Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey
Title
Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey
Creator
Kappelmann, Otto Carl Wilhelm, 1888-1960
Identifier
WWP18937
Date
1918 November 3
Source
Daniel Metraux
Subject
World War, 1914-1918
Language
English
Text
Camp Wadsworth, So. C.
My dear Anna-Marie,
First of all I want to thank you ever so much for your very kind Thanksgiving greetings—the box of Huylers, which I am enjoying very much. Also many thanks for your letter of the 26th. It was very good of you to think of me in this way. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving Day.
We had a wonderful dinner to celebrate the day:
Celery — Olives
Roast Turkey
Sage Dressing — Celery Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Asparagus Tips — Butter Sauce
Candied Sweet Potatoes — Mashed White Potatoes
Creamed Peas
Lemonade
Fruit Cake — Hard Sauce
Hot Mince Pie — Cheese — Pumpkin Pie
Fruit — Candy — Nuts
Chocolate Layer Cake — Ice Cream
Coffee
Cigars — Cigarettes
Some feed! and everything very good! Couldn’t eat nearly all of it.
Got up about 9:a.m. and, with the exception of the time spent at dinner, passed the day on my cot reading and loafing. Well, there wasn’t really anything else to do, the weather was too nasty for walking, and so I took the opportunity to get over a rotten cold, which, I believe, I got from an anti-pneumonia injection. Am now OK again.
I really feel awfully sorry that you still have such a hard time at home with all that work and no help. Yes, I do realize what a lot of work there is at home and have many times tried to think up some way by which conditions could be made easier for you. It seems to me that the house is the main trouble, too large, etc., and if there is no possibility of getting any help in the future I should think it would certainly be best to give it up and move into a smaller place. Of course, I can well understand that father would prefer staying in 180 Malborough Rd. but, for heavens sake, if it’s going to make everyone unhappy at home, it certainly isn’t rational to keep up things they way they are. I mean, it must be just as unpleasant for father as for you. Or is there any chance of obtaining help in a reasonable time—are there any signs that help conditions are getting better?
Was glad to hear that the kiddies are well and happy. I shouldn’t think there is any harm to let the children play on the street; there ought to be some nice children in the neighborhood.
Couldn’t you possibly get someone reliable to come every day or if not every day, at least certain days in the week, to prepare supper and take care of the children in the evening so that you can go out more? Especially on the days when father is out at the club? I should think there would be some people, reliable, who would be glad to do that, especially at these times. I mean, make an agreement with someone for definite days so that you can plan your time in advance. By the way, some time ago I wrote you that some people in Brooklyn were getting to-gether to form an organization which would deliver meals to the house; no doubt you heard about the plan. Did you ever go investigate it? Possibly they would deliver meals for on certain days?
There is absolutely nothing new as regards the future down here. The demobilization has not started in this camp as yet and no one knows just when it will begin. One thing is quite certain, however,—no more men will be sent overseas. In regard to a furlough, I suppose if I did put in an application I might stand a chance of getting one later on, but not likely over the holidays. However, I prefer to await developments, at least until something more definite is known about the future, as I would not want to go home on furlough only to return to this place for a short time. If I find out in any way that I am likely to stay here many more months then, of course, I will apply for a vacation, but otherwise I do not think it advisable. Furthermore we are extremely busy in our Dept; especially my particular work, as I have charge of the discharges at present—that is, paying off men discharged for various reasons—this month we had 1500 of them, amounting to something like $50,000.—.
Enclosed you will find a photo recently taken by a friend, in front of our tent.
Just drew another comforter, so now I have three of them and three blankets, besides a spring cot and a nice mattress. So I guess I wont freeze this winter!
In my last letter to father I wrote him all about the Officer’s Training School affair—no doubt he showed you the letter. No, nothing more will happen in regard to that—all commissions as well as promotions for officers and enlisted men have been cut out since the signing of the Armistice. We now have several of the wounded and crippled soldiers, back from France, in our Hospital. One of our men was up there recently,—they certainly have a lot of interesting things to tell.
Am quite curious to know what Hedwig said about Carl J. Thought he earned more than $25.00 per week!
Well, that’s about all for to-day—this place is as dead as ever so there isn’t really anything interesting to write about. Havn’t been out of camp for a week and spend about every evening on my cot reading. Just picked up a very fascinating novel—“The Danger Mark” by Chambers, and am therefore enjoying these evenings very much.
With lots of love to you, father and the children.
