Chasing Time With Loraine Koski

The transition from Fall to Winter, and the arrival of the 2022 holiday season led me to comb through my archives to see what was in the hearts and minds—and flowing from the pens and pencils of—my World War II Gold Star servicemen and women of Marquette and Alger Counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as they experienced their own changes of seasons and holiday times from afar. After all, there was a reason Frank Sinatra recorded and released a song entitled Homesick - That's All in the early months of 1945…

Republic, Michigan’s PFC Elden Gjers (6/30/1924-12/23/1944), 4th Armored Division’s 8th Tank Battalion, to his parents back home from Ft. Meade, Maryland on January 21st, 1944: “Received your letter and pictures today. The picture of the gifts you received was sure a humdinger...I think dad was right when he said you didn’t care about the Christmas tree, as long as you got the presents in it!...How are the dogs getting along? The news clippings were very interesting—keep on sending them. The weather sure is nice. Today was so warm it wasn’t necessary to wear a jacket! As I wrote and told you before, I expected a furlough pretty soon. Well, I heard today the sergeant in charge of our basketball team may not let me go on it until after the basketball season is over. First he was going to arrange it so I could get home at some time when I’d only miss one or two games. That was airtight—but now that he sees we have a winning team, he wants every game won, so my chances of getting home before March don’t look too good right now.”

Elden's father, Doc Gjers, in a Christmas photo for his son in the Army, 1943. (Courtesy of the late Joyce Haapala)

Elden's mother, Elma, missing her son in the Army, Christmas 1943. (Courtesy of the late Joyce Haapala)

Official Army letterhead used by Elden to write home to his parents from Ft. Meade, Maryland in 1943. (Courtesy of the Republic Area Historical Society)

PFC Gjers from Ft. Meade on January 31st, 1944, letting his parents know his February furlough was in the bag: “Get the shotgun ready and keep the dogs in the house so they’ll be rarin’ to go. Also, try and get the band out to greet me!”

(Above courtesy of the Republic Area Historical Society)

PFC Elden Gjers on furlough at his parents' home in Republic, Michigan, February 1944. (Courtesy of the late Joyce Haapala)

Marquette, Michigan's PFC Nels Hume at Camp Custer, Michigan, August 1942. (Courtesy of the late Nancy Claus)

Marquette’s PFC Nels Hume (1917-1/21/1944), 36th Infantry Division’s 141st Infantry Regiment, from Camp Wheeler, Georgia, to his sister in Detroit, September 20th, 1942: “The weather here is very, very hot, and, boy, do I ever sweat. There have been quite a few fellows who have passed out and also some who have died…You ought to see my haircut—it’s sure a dandy. It’s so close I can’t even comb it!” Only two fellows from Marquette were with him at Camp Wheeler. “The officers aren’t bad, but the Sarges and Corporals are tougher’n hell. I’ve been in the Army a month already—boy, it seems like a year. I sure hope I could be home again where it’s cool and comfortable. The U.P. is God’s Country and don’t let anyone tell you different…I may be able to get home around the Holidays if I’m still in the States…Well, it isn’t Goodbye; it’s just So-Long. Don’t forget to write! Your brother, Nels.”

(Above courtesy of the late Nancy Claus)

Marquette, Michigan's Lt. Martin Niemi (courtesy of the late Doris Betzer).

Marquette’s 2nd Lt. Martin Niemi (8/20/1919-11/29/1944), bombardier, 22nd Bomb Group, 2nd Bomb Squadron, Army Air Corps, to hometown buddy Carlo from flight school at Gardner Field, Taft, California, September 21st, 1942: “How is the ore business getting along?...I’ve been sorta thinking of that part of the country lately. It sure must be nice out there now—Fall rolling around and October 1st. Boy! I’m going to miss my ole 20 gauge. I can picture the snowshoe running up the trail as I take a blast at him and miss…the partridge jumping up from the bushes behind Ikkalas…Have you fired that gun salute for Vikku yet? If you haven’t, remember to blast a shot for me.—He sure was a real dog. I don’t know much else to write about. I’ll write again soon—Your ole outdoor partner, Mart. P.S. If I happen to get home during the winter, I hope you’ll have a good rabbit swamp lined up!!”

The spoils of a U.P. rabbit hunt! (Courtesy of the late Carlo Wahtera)

Marquette's Staff. Sgt. Elwood Norr, while with the U.S. 8th Air Force "Somewhere in England," 1944. (Courtesy of the late Jean Fletcher.)

