Through the eyes of a soldier during WWII

Today's blog is a copy of an article from WWII. it was written by my father as a letter to my mother. I don't know how it was published but it was so here goes.
Per the Times Dispatch
Corporal Raymond Whitsell is seeing a lot of country with the battalion of army engineers. In the following letter to his wife, he interestingly relates some of the experiences:

At sea, September 3, 1945
Mrs. Mabel Whitsell
602 Washington
West Plains, MO
Dear wife,
Here I send something besides V-mail. I won't promise much more news than a V-mail but I have to say hello and let you know I'm well and hope you and all the folks are well and happy.
They tell me that censorship is lifted so I'll try to tell you some things that I haven't be3en allowed to tell. First, tell all the folks why I haven't written then oftener. One reason is I haven't been getting any mail but the big reason is paper shortage.
you have heard paper shortage talked ever since the war started and so have I , but I am beginning to feel it now. Nearly everyone on ship is out of writing paper and no way to get more til we hit land.
Boy! I am wanting that day to come regardless of where it ism but I would prefer the food(good) ole U.S.A.
One of the reasons for not writing, I am lazy. I'm afraid I'll have to spend my life in the army, as I am too lazy to live my life out of the army, but I'd be glad to try it.
I suppose that you have been listening to all the discharge basis, but I hope you haven't built any hopes me being discharged soon. I figure it will be a year before they get to me. I've traveled a long way since I left Texas and you may not believe me but you have traveled right along with me all the time. (in my heart and mind), and that shortens the days for me. you really have seen some of this bug old world that way.
We left Camp Swift March 23rd, went to Camp Shanks, NY by way of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana,Michigan and Canada. We went by Niagara Falls but I didn't see much of it on account of a train obstructing the view.
We loaded out of N.Y. March 30th and sailed March 31st. We landed in Le Harve, France April 12th and rode that wonderful train I told you about to DuClair, a camp called Twenty Grand only 9 miles from Paris.
We left France for Belgium the next day after V-E Day and did we ever have a time. We were convoyed through in our trucks. The people there were really celebrating and when we left He Harve our trucks were filled with flowers.
We stayed in Belgium nine days and we really had a set-up there. We left Belgium after nine day stay for Marsaille , France going through luxembourg.
We landed in Marsaille on May 22nd and stayed till June 26th. I think I've tols about my stay there in a previous letter.
I told you about Jessie REid being transferred out of our company and his mail not being censored and that he would write and tell you about our leaving France.
We left France June 26th, saw the coast of Spain and North Africa and Porto Rico. Passed through the Panama Canal . It is a wonderful place and lots of Americans are there . We ate real hamburgers and spent American greenbacks.
We passed through the Marshall Islands on to the Caroline Islands.
We have been here three weeks, but I've just heard that censorship isn't lifted so I can't tell anything more just now.
Tell all the folds hello . That I'll write as soon as I get some more stationery and mail.
Good-bye and lots of love.
Your loving husband
Cpl. Raymond Whitsell

