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Boewe, Charles E. (Second World War correspondence)
2017.309.w.r
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box WWII 37, folder 7, folder 1
Series 1, Fort Sheridan, Illinois correspondence 1943 March 5 - 26
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 5 correspondence, March 5, 1943 – March 26, 1943, and an official military document pertaining to Pvt.
Charles E. Boewe, USA while he was stationed at Fort Sheridan. This series contains a military report along with a note from
the donor. This series starts when he was in college at the University of Illinois and goes through his time at Fort Sheridan
when he became part of the Enlisted Reserves Corps. Boewe specifies the clothes worn by him and other soldiers and their cost,
the food they eat, and the duties they must do. One letter of interest from March 23, 1943 talks about fatigue duty in which
Boewe writes, "I was going to write a letter last night and was just about to get some paper when the barracks leader came
through and said he needed ten men for fatigue duty. I heard him coming and rolled under the bed and he went past so I was
safe; but like a darned fool I stuck my head out too soon and as he came back he saw me. That sounds like Goldbricking but
everybody does it and our barracks leader is a right guy and doesn't mind. We were sent over to one of the mess halls and
there we got a sample of the trials and tribulations of a buck private." Later in this letter he discusses his IQ, war bonds,
and insurance. In another letter of interest on March 26, 1943, Boewe discussed his seniority over the draftees and comments
on his better fitting uniforms and comments, "I sure hope I don't get shoved into a bunch of ignorant hillbilly draftees at
base camp."
box WWII 37, folder 8, folder 2
Series 2, Fort McClellan/University of Alabama correspondence 1943 April - July 13
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 25 correspondence, April 1, 1943-July 13, 1943, from Pvt. Charles E. Boewe, USA during his stay at Fort
McClellan and the University of Alabama. This series contains a University of Alabama booklet that shows photos of the University.
Some of the letters in these series have unknown dates but remain as the donor arranged them, regardless of inconsistencies.
In this series some of the letters have interesting and colorful letterheads with comics. In this series Boewe once again
details the costs, food, clothes, and training. In one letter of interest dated April 12, 1943 he talks about infiltration
course in which shots are fired above their heads so they can get used to it. He remarks coldly,
"Nearly everyone in our outfit went thru it fine except one fellow who is sort of a queen anyway. But when he got through his nerves were completely shot and he lay down on the ground and cried like a baby. I don't think they should send through fellows like that because if they raise up once well –."
In another letter dated April 19, 1943 Boewe remarks about 4Fs or those deemed not acceptable for service in the Armed Forces
due to medical, dental, or other reasons, stating,
"I was reading in the YMCA bulletin that a bunch of the U of I 4F's got together at a luncheon the other day to decide what to do with the world after the war has been won by our 'gallant boys in the service.' I had to laugh when I read it. They have never taken time to figure out 'who hit Nelly in the belly with a battle' let alone what to do with the world. If left to their own devices they would set up economically proven governments that place such an emphasis on the almighty dollar that we'd have another war within 10 years. Ask any of these boys down here what to do, and you will hear them say to leave everyone alone. All they want is to go back to their wives and sweethearts and try and pick up life where they left it."
Also in this letter Boewe talks about how much he loathes soldiers that are afraid of killing, claiming that they exemplify
weakness and are pathetic, then boasting,
"Maybe it's a little inhuman to say so; but I think I'd like to experience the sensation of killing a man. Oh, I want the war to be over as soon as possible; but this is still a grand adventure to me. I deploy the loss of life and think their idea of settlement is right; but I can't bring myself to hate war. I guess I like tragedy too much."
In another letter dated May 24, 1943, Boewe details his bivouac as well as adds a newspaper clipping of a poem entitled "The
Infantree" by Berton Bradley. The letter dated June 14 1943 is letter in which he says he made ASTP while also ridiculing
the draftees exclaiming,
"From your letters I gather that most of the West Salem draftees almost have to be torn away from home. What's the matter with them all? Haven't they got any guts or patriotism? This Army life's not bad…but my God, what's wrong with all the red blood that's supposed to course through the veins of young America?"
In the letters with no postmarks after June 21, 1943 to July 2, 1943all contain detailed information about his training and
his bivouacs. In the letter dated July 5, 1943 he talks about a person who is of Nararene religion saying,
"We had one fellow in our hut who is a Nazarene and is too good to drink beer or associate with people who are drinking it. So he went hungry and had to stay in the hut by himself. The top sergeant had a talk with him and tried to get him to go because they had soft drinks too but he just wouldn't. A fined example of a damned fool, if you ask me."
