June 27, 1942 - Train is Late

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m off to Calif. Waiting for train it is two hour and half late - I write as soon as I get in.

Love
Bob

June 27, 1942 - Medical School Technician Certificate

June 26, 1942 - All Set to Take Off

Friday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m all set to take off for the dessert wastes of California. I’m leaving tomorrow right after supper and I’ll probably arrive Sunday evening. I get paid tomorrow morning and then I’ll be broke again for another month. I’m getting less than $20. I have insurance, coupon books, laundry, and a $5 debt out of it. I’ll end up with about 5 or 6 bucks. Of course my pay check next month will hit $80 which won’t be so bad.

I’ve finished my last day of school today and I’ve made out pretty fine. I checked up on my average in the office today and up until today it is 85. That I think is pretty good. I didn’t think it was that high but they’re the office figures so I’m not going to argue with them.

I’m not counting to heavily on a furlough in case of emergency. I’m not sure I could get it from my new camp. Then too it would cost a miniature fortune to get home. It would probably cost about $75 and that isn’t hay. However if I can see away clear I’ll try and make it. Right now I can’t see how it can be done so I’m not going to worry about it. It would probably be better if I waited awhile and then applied for a long one.

I shipped off all my stuff this morning. I have nothing but the bare necessities until I get to Indio. I’m going to take a final fling at El Paso tonight and pay my last respects to the place.

I guess I told you I saw Charlie after a hectic time trying to get in touch with him. It sure was fine to see him again. I was supposed to go out with him Saturday evening but I can’t now as I’m leaving.

I’m going down and take a shower and go to town. I’ll write again soon.

Love
Bob

June 25, 1942 - Packing to Leave

Thursday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m busy as all get out getting ready to leave so this will be very short. I have to have my stuff all packed and turned in tomorrow morning. It is some job getting all packed in one barracks bag.

I’m pretty sure I’m moving out Saturday for sure. My new address will be 5th Field Hosptial, Camp Young, Indio California. You can get in touch with me there so don’t worry about my address. I’ll send you a complete address as so as I get there. O.K.?

I finally got in touch with Charlie Neff. He and I went out last night and had a good time talking over the old days. He is going to Officer’s school next week and moves back to North Carolina.

I’m all set to leave. I just have to check in equipment and graduate, get paid and then take off.

I guess that is all for now. I’ll write a longer letter very shortly.

Love
Bob

Blogger’s Note: Thoughts and Observations

It is an interesting sentence in the last letter where Poops says, “I can’t make up my mind whether it is good news or bad news . . .” when he is pondering his move to Indio California. Particularly so for us who can look back in history and speculate on this.

As you’ll see in the next few upcoming letters, Poops is going to Camp Young in Indio California. This camp is commanded by General George Patton, and was used as a desert training center to prepare for the invasion of North Africa which was occupied with troops of the Vichy French government and Nazi Germany. This invasion became known as Operation Torch.

So in response to Poops’ pondering as to whether this is good news or bad, I’d suggest it is bad. But we know that Poops does not end up going to Africa. I have not read ahead in his letters so I do not currently know when events will occur that will lead him towards becoming a B-17 pilot. So it is interesting to think, that at this point, Poops could have ended up fighting in Africa. History is interesting because it illustrates that any small event in your life, can change a huge part of the outcome of your life.

Also, a re-occurring topic in recent letters has been the health of “Nana” who is Poops’ maternal Grandmother - Ida Malinda Crum. From prior letters (May 17 and June 9) we learned that she is suffering from gangrene, and with this last letter (and Bobbie’s previous genealogical research), we know her death is near.

June 23, 1942 - Indio - Good news or bad?

Tuesday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

As you probably know by now the Indio, California business is definite. I don’t know for sure when I’m leaving but it will probably be late Saturday or Sunday. Indio is about 900 miles away from here and I guess it will take about a day to get there. I can’t make up my mind whether it is good news or bad news, at least, it will be a change of scenery.

I will be working in the field unit in a field hospital. As far as I can figure I think the hospital will be attached to a tank unit. That I like as it will mean very little hiking. One of my sergeant’s says he thinks it is a good break. I sure hope so. That is about all I know about it right now. I’ll give you more definite details as I arrive. I’ll send my address by telegraph so that you will have my address in case anything happens.

Your letter that came today said that it wouldn’t be long now. I want to get home if at all possible. However, it has its drawback on the money angle. It probably will cost about $60 for the round trip. I can’t say how sorry I am but then perhaps it is all for the best. I want to do all I can to help. If there is anything I can do please let me know.

