Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated November 17, 1943

[Transcription begins] 10.10 PM Wed. Nov 17 Dear Folks, To go on from my card – I got down to the Recruiting Station about 10.15 this morning and just hung around until we took the train at 12.00. We sang a lot going to Augusta. One of the lieutenants is a trained singer with a marvelous voice. We had dinner at the Old Tavern Inn at Augusta. It was punk. Then went in trucks to the State House. It was nice to see Dot, & Beverly & Phyllis. Dot can describe the ceremonies better than I can I imagine. The train ride back was very long. We didn’t reach Portland until 7.40. Sang again all the way back. The lieutenant sang some solos for us. They were swell. Ther Had supper out on Forest Ave again. It was fair. Then went back to the recruiting office where they checked to see if our papers were complete. Finally back to the Falmouth. It is almost time for bed check. The officers come around between 10.45 & 11.00 to see that every one is in bed. Roll call in the lobby at 6.45 tomorrow morning. Then breakfast & back to the recruiting station for another long wait until 11.25 when the train really leaves for Georgia. We have the same cars all the way. This is not to be told outside the family until afterwards, but our itinary (sic) is as follows. Leave Portland. 11.45 Arrive Boston 2.15 PM – Lunch on train Leave Boston 3.30 PM Arrive Troy N.Y. 8.45 PM Leave Troy N.Y. 9.02 PM Arrive Albany N.Y. 9.22 PM Leave Albany N.Y. 9.33 PM Arrive Cleveland O 6.35 AM Nov 19. Breakfast in station. Leave Cleveland O. 8.05 AM Arrive Cincinnati O 2.25 PM Lunch on train. Leave Cincinnati O. 5.30 PM. Arrive Chattanooga, Tenn. 2.04 AM – Sleep in cars until 7. A.M. (Nov. 20) Chattanooga, Tenn – nearest station to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Will write as I go but can’t mail anything more until I get to camp. Love Kay. [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated July 24, 1944

[Transcription begins] Monday 7.10 AM. July 24, 1944 Dear Folks, No Detail this mornig so have few minutes before leaving for work. Nothing much to write about since Sat morning! I did go in town Sat evening after mess. I took my blouses and 3 shirts in town and bought new stripes & had them sewed on by a dress maker. Saved me hours of work yesterday. I went to show and then went back to camp. Yesterday was just plain lazy. I didn’t get up until 11.00. Then I leisurely cleaned up my foot locker and got dressed in my slack suit for lunch. I went back to bed after dinner (after sitting out doors in our wooden lawn chairs for about a half an hour) – I read all the newspapers I haven’t had time to read the last two weeks and the newspaper stories. Had a grand time. After supper, I ironed two skirts & four shirts. Then got dressed and went to the show. Saw “Summer Storm” No good. Must leave now and go to work. Love to all of you. Kay P.S. Had a v-mail from Craig dated July 10th. He wanted to be remembered to all of you. [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated November 26, 1944

[Transcription begins] 26 Nov 44 Sun. 8.30. A.M. Dear Folks, I’m glad you received my box O.K. I thought it would be something for you for Thanksgiving. Isn’t the news about the boys being home grand; I wish that I could get home at the same time but I guess that is out of the question unless they stay as long as Xmas which doesn’t seem possible. Let me know when you know any exact dates on which they will be at home so that I may at least write them there. I’ll get home Thursday not Friday evening; I miscalculated. Perhaps it would be better to go to Bangor Tuesday so that I would have Tuesday, Wed & Thursday evening there and come back to Lewiston Friday evening so as to have all day Sat there with Dot & Beverley. Do you suppose Mother that would be too close to Xmas for you to get ready to go. If so, we can go Wed really just as well. Did the weather hold good so that you really could all be together at Aunt Grace’s for Thanksgiving? We had a very nice meal here. And the afternoon off as I mentioned in my last letter I believe. I had a cold and laryngitis so stayed in and went to bed. I was much better in the morning and it is practically well now. Friday we had another orientation class, going out to the Village Fighting Course to observe the boys practicing out there. It is very realistic with plenty of live ammunition so that the boys have to learn to do it correctly and they do. The safety factor is of course very carefully planned and the boys very rarely get hurt. It is certainly interesting to have a chance to watch the various types of training even if it is difficult to lose that much time at the office. Ida and I had to work in the evening to make up for it. We are slightly swamped this week as Minnie and Pope are both on furlough and Wise had an emergency furlough which left us all alone. We have one of the new girls now which helps. I am working today also to catch up. So with all the responsibility in the barracks and her, I am keeping plenty busy these days. It will get established soon and I’ll know what I’m doing and it won’t be much extra work. I am really going to enjoy having a room again instead of being out in the barracks. It will be a good change. Olga is going to be very nice to room with. The only thing will be that there is a great temptation to stay there and read instead of mingling with anyone and thus becoming very unsocial ...We will have to spend some money on it – curtains, rugs, lamp, hot plate maybe, card table etc. And then of course after we get it fixed up, the army will decide to change us someway probably!! 24 days before I start! Love Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated March 12, 1945

