SERVICEMEN WRITE (to Joy Hanson, Editor of the Ellsworth News)
From California
Victorville, Calif.
Dear Joy: I received the Ellsworth News which looked very good to me, and which I enjoyed reading very much, telling what the folks are doing back home; and also the addresses of the boys from back there.
There are three of us boys from Iowa here in the same barracks. We came out to this Mojave desert together. We three are mechanics—the two of us from Webster City and the other one from southeast of Des Moines. Merle Williams, Freddie Rose and I sure wish they would assign us to something in our line soon, so we can go to work and get this over with. What we have been doing is just detail work, from tincan pile to railhead in town, and hauling bombs to planes.
I have been working in town at the depot for the last two and a half months and now I am out on the line hauling practice bombs to the plane.
This would be a very nice day if it wasn’t for the wind blowing this sand around. The wind sounds just like it should be March back home.
Will sign off and go to work; and a Happy New Year to you.
As ever
Pvt. Ernest F. Carnell
Det. 12, 2053rd Ord. Co., Avn. Ser. V. A. F. S., Barracks 2-49, Victorville, Calif.
Thanks for your letters and New Year’s greeting, Ernie; and may the new year be good to you. You fellows are evidently taking your desert sand “straight,” instead of mixing it with spinach like Popeye. And that idea of starting you in on tincans and winding up on bombs was probably to break you in easy; you’d get so angry at a tincan that the biggest bomb on earth wouldn’t scare you. And Ernie, if you get a chance, just see if one of those bombs isn’t labeled: “Made out of scrap from Hamilton county, Iowa.” And if it is, see that it goes where it will do the most damage—Joy.
Source: Ellsworth News, Ellsworth, IA, Dec. 30, 1942
From Ernest Carnell
June 27, 1943
Dear Joy:
I thought it was getting about time I was writing a few lines.
Well, Joy, I have finished my school in Los Angeles. When I left there I had my diploma, and was recommended for advance school, which may come up some time later; and right at the present I am back in camp working in the motor pool again. It sure was hard to get used to the hot desert again.
Being that today is Sunday, things are rather quiet. I got The News today so am reading to get caught up on what’s going on there.
So am asking you to send The Ellsworth News to:
Pfc. Ernest F. Carnell
Det. 12, 2053rd Ord. Co., Avn. Ser., Barracks 2-49, V. A. A. F., Victorville, Calif.
Source: Ellsworth News, July 7, 1943
From Ernest Carnell
Dear Joy:
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still in California.
I have a change of address, so would like to have The News sent to my new address. Sure enjoy getting the News each week which keeps me up to date with what is going on around there.
As far as I know I will be doing the same kind of work I was doing for the time being. Still working in the motor pool after I was changed around.
We are having nice warm weather here now, after the long cold spell which we had.
Greet all the folks there for me. As ever,
Pfc. Ernest F. Carnell
3035th A. A. F. Base Unit, Bombdr. Sch., V. A. A. F., Victorville, Calif.
Source: Ellsworth News, May 14, 1944
Ernest Fred Carnell was born June 28, 1908 to Harry John and Martha Wagner Carnell. He died Sept, 11, 1968 and is buried in Homewood Cemetery, Ellsworth, IA.
Corporal Carnell served with the 3035th Base Unit of the Army Air Corps in World War II.
His Obituary: Jewell Record, Jewell, IA - Sept. 1968
Ernest Carnell, 60, lifelong resident of the Ellsworth community, died about 5 p.m., Wednesday, September 11 of a heart attack while mowing the lawn at his home.
Funeral services were held Saturday at 2 p.m., at the Becker funeral home in Jewell with the Rev. Raymond Ehlers officiating. Burial was made in the Homewood Cemetery at Ellsworth.
Pallbearers were Robert Mullin, Clifford Dalbey, Raymond Anderson, Arnold Sheldahl, Truman Hale, and Ken Johnson.
Ernest Fred Carnell, the son of Harry and Martha Henrietta Wagner Carroll, was born June 28, 1908, at Radcliffe. He was united in marriage to Lavonne Hia, on December 23, 1941 at Princeton, Missouri, and the couple made their home in the Radcliffe and Ellsworth communities.
He was a member of the American Legion and the Methodist church, and was a veteran of World War II. He had owned and operated a garage in Ellsworth for a number of years.
He is survived by his wife and two foster daughters Darnell Dean Stuhr and Sheila Marie Goodrich, and by one brother, Roy Carnell of Stratford.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Walter and George Carnell.
Source: ancestry.com
