Thursday, April 17, 1969
7:30 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Just got through writing a few bills, so I thought I would write you a few lines also and let you know we are all ok and hope you are the same.

Johnnie Johnson came over for a while this evening. I thought he came over to work out, but he just wanted to know if we heard from you, so I let him read the letter we got from you the other day. He said he has been playing golf to keep in shape. He said he hasn’t heard from Larry Thomas for a month.

The weather here has really been beautiful. It was in the 80s today, so this evening we had a thunderstorm and it is still raining now. We had tornado warnings around the area, but all we had was a storm. The grass is really beautiful and everything is really blooming. Karl and Dad mowed the grass last week, so tonight it had to be mowed again.

Dad put some fertilizer on it last week, so it has been really coming up. Dad and Carol went out to mow it after supper tonight. They got the front yard mowed, then the storm came up and they couldn’t finish it.

Well, Larry, how is everything with you? I thought that by now you would be getting your leave. Do you think you will still get it since it’s so near time for you to come home? All of us are getting anxious to see you again. If you find out when you will be coming home, let us know.

I went to bingo Tuesday night. It was Dad’s group that worked, and you won’t believe it, but Dad called the numbers and I bingoed 2 times. I got $18.50, so that is not bad.

Joanna came over this afternoon and I went shopping with her at Mounds Mall. We ran into Allen Jarrett. She said she hadn’t seen her since last year when you were home. She said she would like to date him if he would ask her, but he probably won’t because she didn’t want to date him when he wanted to date her.

Well, Larry, I can’t think of any more to write now, so I am going to sign off until next time, so please take care of yourself and write often.

Love,
Mom

P.S. Enclosed is a letter from Tresa.

Wednesday
April 16, 1969
Time: 8:25 P.M.

Hi Larry, How are you? In the last letter I wrote you, I said for you to write just me a letter. You probably don’t write me very often, because [you're] busy writing letters, aren’t you? (Ha-ha-ha if it’s funny)

Well, you probably want to know how I’m doing at home and at school. I always help washing and wiping the dishes through the week, so mommy gives me $1.00 every Saturday. Sometimes she forgets, but she still pays me.

At school, I’m doing pretty good. Not much is happening at school. Instead of not much, make it nothing.

Oh!

I don’t know if I told you or not, but mommy bought me some bellbottom pants. I like them.

Daddy is sleeping. Carol and Karl are watching television. I’m writing you this letter.

Carol and I got a new mattress with box springs. It’s real soft. I’m loving it now.

I’ll send this in with one of mommy’s letters. Goodbye for now. As mommy always says, “TAKE CARE.”

Your sister,
Ellie [Tresa]

Dear Larry:

You may have thought that I have forgotten about you, but there isn’t much to write about. Everything is about the same here in Anderson. Everyone is looking for spring weather. The trees are beginning to green up and the rain we will be getting this evening will help.

Uncle Harold is still bowling, but is thinking about going fishing as soon as the weather is warm. Do you ever see anyone fishing around there? Maybe they don’t know what fish are. Uncle Harold got himself a new electric motor, so he is anxious to get it on the water. He said this evening, some of the men where he works went last week and they got bass and crappies and blue gills.

That fellow that you know, Dale, he works with me and is always asking me if we hear from you. I like him a lot.

We got some new neighbors across the street now, so it’s not so lonesome out here.

I have talked to mother and she is really thrilled about driving a car. I’ll bet you can’t imagine her driving. I’m glad for her.

Vickie Sue’s boyfriend was home on a furlough and mother told me that he was going overseas. I’m glad your time is almost over.

Since you’ve been gone, here in Anderson, they got a lot of new eating drive-ins. Some of them are really nice.

Larry, I would like to send you a box, but you have never written to tell me what you would like to have. Uncle Harold and I are always thinking of you.

Tom and Stanley were over Sunday and Tom said he was going to let Karl mow his yard this year. He said Karl was a really nice kid.

Tresa and Karl have really grown since you left. It seems like they were babies, and here they are growing older.

It won’t be long before school is out. I never see Joanna. I guess she is ok.

