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Pvt. John "Jack" Petrow, of Company E, 133rd infantry, 34th Division, U. S. national guard, stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., doubtless is undergoing similar experiences of "Private Plink,” the hero of the cartoon which is published daily in the Freeman-Journal. “Plink” Petrow’s articles will be carried at various times in which he will tell of experiences with Company E while in camp.
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Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa - January 10, 1942

5 COMPANY E MEN IN CRASH IN THE SOUTH

Everett McConnell in Hospital; Others Continue Trip.


Everett McConnell and Don Myers were hurt and James Stamy, Jack Petrow and Don Fisher escaped injury in an auto crash near Baton Rouge, La., New Year’s night, according to word received here by McConnell’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McConnell.

The men, all members of company E, stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., were enroute to Baton Rouge when, McConnell wrote, their car was sideswiped and crashed into the ditch. The accident occurred about 25 miles north of Baton Rouge.

McConnell was the most seriously injured. He suffered a wrenched back, a cut head and black eyes. He was on the operating table four hours and it required 23 stitches to close his wounds. He is now in a hospital at Baton Rouge, where he is making satisfactory recovery.

Myers suffered a slight cut on the head.

The boys were all on their way to the east coast and the four others resumed their trip.


Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa - July 1, 1942

PETROW WRITES LETTER TO F-J FROM ARMY BASE

The Freeman-Journal is in receipt of a letter from Corp. Jack Petrow, who acted as special correspondent for this paper when Company E was at Camp Claiborne, La. The company has for some time been stationed in northern Ireland. Corp. Petrow sends a new address, as follows: Co. E, 133rd Inf., 2nd Batl., A.P.O. 34, Care Postmaster, New York City.

His brief letter is interesting and the Freeman-Journal hopes Jack may find time to write oftener. The letter follows:

Editors Freeman-Journal: This is just a line to let you know E company is still alive and kicking. We’re still in northern Ireland. The boys have pretty well accustomed themselves to the change by now. The money was pretty hard to catch on to at first, but the gals are the same—you just have to change your tactics, that’s all.

The real object of this letter is to thank you for the copies of the Freeman-Journal you’ve been so thoughtful to keep sending. The men really appreciate them. There is not much that I can write about, due to censorship, but the men are all well and send their best regards.

Our food is still good old U.S. army grub. Please tell my friends hello, especially Art Downard and W. C. (Capt.) Fastenow. Tell Bill I’d give a pound ($4) for one of his malted milks. Well, that’s about all, except to again say thanks, and that goes for Co. E to a man.

As ever,
Corp. Jack Petrow



Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa - September 16, 1942

Overseas Newspaper Sent By Corp. Jack Petrow

The Freeman-Journal
is just in receipt of a copy of The Stars and Stripes, published in London for the United States forces in the European theater of war. It was sent by Jack Petrow and is the first word this paper has had from Jack in more than a year. It will be recalled that Corporal Petrow wrote this paper some very interesting letters from Camp Claiborne, La., while Company E was there.

When the company was taken to Ireland, however, the corporal gave up his “heavy” newspaper work apparently. Come on, Corporal, let’s have an occasional letter. His address follows:

Corp. Jack Petrow, 20,702,359
Co. E, 133rd Inf., 2nd Batn.
A.P.O., care Postmaster, New York City, N. Y.
United States Army.


Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa -November 19, 1942

PETROW WRITES

Sgt. Jack Petrow, who is stationed with Co. E, somewhere in England has just sent the Freeman-Journal a V-mail letter which follows in part:

“Dear Boys on the Staff:

We fellas here in Company E receive the Freeman-Journal once a week and really enjoy it. We are thanking you for sending it to us. Will you please put this V-mail letter in the paper so we can see it here?”

The letter was dated on Nov. 2 and Sergeant Petrow’s current address is: Co. E, 133 Inf. 2nd Bn., APO 512, New York, N. Y.

~Transcriptions done & submitted by Hamilton County Iowa researcher, Pat Juon, August 2016

 

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