I’ve been trying very hard to get in touch with Charlie Neff. I called him up twice yesterday but he wasn’t in. I just found out that he called me tonight and the office didn’t notify me. I just called him a little while ago and he wasn’t in again. I’ll probably miss him entirely as I’m moving out so soon. Right next door and yet I can’t contact him.

Inv Cottrell is being separated from me as he is going to Camp Wallace, Texas. One of my buddies, Bob Nelson is going and there are a lot of fellows I know going so I won’t be lonely anyway.

Thanks for the offer to help me out when you can. I sure appreciate it. I realize the position you’re in and I know it is twice as hard now. I don’t like to ask for it but then I think you know how it is. Right now I have 3 of the 5 bucks you sent me left. I get paid Saturday. I don’t know yet whether it is the old or new rate but at least it will be something.

My cigarettes haven’t arrived as yet but I expect them in soon; probably tomorrow. I guess that’s all for now.

Love to all
Bob

June 22, 1942 - Will be shipped to Indio Calif.

Monday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’ve just found out definitely that I’m being shipped to Indio California. I think I leave next Saturday for the dessert. From all I can gather it is a sad place. Hotter than hades, plenty of sand. It is in the combat zone which means blackout and alerts plus no passed for more than six hours. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve such a kicking around by the army, but I’m sure getting it.

I finished up my work at the hospital today and I now go back to school for the last four days.

I just received word that Charlie Neff is here in El Paso. I’ve called his company twice tonight but I haven’t contacted him yet as he’s out. I will see him for sure before I leave. It sure will be good to see the handsome lug again.

That’s all for now, I just want to tell you the news of Indio. I’ll send you my new address as soon as I arrive. You can still write here and it will be forwarded.

Love
Bob

June 21, 1942 - Fathers Day

Sunday P.M.

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter arrived today and so I’ll up and answer it. I can picture the tough time you’re having at home and I’m really sorry for it. I’m sorry too that I can’t be there and help but I have a job to do here.

I remembered this morning that today was Fathers Day. I had meant to send a greeting via telegram but it slipped my mind. I feel bad about it as I really wanted to at least extend my appreciation of what you have meant to me. Anyway Dad, heres to the best Dad a fellow could have.

I’m fairly certain now that I’m going to shipped to Indio, California right in the dessert. Of course it isn’t definite yet but as far as I can gather it is fairly certain. I’m supposed to leave for there next Saturday. However it still can be changed. It seems every move I make gets me further away from home. I imagine the next stop will probably be Australia.

I stayed home last night for the first Saturday night in a long time. I feel worse today than if I had gone out. This heat takes all your appetite away and you lose all ambition that you ever had. It gets around 105 in the shade all day long. You drink water and it never seems to quench your thirst. They tell me its hotter than it is here in Indio. I guess I’ll just have to take it and like it there is nothing I can do about it.

I have only one more day at the hospital and four more days at school. I’ll sure be glad when this grind will be over. It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.

If anything should happen to Nana I want to come home. I’m worrying through about getting money to make the trip. It cost $50 a round trip on a furlough rate from here. I imagine Calif. is about the same distance as you have to travel north to get there and a little west. If I can get the off I’ll call you and if I haven’t enough money maybe you can wire it down.

I guess that is about all for now.

Love to all
Bob

June 19, 1942 - Rumored to go to California

Friday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter containing the five spot arrived today and thanks a million. I can really find use for it and I sure appreciate your sending it. I hate like all sin to ask you for money but I really haven’t enough.

As you know the $50 bill finally is in effect but a lot of good it is doing us. As far as I can find out from our company clerk it doesn’t effect the graduating class. We get a partial payment and it is still based on the old rate of pay. I figure I get about $18 (I think). Everyone else is going to get the $50 as the orders have come in headquarters. But as we are moving out we don’t get it. Of course eventually I’ll get it. In fact in July I’ll get about $80. I sure hope they change it and decide to give the graduates a partial payment based on the $50 instead of the $30.

The rumor is floating around that I’m supposed to go to Indio, California. There might be some truth in it, however I haven’t heard for sure yet. Indio is right in the desert and it is really hot, even hotter that this place. I was talking to a fellow in the hospital who was there and he says its swell outside of the heat. Thus not much sense in worrying about it now until I get the final orders. I’ll let you know for sure when I receive official orders.

Tonight we are having a graduation dance for all the members of our class. I’m going to go and enjoy myself if I can. It will probably be as disappointing as most army dances but I’m going anyway.

I’m finishing my course only two days early. It is only a two month course for surgical technicians. Originally we were supposed to finish the 29th but it is now the 27th, just a week and one day off. I’m fairly certain of getting a rating, anywhere from first class private (4 bucks extra) to tech. sergeant. I’ll just have to wait and see about that.

