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Clarence S Wartime Letters presented by Roger W – 2025-03-04

Speaker Unknown Speaker
Date Recorded July 7, 2026
Exhibit Topic Tuesday Night History
Duration 62 Mins

Clarence S Wartime Letters presented by Roger W – 2025-03-04

Tuesday Night History Workshop

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Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Moderator Roger W speaking on "Clarence S Wartime Letters" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (March 04, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.
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[00 00:02.600 – 00:00:06.620] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.
0:17
[00 00:06.620 – 00:00:08.859] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.
0:20
[00 00:08.859 – 00:00:15.939] My name is Tim, and tonight we have a great presentation led by Roger W.
0:26
[00 00:15.939 – 00:00:19.320] on Clarence Snyder's wartime letters.
0:28
[00 00:19.320 – 00:00:25.300] And, uh, we meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.
0:35
[00 00:25.300 – 00:00:28.699] And this meeting is being recorded.
0:37
[00 00:28.699 – 00:00:37.479] The audio from tonight's presentation, as well as all of our past presentations, can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.
0:45
[00 00:37.479 – 00:00:47.520] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and other 12-step
0:53
[00 00:47.520 – 00:00:48.159] fellowships.
0:54
[00 00:48.159 – 00:00:58.490] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement available for everyone today
1:02
[00 00:58.490 – 00:01:00.700] and in the future.
1:04
[00 01:00.700 – 00:01:06.799] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.
1:11
[00 01:06.799 – 00:01:14.739] Included in the daily emails are links to the recordings of this meeting, as well as information about upcoming events.
1:18
[00 01:14.739 – 00:01:24.760] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I will be sharing in the chat, or you can send me an
1:29
[00 01:24.760 – 00:01:30.640] email at info@recoveryspeakers.com and I will get you added to our email list.
1:35
[00 01:30.640 – 00:01:37.250] And Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c][3] public charity.
1:38
[00 01:37.250 – 00:01:47.640] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and I have sent the link in the chat to where you can make donations.
1:50
[00 01:47.640 – 00:01:57.679] And tonight, we should have some time for Q&A after, uh, Roger's presentation, so if you have any questions throughout the- the talk tonight, please write
2:00
[00 01:57.680 – 00:02:01.439] down your questions and be prepared to ask them at the end.
2:05
[00 02:01.439 – 00:02:06.670] I am going to close the chat right now, and I will open that back up at the end of the meeting.
2:13
[00 02:06.670 – 00:02:09.319] And that is it for me.
2:15
[00 02:09.319 – 00:02:14.020] I am going to go ahead and ask Roger to unmute, and you can, uh, take it away.
2:22
[00 02:14.020 – 00:02:20.419] Thank you so much, Roger, for- for sharing all of your research and the stories of Clarence Snyder.
2:29
[00 02:20.419 – 00:02:22.199] Okay.
2:30
[00 02:22.199 – 00:02:24.360] Thank you very much, Tim.
2:32
[00 02:24.360 – 00:02:32.639] Thanks for the opportunity, 'cause I do love to, uh, you know, share what I discover.
2:38
[00 02:32.639 – 00:02:42.780] And, um, so some of you might have seen, uh, other presentations, kind of like my little niche has been, um,
2:46
[00 02:42.780 – 00:02:46.539] how AA grew overseas through military service.
2:49
[00 02:46.539 – 00:02:48.460] It wasn't the only way, but, uh...
2:52
[00 02:48.460 – 00:02:58.489] And then, um, much of that, uh, fascinated with, uh, World War II, and the- the statement that so many people were able to stay sober during that period of
3:04
[00 02:58.489 – 00:02:59.090] our history.
3:05
[00 02:59.090 – 00:03:07.000] Um, so my research took me to Brown University, as I was sharing earlier, to the- to see the Clarence Snyder collection that's housed there.
3:14
[00 03:07.000 – 00:03:17.060] Uh, because, uh, through the generous contribution of Mitchell K., who was the author of, uh, is the author of How It Worked: The Story of Clarence Snyder, and, uh,
3:25
[00 03:17.060 – 00:03:19.819] and Clarence suggested that that was the place to put it.
3:30
[00 03:19.819 – 00:03:22.259] And, um, and now it's accessible.
3:32
[00 03:22.259 – 00:03:25.939] So tonight I'm excited to share some of this.
3:36
[00 03:25.939 – 00:03:33.120] What you see there is, um, you'll see this on the next slide, um, a- a picture of a postcard.
3:44
[00 03:33.120 – 00:03:37.240] So I'll move on.
3:45
[00 03:37.240 – 00:03:47.840] Um, so it was about nine months after the Jack Alexander article broke, and that really stretched the resources of our New York office and the, and the US as a tech
3:57
[00 03:47.840 – 00:03:49.500] drawn into World War II.
4:00
[00 03:49.500 – 00:03:59.199] It sort of sets the stage for AA members to contribute to the war effort, and, um, we had to ask the question, could AA stay sober during wartime?
4:11
[00 03:59.199 – 00:04:00.909] And Clarence S.
4:12
[00 04:00.909 – 00:04:09.639] saved a lot of his letters and documents during this military service that allows us to learn a little bit about what it was like.
4:22
[00 04:09.639 – 00:04:16.879] So the postcard is from May 15, 1942, from Private Glenn Waddick.
4:26
[00 04:16.879 – 00:04:27.439] It's the earliest military-related document that I found in the collection, and he writes to Clarence calling him by his nickname, Schmitz, from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri,
4:36
[00 04:27.439 – 00:04:36.920] thanking him for an earlier letter and saying hi to Selma, which is Clarence's wife, and asked Clarence to let him know, uh, when and if he goes into the service.
4:47
[00 04:36.920 – 00:04:42.939] Well, that summer, Clarence decided it was time to join the Army, and he applied.
4:53
[00 04:42.939 – 00:04:52.939] This August 8, 1942, letter to Clarence approving his application for voluntary officer candidate training by the
4:59
[00 04:52.939 – 00:04:57.439] selective service there in, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
5:02
[00 04:57.439 – 00:05:06.860] The next thing we got is, um, a handwritten letter from Private Clayton Bull telling him about Army life and experience.
5:10
[00 05:06.860 – 00:05:10.220] And he writes, "I'm in the Army sure enough.
5:14
[00 05:10.220 – 00:05:12.720] And brother, it's no fooling army either.
5:17
[00 05:12.720 – 00:05:17.899] Had this happened to me two years ago, I'd be either dead or in the guard house.
5:24
[00 05:17.899 – 00:05:22.379] It really takes guts for us old bucks to keep up the pace with the youngsters.
5:30
[00 05:22.379 – 00:05:32.519] I'm getting tougher though, and before long, I'll have at it." So Clayton says he's a basic training that was cut from 13 down to eight weeks,
5:40
[00 05:32.519 – 00:05:34.819] and that OCS is afterwards.
5:42
[00 05:34.819 – 00:05:44.920] And he claims that the Quartermaster Corps is a combat unit in this war, which is probably some misunderstanding from somebody who was trying to say how important logistics
5:53
[00 05:44.920 – 00:05:46.060] are to the war fighter.
5:55
[00 05:46.060 – 00:05:55.560] Um, he says that he's at a nice fort just outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming in the foothills of the Rockies near Denver.
6:03
[00 05:55.560 – 00:06:05.560] He talks about the thin air at altitude and warning beer drinkers are warned to cut usual quantity in half as they find themselves half
6:13
[00 06:05.560 – 00:06:06.160] lightheaded.
6:13
[00 06:06.160 – 00:06:09.019] Too bad we didn't know that years ago.
6:17
[00 06:09.019 – 00:06:11.800] I recommend sending all slippers out here.
6:20
[00 06:11.800 – 00:06:13.800] It will hasten the die.
6:22
[00 06:13.800 – 00:06:22.959] He says, "I'm anxious to know how you stand and also how the little woman is." So a lot of the...
6:30
[00 06:22.959 – 00:06:30.040] I just enjoyed, uh, how they wrote and how they communicated with each other in that, um, in that time.
6:37
[00 06:30.040 – 00:06:30.889] "Best regards.
6:39
[00 06:30.889 – 00:06:41.060] Sincerely, Clayton." And then here's an August 29th, '42 letter from, uh, Sergeant Glenn Waddick again to Clarence on Fort Leonard Wood letterhead saying,
6:48
[00 06:41.060 – 00:06:43.579] "I'm glad and proud to hear that you've enlisted.
6:51
[00 06:43.579 – 00:06:47.060] I know that you'll give a good account of yourself.
6:55
[00 06:47.060 – 00:06:49.480] Schmitz, old boy, I am proud of you.
6:59
[00 06:49.480 – 00:06:54.610] Proud to call you a friend." He was appointed a corporal on the 26th
7:04
[00 06:54.802 – 00:06:58.602] ninth day last month, and a sergeant on the 20th of this month.
7:09
[00 06:58.602 – 00:07:00.742] So, uh, fast track.
7:11
[00 07:00.742 – 00:07:06.902] There's another letter from, uh, Sergeant Waddick dated September 15th, '42.
7:15
[00 07:06.902 – 00:07:15.612] He remains, reminds Clarence that he's, uh, he's due to report to Fort Benning, Georgia for infantry training, and not Fort Bragg, which is field artillery.
7:25
[00 07:15.612 – 00:07:18.862] And he says, "So Smiths, good luck to you and yours.
7:30
[00 07:18.862 – 00:07:21.921] May you have the best life it has to offer.
7:34
[00 07:21.921 – 00:07:27.902] You deserve it." And then here's a September 16th postcard to Clarence.
7:38
[00 07:27.902 – 00:07:34.442] Uh, it was sent to his Cleveland address from Private Ladmore Jelinek from Fort McClellan, Alabama.
7:45
[00 07:34.442 – 00:07:38.882] He's in, uh, basic with the services, all services.
7:48
[00 07:38.882 – 00:07:41.442] So he doesn't know w- which one he's gonna be in yet.
7:53
[00 07:41.442 – 00:07:43.911] So that was interesting that they had that, a thing like that.
7:58
[00 07:43.911 – 00:07:49.322] This is the first issue of the Central Bulletin.
8:01
[00 07:49.322 – 00:07:51.242] It became the Cleveland Central Bulletin.
8:04
[00 07:51.242 – 00:07:58.642] Uh, the first issue included a plea to group secretaries to compile mailing lists of all the men in the service.
