Behind - Found Some Photos

 Since I haven't posted letters in while, I thought I would post some photos. They are of those who's letters I have been working on. 

This is of the Wineland family - the article was with some of the letters. 

On the back of this photo is written - Orville's buddies. WWII Veterans. I can't say if they lived or not. I pray they did. 

This looks like Orville Matheson, but could be a friend or fellow veteran.

I will try and share more photos between letters. It's nice to put a face to the letters sometimes. 

Flowers For Orville

 

Minnie Reeder and Orville were very close. As most mother and "youngest" child are. She made sure he had flowers on his grave most every year. 

1963 - Letter from Martha and Melvin Chrisler

 

Natoma Kans

Dec. -20-63

Dear Mable & Archie

Was so glad to get your letter and pretty Christmas card.

Well we are having some winter weather here for the last couple of weeks ten below zero part of the time and 3 or 4 inches of snow last week and it has been snowing a little today.

Yes Rosa was home for a couple of weeks and we had a wonderful visit she came on her daddys birthday and surprised us all. Jack Powell brought her out from hays to Dons and Don brought Leona and Rosa down here. Don brought a big angle food cake in and set it on the table and he said Dad here is your birthday cake and he says come on down I got you a nice birthday present then he went out the car and brought Rosa and Leona in the house and was we ever surprised but it sure was good to see her.

Mable thanks a million of Shirley, Myrons and familys pictures they’re pictures are sure good thanks again for the picture.

How is Archie feeling now better we hope.

We haven’t seen Wilda and Ray Simpson for quite a while.

Mable do you still work part time yet at the same place.

Leona said she had a nice visit with you when you folks were here last time. I’ll bet you folks will be glad when Shirley and her family comes home. Rosa said her Husband came home one day from work and he asked how she would like to have a Christmas present present and have it early she said she told him she didn’t know and she said why.

And he said how would you like to go home for a visit and go early and your Daddys birthday and she said all right and she said she sure had to hurry and do a lot of work to get ready to come home.

Mable do you remember Ruth and Leonard James Leonard passed away Friday at the medical center hospital a K.C. he was operated on for heart truble they will bring the body to Natoma Sunday eve and the funeral will be Monday at 2 oclock. He will be buried in the cemetary at Natomoa. Ruth is the dauter of Mable and John Powell.

Melvin can’t see very well any more. And he feels so bad about it and so do I. And he isen’t very well either. Well I guess I had better close hoping to hear from you soon.

 

Love to both of you, Martha and Melvin

Orville Matheson - Oct 28, 1943 Camp Haan CA

Orville Matheson - May 16, 1943 Camp Haan CA

Camp Haan * California

 May 16-43

Battery A

120^th CA-Bn (AA)

 

Dear Mother & all,

 

How are you. I am fine gained 13 lbs wait already. Boy I’m learning to march. Boy I’m sure proud of my Uniform. And the marching, I’m getting on to it now, and it isn’t so bad after all. Well guess after my 18 weeks is up. I’ll be all trained & ready to ship the pond well al I hope is that they give me 15 days furlough before we go acrosst. Well starting the 24 of May we do 6 weeks here 8 wks at camp Irvin & 4 wks back here then we’ll be well trained enough to go over sea’s but we are all supposed to get a furlough before we go.

Well how is Jr coming with the olds. Did he get his time yet or has he had the money. Most generly that the trouble with me anyhow. Well tell him to be good. Mother tell Jr if he starts smoking he’ll sure get his neck broke if he isn’t too big by then. Well I’ve gain 13 lb since I got in but I haven’t got any biger. Still 32 around the waist

Well I haven’t heard from no one up there yet. So guess I’ll have to remind you all to write as it gets pretty lonesome not hearing from anyone at all. Welll guess I’ll close for now. Lots of Love,

Pvt. Orville G Matheson

39464901

Battery A

120^th CA Bn(AA)

Camp Haan, Calif. 

July 27 -43 Orville Matheson

July 27, -43

2:45 P.M.

