WAYNE NAIL IN ENGLAND
A. G. Nail, of this city, recently received a letter from his son, Corp. Homer Wayne, who is now stationed somewhere in England with the armed forces. Mr. Nail last heard from his son on Sept. 1 and at that time he was stationed in Trenton, N. J.
Corp. Nail left Webster City on March 18 with a group of selectees from Hamilton county. Following are excerpts from the corporal’s letter written Sept. 13:
“A lot of things have happened since I last wrote to you but I guess you understand the situation. I am in England a good many miles away from home but it hardly seems possible.
Climate Cold
“I am x x x x though except I still have a little head cold. The climate here is rather cold but we haven’t had any rain yet. I guess we can expect most anything. The scenery here is beautiful and everything is so old but it is all laid out so orderly and neatly it is surprising.”
“I have been awfully busy lately at various miscellaneous details.”
“I fell down in a hole last night during the blackout and skinned my knee and hand. Guess I will have to get used to it though.”
“I think I may go into town tonight and get an idea of what an English village is like. From what I have seen so far everything, especially the towns and villages, are so much in a group and instead of having one family live in a house, they have several. Everything is certainly green around here and there is a lot of grass and shrubbery.”
“Guess I will have to grease up my gun this afternoon if I can find some light oil and get it in shape. They have quite a little kick to them but not as much as I expected and they certainly will shoot a long way.”
In Combat Zone
“Well dad, I finally ended up where every soldier expects to eventually end up—in a combat zone. People over there don’t have any idea of what war is until they actually have seen it where people are all out for the war effort and know what the circumstances are.”
“It doesn’t seem possible that a peace loving country like we have seen could be in this war but I guess that is something that a lot of other people haven’t been able to understand and so we go ahead under these conditions.”
“I think I can still feel that old boat rock and my head feels about the same way. Guess I will get over it in time though.”
“Well I will close and hope this finds you all right also.”
Corp. Nail’s new address is: Corp. Homer W. Nail, 91st Bomb Group; 324th Bomb Squadron, care of postmaster; A. P. O. 875; New York City.
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - Oct. 8, 1942
BACK IN STATES.
Sgt. Wayne Nail, of this city, who has been located in England for almost three years, has arrived in the States, according to a telegram received by his father, A. G. Nail. Sergeant Nail has not visited home since entering the service and expects to get home soon.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, July 2, 1945
Homer Wayne Nail was born June 22, 1920 to Allen G. and Olive Crist Nail. He died June 1, 1999 and is buried in the Cass Center Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Sgt. Nail served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II with the 8th Air Corps in England.
Source: ancestry.com