Marquette’s Staff Sgt. Elwood Norr (1/5/1920-11/21/1944), B-17 ball-turret gunner, 401st Bomb Group’s 613th Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force, writing to his mother from Somewhere in England, October 17th, 1944: “Haven’t been doing much lately. We fly a mission now and then and are exposed to a little ground school, but what we get the most of is sack time. The squadron broke down and filled up the coal bin, and so we at least sleep without fear of freezing now. We have a ration card which entitles us to a couple of buckets of coal a day, just about enough to keep the stove in our igloo warm. I have plenty of Limey horse blankets draped over me during the long cold nights though, and so I guess that I won’t suffer from frostbite or anything as severe as that…If things get too rough, I shall check out a heated (flying) suit and sleep in that.”

Helpful orientation photo sent home to Mom in Marquette by Staff Sgt. Elwood Norr, "Somewhere in England." (Courtesy of the late Jean Fletcher)

Staff Sgt. Elwood Norr, from England, to his mother in Marquette, October 20th, 1944: “Am glad to hear that you are having Indian Summer back home. Summer is one of the seasons that nature omitted over here…We have three seasons: Early Winter, Winter, and Late Winter.”

The U.P. winter-loving Elwood Norr (front, left) as a youth--in garb foreshadowing his future in the U.S. Army Air Force. (Courtesy of the late Jean Fletcher)

Minnesota-born Michigan School of Mining & Technology grad Major William (Bill) Richards, who would lead a battalion of Army combat engineers onto Omaha Beach at Normandy, France on June 6th 1944. (Courtesy of Susan Allaben)

Negaunee’s Major William Richards (5/24/1915-6/6/1944), 112th Engineer Combat Battalion, U.S. Army, then training with the 32nd Infantry Division in Louisiana, writing to his parents in, Virginia, Minnesota on November 16th, 1941: “I’m Officer of the Day…which means I have to stay at camp tonight…Been sitting here talking about hunting ducks and deer—mostly lies, of course. I sure do wish that I could be up north for deer hunting this year and also duck hunting. I expect you’re up hunting deer while I’m writing this letter…Clem feels fine and is very anxious for the baby to come, and be done with this uncertainty and discomfort…I’ve been trying to work up a little sympathy for myself around here without much success…We are all set for the big event so it can come any time now…We have been discharging a lot of men who have served their year and are needed at home or are over 28. There doesn’t seem to be much prospect of my getting released from active duty very soon in the future…Anyway, we are getting along all right now so we aren’t too bad off. The share in the refrigeration plant sounds like a good idea, Dad. It will be swell to have wild duck and venison next summer when we get home. I’ll sign off now and turn in—Love to everyone, Bill.” The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, occurred on December 7th. With the United States’ entry into World War II, all military service was extended to “for the duration.”

Bill Richards with brother John, U.S. Marine Corps, at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, January 1942. (Courtesy of Susan Allaben)

Bill Richards (far right) & Negaunee, Michigan bride Clem (2nd from right) enjoying the U.P. outdoors with friends in peacetime. (Courtesy of Susan Allaben)

Marquette, Michigan's PFC Nels Hume in uniform. (Courtesy of the late Nancy Claus)

PFC Nels Hume in a V-Mail to his sister and brother-in-law in Detroit from Somewhere in Italy, November 25th, 1943: “Today is Thanksgiving and, believe it or not, we had turkey! It wasn’t much, but we enjoyed it anyway. I’m sorry for not writing sooner, but we’ve been kept busy and have had very little time for ourselves. We’re back at present for a rest, but we’re having a heck of a time with the weather…I wish I could go shopping for something for you, but it’ll have to wait until later. I haven’t received your package yet, but I’m waiting patiently for it…I’d sure love to be home at Christmas time even if there was 10 feet of snow. I’ll try and not be so long in writing you again. Please don’t worry about me and take good care of yourselves. Hoping this finds you in the best of health. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! So long with love, Nels.”

Official 36th Infantry Division history telling a more forthright tale of PFC Nels Hume's 1943 Thanksgiving in Italy.

PFC Elden Gjers, overseas, serving with 4th Armored Division's 8th Tank Battalion, to which he was assigned December 1st, 1944. (Courtesy of the late Joyce Haapala)

PFC Elden Gjers from France to his parents in Republic on December 1st, 1944: “This being one of the first spare moments I’ve had during the last few days gives me a chance to drop you a line and let you know how I’m getting along. As you can well imagine, living conditions aren’t very hot right here but I am feeling very well, which is the important thing. I mailed your Christmas present to you today so I’m hoping you receive it before Christmas rolls around. It’s the same present for both of you so you’ll have to go half on it. Please write and let me know when you receive it. It’s getting quite dark and I don’t have a light so I’ll have to bring this to a close…Thinking of you always, love, your son, Elden…This will probably be my permanent address so use it by writing often.”

