Past Post: Redacted 1944
May 8th, 2008 @ 1:00 am by Cliffe | Sorted Past Post
Today’s Past Postcard is, well, I don’t know. It was redacted by someone after March 1944. Come on now, kind examiner! Private Hugh ——– was just trying to tell ——— about his time at ———– in Seattle during his leave. Can anyone make anything out? Give the thumbnails a click and let’s see who has the most elite Photoshop CSI skills.
Update: Gabi Campanario sent in this winning entry. Bravo!
Update: Gabi Campanario sent in this winning entry. Bravo!
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| Front: Aeroplane View Of Seattle, Washington. |
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| Back: Postcard sent March, 1944. Censored by Army Examiner. |
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| Back: Photoshop CSI winner Gabi Campanario decrypts the postcard. |
May 8th, 2008 @ 7:34 am
This is my guess. I used dashes for the words I can’t figure out:
Dear Grace, Finished another day of our — —– & have just returned to barracks & had my evening meal. How do you like this view of Seattle? Am toying to send you variety of cards as I find them. Love, Hugh
Those two missing words must be the ones that bugged the censor. And they will bug me until I figure them out.
(I’m not sure about the word “toying”.)
It is addressed to Mrs. Hugh L. Crabill of St. Louis, Missouri.
May 8th, 2008 @ 7:53 am
I’m fairly certain it is “trying” (not “toying”).
May 8th, 2008 @ 9:02 am
I’m not sure that’s the censor’s doing - when that much had to be censored (AFAIK/IIRC) the item was returned/destroyed.
May 8th, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Dear Lulu,
The atomic bombs that me and the other guy, Skip, are making, are sitting right now at the docks near a restaurant that sells really good fish n’ chips. Much better than at home. The bombs will be there until Thursday. I hope no one finds out where they are and attacks that particular sight, right there, along the Seattle waterfront, by the restaurant that has a giant clam on the roof.
Me? I’m having a great time making atomic bombs at Boeing (address: 1847 Airport Way, Renton, WA) and generally hassling the German-Americans that live around here. They don’t appreciate fish n’ chips and, honestly, if someone doesn’t like fish n’ chips, I don’t trust ‘em, or like ‘em.
To hell with them. And everyone else…who is not a REAL American.
Sincerely,
Your Friend and Army Buddy Who Keeps War-Type Secrets Very Secret.
May 8th, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Let’s go to Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips. I heard they have a concoction of oil they use to cook the fish in that will help us with the decoded message. It will clear up the black marker.
May 8th, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Jeanne,
I think the two words are actually one word: “problem”
-Neil
May 8th, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
Derek: I think you’re probably right. A postcard with the addressee censored would not “pass” and would not have a postal service timestamp. Wierd.
Cliffe
May 8th, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Maybe the army examiner just thought the writer was a big jerk.
May 8th, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
The Felt Tip marker type pen used to “black out” the text on this card wasn’t invented until 1952. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marker_pen
These marks were placed well after the postmark of 1944. Most likely by someone who was reselling the postcard.
May 10th, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
after playing around with it in Photoshop this is the most I can decipher from the addressee info:
Pvt. Hugh I. Crabill, 376 209 Rd 8th Trat Reg. Esp.
Ft. Lawton, Washington.
i’ll send you a jpg Cliffe
May 11th, 2008 @ 12:45 am
Awesome, Gabi! Posted your work in the update.
Cliffe