June 3, 1942 - Observing Operations and Other Tidbits

Wednesday Eve.

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter received today and thanks. I also received my second letter from Dr. Durger which I intend to answer soon.

I spent my first half day in the hospital this morning. I go up there for observation and practical work twice a week. This morning I spent the entire morning observing operations. It was rather interesting. I saw an operation on the abdomen for adhesions, one restoring a nerve in a functionless arm, the cutting away of scar tissue around a leg, and a grafting of skin from one place to another. It is really great how they can cut a person up and practically dissect them, sew them up and the person is better than new. It was really very interesting and I enjoyed it very much. There is not much to it really but when you look at it seems awful gruesome.

I guess I told you that I ended up in the top third of my class for the first month. I’m getting rather fed up on it as the place is really all screwed up. I’ve been looking for a bit of efficiency on the part of the army for four months and I still haven’t seen it.

I told you I moved the other day to a different barracks. I no longer have my private room and am out on the floor again. We certainly have a queer mixture of breeds in the barracks. First of all we have a bunch from Brooklyn and they are typical, another group of Jersey jerks and then a bunch of real “Texicans”. The “Texicans” are a sad bunch and the way they talk drives you crazy. They sound like a ignorant negro with their drawl. I can’t stand it sometimes and it gets on your nerves.

I told you about being in Mexico once, I’ve been over once since then to see the night life. It is a horrible place. There is one street which is habitated by prostitutes and when you walk through it they try to drag you in. I came out of there and I was completely and thoroughly disgusted.

Thanks for Jimmy’s address and I’ll write to him soon. You know how we are about writing letters to each other. I guess in all the times I’ve known him we have written each other three letters. I don’t know why we just never do. I want to hear what he thinks of the air corps. I have been thinking a little about it lately and I’ve been tempted to try the test again. I want to wait and see what happens after I get out of here and get attached to my regular outfit.

Yes I know my Dodgers are doing quite all right. I follow them as close as possible. Of course I don’t get complete details but I find out the scores of their games. I’d sure like to see one of their games or listen to Red Barber tell about it.

Mary Ryan tells me she has appendicitis and expects to go into the hospital for an operation soon. That’s too bad after what I saw today. Of course an appendectomy is a simple operation. Call her up and send my regards will you?

I have been relaxing for the last two days doing nothing. I’m trying to conserve my funds as much as possible. About the only time I will be able to go out will be weekends. Oh well I guess it won’t kill me.

I guess that is about all for now. I’ll write again soon. Tell Harold + Marion I’ll write them as soon as I got a little extra time. Give them my regards plus mine to Lee Adairs. I hear the kid looks like me. I feel sorry for her if it is true.

Love to all
Bob