8:12
[00 07:58.642 – 00:08:06.902] The bulletin was sent to all reported service members free from the beginning, and two years later, the A Grapevine followed suit.
8:20
[00 08:06.902 – 00:08:15.662] Note in the lower left-hand article that the annual, uh, dinner Bill Wilson will speak at, that's gonna come up a little bit later.
8:29
[00 08:15.662 – 00:08:23.182] In, um, October of '42, here's a letter to Clarence from Irwin Myerson.
8:34
[00 08:23.182 – 00:08:26.822] Clarence was his sponsor, and he's mentioned in Dr.
8:38
[00 08:26.822 – 00:08:33.582] Bob and the Good Old Timers on page 259, and l- probably some other places.
8:44
[00 08:33.582 – 00:08:35.002] But Irwin M.
8:45
[00 08:35.002 – 00:08:38.482] was a Venetian blind salesman traveling the southeast.
8:48
[00 08:38.482 – 00:08:48.802] He weighed 250 pounds and had energy and gusto, Bill Wilson wrote, noting, "The prospect of Irwin as a missionary scared us rather badly.
8:57
[00 08:48.802 – 00:08:59.142] He was reluctantly given a list of prospects in his territory, and even though he had broken all the rules of caution and discreet approach,
9:07
[00 08:59.142 – 00:09:02.182] he ran every one of them down, working day and night.
9:11
[00 09:02.182 – 00:09:05.882] He wrote them letters and got them writing to each other.
9:15
[00 09:05.882 – 00:09:16.102] He had cracked the territory wide open and started or stimulated many an original group." So he's credited with an awful lot of the
9:24
[00 09:16.102 – 00:09:18.502] beginnings of AA in the southeast United States.
9:28
[00 09:18.502 – 00:09:28.782] The, uh, the second issue of the Central Bulletin reported on the farewell party and the dance in honor of Clarence that happened on October 3rd,
9:38
[00 09:28.782 – 00:09:32.042] and that's before he left for Army training at Fort Knox.
9:42
[00 09:32.042 – 00:09:39.742] Early Cleveland AA had a lot of social activities together, and there were a lot of group activities outside of meetings.
9:50
[00 09:39.742 – 00:09:44.082] A real fellowship with dances, parties, and 12-step work together.
9:54
[00 09:44.082 – 00:09:52.142] Here's likely his first pay stub, uh, for $21.15.
9:57
[00 09:52.142 – 00:09:57.322] So a brand new recruit would make $50 a month at this time, plus food and housing.
10:03
[00 09:57.322 – 00:10:00.822] So partially, maybe it was a partial pay for the first month.
10:08
[00 10:00.822 – 00:10:02.382] I really wasn't sure.
10:10
[00 10:02.382 – 00:10:05.642] And he didn't have any of those, uh, deductions that he could have taken.
10:15
[00 10:05.642 – 00:10:15.642] Um, this is October 1942 card to Clarence to my friend in the service, and it's signed by a lot of early
10:23
[00 10:15.642 – 00:10:16.782] Cleveland AA members.
10:25
[00 10:16.782 – 00:10:19.822] Some of them, um, are known in our literature and our history.
10:30
[00 10:19.822 – 00:10:24.642] So there's Bill Halfaminister, which is Clarence's first prospect.
10:33
[00 10:24.642 – 00:10:30.642] And if you see Mitchell K.'s book, there's the details of him carrying the message to the first guy in Cleveland that made it.
10:43
[00 10:30.642 – 00:10:31.862] That's him.
10:44
[00 10:31.862 – 00:10:37.142] Walt Bernstein, a prospect from the Cleveland Plain Dealer article.
10:48
[00 10:37.142 – 00:10:44.162] Uh, he was living behind a funeral home in a carriage house with, uh, that had theater seating, so it was like living in a garage.
10:58
[00 10:44.162 – 00:10:48.022] Um, but that became the first place that they had AA classes, they called them.
11:04
[00 10:48.022 – 00:10:57.942] And it became the home of the Crawford Men's Group that had 135 members after a year from a core of 10 that they started with.
11:13
[00 10:57.942 – 00:10:59.902] And he's also mentioned in Dr.
11:15
[00 10:59.902 – 00:11:01.182] Bob and the Good Old Timers.
11:18
[00 11:01.182 – 00:11:07.542] And, um, Smitty, uh, makes mention of him in there as somebody, an old-timer that he recalled as well.
11:25
[00 11:07.542 – 00:11:14.962] And then there's Irwin Myerson again, the Venetian blind guy, that did so much.
11:31
[00 11:14.962 – 00:11:25.252] He's credited with, um, uh, West Virginia, Atlanta, I believe, um, Indiana and, um, others, and Clarence
11:37
[00 11:25.252 – 00:11:26.272] sponsored him as well.
11:39
[00 11:26.272 – 00:11:29.862] So they sent him this card while he was away.
11:43
[00 11:29.862 – 00:11:40.302] And then the first group in Kentucky was started by Jim McSe at the Kentucky Dairy Farmers Aud- the
11:50
[00 11:40.302 – 00:11:42.642] Kentucky Dairies Auditorium.
11:52
[00 11:42.642 – 00:11:44.922] And they wrote to Clarence.
11:54
[00 11:44.922 – 00:11:50.822] I don't know if Clarence made contact with them or the foundation shared his information.
12:00
[00 11:50.822 – 00:11:54.722] It was the only group in Kentucky when he came here to Fort Knox.
12:05
[00 11:54.722 – 00:12:03.942] And, um, the group's secretary, Mildred Z., signed this October letter and, um, invited him to the meeting or the Halloween party that they had.
12:15
[00 12:03.942 – 00:12:12.402] And then a week letter- later, again, same letter head, um, October 26th, they sent a follow-up letter.
12:22
[00 12:12.402 – 00:12:18.732] Sorry he couldn't make the Friday meeting, but they invited him to speak at an open meeting on Friday, November 6th.
12:30
[00 12:18.732 – 00:12:23.452] I don't know if that's the meeting he spoke at, but there's a letter in the Cleveland Central Bulletin.
12:37
[00 12:23.452 – 00:12:33.502] He did end up speaking there and attending that meeting at least once and working with a newcomer, despite all of the crazy schedule that he had in military training
12:48
[00 12:33.502 – 00:12:35.342] that you're gonna hear about in a bit.
12:51
[00 12:35.342 – 00:12:45.362] So here's, um, this is a seven-page handwritten letter
12:55
[00 12:45.362 – 00:12:45.642] to Mrs.
12:56
[00 12:45.642 – 00:12:49.022] Snyder, and, and translating the cursive was kind of fun.
13:00
[00 12:49.022 – 00:12:50.162] It took me a little while.
13:03
[00 12:50.162 – 00:12:53.442] Um, signed by Louise H.
13:05
[00 12:53.442 – 00:13:01.002] Cotton, telling a story about John, her son, and alcoholism, and apparently Clarence had helped get him sober.
13:12
[00 13:01.002 – 00:13:11.282] But then he went in the military and she says, "For straight, three straight weeks after I was notified by Lieutenant Clifton of John's disappearance,
13:21
[00 13:11.282 – 00:13:17.242] I learned nothing." She relates the story of her son, John, and, um, he went AWOL.
13:27
[00 13:17.242 – 00:13:22.502] Uh, she blames the whole thing on his wife, Doris, and, um, throughout the letter.
13:33
[00 13:22.502 – 00:13:24.842] And John was confined to the brig.
13:36
[00 13:24.842 – 00:13:30.142] He was fined, and she hoped that he could find sobriety again after he dumped Doris.
13:42
[00 13:30.142 – 00:13:33.022] And, um, which was the problem.
13:45
[00 13:33.022 – 00:13:37.002] And asked Clarence to scold her if he got the chance.
13:49
[00 13:37.002 – 00:13:46.222] Here's a November 3rd letter from, uh, to Clarence from Bobby Burger at the Alcoholic Foundation.
13:56
[00 13:46.222 – 00:13:49.202] And he says that the group gave his name for ser-
14:00
[00 13:49.358 – 00:13:52.478] -his files, and they're making a special effort to connect.
14:04
[00 13:52.478 – 00:13:58.958] So she's passing along the name of another, uh, soldier, another AA member, Private Thomas D.
14:10
[00 13:58.958 – 00:14:02.178] Quinn, that's at Fort Knox, that they might connect.
14:14
[00 14:02.178 – 00:14:09.138] And as you know, Bobby wrote hundreds and hundreds of these letters during this period of time.
14:20
[00 14:09.138 – 00:14:16.988] Um, here's one, November 2nd, handwritten letter to Clarence from Nell and Tom that's glad to hear from Clarence.
14:28
[00 14:16.988 – 00:14:20.298] Told of the Halloween party by the groups on the west side.
14:32
[00 14:20.298 – 00:14:27.548] Um, Gus Clayton had a job in the quartermaster office and asked to give them a ring when he was home on furlough.
14:41
[00 14:27.548 – 00:14:34.398] They go on to talk about a women's group for the wives, um, in hopes that it will help success rate then a bit.
14:50
[00 14:34.398 – 00:14:38.958] Then Nell closes the letter saying that she saw Mrs.
14:54
[00 14:38.958 – 00:14:41.678] Snyder at the meeting last week, and that Mrs.
14:58
[00 14:41.678 – 00:14:45.158] Bull reports Clayton has a job in the quartermaster.
15:02
[00 14:45.158 – 00:14:55.478] So, um, as you can see, they had a women's group for th- which is really a precursor to Al-Anon, and that, um, the, the wives are going to the AA meetings and, and
15:14
[00 14:55.478 – 00:14:57.738] welcomed lots of open meetings.
15:16
[00 14:57.738 – 00:15:01.698] Um, and that's sort of the culture in early AA here in Cleveland.
15:22
[00 15:01.698 – 00:15:11.798] Here's a six-page of handwritten letter, um, dated November 4th to Clarence from Theodore Kinniter, and, um, that was...
15:29
[00 15:11.798 – 00:15:15.138] Is that, is this the one?
15:31
[00 15:15.138 – 00:15:15.478] Yep.
15:32
[00 15:15.478 – 00:15:24.978] Um, so he's the minister of the First Evangelical and Reformed Church, and he's the brother of his wife, Selma.
15:40
[00 15:24.978 – 00:15:34.278] So he- he's sharing life at Cleveland and shares through on, um...
