July 28, 1942 - Friend Goes Before Board, Not Me

Tuesday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m slightly down in the dumps today as I have received some disheartening news. My friend who submitted his application at the same time as I did goes before the board today and I have no word yet of mine.

I know this though, that our applications arrived at the main headquarters too late for this month’s quota. They were in our office in time but the office didn’t ship them out in time. I don’t know why my friend was called but they are giving him a special interview today. For some reason or other his is being considered for this months and mine hasn’t. Oh well I’ll just have to wait and see what happens. There is nothing further I can do now it all awaits my call before the board. However I feel bad about his going in and mine not. Then too I had my heart set on making this months’ quota. It just makes me feel blue. I still feel that I have the ability to make it and now that I’ve decided to do it and I mess it up I’ll be awfully disappointed.

The whole trouble is right in our company’s headquarters. I’ve had my application in there on the 21 and the deadline was the 23rd. For some reason they kept them there and didn’t turn them over to the main headquarters until the 25th. Darn them anyway. I’m still holding out my hopes for the best.

Yesterday I told you I thought my outfit might move on. I have a little more on that. Our colonel is trying to have us moved to a different camp. The latest report is that we’re not going on maneuver. So far we haven’t been equipped with anything and all signs seem to point to it. However one can never be sure. I sure hope we do move out of here cause I can’t get a worse deal than I have now.

Incidentally I handed in those letters for recommendations as I thought they might possibly help me get in on this month’s quota.

We had a free movie last night sponsored by the U.S.O. I went and enjoyed it very much.

I hope I snap out of this mood I’m in. That bad news has made me feel blue. Perhaps things will break yet so I’m keeping my chin up.

Love
Bob