February and March 1942From the Fergus Falls Daily Journal (right): "Private Howard W. Branstner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Branstner of Oak Valley, has been in the service of his country since February 12. He is taking up radio work at Camp Wolters, Texas."
We now begin 13 weeks of basic training, preparing us for whatever enemy we may face. Some of us will deploy to the South Pacific, others will be ordered to the European Theatre. Still others will go to places we don't even know about.
Many of us will come home, but some of us won't. The only thing we know for sure is we know nothing for sure.
A snapshot I took of Area 6, which is where my barracks are located.
This is me at Camp Wolters (left) standing in from of my barracks. To the right, caption on the back of the picture: "Walter Irish is on the left. I am in center and Fritz on the right. It was hot the day this picture was taken on Sunday, March 15, 1942."
Written on the back of the picture to the left: "Surprise, I wasn't sucking my finger. I was trying to smoke my pipe. You can see the cactus." On the photo to the right is written "Howard and Brown, Camp Wolters, Tex." On the back of this picture is written, "The guy on this picture with me is the one I boxed with."
Target practice was a required drill during basic training. An "Individual Score Book" was assigned to each of us. Notice my name is spelled wrong on the cover of the book (top). Inside (bottom) is from target practice on Wednesday, March 25, 1942.
Last week of March 1942
In hospital with measles at station hospital, Camp Wolters, Texas.
1 comment:
These photos of Howard W. Branstner--any chance they can be used in a documentary? Is there a way to contact him or his family for permission? Thx.
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