The letter marked Sunday no envelope includes Boewe's opinion on how everyone was trying to apply to the Air Corps and be
pilots in which he dismisses his fellow soldiers as imbeciles saying, "I could probably get into something, maybe not as pilot
but neither can many of them who are trying, but I think I'd just as soon take my chances with the infantry. We will always
remain the outfit that wins wars."
The letter marked July Wed morning states that he left Fort McClellan and is now at the University of Alabama. The July 13,
1943 letter includes the University of Alabama booklet. The letter marked as July 10, 1943 details his course work, schedule,
classes, and the advantages of ASTP. He also discusses the history of University of Alabama as told to him by a student.
box WWII 37, folder 9, folder 3
Series 3, Manhattan College correspondence 1943 July 18 - 1944 January 6
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 41 correspondence, including postcards and Christmas cards, July 18, 1943-January 6, 1944, from Pvt.
Charles E. Boewe, USA while he was studying at Manhattan College. Letters in envelope with donor note that states that they
were all in one envelope are before letter on August 9, 1942 and No date/envelope and stop before letter dated August 13,
1942. This envelope included 4 letters which are marked as follows; Monday noon, Thursday Tuesday evening, Thursday, Fri night.
Red paper clip that was the signifier that these letters came together was removed as to not damage the letters.
The events referenced in these letters suggest that they might have originally gone after the October 18, 1943 letter but
they were kept in original donor order. This series contains many references to the multitude of shows Boewe saw while in
New York. One letter of interest on July 18, 1943 details New York City during the war. This letter also has Boewe make his
displeasure known that he has a Jewish roommate. His attitude towards changes drastically in the span of this series from
him using racial insensitive terminology to him having multiple Jewish friends.
In the course of this series Boewe details his classes, his schedule, and his outings into New York City. In the letter dated
July 22, 1943 Boewe talks about how he saw the Broadway show "Star and Garter" and discusses the price, what the show was
about, and how soldiers get free tickets. In this letter he also talks about seeing the Rockefeller Center, Radio City, Grand
Central Station, and touring NBC in which he was a part of the studio audience of the show "Ladies Be Seated." He also mentions
seeing Walt Disney's "Victory Thru Air Power" for 28 cents. In the July 22, 1943 letter, Boewe includes a photo of the little
church around the corner and this letter is to his little brother John, who is 9 years younger than him.
In the July 26, 1943 letter, Boewe talks about seeing "Arsenic and Old Lace", seeing Crosby and Lamour in "Dixie", and seeing
the Andrews sisters. He also makes snide comments on the tourists of the Statue of Liberty, remarking "Most rubber neckers
visit it first but I have always been more interested in the life the people who are somebody lead." In the August 9, 1943
letter, he talks about how he saw "die Fledermouse" as well as the Rockettes perform "Dance of the Wooden Soldier" and "Legend
of the East." The letters after this letter were all in one envelope and all discuss a variety topics including his grades,
his schedule, seeing "Cat and Canary" and "For Whom the Bells Toll", and his classes.
In the letter dated September 29, 1943 he talks about how a philosophy class will be offered but in the Catholic point of
view and how a group of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews got together to discuss the course.
"I wish people all over the world could discuss their views as broadmindedly as we did. And I really learned things about Catholics and Jews. It was just the sort of discussion I like. I was able to preside as a sort of intermediator, having unique ideas I possess, and I am sure we all attained a new respect for each other."
In the letter dated October 5, 1943, Boewe talks about seeing Frank Sinatra perform on Your Hit Parade, a popular music radio
program. He discusses the strangeness of women and how obsessed they were, mentioning that there was a nurse on site in case
they fainted. Boewe, was not impressed by Sinatra saying, ""I thought a lot more of Sinatra before I saw him. Such a miserable
wreck of a 4 F I have never seen before."
In the letter dated November 29, 1943, Boewe talks about Greenwich Village and how he became friends with two famous artists
named Walter Gehris and Allen Townsend Tennel. Another letter of interest is dated December 13, 1943 in which Boewe discusses
how appalling the Army sex hygiene film was, seeing the dancer Argentinita, and how he might leave ASTP for engineering and
might go into Med school.