[Transcription begins] MON. 12 Mar 45 Dear Folks, I hope I get a letter from you on tonights mail. It has been over a week since I have heard from you. Dot’s letter thanking me for the birthday box was the last I received. I hope nothing is wrong. We did get tickets for the Ballet Saturday night and it was very enjoyable. They were topnotch performers. Five dancers – 3 women and 2 men – and two pianists. There were eleven of us went in together and at first she had only three tickets, then the telephone kept ringing with more people turning in their tickets until finally nine of us got a chance to go and I imagine the other two might have but got discouraged and left. Unfortunately that is the last Community Concert this season. I shall miss them. Yesterday I was on C. Q. at the office but I had been here only a short time when Capt Poslik who was on duty said that I might go back to the barracks as he was going to be around to take any calls and to get the mail. I got back to the barracks in time for Mail Call and to meet some of the girls going to church so I went to the 1st Area Chapel. The Chaplain was fairly good but I do not seem to get as much out of the chapel service as I do when I go in town to church. The Chapel service is conducted exactly the same as any protestant church but it may be the unfished [unfinished?] building or something I don’t know. In the afternoon, I took a nap and then Crockett and Iris Cook and I went walking in Ocmulgee National Park. This park is almost in to Macon but we’ve never before taken time to get of[f] the bus and walk in to see what it was like. It is one of the regular National Park Series with nice roads, paths, and parking lots. There is a museum of Indian relics. They have the only extinct preserved earth mound lodge. This is about five hundred years old and is a council chamber circular in shape with huge oak beams and pineroof with bamboo on top of the pine then clay and earth on top of that. Outside it looks like any hill. The walls, part of the beams and some of the roof pines are the original. When it was excavated it was found that it had been burned and some of the beams were consumed, others however were only partially burned although the roof had fallen to the floor. It was reconstructed about 1937. There are several Indian graves in another section of the Park and they were in the process of digging into several other huge mounds which are within the park area. The work of course has been stopped by the war. It was a long walk, but after we had gone in town and eaten supper we decided to keep on so we went to the Macon City Park to see the very many pretty flowers now in bloom there. A very satisfying day as you can see. Betty Cox’s Mother from New Hampshire came yesterday for a visit with Betty. She was very nice to meet. In the course of the conversation I discovered she knew Uncle Henry and had worked for him in the Hospital at the Soldier’s Home. Small world isn’t it!! I had a letter from Bob yesterday but he didn’t date it. He said he had lost some of his pictures and wanted some more. He had got my address from you, Dot, so he had as you see received the letter in which you sent it to him. I had a letter also from Mae. Everyone there is doing fine. I sent Bobby a little sweater yesterday. Let me know when you receive it, Dot. Also a package addressed to Dad although he probably won’t want some of the things that are in there!! Much love, Write soon. Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated August 20, 1945

[Transcription begins] Mon. P.M. 8.00 PM 20 Aug 45 Dear Folks, Just a note before I go to the movies to see James Stewart in “Jimmy Steps Out.” We went on winter hours today 8 to 5.30 – Didn’t have to get up until 6.30 instead of 5.30 – Seemed good to me. We had Sat off (all day) – washed & ironed until about 3 o’clock – then went to Macon for supper & the show – We (Marj, Minnie & I) saw Pan American – (which was pretty good). Yesterday I slept nearly all day and read some – then went to the show last night – “Dangerous Partners” not really worth seeing. This seems to be my show week! I even went Friday evening also! – and plan to go nearly every night this week as there are good shows every night!! I’m afraid, Mother, that you’d better not make plans for my early return!! I don’t expect to be out for some time. Nothing yet has changed since the war ended. – I don’t think it will for some months. This really is a rush job – I’ve got to finish now to get this mailed tonight! Hastily but with love to all Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated August 8, 1945

