soon I am going to drive it to his home in Galveston, Tex. With my expenses paid. This will be a nice drive and the only thing bad about it is that I will be by myself but I will also save time and money. We should be straightened out in a few days and I will let you know more about it. Mama, I will close for now, so Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN 3457th ORD. MED. A. M. CO. DET. RANDOLPH PARK TUCSON, ARIZONA FREE TUCSON ARIZ. JUL 19 1943 11 AM [Stamped in black on top-center of envelope] Mrs. D.O. Sullivan c/o V.S. Cain Bayou La Batre, Alabama USO UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS [Stamped in blue on top-center on back of envelope] __ July 18 - 1943 Dear Mama – Just a few lines to let you know that I am feeling fine and hope you are the same. I was on guard Friday night and Saturday so when I got off last night went to the ball game. This is Sunday and besides laying around sleeping and eating there isn’t very much to do. I have just eaten supper and there is a ball game tonight so I will probably walk over there. I don’t go to town much as we have a nice P.X. swimming pool and ball park right here in the camp. I haven’t had much mail lately but today I got the papers from home and just about wore them out reading them. We had a little rain last night and today and the weather is real nice and cool. I am sending your letters to Meg’s so I hope you are getting them. I was glad to see that letter from Art Smith because I never knew what had become of that bunch. Norma should meet him as he is one of the nicest boys that I have met in the army and he is also a nice looking boy. I don’t know for sure but I think my furlough is coming up in a few weeks and I need every cent I can rake and scrape. Sometimes I get to thinking about it and it seems that I can hardy[hardly] wait to get home and see you. You be sure and take good care of yourself so when this war is over I will have someone to come home to. Most of these fellows get nice letters from their brothers and then ask me if I ever hear from mine. This makes me feel like telling them sometime that I don’t even have a brother. Mama, you don’t have anything to make you stay at home so why don’t you stay down on the coast until you are well rested up. I guess Inez’s boys are just about big enough now to take me down. I am having another one of my eating spells and eat enough to fill a horse. We have more peaches, cantaloups[cantaloupes] and watermelons than we can do away with. One of our men let a 45 pistol go off in his hand and it blowed the end of his thumb off, just missing two other men that were watching him. Mama, if I don’t get my furlough by Aug. 1 I am going to transfer to headquarters in Camp Lockett, Calif. Down there they do everything to get you to take a furlough. The Lt. that wants me to take his car to Galveston sent me coupons for eighty gallons of gas and thirty dollars to pay for it, my eats and sleeping place but it will just about take all of that to get there. Mama, I will close for now, so, Goodnight Lots & lots of love & kisses Bill Tell everyone hello for me.