July 25, 1942 - If I Get Into OCS

Saturday Afternoon

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’ve been pretty good about writing since I’ve been back. I think I have written you nearly every day. They haven’t been much in the line of letters but - . I’ve been expecting another one from you but it will probably be along soon. The mail takes so long to get here.

I got a card from Em today and she’s now on her vacation at Cimmeron Ranch. I guess she’s having fun. It is wonderful to get some time off to do things like that.

My application for O.C.S. is now up in the proper hands. I’ll go before the examining board sometime next week and then I’ll know the results. If I make it I’m going to try to make arrangements to get home for a few days. I’ll probably know one way or the other next week and if I have to be there on Aug. 7 I can try to start for Florida a few days earlier and come in through New York. I get all my expenses to Florida paid so it won’t cost me too much extra. Of course all that will have to await the boards decision. Then too I might not make this months quota and will have to wait until the next quota comes up. Of course all this is pure speculation and probably won’t work out at all.

I get paid on Aug 10 and my paycheck should almost total $100. I told you I missed signing the payroll but at least it is accumulating for me. I still have three bucks left and I have acquired canteen checks so I have pretty near enough. I expect to get $6.60 ration allowance which is allowed me for my furlough soon. I don’t have to worry too much about money as most of the fellows have money and I can get it if I want it. Of course if I move out I get paid before I go so it will work out fine.

I’m going into Indio tonight just to get away from here for awhile. I don’t know what I’m going to do but I’ll find something at the U.S.O.

I’m going to try for a weekend pass and go into Los Angeles. I could have had one this week but I don’t feel like going right now. Probably next week I’ll have some duty and can’t go. I just have to take a chance on that.

Since I got out of my K.P. duties I haven’t done one thing except to loaf around. There is not much for us to do right now. We’re almost ready to move into our own area as soon as we get out tents up. I imagine something next week we’ll go down there.

I guess that is all for now.

Love
Bob

P.S. This letter is messy because the sweat rolls off on to the paper. Sorry.