June 2017 – Lost Greetings

Mildred at SBTS [1946 – Louisville, Ky]

June 25, 2017September 8, 2017 Kate

Mildred seems to be thriving as a seminary student and happy to be sending an update to her parents back in Georgia.

It was written in spurts, with her mentioning that plans changed before it went in the mail. I especially love the writing on the front, something I have done on postcards myself and most of us do digitally now, doodling on pictures that we can send to friends and family in an instant.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY stands today, still educating those who are called to Christian ministry.

“The campus is really pretty now. Especially, as the leaves are beautiful.”

Fri. night —

Dearest Mother & Daddy,

It is colder here today & looks as though it may rain.

School today was full of duties, etc. Reports must go out next week, so I’ll really be busy doing that tonight, I know.

Sabin[?] is fine & and studying as well. There is no special news from here now. We’re both O.K. & hope you are.

Sat.– We’re going to another church to preach tomorrow – leaving this P.M. & will be back tomorrow P.M. – did not go after all.

Lots of love,

Mildred

Will write later.

To: Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Orren[?]

Postmark: Louisville, KY – October 22, 1946

Image: Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky

Commentary, United States

Following Buddy Marress, WWII G.I.

June 17, 2017September 4, 2017 Kate

I was excited to find Buddy’s postcards because of the longer story they reveal.

Buddy was born in 1918. His enlistment record indicates that he worked in the education field and had completed 3 years of college. (I don’t often try to look up the names on my postcards, but since I had so much information, in this case I gave it a shot.)

Postcard Timeline

Enlisted: May 23, 1942 – Fort Oglethorpe, GA (age 23, unmarried at time of enlistment)

Source: National Archives Enlistment Record

Date	Sent from	Current Unit/Base	Rank	Recipient Name	Recipient location
26-Aug-42	Salt Lake City, Utah	Army Air Base, Salt Lake	Pvt	Gladys Bell	Lobelville, Tn
5-Apr-43	St Louis, Missouri	21st Sqd. Topeka, Ks	?	Mrs. E Bell	Lobelville, Tn
29-Aug-43	Topeka, Kansas	21st Sqd. Topeka, Ks	Sgt	Mrs. L. H. Marress	Lobelville, Tn
13-Sep-43	Topeka, Kansas	21st Sqd. Topeka, Ks	?	Mrs. L. H. Marress	Lobelville, Tn
9-Apr-44	Topeka, Kansas	25th Adr’m Sq. (S)	Cpl.	Gladys Marress	Linden, Tn

It seems that Miss Gladys Bell became Mrs. Marress during the summer of 1943.

Buddy Marress’s wife is buried in Perry County Tennessee: Marress, Gladys Bell, Apr. 1916-Dec. 9, 1989, “Wife of Loyd Marress”

bonds-topeka-army-airfield — Topeka Army Airfield http://9thbombgroup.org/99th-BS-files/war-bonds/they-bought-bonds.html

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Military Postcards, Postcards, United States

Darling [1943 – Topeka, Ks.]

June 16, 2017August 4, 2020 Kate

Marress - Sept 1943 Topeka Image lg

Lloyd Marress WWII Postcard Series (#4 of 5)

Sept 1943

This postcard matches a previous one, from Buddy sent in August. It seems he jotted a note just to send a little something back to his wife in Tennessee. He was working hard doing his part for the war effort. I wonder what her days were like at home in his absence.

Marress - Sept 1943 Topeka message lg

Monday morning

Darling,

No. I haven’t forgotten you, just been awfully busy. Will write tonite. I promise. Hope you’re feeling good as usual. My cold is lots better.

I’ve been to the fair 2 nites. Bye for now.

Love, Buddy

To:

Mrs. L. H. Marress
Lobelville, Tennessee

From:

L. H. Marress
21st Sq. (S)
Topeka, Kansas

Postmark: Sep 13, 1943 – Topeka, Kansas

Image: “Topeka Kansas U.S.O.” Promotional postcard produced by John Morrell & Co.

TH-55 Osage Helicopter [1984 – Dothan, Alabama]

June 9, 2017September 6, 2017 Kate

1984 Dothan, Alabama postcard image helicopter lg

I imagine that this postcard was sent by someone with a connection to Fort Rucker (located near Dothan, Alabama), which remains 30 years later the home of Army Aviation and the flight school for the Army’s rotary wing pilots. I can personally attest to the fact that there are many spiders and snakes in Lower Alabama, as mentioned by Brad, the sender.

For more info about the training aircraft pictured: Hughes TH-55 Osage Helicopter

1984 Dothan, Alabama postcard message lg

Hi Friends!

Tim, I really enjoyed our phone call the other night. Don’t forget about the spiders and snakes headed my way in a week or so, okay? You both take care and keep thinking about January, also know that you two cross my thoughts fondly very often.

More later, Brad

The Hughes TH-55A “Osage” Helicopter

The Huges TH-55A is the helicopter used by the U.S. Army for primary training of Army pilots in rotary wing aircraft. The army aviation training facilities are located at Fort Rucker in southeast Alabama. Every pilot will long remember his first “Solo” in the TH-55A, even after years of flying in far more sophisticated aircraft.

Postmark: Dothan, AL – October 29, 1984

Postcards, United States

You’uns Are Hot- We’uns Are not [1939 – North Carolina]

June 3, 2017September 25, 2017 Kate

1939 Hendersonville NC image lg

“Having a big time.”

Billy’s sarcasm towards Annemarie is what makes 1930s postcard charming, and I think I’m going to bring that phraseology back as an alternative to “great” time. I bet it really was nice in the Blue Ridge Mountains just South of Asheville, NC in July.

In my eyes, the main quality of a great postcard is leaving the reader wanting to know more! This one certainly poses so many more questions than it answers. I want to know what’s happening off stage!

1939 Hendersonville NC message lg

Dear Annemarie-

Haven’t got enough to say to write a letter– hence the card. I’m visiting Chick now and having a big time. Guess I’ll go back to S.C. and cruise around before I come home. In the meantime try to bear up under the strain of my absence.

Billy

To:

Miss Annemarie Dünzelmann
1118 Madison St.
Clarksville, Tennessee

Postmark: Hendersonville, N. C. – July 19, 1939

Month: June 2017