I’m very near the top of my class as far as averages go. I didn’t do any studying for the last 4 weeks but I assimilated enough to rate high in my class. I was really surprised to find out I was in the first 20 of my class.

I was working in the dressing room today in the hospital. I dressed several wounds for the patients. That is a rather interesting job and I’d like to land a job like that regularly.

Yesterday I saw an autopsy on a premature baby. It was really interesting to see the insides of the things I studied in anatomy. Of course it is rather gruesome but yet it is very interesting.

I’m very sorry to hear that you are having a tough time with Nana. I suppose though that it will all turn out all right. Keep the old chin up. I can get a furlough if anything happens. It will take quite awhile to get home but I can make it. Of course a lot depends on where I go from here. I also can borrow money from the Red Cross to get home if necessary.

I guess that takes care of all the news for now. I’ll write again very soon.

Love to All
Bob

P.S. I think Charlie Neff is in Fort Bliss right here in El Paso. I got a letter from Em and she thought he was coming here. I’m trying to find out for sure.

June 17, 1942 - Waiting For the Chow Line to Subside

Wednesday

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m now waiting for the chow line to subside so I can eat. Thus in the meantime I’m going to dash of a few lines.

This is practically the end of second day in the hospital. I have to go up for another hour and hang around and do very little of anything. I’m very tired as I had a full day all ready. Tomorrow’s inspection day and so everything had to be spick and span today. Then to top that we have five operations today which makes more guys to take care of. I’m going to bed tonight. But then that is as usual the last few nights.

I’ve been having my quart of milk and retiring early. I’m so fed up on this climate and town that I just stay right around camp.

It is getting time for shipment and the rumors are floating around thick and fast. I could repeat a lot of them to you but whats the use as they have little if no foundation. I think though that I will know in a few days just where I’m going. I hope it’s somewhere near home as I can come back for awhile.

It about time to eat so I’ll quit. I’ll write again tomorrow.

Love
Bob

June 15, 1942 - Money Woes

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Tomorrow I start my final seven days stretch at the hospital. I sure will be glad when that is over with. I’m still trying to figure out which is the worse, going to school or working in the hospital. I guess it is whatever you happen to be doing at the time. Oh well I have only 12 more days before graduation I guess I can stand it.

I signed the payroll today for when we leave here. I’m getting another one of those down partial payments. As far as I know our June paycheck will not contain the $50 as the president hasn’t signed the bill as yet. I think I get something like $19 on this check. I owe a fellow $5, I have $5 worth of canteen books, $1.32 insurance and a few dollars for laundry. I can see where I’m going to have to have a lot of money for the month of July. This army pay is really sad. I haven’t been spending hardly any money lately on anything but food and yet even at that rate I go in debt. I just can’t accustom myself to so little money. I figure with what I.m going through being in the army I should deserver a good time now and then. If the paycheck raise goes into effect by July I’ll receive a check of about $80 for July. I’m just waiting for this bill to get under way.

I guess it is pretty sad for me to be writing about money all the time but it is one of the main problems and it worries me. It is pretty hard to come down from $45 per week to $21 per month.

I had a half day off today. According to the school schedule today is Saturday as we are now a day behind. Last month we were a day ahead. It just serves to mix things up. On Saturday we have a half day. Clear as mud isn’t it?

I received your letter yesterday. I imagine you are having a pretty tough time too. You have my sympathies and I wish I could help but I can’t. I’m going to write to brother + Marion as soon as I finish. Incidentally I think your letters have been coming in fine. I don’t think you have neglected me at all so don’t feel bad about it. I don’t expect to hear from you as often as I write. I write as often as possible as I think you want to hear about what I’m doing and I want you to know.

Well I’m going to get started on brothers letter.

Love to all
Bob

June 14, 1942 - Curio Shop / Fighting Texas Boys

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

Here it is Sunday again and this time it is a day off. Next Sunday I’ll be working in the hospital and won’t get time off. I’m going to make the most of it. I expect to go up for a swim very shortly. I haven’t been up to the pool for about a week as I’ve been to lazy to go up in the evenings.

I finally ended up in Juarez last night and had a pretty good time. I found a few nice bars down there in fact a few of the places are nicer than anything in El Paso. I was looking at some of the stuff in a curio shop and admiring it. There was a lot of nice things there and for a very reasonable price. If I had a little money I would have bought a hand made Mexican table cloth set with napkins. Real handmade and the gay colors blended to make a set that you’d love. I also was admiring some hand made lace that was beautiful and very fine and dainty. If I get a chance to get an extra sum of money I’ll buy you some. I think you’d fall in love with it.