15:45
[00 15:34.278 – 00:15:38.558] He shared about some tracts about alcohol and drinking that, that Clarence had.
15:50
[00 15:38.558 – 00:15:42.218] And, um, then he shared about the dinner with Selma and the family.
15:55
[00 15:42.218 – 00:15:49.438] Lynn had a swell ham bag prepared, uh, since turkey was 55 cents a pound.
16:00
[00 15:49.438 – 00:15:54.418] He shares about the church service and his son, John, leaving for the service soon.
16:06
[00 15:54.418 – 00:16:04.518] And then he closes the letter, "Sorry Clarence couldn't be there for dinner, but trusting that the food was good at Fort Knox." It was not, as we're gonna see
16:17
[00 16:04.518 – 00:16:05.448] in a couple letters.
16:19
[00 16:05.448 – 00:16:15.618] Um, so here's a November 7th letter to Clarence from John G., an Army buddy at Fort Knox,
16:26
[00 16:15.618 – 00:16:23.598] who's now in Louisiana, talking about, um, taking a trip to the cleaner in Muldraugh, which is just outside of the gate of Fort Knox.
16:36
[00 16:23.598 – 00:16:32.238] Being a tank driver and reports his food is excellent, and you even get seconds on butter, which was a rationed item.
16:44
[00 16:32.238 – 00:16:42.258] So he continues about the new barracks, but he mentions the bugs, the slow laundry service, and that it's not all luxury, and
16:53
[00 16:42.258 – 00:16:44.678] even the bugs like to be inside these barracks.
16:56
[00 16:44.678 – 00:16:54.218] Last night, two guys were bitten by big red ants that occasionally roam around the floor, and there's always a wasp or wild bee to keep one on the alert.
17:08
[00 16:54.218 – 00:16:58.678] We're waiting for our barracks bag, and I finally had to wash my socks.
17:13
[00 16:58.678 – 00:17:06.458] Three days wear makes them so strong of a person, hasn't strength to respect their advances while walking.
17:20
[00 17:06.458 – 00:17:09.518] I'll cut the BS and say so long.
17:23
[00 17:09.518 – 00:17:11.458] The light's keeping the bugs away.
17:26
[00 17:11.458 – 00:17:21.918] Here's a November 9th letter to Clarence from Charlie Sanders that he calls letter-writing
17:31
[00 17:21.918 – 00:17:25.158] the toughest assignment, and he's glad to hear Clarence is making the grade.
17:36
[00 17:25.158 – 00:17:33.538] He praises Clarence AA work in Cleveland and knows he'll establish himself as a leader of men the same as he did back home.
17:46
[00 17:33.538 – 00:17:42.338] About himself, he writes, "I'm still working seven days a week at the diesel plant, but still attending meetings regularly.
17:53
[00 17:42.338 – 00:17:51.308] Albani started a new group just recently called the Parma Brooklyn Group." He said, "My family attended the open meeting, a small gathering.
18:02
[00 17:51.308 – 00:18:01.358] I doubt whether Al can put this new group over, as he has been indiscreet in criticizing other members in the Brooklyn Group, and also
18:11
[00 18:01.358 – 00:18:08.317] his wife, which just does not work in AA." So kind of interesting little group, uh, dynamics there.
18:18
[00 18:08.317 – 00:18:14.498] "Hank Weber's been elected our new secretary, and I know that he's gonna do a grand job.
18:25
[00 18:14.498 – 00:18:21.938] I'm gonna do my little bit to help Brooklyn Group be back where it belongs, as one of the friendliest groups in Cleveland." So.
18:34
[00 18:21.938 – 00:18:31.698] He talked about leading a meeting and enjoying the Bill Wilson testimonial dinner at Hotel Carter, where about 700 attended.
18:41
[00 18:31.698 – 00:18:38.278] He included a clipping, which I didn't see, from the Cleveland Press by Dilworth Lipton.
18:47
[00 18:38.278 – 00:18:41.098] Um, you might know this particular article.
18:50
[00 18:41.098 – 00:18:48.038] Reverend Lupton was a pastor at, uh, First United U- or Unitarian Church, excuse me.
18:56
[00 18:48.038 – 00:18:57.678] Um, Dorothy asked him to help Clarence with his drinking, and when Clarence got sober in the, uh, Oxford Group, Lupton said nothing good could come from the Oxford Group.
19:07
[00 18:57.678 – 00:18:59.458] He didn't think it would last.
19:10
[00 18:59.458 – 00:19:04.318] But when he finally did get sober, they broke off and started Cleveland AA.
19:15
[00 19:04.318 – 00:19:12.558] Dorothy gave him a big book, invited him to, uh, to some meetings, and u- ultimately, he preached a sermon called Mr.
19:24
[00 19:12.558 – 00:19:14.558] X and Alcoholics Anonymous.
19:25
[00 19:14.558 – 00:19:24.598] And, um, Dorothy had invited a Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter who came and he printed, he published an article and got him a little more, um,
19:35
[00 19:24.598 – 00:19:26.138] exposure.
19:36
[00 19:26.138 – 00:19:31.038] And here's one that I really was hoping to discover.
19:40
[00 19:31.038 – 00:19:38.538] It's a wartime love letter to Clarence from his wife, Selma, dated November 9th, signed, "Forever, Selma.
19:47
[00 19:38.538 – 00:19:41.678] I love you." And it was written on the back of the page.
19:52
[00 19:41.678 – 00:19:47.178] Um, Clarence married Selma Gertrude Kinniter November 28th.
19:55
[00 19:47.178 – 00:19:54.678] Um, the letter was sent near their first anniversary, which they would end up spending apart because of his military service.
20:03
[00 19:54.678 – 00:19:58.418] So we're gonna look at-- I'm gonna read that one.
20:07
[00 19:58.418 – 00:20:01.598] "Darling, just finished my lunch.
20:09
[00 20:01.598 – 00:20:04.908] I'm in the restaurant next door, and of course, I don't have any ink here.
20:15
[00 20:04.908 – 00:20:06.918] Excuse it please.
20:16
[00 20:06.918 – 00:20:12.278] I hate writing a letter with pencil, but I wanna write it now so you will be sure to get it tomorrow.
20:25
[00 20:12.278 – 00:20:15.798] Well, honey, I want to tell you about the dinner.
20:29
[00 20:15.798 – 00:20:17.298] It was a real success.
20:31
[00 20:17.298 – 00:20:22.778] There were 450 for the dinner, and 300 more came after the dinner.
20:35
[00 20:22.778 – 00:20:27.458] Bill Wilson gave a wonderful talk.
20:38
[00 20:27.458 – 00:20:29.438] I sure wish you could have heard it.
20:41
[00 20:29.438 – 00:20:31.298] He covered everything and more.
20:43
[00 20:31.298 – 00:20:35.978] I'll get a copy of the prayer, uh, that he ended his talk with and mail it to you.
20:51
[00 20:35.978 – 00:20:39.918] Your letter was read by Jack Darrow.
20:54
[00 20:39.918 – 00:20:43.158] Lowry was on the committee and the speaker table.
20:57
[00 20:43.158 – 00:20:43.888] Your letter sound-"
20:59
[00 20:43.997 – 00:20:46.128] did wonderful and everybody said it was grand.
21:02
[00 20:46.128 – 00:20:47.968] Bill W.
21:03
[00 20:47.968 – 00:20:52.168] told me that to thank you, and he said he was going to write you.
21:09
[00 20:52.168 – 00:20:54.328] More people asked about you.
21:11
[00 20:54.328 – 00:21:04.628] Jack Darrow made a nice little talk about a fellow that did such wonders in Cleveland, and BW also commented on the wonderful
21:20
[00 21:04.628 – 00:21:05.608] set up in Cleveland.
21:22
[00 21:05.608 – 00:21:10.708] Has and, of course, the credit came to the fellow by the name of Clarence Snyder.
21:28
[00 21:10.708 – 00:21:15.288] Needless to say, I felt very proud of you.
21:31
[00 21:15.288 – 00:21:15.488] Dr.
21:32
[00 21:15.488 – 00:21:16.047] and Mrs.
21:33
[00 21:16.047 – 00:21:17.888] Smith both send regards.
21:35
[00 21:17.888 – 00:21:18.888] A Mr.
21:36
[00 21:18.888 – 00:21:22.768] Kennedy from West Virginia was master of ceremonies.
21:40
[00 21:22.768 – 00:21:28.448] Henrietta was not there, and the first wasn't there either.
21:44
[00 21:28.448 – 00:21:32.588] Wise Bar sang the Lord's Prayer at the closing.
21:47
[00 21:32.588 – 00:21:34.228] I thought that was an interesting closing.
21:50
[00 21:34.228 – 00:21:39.928] He played the piano and sang at the same time, and it was well done.
21:56
[00 21:39.928 – 00:21:45.858] I sat at the table with Myerson's, Hellums, and a couple by the name of Gracie.
22:02
[00 21:45.858 – 00:21:47.728] Been in for nine months.
22:04
[00 21:47.728 – 00:21:48.838] Very nice folks.
22:06
[00 21:48.838 – 00:21:49.968] Mr.
22:06
[00 21:49.968 – 00:21:54.188] Gracie told me all about AA, and I listened, and I think he has it.
22:12
[00 21:54.188 – 00:21:58.288] Oh, I forgot to tell you what we had to eat.
22:17
[00 21:58.288 – 00:22:03.327] We had fruit cocktail and a turkey dinner, ice cream, and two cups of coffee.
22:23
[00 22:03.327 – 00:22:07.968] It was very good, and plenty of it, and very good service.
22:27
[00 22:07.968 – 00:22:10.868] I guess you knew.
22:29
[00 22:10.868 – 00:22:13.008] It was at the Carter Hotel in the Rainbow Room.
22:33
[00 22:13.008 – 00:22:14.868] It lasted all afternoon.
22:35
[00 22:14.868 – 00:22:19.328] Myerson's took me over to Ted's right from there.
22:39
[00 22:19.328 – 00:22:25.678] We stopped for, uh, some ice cream, and I had just enough time to get there for church, which started at 7:45.
22:47
[00 22:25.678 – 00:22:30.928] Was a candlelight service and dedicated, dedication of the honor roll.
22:51
[00 22:30.928 – 00:22:37.268] They have 49 boys in the service, and there was a candle burning for each one of them around their names.