Well, Larry, I hope time goes fast and be real careful. I’ll pray for you.

Love, Aunt Mary

Sunday, April 13, 1969
3:30 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Well, here it is Sunday afternoon and a beautiful day here in Anderson. The temperature is 74 degrees. Dad went to a meeting at the club. I forgot all about the meeting, so at the last minute, Dad asked me if I was going to go, and by then, it was too late, so I decided not to go. Dad had the weekend off this week, so he worked out on the yard. Karl and Dad also mowed the grass for the first time. Everything is really budding outside. The trees will have leaves on them before long.

Dad bought a new mattress and box springs for Tresa and Carol’s room from some mailman. They were from a trailer that he bought and they were brand new, and he sold it pretty cheap. The girls really needed a new mattress. Dad and I are also thinking of going to Sears and get a mattress for your bed, so you won’t have to sleep on that one that the springs were sticking out of when you get home.

In the letter we got from you, you said you had your helmet off because it was hot. I hope you are careful, because you know a helmet can save your life. Joanna Sokol’s husband was wounded and I guess if it wasn’t for the helmet, he would have been killed, so take care of yourself.

Yes, we heard all the news and we heard about Dong Tam getting hit. I was hoping that you weren’t right in the middle of it. According to the news, they are still hitting a lot of towns and base camps.

Don’t know what happened to Johnnie Johnson. He must have given up on working out. He hasn’t been over for some time.

Robert Ray was here the other day when Joanna was here. I guess he is going to get married in August. Joanna said that he told her that he didn’t know if he wants to get married or not.

Rita Sokol was at church with her husband this morning. She looked pretty big, so she must be expecting before long.

I drove to church and back this morning. I forgot to stop at the stop sign by the club and Dad gave me hell. He said that if the cops saw that, he would have to pay $16.00. Sometimes, I forget, but I do try and watch for the cars.

Dad took your bank book up to get it up to date, so in case you would like to know, you have $1,617.72 in the bank. Also, you got your bond yesterday, so you have 12 bonds now.

Well, Larry, that’s about all of the news I have for today, so I am going to sign off until later. Please take care of yourself.

Love, Mom

Write.

Let me know if you would like for me to send you a box.

Thursday, April 10, 1969
12:30 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Here I am again with a few lines to let you know all is okay and hope you are the same.

I just finished hanging my washing out on the line and I hope it gets dry, as it is cloudy outside and it looks like we might have some rain. It is kind of cool today, but this time of year we have to expect any kind of weather.

Well, how is everything with you? As yet, we haven’t received any mail from you. The mailman hasn’t been around yet, so I am hoping for a letter today. I think dad is even anxious for a letter because whenever he gets home from work, he asks if we got a letter. Dad is a lot easier to get along with since he slowed down. He doesn’t work at the club. Only when they need him, so he is getting more rest. Even Joanna noticed it. She said she can’t believe that dad is so nice anymore and not so grouchy.

Today is the 10th, so that means that in 2 more months, your year will be up. The milkman was asking about you yesterday and asked if you had your orders yet to come home. He said that they issue the orders 2 months ahead of time when you are ready to come home. At least he said that his son did when he was there. Write and tell us what you know as we are all anxious.

I would like to send you a box, but since it’s so near time for you to come home, I wondered if you would want me to send one. Let me know.

Larry, I don’t know if I wrote you or not, but Dad is going to Cincinnati to a bowling tournament the 26th and 27th, so he is going to take me and the kids with him. We already have reservations at the Holiday Inn, so we are all looking forward to it. Only hope it would be warm enough for the kids to go swimming in that pool, but I doubt if the pool will be open that soon. I am going to ask Joanna is she wants to go with us. That is if she doesn’t have to work. She said she enjoyed the trip she took when we went to Shelburn to see Uncle Vic’s dad.

Vickie’s boyfriend Bill was home over Easter and he is supposed to leave today, so I imagine it’s a sad day for Vickie.

As for my driving, I am doing okay. Only still need a lot of practice on my turns. Dad said that I will be an expert before long (I hope. Ha). I don’t get so nervous when I drive now. I drive back and forth to church every Sunday and to bingo on Fridays and Saturdays. Of course, Dad has to be with me, though.