[Transcription begins] 9.15 P.M. Wed 8 Aug 1945 Dear Folks, Got your letter written Sunday today, mother. I suppose Dad is at Phil’s now having a fine visit with them. I’m so glad that he could go and also that you could all have a fine week at Camp. He will feel as if he has had a real vacation for the first time in years won’t he? It is a shame about Craig although he has been expecting it I know. Please let me know his address as soon as you have one. Perhaps it will be possible for us to get together somewhere in South Carolina. – Maybe Charleston. – I’ve wanted to go there and now that restrictions are somewhat lifted I believe I might be able to make it. Isn’t that something about Elmer Rowe? When I think of the harm he and his self righteous clique did in our church, I get so disgusted. We were spineless to let them do it. Beulah never was as much that way and probably wouldn’t have [been] so to any appreciable extent if it had not been for him. And yet none of that group can ever see why people won’t all accept everything they say as being the acme of wisdom and right. Thurs – noon I’m glad you could have a trip to Charleston this time. Everyone is rather excited here today as we try to decide what all this news from the Pacific is going to mean. How Japan can hold out much longer I do not see. – Perhaps I’ll be home by Easter!! I’ve been to several movies – this week. Nothing particularly outstanding – can’t even remember the names! Sunday instead of going to Milledgeville, Cook and I slept all the morning & then took blankets out in the woods back of the barracks – very quiet & restful. Love Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated March 3, 1945

[Transcription begins] 3 Mar 45 [1945] Dear Folks, I got Dad’s and Dot’s nice letters. I appreciate hearing from you all. This week has gone by fast as have the others. Wed. evening some of us went to the Community Concert in Macon. People who can’t go leave their names with the Macon Recreation Center and Service [and] people can use their seats. Free!! First come first choice. 3 of us, Ida Helfand, Dot Masser & I went – in Dot’s car!! We heard Robert Weede the Metropolitan barotone. (sic) He was grand. I enjoyed every minute of it. He is tall & slightly stout with a beard but he has a very pleasing stage presence. It was good not to have to wait for buses. I felt almost like a civilian for a few hours! Thursday, I went by myself to town and did some shopping; ate at the S & S Cafeteria; and then went to the Bibb theater. It was a double feature neither of which I had seen and both good. Very unusual circumstance! I saw “The Arabian Nights” and “Mr. Winkle Goes to War.” Last night Drake and I played tennis and had played about a set & [a] half when it dawned on me I was supposed to go to Glee Club so I went rushing down to the Day Room and arrived only a half hour late for practice. But it was a perfect night for tennis. Warm & sunshiny. We both felt good and played fairly well considering how long we’ve been out of practice. I got my usual two games per set off Drake, but I do make her work for some of her games. Nearly every game goes to deuce. One game last night lasted at least fifteen minutes. It seemed grand to be playing again. It is raining this PM. so we won’t play tonight. Tomorrow we’re planning to go to Fort Valley again to see the peach blossoms if we can get in town early enough to get a car. I hope it clears off. I paid my income tax and finished up one of the college loans this week. I’ll have $25.40 to pay next month and that will really finish all of that college business. I’ll sure be glad to get out from under that. I have had very little work in the office this week and have spent much of my time there studying chemistry. I finished the second lesson and got part way through the third. Must stop now and mail this so it’ll go out tonight. Love Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated January 20, 1944