22:59
[00 22:37.268 – 00:22:39.108] It was very impressive.
23:00
[00 22:39.108 – 00:22:42.908] I really had a wonderful day yesterday.
23:03
[00 22:42.908 – 00:22:47.948] I went to church in the morning and heard John sing my favorite song, the Lord is my Light.
23:11
[00 22:47.948 – 00:22:53.228] And Reverend West had a wonderful sermon, which wish you could have heard it.
23:16
[00 22:53.228 – 00:22:57.868] He mentioned learning from a soldier and made some comment about what he said.
23:22
[00 22:57.868 – 00:22:59.348] It sounded like you.
23:23
[00 22:59.348 – 00:23:06.548] He said, this soldier told about going to a neighborly city on a Saturday night, and the things he saw were bad.
23:32
[00 23:06.548 – 00:23:09.648] It showed the great need for the church to begin.
23:36
[00 23:09.648 – 00:23:15.448] Was busy from morning until night yesterday, but I still missed you.
23:41
[00 23:15.448 – 00:23:18.348] Wish you could have been with me.
23:43
[00 23:18.348 – 00:23:20.168] My lunch hour is almost over now.
23:46
[00 23:20.168 – 00:23:23.288] If, if I think of more, I'll write again tonight.
23:50
[00 23:23.288 – 00:23:24.688] I will write again.
23:52
[00 23:24.688 – 00:23:27.228] With my love now and forever, Selm.
23:55
[00 23:27.228 – 00:23:29.988] So I wanted to read that whole thing.
23:58
[00 23:29.988 – 00:23:40.228] It w- it gives a real perspective of what's going on in Cleveland and, um, and love letters during, you know, military service or wartime are always, like, kind of special.
24:10
[00 23:40.228 – 00:23:49.468] Here's a postcard marked November 18th to Clarence from Lieutenant A.
24:14
[00 23:49.468 – 00:23:54.468] Russ, signed Doc Russ, to Hiya Snyder.
24:17
[00 23:54.468 – 00:24:00.608] They got address from s- s- He got the address from the Central Bulletin and asked about helping a superior officer.
24:25
[00 24:00.608 – 00:24:04.888] He called his higher power the big boy who has not let him down yet.
24:31
[00 24:04.888 – 00:24:07.268] So that's neat language again.
24:33
[00 24:07.268 – 00:24:09.588] Oops.
24:34
[00 24:09.588 – 00:24:12.308] Um, to Dankworth.
24:36
[00 24:12.308 – 00:24:18.928] Um, so, um, so letter to Clarence from Harry Dankworth on the Dankworth printer letterhead.
24:41
[00 24:18.928 – 00:24:24.727] Harry used the company to print the bulletin, and, um, the bulletin was Clarence's brainchild.
24:47
[00 24:24.727 – 00:24:28.708] He talks about Bill visiting and getting, uh...
24:50
[00 24:28.708 – 00:24:35.088] After that Bill Wilson testimonial dinner, um, you may have heard about this in our history.
24:57
[00 24:35.088 – 00:24:44.888] They, um, whisk him off and, um, he got quizzed on the financial skullduggery he was purported to have engaged in afterwards.
25:05
[00 24:44.888 – 00:24:52.818] Clarence is often blamed for heading that confrontation, but here it appears that he was at Fort Knox the whole time in the service.
25:14
[00 24:52.818 – 00:25:02.848] So, um, this collection of
25:16
[00 25:02.848 – 00:25:06.228] letters written to Clarence only allows us to see one side.
25:21
[00 25:06.228 – 00:25:16.328] So I only get to see what Clarence saved in his, his, his own personal collection, uh, with this one exception, and I think it's
25:30
[00 25:16.328 – 00:25:18.808] a, a great exception, and I have a few of these.
25:35
[00 25:18.808 – 00:25:29.068] Um, letters to Dor- A letter from Clarence to his ex-wife, Dorothy, and who is the mother of his only son, um, Charles Richard
25:44
[00 25:29.068 – 00:25:29.668] Snyder.
25:44
[00 25:29.668 – 00:25:33.967] Um, he calls him Charlie, and, uh, she calls him Dick.
25:49
[00 25:33.967 – 00:25:37.348] So as they're writing back and forth, you'll see that.
25:53
[00 25:37.348 – 00:25:42.048] So Clarence divorced Dorothy in August 20th, 1941.
25:56
[00 25:42.048 – 00:25:51.768] Um, she was a key y- in our history, um, to Clarence finding AA, and, um, the connection through the family that led to Bill and, um, Dr.
26:06
[00 25:51.768 – 00:25:52.408] Strong.
26:07
[00 25:52.408 – 00:26:02.468] So, um, this letter from Clarence is an excellent glimpse into, um, his life in military service from November
26:14
[00 26:02.468 – 00:26:05.768] 15th, um, on the Armed Forces letterhead.
26:17
[00 26:05.768 – 00:26:07.768] Six handwritten pages.
26:19
[00 26:07.768 – 00:26:15.528] Um, "Dear Dorothy, you're welcome letter received, and the enclosures of Charles were appreciated.
26:24
[00 26:15.528 – 00:26:21.408] I sent him a little package yesterday for his birthday, also a card and a note in it.
26:31
[00 26:21.408 – 00:26:31.488] I've been trying to keep him advised of what army life is like, and I shouldn't be surprised that after he reads a few of my letters on the subject, the glamour idea will
26:44
[00 26:31.488 – 00:26:33.208] pretty well be knocked out of his head.
26:47
[00 26:33.208 – 00:26:42.568] Last night, I went to Elizabethtown to do a little shopping and relaxing and stayed at the USO all night.
26:55
[00 26:42.568 – 00:26:52.608] I went to a picture show with lots of blood spilled, a cowboy picture, vintage of 1909, and a sabotage picture with vintage,
27:03
[00 26:52.608 – 00:26:53.648] without vintage.
27:04
[00 26:53.648 – 00:27:00.528] Anyway, it was something different than the usual routine here and was my first show in many moons.
27:11
[00 27:00.528 – 00:27:06.248] The USO furnishes cots, which the men set up and make in the AM.
27:17
[00 27:06.248 – 00:27:10.708] They serve us all the donuts and coffee we could consume.
27:21
[00 27:10.708 – 00:27:20.828] All of this for a quarter." And for anybody that is familiar with E-town, um, it is where the, uh, Pritchard Center
27:29
[00 27:20.828 – 00:27:22.748] and the, uh, police department is now.
27:32
[00 27:22.748 – 00:27:25.408] Where it was at this time.
27:35
[00 27:25.408 – 00:27:28.108] Um, about the food.
27:37
[00 27:28.108 – 00:27:30.988] "I ate lunch in E-town today and had a fine meal.
27:41
[00 27:30.988 – 00:27:34.748] Our grub here at camp is, as a general rule, terrible.
27:45
[00 27:34.748 – 00:27:38.538] Poorly cooked, poorly served, and many times not e-
27:49
[00 27:38.663 – 00:27:38.863] Enough.
27:50
[00 27:38.863 – 00:27:46.963] They specialize in Greece here, and I shouldn't be surprised to see the ice cream served in Greece if ever we get ice cream.
27:59
[00 27:46.963 – 00:27:50.543] So he shares about Army life.
28:01
[00 27:50.543 – 00:27:57.453] "It was very cold on Friday night, and the guardhouse was about 14 degrees cooler than a Minnesota barn in January.
28:09
[00 27:57.453 – 00:28:07.503] My letters must sound hopeless or disheartened when I try to tell anything about the usual routine, and it has come to a place where I'm beginning to find
28:20
[00 28:07.503 – 00:28:09.483] letter writing a chore for that reason.
28:23
[00 28:09.483 – 00:28:13.263] I don't want anyone to get the idea that I'm bellyaching about it.
28:28
[00 28:13.263 – 00:28:21.403] And when I read the letters I've written, sometimes I wonder what people think after they've read them." And he talks about his schedule.
28:37
[00 28:21.403 – 00:28:24.903] "Runs 14 to 16 hours, and sometimes more.
28:40
[00 28:24.903 – 00:28:32.143] There isn't much to write about but my daily dump, and they must sound something akin to a rambling of a warped mind.
28:48
[00 28:32.143 – 00:28:36.763] In addition to the regular training, I receive much extra as an officer candidate.
28:54
[00 28:36.763 – 00:28:47.183] And if that isn't enough, they've made me a squad leader, which is in essence a corporal with a squad of men to mother, teach, be accountable
29:04
[00 28:47.183 – 00:28:53.913] for, and report." So he's to go before a board for OCS in, uh, in a few weeks.
29:11
[00 28:53.913 – 00:28:58.943] And, um, if, if he gets by the board, he has to take another rigid physical.
29:17
[00 28:58.943 – 00:29:03.603] If he passes that, he has to go upon, uh, completion to three weeks of basic.
29:23
[00 29:03.603 – 00:29:09.163] Um, if rejected of either the board or the medical, he's offered a discharge.
29:29
[00 29:09.163 – 00:29:14.363] He returns to civilian life and goes into class 3A in the draft, and awaits a call.
29:35
[00 29:14.363 – 00:29:24.403] He said, "I made, um, an instructor on the rifle range, and my pupils or stooges have all done well." He wanted to make the
29:45
[00 29:24.403 – 00:29:34.463] grade, and, um, said, "We have a number of non-coms here who have been in the Army for some time, others not so long, who have all never been
29:56
[00 29:34.463 – 00:29:38.323] able to make a high enough score on the IQ test to make OCS.
30:01
[00 29:38.323 – 00:29:41.583] And do those boys love to put, uh, to us.
30:05
[00 29:41.583 – 00:29:51.543] Sour grapes, of course, but nonetheless, quite unpleasant." So he doesn't know anything about Holiday, but he's, uh, a lot of rumors.
30:14
[00 29:51.543 – 00:29:58.143] He says although he hasn't heard, um, much news on the...
30:18
[00 29:58.143 – 00:30:06.483] He, he's heard a lot of news, um, but he claims that he hasn't heard much news on the Bill W., uh, Sunday party.
30:27
[00 30:06.483 – 00:30:10.583] And next time, uh, he would appreciate some, a detailed report.
30:32
[00 30:10.583 – 00:30:13.283] He s- And then he goes on to say what he knows.
30:36
[00 30:13.283 – 00:30:18.283] He knows that there were 450, another 300 afterwards, a nice dinner.