Another thing that might interest you is the predominance of spanish architecture around here. Practically every house is a one story affair. Some of them are sad but others are well constructed and nice.

All the boys are laying around here complaining about the headaches resulting from the night before. There is a lot of drinking and you see of lot of fellows drunk. A lot of strange things happen to some of them. The boys from Texas all seem to love to fight. I’ve seen more fist fights in this section than I ever saw in my life before. It really is a shame that a fellow can’t go out and have a drink without getting into trouble of some sort. I hate to see stuff like that as I can’t see how a person can be like that. I like beer myself but I don’t get drunk. I think it is the most disgusting thing in life.

I have a few more letters to catch up on so I’ll quit now.

Love to all
Bob

June 13, 1942 - 4 Month Army Anniversary

Saturday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

Just a short note again. I’m in the U.S.O. waiting for Cottrell to write a letter to his girl friend so I decided to write too.

I have just finished eating a good meal downtown. There is one nice restaurant in El Paso and I get a kick out of having a good meal once in awhile anyway.

I don’t know what we’re going to do tonight. I think possibly we’ll go over and look over Mexico again. It is rather dead around here and on Saturday nights the U.S.O. dances are crowed up to the hilt and you can’t have much fun.

Today is my anniversary - four months in the army today. I guess I’ll have to celebrate a little tonight. I’m out on borrowed money as I went broke last night by spending my last 25c on milk and pie. I’m just waiting for that half a hundred.

How’s Nana? I presume my little notes had the opposite effect for which they were intended. I feel that I ought to do it so I hope it isn’t too hard on you.

Have you heard how Mary Ryan is? I understand she is in the hospital with appendicitis. Will you try and find out for me

I guess that is about all for now. I’ll write tomorrow if I get real ambitious.

Love Bob

June 12, 1942 - Complaints

Friday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

My socks arrived today and they are swell. I’d just as soon not had the elastic tops but they’ll be all right. I bought myself a pair of garters quite awhile ago as I couldn’t stand my socks slopping down around my ankles. I won’t have any use for them now will I? Didn’t I have any other socks that were halfway decent? I thought I had quite a few pairs that would match brown accessories but I bet my pop or brother swiped them. Aren’t I awful accusing you of such a thing. Please forgive me. Seriously thanks a million for them and I sure appreciate them.

If Dad needs a pair of shoes I have a pair of new blacks that he can use. I won’t want them for quite a while so they might as well be used. Anything else I got you need take it and use. I’ll need all new outfits when I’m ready to return to civilian life.

I’m getting more + more fed up with this place. This new arrangement of going to the hospital has fixed up whatever system they ever had. It is just a mess all around. No one knows where or what to do not even the major who is running the school.

Our food gets worse every day. So many men in the mess hall plus a scarcity of food makes it real hard on one. They just aren’t equipped to feed as many men as they are the mess hall is really a mess. Also I’ll be glad to get out again and take off for another army camp. It sure gets tiresome staying in one place. At least when you move you have hopes of hitting something good. Of course chances are very slim for that but it does no harm to hope. For instance I’m still praying for that move back east. I’ll probably end up in California as every move I make I seem to get further away from Peekskill. I’m 2000 now in California I’d be 3000. I couldn’t go much further without leaving the country. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what Uncle Sam is going to do with me. I’ve only got about two more weeks and then I’ll know. Keep your fingers crossed.

Tomorrow will be the anniversary of my fourth month in the army. It seems a lot longer than that. In fact it is rather hard for me to picture what civilian life was like. I guess you lose all sense of perspective in the army.

I have spent an awful lot of money this month on food. Every night I go up to Mary’s and drink a quart of milk and get something to eat with it. It is in the evening when I get hungry. During the day its too hot to feel the pangs of that primitive urge.

I have now exactly 25c to my name. I’d appreciate it if you would send me a few bucks if you can spare it. I guess the $50 is through. I’m hoping that my June paycheck will contain the half a hundred. Even so it won’t be long now.

I guess that is about all for now. I’ll write again on Sunday. I’m enclosing a short note for Nana to see if it can help cheer her up. Of course it will probably have the opposite effect but ---

Love to all
Bob

June 9, 1942 - Same Old Applesauce All Over

Monday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter received today and even though I wrote last night I’ll drop you a short line. About my letters I haven’t been following any definite schedule as I first did but just write as I feel like it. So you can see it is rather hit and miss. I’m going to continue to do just that for awhile anyway.

I’m sorry to hear Nana is in bad shape but what can we do about it. I know how gangerene is and it sure is hard for her. Please give her my regards. I’ll write her another note about the next time I write. If anything comes up please let me know and I’ll try my best to get home.

