Letters from Charlie Stewart
Letter to George Hood and his wife (in Waveland), Waneta (Neet) Cronk from George’s sister, Ida Hood Stewart (thanks Peggy) and some of her children (husband: Cecil Stewart – children: Charles Edward (Chuck, Charlie and Buster – one great fellow); Anna; Nellie; Mildred; Virgie; Cecil (Pete) and Margaret Louise.
May the 18th, 1945 – Greencastle, Indiana
Dear Neet and George
Hope you are alright. We are but have a cold. I hope this rain will stop sometime. I’m getting tired of the raining, aren’t you? We set on sweet polest pants yesterday, my feet realy got muddy. I’m going to close right now I’m getting hungry haven’t eat yet, so I will close – excuse this because I was hungryl. Love Vergie (married Vorris Benton Hubble in 1951)
Greencastle, Ind RR1
Dear Neet & Uncle George,
Just a few lines to let you no I’m alright. How is your cold? I hope it’s better. We got a letter from Buster & it was dated the 30th of April. He said hes now on the road to Berlin & hopes he never gets there. Boy hasn’t it been raining. Boy the farmers cant do much of anything right now but as soon as it drys up they will be working nights. Anna May and Nellie was down Sunday night and they brought Mom a flower and some powder and rouge, lipstick, and big glasses of chocolates, candy. Anna Mae said that the stove up in the restaurant blowed up with her and it burned her hair in front and burnt her arm. It’s not real bad. Well I will close. Love Mildred. PS Write soon.
Pfc Chas E Stewart
Co C 346 Engrs Com ZETO
APO 562 c/o PM
New York (4) NY
To: Mr. George Hood, Waveland, Indiana RR 2
Oct 11, 1944
Dear Aunt & Uncle
Will ans your letter, was really glad to hear from you, leaves me feeling fine. How does granddad like the quarry? Tell him to get a letter started my way so I can no his address. I haven’t heard from him going on a year now. Say George, I know you and Neat has had some pictures taken so how about sending me one or two of yourself. I think Dad told me Raymond was once here what is his address. Mabe I can locate him. I would like to see him and Jino (? Jim?) B. Well I guess it is beginning to get cold in good old Indiana. I saw a free show that the Army puts out Home in Indiana and after it was over the boys told me I was good for two more years overseas sence I went back home. Ha! I hate to think I had to stay that much longer. Its ok to be in prison cause you at least know how long you are in for but in this D—Army and war to gather (together?) you dont no. If I only could get my gun and baynet pointed at that Fhurer he wouldn’t last long. I would like to treat him like we treat some of these krout prisoners when they don’t do what they are told. Oh boy! Say you ask me what I wanted for Xmas. Well hear it is. One hold (whole) pie of some sort; one hold fried chicken, nice and brown, mash potatoes and gravey, hot biscuits and plenty of home made butter, some kinds of dessert and whip cream, and whatever I’ve missed please put it in too. Well there isn’t any harm of dreaming is there? No I would like to have some cigar as they are the hardest thing for us to get. Say what was wrong with Gladys? Im just courist (curious) to know. Mother told me Louise got married. Have you met him yet? What kind of a fellow is he? Now George don’t play hooky to much from work or Neat will think you don’t want to work. Well I must close and answer soon. Bye, bye Love Chuck
PS Sending you some pictures (wish we had one) – let me know if you get them.
May 18, 1945
Oh yes Neat we got a letter from buster and he was ok it was wrote April 30.
Dear brother and sis,
Will ans your letter was glad to hear from you. This leaves us all with the sniffles yet. Neat, I tell you I am so tickled to think the war is over with Germany. I hope and pray that buster wont be sent over to Japan but all the Engers (?) may haft to go but I hope he don’t. Say George you know that wagon you said you said you would like to buy. Uncle tom said you could. Bout it for 2 or 3 dollars and he said you better come over after it so they can clean up around the hog barn. Say Neat if you get this is time come sun when we get a tire we will be down to your house and then we will go on over to dools (?). I wwant to see them but I don’t know where we would have time as not if we don’t get to go to dads we will go the next time. Say Neat our little pussy cat had 2 little kittens one is black and white and 1 is black as coal. Ha! Say Neat we saw lou and she is not feeling so good his back hurts and she is just like Gladys was just a pouring from her. Yet say Neat they was afford (?) a good lab on the farm it is about 2 ½ miles from us he would get 90 dollars a month and 2 meat hogs and a cow and their chickens fed and all the garden they want and it is a nice house . Well Neat butter cups (?) so if you get this in time come over a sun or when you can from your sis and cec (? Got his calf yet but all she looks like she will any day so we will haft to keep an eye on her. She is so big I am afraid has her ??? Say George you and Neat ought to been here Wed we set out 700 sweet potatoes and we have got hot peppers and mangoes to set out and cabbages plenty and Cecil has got him some long grees to set out. Well I will close I haft to take the milk down to the road. Byebye
Source: Handwritten letter dated June 18, 1945 from Ida to her brother, George and his wife, Wannetah Cronk
Dear Brother and sis:
Will write you agin as I have wrote 2 cards and I was thinking your arm was broke or you was sick so I am writing you again we got a letter from anne and she said her mother her mother and sister was aranging for thire marrage and she said that her and buster would start farming as so on as they got to the states she said she dident know any thing about farming but she said she would help all she could. She said she needed lennens and dish cloths and dinner wear and sheet and pillow cases. and she said that the Germans took ever thing they had. She said she was working and she would save her money and buy when she got to the states boy I don 't know where she will get them for I cant find any myself. Well sis and brother, we sure are having some rain it looks like it may fair up no . Well Neet we was down at your house thur and you wasn't at home. b oy did we ever have a storm down our way it up rooted trees and twisted t op out of big trees we went down to Della Mae Hood Sunday and it all most blowed ever thing out at thire house and down by Cloverdale it was awful bad. Well I will close I am going to wash today and get ready to pick rasberries this week I have got 20 quarts of cherries and 30 quarts of mustard greens and 26 quarts of pie plant 1, 1/2 quart of goose berries well I will close out soon and come over when you can. We got that gun buster sent I wish you could see it so good by Ida to NG
Postcard from Ida (Hood) Stewart
Robert Long Hispital, Ward F
Indianapolis, IND
April 2, 1946
Dear Brother and Sis and all will try to drop you a few lines to let you no I am feeling pretty good. Well Neat if you could see some of the friends I have up here in my ward, I will tell you all about it when I see you all tell dad and Mom hello. Well I am getting tired son from your sis, Ida ByBy