Peace and Freedom and Hope

Today America celebrated a birthday. Some celebrated with food, fireworks, family and or family. I celebrated mostly alone by my own choosing.I had a leisurely morning, a shopping trip to the mall, a crowded movie, time checking in with my Facebook friends then a trip to the local mall to set up my folding chair and watch the fireworks. Very boring day.
As I waited in line for the traffic to clear out I felt at peace. I was content. I shed a tear or two. Not because I am sad but because I knew I liked myself enough to enjoy my own company.
I got home, got ready for bed and could not wait to blog. I used to blog every day. I used to force myself to write. I don't force myself to drink buttermilk everyday. I couldn't wait to write tonight. People have come in my life for a reason. People have gone out of my life for a reason. I have regrets along the way but heard someone say yesterday " you can't live for the could of, would of, should of's in life. What you have done makes you who you are". I agree wholeheartedly.
I choose not to make myself a prisoner in my own life. I choose freedom from the past, the chains that bound me growing up, the agony I took as a teenager. I choose to be happy, to look at the sunny side of everything but that doesn't mean I am looking through rosy glasses. The life I am living is real.
I have good memories in life I choose to cherish. I have bad memories I choose to tuck away and desire them never to erupt again. I have had death threats made against me and my parents. I have been harmed. Those things I choose to tuck away.
The things I cherish...... Hmmmmmm, my very first kiss. Something I will never forget. How safe I felt when strong arms held me, some of the very sweet things some of my friends have told me, how proud I am of my boys. The first time I held each of my grand boys . Those are the type of memories that I could think about and drop my blood pressure a whole lot! Yes, those things give me peace and contentment. Those things are what I want to shape me into the person I want to be.
Well, that covers some of the peace and freedom. Now for hope. A very dear friend has given me two "hope " circles. These disc are a symbol of hope for the cure of cancer. She has a brother with a type of cancer so she shared. I don't know if she knew this or not but both of my parents died of cancer. These are very special to me. Brain cancer in '88 for my dad and colon cancer for my mom in '95. being an only child, my family was cute short early in my life. It is hard to believe I have been my only immediate family for 16 years. Yes, I hope there is a cure for cancer tomorrow. Yes, I hope cancer can be stopped or cured in millions of people. I hope cancer doesn't crop it's evil poison around anyone I know, love and care about, but it will .
That isn't the only hope I have. I hope I will continue to be as content with myself as I am today. I hope I continue to meet wonderful people along my life highway. I hope I can be a friend who makes a difference in someones life and I never know it. I hope I can be the best me I know how to be.
Right now those feelings of peace, freedom and hope give me contentment. I hope that might make me a better friend to some. At this time in my life, some do not perceive me as a good person. They are looking at one side, not the whole picture. I hope these people will. See a happy "me" soon and be happy for me also. If they cannot, I will never be able to sway them.
If you have been in my life for a season, whether it is a winter, spring summer or fall, I thank you. You are a part of what has made me who I am today.
Until I write again,
Peace!

The Road less Traveled

Some times we reach a spot in our lives that we don't know which fork in the road to take . Didn't one of the great writers tell us to take the road less traveled? I am not for sure that is the right path for me but I am taking the road I haven't ever traveled before. It makes me scared but at the same time I must find myself and search out my happiness. I have no idea where my happiness lies but I do know where it isn't. It isn't with me right now.
Some times people have dreams that make them doubt the decisions they make. Last night I had a dream I cannot even recant but when I woke up this morning I knew I was on the right path. I cannot rely on anyone to do it for me. I have to step out on faith that I can do this! It is scary but to grow I must move in this direction, I will stay the ever boring person I have become if I don't.
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life but those mistakes have helped me become who I am. Everyone learns from their mistakes. They just have to make the corrections and not keep repeating the the same boo boos. Maybe I won't find myself this time. Maybe it will take another turn in the road before I do. Maybe I hit pay dirt tomorrow.
I try to stay optimistic all the time but it is hard when you aren't optimistic in your heart. It isn't for everyone to start over but after a long battle with myself , now is the time. I looked in the mirror and found a peace this morning I haven't had in years.
Some of my boys don't understand this. I don't expect them to like it, just accept it.
I trust that people will judge me, but please don't til you walk that mile in my moccasins!
I may even chose a walk in the woods rather than either road right now.
Until later!

Pour some Water out of that Bucket!!!!!