I came back to school today and it is the same old applesauce all over. I sure will be glad to get out of school and do a little work where I will be of use to my government. I’m hanging on hopes again to get back east which probably won’t materialize. I’m supposed to graduate two weeks from Saturday. It won’t be too long before I know where I’ll be going again. This time will probably decide my fate as I will become attached to some unit. I hope it is this country but if fate decries otherwise I’m willing to do my part.

I’ve been loofing around doing nothing the last few nights as I have to. Thanks for getting the socks + cigarettes I really appreciate it. Of course I won’t get them for a week or so but just a premature thanks.

I’m glad to hear about Lee Adair. If brother gets any pictures of her send it along and let me get a look at her. Give Marion + Harold my regards. I’m almost as bad as they are as I haven’t written them. I will do it never fear.

I tried to get an appointment to have my teeth fixed today as I have a few small cavities to be filled. The doc told me that they weren’t bad and I could let them wait. Of course the longer you let them go the worse they get but try and tell that to the army. I’ll get them fixed in my next place or know the reason why.

Will you send me Jimmy’s address again as I destroyed the letter with it in. I was just going to write to him now too.

I guess that is about all for now.

Love to all
Bob

June 8, 1942 - Subtle Aren’t I

Monday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

How do you like the fancy stationary? Just one of the things I picked up in my journies around El Paso. I have given up buying it as I can get all I want for free and I trust you don’t mind an assortment of U.S.O etc paper. It’s what contained that counts.

I finished my first four days of the hospital today and I go back to school for a week. It really isn’t too bad up there except that time hangs heavy on your hands. After around 10 o clock there is very little to do so you just hang around and read and talk with the patients etc. I’ll be rather glad to get back to school as I’ll be finished at 5 P.M. instead of 7 P.M. Those two hours make a difference.

I see by the papers that the $50 went through the Senate today and it seems fairly certain that we will get it. I sure would lie to see the half century note at the end of this month. I have exactly $2.60 left out of my money. I’m just going to relax for the rest of the month. If you had a few extra dollars laying around loose I could make use of them but I won’t ask you for it. Subtle aren’t I?

I’m going to enclose a short note for Nana in this letter with might help cheer her up. If anything should come up please notify me. I’m pretty certain I can get a furlough to come home if I’m needed.

I was sure surprised to hear that Lee Adair was chosen as the baby of honor on Children’s Day. How did you ever swing that?

I guess that is about all for now. I’ll write again soon.

Love to all
Bob

June 6, 1942 - In charge

Saturday Thursday Aft.

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m writing you this letter on my new job. Don’t worry it’s perfectly all right. As I told you I’m working in the hospital in the general surgery ward. It isn’t at all hard and for most of the day there is nothing to do. I don’t like the hours from 7 to 7 as it makes for an awful long day.

I’m in charge of my group from school, of 10 fellows. I’m responsible to see that they get jobs and they do their work. I get the orders from the ward master and pass them on. I have to spread them out on different jobs as the purpose of this is for us to get a little experience. The captain from school comes up every morning to talk to me. I may get a little recognition this way. I hate to take the job of ordering the boys around but I have gotten along with them very well so far. I try to be nice about it and not boss them and they realize my position so everything works out. I’ve seen some guys turn into heels when they had a little authority. I don’t intend to be one of them if I can help it.

The main part of our job comes is the morning up until about ten o’clock. We have to take temperature pulse + respirations of all the patients, give them baths, prepare the ones for operations that are to have operations, help in dressing their wounds. By the time everything is finished it is just about 10 o’clock. The rest of the day is spent in helping the ones who need attention and most of the time that amounts to nothing. Thats what makes the time hang so heavy on your hands. I’m doing just that now except I’m writing to help pass the time away.

I arranged a schedule for the weekend with the ward master as half of the boys could get off tomorrow and half today. I’m one of the ones who are off tomorrow. We both have to work in the morning but a least you get the afternoon off. It sure will help. As I said before I don’t like it too much as it is a lousy job. I’m nothing more than a ward boy. To think I spent pretty near two months in school to do something I could have learned in two days up here. Oh well that’s the army way. Sometimes I wonder if it is all worth the effort.

I presume you got my last letter about the socks. I’m also going to be broke in another week or so. I’m not going to say anything as you have done enough for me already. I’m sure will be glad when Congress makes up it’s mind about our pay raise.

I guess that is about for all I’ll write you again soon.

Love to all
Bob

P.S. Air mail is fairly fast just about 2 ½ days to here otherwise it takes 5.