30:40
[00 30:18.283 – 00:30:21.243] "But I'd like to know about who talked and what was said.
30:45
[00 30:21.243 – 00:30:28.823] How did they ever pick out Len Kennedy for MC with so many fellows around who have really been on the beam so long?
30:54
[00 30:28.823 – 00:30:37.543] And what finally happened to the matter about Bill and Doc's renumeration from the foundation?" So he is interested.
31:02
[00 30:37.543 – 00:30:41.823] Oops.
31:02
[00 30:41.823 – 00:30:46.423] I think I, I clicked the wrong thing.
31:06
[00 30:46.423 – 00:30:49.403] I don't know which direction I'm headed.
31:08
[00 30:49.403 – 00:30:53.043] There's Dankworth, and there we go.
31:11
[00 30:53.043 – 00:30:57.203] So I wanted to get...
31:13
[00 30:57.203 – 00:31:04.403] Okay, so here's a November 15th letter from, uh, starts out, "Dear Smits," from, uh, Glenn at Fort Leonard Wood again.
31:21
[00 31:04.403 – 00:31:10.503] He talks about the engineers in training, and says that he, uh, Clarence has a tough branch in the armor.
31:29
[00 31:10.503 – 00:31:17.183] He shares that he lost $140 betting against another platoon on the shooting range.
31:34
[00 31:17.183 – 00:31:25.083] He heard of, uh, the Bill Wilson dinner and that he heard over 1,000 attended, so here we go with the, the exaggerations.
31:42
[00 31:25.083 – 00:31:31.603] Um, he suggested he wants to get into, uh, the action to test himself and to wipe the slate clean.
31:50
[00 31:31.603 – 00:31:37.163] Here's a November 21st letter from, uh, Ed Smith.
31:54
[00 31:37.163 – 00:31:39.143] He got the address from the bulletin.
31:57
[00 31:39.143 – 00:31:44.963] He's been punching the clock 11 hours a day, but it's his first real work, um, in 30 years.
32:03
[00 31:44.963 – 00:31:50.442] He considered Clarence fundamental AA reputation.
32:06
[00 31:50.442 – 00:31:54.503] Um, or this was a fun find for me.
32:09
[00 31:54.503 – 00:31:59.403] So he wrote a 13-year-old daughter of an AA member, um, who...
32:14
[00 31:59.403 – 00:32:04.023] Pen pals were very common for school-aged children at the time during World War II.
32:20
[00 32:04.023 – 00:32:06.403] And, um, and here's one.
32:22
[00 32:06.403 – 00:32:09.603] Um, November 27th, 1942.
32:24
[00 32:09.603 – 00:32:19.643] Myth- Miss Ruth Koran, signed Ruthie, wrote Clarence, um, "Dear Clarence, I'm writing this letter because I happened to read over a
32:32
[00 32:19.643 – 00:32:26.883] pamphlet which my father received from the AA, and found your name in it, and decided to drop you a line or two.
32:41
[00 32:26.883 – 00:32:32.143] My father says he remembers seeing you the night you said goodbye to the group.
32:46
[00 32:32.143 – 00:32:39.303] My name is Ruthie Corin, and I am 13 years of age, and I am in the 7th grade at Holy Trinity School.
32:55
[00 32:39.303 – 00:32:43.083] I would like very much if you could send me a little snapshot of yourself.
33:01
[00 32:43.083 – 00:32:46.563] If you could, I would appreciate it very much.
33:04
[00 32:46.563 – 00:32:49.143] I'm the oldest of eight children.
33:07
[00 32:49.143 – 00:32:54.473] Aw, shucks, I can't think of anything to write, so I'll close this little note for now.
33:13
[00 32:54.473 – 00:32:57.563] Sincerely yours, Ruthie.
33:15
[00 32:57.563 – 00:32:58.103] P.S.
33:16
[00 32:58.103 – 00:33:02.893] Answer soon." So that was, like, a cute little tender moment, I thought.
33:21
[00 33:02.893 – 00:33:03.823] It was a fun find.
33:23
[00 33:03.823 – 00:33:09.822] Here's a great example of, uh, how the message was carried in this era.
33:29
[00 33:09.822 – 00:33:17.443] Um, November 29th, '42, a letter from Ralph Buchholder announcing he had one year sober on the 13th.
33:36
[00 33:17.443 – 00:33:18.523] Shared his story.
33:37
[00 33:18.523 – 00:33:23.863] "You gave a talk." He told Clarence that he gave a talk at the Heights Rotary Club.
33:44
[00 33:23.863 – 00:33:26.973] He said, "My brother was the president of the club that year.
33:48
[00 33:26.973 – 00:33:37.043] After you talked, he asked you for your phone number but didn't tell you why, and he immediately wrote my mother about your talk and the fact that there was an Alcoholics Anonymous.
34:01
[00 33:37.043 – 00:33:43.103] After reading the letter, I carried them for a week or so but could not get your phone number off my mind.
34:09
[00 33:43.103 – 00:33:50.052] So after a lot of suffering and anguish, I finally called you up, and you in turn directed me over to Bill Hafermister.
34:18
[00 33:50.052 – 00:33:53.643] And Bill did the job, picked me up out of the gutter.
34:23
[00 33:53.643 – 00:33:59.143] Clarence, if it hadn't been for you and Bill, I would not have been on this earth today.
34:30
[00 33:59.143 – 00:34:02.743] I'm now active AA member enjoying, uh, my new life.
34:34
[00 34:02.743 – 00:34:06.143] Led my first meeting at the Crawford Group on the 13th.
34:38
[00 34:06.143 – 00:34:07.703] Went across strong.
34:39
[00 34:07.703 – 00:34:17.723] Was placed on the house committee last meeting night, and I'm active in hospitals where I might do some good." So he invites Clarence to drop in on some meeting night and
34:51
[00 34:17.723 – 00:34:23.243] share some group happenings, and closes, "Your staunch friend, Ralph Buchholder.
34:56
[00 34:23.243 – 00:34:23.743] P.S.
34:57
[00 34:23.743 – 00:34:33.173] This is written by an ex-booze hound, panhandler, bull shooter," and was not who, who, who s-
35:04
[00 34:33.293 – 00:34:33.933] Going right.
35:05
[00 34:33.933 – 00:34:42.393] There's a copy of the Christmas program in, uh, at the 8th Battalion at, uh, Fort Knox.
35:11
[00 34:42.393 – 00:34:46.513] And then here you see Clarence is listed here in the third platoon.
35:16
[00 34:46.513 – 00:34:56.783] Now, Clarence wrote back Ruthie, the 13-year-old, so we got, uh, evidence that they had commun- they were pen pals a bit, uh, because
35:25
[00 34:56.783 – 00:34:59.113] here's her next letter December 6th.
35:28
[00 34:59.113 – 00:35:03.713] "Dear Clarence, I received your letter, enjoyed reading it.
35:32
[00 35:03.713 – 00:35:05.453] I decided to answer it right away.
35:34
[00 35:05.453 – 00:35:16.153] I'm sorry, I don't have a photograph of myself as it is snowing, and I don't have a camera to take all sorts of pictures, but I will send you one as soon as I can.
35:48
[00 35:16.153 – 00:35:17.193] Uh, I got your picture.
35:50
[00 35:17.193 – 00:35:19.293] I want to thank you very much.
35:53
[00 35:19.293 – 00:35:28.853] I'm afraid if I had mine taken, I'll break the camera, so whenever you get my picture, don't be surprised because I'm not good-looking, and everybody tells me so.
36:04
[00 35:28.853 – 00:35:35.773] I read an article in a, I read an article in a magazine about Fort Knox, and I enjoyed reading it.
36:12
[00 35:35.773 – 00:35:38.073] It w- it was in the Family Circle.
36:15
[00 35:38.073 – 00:35:42.653] I guess I'll have to close this short but snappy note with best wishes.
36:21
[00 35:42.653 – 00:35:45.073] Sincerely yours, Ruthie.
36:22
[00 35:45.073 – 00:35:46.373] P.S.
36:23
[00 35:46.373 – 00:35:51.673] Don't forget me." So cute little 13-year-old writing, writing a service member.
36:28
[00 35:51.673 – 00:36:02.413] Then we got another letter, um, from Clarence to Dorothy, um, about December 13th, I'm guessing, um,
36:35
[00 36:02.413 – 00:36:05.453] about life at Fort Knox and his planned trip home on a pass.
36:40
[00 36:05.453 – 00:36:11.252] He's been trying, um, all evening to get a call through to Cleveland, but no successes yet.
36:46
[00 36:11.252 – 00:36:19.313] He says, "I guess it's just out of the question with one telephone in the area and so many men also clogging the lines.
36:55
[00 36:19.313 – 00:36:24.313] I'll be home on a three-day pass and will arrive in Cleveland Friday AM, I hope.
37:02
[00 36:24.313 – 00:36:27.893] I'll either drop in at the office, or I'll call you first.
37:06
[00 36:27.893 – 00:36:32.993] Had a letter the other day from Charlie, but haven't been able to answer as yet.
37:13
[00 36:32.993 – 00:36:43.593] I was an instructor and coach on the 30 caliber machine gun Friday, and our company set a new high record for average scores." Says,
37:22
[00 36:43.593 – 00:36:49.593] "Monday noon after mess," he starts again, uh, "mess of beans, cabbage, and onions, no butter.
37:28
[00 36:49.593 – 00:36:53.933] I think we're getting hit as hard on rations as anyone on the outside.
37:33
[00 36:53.933 – 00:36:57.473] We seldom get butter anymore, often no beverage.
37:37
[00 36:57.473 – 00:37:02.413] Two quarts of milk per man per day, including breakfast cereal, et cetera.
37:42
[00 37:02.413 – 00:37:08.753] Many months, days, and what we have is usually frightfully cooked.
37:46
[00 37:08.753 – 00:37:16.153] They always put the chow on the table 10 or 15 minutes before we're called to eat it." So good eating.
37:53
[00 37:16.153 – 00:37:22.073] "Received your box of candy the other day, and it was really manna.
37:58
[00 37:22.073 – 00:37:29.973] Thanks a whole lot, and I must add that it's a wonderful candy, and I can make very good use of the metal box to keep some of my things in.
38:10
[00 37:29.973 – 00:37:32.313] It was very thoughtful of you.
