July 19, 1942 - Back From Furlough

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m back again to writing letters to you. I got back here yesterday afternoon at about 5:30 P.M. The train as usual was about an hour late. I was lucky enough to hit an army truck going back for camp so I managed the 26 miles from here to Indio all right.

The train ride itself was more or less a nightmare. I felt awful blue and then to have to ride three days rather got me. All I could think of was the swell time I had being home and you can just picture how I felt. However after I got back to camp I felt a little better as I met the fellows and I had plenty to talk about.

Whatever I go through now I’ll feel better as I wanted to get home once anyway and I’ve done that. Of course it is going to be hard getting back in the routine of army life but I guess I can do it all right. I’ve made up my mind to make the best of it and bear it with a grin.

I can’t tell you how bad I felt saying goodbye to you at Harmon. I’ll always remember you two standing there waving me off. I can picture Mother biting her lip to keep back the tears. I felt the same way but somehow I managed to keep them back. I sure do appreciate all you’ve done for me and I can never repay you for it. I was so happy just being back to my home and seeing the folks again. On darn, I can’t put down on paper what I really feel.

I’ve paid back the Red Cross the money and I’m all settled. I still have about five bucks left. It sure cost money to eat on the darn train and I spent about a dollar and a half on reading material. I get a ration allowance of $6.60 for my time on furlough and I imagine that will be through in a few days so I’ll be all right. I don’t know if I’m going to get paid. The payroll was made up yesterday and I don’t know if I’ll get around to signing it before it goes in or not. There is no one around headquarters so I’ll have to wait until Monday to find out. I might make it yet. However, if I don’t I’ll get paid on a supplementary payroll about Aug. 10 as far as I can gather.

I don’t know what is going to happen to this outfit. Some of the boys volunteered for foreign service and are moving out to Fort ???, Calif. soon to go on a boat ride. If it breaks us up to much we might get transferred and then we might not. You can never be sure of what is going to happen in the army.

I went to see a colonel today about officers training but he could give me no information. He said to see my commanding officer tomorrow which I intend to do. We have a quota of five to go to anti-aircraft school which leave Aug. 22. I might be able to work in on that. I think that school is South Carolina. I’ve made up my mind to do my best to get in. I’d like to get into a different division if I can and if possible I’d like to get in air corps school for officers and go to Florida. However that will wait and see.

I’m on K.P. tomorrow for the first time since I left Barkeley. Isn’t that a fine way to greet me coming back from a furlough. However I don’t mind too much.

Well I guess that is about all for now, I’ll write again tomorrow. Write me soon.

Love
Bob