Sad Shops and Terrible Women, May 16, 1944

Editor's Note: Here, Glenn writes about German propaganda,a shark hunt,a flood in Topeka,horses at the farm,a watch in need of repair, wanting the local newspaper sent, pistol-shooting practice and hunting plans for when he gets home, a vivid description of the English countryside,its sad shops and "terrible" women -- and a not-so-complimentary comment about Texas.

Around and About England, May 16, 1944

Dear Folks –

Received your V-mail of Apr. 24 to-day. It’s the first mail the ship has had for over a week. You’ve no idea what an effect that hold-up of the mail has on the morale of the ship.

Sorry to hear of the flood – hope it didn’t do too much damage. It isn’t as if you all didn’t have anything else to worry about right now.

What is the horse situation now – still have the Percherons and black gaited mare? That Arabian would probably have financed the farm if he’d had a little lineage.

I may send my watch home – I can’t get anything done to it over here – I can’t get anybody to even look at it.

I’ll be sending some money home, too. I haven’t been ashore for two weeks and there’s nothing you can buy when you do go. As soon as I draw another pay I’ll send a batch home.

I’ve been doing a bit of pistol shooting with my .45 auto. Gov’t furnishes plenty of cartridges and the gun so I might as well have the fun and experience. I’m going hunting with Cozy when I get home.

The propaganda the Germans throw out over the air is so thick a knife won’t cut it. I can’t see how it can do any good – it’s so heavy – it just disgusts me. You can catch a bit of German in the English (not American) they broadcast in – it’s rather an amusing mixture – not that it’s a poor job of English – it just doesn’t ring quite clear.

I guess I told you about the big shark hunt the other day. That was really fun – they’re all gone now – I think they come in only a couple of times a year or something.

You ask about the country here – It’s very pretty – the fields are small and fenced with shrubbery and trees, and being rather hilly it presents a pretty picture. They have some beautiful horses and cattle around here – not many, but nice ones.

The soil, cliffs and all have lots of color. The villages are quaint – very narrow streets and sidewalks and small old buildings. None of the buildings have central heating so they have one or two chimneys with about four flues in each one.

That’s about all I can say. The stores are sad and the women are terrible (--to look at – that’s as far as I can get).

Did you ever subscribe to the Daily Capital for me?

My Co – Small Boat officer and I, being from Texas and Kansas, respectively, have the big arguments a bout our states – Don’t you think Texas stinks?

Write.
Lots of love,
Glenn

'When D-Day comes – drop a little prayer or two, will you, please?'

Editor's Note: This letter, as the others, shows Glenn's respect and love for his parents,and his close communication with them. This letter also highlights his desire to emulate his father and make him proud ("I, too, am figuring on some 'big things' someday, Dad.").

Serving in the Navy was changing his value system ("I've learned that a car isn’t as indispensable as I once thought – a lot of other things too, for that matter."), yet he wanted his father to know he was grateful for the car ("I’m awfully glad I had that car, though, and appreciated it a lot.")

Glenn's love for family and appeal to his parents' faith is inspirational, and his declaration of love to "the little nieces and nephews" speaks of the devotion to family and loved ones that characterized his life.

Britain, May 28

Dear Folks –

Received your clipping and letter of May 18. Several days ago – but have been quite busy. Those airmail letters came in a hurry. I enjoyed the clippings – that was an especially good editorial on the Ward deal.
I guess the only difference in our accounting was because of my not knowing when you started buying bonds.

I want to check together every once in awhile, so we won’t get fouled up. The present rate of bonds will be OK until you get $500 worth, then let it ride, until I lay away $1,000 cash – that should take care of it for awhile.

I hope you got a good deal out of the Ford. I’ve learned that a car isn’t as indispensable as I once thought – a lot of other things too, for that matter.

I’m awfully glad I had that car, though and appreciated it a lot.
From the magazines we get, Life, etc., the LSTs are shown a good deal in advertisements and in cartoons, etc. I guess it’s about the only ship that none of the other countries have. At least, no one should ever mistake us for an enemy. Of course, my primary duty still involves operation of a Small Boat (LCVP) Flotillas.

I think Beven [Lt. (JG)] We met in Kansas] is here in the same town – I’m going in tomorrow and try to find him.

I, too, am figuring on some “big things” someday, Dad – but for the time being all that has to ride, I guess. As soon as this invasion’s over, if I don’t get transferred, I’m getting into those correspondence courses.

I agree with you that Navy is best field – The Army end of this Amphib operation is really rugged.

I’d like to be in Chicago with you – do a good job in there. A Republican looks awfully good from here. There’s only one Demo. Officer aboard – an Irish Catholic from the Bronx.

The rest, most of them are rabid Republicans – anxious to get F.D.R. back to Hyde Park. Dewey looks awfully good to most of us. Haven’t heard about McMillan or others – though neither of the prominent Ohioans cut much ice. Most of the boys seem to think Stassen’s day will come later.

The German Radio gives us no end of entertainment – they broadcast, especially for the invasion forces – I’ll tell you all about it some day. They give terrific newscasts and little “warning lectures.” It makes me all the madder to hear them.

Well, write often and take care of things. Give all the little nephews and nieces my love.

Love to all,
Glenn

When D-Day comes – drop a little prayer or two, will you, please?

Letters Home 1944, June 27, From English Channel, Reference to Father's Day

Editor's Note: This is a post D-Day letter home, written from LST(Landing Ship Tank) 506 in the English Channel, where U.S. Naval Reserve Lt. (J.G.) Glenn D. Cogswell, along with many of our fathers and grandfathers who survived D-Day, June 6, 1944, continued to carry casualties of D-Day across the English Channel.

English Channel

Dear Folks –

We’re rolling quite a bit just now, but I’ll try to write anyway. Maybe you can read it.
We finally got some mail, Dad’s K.G.M and snapshots and two letters (4th and 13th) from Mother. I enjoyed them all a great deal.We are hoping for some more this trip.

We are having quite an experience – there’s never a dull moment, though I can think of more pleasant ones. Our job now is not exceptionally dangerous, but always something different over there. We’ve been hitting various beaches.

I read the overseas edition of Time, June 19, and it had a pretty good picture. They are much more frank and honest than anything the British have. All the British papers and radio can talk about is how the wonderful British are winning the war. Their newspapers read like a high school paper, petty remarks and “bull” so thick you can hardly find the news.
The Phonograph – P.A. just whipped out with “I’ll be home for Christmas” – I’d sure settle for that!!

Dad, Father’s Day sort of slipped up on me – every day is the same here – there’s not much use trying to keep track of time. I know you’ll forgive me, though, because I am pretty busy these days, and I think of you at home every day, holiday or not.

That strawberry shortcake sounds like awful good duty from here. Best we have that on the menu when I get home.

Back again, just had time out for chow. It was terrible. By the way, Dad, I don’t think dehydrated potatoes are so hot. In fact, they’re definitely not a good idea. On the whole we have much better chow than the Army – or British civilians – but we think it’s pretty awful sometimes.

We still get a smattering of German prisoners – usually wounded ones, now, along with our own casualties – they look like anything but “Super-men.”
They’re a pretty sad looking bunch. Several groups of pretty large numbers of prisoners were marched along the beach into other LST’s specified for their return to England. We evacuate casualties, usually.

This war is certainly a wasteful enterprise. It’ll be a great day, when it’s over.

I’m hanging on to a faint hope that I might get home in October or so. It would be awfully nice – too good to expect.

Well, keep writing, tell all the folks hello – I’ll try to write often, too.

Oceans of love,
Glenn