Ray Is in the Army Now - Or at Least for the Moment

 World War II had come to America with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Now little more than a year later, Ray, a junior at Washburn, had received his marching orders in the last week of February 1943. He and his fellow Washburn enlistees were ordered to report on March 15, 1943.

Ray's order to report to Fort Leavenworth
on March 

A glance at the New York Times from March of 1943 shows that the while the US and Britain were round the clock bombing of Germany, the Soviets were pressing the German from the east. In Africa, the allies were trying to corner Rommel so the invasion of southern Europe could begin. In the Pacific the Americans were sinking Japanese cruisers and beating them in the jungles, at least according to a New York Times reporter.

For a not quite 21-year old from Topeka, Kansas, it was a heady experience, as one learns from his writings. One of the flies in the ointment, at least from his perspective, was his asthma. (Another being his separation from Mary Grace.) From my memory, Dr, Emerson, a close friend of the Burkhardts, passed him, but told him he probably wouldn't last that long. But that was in the future. In March he was ready to save the world.



     At that point in his college life, Ray was editor of the school newspaper, The Review. He described the Washburn Expeditionary Force's slightly more than 60 mile bus trip from Washburn to Fort Leavenworth as follows:

With mothers and father standing knee-deep in sentiments at the Union Bus Depot, Washburn’s Expeditionary Force—more commonly known as a contingent of the Enlisted Corps – set off at the crack of dawn to begin their careers in the army at Fort Leavenworth last Monday.

Things were popping with the WEF from the beginning of the bus trip. A few miles out of Topeka, somebody decided to call roll and see if we were all there. One man was lost – Pvt Burton Know. Nobody knew him and we’re still wondering what happened to him.

Ray's article about his fellow GI's trip to Leavenworth

At Oskaloosa—little town in Kansas – the bus was held up for three minutes while somebody went and dug Pvt. John Lowe up from the drug store where he had gone for some unknown reason.

Singing occupied some of the time. All four sorority songs were sung. (One man did a solo on the Zeta Tau Alpha) One Alpha Delt—Pvt. Harry Middleton by name – had a little trouble with his fraternity song solo but the other two organizations were vociferously represented. The bus stopped at a crossroad to let a woman off and the WEF broke into their Alma Mater. She nearly fell off the bus flat on her face.

Then came the big moment. The bus pulled up inside the Fort and stopped at a building marked Induction Station and a jittery WEF piled off and began their careers. A corporal met the men and took them down to another building where they were presented their orders.

Next began a series of physical examinations. Ask the boys about them some day. An hour or so later the Army had the best bunch of privates it ever had. Every man y in the group passed.

At 11 AM the WEF ate its first meal in the army mess hall. The meal consisted of roast beef, mashed potatoes, grave, spinach, bread and butter, beets and pineapple. Thirty minutes later we were on our way again.

In the afternoon we had our life histories typed. Also we waited. In fact mostly we waited. At 4:30 we went to supper. Good food, again. Surprise! Then we went back and waited some more.

About 6 o’clock they started us toward our barracks. They were over in Missouri or some place and were located in a place called Gunnery Gulch (I think that’s what they said.)

Later in the evening, about 6:45 they showed us how to make our beds all nice and tidy. From then on we were on our own. We played cards, washed and mostly talked about the army.

At 9 o’clock they made the WEF turn of its lights. With cracks like Wonder what’s going on at Grace’s? Wonder who she’s out with tonight and various other things, a new bunch of privates started their first night in the army.

At 9:01 the barracks were dark. The WEF was on its way.

The following day, March 16, Ray wrote Mary Grace:

Ray's grandmother, Edith Davis McClenny, and Ray
March 1943 

My Darling:

It’s 15 minutes till lights out so I’ll write you a few lines. Yes, ma’am, duchess you raised your own soldier and remember that when you pass one of those brown-suited boys cause there’s a lot of love in my heart for you. So far this army has been swell. The food is keen and most of the men are fine. Everything would be swell if only you were here.

. . . . . . 

We don’t know what’s going to happen to us but so far we’ve all been together. We’re supposed to move into shipping barracks Thursday but you can’t tell. At any rate we’re not supposed to be here more than two weeks. 

          . . . . . . .

 Well, I guess I better close now. It’s lights out. I love you. I hope this hasn’t been too mushy. I’ll be thinking of you.
Lovingly yours,
Ray

Soon the letters got mushy to say the least.