4th Armored Division in action near Thal in northeastern France, December 1st, 1944. (Army Signal Corps photo)

Staff Sgt. Charles Senecal with his fellow Snortin' Bulls in Belgium, 1944. The Grand Marais combat engineer is in the back row, second from the right.

Grand Marais (Alger Co.) native Staff Sgt. Charles Senecal (2/27/1918-12/20/1944), with the 254th (Snortin’ Bulls) Engineer Combat Battalion, Somewhere in Belgium, to his sister Rosalie, serving with the U.S. Marine Corps, written December 6th, 1944: “I received your letter dated Oct. 1 a few days ago…I sure am glad you had your furlough. I can imagine what the old town is like with nobody left around…I’m not sending you any Christmas present, as I told mother that she could do that, so I sent her the money. I may be able to in the future send you some little thing from Paris, if everything turns out. I am enclosing a Christmas card given out by the outfit. How do you like our name? Quite the thing, eh?...May your Christmas be a Merry and Happy one and here’s hoping that the next one we’ll spend together for a change…Love and Kisses, Bro Chas.”

Family memento of Charles Senecal's last furlough home to Grand Marais (Alger County), Michigan. [Courtesy of Marcia Meldrum]

2nd Lt. Martin Niemi to buddy Carlo from Santa Ana, California, December 8th, 1942: “You’ve probably heard what has happened to me. I’m back here at Santa Ana. I found out I couldn’t fly an airplane the way the Army wants ‘em flown. As a result I’m back here training as a bombardier. It’s not going to be too bad. Sitting in the nose of the big bombers—Couple of guns in front to handle and the bombs to drop. I still get my commission if I make it through this—I hope. This course is really rugged—Go to school seven hours every day. We are on trigonometry in math and explosives in physics class. Other classes I have are code, air forces, military hygiene, meteorology—All courses are pretty interesting. We are on our fourth week of school now—Five more weeks to go and then to advanced bombardiering school. That’s when the fun will start—Get a chance to fly again. There is nothing like being in a plane…I don’t know if I told you before or not—but we were on the rifle range one day. Shot 45 cal Thompson Sub-Machine guns. Really a sweet gun. The Michigan deer wouldn’t stand a chance against that. Incidentally, did you go out for deer this year? Did you have any luck? How is the small game coming along? Been out on any drunks lately? I imagine the ratio of women to men is pretty high back there. I sure would like to get there for a while…Sure seems funny to have this weather out here. The middle of December and no snow. One thing I’ll always say is that ‘there is no place like home’—Christmas won’t be Christmas unless snow is on the ground. I just noticed the demerit list for today. I got two for not having a tie in the mess hall this morning. I slept a little late and was in such a hurry that I forgot it. I’ll probably have to clean windows for two hours. Such is the Army!... I haven’t much else to write about tonight so I’d better quit. Have to listen to the Bob Hope program. Hope to hear from you. The ole hunta! Marco.”

(Images above & below courtesy of the late Carlo Wahtera)

PFC Nels Hume, December 9th, 1943 follow-up V-Mail to his sister and brother-in-law in Detroit, again from Somewhere in Italy: “I received your package and it sure was swell. I really appreciate this very much and the articles were just what I need—Thanks a million. I suppose you’re all set for the Holidays, eh? Well, I can’t say that I am. We will, however, have a Green Christmas, but I’d much rather have snow than this wet and muddy weather. It sure is tough on a guy when it comes to keeping dry and warm…I still haven’t met anyone from home. I doubt if I will even though there are several over here. Don’t worry about me and take good care of yourselves. Good Luck, Health and God Bless You both. It’s just So Long until later, Nels.”

Holiday Season PR on the Home Front, courtesy of Uncle Sam.

Ishpeming, Michigan's PFC Carl Swanson (courtesy of the late Iner Swanson).

