Letter: 6 Oct 1943 #2
Title
Letter: 6 Oct 1943 #2
Description
[Printed on the top-left of envelope in red, the U.S. national coat of arms symbol]
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN
S.C.U. 1961 – 16
UNITED STATES ARMY [Stamped in red on top-left of envelope]
CAMP LOCKETT, CALIF.
CAMP LOCKETT CALIF NOV 8 1943 1130 AM [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope]
[Red postage stamp on top-right of envelope, shows an airplane with “AIR 6¢ MAIL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the bottom]
[A partial stamp, printed in black with lines and a “1”, partially covering both the postage stamp and the word “VIA”]
VIA AIR MAIL [Stamped in blue on top-center of envelope]
Mrs. D.O. Sullivan
2152 Senator St.
Mobile, 18 Alabama
__
UNITED STATES ARMY [Printed on the top-center of first page in red, under the symbol of U.S. national coat of arms]
Oct. 6-19-43
Dear Mama –
Well I guess you have been pretty worried about me and if you had known I was sick you would have worried too much. Right now I will tell you that I am getting along allright and hope to be released about Monday. I have been in the hospital for a week and for awhile I was pretty sick fellow. I was brought in for appendicitis but before they could get me ready to operate they found out it was something like intestinal flu. Believe me for four or five days I did some real suffering. In one way I was lucky though as I had a middle aged civilian nurse and she watched over me day and night like a hawk. For about five days (OVER)
I didn’t have anything but a liquid diet so I am still pretty week[weak]. Yesterday afternoon I started sitting up and today the doctor told me I could start eating anything I wanted so long as I didn’t overeat. Today I feel good and I want to try to get out about Monday. I could have gotten someone else to write but then I knew you would be nearly crazy. Just imagine 32 years old and I had never been in a hospital before. At one time as I was so sick that I thought I would have to let them wire you but I prayed I would get better and it must have been answered. The chaplain here, an old fellow, stayed with me quite a bit and he still runs errands for me. The boys from camp kept coming to see me but last night was the first time that they could get in.
UNITED STATES ARMY [Printed on the top-center of second page in red, under the symbol of U.S. national coat of arms]
I haven’t had a shave in a week so this afternoon I am going to shave and clean up some. I am in a ward now with two more fellows and they are both from Tampa, Fla. so I have company. I hope this finds you feeling well and don’t worry about me as I am doing fine now. Coming up to the hospital was also the first time that I had ridden in an ambulance. I haven’t heard any more about my discharge but while I am in the hospital I am going to see if I can’t find out something. Mama, I will close now as I want to get this off so you will get it right away.
Goodnight
Lots & lots of love & kisses
Bill
P.F.C. R.O. SULLIVAN
S.C.U. 1961 – 16
UNITED STATES ARMY [Stamped in red on top-left of envelope]
CAMP LOCKETT, CALIF.
CAMP LOCKETT CALIF NOV 8 1943 1130 AM [Stamped in black on top-right of envelope]
[Red postage stamp on top-right of envelope, shows an airplane with “AIR 6¢ MAIL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the bottom]
[A partial stamp, printed in black with lines and a “1”, partially covering both the postage stamp and the word “VIA”]
VIA AIR MAIL [Stamped in blue on top-center of envelope]
Mrs. D.O. Sullivan
2152 Senator St.
Mobile, 18 Alabama
__
UNITED STATES ARMY [Printed on the top-center of first page in red, under the symbol of U.S. national coat of arms]
Oct. 6-19-43
Dear Mama –
Well I guess you have been pretty worried about me and if you had known I was sick you would have worried too much. Right now I will tell you that I am getting along allright and hope to be released about Monday. I have been in the hospital for a week and for awhile I was pretty sick fellow. I was brought in for appendicitis but before they could get me ready to operate they found out it was something like intestinal flu. Believe me for four or five days I did some real suffering. In one way I was lucky though as I had a middle aged civilian nurse and she watched over me day and night like a hawk. For about five days (OVER)
I didn’t have anything but a liquid diet so I am still pretty week[weak]. Yesterday afternoon I started sitting up and today the doctor told me I could start eating anything I wanted so long as I didn’t overeat. Today I feel good and I want to try to get out about Monday. I could have gotten someone else to write but then I knew you would be nearly crazy. Just imagine 32 years old and I had never been in a hospital before. At one time as I was so sick that I thought I would have to let them wire you but I prayed I would get better and it must have been answered. The chaplain here, an old fellow, stayed with me quite a bit and he still runs errands for me. The boys from camp kept coming to see me but last night was the first time that they could get in.
UNITED STATES ARMY [Printed on the top-center of second page in red, under the symbol of U.S. national coat of arms]
I haven’t had a shave in a week so this afternoon I am going to shave and clean up some. I am in a ward now with two more fellows and they are both from Tampa, Fla. so I have company. I hope this finds you feeling well and don’t worry about me as I am doing fine now. Coming up to the hospital was also the first time that I had ridden in an ambulance. I haven’t heard any more about my discharge but while I am in the hospital I am going to see if I can’t find out something. Mama, I will close now as I want to get this off so you will get it right away.
Goodnight
Lots & lots of love & kisses
Bill
Creator
Ruse Sullivan
Publisher
Mobile Public Library, Local History & Genealogy Division
Date
6 Oct 1943
Type
Correspondence
Identifier
War-Letters-6Oct1943#2
Original Format
paper
Files
Citation
Ruse Sullivan, “Letter: 6 Oct 1943 #2,” Mobile Public Library Digital Collections, accessed March 6, 2026, https://digital.mobilepubliclibrary.org/items/show/5773.