He continues talking about the Med program in the following letters, talking about how hard the requirements are and all the
things he has to do to get in. In these letters he also discusses seeing many other stage shows. In the last letter in this
series dated January 6, 1944, Boewe reveals he made it into the Med program and all about it and his displeasure that some
of his friends did not make it in.
box WWII 37, folder 10, folder 4
Series 4, Syracuse University correspondence 1944 April 9 - November 3
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 32 correspondence, including telegrams and postcards, April 9, 1944-November 3, 1944, from Pvt. Charles
E. Boewe, USA while he was studying in the ASTP Med program at Syracuse University. In this series, Boewe again discusses
his classes, schedule, life in New York City, the shows and movies he sees, and he also discusses some important events such
as D-Day.
Some letters of interest include the letter dated April 9, 1944 in which Boewe discusses his conversation with an English
professor named Carl Castle. This professor was interned in a Japanese concentration camp for 6 months and was treated poorly
but has no anger towards Japan for doing this. He also briefly mentions an article done by Emily Haku for the NewYorker about
her voyage on the ship, the Gripsholm.
He also mentions in passing how he went to see Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. In the letter dated May 25,
1944, Boewe talks about his dissatisfaction with the Army and tells the story of how he broke the glass of the Colonel's coffee
table.
In the letter dated June 2, 1944, Boewe shows his poetic side stating,
"The irrationalities, the incongruities, the paradoxes of Army life are ever a source of wonder and amazement. For instance, my true love, the girl-of-my-dreams, the at-last-I've found-you one is leaving. Not just leaving school, mind you. Not just going home for a week-end. Oh no; she's joining the WAVES! All over the world for the last five years women have been kissing their men goodbye as they see them off to war. But would any such commonplace occurrence happen to me; the plaything of Destiny, the pawn of fate? Of course not, I stay in college and kiss my girl goodbye as she goes off to war! It's truly a remarkable world."
Another letter of interest is dated June 7, 1944 in which Boewe details his experience with D-Day, as all the soldiers of
ASTP constantly listened to the radio for new updates. He also reveals more cynicism with the Army, a stark contrast to the
unbearably cheery letters he wrote while in basic training, as he discusses the parade they participated in on Memorial day
and how the crowd just stared at them and didn't cheer.
"But I imagine we reminded many of them of sons, husbands, and fathers in service. And the memory was hardly one to make a person cheer. I don't doubt that there was even a bit of antipathy in the hearts of some of them when they saw us safely and cozyly bedded down here on the campus while their men are living somewhere in the mud."
In the letter dated June 17, 1944, Boewe includes some clippings of Eddie Jane Poindexter for he inquires with his parents
about someone they knew.
In the letter following dated July 18, 1944, Boewe talks about his new girl named Geraldine (Gerry) Walsh and how much he
loves her. He berates his parents for distrusting her since she is Catholic.
In the letter August 7, 1944, Boewe discusses how his two pre med friends in the dentistry program, John Hitt and Larry are
both going back to the infantry since the program got cut and all the ways they tried stay in ASTP.
By the letter on September 16, 1944, Boewe is extremely embittered by the Army experience, talking about how officers only
watch other officers and that they always want to feel superior.
In the September 25, 1944 letter Boewe discusses his interview for med school and mentions Dewey, the candidate how ran against
FDR.
In a telegram October 30, 1944 he tells his parents that he was accepted into Long Island Medical School. He then ends his
correspondence with him being stationed at Station Hospital.
box WWII 37, folder 11-12, folder 5-6
Series 5, Station Hospital correspondence 1944 November 14 - 1945 September 4
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.15 Linear feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 42 correspondence, November 14, 1944 - September 4, 1945, from Pvt. Charles E. Boewe, USA as he was stationed
at Station Hospital or SIASH on Staten Island, New York. This series also contains a detailed sketch of the hospital, drawn
by Boewe.
In this series, Boewe talks about how much he misses his girl Gerry, how much he hates the hospital, and details the procedures
and events that happened during his time there. Some letters of interest include the letter from November 16, 1944 in which
he talks about his time in the contagious disease ward and all the diseases he encounters.
One November 15, 1944 he talks about is schedule and in the letter dated November 25, 1944 he discusses how much he hates
the barracks at the hospital lamenting, "Of course, some of the fellows are all right, but most of those dirty bastards (excuse
the language but it's the only fit adjective) are just about the lowest form of humanity allowed to walk on the face of the
earth."