Ishpeming’s PFC Carl Swanson, Jr. (7/26/1913-12/20/1944), 28th Infantry Division’s 112th Infantry Regiment, in a V-Mail to his parents on December 12th, 1944 from the European Theater of Operations: “Dearest Mother and Dad, I’m still in one piece and feel O.K. but, boy, I’m certainly worried about if my nerves are going to keep taking it. I’m a nervous wreck when they are shelling us. But I’m not forgetting to say my prayers every night and I go to our Regimental church services every Sunday that I possibly can. Ma, I’ve learned to pray and put my faith in our dear Lord. I know, Mother and Dad, that He will help me and give me the strength and courage that I need to go on. And the Lord only knows I need every ounce of courage I can muster up. Well, Ma, Christmas is drawing close and I hope you have received my card—but if you did not…hearty wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year. I haven’t had a letter from you for two months so I’ll be sure happy to hear from you when I do. Have to close now; hoping to hear from you soon—Your Ever-Loving Son, Carl.” Just four days later, the German Army launched a surprise counterattack along what included the 112th Infantry Regiment’s position along the Our River on the Belgian/German border.

(Above courtesy of the late Iner Swanson)

Official Army letterhead used by Staff Sgt. Elwood Norr in a letter home to his mother in Marquette, Michigan. (Courtesy of the late Jean Fletcher)

Staff Sgt. Elwood Norr, writing to his mother from Buckley Field, Colorado, December 20th, 1943: “The weather’s wonderful if one doesn’t like snow and cold. The ground is bare except for an occasional patch of snow. I can always look at the mountains though if I want to see snow. I sure would like to go up in them and go skiing or skating.”


Staff Sgt. Elwood Norr during his stateside Army Air Force air crew training. (Courtesy of the late Jean Fletcher)

Republic, Michigan's T/5 George Ritola, U.S. Army Combat Engineer. (Courtesy of the late Wilho Ritola)

Republic’s Tech 5 George Ritola (4/12/1923-1/23/1945), Somewhere in England with the 290th Engineer Combat Battalion, U.S. Army, in a Christmas Eve 1944 V-Mail to his sister in Detroit: “Here it is Christmas Eve. We have today and tomorrow off. The dinner will be about the same as we had for Thanksgiving, which was fairly good—turkey with all the trimmings. I’ve received several letters from home in the past week, but none from you. Ma says that you’ve sent a package, but I haven’t received that yet either. However, I have gotten two Christmas boxes already, despite the October 15th deadline. One was from home and the other from the American Legion. They were very nice packages! I was to London last week and had a very nice time—I tried to get a souvenir for you, but couldn’t…Here’s hoping you’ve had a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year at home. Say hello to all! Write real soon. Love, George.”

Negaunee, Michigan's Pvt. Edwin Jouppi, U.S. Army Armored Forces replacement. (Courtesy of Karen Merckx)

Negaunee’s Pvt. Edwin Jouppi (2/5/1920-3/6/1945), 3rd Armored Division’s 32nd Armored Regiment, to his wife, Helen, from Ft. Meade, Maryland on December 25th, 1944: “Here I am, Christmas nite, and back in camp…It sure doesn’t seem one bit like Xmas, just another day to me. All day long it’s been rainy and right now it’s foggy but it is warm. Last nite after I wrote to you (from York, PA), we were going to go to a show but none of the theaters were open until midnite show…Every place was closed so we went to the American Legion where they had a bar. In there all we bought was about one round—there was a fella in there that sort of liked soldiers so it was all on him. Of course, we didn’t mind that. We stayed in there until 11:30 ‘cause soldiers aren’t allowed in places where liquor is served after that hour. (That’s in York, Penna.)” From there he had turned in for the night at the Salvation Army. “Slept until 12 then went and had dinner at that canteen again. This time when we left they gave each of us a package all wrapped up and a big bag of candy. In my package there was the following: 1 pack cigs, toothbrush, tooth powder, can of aftershave powder, shoe laces, styptic pencil, safety pins and shaving cream. That was pretty nice to get, don’t you think? After that we went to a bar that happened to be open and waited there until our bus came (Greyhound).” In Baltimore, Ed and his service buddy had the opportunity to “shave and wash up” at the church center, and then make themselves a meal in the kitchen. When they left, “we were both given a pack of cigs. Roamed around town for a while and then back to camp. That’s my Xmas holiday. Man, oh, man, I never want to spend another one like it.”

