This Day in History: 1942-01-15

The Ramsey Journal published a letter which the publisher had received from a Mahwah serviceman, William L. Trusewicz.  He described the recent trip he had taken from Fort Riley, Kansas, to McChord Field, near Tacoma Washington.  He wrote that he was particularly impressed by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and by the warm reception which his troop train received by people along the tracks.  Everywhere people cheered and gave the thumbs up sign.  Some called “Give ’em hell boys!”.  He said he liked his new post but that he missed the horses he had worked with in the cavalry at Fort Riley.  In Washington he and his buddies were living in tents rather than barracks.  He said the tent was very cold until he and his buddies got their fire going in the mornings.

He said he liked the food, particularly the “swell” turkey they had on Christmas.  “It was almost as good as mom cooks at home,” he wrote.  Generally he liked the army and had not joined “for a picnic”.  He particularly was impressed by the view of snow-capped Mount Reiner from the Camp.  With him was another recruit from the Ramsey area, VanderElls, from Wyckoff.  He asked that his subscription to the Journal now be sent to his Washington address so that he could keep track of what was happening at home.

(Bristow)