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