38:13
[00 37:32.313 – 00:37:36.423] We were out on chemical warfare problems most of the morning.
38:17
[00 37:36.423 – 00:37:43.953] We were have demonstrations and practical work on decontaminate, decontaminating tanks and shell holes.
38:22
[00 37:43.953 – 00:37:48.073] We're paying a good deal of attention to chemical warfare details.
38:27
[00 37:48.073 – 00:37:49.973] Form your own conclusions on that.
38:29
[00 37:49.973 – 00:38:00.293] So the program here has been strenuous, but, um, easier if there wasn't so much confusion and evidence."
38:36
[00 38:00.293 – 00:38:02.373] This is typical.
38:38
[00 38:02.373 – 00:38:04.833] "The administration of detail here is very poor.
38:41
[00 38:04.833 – 00:38:11.353] Certainly, none of the peanut heads in charge here ever heard much of organization or efficiency.
38:47
[00 38:11.353 – 00:38:17.693] I went to Louisville on Saturday and got my ticket for home and spent the night there at a tourist home.
38:55
[00 38:17.693 – 00:38:25.693] Went to church yesterday, and one of the women there invited me out to her home for a chicken dinner, which was very welcome and very good.
39:06
[00 38:25.693 – 00:38:36.093] After we cleaned her kitchen and pantry out to the bare walls, it's doubtful that she'll ever get mixed up into such patri- patriotic fever again to,
39:16
[00 38:36.093 – 00:38:46.133] to the point of inviting any soldiers home for Sunday dinner." Here's his approved leave slip for that December 18th to 21st, uh,
39:24
[00 38:46.133 – 00:38:46.893] Cleveland visit.
39:26
[00 38:46.893 – 00:38:56.573] And then in December 11th, there's a letter from Sergeant Gilmore, says, "Dear Snatch," another nickname, I suppose.
39:32
[00 38:56.573 – 00:39:06.933] Um, "Sent some negatives of some pictures." He talked about going through tear gas chamber training, caught a cold sleeping in the rain on bivouac,
39:42
[00 39:06.933 – 00:39:10.213] and skinned his knee and elbow from hitting the ground in rifle drills.
39:47
[00 39:10.213 – 00:39:15.993] Um, here's another Dankworth letter from, uh, Harry Dankworth.
39:51
[00 39:15.993 – 00:39:17.773] Um, I love the language.
39:53
[00 39:17.773 – 00:39:25.713] "Dear Clarence, well, finally, I've got the bulletins all enclosed in envelopes, ready to take down to the PO and stamp them.
40:01
[00 39:25.713 – 00:39:35.913] And with a soggy, very, very soggy cigar in my mouth and no matches, I simply have to scratch you a few lines
40:10
[00 39:35.913 – 00:39:37.813] so that I can close it with your bulletin.
40:14
[00 39:37.813 – 00:39:41.773] Wanted to write some, but it simply was not to be.
40:18
[00 39:41.773 – 00:39:48.033] Somebody just came in with a match, so you can scratch one of those soggies or verys off.
40:25
[00 39:48.033 – 00:39:51.293] It's still just a cigar, though.
40:28
[00 39:51.293 – 00:40:00.173] Damn it." He thanked Clarence for the time to write a long letter, which is published in its entirely in the bulletin.
40:36
[00 40:00.173 – 00:40:10.613] He says he's been busier than a, than a cat carrying its own excretion on a tin roof, "And I wonder after how I was a-
40:46
[00 40:10.613 – 00:40:17.973] ever able to find the time, uh, to spend most of my mornings, afternoons, and evenings in the various cafes in town.
40:54
[00 40:17.973 – 00:40:27.993] There simply aren't enough hours in the day or enough days in the week." He says, "I'm leading a meeting at Lee Mayfield tonight and accepted reluctantly
41:04
[00 40:27.993 – 00:40:31.313] because my gas rationing book is rapidly diminishing.
41:08
[00 40:31.313 – 00:40:41.593] However, whether the next month, I sim- I don't simply know, but living the AA plan day by day, simply forgetting everything about the future."
41:17
[00 40:41.593 – 00:40:43.913] And then he closes with, "P.S.
41:20
[00 40:43.913 – 00:40:50.393] Get a double with Selma, double ice cream chocolate soda," and in the old days, it would've been a double Four Roses.
41:28
[00 40:50.393 – 00:41:00.833] Another letter from Ruthie, again, dated December 24th, Christmas Eve, acknowledging another letter from Clarence.
41:34
[00 41:00.833 – 00:41:02.713] Short and sweet ending.
41:36
[00 41:02.713 – 00:41:06.013] "I can't think of very much to write, so goodbye for now.
41:41
[00 41:06.013 – 00:41:16.213] Sincerely yours, Ruthie." And then, um, Christmas 1942, here's a card from the Parkers.
41:46
[00 41:16.213 – 00:41:23.473] Hank wrote that he was sending to his ex-wife's business address because he didn't have Clarence's current address.
41:53
[00 41:23.473 – 00:41:27.823] And then here's another eight-page hand-
41:55
[00 41:27.929 – 00:41:31.329] Written letter to Dorothy and Charlie from December 29th.
41:59
[00 41:31.329 – 00:41:38.689] "It had been raining steadily here since before Chris- Xmas," so they abbreviated.
42:04
[00 41:38.689 – 00:41:40.809] Not a new thing.
42:06
[00 41:40.809 – 00:41:45.089] "Which of course had done much to help the mud situation.
42:10
[00 41:45.089 – 00:41:52.249] Never did I s- see, nor could I imagine such a mud hole as this place." He's talking about Fort Knox.
42:18
[00 41:52.249 – 00:42:02.349] "Tonight we're confined to our barracks in an effort to help prepare for the command inspection on Thursday." He was on the range yesterday firing tanks.
42:28
[00 42:02.349 – 00:42:03.749] He did well.
42:30
[00 42:03.749 – 00:42:14.129] He said, "I made a perfect score putting 15 shots smack through the targets right in a row, and felt good about it all." Most people did, 70% was good, and 50%
42:41
[00 42:14.129 – 00:42:15.649] was the average.
42:42
[00 42:15.649 – 00:42:21.849] "He went out on night patrols last night, and he stayed out most of the night, tramping around through woods and mud.
42:50
[00 42:21.849 – 00:42:25.089] Had very little sleep, and I'm somewhat tired tonight.
42:54
[00 42:25.089 – 00:42:36.949] We drilled in the rain this AM until I was floating in my shoes, and the balance of the day was spent on tank combat tactics." As
43:04
[00 42:36.949 – 00:42:39.349] far as tanks are concerned, however, there's many things.
43:08
[00 42:39.349 – 00:42:44.829] He talks, th- there's some fun things about tanks in here that are just, um, that he writes about.
43:15
[00 42:44.829 – 00:42:48.789] Um, they're the coldest thing in the world in the winter, and the hottest in the summer.
43:22
[00 42:48.789 – 00:42:51.609] A- and he's only been there in the winter.
43:25
[00 42:51.609 – 00:42:57.049] Um, anything I could say about the dirt and mud in connection would be a gross understatement.
43:32
[00 42:57.049 – 00:43:05.149] The inside arrangement was designed for anything but comfort, and one is forever bumping his knob on something or other.
43:40
[00 43:05.149 – 00:43:09.789] After getting five men in one of them, things are very chummy to say the least.
43:46
[00 43:09.789 – 00:43:16.169] Getting out of them requires the skills of a contortionist, and the gifts of a snake.
43:52
[00 43:16.169 – 00:43:23.369] The other day they had to completely undress one fellow to get him out of a, one of the light tanks that he got himself into that he couldn't get out of.
44:04
[00 43:23.369 – 00:43:33.809] He said, "We got a couple of bad accidents with them." Um, he talked about, "Backed over a Jeep and made a veritable pancake out of the Jeep and its driver.
44:16
[00 43:33.809 – 00:43:44.049] Also, one collided with a civilian's car, and of course climbed right on over the car, civilian and all, and left everything flatter
44:24
[00 43:44.049 – 00:43:51.969] and thinner than a rooming house rug." With 33 tons climb up on type of a car, it makes an awful mess.
44:32
[00 43:51.969 – 00:43:58.739] So for as busy as he seems, um, he wrote a lot of letters.
44:38
[00 43:58.739 – 00:44:09.169] He says, "It's very difficult for me to find time to write many letters, and when I do write, I hear I make them long and possibly boring." He
44:49
[00 44:09.169 – 00:44:13.129] discussed the food at the end of basic training and his possible future.
44:54
[00 44:13.129 – 00:44:21.689] Um, he said he could stay at Fort Knox as an instructor, he could go to OCS, go directly to OCS, or be discharged and sent home.
45:04
[00 44:21.689 – 00:44:27.749] "If I should find myself staying in the Army, I should prefer a lot of places to Fort Knox," he says.
45:12
[00 44:27.749 – 00:44:37.789] So about his future, he says, "Of course, uh, Selma and my brother, and most everyone are of the opinion that I should drop the whole
45:22
[00 44:37.789 – 00:44:47.849] idea and come home as a, as a VOC, voluntary officer candidate, and being 40, there's much element of
45:29
[00 44:47.849 – 00:44:54.729] reason in that also." This is specifically to Charlie.
45:33
[00 44:54.729 – 00:45:00.109] He thanks, he says, "Thanks a lot to you, Charlie, for your card and your note.
45:39
[00 45:00.109 – 00:45:03.949] It was a clever card, and I'll always keep up- keep it.
45:43
[00 45:03.949 – 00:45:07.849] I'm very proud of the pictures, and carry it in my OD blouse.
45:49
[00 45:07.849 – 00:45:12.929] Your uniform is really something, and you look the part of a real soldier.
45:54
[00 45:12.929 – 00:45:23.339] I might add, you look more like a soldier than a good many of the fellows here." And then he, um, he closes, yep, that's where I was, and
46:05
[00 45:23.339 – 00:45:25.349] gets back to scrubbing for the inspection.
46:08
[00 45:25.349 – 00:45:35.369] Then there's a January 12th letter to, uh, Mary Dickman in Louisville about a prospect
46:14
[00 45:35.369 – 00:45:38.789] that he met with Bob, who did not stay sober.
46:18
[00 45:38.789 – 00:45:48.809] And, um, this is, um, the pastor of
46:21
[00 45:48.809 – 00:45:55.189] the First Unitarian Clergy Clu- inviting Cl- uh, Clarence to, uh, visit whenever he could.