 

Dear Mom,

 

Well guess I’ll drop you a line or two. There isn’t much doing right now. Received two letters from you today. Well I received the pictures, two packages, and a quite a few lletters, wil guess you’ll think I died but I'm oka’. Wiell I can’t think of anything to say right now. This hot weather makes you too sleepy, as I only get about a hour last night. Well mom it won’t be but some where around 6 or 8 wks till we get furlough we are ready on the Gd. Ball. Well mom it won’t be long till I’ll be seeing you . Well tell Jr. to get on the ball & get the Olds in good shape for my furlough. So we can see the country. Well guess I’ll close for now & get some sleep.

 

Your loving soon.

May 28, 43 - Orville Matheson

May 28, 43

 

Dear Mom,

 

Will drop you a line. I would like you to send me some hangers to put my cloth on. As they get rinckled laying around. Well I would like to get Jr to go to Baker & find out why Grace isn’t getting any letter here. She has wrote one letter that I have received and tomorrow it will be a month since I entered the army. Don’t say I told him to, but he can just happen to go to baker & you know well he could go down & see her and see if she had heard from me as you hadn’t or else you can write her a letter that you would like her to tell you to write you or something. Well guess I’ll close for now. I am feeling fine going into town tomorrow night will get you a picture.

 

Orville.

Orville Matheson - Sept 6, 43

Sept 6 – 43

Btny C – 144^th

Camp Haan Calif

 

Dearest Mother,

 

Very sorry haven’t wrote sooner. I had time but was so tickled to get off the desert we’ve been bnd trying to have a good time. It didn’t seem as long as it been since I wrote till I figured it out. So I sent a telegram Sat. Night. And so I’m going to write as much as I can. Well I got transferred Sept 1 – to Btny D. then a few days ago I got a transfer to Btny C – 144^th. We are at Camp Haan now. Will be here about 11 wks I guess. But we are in a new outfit. I have to take my basic training over. But hope to get a ratting this time, as I’m really going to get down and buck. Maybe I can come out a Cpl. Technician. But this is just between you and me. I’ll ssure see what I can do to make you proud. That is I really have faith enough in myself that I can. Just pray for me mom that what helps. You know that.  Well mother I’m a little late finishing this but I will mail it now that I have a chance. Did you receive the watch I sent Jr. Answer back and tell me. I’m going to send my new one home when I go back to the deserts. Well our furloughs was canceled when we changed but I’ll be home about Christmas which will be better. Will close for now.

 

Your loving son, Mat.

Aug 9 - 43 Orville Matheson

Aug 9, -43

Btng C- 144^th

 

Dear Folks,

 

Well guess I’ll drop you a line or two.

 

Well I’m good as ever. Although I’m in the hospital with the flu, they send you there if you got a cold. Don’t worry I’m Okay. They just don’t care for us getting sick is all. There in the field now on a problem. I went out with them got the chills so they brought me back. I’ll be out in a day or two. Well mom I’m felling good outside of a cold. So don’t worry. I got your pagage’s and the one from Morris, or two or what ever it was. Thanks a lot. Maybe I can get you something later on, but the whole camp, Camp Haan, and Marsh Field is quarantined so we can’t get out of camp for 21 days, from today.

 

Haven’t had much time before, so please don’t feel hurt. I’ll get you something later on. Well mom, I’m really allwright so don’t worry. Will close for now.

 

Love,Mat

 

PS Tell Jr to get his flizer (?) fixed. That’s all.

Write to my regular address. You’ll never reach me through an Army Hospital.

 

Post Of Orville Matheson Letters -

Orville Grant Matheson was my mother's Uncle.

Orville was the son of Minnie True Matheson Reeder and Joseph Carl Matheson. He was the youngest of 7 children, my grandmother was the oldest of the 7 children.