In the December 8, 1944 letter he discusses more details about the hospital and some of the patients he has dealt with. He
mentions a patient in ward 9 that is expected to die, remarking "Of course, I hope he pulls through, but if he kicks off,
I believe I'll be able to get in on the autopsy, and in the Army they really cut them up at autopsy. It should be really interesting."
In the letter dated December 13, 1944 he also discusses the bloody details of a patient he dealt with. In the December 21,
1944 letter he includes a hand drawn diagram and talks about his rich Jewish friend, Elaine "Pinkie" Sheldin who is his friend's
Patrick McNulty's girlfriend.
In the January 4, 1945 letter he talks about how he is not going to marry Gerry since she has an incurable condition, this
condition is mentioned in the letter dated December 4, 1944.
In his proceeding letter he talks about his trip on a medical train (January 29, 1945) and unloading the injured off the Queen
Mary (February 12, 1945).
Multiple letters talks about his time in the lab. He also mentions some shows he saw.
Boewe also shows his growing displeasure towards the Army and talks about some of his friends being shipped overseas. Several
letters of interest include the letter dated March 2, 1945, in which Boewe discusses where some of his friends are located
and their situations. He is angered that he could not see his friend John Hitt, who is in the infantry, due to his night shift.
He talks about how an infantry man's life is short and how he tried to get his supervisor to let him take off work to go see
him before he went overseas to only be met with ignorant reply of "people go overseas everyday." Boewe was extremely angered
by this dismissal, even saying he was thinking of just deserting just to see Hitt.
In the letter dated March 6, 1945, Boewe talks about how excited he is that his friend Patrick (Pat/Mac) McNulty is stationed
by him and sullenly discusses seeing John Hitt before he left.
"I really hate to see Johnny go. And it makes it doubly bad to have a swell guy like that to be taking the rap for me and probably be shot to hell while I sit here on Staten Island as safe as in a church… He isn't too happy about the whole thing. He has convinced himself that he is going to be killed, course we tried to talk him out of that notion, but I've got a feeling that he won't come out of it either. I don't know why, he's big enough to take care of himself, but I just feel that way."
In the letters dated April 6, 1945 and March 24, 1945, Boewe talks about being accepted to medical school and Congress trying
to pass a bill to appropriate money to the program and the likelihood of this happening.
In the March 24th letter he also briefly discusses the curfew. In the April 22, 1945 letter, Boewe goes into detail about
his work in the lab and how he thinks he got sick with mononucleosis and how he cured himself. He also briefly mentions the
death of Franklin Roosevelt and Ernie Pyle. Boewe also snaps at his parents inquires of his friends overseas coldly saying,
"Why, you never even met Pat, so why should you care whether he is here or getting his brains shot out in Germany?" Boewe
also owns up to his arrogance a bit as he talked about who he associates with.
"Most of the men here are a bunch of stupid hoodlums and I can't find their company enjoyable. The lab staff is made up of a swell bunch, but most of the hospital personnel are returned infantrymen who were shot-up and think they should be discharged. They don't like medicine and would be much better off someplace else. I guess I'm a snob, I know less nice names have been applied to me, but I can't help it and don't intend to try."
In the letter dated May 28, 1945, Boewe talks about how he finally heard from Hitt and how Hitt is collecting souvenirs due
to the fact people are giving him items that need to turned into the Army.
In the letter August 11, 1945, he briefly mentions the dropping of the atomic bomb stating, "I have been waiting to write
because of the world-shaking events that have been transpiring the last few days; atomic bombs, the possible end of the war,
and so on. At any rate, it looks as though it shouldn't last much longer; undoubtedly it will be over by the time you get
this letter."
Another letter of interest is the letter dated August 20 1945, in which Boewe discusses the end of the war and VJ Day. He
went with his friend Dick Hackley to Times Square and described the chaos he saw there. "Crowds of boys were roaming around
grabbing girls and kissing them, while other crowds of girls were hunting down boys. The police separated them gently if the
fellows started first but if the girls made the first advances they let the boys put up their own protection. At last I saw
a cop in desperation, grab a girl and kiss her himself. He said, 'this may mean my job, but who wants to be a cop now that
the war it over.' " Boewe did not partake in this kissing frenzy sarcastically noting, "I, being afraid of trench-mouth, wore
a paper bag over my head of course."