Most of you have heard about my bucket list. If not, let's just say I have one and have led a very sheltered life. This weekend I marked another one of my bucket list or poured a little more water out of the bucket. Actually, most all that water went on my right foot where I hung it over a raft for 6 or so hours yesterday . Yes, rafting was on my list. I haven't been in a boat since I was 15. That was the only time I have ever been on a boat in my entire life until this raft. At 15 , one December night after a day spent at Disneyworld, I went out on a lake in Lutz, Florida with a 20 year old that wanted to scare me and boy did he! Full moon and he clipped a gator tail . Yes, I begged him to take me back to shore and he did!
Rafting Sunday was my next boat ride. Let me back up and tell you about my Saturday first! Saturday morning I went to a camping park called Quarry Park just below the dam at Norfork. There was a whole group of us and a little later in the day we went to a swimming area right by the dam. Saturday was my friend Cassy's birthday and she was camping with her friends and all their kiddos. We were all run out of the lake by Mr. Lightning and Mrs. Thunder. Back at the camper we got all the younger ones inside and Cassy and I picked up stuff around the campsite and tucked it away before the storms hit. Big wicked storm but short lived. It was enough however to drop the temp drastically and raise the fog on the water! Hence the beautiful picture!
After the storm passed over there was a small party for Cassy at the campsite. Somewhere between twenty and twenty five eating burgers, dogs , chicken, salads, fruit chips and all kinds of yummys. This was truly a great laid back party. Wish I could plan one so easily. Ashley did an awesome job of it!!!!
After a Saturday night crash, I was up bright and early. Randy and I went to a place called Skippers for breakfast while the world was still quite. Back to pack up, load up and hit the road to Missouri! I was so excited, so scared and did not have a clue what to expect. I can truthfully say the word " snakes" played around in my mind a lot also! Have I mentioned that I am not the greatest outdoors person??? If I haven't now is the time to tell you that snakes chiggers and ticks are not my friend by any stretch of the imagination and we did encounter a snake on Saturday!
Anyway, back to my story. There were 15 of us and three rafts . We made ourselves comfortable and started paddling. At first I am sure my hart was racing about 150 plus a minute! Anxiety was a little high to start but I did have a small distraction to start off the trip that took my mind off fear and by the time I realized it, I was okay in the water. The first mini rapid made my heart a little rapid also but the thrill of bouncing down the water was awesome. We would stop along the way, our raft did the panorama 360 quite a few times and it was always the coolest thing.
It is a shame I spent54 years of my life before i allowed myself to enjoy the water. I kept thinking I wish I had a water proof camera because I saw such beauty as we went down the river. I cannot remember smiling so much in a very long time.
Bucket list entries are a crap shoot. you will either love it or hate it or totally feel indifferent. I had the greatest emotion about it but most all of it was in my heart. I was with people I love, had the most peaceful of days and did not fall in the water. I am a survivor this time!!!!!
Take time to do for yourself. Well, in my case, I had help , but DO NOT wait for the right time. as Nike says....Just do it! If it is something you want to do, even if you don't enjoy it, you will be able to say you did what you wanted to do. I did! Thanks to all who made it special....Randy, Cassy, Brock(who kept me company on the drive up and back home. You rock!), Blair, Adam , Abby, Lindsey, Kee,Ashley, David, Lar-Lar-Gay, Mike and the boys. I had so much fun watching the boys and their silly antics in the water. Oh, and I cannot forget to thank Kee for being my rafting pal and my riding pal. We passed a lot of time together Sunday. You are the bestest, Kee!
When Kee and I sat on the bus to go back I couldn't help thinking "I don't think I could wipe this smile off my face if I tried!"
When Brock and I got in the car to come home and yes we made a wrong turn or two getting to West Plains, I had a contentment I haven't felt in a long time. Sigh!
In case you can' t tell this one gets a two thumbs up.

until next time......