46:27
[00 45:55.189 – 00:46:06.469] This one is the Louisville letter from, uh, the
46:31
[00 46:06.469 – 00:46:08.819] prospect Bob that, uh, didn't stay sober.
46:33
[00 46:08.819 – 00:46:17.569] And we'll skip that one.
46:36
[00 46:17.569 – 00:46:27.709] Here's the, uh, here's the article that they, from Louisville, that was in the, uh, Louisville Curdal- Curial Journer- Journal when AA was, uh, l- about a year and a half,
46:47
[00 46:27.709 – 00:46:32.849] um, the group had been there for about a year and a half, that she enclosed in the letter.
46:55
[00 46:32.849 – 00:46:40.249] Um, she was trying to, um, get some literature to try to help her friend again.
47:01
[00 46:40.249 – 00:46:46.749] And so here's another Dankworth letter dated 1942.
47:04
[00 46:46.749 – 00:46:51.329] Um, but I think that's January 16th, 1943.
47:07
[00 46:51.329 – 00:46:54.009] I think it is just early in the year.
47:10
[00 46:54.009 – 00:47:04.109] Um, he just received the disturbing news, so there's a lot of group gossip in this one, that the West Side group secretaries had met, and they had voted to withdraw
47:22
[00 47:04.109 – 00:47:06.529] from the central committee and meet independently.
47:25
[00 47:06.529 – 00:47:11.509] Why they show this rancor and hatred for East Side, I cannot understand.
47:30
[00 47:11.509 – 00:47:21.609] So he called Lowry in the meantime, and, um, he was trying to figure out who voted what, and, um, all the key players couldn't have been there, and they couldn't have meant the whole West Side.
47:44
[00 47:21.609 – 00:47:29.809] And, um, where is the honesty and love, which is such a vital and necessary part of our AA program?
47:51
[00 47:29.809 – 00:47:40.119] Honestly, Clarence, I don't believe it, and it's my resolve that they be made to see that they are the guilty ones for the very thing they accuse the
48:02
[00 47:40.119 – 00:47:41.329] central committee of doing.
48:04
[00 47:41.329 – 00:47:48.109] Here's a letter from, uh, Reverend Frank Fit.
48:07
[00 47:48.109 – 00:47:58.649] Um, he was replying that, yes, he does know Archie Trowbridge, and he was telling a story about when he was meeting him drunk, and now he knows him and goes to meetings occasionally where,
48:21
[00 47:58.649 – 00:47:59.409] where Archie is.
48:22
[00 47:59.409 – 00:48:07.569] And then, um, in the news from the camps March of '43, "Clarence Snyder and John K.
48:29
[00 48:07.569 – 00:48:11.309] have returned to civilian life well past the age limit.
48:33
[00 48:11.309 – 00:48:15.369] They're back home and subject to call should the need arise.
48:37
[00 48:15.369 – 00:48:22.459] They both have recontacted, uh, their sponsoring groups, and they're happily resuming AA activities." So-
48:43
[00 48:22.598 – 00:48:24.458] So Clarence is now back home.
48:45
[00 48:24.458 – 00:48:33.378] Um, here's a letter to Clarence from, uh, Private Dewey Henson, um, sent to the Cleveland address.
48:52
[00 48:33.378 – 00:48:40.478] He was, um, at Fort Knox with Clarence, and now he's at Camp Hood, Texas, writing about life, living in tents with no lights.
49:01
[00 48:40.478 – 00:48:46.358] And there's another letter from, uh, Private Jensen, um, still at Camp Knox.
49:06
[00 48:46.358 – 00:48:56.358] He shares about, um, eating from a mess kit three times a day, shooting, and casually mentions that, "We had one soldier jump off the 60-foot bridge and,
49:17
[00 48:56.358 – 00:49:01.697] and he's still living." Here's, um, a letter to Mrs.
49:21
[00 49:01.697 – 00:49:03.408] Snyder from Ray Arndt.
49:23
[00 49:03.408 – 00:49:12.238] It's free sailor mail from San Francisco, and he mentions that he's glad to hear about Clarence, but he talks about flying and being close to bombs and je- and Japanese.
49:34
[00 49:12.238 – 00:49:19.018] He, it, he makes a reference to Mom and Dad, so I'm not sure who Ray Arndt is, and he signs it Boom.
49:43
[00 49:19.018 – 00:49:27.458] And, uh, "We spent many restless, sleepless nights only to get up and down to our planes before dawn in preparation for an attack.
49:52
[00 49:27.458 – 00:49:30.798] It isn't all beer and Skittles.
49:55
[00 49:30.798 – 00:49:38.758] My rosary has been my only comfort and protection." And here's another letter from Private Jensen at Camp Hood.
50:02
[00 49:38.758 – 00:49:42.358] He's being j- discharged, uh, because his mother is ill.
50:06
[00 49:42.358 – 00:49:48.018] He shares his new address in Salem, Ohio, where he's gonna be.
50:11
[00 49:48.018 – 00:49:57.758] And then here's a letter to Clarence from Dorothy sent to his, uh, work address at Jones and Laughlin St- and it's marked personal, so this was very interesting to me.
50:22
[00 49:57.758 – 00:49:59.658] Um, here's his ex-wife.
50:24
[00 49:59.658 – 00:50:07.178] Um, he, he goes on about their son's summer plans at, he's at a boarding school, a military boarding school.
50:32
[00 50:07.178 – 00:50:17.198] And, um, she says, uh, "First of all, and the thing I'm most immediately concerned about is Dick's military review next Sunday.
50:40
[00 50:17.198 – 00:50:21.218] That's the highlight of the year, and I hope earnestly you can get up for it.
50:46
[00 50:21.218 – 00:50:31.498] It would hurt Dick a lot, I believe, if none of the family showed up for it." She says, "I feel s- so
50:55
[00 50:31.498 – 00:50:37.578] cleanly that if neither you or Bill can, I'll spend the money and come back for it, and I mean it." And she's in New York now.
51:05
[00 50:37.578 – 00:50:42.178] "So will you send me an airmail special delivery right away and let me know?
51:11
[00 50:42.178 – 00:50:49.818] Or if you prefer calling me Monday at 7:00, it's 80 cents station to station at Yonkers 39809.
51:17
[00 50:49.818 – 00:50:57.898] Um, now that that's off the mind, this letter is for you only, please, and that's why I'm sending it to the office.
51:26
[00 50:57.898 – 00:51:06.678] I feel I can talk to you better a- if I know that you're the only one to read this." And of course, he's remarried, so it's just interesting.
51:37
[00 51:06.678 – 00:51:14.797] Um, but then she shares honestly about a bad mental state, feeling rotten physically, fear, self-pity.
51:43
[00 51:14.797 – 00:51:17.698] She was on the verge of doing something foolish.
51:46
[00 51:17.698 – 00:51:25.198] And that something foolish was she was considering marrying so that Dick could have a good home.
51:53
[00 51:25.198 – 00:51:32.748] She was in a mental dithers, and Connie, um, her sister, had been a very g- very good to her.
52:01
[00 51:32.748 – 00:51:44.218] "All of a sudden I feel really wonderful, serene, uh, with a real serenity and life beyond." So she's feeling terrible, and then suddenly feeling, um, back
52:11
[00 51:44.218 – 00:51:44.758] on the beam.
52:12
[00 51:44.758 – 00:51:54.198] She shares about cutting down on her smoking and plans to stay in New York, and then turns to, uh, the custody plans for Dick during summer break.
52:23
[00 51:54.198 – 00:52:00.818] She continues the summer plans that Dick would, uh, like to return to Nazareth Hall in the fall.
52:30
[00 52:00.818 – 00:52:07.278] Um, she continues, um, sharing about New York at night.
52:34
[00 52:07.278 – 00:52:10.638] Uh, "One really feels the war here.
52:37
[00 52:10.638 – 00:52:14.718] New York at night is just like walking in a deep, deep cavern or valley.
52:43
[00 52:14.718 – 00:52:18.218] The tall, dark buildings on either side are awesome.
52:46
[00 52:18.218 – 00:52:20.358] Streetlights aren't even on.
52:48
[00 52:20.358 – 00:52:22.778] The traffic lights are a mere line.
52:51
[00 52:22.778 – 00:52:32.818] They have a total blackout test about once a week, which is not heralded, and it's very frightening." She talked about attending an AA meeting with,
53:01
[00 52:32.818 – 00:52:37.258] uh, Connie during the blackout, and, um, it made her knees turn to water.
53:06
[00 52:37.258 – 00:52:40.498] She saw Ed Hughes and Marty Mann.
53:09
[00 52:40.498 – 00:52:51.798] She said, "There are soldiers and sailors of all nations roaming the streets, and it seems funny to see people trodding into very dark streets." She
53:19
[00 52:51.798 – 00:53:00.958] says, "Well, that's enough, isn't it?" And, um, s- this one seems to be, um...
53:25
[00 53:00.958 – 00:53:08.878] This one right here seems to be about June of 1943, another letter from Dorothy to Clarence.
53:31
[00 53:08.878 – 00:53:15.398] Um, glad Dick's military review in Grand Rapids was nice and that Clarence wore his uniform to it.
53:38
[00 53:15.398 – 00:53:24.418] Says Hank is ill, and in parentheses, "Not drinking." But the doctor ordered West Coast, so he, Connie, and Dorothy are now going to LA.
53:47
[00 53:24.418 – 00:53:34.198] They're gonna pick up Dick, their son, about July 1st, and that he may not return to Nazareth Hall because there's good schools in California.
53:57
[00 53:34.198 – 00:53:44.198] And, um, for years Clarence had difficulty paying on the life insurance of their son, and again here, Dorothy asked him to send the payments that are
54:07
[00 53:44.258 – 00:53:44.958] late again.
54:08
[00 53:44.958 – 00:53:49.678] Regards to Selma, his wife.
54:10
[00 53:49.678 – 00:53:59.998] Uh, "Wish you had some of the labor that is available here in Westchester County." She says, "Our factory has about 80% very high type people, and the morons
54:21
[00 53:59.998 – 00:54:09.878] are at a minimum." And then again, after Father's Day 1943, she made a hasty letter that she wrote on an envelope.
54:29
[00 54:09.878 – 00:54:17.638] Um, asked for the $40 insurance money that he forgot to include his premiums again, and they're late, and please airmail.