WAC Det , IRTC Camp Wheeler,Georgia Thurs. 20 January 1944 Dear Folks, I have a different job this week. I am typing up lists of the men in the different companies who have to take physical examinations and typing names on the individual physical examination check lists. Just plain typing and not at all interesting-- I\u27m still hoping I\u27ll be put on something more difficult eventually. I do keep busier here than on the other job however which is better. Monday night I washed.clothes and wrote letters and read the first book I\u27ve read since I came in the Army ! We were all restricted to the barracks because the inspection had been so bad and I\u27m afraid it was no punishment at all. Everyone even the girls who had to give up dates seemed to have the best time hanging around getting all those odd jobs done that seem to pile up on one. I had K.P. Tuesday so did not go to the office. It was plenty hard and I was tired when I got through at 8.30 that evening. We did have a two hour break in the afternoon and I fell on the bed and slept the whole two hours. Yesterday we got out of work at 3.30 and went back to the barracks for a physical examination (We get one once a month) It didn\u27t take very long and we had an hour before supper to rest. I had intended to stay in and write you last night but found that Ali Baba and the Forty Theives was showing et the Movies and I couldn\u27t resist going to it. It was very good and colorful I enjoyed it. We are getting more and more girls in until now we have almost two hundred instead of the forty or fifty when we came. However we don\u27t see much of them except at mess because our barracks was full and they all are in other barracks.They are mostly Station Complement Girls so do not work in our office or go back and forth in our bus. I had planned to go to town tonight and have my hair washed and waved but I am fire girl tonight so will have to stay home and tend them. I shall go tomorrow night because I need to badly. There is no place at the Camp yet although plans are being made for us to have a beauty parlor in a room in the same building as our day room. By the way before l forget it, Dad, you\u27d better send me a registration blank for the car fairly soon so that I\u27ll have time to sign it and get it back to you before you need it. Are you taking care of the inspections as they come all? We\u27re getting settled now so that it doesn\u27t seem so new and starnge.[strange] There is plenty to do so that there isn\u27t much time to be homesick and lonesome. We are starting bowling and basketball teams and we\u27ll have softball also as it gets warmer.The weather is better this week.It hasn\u27t rained at all and has been warm enough to go without a top coat in the day­time. Seems good. I must stop now as I think I can find some work to do and I\u27d better do it I suppose although the boys say we haven\u27t anywhere near enough to keep us busy through Saturday. This work is laid out by the week and the week\u27s work is practically done now. I got the paper you sent yesterday.Please send them often as I usually see things that you wouldn\u27t notice or know that I would be interested in them.Thanks. Loads of love to All . Ka

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated November 19, 1943

[Transcription begins] Written on USO letterhead 5.30 Fri Y. W C A Cincinnatti, (sic) Ohio Dear Folks, This is the first place we have been off the train. The train was so late at Cleveland that we didn’t have time to get off. We arrive about 3.30 here and have had a wonderful shower and swim in the Y pool. Are getting ready to go back to train. Will write again later Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated September 3, 1944

[Transcription begins] Sep. 3, 1944 10.15 PM Dear Folks, I have just got back to the barracks from Macon. This has been a nice day. I got up about 7.00 and ironed for about two hours before it got too hot. Then I read a detective story the rest of the morning. After dinner (which was exceptionally good this noon – creamed chicken, potatoes, carrots, rolls, ice cream & cookies). – I did up the boys package and addressed them to Aunt Grace. I also packed a package for you. – It has that old pair of pyjama pants, a couple of hats I can no longer wear, some stockings I thought you might be able to get some wear out of and some photographs. Sis, it would be a nice Xmas present if you’d get an album and put in it all the pictures I’ve sent home that you folks don’t want for yourselves. About 3 o’clock this afternoon, Marjorie & I and Ina Wilson & Gaselle [Giselle?] Kerner went to Macon to the YWCA Swimming Pool. It is a large pool in a covered building which is open on one side so that it is useable only in the summer. We stayed about 2 hrs then went to the Candlelight Restaurant for supper – Had to wait about an hour for it, the place was so crowded. By the time we had eaten the main part of our dinner, there wasn’t any dessert left, so we decided to ride out to a section called Vineville (something like the Fairmount District) (1) – to a drug store for ice cream. We got a nice comfortable booth and talked & talked and finally after about half an hour we asked a clerk who was working near us if they served those booths or whether we had to go to the counter. She assured us that they did service them but that there were only [?] waitresses so it was slow. So we sat another half hour. We didn’t mind because it was comfortable and we had nothing else we wanted to do particularly. Finally Kerner went to the counter & asked there and was told they didn’t wait on the booths and that they didn’t have any ice cream anyway. And we had sat there in plain sight for hour without their saying anthing about not waiting on us. We were mad. We walked out then without buying anything and went across the street. No ice cream but we had some nice lemonade. So we spent over 3 hours getting our evening meal. Not as bad as it sounds as each place was comfortable & fairly cool which was really what we were interested in anyway. I worked yesterday afternoon and then Marjorie & I went in town. We did some shopping, had some refreshments, and then went to a show “The Man from Frisco” – The story of the pre fabricated shipbuilding. Very good. I must stop now and write Aunt Grace. Love Kay (1) Fairmount District is an area of Bangor, Maine that opened in 1909 as a residential area with fresh air somewhat away from the pollution of the central city area of Bangor. [Transcription ends