Free Falling

Let me start off by saying I have no idea where this blog is going but I felt the urge to post. I know, sounds dumb!
For the last few years I have been on a roller coaster ride that hasn't been exactly pleasing. There have been downs, downs and more downs. Last summer, a friend made me open my mind, mouth and heart to take a good look at myself. I was to the point of feeling like I was about to explode every morning when I woke up and I hated to hear what anyone said to me. I could not face looking at myself in the mirror because I was so miserable. My friend told me that unless I addressed my issues with myself, I could never get any relief. I knew what two of my major problems were but had no idea how to face them.
I woke up feeling like I was in a prison, went to work feeling like I was in a prison and came home feeling like I was in a prison. By the end of last year I thought I was going to have to go to the funny farm. There had to be more to life than feeling like a prisoner in your own body. There was no haven for me anywhere. Thanks to my cousin I found a little solitude as I tried to sort things out.
It isn't that I want to be greedy, I just had not seen happiness in a very long time. If you cannot look in the mirror and like the person looking back at you there is a problem. I was there. Not only did I hate my world, I hated myself. That is a very bad spot to be. Through the years there have been people that have been exceptionally mean spirited to me and there have been people that have hurt me physically. until you release those things, there will not be a person looking back at you in the mirror that you will ever like.
When things change, sometimes not every one understands. There are loved ones that believe I am being selfish. There are loved ones believing that I am not being "open". There are loved ones who don't have a clue how bad I hated myself before I decided to do something about being me again.
I don't ask anyone to agree with me or take sides. I just ask that they understand how unhappy I am. Everyone deserves to be happy. If I am not happy, I sure cannot make the people around me happy. If I cannot be happy, I am guessing I am making everyone else as miserable as I am.
I am short, fat, ugly, uneducated, have no future but I have made up my mind to find happiness in life. If I am unhappy, it will be by my own doing. If I am unhappy, I shall have no one to blame but myself. There is a lot to learn about me. I am on the quest to find it.
For anyone that cares, no, I am not going off the deep end. ( I cannot swim and I am not ready to drown) I am going to wade in the water and get comfortable. I am going to pursue the things on my bucket list that I always felt I was too chicken to do. I am going to be a little more daring. I will look in the mirror and like the person looking back at me. I will be a free spirit.
In the last year I have learned to accept who I am. I am me. I should not be ashamed of who I am. I felt inferior to the people I graduated with. No more. I felt like I deserted the people I went to school for 9 years with. No more. I have connected with many old friends. Some from different areas of my life. I have learned to root for my friends. I have learned that it isn't about being jealous that others have life easier or have life worse. We are all alike. We all have feelings, we all hurt and we all put on our pants one leg at a time every morning.
If you ever hear me say that I am happy for you, that is not a platitude, it is honesty speaking. If I say I love you, I love you. If I say that my heart hurts for you, well, you get the picture.
If I can be honest with myself, I can be honest with you. I won't spill my guts about something I know about you that is a secret because I respect you. If I promise to pray for you, I will lift you up.
I am learning to be this person......one step at a time. I think that just might ultimately be the biggest thing I will ever do on my bucket list. Find myself.
Until I get the urge again,
Vera

OOOOPS! Where has the time gone!!

Oh, my. Where has the time gone. It has been seven months since I blogged. A world of events has passed my way in that length of time. I have stressed through work , family and friends yet here I am sitting at the same computer doing the same thing 7 months later. I wish I had the same mindset to address the same topics with the same mindset but "alas" that has gone out the window.
There have been many things that have changed who I am in the past half year. I have met new friends, left old friends behind and even rearranged my heart somewhat. We don't stay the same forever. How boring we would be if we did.
I had wonderful times in Jr. High school but if I kept that mentality where would I be. I had some fun times in high school but there again , I had not begun to go through the school of hard knocks.
I had things that looking back I sure wish I had done differently. The shy unspoken(ha) me should have done things different years ago. I did things selfishly that I believe were not right for me. God watched over and protected me anyway. Thank you God.
There was a quote the other day that says something to the effect that if you try and fail, you learned something. If you don't try at all, you are still standing in the same spot. I want to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE. That has never been my goal. I was ready to sit back and take what punches life had to give me.
there is a lot of "I" in this post but since I haven't written anything in a while , yes, this is about catching up on "ME". There have been blessings in the way of reconnecting with old friends, (thanks, Facebook), there are people that have passed on that influenced my life, there have been new people come into my life that have all made a difference and reshaping of my heart.
How about that long and winding road.....Where is it going to lead? Man, I don't know but you can't just sit on the side of the road.
Why can't we be friends....Man, I don't know but I have been blessed with many others.
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind.... Man, now that I do know and in this time there have been good and bad ones. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
Dizzy, my head is spinning. Man, it goes around in a different circle cycle every day.
Me and you against the world! Man, yeah, but it seems there is a different you every day. (my quest for spreading friendship)
My favorite "Power" song right now..........

"I am woman!!! Hear me ROAR!

yep, that is my new theme song.
I am fifty three years old and aside from the fact there are some things I just won't write......let me just say that I can look in the mirror and like this "me" better than I have in many decades. I have found myself for the time being until someone else comes along and jolts me with insecurities.
God is my strength and my comforter and my family and friends can only hurt me as bad as I let them. (OK, sometimes "so-called friends)
If you choose to be my friend, welcome to my little world. If you think I am wacko or goofy, that is your choice. I don't need to pretend to be the person you think I need to be......I need to be .....ME!
I like me, I accept me and I want to be the best me I can be.
Maybe I should have titles this post "me" Naw!
Until I am inspired to share again........