Dear Larry:

Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you and hoping you are ok. The kids just came home from school. Carol has to deliver papers and Karl is waiting for Dad to come home for he has a game tonight, so Dad is going to take him and is going to watch the game. They are playing the 7th Street School. Joanna didn’t work today, so her and Carol J—– went shopping, at least that is where she said they were going.

Aunt Helen called me up this morning and said that Vickie’s boyfriend Bill gave Vickie an engagement ring for Valentine’s Day. Bill is leaving for the service March 6th. I guess they are recalling [a] lot of the boys. Dad said that Heagy (the mailman)  told him that his son left this week. He went in the same time you did and he got rejected because he had high blood pressure, and now they called him in again. That’s the same as Vickie’s boyfriend, he was rejected the first time and he got recalled. So it looks like Vickie is going to wait for Bill for 2 years.

I was talking to Uncle Ray last night and I told him about the letter we got from the Army about us coming over to see you. Everyone thinks we should go. How long did it take you to get to Ft. Campbell from Indianapolis? Dad said he was going to call Mr. Pickell up and find out because they made a few trips there when Mike was there.

Well, Larry, I really can’t think of anything else to write. Karl is going to cut a clipping out of the paper of the sectional pairings and send it to you.

(Until the next time)

Love Mom

These scans were taken from the 1965 Indian, Anderson High School’s annual yearbook. These are scans of some of the signatures that other students wrote to Larry, who was a sophomore at the time. (click a thumbnail to enlarge and read some of them)

Some of the standouts are:

-Larry-
A real cool kid I’ve known for a long time. Good luck and watch out for drinking, too much milk.
Dave

-Larry-
To a real nice kid in my math class that likes to throw chalk. Good luck Larry.
Eddie

Larry
To a real bad football player. Good luck in the future Polock.
Phil “67″

To a tuff guy in my home room and a tuff football player.
Mike
P.S. Keep drinking milk.

Wednesday
February 14, 1968
6:15 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Just got through with the supper dishes, so I thought I had better drop you a few lines. We had spaghetti and meatballs for supper. Dad took Karl to basketball practice so Aunt Lottie helped Carol with the paper route. The papers were really heavy tonight. Aunt Lottie then stayed and had supper with us and then Dad talked her into going after Karl so he could take a nap before going to work at the Club.

Larry, we got a letter from the Army today and it had your picture in it. The picture is very good, the only thing is you didn’t smile. I am going to get a frame for it and put it on the T.V. They also wrote that your basic training is nearly done and the graduation review is set for March 8th at 9 o’clock and that we are invited to attend the ceremonies. They also sent us a map on how to get there. So we are planning on coming over to see you. The whole family if Joanna can get off. They said that we will be able to visit you for only a short time, then they are going to assign you to some other place after the graduation. They also said that you will be moved to your next assignment by charter transportation (that means by plane). So, it doesn’t look like you will be coming home after your eight weeks. They will probably send you to some other state for some more training. Did they say anything to you about sending us a letter? We will write you more about it and Dad will write you because it will be 3 weeks from this coming Friday that will be there. It sure will be good to see you, but I hate the thought of leaving you. We will probably start from home real early in the morning so we can get there in plenty of time for the ceremonies, and then get to see you.

Aunt Lottie said she wrote you a letter, so you should get it by the time you get this one. Aunt Mary also wrote you a letter. So you should be getting plenty of mail. Aunt Lottie said that Steven G—– left for his Navy Reserve and he is at Great Lakes in Illinois. Aunt Lottie probably write you about it.

Well, there isn’t much going on around here. Dad said he hoped you would write to us more often and tell us the news. A telephone call is nice and we like to hear your voice, but its not like a letter. You can say things you can’t think of [on the phone] in a letter. Will close for tonight so take care and I will write you more later.

Love Mom

(will be seeing you soon)

Monday
February 12, 1968
5:30 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Just got through with the supper dishes. Dad went after Karl because he had basketball practice, and then he has to go to work at the club.