Born March 25, 1924 in Natoma, Kansas. He married Ophelia Eliabeth "Betty" Eley February 13, 1944. They had 2 children, Patricia Faye Matheson, b. 1944 d. 1997. and Theresa Elizabeth Matheson, b. 1947 d. 1947.

Orville was drafted into the Army. He didn't want to go. He would have rather stayed in LaGrande, OR and had a mechanics shop. He was close to his mother, Minnie Reeder. The letters that are written to him are slowly being posted here. Orville's wife had a daughter, Victoria, out of wedlock, and his sister, Margie, adopted her. She's still alive, so will not post anything about her. Patti I met back in 1978, when Minnie passed away. Because there is no family members of Orville's left, other than Patti's sons (whom I can't find), the letters are with me. Passed down from Great grandmother, grandmother, and mother to me.

I believe his service should be know. I believe these letters will open our eyes to what WWII was like for someone who really didn't want to go. His heart was at home.

Unfortunately, his dreams from these letter, never came to life. He was never to live a long life. He returned from WWII to find out he had a tumor in the brain from being overseas. He didn't live long after that. It was 9 months before he passed away, at the age of 22. He died Jan 7, 1947. in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where he is buried away from the rest of the family.

These letters are to honor him and for his extended family to see what he was thinking as he served our country.

WWII - Camp Haan - Oct 8, 1943 - Orville Matheson

AA Camp Haan * California

Oct 8 – 43

Btny C – 144^th

Camp Haan

Dear Mom & Family,

Well guess I’ll drop you a line not much to say but will write a little I’ve got new times for my truck yesterday. (12-(7:50-20)) figure what they’d cost at $90 a peaces. Quite a bit, huh, I think so. I’m going to LA again this week. I’m going down to see my little woman. I’ve know her about a month now. Pretty good girl too. She works at Douglas aircraft, nice home boy is she a cook. Really a swell girl, but don’t get any Idea’s it’s nothing cerious. Not yet. But can’t never tell. She’s a blonde, a little older than I. Although she’s really swell, have seen her about 4 times now hope to see her this week. Although I don’t know a yet. (over) I’ve also got a girl in Akron Ohio. Never seen her yet. So don’t know what kind she is. We have been to LA I’ve on convoy. Hope I go again tomorrow. Tell Jr. he wants to be good. And win more prizes. Ask him If he wants to come down later on I may get a car. The Government has some here cheap. I might be able to get one I don’t yet. Well mom I’ll have to close for now.

Your loving Son, Mat.

WWII - Oct 19, 1943 - Orville Matheson

AA Camp Haan * California

Oct 19, 43

PtC 144^th

Dear folks,

Well guess I’ll drop you a line. We left Haan Mon. morn at 4:45 am and got here at Irwin at 4:30 pm. Got arranged around a little. It poured down rain about 2 hrs or more an our trip. And over the pass, it was really foggy. Boy ive only went about 4 mi an hour after about 10 mi. then we really roldher(?). Yesterday I was on KP. So today I have a little time to drop you a line. Well I’ll close for now, and write you tonight.

Oct 21 – 43

Well guess I’ll finish this letter kinda dank here but will do as good as I can. Not much to say but hope you can read this. I’m feeling fine. Still driving. Mother this isn’t a letter but you’ll know I’m okay. So will close and drop you a letter.

Mat.

WWII - Dec 1943 (Second Letter) Orville Matheson

AA Camp Irwin * California

Dec 15 – 43

Btny C – 144^th

Dear Folks,

Well guess I’ll drop you a line. I’m okay, feeling fine. Hope you are all well too. I’m still in here It’s not that I’m sick, It’s just that it’s the way the army is mom. I’d have got out the day after I came in if they weren’t so G.d. But in civilian life. I’d never have come. Or even went to bed. But this is the army. Boy, I’ll be glad when this war is over. Maybe I’ll be old enough to know what I want, a man 60 years old, to the army don’t know what he wants. Were just a piece of machinery, drove by a bunch of 2 Lt. and there drove by a Capt. And so on down the line. But hell who care’s. I’ll be out in another five yrs, anyway, maybe sooner. Did you find out anything about the car yet. I’d like to get one soon, so I could earn some money for my furlough. I’ll never have enough otherwise. It’s to hard to save it. But I can try. I like to go and have a little fun, I go to town about once every 3 or 4 weeks now. Nothing in town unless you have a hundred dollars it’s that way all over. Well mom try hard to help me. I’ll pay you back soon as I get out. Then you can keep the car while I’m across. Well mom I’ll close for now.