54:37
[00 54:17.638 – 00:54:27.758] She says the reason that she hasn't written Dick, um, this week is because she sprained her wrist, and she wishes Clarence Happy Father's Day
54:46
[00 54:27.758 – 00:54:30.698] and hope he took Dick to church Sunday and every Sunday.
54:51
[00 54:30.698 – 00:54:39.918] And then, um, here's a letter to Clarence from the VA regarding, uh, $5.10 credit to his insurance premiums.
54:57
[00 54:39.918 – 00:54:46.098] And then here's his local draft board classifying, uh, 1A8.
55:01
[00 54:46.098 – 00:54:55.458] 1A, he's available and, uh, fit for general military service, and the H designates that he's deferred because of his age.
55:09
[00 54:55.458 – 00:55:05.498] And, um, here's a Num- November '43 six-page handwritten letter from Clay Bull to Clarence talking about VOC and his decision to
55:18
[00 55:05.498 – 00:55:13.338] enlist, and he found out that the VOC was really, um, the, the government made some promises that they didn't keep.
55:26
[00 55:13.338 – 00:55:17.098] Um, he, he, he learned that, um, they had limit-
55:30
[00 55:17.234 – 00:55:19.434] Space is what they told him, and he was promised.
55:34
[00 55:19.434 – 00:55:25.273] Um, he made the grade, he made the cutoff, but, um, they didn't have enough seats, training seats for him.
55:42
[00 55:25.273 – 00:55:30.614] So he decided he would enlist and try to go OCS later another way.
55:47
[00 55:30.614 – 00:55:35.984] And he talked about getting over that resentment throughout that letter.
55:51
[00 55:35.984 – 00:55:40.324] And, um, "A's done a lot for me, and I'm still enjoying its benefits.
55:57
[00 55:40.324 – 00:55:47.034] Believe me, if I'd been all wary of my footing, I'd sure wobbled after these experiences.
56:03
[00 55:47.034 – 00:55:49.934] But with God's help, I'm still going strong.
56:06
[00 55:49.934 – 00:56:00.074] In fact, before I signed, I stayed, uh, spent, I, I, I spent some time with, talking over with Him, and I feel that He guided me to the right path.
56:18
[00 56:00.074 – 00:56:02.274] Best of luck to you, my boy.
56:21
[00 56:02.274 – 00:56:04.194] Don't let my troubles concern you.
56:23
[00 56:04.194 – 00:56:05.314] Write soon.
56:25
[00 56:05.314 – 00:56:15.914] Clayton." And then a letter to Clarence from, uh, Corporal Spencer Powell in Stuttgart, Arkansas, that, um, for Christmas presents,
56:32
[00 56:15.914 – 00:56:16.934] um, he thanked him.
56:34
[00 56:16.934 – 00:56:26.254] He talked about the bulletins coming quicker now that his address is updated, and shares, um, what it's like to be around the boys in the squadron who are drinking.
56:45
[00 56:26.254 – 00:56:33.794] And then here's a March 7th, '44 postcard from, I'm not kidding you, the guy's name is Homer Simpson.
56:53
[00 56:33.794 – 00:56:36.754] He's on the USS Cassin to Clarence.
56:56
[00 56:36.754 – 00:56:42.154] Thanks him for the cigarettes, provided his address before and after the war.
57:01
[00 56:42.154 – 00:56:50.274] He's on his second ship because the first one got shot out from under him last October, and he's hoping for better luck this time.
57:10
[00 56:50.274 – 00:56:56.374] And then on the 8th of May, 1945, the war ends in Europe.
57:15
[00 56:56.374 – 00:57:01.774] Um, Germany surrenders, then Japan surrenders later on September the 2nd.
57:19
[00 57:01.774 – 00:57:05.884] The formal surrender documents were signed on the USS Missouri.
57:23
[00 57:05.884 – 00:57:09.214] So at this time, A is 10 years old.
57:27
[00 57:09.214 – 00:57:13.654] Um, groups start to spring up in other lands crossing the Atlantic and the Pacific.
57:32
[00 57:13.654 – 00:57:22.034] In part, the message spread when sober service members needed to stay sober themselves and found another drunk and planted a seed.
57:41
[00 57:22.034 – 00:57:28.754] So thanks for letting me share all that, and, um, I'm excited to hear any questions or comments.
57:48
[00 57:28.754 – 00:57:38.994] Thank you, Roger.
57:49
[00 57:38.994 – 00:57:40.194] Great job.
57:50
[00 57:40.194 – 00:57:43.454] And, uh, now we have some time for questions.
57:54
[00 57:43.454 – 00:57:49.714] If anyone has a question, please use the raise hand function, and I will call on you as you raise your hands.
58:02
[00 57:49.714 – 00:58:00.854] No
58:03
[00 58:00.854 – 00:58:01.774] questions.
58:04
[00 58:01.774 – 00:58:05.834] All right.
58:05
[00 58:05.834 – 00:58:07.014] We got Gary.
58:06
[00 58:07.014 – 00:58:07.994] You can unmute.
58:08
[00 58:07.994 – 00:58:14.794] Whoops.
58:08
[00 58:14.794 – 00:58:15.834] There we go.
58:10
[00 58:15.834 – 00:58:16.554] I'm Gary.
58:11
[00 58:16.554 – 00:58:17.454] I'm an alcoholic.
58:12
[00 58:17.454 – 00:58:17.894] Come on.
58:14
[00 58:17.894 – 00:58:19.094] Un- Okay ...
58:15
[00 58:19.094 – 00:58:20.274] video, please.
58:16
[00 58:20.274 – 00:58:24.214] Well, anyway- I can hear you.
58:18
[00 58:24.214 – 00:58:25.434] Okay.
58:19
[00 58:25.434 – 00:58:26.814] Well, I'm trying to get...
58:21
[00 58:26.814 – 00:58:29.574] I don't know why my computer's not responding.
58:24
[00 58:29.574 – 00:58:31.164] But I, I'm wondering- There you are ...
58:27
[00 58:31.164 – 00:58:37.954] uh, Roger, have you, uh, decided to share any of this information with Cleveland AA?
58:33
[00 58:37.954 – 00:58:45.744] Because you've got so much, so many jewels of what would be of local interest, you know, to Cleveland in the '40s.
58:42
[00 58:45.744 – 00:58:49.854] I'm just wondering whether you've had any i- That would be one question.
58:47
[00 58:49.854 – 00:58:55.374] And then have you considered making a little booklet out of what you presented as well?
58:53
[00 58:55.374 – 00:58:58.034] I have both of those things.
58:56
[00 58:58.034 – 00:59:08.194] Actually, I was interested in making a trip to Cleveland that I haven't done yet, and seeing if I could, um, find more deeper information
59:05
[00 59:08.194 – 00:59:18.334] on the various characters that are either listed in the Central Bulletin or the people who wrote these letters, so I could learn a little bit
59:15
[00 59:18.334 – 00:59:24.814] more about who they were and where they fit in, in our AA history and in Cleveland's history.
59:22
[00 59:24.814 – 00:59:32.044] You know, you, the people that you can find in our books, um, were a little bit easier.
59:29
[00 59:32.044 – 00:59:33.774] Some were familiar.
59:30
[00 59:33.774 – 00:59:38.454] But there's a, there's probably a lot more story there.
59:34
[00 59:38.454 – 00:59:41.594] Um, so yeah, I would love to share that with Cleveland.
59:39
[00 59:41.594 – 00:59:47.174] And it does feel like, um, so I, I mentioned earlier, I cut a lot out of this.
59:46
[00 59:47.174 – 00:59:51.714] So I have, uh, almost 250 images of letters.
59:49
[00 59:51.714 – 00:59:58.794] Um, some of them are, were just interesting, but outside the scope of the wartime that I was focused on.
59:57
[00 59:58.794 – 01:00:08.894] But there's a lot there, and it certainly could, um, be helpful to, to make it a little booklet or to, to make it available to people in a printed
60:08
[01 00:08.894 – 01:00:09.194] way.
60:09
[01 00:09.194 – 01:00:09.994] That's a good idea.
60:11
[01 00:09.994 – 01:00:10.394] Thanks.
60:11
[01 00:10.394 – 01:00:17.274] Thank you for the question, Gary.
60:14
[01 00:17.274 – 01:00:22.494] And I have a question that was sent in the chat for you, Roger.
60:19
[01 00:22.494 – 01:00:30.274] Um, what was one big takeaway or insight into Clarence's personality from your research?
60:25
[01 00:30.274 – 01:00:40.584] Um, it was, I didn't get to see a lot of his personality except for the letters that he wrote to Dorothy,
60:33
[01 00:40.584 – 01:00:49.614] um, which were very detailed, um, articulate, and, um, a lot of, you know, it was the people that were writing to him.
60:42
[01 00:49.614 – 01:00:59.814] So, um, I got a lot more insight about Clarence the person through Mitchell's book and, um, through re- listening to him, uh,
60:51
[01 00:59.814 – 01:01:01.294] various talks throughout his life.
60:53
[01 01:01.294 – 01:01:10.554] Um, I was, I love the, um, the little girl who wrote him as a pen pal.
60:59
[01 01:10.554 – 01:01:19.154] You know, I thought that was like, you know, he has a, by reputation, kind of like a fundamental hardcore sponsor reputation.
61:08
[01 01:19.154 – 01:01:28.774] And so to see him and to, to realize even though you don't see what he wrote back to her, that he obviously wrote, there was a correspondence back and forth.
61:19
[01 01:28.774 – 01:01:38.694] And, um, that he maintained these relationships and, um, and spent a lot of time, um, obviously writing some very long letters.
61:28
[01 01:38.694 – 01:01:44.514] The, the ones that are published and the ones that you can infer that from the other, the letter the other way, so.
61:37
[01 01:44.514 – 01:01:48.414] Thank you.
61:38
[01 01:48.414 – 01:01:50.814] And, uh, any other questions?
61:40
[01 01:50.814 – 01:01:57.314] All right.
61:41
[01 01:57.314 – 01:01:59.274] Well, thank you so much, Roger.
61:43
[01 01:59.274 – 01:02:08.214] And, uh, I'm going to allow everyone to unmute and thank you, and, uh, join us for- I know it was a lot of text and a bit of reading.
61:55
[01 02:08.214 – 01:02:11.034] Um, I hope it didn't come across as too fast or, um-
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