Joanna gets off at 6 so I will try to write you till she gets home. It was sure good to hear your voice on the phone sunday. I was surprised that you called so early.

We went to the 11:30 mass. I forgot to tell you, but a week ago, Dad and I went to confession and we were talking to Father Heilman and he asked about you and where you were at. He said he didn’t know you were gone until he seen it in the paper. Also, yesterday Dad and I went to the meeting and everyone asked about you. I was talking to Pat and Andy O—– and they both said they really miss you and they talk about you a lot. Pat was telling me that Eldon M—– is leaving this week. I guess him and John H—– are going together. She said that Mike C—– bought John H—-’s car.

Larry, Tresa told me to ask if you liked the Valentines she sent you. They are going to have a Valentine party at school Wednesday so I have to bake some cupcakes for them.

Dad just brought Karl home from practice and he went to work at the club. The Club sure looks nice on the inside. They don’t have the bar in yet, from the looks of things it probably won’t be finished for a while yet. They are supposed to fix the outside of it and put shrubbery around it.

Deda was over this morning and he said that Uncle Ray wrote you a letter. Uncle Deda told me to tell you “hello”, he is going to pick me up tomorrow morning and we are going to Muncie hospital to see Uncle Shike. He is there for treatment for cancer. I guess he is getting along pretty good.

Well, Larry, I can’t think of much more to write about so I will close for tonight. So, take care and I will write again tomorrow.

Love
Mom

“I Love Lucy” is on now and the kids are watching it.

These scans were taken from the 1965 Indian, Anderson High School’s annual yearbook. Larry was a sophomore on the wrestling team. If you are having trouble finding him, he is in the second row from the top, 4 from the left.. (Click to enlarge)

The headline for this page says “Pair of state champs,third in final meet cap wrestling year.” They  Won 3 meets, lost 6 and tied 1. They placed third in state.

Friday Morning
February 9, 1968
9 A.M.

Dear Larry:

I thought I’d get started on your letter early and write what I can then finish it later because I have quite a bit of work to do around the house. For one thing, mop my dirty kitchen floor. Ha. Right now I am sipping on tea and eating a bite of cereal between lines to you.

The temperature is 30 degrees outside today and it is snowing. one day it looks like spring and the next it’s snowing.

Joanna is getting ready for work. She has to go in at 10 and work till 6:30 so I had to take time out and fix her lunch, potato soup, ham sandwich and a Twinkie.

This is dad’s weekend off so he is sleeping, he wrote a note for me to wake him up at 10 but whether he will or not, I don’t know.

We finally got our encyclopedias yesterday, and it is really a nice set. Now we have to get a nice book case for it, the one we were looking at in J.C. Penny catalog costs $88.00 so we may get it.

Larry did you send your shoes back with your clothes? I can’t remember if your shoes were in that bag or not when I took your clothes out. I was looking in your closet yesterday and there are 2 pairs of shoes in there. One is a black pair and the sole is kinda loose at the toe, and the other is a brown pair which is not in bad shape. The reason I asked is because I thought you got a new pair before you went into the service and the shoes you have here at home don’t look so new.

Aunt Mary and Uncle Tommy were over last night, I read them your letters and they saw your pictures and thought they were very good. The family always asks about you and so do other people. Eleanor D—– and Arlene S—– asked about you yesterday. I gave Arlene one of the home permanents, so she fixed lunch and gave me a couple of dish towels and a dish towel basket, and it gave me a morning off from the same ole’ routines. Ha.

Larry, by now you probably got your months pay. Are they going to send your bond that you are having taken out home?

I don’t know if I told you or not, but that check you got from Guide Lamp, Dad said he was going to put it in the bank for you. He said it might as well be in the bank drawing interest.

I had the letter laying on the sugar bowl and here it is Saturday 1 P.M. now. I had Dad take me to Pay-Less and I got my groceries. So I had better finish the letter since I started it yesterday. I got a nice fever blister on my lip between time, now I know how Joanna felt when she had them.