Well, Larry, I must close as I am cooking some beef to have vegetable soup for supper, and I have to cup up some vegetables, so until later. Please take care of yourself.

Love, Mom.

(Write)

P.S. – We got your letter dated the 6th of April this afternoon.

Wednesday, April 2, 1969
9 PM

Dear Larry:

I thought I had better write you a few lines to let you know all is well here and hope you are the same. We just got home from church. This is holy week so we decided to attend some of the services. I can’t believe that this coming Sunday is Easter. We haven’t got anything planned, but I am going to bake a ham and the usual just in case someone comes over.

I can’t believe that in a couple of months you will have a year in Vietnam. I am still wondering if you will be coming home in June.

Well, what have you been doing? Do you think you will be going on that leave? Dad said he suggest that you go to Australia or somewhere else instead of Singapore since you have already been there. I was kinda looking for a letter from you today. We did get a statement from the bank today and will probably be getting another bond in a few days.

Dad sent you a couple of rolls of colored film this morning so you should be getting them in a few days. I was going to send you a box but I haven’t had much time to get things ready. I will try to get a box sent to you after Easter.

Joanna, Carol and I went shopping today. I got some new throw rugs for the hallway and the living room. We stopped at the Derby and got something to eat and then went to Mounds Mall. That J.C. Penny store there is  really nice. It looks like one of Indianapolis’ big stores. I’ll bet everything will look different when you get home.

I think John Johnson must have given up on working out. He hasn’t been over in some time.

The weather here is pretty nice and mild. The grass is getting a little greener everyday.

Dad is sitting here in the living room with his foot in a bucket of hot water. He has a callus on his toe and soaking it will probably be easier to cut it out. Dad told me to tell you to be sure and write and tell him when you got the film. He said for you not to throw the boxes away because you can send the exposed film back home in the same boxes.

Carol is off for spring vacation this week. Tresa and Karl’s last day will be tomorrow until the Tuesday after easter.

I was telling Dad and the kids that I am going to have to fix your bedroom because it wont be too long till you will be coming home. I had the beds fixed as bunk beds since you left.

I guess Bill, Vickie’s boyfriend, is coming home over Easter. He is still at Ft. Bragg. Vickie said she thinks he will probably be going to Vietnam soon.

Well, I am going to sign off as I am getting sleepy, so until later. Please take care of yourself and please write.

Love Mom

Tuesday, April 8, 1969
Dear Larry:

I haven’t had a chance to write to you in the last few days so I thought I had better get on the ball. We haven’t had any mail from you. The last letter we got from you was written the 20th of March, so I keep hoping everyday. Artie Crawford brought the mail today and I asked him when he was going to bring me a letter from you. He said that I should send you some postcards, but I said I didn’t know whether it would do any good or not to do that.

Well, we had a pretty busy week and that is the reason I haven’t had a chance to write. Uncle Vic’s dad died last Friday, so Sunday (that was Easter), we drove to Shelburn, Indiana about 150 miles from here to see him. It was a nice trip. We left home after we went to church and had breakfast at around 1:30 in the afternoon and got home at about 9 that evening. It took us 3 hours to go there and then 3 hours to get back home. Uncle Vic’s brother took us over to his house, so we visited there for a while. He sure has a nice place. He has a lake on his yard and you can fish. The lake is the size of Nicholson File’s. Joanna went with us and we all enjoyed the trip.

Uncle Jack and Aunt Charlene and Uncle Tommy went to the funeral Monday, so I took care of their kids from 10 in the morning until 10 that night when they got back. Boy, was I ever pooped. I’m not as young as I used to be, so it was just a little too much for me to handle all their kids and mine too.

I was telling Dad that this was the first Easter that he didn’t sit around and drink all day.

Well, how are you doing? I sure hope we get a letter from you. Are you still going to try and get that leave? We are still wondering when you will be coming home. Did you get the colored film we sent you?

