Dad's Merchant Marine Days Part 4 Family Photos

Family photos were affixed throughout dad's 'Merchant Marines' album.  They followed no chronological order and I've put them basically in the same order here as they were in the album.  Identities provided are either known by me or they were included on the reverse sides of the photos.  Years were included on some photos and a couple others were estimates shared with me by family members.

My dad about 1945

Russell Westcott 1944

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Marie Linnaberry

Marie lived next door to Grandma and Grandpa Schnack in Milford.  It's my understanding that my father had somewhat of a 'thing' for her before he met my mom.  Marie was no relation to the family but I included the photos because they were in the album.

Marie Linnaberry

Marie Linnaberry

Edward and Daisy's 25th Wedding Anniversary

This photo would have been made about 1948.  Kneeling in front from left to right is Jochim Walter Schnack, Edward Alexander Schnack, Katharine Rose Schnack Hammon, Anna Catharine Ella Schnack Mower, Helen Schnack Westcott.  Standing from left to right is Charles Mower, Olive Letha Rose Schnack, Edward Schnack, Jr., Marcia E. Schnack Hodges, Daisy D. Montana Schnack, and Marianna Ellen Schnack Hodges.

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Charles Elbert Rose and Walter J. Schnack 1944

Charles Elbert Rose 1948-1949

Elizabeth Ann Olmsted Rose 1952-1954

Charles Elbert Rose and Elizabeth Ann Olmsted Rose 1952-1954

Charles Elbert Rose 1952-1954

Olive Letha Rose Schnack

Is this Katharine Rose Schnack Hammon?

Do you know who this is?

Do you know this dog or this toddler?

Olive Letha Rose Schnack with Thomas Alan Cope        August 1952

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope with Thomas Alan Cope  August 1952

Harry Donald Cope with Thomas Alan Cope   November 1952

Harry Donald Cope and Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Katharine Rose Schnack Hammon

Olive Letha Rose Schnack

Edward Alexander Schnack

The following is a group photo and I've included a scan of the reverse side of the image.  The names written on the reverse side have no meaning to me.  Does anyone know who they are?

I recognize Harriet Julia Camp Baird on the far left and Milton George Camp is peaking around from behind a young woman standing beside Harriett.  The tall man is Leonard George Camp and the woman on the far right is Beatrice May Rose Camp.  Any help with other identifications is appreciated. 

Written on the reverse side is the location of the photo.  Secret Caverns and Howe's Caverns at Howe's Cove were, and still are, popular recreation areas in Schoharie County, New York.  I linked to both because I thought this group might have visited one or the other while in Howe's Cove, New York.

Beatrice May Rose Camp

I recognize a John Deere tractor when I see one but does anyone know whose house is in the background?

Lorraine 1945 

I have a Lorraine Hastings (born in 1936) in the family tree.  She is the sister of Donald Hastings who married our cousin Doris (Rose) Hastings. Could this be the same Lorraine?

left to right: Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, Edward Alexander Schnack, Walter J. Schnack 1940

Doris Van Husen 1946 

I don't have Doris Van Husen in my family tree.  Can anyone tell me if, or how, she's related?

top photo from left to right: Jochim Walter Schnack, Olive Letha Rose Schnack, Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, Edward Alexander Schnack in Montreal, Canada

Harriett Julia Camp Baird

Milton George Camp

Milton George Camp

Leonard George Camp and Beatrice May Rose Camp

Jochim Walter Schnack

Updated 9 Mar 2014, 1:41pm, with additonal positive identifications.

1967 2 19 Walter J. Schnack to Olive Schnack

My father writes from Vietnam to his mother in upstate New York. He mentions operations Attleboro, Cedar Falls, and Junction City in this letter. 

Family names in this letter and their relationship to my father are:

• 'Mom' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, his mother
• 'Irene' was Irene Orvetta Cole Schnack Speer, his wife
• 'Dad' was Jochim Walter Schnack, his father
• 'Chuck' is Charles Elbert Rose, his cousin
• 'Katie' was Katharine Rose Schnack Jones Gall Hammon, his sister
•  'Eddie' was Edward Alexander Schnack, his brother
• 'Elsie' is Elsie Loraine Smith Knapp Schnack, his sister-in-law
• 'Viv' was Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, his sister
• 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, himself and author of this letter

19 Feb 1967

Dear Mom,

Well, I guess its time I answered some of your letters.  I know you worry about me and would like me to write more often but time will hardly permit it.  When we get done work and cleaned up, you're ready for sleep right then, but I do have to write Irene and I suppose I could take time, but you know I'm really not a letter writer.