Well, Larry, I am going to sign off for now as there is not much to write. So, until tomorrow.

Thinking of you.

Love.
Mom.

Saturday
February 10, 1968
1:00 p.m.

Hi Larry,

How is everything?  I didn’t write to you in about 2 weeks, so I thought I would take time out and write to you. Friday we got our pictures taken in school.  I wasn’t wearing my glasses because Anna Maria Case said it hurts your eyes. She didn’t wear hers. I will send you a picture of me when I get them. That same day, I was walking in school because it was snowing outside and we were playing [inside]. I saw Carol walking to lunch, and she talked to me and asked me how I smiled.  I showed her.  Friday in school, Mr. Strittmatter said we would have a Valentine’s party.  He said to get a Valentine’s card.  Teena P—– is going to make a box for the girls to put their cards in, and James P—– is going to make a box for the boys to put their cards in.  Then we will pick and see which card we will get.  Mommy is going to make some cupcakes.  We will have the party next Wednesday.  Carol isn’t going to get braces.

HAPPY Valentines Day!

Your sister,
Ellie Maes

These scans were taken from the 1965 Indian, Anderson High School’s annual yearbook. Larry was a sophomore and is the handsome devil in the middle square.

Wednesday
February 7, 1968
12:30 P.M.

Dear Larry:

The mailman just went by and we got your 2 letters and Joanna got one also. As you know, we were very glad to hear from you, also the pictures, they are good, boy you sure have your head shaved off. They remind me of some of the pictures I have of Uncles Tom, Ray, Jack and Ed when they were in the service. I will be looking for the large picture of you in your dress greens. It sure makes me sick to think of you being away from home and I can’t wait till the 2 years are up. Are the fellows in the picture with you in the same outfit as you are? Are they your age? Have you run into anyone from Anderson yet?

What are you going to be in? From the sound of your letter it looks like you will probably be in the infantry. I sure hope not.

Have you heard yet what you will be doing after your 8 weeks are up? Let us know.

The Acre¹ is still the same as [when] you left, the same ol’ thing over and over. The weather the last couple of days has been like spring. Eldon M—– had his cycle out roaring around the street, that’s a good sign of spring.

Aunt Mary always asks about you, so does Aunt Lottie. She still comes over at noon hour and talks about Bob and I listen to her. Ha.

Carol as yet doesn’t have her braces, she has to go to the dentist this Friday, and he has to get things lined up before he puts them in.

Karl has been playing football with the Dalenski boys out on the yard but Dad ran them out because the ground is real soft and the kids were ruining it, Dad said they have to play somewhere else till he gets the yard in better shape. I sure will miss you this summer. The kids are already griping because they have to mow the grass. Ha. They are trying to talk Dad into getting a power mower, and he tells them the same thing he told you, that they are the power mower. I suppose I will have to do it most of the time. Well, Larry, I am going to close for now, I am going to get Joanna and Carol on the ball and get them to write to you. Also, Karl and Dad. We’ll write more next time.

Love Mom

Enclosed is Carol’s Honor Roll

¹ From Tresa “The neighborhood where we grew up was referred to as the “Polish Acre” as a lot of the Polish immigrants congregated there years before.”

These scans were taken from the 1965 Indian, Anderson High School’s annual yearbook. Larry was a sophomore guard on the junior varsity football team. If you are having trouble finding him, he is #57 in row 3. (Click to enlarge)

The headline for this page says “Football Reserves win 6 of 8 games in testing for future.” They had a team total of 1,705 rushing and 722 passing yards.

1965 Anderson Indians JV Football Schedule

[L] vs. Lafayette Jefferson  7-13
[W] vs. Madison Heights 25-14
[W] vs. New Castle 42-14
[W] vs. Muncie South 31-19
[W] vs. Marion 20-13
[W] vs. Kokomo 25-0
[L] vs. Richmond 12-14
[W] vs. Noblesville 28-7