Mrs. Cordie's Soldier Son: A World War II Saga

Camp Wolters

CAMP WOLTERS The first notice to the family regarding D.C. and his entry into the U.S. Army was a standard-form postcard: July 23, 1942, Cordelia Coughran [sic] at General Delivery, Chisholm, Texas, receives notice from the Dallas, Texas, Induction Station (War Department, the Adjutant General’s Office) that D.C. (Army Serial No. 38,119,554) is accepted for active military service. He has left this station en route to a reception center at Camp Wolters, Texas, where he will remain for a short time and then be sent to another station. As he will be in transit for the next few days, it will be difficult for mail to reach him. It is therefore requested that no attempt be made to communicate with him except in an emergency until you receive advice as to the address to which mail for him should be sent. Camp Wolters near Mineral Wells, Texas, was D.C.’s first duty station in the U.S. Army. This was not exactly far from home, and, for the time being, that suited D.C. just fine. Mineral Wells is about 125 miles west of Chisholm. In fact, D.C. sometimes traveled through Mineral Wells while attending John Tarleton Junior College in Stephenville. In the beginning, D.C. considered this whole situation (the war, the U.S. Army, and even Camp Wolters) an adventure. Even though he was relatively close to home, he was periodically homesick while in Mineral Wells. The U.S. Army was somewhat more restrictive than college life, Camp Wolters 13 and D.C. could not even phone home when he wanted because of the frequently long lines at the few public telephones around the post. The initial arrival at Camp Wolters was uneventful. After signing a few government cards and forms for processing purposes, D.C. was released for chow, which he had to buy for the first couple of days. (The new inductees were not yet in the administrative system of the U.S. Army; thus they had to pay for their own meals.) The next day he was issued uniforms and everything else he would need to begin life as a soldier. If he could not carry what few possessions he had brought on his back, they had to go. In addition, restrictions on the retention of civilian clothing were strict. The uniform of the U.S. Army was worn at all times, both on and off the post. His civilian clothes were sent home at government expense. As he himself had been informed, D.C. told his parents that he expected to be at Camp Wolters no more than a few days. After the issuance of uniforms and other gear, additional visits to medical, and testing at the reception center, most of the new soldiers were sent to other U.S. Army posts for training. The two-story barracks, D.C. related, were made of “lumber wood,” and each held about one hundred troops. The first evening was spent getting settled. Most of the men were lying around, talking, writing letters home, or listening to the radio—free time. Since little time was available in the early morning, D.C. was learning quickly to get as much done in the evening as possible, including showering and shaving. While D.C.’s mother was careful to pack every possible item her son could need (and then some), she forgot towels , so D.C. used his undershirts until he was issued a towel. He was not alone in this multipurpose use of his underclothing. Camp Wolters had first-run Hollywood movies for the soldiers up until 11:00 p.m. However, D.C. was not sure how to get around the lights-out orders for 9:00 p.m. He later learned that the permanent post personnel and the recruits had different schedules. In no time D.C. became a prolific writer. This was due in part to homesickness since it helped stave off depression at not having the freedom to come and go as he pleased. Perhaps most of all, these letters comforted his parents and sisters. He knew they were worried about their only son, and the letters were his way of telling them that 14 Mrs. Cordie’s Soldier Son everything was all right. Periodically D.C. attempted to call home, but the public phones were often located outside...