Letter from Philip F. Van Pelt to his family, September 24, 1945
Title
Letter from Philip F. Van Pelt to his family, September 24, 1945
Description
Van Pelt discusses his first trip to The Citadel from Chicago.
Creator
Publisher
The Citadel Archives & Museum
Date
Rights
Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.
Relation
Van Pelt, Philip F. Cadet Letters, 1945-1949
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1954
Audience
Text
[Page 1]
Dear Mom & dad
The rough South Carolina countryside is streaking past my window. The train is four and a half hours out of Charleston, and the journey is growing to an end.
Almost an hour and forty minutes out of Chicago I met two fellows also going to the Citadel, new fourth classmen like myself, and we have become buddies on the trip. One fellow is from Duluth and the other from River-side. Just a couple of hours ago we picked up some fellows also going to school, and one fellow, also a 4th classman, who had been there last term.
I have lost all interest in sleeping on trains. The little sleep I got last night, was in a very uncomfortable position, I can’t stretch out even when I lie diagonally on the berth. I think I’ll
[Page 2]
fly home come Christmas. After a few hours down here I’ve already begun to pick up some of the Southern lingo and accent- “you-all”.
I can’t really express in words how swell you are for making it possible for me to come to the Citadel. As I am now nearing a realization of my dream school, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done to help.
I shall mail this when I get to Charleston, - but for now, goodbye.
Love,
Phil.
Dear Mom & dad
The rough South Carolina countryside is streaking past my window. The train is four and a half hours out of Charleston, and the journey is growing to an end.
Almost an hour and forty minutes out of Chicago I met two fellows also going to the Citadel, new fourth classmen like myself, and we have become buddies on the trip. One fellow is from Duluth and the other from River-side. Just a couple of hours ago we picked up some fellows also going to school, and one fellow, also a 4th classman, who had been there last term.
I have lost all interest in sleeping on trains. The little sleep I got last night, was in a very uncomfortable position, I can’t stretch out even when I lie diagonally on the berth. I think I’ll
[Page 2]
fly home come Christmas. After a few hours down here I’ve already begun to pick up some of the Southern lingo and accent- “you-all”.
I can’t really express in words how swell you are for making it possible for me to come to the Citadel. As I am now nearing a realization of my dream school, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done to help.
I shall mail this when I get to Charleston, - but for now, goodbye.
Love,
Phil.
Collection
Citation
Van Pelt, Philip F., “Letter from Philip F. Van Pelt to his family, September 24, 1945,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed April 24, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1954.