The Vogels of Artesia, New Mexico 3

  

The last of the Vogel collection, but this one is a bit different, and the reason why I bought these three postcards.  While the other two cards were from 1942, the first full year of America's involvement in World War 2, this one is from 1945, and while the postmark is a bit smudged, so I'm not sure of the month, 'TACOMA WASH. 8 PM, 1945."  It was probably from after VJ-Day.  Too, it wasn't from Ray Vogel, but "Pvt. Robert N. Stark,38709913, Co. B, 161st MTG., Ft. Lewis Washington" It also wasn't mailed to Dorothy Vogel but to "Mr & Mrs J. M. Vogel, Artesia New Mexico" Even though there is no post box or street address, it must have been delivered.  It's the message that's interesting, "Hello Vogels: Hows everybody?  We are all well maybe I should have said all wet. It rains 8 days a week here. Ha. Gay went fishing the other day where the water is real deep caught four fish too.  Will probably be down to all you folks in N.M when I get back from Japan. Nelson"  

So, occupation duty by the sound of it, which is why I think this card was sent after the Japanese surrender. Anyway, there are a lot of photos and cards from World War 2 out there, and I always wonder if the people depicted survived the war.  Was Nelson a friend of the Vogel family or was he a friend of Roy who didn't make it?  

Click on The Vogel Collection in labels to see all three posts. 

The Vogels of Artesia, New Mexico 2

   

Another hand franked postcard from "Pvt. Roy R. Vogel, 346th Air Base Sgdn., Municipal Air Port , Memphis, Tenn, Barrack 411 S."  Well, now we know Roy's middle initial and his barracks assignment.  Once again it's mailed to "Miss Dorothy Vogel, Artesia, New Mex, Box #632."  Spelled out a bit differently, but the same recipient. And the message, "Dear Dot, I received a letter from you and one from Jane a week or so ago so will send this on to both of you as I have so much waiting to do.  The pictures are just like the animals in the zoo.  It is the second largest in the world.  I am feeling all all right.  I will be closing for today.  Your cousin Roy."  Well, not too detailed, and I have my doubts that the Memphis Zoo was the second largest in the world, but how much can you get on a postcard, and how much honesty can you expect from a young private who was probably away from home for the first time in his life.

  The postmark is "MEMPHIS TENN, DEC 3, 8 PM DE SOTO STA. 1" The caption, "Scenes from the Memphis Zoo, one of the finest in the world."  Click on The Vogel Collection in labels to bring up the rest. 

The Vogels of Artesia, New Mexico 1

 

Time for another three-part collection, though I don't think I'm going to put them up in a row, so click on The Vogel Collection in labels to bring all three up.

So, all three of these postcards were mailed during World War 2 and all three were hand-franked.  Basically, during the war, U.S. military members could use the mail for free.  All they had to do was write free where the stamp should be and off it went.  This card was mailed by "Pvt. Roy Vogel, 346th Air Base Sgdn., Municipal Air Port, Memphis, Tenn."  It was mailed to "Miss Dorothy Vogel, Artesia, New Mexico, Box 632."   And the message, "Dear Dorothy, I received your letter this morn.  Was glad to hear from you. I had some pictures made the other day.  I will send one in a few days. I feel well at present.  Hope I can continue feeling that way.  Your cousin, Roy." 

So, presumably, Roy Vogel was in the Army Air Corp. (There was no separate Air Force during World War 2)  As a private, he wasn't training as a pilot, co-pilot, or navigator.  Perhaps he was training as a mechanic or as a gunner.  

There is a readable postmark, "MEMPHIS, TENN. NOV 3 4 PM 1942, DE SOTO STA."  The card's caption, "The Memphis Municipal Airport is one of the finest in America.  Made by Curteich, Chicago.