SERVICEMEN WRITE (to Joy Hanson, Editor of the Ellsworth News)
From Homer Pitzer
Aboard Ship
May 7, 1943
Dear Joy:
Have enjoyed reading the many issues of The News sent from your office, even though I can’t visit with my many friends, I do take pleasure in keeping posted as to what is happening in the little metropolis. I have not received the News regularly, nor have I, to this date, received on the average of one a week. I, of course, don’t blame this on you, for even some first class mail does not reach its destination.
Judging from your ‘Neighborly Gossip’ column, I take it news is scarce back there? Tell Carroll we could make use of about a gross of his “blackout bulbs”; as to the Farwell flu or measles, no sale. I was commenting about the blackout bulbs to a shipmate of mine. He said that reminded him of a shooting contest his brother was in. Seems as though this brother was an exceptional shot with a revolver; he won the tournament with such ease they decided to make it a handicap meet the next year. When another year rolled around and he approached the stand for his turn he was informed he would use a target at thirty paces as before, but must shoot while he and the target were completely submerged in water. This feat didn’t break his usual stride. When the referee counted four perfects out of a probably five, he was exasperated. Determined to place the crown upon another contender, he went this marksman to the briney deep again, only this time they blindfolded him and made him use black powder. This, it is said, is what started the feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys!
The last reference to the weather I’ve read about is the promise you gave that spring was just around the corner. Didn’t it ever make it. In the past, I can remember when a big per cent of the farmers had some, or most, of their corn planted by this time. Yes, some guys had even been fishing a couple of times.
Well, Joy, there are numerous incidents I would like to relate but guess they will have to wait until the day I can tell them to you over a cup of “jamoke” at Miller’s Care.
It has been nearly a year now since I have seen a familiar face. Am corresponding with Eddie Pearson, Wimpy Peterson, Donnie Severson, and soon hope to successfully get a letter through to Miny Reister. We in the service think often of you folks at home, laugh again as humerous happening of the past. We, of course, miss the companionship of old friends, but morale is high, and we eagerly await the day when we can again say, “Hi, how’s tricks?”
Sincerely,
Homer B. Pitzer, S. F. 2-c
(To any friends wishing to write to Homer, his address can be secured at The News office. Censorship forbids publication here.)
Source: Ellsworth News, May 19, 1943
Homer Barton Pitzer was born Dec. 14, 1915 to Harry B. and Jessie Emilie Price Pitzer. He died Feb. 22, 1990 and is interred in Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Mesa, AZ.
Homer served with the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