I have 5 letters of yours here and they go back quite a ways; surely I've written you.  We have been on one operation after another since November 4; Attleboro, Cedar Falls and now working Junction City.  I don't go to the field but it makes things twice as busy then because I'm usually operating the base camp end alone.  I'm glad to hear Dad got some skiing in.  From what we hear, there should be plenty of skiing

or didn't you get all the snow and cold the news talks about?

Mom, I'll tell you what I think happened to your letter.  I gave it to Father Du and I think he misplaced it or lost it because every time I ask him, he gets a sad look on his face and acts disgusted, so I really think its him and I know its not the kids.  I may come up with something yet, though.

I got your letter from November out and you say we're right in the middle of the fighting.  We are but all we can do is get mortared, or have mines used against us, or sniped at; not like crawling through the jungle or tunnels.  Tay Ninh is right in the middle of a lot of VC and an ideal place for them because of the jungle all around.  When Chuck gets back, which should be in another month to six-weeks,

he can give you a run down on how it is.  I saw him for about an hour last week.  He's at our base camp temporarily but he's busy and so am I so we don't get to see much of each other.

I hope Katie and hers are OK now.  They sure have a rough road.  I'm ashamed I haven't written Eddie and Elsie yet and thanked them for the good chow.  If you see Eddie, tell him there's still half a pail of peanut butter to go.  Say hello to Viv and all for me.

Well, I'll sign off before I don't have anything left for Irene.

Love to all,
Jake

Personnel in Vietnam had only to write the word "Free" in the upper right hand corner of the envelopes containing their letters to friends and family.  They would give them to the company clerk who would forward them to the 'Army Post Office' (APO) and would then be sent to Travis Air Force Base, near Fairfield, California, where they would then enter the U.S. Postal Service.  The same would occur in reverse for mail going to personnel in Vietnam.

1967 1 27 Walter J. Schnack to Olive Schnack

Back to a regular letter.  My father, in Vietnam, writes to his mother, in upstate New York.  Amongst other things, he writes about TET.

Family names in this letter and their relationship to my father are:

• 'Mom' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, his mother
• 'Dad' was Jochim Walter Schnack, his father
• 'Katie' was Katharine Rose Schnack Jones Gall Hammon, his sister
• 'Bob' was Robert Jones, his brother-in-law
• 'Irene' was Irene Orvetta Cole Schnack Speer, his wife
• 'Viv' was Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, his sister
• 'Eddie' was Edward Alexander Schnack, his brother
• 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, himself and author of this letter

27 Jan 1967

Dear Mom & Dad,

Well, I think its high time I took time out to write a few lines.  I am still OK, tired, frustrated, but all in one piece.

The weather here is now hot and dry but yet the humidity is quite high.  We have been quite busy the last two months with Operation Attleboro and just finished Cedar Falls.  Both times we had over a 100 tons of rice to take care of.  106 on Attleboro and 162 on Cedar Falls.  On Cedar Falls, over 3000 ton was discovered but so much of it is impossible to get out.  It would be very time consuming and take a chance of getting somebody killed and for my part, no amount of rice is worth one life.  If the Vietnamese want it, they should go get

it, but they only want it after we bring it out.  The rice we have is already about gone.  I gave 1000 bags (125 lbs each) to the Province Chief to give refugees for TET (Lunar New York-Buddhist New Year), another 115 to Father Du for 200 families.  I have asked him again when he intended to answer your class' letter.  I hope he soon does something about it.

Gee, Katie and Bob sure have their troubles, don't they?  I hope that someday they will get all squared away so they can enjoy life a little.

Christmas was as good as could be expected under the circumstances.

I guess Irene held up pretty good with all considered.  I guess the only real worry she has

is with the kids.  I imagine they give her a fit.  They were hard enough to control with me there.  With me gone, I can imagine.

I did neglect Viv, Eddie, and quite a few others for not thanking them for presents but gee, it sure is hard to get more than one letter a day written.  Thank all of them for me because it could be awhile before I get to write.

Mom, would you go see Morty Johnson in reference to the Basketball Officials Association?  He will tell you how much the dues are.  If you would, could you give him the amount and I'll send you a money order for it.  I'd hate to lose out on it because I've waited so long.  I should have sent it last month, I think.

Well Mom, as you can tell, I'm still OK.  Say hello to all for me.  I'll see  you soon.

Love,
Jake

1956 4 4 Irene Schnack to Olive Schnack

This letter, written by my mom to my paternal grandmother, announces the birth of my brother.  My mother told me that she and my father had not told their families about this pregnancy because of the 'talk' of having another child so soon after my own birth.  My brother was born prematurely; he and I are 10-months apart in age.