Your brother,
Otto
My dear Anna-Marie,
First of all I want to thank you ever so much for your very kind Thanksgiving greetings—the box of Huylers, which I am enjoying very much. Also many thanks for your letter of the 26th. It was very good of you to think of me in this way. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving Day.
We had a wonderful dinner to celebrate the day:
Celery — Olives
Roast Turkey
Sage Dressing — Celery Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Asparagus Tips — Butter Sauce
Candied Sweet Potatoes — Mashed White Potatoes
Creamed Peas
Lemonade
Fruit Cake — Hard Sauce
Hot Mince Pie — Cheese — Pumpkin Pie
Fruit — Candy — Nuts
Chocolate Layer Cake — Ice Cream
Coffee
Cigars — Cigarettes
Some feed! and everything very good! Couldn’t eat nearly all of it.
Got up about 9:a.m. and, with the exception of the time spent at dinner, passed the day on my cot reading and loafing. Well, there wasn’t really anything else to do, the weather was too nasty for walking, and so I took the opportunity to get over a rotten cold, which, I believe, I got from an anti-pneumonia injection. Am now OK again.
I really feel awfully sorry that you still have such a hard time at home with all that work and no help. Yes, I do realize what a lot of work there is at home and have many times tried to think up some way by which conditions could be made easier for you. It seems to me that the house is the main trouble, too large, etc., and if there is no possibility of getting any help in the future I should think it would certainly be best to give it up and move into a smaller place. Of course, I can well understand that father would prefer staying in 180 Malborough Rd. but, for heavens sake, if it’s going to make everyone unhappy at home, it certainly isn’t rational to keep up things they way they are. I mean, it must be just as unpleasant for father as for you. Or is there any chance of obtaining help in a reasonable time—are there any signs that help conditions are getting better?
Was glad to hear that the kiddies are well and happy. I shouldn’t think there is any harm to let the children play on the street; there ought to be some nice children in the neighborhood.
Couldn’t you possibly get someone reliable to come every day or if not every day, at least certain days in the week, to prepare supper and take care of the children in the evening so that you can go out more? Especially on the days when father is out at the club? I should think there would be some people, reliable, who would be glad to do that, especially at these times. I mean, make an agreement with someone for definite days so that you can plan your time in advance. By the way, some time ago I wrote you that some people in Brooklyn were getting to-gether to form an organization which would deliver meals to the house; no doubt you heard about the plan. Did you ever go investigate it? Possibly they would deliver meals for on certain days?
There is absolutely nothing new as regards the future down here. The demobilization has not started in this camp as yet and no one knows just when it will begin. One thing is quite certain, however,—no more men will be sent overseas. In regard to a furlough, I suppose if I did put in an application I might stand a chance of getting one later on, but not likely over the holidays. However, I prefer to await developments, at least until something more definite is known about the future, as I would not want to go home on furlough only to return to this place for a short time. If I find out in any way that I am likely to stay here many more months then, of course, I will apply for a vacation, but otherwise I do not think it advisable. Furthermore we are extremely busy in our Dept; especially my particular work, as I have charge of the discharges at present—that is, paying off men discharged for various reasons—this month we had 1500 of them, amounting to something like $50,000.—.
Enclosed you will find a photo recently taken by a friend, in front of our tent.
Just drew another comforter, so now I have three of them and three blankets, besides a spring cot and a nice mattress. So I guess I wont freeze this winter!
In my last letter to father I wrote him all about the Officer’s Training School affair—no doubt he showed you the letter. No, nothing more will happen in regard to that—all commissions as well as promotions for officers and enlisted men have been cut out since the signing of the Armistice. We now have several of the wounded and crippled soldiers, back from France, in our Hospital. One of our men was up there recently,—they certainly have a lot of interesting things to tell.
Am quite curious to know what Hedwig said about Carl J. Thought he earned more than $25.00 per week!
Well, that’s about all for to-day—this place is as dead as ever so there isn’t really anything interesting to write about. Havn’t been out of camp for a week and spend about every evening on my cot reading. Just picked up a very fascinating novel—“The Danger Mark” by Chambers, and am therefore enjoying these evenings very much.
With lots of love to you, father and the children.
Your brother,
Otto
Original Format
Letter
To
Bubendey, Anna-Marie Kappelmann, 1887-1986
Files
Collection
Citation
Kappelmann, Otto Carl Wilhelm, 1888-1960, “Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey,” 1918 November 3, WWP18937, Otto Kappelmann Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.