In the last letter of this series, September 4, 1945, Boewe talks about how he is leaving SIASH and going to medical school.
box WWII 37, folder 13, folder 7
Series 6, Medical School, Brooklyn correspondence 1945 September 10 - 1946 April 25
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 12 correspondence, September 10, 1945-April 25, 1946, from Pvt. Charles E. Boewe, USA as he went to medical
school at Long Island University in Brooklyn. In this series Boewe details the locations and wellbeing of his friends, his
classes and schedule, as well as talks about his sudden displeasure with med school and why he dropped out.
Some letters of interest include the letter dated September 10, 1945, in which Boewe talks about how he is now in Brooklyn
living in an apartment with Dick Hackley. He discusses his displeasure with the war bonds and how he desperately needs money.
He also mentions that he met a girl named Jean O'Hara that is a WAC and works as a lab technician in SIASH and how he wants
to marry her.
In the next letter dated September 19, 1945, he talks about all the books he has been issued by the Army and their costs and
his purchase of a microscope. He also talks about how they recived a box of human bones to play with and how they are going
to work on cadavers.
In the letter dated October 2, 1945 and October 12, 1945, Boewe details his schedule, classes, and grades. In the letter dated
October 19, 1945, Boewe discusses his plans to get married to Jean and their current and future financial situation. The letter
dated November 12, 1945, he discusses how he is finally free after being bedridden for 17 days, he in a later letter says
this was due to infectious mononucleosis, and what he needs to catch up on in class.
In the letter dated November 20, 1945, Boewe talks about his meeting with the dean of the Long Island Conservatory of Medicine,
Dr. Curran as well as how he saw the stage show "Deep are the Roots." Another letter of interest is the letter dated February
15, 1946, in which Boewe discusses his decision to drop out of med school, claiming that when he got sick, the doctors may
have claimed he had mononucleosis but really he had a nervous breakdown. He talks about how unhappy he is with medicine and
how he wants to pursue his passion of being a writer. He also mentions the tug boat strike of 1946, saying
"I suppose you read about our tug boat strike. We were off from school for half a day. They tried to have classes anyway that day and the cops came down and closed us up. Everybody concedes that drastic measures were not needed, but that O'Dwyer was just pulling a fast one to get public opinion in favor of immediate settlement of the strike. It does look funny that it happened on a holiday."
In the letter dated March 8, 1946 Boewe discusses how he left med school and is now at Syracuse and wiol be accepted into
their English program. He also types a cryptic one word line, "Jean" before disussing other matters suggesting that the pair
broke up.
On the letter dated March 17, 1946 Boewe talks about his future, his expenses, how he got out of med school and discharged
from the Army, and his distrust of insurance claiming,
"And furthermore as the years go by, I become more firmly convinced that insurance is little more than a racket to get money out of people who are afraid to die. It seems to make them feel better to depart from this world leaving a large sum of money behind to perpetuate their name."
The last letter of the series, dated April 25, 1946, has Boewe discussing his hitch hiking trip as well as his dismissal of
his uniform, telling his parents that his little brother John can do anything he likes with it for he never wanted to wear
it again. He also talks about how he will start classes at Syracuse soon.
box WWII 37, folder 14, folder 8
Series 7, Photographs
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 6 photographs of Pvt. Charles E. Boewe, USA. The donor wrote, " Three of the photos were taken in the
back yard of his parent's home, in West Salem (Edwards County), Illinois. The group shot shows him and very likely his younger
brother, John Boewe (on the left) and two cousins. The other three photos- possibly taken in a photo booth- are, I believe,
mentioned in one of his letters to his mother, Susie E. (Walters/Wolters) Boewe."
box WWII 37, folder 15, folder 9
Series 8, "The Town on the Square: Portrait of a Vanishing World" Book Excerpt 2008
Creator: Boewe, Charles Ernest
source: Burnett, Abby
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains a brief excerpt from Charles Ernest Boewe's self-published memoir, "The Town on the Square: Portrait
of a vanishing World" published in 2008. The excerpt fills in some details from the letter, telling that Boewe was the first
in his family to graduate college, how he married his wife Mary Scurrah and how he traveled and lived abroad. He also mentions
that his younger brother John died of a brain tumor in 1996.