POST CARDS FROM THE GREAT LAKES ABOARD THE BALL BROTHERS - PAGE 5

After boot camp the new recruits were assigned to guard the ship Balls Brothers as it sailed the Great Lakes. The Balls Brothers was a laker ship built by the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio in 1905 and was still sailing the Great Lakes in 1942 when William was assigned to sail aboard and guard it as it made its way up through Lake Erie through Sault Sainte Marie to Duluth, then back to Buffalo, New York, finally ending at a Coast Guard Station. (The ship was scrapped in 1963.)

During this time he sent his sister “Oh” (pictured with him here) three postcards. The first is postmarked Gulliver, Michigan, 21 November 1942. Over the “PLACE STAMP HERE” box in the upper right corner the word “FREE” is written.

From: Wm. Valencheck A.S.
c/o Steamer Ball Bros.
Marine Post Office
Detroit, Mich.

Hi Oh

We are now in Port Island and from here we go to Buffalo. I’ll drop you a card at each port so until then, Adios.

Bill

The second postcard addressed much the same way is post stamped Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, 2 December 1942.

Hi Sis,

Another card for you. The next one you get from me will be big enough to write a short story on it.

I haven’t gotten any letters for two weeks since we haven’t been down to Detroit for that period of time. We should be there Thur.

Bill

The last post card in this set was indeed a long one. In fact it was three feet long. It was postmarked in Buffalo, New York in December of 1942 and addressed to Miss Olga Valencheck.

December 4th, 1942

Hi Sis,

I got your letters today and nine others. The others were mailed last week some time and I couldn’t get them until today.

Here is that card I was telling you about and I think you will need a bigger scrapbook to put this one in.

The last trip we made was the roughest trip I ever went on. When we got to Duluth our boat was covered with ice and you would think it was a floating iceberg. Every wave that came along would cover our deck and almost the pilothouse. When I get home I’ll tell you more about it and about going through Sault Sainte Marie. I think I did mail you a card from there.

We are going to hit Lake Erie now and they say that it is stormy and that a boat and its crew went down.

This is the only letter I got from you so if you mailed one Monday, I didn’t get it.

We had a swell Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, ice cream and pie, and a bottle of beer and cigars and cider too to top it. It was plenty good. (hic burp)

I got a letter from Stan and he gave me all kinds of hell for not writing to him. I guess he forgot that he sent me a card and telling me not to write until he finds out where they send him.

I’ve got a lot to say but I (will) wait until I get home and tell you all about it so until again,

Adios

Bill

FIRST ORDERS, SUMMER 1942 - PAGE 2

Like many veterans after the war, William never spoke much of his experiences in the Coast Guard. Even letters from home at the time were constantly imploring him to write more often and to tell the family how things were with him and what it was he was undergoing. Both the letters (at least the ones that survive) and they few stories that he would tell later on were largely concerning the less gruesome, even pleasant aspects of being in the service. As a result, his children would never have a firm grasp of what took place during those war years in the life of their Father. Histories of the ship, well documented pictures (thanks to his sister “O”), numerous letters back and forth, and newspaper clippings help piece the story together during the upcoming years, but these early years still remain murky.

Here is page one of his original application for enlistment. It is dated 22 July 1942, though by his own recollection, William lists the day he actually joined the Coast Guard Reserves as 10 September 1942, not too far from his 22nd birthday.

Orders came soon after this application was accepted. The following letter is perhaps the least well preserved of everything that was saved over the years. It is well worn and ripped at its folds as if it were kept in a wallet for some time. The letter is reproduced in part below this scanned copy for easier reading. It is hard to imagine what the young man was thinking as he began reading this letter from the Coast Guard soon after enlisting, aware of war breaking out all over the world.

NAVY DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
CLEVELAND, OHIO

From: COPT, Cleveland, (Sandusky, OHIO)
To: Valencheck, William
Subject: Orders; armed guard detail aboard Steamer Ball Brothers.

1. Upon receipt hereof, proceed immediately to the Steamer Ball Brothers and report to the master for armed guard duty aboard that vessel.

2. You will be quartered and subsisted at Government expense and you will remain aboard the vessel until properly relieved. Liberty will be of secondary importance and may be granted by the master at his discretion for a period not to exceed four (4) hours while the vessel is in port.

3. You will be governed by the regulations contained in the reference (c) and you are directed to learn, understand, and fully execute your duties as set forth therein. You will be furnished a copy of references (c) unless a copy is already in the possession of the master. In the latter case, the master will make his copy available to you for your information, study, and guidance.

4. You will be furnished suitable small arms unless Coast Guard firearms are already in the custody of the master. In the latter case, such arms will be made available to you when required for the proper execution of your duties. You are directed to handle, use, and store such arms in full compliance with the safety precautions set out in reference (c).


5. Travel under this order will be performed by Government conveyance. No mileage expense is indicated and none is authorized.

PERMANENT DUTY STATION:
COPT, CLEVELAND (Sandusky, OHIO).

Randolph H. Thompson
By Direction