Letter from Robert B. Mowry to Richard T. Gernert, February 13, 1943
MLA Citation
Mowry, Robert Bruce, 1893-1989. “Letter from Robert B. Mowry to Richard T. Gernert, February 13, 1943.” Digital Gallery. BGSU University Libraries, 14 Nov. 2023, digitalgallery.bgsu.edu/items/show/42521. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
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Title | Letter from Robert B. Mowry to Richard T. Gernert, February 13, 1943 |
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[top left] PHONE, FAIRFAX 0732 [end top left]
[center letterhead] ROBERT B. MOWRY, D.D.S. 8 EAST NORTH AVENUE NORTH SIDE STATION PITTSBURCH, PA. [end center letterhead]
[right] Sat. Feb. 13, 1943 [end right]
Dear Dick,
I seem to be suffering from an attack of guilty conscience concerning my correspondence. I realize, however, that some of my near relatives have kept you informed regarding the progress of events here. The opportunity to write this letter is afforded by the fact that Billy arrived home this afternoon to attend the basketball game between Westminster and Pitt at Pittsburgh. He left here before I got home, so I am waiting for him to come home. It is now 11:30 P.M., but I don't expect him for another hour or so. Westminster gave Pitt a trimming last week at New Wilmington, and I may be able to ggive you the score of the game tonight before I finish this letter.
Speaking of baset ball, Bobby is going all out this winter. He attends practice several evenings a week, and he has participated in some of the recent games. I believe he told you about that in a letter to you this week. I hope the game in which you were interested turned out successfully. We have not heard the score so far. I still remember the long shot you made in a game down in Ohio a few years ago. I didn't see that one, but I heard plenty about it.
I am anxious to see Billy for several reasons. We received notice today from his faculty to the effect that he is now on probation. His scholastic standing has not been satisfactory, and we are trying to figure out the reason. I refust to admit that he is intellectually inferior, but I believe that he lacks the power of concentration. He has been very much upset lately by his uncertain military status. He is definitely in the Naval Reserve, but he does not know when he will be called. He seems to think that he will be in school until June.
The war news continues to be good, and I am still optimistic in spite of some of the pessimists here. I have been watching the Russian advance on the map, and I find that they have advanced more than 300 miles from Stalingrad. They seem to have trapped about a quarter of a million Nazis with little hope of escape. At Stalingrad they cleaned up about twice the population of Youngstown, and I can't see how this kind of slaughter can go on indefinitely. The plans for cleaning up the Japs seem to be about completed, and we will all be pleased when they start working out on them. Of course we are more interested in the Pacific area than in any other locality, but I am sure the brass hats are working on that problem.
Our chief concern at the present is the ration problem. As you may know our district has been included in the gasoline restricted eastern area of 17 eastern states. We are limited to three gals. of gasoline per coupon, and our driving has been restricted to strictly business trips. A delegation from this area called on the big wigs in Washington last week to try to persuade them to
[top left] PHONE, FAIRFAX 0732 [end top left]
[center letterhead] ROBERT B. MOWRY, D.D.S. 8 EAST NORTH AVENUE NORTH SIDE STATION PITTSBURCH, PA. [end center letterhead]
change our status to the district which includes Ohio, W.Va. and the Middle west. In the latter area the gas coupons are good for four gallons, and they can use their cars for any purpose within the limits of their gasoline ration. A decision has been promised for next week, and we are hoping that they will be able to see the logic of our case. So far I have not been inconvenienced. During the ration period just ending we have had several holidays, and by careful economy I have been able to just about get by on my allotment. I applied for a renewal today, and if they allow me the same mileage as before, and if they change our district rating, I will be able to drive to school every day.
The latest ration order concerns shoes. We are now allowed three pairs per year, which is more than I need, but I may have to use some of my ration for other members of the family. I am heartily in favor of the ration plan which may be extended to include meat and clothing in the near future.
The next subject for discussion is gardening. Bob Elton and I have been attending night classes on gardening. We are planning to extend our gardening operations at the farm this year, and Elton expects to have a garden at his brother's place which is not far from his home. Andersons expect to use part of our farm for their garden, and there is plenty of room for any others who want to use it. As our knowledge of agriculture is quite limited, we have been studying government and state literature on the subject, and we hope to improve on our last year's experiment.
The bowling league is still functioning, but many vacancies have occurred. We had a meeting last month at which we tried to adjust the list to fill in the teams. My average is about as usual. I have had a few bad nights. We are all using the street cars, as driving is prohibited on such occasions. I believe that we have had more fun this year than usual. Everyone is taking the transportation difficulties as a joke, and we all get together on the crowded street cars and have a lot of fun.
I believe that is about all the news. I have tried to crowd into this letter all the items which should have been included in the letters I should have written previously. We are thinking about you constantly and wondering where you will be when you read our letters. I hope the censor will pass this letter as is, since it contains no news which has not already been published. We realize that you [added above] are [end added above] busy, but we are always glad when you can find time to give us as much news as possible under the difficult circumstances.
Billy just came in (1:30) Score: Pitt 48, Westminster 53.
We feel that you are just as much our son as tho you were a blood relation.
[right] Yours, [handwritten] Dad [end handwritten, right]
[bottom] Passed by the first censor: E.J.M. | |
Subject | Mowry, Robert Bruce, 1893-1989 |
Gernert, Richard Thomas, 1919-1994 | |
Mowry family | |
Mowry, William Jones, 1923-2007 | |
Mowry, Robert Bruce, 1930-1998 | |
Elton, Robert, 1893-1963 | |
United States. Naval Reserve Force | |
Stalingrad, Battle of, Volgograd, Russia, 1942-1943 | |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Russia (Federation) | |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Eastern Front | |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- South Pacific Ocean | |
Rationing -- United States -- History -- 20th century | |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Censorship | |
Pittsburgh (Pa.) | |
Emsworth (Pa.) | |
Volgograd (Russia) | |
Creator | Mowry, Robert Bruce, 1893-1989 |
Source | Gernert family letters; MS-1269; Center for Archival Collections; University Libraries; Bowling Green State University |
Date | 1943-02-13 |
Rights | |
Format | Correspondence |
application/pdf | |
Language | eng |
Identifier | ms1269_19430213 |
https://digitalgallery.bgsu.edu/items/show/42521 | |
Spatial Coverage | Pittsburgh (Pa.) |
Emsworth (Pa.) | |
Volgograd (Russia) | |
Rights Holder | Mowry, Robert Bruce, 1893-1989 |
Type | Text |