Sepia Saturday 737. Twenty-third in a series about 1942 letters from my dad’s brother Frederic Mason Charboneau while he was in the US Army during WWII.
After landing in North Africa in Dec. 1942, the army unit of my dad’s brother Frederic Mason Charboneau was moved to a more permanent spot.
Mail from home began to arrive, and Uncle Fred wrote back about his new duty station — likely in Algeria, Morocco, or Tunisia, although such details were not allowed in soldiers’ correspondence.
A honey of a place
“North Africa, December 20, 1942, Dear Mom: I wish I had studied my French more in school and also parlez-vous’d a little with Aline. It certainly would have come in handy now. That is the main language here with a little Spanish and Arab[ic] mixed in. We have several in the outfit that speak French so that we get along pretty good trading” with the locals. [Aline, the wife of Fred’s oldest brother Owen, was a French speaker from Quebec.]
Despite the language barrier, Uncle Fred was pleased with his new location, writing that it was the best since his deployment abroad.
“We have moved from where we were when we first came and where we are now is certainly a honey of a place and would like to stay here for the duration, but it won’t be our luck to have that,” Fred wrote. “Ever since we left the states, every place we come to has been worse than the last, but right now this place is I think even better than any place we were ever in. Of course, there isn’t much you can do, but outside of that it’s OK.”
Gas rationing back home
Then, responding to family news from his sister-in-law Doris [wife of his middle brother Hube], he added something about gas rationing that was news to me.
“I received a letter from Doris the other day, dated December 3rd, so some of the mail is coming through pretty good,” Fred wrote. “She said in her letter that they get up north once in a while and that Franny & Marion are up about every weekend. But I see where Roosevelt is thinking about calling in all of the A gas cards, so I don’t suppose they will be able to get up very often.” [our emphasis]
Getting “up north” refers to visiting Otter Lake, N.Y., in the Adirondacks where Fred’s parents (and my paternal grandparents) W. Ray and Mary (Owen) Charboneau ran the Otter Lake Hotel. “Franny & Marion” refers to Fred’s second oldest brother and his wife. But “calling in all of the A gas cards”? What was Fred talking about?
Turns out that the WWII military mobilization had created a gasoline shortage. So, starting in May 1942 on the east coast and in December 1942 nationwide, the US Office of Price Administration (OPA) instituted a gasoline rationing program — complete with a variety of windshield stickers to identify how much gas one could get at the pump.
A-cards and tire maintenance
An A-card, the most common, was issued to the general public and allowed the driver four gallons of gas per week. Nor was gasoline the only thing in short supply — rubber for tires was also scarce, so car pooling and tire maintenance were likewise stressed.
Hence Uncle Fred’s statement that his brothers and their families probably won’t “be able to get up very often” to visit their parents if their gas and tire usage was limited — or, worst case scenario, if their A-cards were pulled.
Then, as ever, Fred ended his letter with nostalgic thoughts of home:
“I am writing this letter by lamplight, and it reminds me of the time when our lights used to go out in a storm. Well, so long for now. Hoping to hear from you soon. Your loving son, Fred.”
Up next: The last of Uncle Fred’s 1942 letters. Please stop back! Meanwhile, please visit the other intrepid bloggers over at Sepia Saturday.
© 2024 Molly Charboneau. All rights reserved.
I’ve heard about gas rationing before, but I didn’t know there were different levels. Always something new to learn.
You are so fortunate to have all those letters! And it’s wonderful that you are going through all of them so thoroughly. What a gift to the rest of your family.
“Always something new to learn” is right! Uncle Fred’s letters have so far been very informative.
What an informative post, especially the part about gas rationing stickers were different. My late dad-in-law had a job that required driving so I imagine his sticker was not A.
Yes, your dad was likely allowed more gallons-per-week than the average driver. They tried to reserve gasoline for such necessary travel.
I have never heard of A Gas cards either. I always learn something new in your posts; thanks! I did know that many women painted lines up the back of their legs to simulate stockings during the war rationings, which I learned about in 8th grade history and thought was fascinating. 😉 Always fun hearing about your uncle’s adventures over seas and learning something new. 🙂
Thanks, Diane. I had heard about the painted stocking seams, too. And I am learning right along with you as I read each of Uncle Fred’s letters 🙂
You are so lucky to have this correspondence giving us a picture of what life was like for the troops but also the impact on the home front. My husband still has his parents’ ration books from WW2 and petrol was certainly in short supply here in the UK
Wow, amazing to still have those ration books! I’d love to have inherited one of the gas ration stickers, but oddly I don’t remember my parents or anyone from there generation mentioning them.
Wartime rationing was endured by many folks worldwide but it certainly was a necessity to meet America’s response to the war. I expect very, very few families had more than one car/truck and probably the majority had no vehicle. If French was the language around Fred’s new base that was probably in Algeria. If you know his army unit there is probably an official account of its service with dates and places published for veterans after the war. I’ve found several in my research which include names of officers, transport ships, and sometimes photos too.
Thanks, Mike. I was also thinking he was probably stationed in Algeria. Will have to take a look at his regimental records. Appreciate the suggestion.
Since I was only a baby, I don’t remember anything about my folks having to go through gas rationing or them talking about it later. I do remember in later years, my Mom showing me ration tickets for meat & other things. In fact I still have them. And from pictures taken at the time, I know we had a “Victory Garden” of some sort.
Like you, I remember hearing about food rationing and Victory Gardens, so gas rationing was new to me.
Very interesting about the gas rationing during WW2. I know that my maternal grandfather didn’t drive to work. Mainly just to church back then so he probably didn’t use much gas. Now I’m wondering how many miles to the gallon a model A got.
My paternal grandfather was a city physician in Detroit and got an allowance for a car and I presume more gas than the A level coupon allowed because he had to drive around to see his patients at their homes. Something else to look into.
I wonder if your uncle ever mentioned where he had been when he got home after the war.
Yes, I believe physicians and certain other priority job titles were issued gas ration cards that allowed more gallons per week. As for Uncle Fred’s locations, I’m not sure he mentioned them…will have to see what hints turn up in his subsequent wartime letters.
How great that you researched the gas rationing that began early in our WW II involvement. And Uncle Fred always sounded pretty positive about things, giving his readers a nice touch of a good memory in his closing paragraph.
Thanks, Barb . I am certainly learning a lot from his letters.