Your loving Son, Mat.

WWII - Dec 1943 - California - Orville Matheson

AA Camp Irwin * California

Dec 15 – 43

Btny C – 144^th

Camp Haan

Dear Folks,

Guess I’ll drop you a line. Well mom. You can forget about me being home for a while. Say till about March. We got some new equitment and we have to learn it before we get furloughs, so us boys get served again. Mom I’m not the only one theres about 100 more in the same fix. Although a lot of the go AWOL, but I’d rather get out a year sooner. Well mom it’ll be better weather and things might turn out okay. Maybe the roads will be better and I’ll have a chance to earn some more money before then. Well mom got to close for now. Please write soon .

Your loving son, Mat.

WWII - Dec 11, 1943 - Orville Matheson

PO Box 124

Hays, Kansas

March 8, 1945

Dear Grandma & Aunt Minnie:

You must have had a nice birthday! Mom Severns sent us the clipping out of the paper, telling about it. Wish we could have seen you that day, Grandma.

We received the letter you wrote, Minnie, and were sure pleased to get it. I asked Mrs. Schecter if she remembered you and Wright driving out to their place, and she said, “Yes, many a time.” And said they used to have some good times with the folks, too. Ask Grandma if she remembers them?

Was looking at the watches here but they haven’t any except the more expensive ones. The cheapest one I saw as $97.50 (including tax). I guess the people here buy the others up as fast as they come in. Was talking to some of the people who live here, and they say that they haven’t seen any watches for less than $75 here since the war began. It is a fact I know, in other lines of business that the business men have “hiked” their prices up since the Base was established, so perhaps the jewelers have as well. Sorry, Minnie, that we couldn’t get one here for you. Maybe you could send away to one of the mail order houses for it. Would Mabel or Margery be able to help you out – they both live in large cities, don’t they? (Hays is only 7,000 they tell us, but right now with a soldier family in so many of their homes, the population is nearer 10,000 or 12,000.)

Has Dorothy heard anymore from Bob? Sure hope he is all right.

It is awfully nice out today. Not too cold, and the sun is shining brightly. But that doesn’t fool us any. For tomorrow might be a near blizzard. We’ve had several of them since coming out here. Day before yesterday, wasn’t anything to brag about. Ha! Ask Jay if he don’t wish he could be back here in good old Kansas.

Well, the noon hour is past so will have to stop for this time. Write again soon, won’t you?

With love,

Glen & Etta

P.S. Do we have Grandma’s address right? (802 2^nd St. )

Haven’t heard from Willard for quite awhile, but got a letter from Ennard a few days ago.

WWII - May 1943 - Orville Matheson

AA Camp Haan * California

May 19 – 43

Dear mom

Well guess I’ll write you a line. I’m Ok. Yet. Got your letter the other day. Well I really didn’t expect that much but boy it sure helps & how. Well soon as I get payed I’ll send you back that much & about 25 a month for you to save for me so when I came home on furlough I’ll have some to spend. And I’ll have to start saving so I and Grace will have enough to live on. If we go ahead and get married as we plan. Mother keep my suit as I want it when I come home. Well guess I’ll close for now. Lots of Love, Your loving Soldier, Pvt. A. G. Matheson

Tell Jr. to treat the car like he would (?) as I think he will. (over)

Jr.

How are you I am fine. Hope you are. I’ll send the money home and you can get ning put in the olds so when I come home it be in good shape. How do you like it by now. Say see if you can get a new carberature for it. as I think it needs it. and watch the battery. You can take it out and put something under it to keep it from shorting or it burn it up from shorting. It’s the front cable & see about getting some new universals for it. then you can have you a good car.