The family members in this letter and their relationship to my mother are:

• 'Ma' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, her mother-in-law
• 'Cindy Lou' is Cindy Lou Schnack Arsenault Coffell, her daughter
• 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, her husband
• 'Eddie' was Edward Alexander Schnack, her brother-in-law
• 'Doris' is Doris Jane Rose Hastings, her husband's cousin
• 'Viv' was Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, her sister-in-law
• 'Mom' or 'Mother' was Ruth Elma Harder Cole, her mother
• 'Tinker' is Margaret Elizabeth Cole Gray, her sister
• 'Raymond' is Raymond Cole Schnack, her son

April 4, 1956

Dear Ma and all,

About a month ago I started a letter to you and got as far as the envelope.  About two weeks ago I got one page written.  Now I'm starting over again.  I hope to finish today.

Cindy Lou has finally cut a tooth.  It came through a week ago Sunday on the the bottom.  She sure is a little pill and gets into just everything and she's only 10 months old.  I don't know what I'll do when she starts walking.  She sure is jealous.  One of the couples we are renting a room to, has a two month old baby and she doesn't like it at all if Jake or I hold it.  She will stand beside you and just holler.  I'll have to break her of that, I don't want a jealous and selfish child.

I don't know what the thermometer reads today but it must be in the 90°s.

We have three rooms rented now.  I can't think of much of anything to say.

Yes, Cindy Lou both creeps and walks by holding on furniture or pushing a chair around.

How is Eddie making out?  Does he still like his job?  Does he get a vacation?

Yes, we got the money from the post office and we have had the teakettle for about two months.  I hope to get it sent soon.

We got a wedding invitation to Doris' wedding.  Would you find out for me what she would like and needs?

We got the More Journal.  I have read it all through and found it very interesting.

Would you send us a write up of Doris' wedding from the paper when its in?  We let our subscription expire and haven't felt we could squander the money for a renewal.  Now we get very little news from back home.  I suppose if I wrote more often, I'd hear more news.  I'll try to write more but I'm so busy and haven't been feeling up to par.

We got some more clothes for Cindy Lou from Viv.  We call the pink nylon her Easter dress.  We bought Cindy Lou a green corduroy coat and hat for Easter and since I found the first tooth, I got her a full, stiff slip to help the dress stand out.  We took her picture with the dress on Easter.  Of course, I'm standing behind the tree holding her hand so it will look more like she is alone.  She has a chocolate Easter egg which one of our ex-roomers got her and a chocolate bunny.  We haven't given her either of them yet.

Yesterday, I got a package from Mom with a darling jacket Tinker had made

for Cindy Lou, two polo shirts, two overalls, and a sweet little yellow dress.  Cindy Lou sure is a lucky child and we're lucky to not have to buy her too much.

I started giving Cindy Lou her bath at night in the tub.  You should see her.  She just loves the water.  She splashes and gets on her tummy and makes like she is swimming.

I had her to the Well Baby Clinic about two weeks ago.  She weighs 22 lbs. and is 29 in. tall now.  She is supposed to get polio shots when she is one year which won't be long now.  I didn't think I wanted her to have them but Jake and I talked it over and decided to give them to her.

I just can't think of much more to say.  I'll wait 'til Jake gets here to seal it up and maybe we can give you some more news.

Jake couldn't think of anything to add on so now we'll let you in on a secret.  We don't want any nightgowns or receiving blankets.  We have plenty from Cindy Lou.  We don't need any large blankets either.  You have another grandson.  He is six weeks premature but doing pretty good.  I'm fine myself.  They give the rooming in plan here but I can't have little Raymond for another day or two.  He is in the incubator.  Jake says he looks more like a baby than Cindy Lou did.  I had this one entirely without anesthesia.  They usually give Demerol but wouldn't give me any because of the baby.  Yesterday, the doctor told me they'd bring me the baby today, but changed

his mind this morning as they can't leave him out of the incubator yet.  I'm supposed to go home Monday.  I asked the doctor if the baby would be able to go with me and he said he couldn't say yet.

Now you understand another reason why I haven't been writing so often.  This pregnancy has kept me worn out.  I have been to the doctors every week since November. 

I had an appointment with the doctor Tuesday, my delivery day.  When Jake got home to bring me, I had my suitcase packed.  I knew I'd be staying.  I started my labor at 6:30 in the AM but it was very irregular until about 3:45.  I had 3 or 4 sharp pains and delivered little Raymond.

I haven't had him in my arms yet but I have seen him through the nursery window and right after he was delivered.

Well, I must close now and write the good news to my mother.

Love,
Irene Jake, and two little ones

P.S.
We hope you aren't angry with us for keeping the secret but we both wanted it this way.

Raymond Cole Schnack birth registration