The weather here in Anderson is beautiful. The grass is really green and will probably be ready for mowing in a few days. The temperature was in the 70s the last three days, so we are really having nice spring weather. The weatherman is predicting thunder showers for tomorrow. The bushes we have on our yard already have buds on them.

I have some gossip for you, so since Joanna hasn’t written you about it, I will. Rita Sokal got married Saturday. Joanna said she is about 5 or 6 months pregnant. Rita runs around with Carol Johan’s sister Nancy, and she told her about it. I guess the father is Mike Armstrong and Carol said that you probably know him. Rita was supposed to graduate this year. Joanna said they got married by the Justice of the Peace.

Well, Larry, I must close as it is getting late. I went to bingo, but didn’t win anything. Dad isn’t home from bowling yet. I will write more later. Please take care of yourself.

Love, Mom

In memory of Larry’s aunt and Amelia’s sister Mary, here is her obituary.

Source: http://heraldbulletin.com/obituaries/x296818817/Mary-R-Scherer

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. — Mary R. Scherer, 99, of Alexandria, passed away April 25, 2012, at Bethany Pointe Health Campus, Anderson, after a brief illness.

She was born June 22, 1912, in Anderson, the daughter of the late Boleslaw and Helena (Bucho) Sacilowski, and was a lifelong Anderson area resident. She retired in 1970 from General Motors after 42 years.

Mary was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Ambrose Catholic Church and a member of the Mother Seton Club.

She is survived by her sister, Amelia Rudolf of Anderson; brothers, Raymond Sacilowski and Thomas Sacilowski, both of Anderson, and Jack Sacilowski of Bristol, Texas; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold C. Scherer; sister, Helen Power; and brothers, Stanley Sacilowski, Leon Sacilowski and Edmond Sacilowski.

Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church with Father Robert Williams officiating. Burial will be in Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Ambrose Catholic Church or St. Vincent DePaul.

Mary’s brother, Tommy and Mary

Mary and her husband, Harold.

Mary at her 80th birthday party. Larry and his brother Karl are in the background and her brother Tommy is sitting to her left. Her great nephews from left to right are Jon, Matt, Cory, Jeff and Nathan.

Mary and her great nephew Cory.

Sunday, March 30, 1969
6:30 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Well, here it is Sunday evening. Dad, Tresa, Karl and I were watching T.V. about Eisenhower. As you probably heard, he died, and that’s all that will be on T.V. until he is buried.

Carol went to Indianapolis with a CYO group to see Funny Girl. She took Vicki Lanane with her as her guest. Joanna called and said she had a date last night and she [saw] that show and it was a good show.

I guess she had been dating a kid by the name of Steve Bowers from Yorktown. She said that after the show, they drove to Muncie for supper.

She is working tonight, so she called from the telephone company.

The kids are out of school tomorrow in a memorandum to Eisenhower.

Carol is off all week for spring vacation, so I am going to get her to help me get my spring cleaning started. Today is Palm Sunday, so we went to the 8 o’clock mass and got our palms. I drove to church and back and did pretty good. We stopped at Pay Less and I spent almost $40.00 for groceries. I bought a ham and it cost me $10.00. I fixed some for breakfast this morning and I was telling Dad that I’ll bet you would have liked to have some of it with eggs.

I just got through talking to Aunt Helen on the phone. Vic is in the hospital. He has ulcers and hasn’t been feeling well, so he went to the hospital for some tests.

Tresa and Karl just came in the house and their faces are red. They were playing basketball. It is pretty cold outside. Just think, next Sunday is Easter, but I think it will probably be too cold for the Easter bonnets. I will probably have to color some Easter eggs. I’ll be glad when it’s over, then I could just concentrate on you coming home, and that sure will be a happy day.

Karl went bowling this afternoon and got a 75, 80, and 97. David Dolenski and Karl bought an old motor and they have it down in the basement experimenting with it.

Well, I’m signing off for now and will save the other side for Dad to write a few lines, so until later.

Please take care of yourself and write.

Love Mom

Hi Larry,

Just a few lines. I hope you’re ducking the mortar barrages alright. I got you two cartridges of color film, 20 shot per. You’re slowly collecting enough [photos] to start an album.