Your loving brother,

Pvt Orville

WWII - Aug 44 - Orville Matheson

Aug 13 – 44

Dear Mom,

Well here I am on the east coast. And feeling good as can be expected. I hope you are all well.

Tell that Jr. he had better write often. As I love to her from him. Has his car been running okay since I fixed it. If I had had a little more time I’d have torn the motor down and rebuilt it. But I am going to try and get a garage of my own or hire out as a mechanic after this is over. I may need a little more training on some of these new cars. But know if I want that’s one thing I can be good at. Well mom will close for now and write a little latter on.

Your son with love, Grant.

Unknown Date - Archie to Mable

No postmark or date on this letter – same blue paper as he used in 1923.

Dear Mable –

I am sorry that I couldn’t get around any quicker. Say Kid get Web or Nattie to bring you over tomorrow morning (Sat). I am sending for some Hamburger by Bob. I also wrote to grandfather about the money. Say Kid lets go back over to town Sat nite and then get that straightened up and order our furniture and come back Monday. We want to try and coax Bob to go to Russell after Paint Monday. I want to get a matress and the stuff for a (petition) Monday.

Listen Kid send your Friend or Bring it. The goose, but leave your clothes and other stuff till Monday. Bring all my good clothes and yours also one of your old dresses tomorrow. Make Web or Nettie or someone bring you as I will be most awfully busy tomorrow. I told Mrs. Bowlby to bake me a cake and have it ready sometime Sat and she said all right she looked and I’ll bet she wondered what I wanted it for.

As Ever Archie

This could have been when Mable and Archie eloped. They took off and got married without anyone knowing about it. He had left her a message by the tree they would meet at, in Kansas. I don't know more than that about the elopement. Grandmother didn't talk much about it, other than she met him up on a hill and they planned the escape. 

Archie to Mable 1923

Sun Eve 5.30

Dearest Mable –

I received your two letters and was most awfully glad to get them, and glad to know that you got there all right. I sure hope you enjoy yourself. I stayed over today and have been busy all day. Snow and I went up to Walker just after dinner. Gene’s folks came over for dinner but Babe wasn’t along. R.C. B. was over the other day to see me. He wanted my little Bay horse to ride in the Pony Express race next Sat and also that he wanted me to go along. We get from Russell to Ellis. Will explain it to you when I get to see you.

I sure was busy this week. About every night I dreamed of Warrena. Last nite I thought I was working in some town and the kid came along and said she was lost and of course I had to look after her. We won’t have so awfull much more threshing. We are about 5 miles North of Walker now.  Kid you will just have to look over my poor writing for the simple reason that I have a pencil that is only one inch long and I am laying in bed with my paper on a little block of wood about 4 by 10 inches so look out for some epiatule. (? Was underlined)   Jim and all the rest went home last nite and it seems lonesome  around here when I am not working. Now it doesn’t seem that way than as I consider writing work. Well Kid I am now down to the shack and it 6.30 and I am giving to Walker with Phil after supper. I have been a pretty good Boy lately and I will try to be you know I have a pretty bad failing but. But, I am out say no more. Jim and I are going to have a fishing party when we get done and we will pick our crowd and we will enjoy ourselves to the utmost capacity. Tell you when I see you Kid.

Well Kid be good and try and enjoy yourself for once

Well supper’s ready so By By

As ever

Archie E.

France Jan 4, 1945

France

Jan 4, 1945

Dear Sis and Bro,

Will try to write a few lines tonight. I hope you are all well. As for me. Well I’m fine. But theres a small amount of snow on the ground, and it’s a little chilly.

I received your package today. and was sure glad to get it. and that candy sure did taste good. So I’ll say thanks a lot and as I’ve a lot of letters to write and not much time I’ll sign off. Write again. And hope to see you soon

Your Bro, Grant