Title
Letter, Marion Reed to family
Files
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Date Original
1942 September 22
Description
Handwritten letter from Marion Reed to her family with writing on the front and back. The paper has letterhead with "Keep Em' Rolling" in red above a drawing of a tank, military vehicle, and large gun. The letter talks about her first days in the WAC.
Biographical/Historical Note
Marion Reed joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in September of 1942, just a few months after the creation of the corps in May of that year. While Reed was trained at the first WAAC training center in Des Monies, Iowa, and was never based in Arkansas, there was WAAC training conducted in Arkansas. There was a training center at Camp Monticello for a short time until the camp was needed for POWs, at two administration schools at college campuses in Conway and Russellville, and at a medical technical school at the Army Navy Hospital in Hot Springs.
Transcription
9-22-42
Dearest Family -
By God I am in the
army - am alright and
run to death - finally
got that damn girdle off
and those shoes - and
everything else - it's 9 o'clock
intended to write a long
letter but had to move to
the 2nd Platoon from the
3rd - have two barracks
bags & ye gods what else -
Have to be in bed by 9:30 -
I'aint had over 30 min off
since I got here - tooth
still hurts, but guess it'll eventually do -
Love you all lots
and will write all the
details tomorroe if'n
they'll give me time
Address
Aux Marion Reed
Co. 11 3rd Reg WAAc
Ft. Des Monies, Iowa
& I'm expecting some
mail - know Bug
would like to see me in
all my shoes & girdles &
bra & I do look like
Hell - Uniforms are being
altered & that black suit
is getting tiresome & the
blouse flithy
Love Jim for me
Love Marion
Keywords
War; Correspondence; World War, 1939-1945; Women; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
Contributor
Marion Reed Biddle
Geographical Area
Des Monies, Polk County (IA)
Language
English
Identifier
MS.000397, Marion Reed Biddle diary
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Marion Reed Biddle papers, MS.000397
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Letter, Marion Reed to family, Marion Reed Biddle papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History | Women's History
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