It seems to me that you would want to go to a different part of the world on your R+R. You know, if you went to Australia, you’d go south of the equator and see a little more of the world. It’s a chance of a lifetime.

The kids and I go bowling once in a while. They’re learning to handle the ball at least. Last Tuesday, I broke loose and got games 195-220-200 for a 615 series, just like a pro. The ball just wouldn’t work wrong.

Take care of yourself.

Love – Dad

Sunday, March 30, 1969
Time: 8:30 P.M.

Dear Larry!

How are you? Fine, I hope. I haven’t written to you in such a long time. You probably thought I forgot about you, too, but I didn’t. I’m getting along pretty good at home and at school. I didn’t know I was so smart at school. We got our report cards last week and here we my grades:

Religion: From A to A
Oral Reading Ability: From A to A
Comprehension: From A to A
Written Expression of Ideas: From A to A
Correct Usage: From B to A
Weekly Assignment: From A to A
Transfer to Written Work: From A to A
[Arithmetic]: From C+ to C (first time, I had a “D”)
History: From B to A
Geography: From B to A
Science (First Grade): A
Penmanship: From A to A
Art: From B to B
Conduct: From A to A
Effort: From A to A

Write ME BACK A LETTER and talk to me what you think of it. Ok? Ok.

Carol has spring vacation this next week. Saint Ambrose doesn’t, but we get off Monday, tomorrow, because Eisenhower died. Well, I have to go for now.

Your sister,
Ellie Maes Hair Color (Tresa)

P.S. – You probably think Mommy told me how to spell Eisenhower. She didn’t. I TOLD HER.

March 26, 1969
Wednesday 1:10 P.M.

Dear Larry:

Here is your faithful mother again with a few lines to let you know we are thinking of you. Everyone here is ok. Tresa and Karl are out of school at noon today and also tomorrow because of Parent-Teacher Conferences. I baked three cherry pies so they had soup and pie for lunch. Debby is here also. Sara was in a car wreck not too long ago and had her front teeth loosened, so she is in the hospital having them pulled and is going to get false teeth.

Karl is in the basement with David Dolesnki playing ping-pong.

It’s a heck of a day here. As you might know, it’s snowing here today. I knew that the nice weather we had was too good to start. I sure am glad that I had my rummage sale last week instead of this week. I don’t know if I wrote you or not, but the sale was a success. I made $133.00, so when you come home, I’ll have to take you out for a nice steak dinner (that is if you will go with me). Joanna and I go out for dinner once in a while when she isn’t working.

We got your letter today. The date on it is the 20th of March. As you know, we were very glad to hear from you. I heard on the news today that the 9th Infantry Division headquarters was hit. I sure hope that it is not where you are at. I sure hope that you are careful and not taking any chances. In the letter, you said you have 2.5 months to go yet. Does that mean you will be getting home in June? Or do you have to stay there 13 months and get out in July? I have asked you this before, but you never answered. John Johnson said that Larry Thomas is supposed to be home in June. Let us know so we can start counting the days.

Larry, if you are going to ask us to send you some money, be sure to let us know ahead of time so that you can get it when you want it. I can’t blame you for wanting to see some country while you are there.

Dad has been going to work a half hour earlier this week, as he had his route inspected and is counting the mail. Every time Dad comes home from work, I always say, “I didn’t get any mail from my son today,” so tonight I’ll surprise him.

As for my driver’s training, I am doing ok. I have been driving about everywhere we go, so I am getting a lot of practice. Dad is real good about taking me out to drive.

Next week, the public schools will be out for spring vacation, so I won’t have practice with Mr. Carter. He said that he and his wife are going to New Orleans for a vacation. He said he can’t understand how that Redic and Winkler kid and now Denny Boots died of Carbon Monoxide. He said he taught all of them to drive and they should have known better than to stay in a closed garage in a car.

Well, Larry, I must close as I have some work to do, so until later. Please be careful.

Love, Mom

P.S. – I will have Dad get some colored film to send to you. I will also try to get another box out to you. It should help if I knew what you liked.

(Please write often)