Author: David Haldeman

Wednesday January 20 1943
Took Kathy to Mother’s while I got a permanent in my front hair ends. Then on down to church for a chili supper of the S.S. teachers & officers. Not much in the way of a meeting but had good fellowship.

Tuesday, January 19, 1943
[No entry]

Monday January 18 1943
Still icy. Has been since yesterday morning. Everything coated.
Evelyn Marks Manter came at 3:30 to ok handwork done by Scouts & to plan next few meetings.
Walt did dishes while I bathed Kathy. He went to play poker then. I ironed the living room & bedroom curtains & hung them. Then had a bath, read & to bed about 12:00. No sign of Walt then.
Mary Johnston called this morning and said if I knew how much good a visit with me did here she wouldn’t mind how often she came. And I that she would probably be mad because I put it to her straight about putting “all” you have into things.

Sunday January 17 1943
Walt, Kathy & I to Daddy’s following SS. He didn’t go because of headache. Had dinner there. Took Walt & Kathy home while I went to Uncapher’s for candidates of church meeting. Home- through ice to get supper. Left Kathy with Mother & Daddy while we went to mission study & church. Jr’s had activities only.

Saturday January 16 1943
Mopped kitchen & bathroom – washed for the week. Mary came over before I finished & fed Kathy & put her to bed so she would be ready to go to Floy’s for trailer at 1:30. The snow of last night all melted. I went up town for shoes after we got home. No luck. Even at $7.00. Wally took me to see “Hitler’s Children.” Theater packed.

Friday January 15 1943
Got busy on my windows this morning. Cleaned plants etc. Wally not home for lunch so worked right on through.
Marilee came over about 4:30. Mary was away sewing stars on church service flag. Have 55 now. She came about 5:45 & I asked them to stay for spaghetti supper. She did dishes while I bathed Kathy. Mother & daddy here for a while in evening. Typed glad order of over $100 for daddy.
Mary Johnston said she did things because she knew I expected her to & that there was practically nothing she did for the pure joy of doing it. – Oh me!

Thursday January 14 1943
Called Mary Johnston to see if she would keep Kathy while we went to Carl’s funeral. So took her over. Carl’s mother was there but she knows only that he died. We went to cemetery. Stopped at Big Bear on way home. Got oysters & stayed for supper at mother’s. Daddy fried them & were they good.
Home with Kathy while Wally went bowling.

Wednesday January 13 1943
Wally & I went up to funeral home tonight to see Carl. He looked grand. His sister Dorothy had talked to Mary & Mother & told them more of the circumstances. A fellow Carl worked with had come home with him in P.M. for a “drink”. He had gone to bed in Carl’s room & left his gun in his coat on a chair. (A guard where Carl worked.) Evidently Carl took the gun, wrapped himself in blankets & shot.
His friend Art Stayer who was to visit him next week was at the funeral home & and let me read the letter he had from Carl Monday morning. Nothing at all to indicate despondency and he left no note. Suicide??

Tuesday January 12 1943
Cerrelda called at noon saying that Carl had shot himself. The shot caught fire in the bedclothes & he was burned.
Mary hadn’t heard from him since he decided to come after writing for an invitation of the Fourth of July.
The paper gave despondency over being rejected by Draft.
Took Kathy to Mother’s while I went to Scout meeting.
Wally went to JC meeting but home early because so few there.

 

Monday January 11 1943
Got the washing down & dampened & partly ironed. Mother, daddy & Mary came over while I was bathing Kathy. About 8:30 Mr. LeMasters called saying that Carl Mackan had burned to death tonight.