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Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated July 3, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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On Board ship

July 3, 1942

Miss you all!

Dear Mom & Dad,

We are on our way at last—most sudden, but not unexpected—we left Tuesday morning, June 30^th, rode train to the ferry and thence to our ship in N. Y.

It was terribly hot and were laden with gas masks, belts with canteens, overcoats, musette bags on our backs and suitcases and pocketbks. Such excitement and I won’t deny that I felt a fusion of fear too. It took a long time to embark, long rows of military men as laden as ourselves. We …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated June 29, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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June 29, 1942

Fort Dix, N. J.

Dear Mom,

Happilly (sp?) I received your letter to-day. Well, our foot lockers were taken to Port of Embarkation Sunday so I expect it won’t be too long before we sail or fly or entrain or what ever to where ever we are going!!

We have been off duty since Sunday just hanging around—waiting for our orders—and the weather is so warm. Yesterday the photographer in Wrightstown where we had our photos taken invited four of us to his home in Browns Mills for dinner. He has a lovely home on …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Her Family Dated June 26, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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June 26, 1942

Fort Dix

Dearest Mom, Dad & Kids,

How is everything at home—I miss you all so much.

To-day we had our injections, physical exams and our helmets, tents (pup) blankets, pistol? Belts, canteens and all the paraphenalia [sic] for living in the field under combat conditions. Where are we going—that is the burning question we continually ask each other.

We made our allotments last night. On foreign soil we receive 10% more pay which is an increase of $20.00 making our pay $108.00/mon. The Red Cross gave us each a little bag containing …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel La Palme Dated June 24, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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June 24, 1942

Station Hosp.

Dix

Dear Mom,

Just a note to tell you of the latest developments.

Several officers came over last night and introduced themselves—they belong to our unit and had arrived Sunday. Now we have seven doctors and twelve nurses plus chief nurse and they tell us we will meet the enlisted men and other officers at the point of Embarkation.

We are so excited—what a great chance to do our nursing, help our boys and our country and travel. We are meeting people from all over the country.

To-day we filled out cards stating …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Norman Lapalme Dated June 21, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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16^th Station Hospital

Fort Dix N.J.

June 21, 1942

Dear Norman,

Here we are at Camp Dix—have been here for a whole week. It has been a long, long week.

Priscilla and I are still to-gether though—thank goodness—we went all through training to-gether at the hospital and I hope we are to-gether for the duration.

Last Saturday Mom, Jean and Ray’s girlfriend Kit came down to Devens—Priss and I showed them around and took them to the mess hall to eat—nurses mess hall that is. It surely must have been the hottest day of the year. I …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated June 10, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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L. G. H.

Fort Devens

June 10, 1942

Dear Mom,

It seems a long time since all the nurses and friends gathered at the Greenfield Station to give us a great send-off that April Fools Day.

Good news and bad news! Priscilla and I are being transferred to Fort Dix, N.J. to a station hospital that is forming down there for overseas duty. Where? No one knows. Ten of us are going—I shall be home this week-end to say my farewells. Of course we volunteered!

Later June 18

Dear Mom,

I have been going to write for ages …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated June 8, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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Lovell General Hosp.

June 8, 1942

Dear Mom,

Just a note to let you know we got back okay!

Terribly hot day—we had to go on a hike carrying our gas masks over our shoulder and in white uniforms and shoes and stockings. We marched for miles down by the river—up to our ankles in mud and dust. One of the nurses fell in the mud and broke 2 fingers. She was a mess covered in mud from head to toe. Lt. Donnelly ran and picked her up struggling in mud up to his knees. We finally rested …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated May 13, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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May 13, 1942

12:19 am

L. G. H.

Fort Devens, Mass.

Dear Mom,

Four more days then I have will have [sic] my two days off.

Do you know J. Mc Cloud who worked in the 1^st National store—he is at Camp Lee so perhaps Norm will meet up with him.

It rained all night and was so hot trying to sleep today. The barracks hold the heat. Last night we had a blackout! The entire Fort was blacked out. It was so exciting. We strapped our gas masks on as soon as we heard …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Norman Lapalme Dated May 2, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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LOVELL GENERAL HOSPITAL

FORT DEVENS, MASS.

May 2, 1942

9:15 p.m.

Dear Norman,

Well how do you like Army life? Does it come up to your expectations or is it lower than you estimated? I suppose you have to drill all day with your sore arms.

I received a letter from Ma to-day. She told me your address. Are you able to see Ray? Some of the fellows here say Camp Lee isn’t too far from Norfolk. Perhaps you won’t be able to see Ray right away though. Don’t you have to stay in a certain length of …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated April 27, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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Ward 24

April 27, 1942

12:30 a.m.

Dear Ma,

Time marches on! It is now twelve-thirty and Monday at last. Now I can look forward to some more mail.

It is a whole week last night that I have been on nights and it has gone very quickly. I rather enjoy it now. The next 3 weeks will go rapidly I hope. Wednesday we will have been in the Army for a month. It doesn’t seem that long either.

To-day I slept from 7:30 until 2 o’clock. I didn’t even wake up once, then I started to smoke …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated April 17, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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LOVELL GENERAL HOSPITAL

FORT DEVENS, MASS.

April 17, 1942

Dear Ma,

I got back here at 10:30 p.m. and wouldn’t you know it would be pouring with rain and the wind blowing a gale. In fact, the wind is always blowing here. Did it rain in Greenfield Wed. night?

To-morrow night I trip on at 7 o’clock how I dread it but at least I will have it over with by the real warm weather.

I had two letters from Bud waiting for me. He is still very lonesome and homesick.

Yesterday two new girls came in. They …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated April 7, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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April 7, 1942

L. G. H. Fort Devens.

Dear Ma,

We have been in the Army a week to-morrow! It seems as if we have been here forever.

Yesterday, I received your most welcome letter Mom, also one from Kit, she mentioned the lovely roses Ray sent her.

Priscilla and I expect to have a long day on the 22 April and we intend to dash home.

Later 8 p.m.

Last night I went with 35 other nurses into Boston Gardens on a chartered bus to see the big Kay Kyser show. We wore our uniforms (white) and …

Letter Written By Marjorie Lapalme To Ethel Lapalme Dated April 3, 1942, Marjorie Lapalme

LaPalme, Marjorie

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Lovell General Hospital

Fort Devens, Mass.

April 3, 1942

Dear Mom,

I went on duty for the first time to-day. We get up at 5:30 a.m. The bugle blows reveille at six and shortly thereafter troops are marching down the road. There are only a few barraoks [sic] across the street and the hospital all alone at the top of a hill. We truly have to walk miles if we don’t get the bus.

We go on duty at seven—I am on a surgical ward—unlike civilian hospitals the patients have already breakfasted and they also make …