Negaunee's Pvt. Ed Jouppi in his pre-service days with those he loved most, his wife Helen (above) and his daughter Karen (below). [Courtesy of Karen Merckx]

Gwinn's Peter Tousignant, U.S. Navy, World War II. (Courtesy of the late Peter Tousignant)

Gwinn native Peter Tousignant, U.S. Navy, took notes describing his December 1945 visit to his twin brother’s grave on Okinawa. PFC Paul Peter Tousignant, 6th Marine Division’s 4th Marine Regiment, was gravely wounded in action there on May 20th, 1945, and died that same day. Peter’s November 30th flight from Guam left a day late due to mechanical problems with the military aircraft, but finally landed the sailor at Yonabaru Airfield at 1315 on December 1st. For his troubles reaching Okinawa, the Navy granted Peter a two-day extension on his important leave. “12/2/45—Went to mass in Naha at 1100 then went to visit Paul’s grave.” On 12/3, he “talked the supply office out of a jacket, woolen undershirt, and two woolen shirts.” On 12/4 and 12/5, he was unsuccessful in obtaining military air travel back out of Yonabaru Airfield (“they don’t accept class four priorities in direction of Guam”). “I tried ATC at Yontan. They put me up for the night.” Unfortunately, ATC did not have any planes going from Yontan to Guam, so on 12/6 it was back to Yonabaru. “Caught a plane there about 1800 by luck.” He checked back in at his duty station at 0400 on 12/7.

Gwinn, Michigan's PFC Paul Tousignant, spit-and-polished in his United States Marine Corps uniform (courtesy of the late Peter Tousignant).

PFC Paul Tousignant in a scene capturing everyday existence with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater. (Courtesy of the late Peter Tousignant)

(Veteran's Day tribute to George Ritola, Marquette Mining Journal)

T/5 George Ritola in a January 13th, 1945 V-Mail from France to his sister in Detroit: “We’ve been on the move again—this is the way it will probably be from now on…France, its people and all are much nicer than England. The people are so friendly and hospitable. This country is a lot like the USA. The towns sure have been bombed and shelled. The people certainly have suffered from the war. Many people are wearing wooden shoes. Whenever we’ve been able to spare canned rations, we’ve given to the children. I haven’t received any mail for over a month. Sure hope it comes through soon…Love, George.”

Negaunee, Michigan high school sweethearts Helen Kujala & Ed Jouppi, 1939. (Courtesy of Karen Merckx)

Negaunee’s Helen Jouppi to her husband, Pvt. Edwin Jouppi, now Somewhere in Belgium, on Monday morning, January 22nd, 1945: Since she was taking out the garbage at her parents’ home, where she and young daughter Karen were staying, and already had her coat on, she figured, “I’d go home and see if there was mail. My first letter since you left the States! Honey, I was so excited I ran all the way here and called Karen and told her we got a letter from Daddy! Before I even had a chance to read the first page, she had kissed every page of the letter. She was just as excited as I was. Honey, if you only knew how much that meant to me even if you didn’t know where you were headed for. Just seeing your handwriting and the heading…and the ending kisses as before. The only thing about the letter was there wasn’t any date on it. Honey, I love you!...You’re not kidding about not seeing each other Xmas time—my hopes were all up about seeing you and then a let-down like I had was the hardest thing for me to take. I never shed so many tears as I did Xmas time and now this past week. Every time I heard a song over the radio or at the ice rink that we’ve danced to or sang I cried. Remember that song, ‘When you have another’s arms about you, do you ever think of me?’ They still have that record at the rink. We were going together when that song came out and when I hear it from the rink I always think how we used to stand on the corner across from mom’s and ask each other, ‘Do you?’ Honey, if we only could have them [sic] happy days together now instead of being apart like this. Never knew or dreamt I’d ever be spending a miserable time like I am now…Well, like you said, we’ll have to be patient and wait. You’re going to come back safe and sound…Honey, you said I’ll have to be a Mother and Father to Karen. Well, I’ll try my best but I don’t know how the Father part is going to work out. You were a good Papa but I sure don’t seem to be any good at it…Karen says quite often, ‘I want my Daddy home.’” The weather had been stormy that day, and the 45 cents she’d sent to Montgomery’s to buy Ed a mail-order Valentine had for some reason been returned to her, “so you won’t be getting any Valentine from Karen and I…You said you wanted jolly letters from me—Honey, I can’t write any kind of letters, but the scribbling I do I know you appreciate…Well, honey, I can’t think of anything else except that I love you and really and truly I sure was glad to get that letter…Hope the war ends tomorrow. I love you and always will…Best of health, honey!” At the bottom of the page were x’s forming the words, “I LOVE YOU HON.”

The heartbreak of letters never read...(Above courtesy of Karen Merckx)

Loving thoughts during wartime of those far away...


Cooling winter photo from a Marquette mother to her Navy flier son somewhere in the sweaty Pacific! (Courtesy of the late Norman "Boots" Kukuk)

Big Bay's PFC (Alice) Pauline McKinney (6/3/1917-5/30/1945), serving with the Women's Army Corps at Accra on Africa's Gold Coast, shared a Christmas Day menu with her family back home. [Images above & below courtesy of Karen Hansen]