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WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.

Article about: This letter was written by a Pvt. Karl H. McLaughlin. He served with the 2nd Chemical Warfare Service (C.W.S) Training Battalion at the Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. The letter is dated May

  1. #1

    Default WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.

    WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.
    This letter was written by a Pvt. Karl H. McLaughlin. He served with the 2nd Chemical Warfare Service (C.W.S) Training Battalion at the Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. The letter is dated May 27th 1942. It reads:

    “The package had 13¢ stamp on it and there was a penciled 14 on package. I wonder how much postage they actually charged. Suppose they are picking up a little “guilt”? It arrived in very good condition.

    May 27th, 1942

    Dear Folks:

    Got your second box of candy this noon and thanks very much. I still have some of your first Hannah left and it surely is good. I see where I am going to land in the hospital again- with the gout.

    I am enclosing some pictures this time- first extra prints I have been able to get of these. The picture of Mary was on the roll of film I had in the camera when I went to Camp Perry and which I finished taking here and just had developed. I tried out a bunch of different companies for developing films around here and they all printed them different sizes. I wanted to try a variety, compare results, and then send future films only to three I like best. I like the larger print size best of course, and I want to get some larger reprints of Mary for you, grandma, and mama, if you don’t mind. Do you like the glossy or velvet finish paper best?

    Did I tell you that the latest and most apt to come true rumor around here is that we will (the training center, more or less, permanent personnel) will be breathing Alabama air before snow has time to fly again. It will be not much more than 200 miles more from Ohio, actually, but…

    *back of page*

    I don’t know how good railroad service will be. I want to get a furlough before we leave here which may be anytime between now and then.

    I also don’t know exactly what kind of work I am going to be doing. The director of the specialist school here, a Major Baker, wants to take over the mechanic shop truck from my present boss, Captain Stern, and have me teach a class of mechanists in it. It would be a continuous process- 3 fellows per week picked from the training companies in succession. It would be interesting, but if there is one thing you learn in this business- it is to never count on anything until you actually have it in your hands or doing it. I have heard this kind of talk for two months. Don’t worry about me- I am still grabbing at least 150% to 350% of my quota on apples, oranges, and grapefruit.

    I was wondering how much fun it would be in driving that mechanic shop truck to “Alabammy” 965 miles from here at a probable average overall speed of 15 miles per hour. We could stop by at likely places and make some extra pen money sharpening scissors and axes on our way. I don’t know though but what the government would frown on such nefarious practices. It might smack of “guilt ”. But it would still be fun. I sent some pictures to grandma this week also. Maybe you could swap “looks”. Love, Karl.
    WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.
    WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.

  2. #2

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    Hi there.

    Very interesting letter, thank you for sharing it with us.

    Although I am not 100% sure, I think the information below is for Karl -

    Name: Karl Harvey McLaughlin
    Race: White
    Age: 26
    Birth Date: 9 January 1914
    Birth Place: Rockford, Ohio
    Residence Place: Toledo, Lucas, Ohio
    Registration Date: 16 October 1940
    Registration Place: Toledo, Ohio
    Employer: Owens Illinois Glass Co
    Height: 5-10in
    Weight: 170
    Complexion: Light
    Hair Color: Brown
    Eye Color: Brown
    Next of Kin: Mrs Harvey Hale McLaughlin (Mother)
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.   WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.  


  3. #3

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    Karl H McLaughlin in the 1950 United States Federal Census.

    Name: Karl H McLaughlin
    Age: 36
    Birth Date: abt 1914
    Gender: Male
    Race: White
    Birth Place: Ohio
    Marital Status: Married
    Relation to Head of House: Head
    Residence Date: 1950
    Home in 1950: Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, USA
    Street Name: Kingston St
    House Number: 839
    Dwelling Number: 138
    Farm: No
    Acres: No
    Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
    Industry: Consulting Engineer
    Occupation Category: Working
    Hours Worked: 40
    Worker Class: Private
    Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
    Karl H McLaughlin 36 (Head)
    Marjory McLaughlin 23 (Wife)
    Ruth Ann McLaughlin 3 (Daughter)
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.  

  4. #4

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    Name: Karl Harvey McLaughlin
    Gender: Male
    Birth Date: 9 January 1914
    Birth Place: Rockford, Mercer County, Ohio, United States of America
    Death Date: 13 April 2000
    Death Place: Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, United States of America
    Cemetery: Restlawn Memorial Park
    Burial or Cremation Place: Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio, United States of America
    Has Bio?: N
    Father: Harvey Hale McLaughlin
    Mother: Bessie Clara McLaughlin
    Spouse: Marjorie Louise McLaughlin
    Children: Ward Harvey McLaughlin

    Karl Harvey McLaughlin (1914-2000) - Find a Grave Memorial.

    Kind regards,

    Will.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.  

  5. #5

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    Thank you! Appreciate it!

  6. #6

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    No worries.

  7. #7

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    I had a look for the people the letter is addressed to and found a little bit of information for Philip Runyan. According to his family tree his wife's maiden name was Karns.

    Name: Philip Runyan
    Spouse: Helen Karns
    Father: Wright Clark Runyan
    Mother: Emily Ann Wood
    Birth: 22 June 1901 Clermont, Ohio, USA
    Death: 7 April 1978 Rockford, Mercer, Ohio, USA

    Kind regards,

    Will.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.   WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.  

    WW2 Era Letter Written by member of the Chemical Warfare Service.  

  8. #8

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    Very nice! Thanks!

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