October 20, 1942 – Moved out of Camp Young / Transfer

Tuesday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

Well here I am again. Since I last wrote you I have gone through quite a hectic session. Yesterday we packed up the 5th Field Hospital bag and baggage and moved out of Camp Young to what is called the Grommet area. It is about 75 miles from Camp and is very near the border of Arizona. Out hospital is set up miles away from anything resembling a town. I think the nearest town of any size is some 65 miles away.

Our job yesterday of moving was terrific. Some of the boys had already gone out to set up our camp and we had nothing but new men left in Young and a few of the non-comms from the old bunch. We had a terrific amount of stuff to move and load on trucks. When we had it all packed we had filled up about 15 of those large 2 ½ ton G.I. trucks. But we finally got it done and moved out here. Of course we had to ride the 75 miles in convoy to and that was no fun. We started at 7 A.M. in the morning to work and by the time we got out here in our Camp it was about 4:30P.M. I was dead tired last night as I had to work like the devil all day without a let up.

When I arrived out here I was told that I’d go back tomorrow (that is today) to Camp Young in accordance with my transfer to detached service. So I’m supposed to move out today to go on special duty until I get called into the air corps. I rather have a hunch that I won’t get into today because of the turmoil that goes with a new set up and new men but I’ll get there very shortly now. I’d just as soon stay with the outfit until I go into the air corps but there is nothing I can do about it. You see when I move I’ll have to get acquainted all over again and by the time I get settled I’ll probably start out anew again in the air corps. If I stayed here I’d know my job and still keep my present friends. This way I have to start all over again with a new bunch. Then I’ll just get set and bingo I have to start the same routine all over again in the air corps. Oh well, I suppose it could be worse so I’m not complaining to much.

I got to a special service unit now and there they assign me to my job for the next few months. I figure I’ll probably end up in the station hospital back at Camp Young. It doesn’t make an awful lot of difference to me one way or the other. The future will take care of itself. However, I will be very glad when my final transfer to the air corps goes through.

I think I just got out of this outfit just in time. As I told you we were dispossessed from Camp Young and put out in the field. The address has changed and it reads 5th Fld. Hosp. Care of postmaster L.A. Calif. Now that is the type of address you get when you are overseas. So I wouldn’t be surprised if they moved out soon. I imagine they will stay out in the field a few more months and then get ready to move out overseas. You notice I used the past tense in referring to the 5th Field. I’m am no longer a part of this outfit even though I’m staying here. Don’t you bother about the new address at all as I will not be here long enough to use it. Continue to address my mail to the old address. I will send you a letter air mail when I finally get set up with my address in it. I presume I’ll not receive my mail very regularly until I get straighten out. But it will follow me and catch up with me sooner or later. So I’m not worried about it.

I got my third copy of the Home News yesterday in the mail. It is nice to read what all the Peekskill boys are doing and where they are. I also received a letter from Ad and Ann telling me all the news of my old hangout. I think I told you I heard from Russ again. I got a nice long letter off to him by Vmail the other day.

Well I guess that’s all for now. I’ll keep you posted as far as possible on any new developments.

Love
Bob

October 18, 1942 – Camp Chaos

Sunday Afternoon

Dear Mom + Dad,

If I ever get a few spare moments I may be able to write this letter. I’ve been in such a dither all day that if I can salvage this time I’ll be lucky. I think things have calmed down a little so I may be able to get it done.

After completing the last sentence I paused for 10 minutes and now I’m back again. There is so much going on and so much darn activity around here I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. So lets start off from where I wrote you last night.

I told you about us moving back and I was waiting for the pass to town when I wrote you. I got the pass and went to town. I didn’t do much except buy a few things and have a few beers. Indio is crowded with soldiers and you can’t do much or have much fun. But as least it was a change from my usual routine.

This morning bright and early we were called out and told to pack. There then called out a list of men that were leaving for somewhere in the desert and I wasn’t on it. Thus I was to stay behind for the time being. Let me add a few salient facts that will help clear up the situation that I have omitted. Last night we got a new shipment of 40 men in. At the same time we moved in with all our junk. This morning the 64th Medical Battalion who were in the same area as us before decide that that want to move in to. So both of us are trying to squeeze in an area not big enough for either of us. They are out pitching tents now right in our company street. Then part of our outfit moved out this morning. Some of us along with the new men remained behind. Us moving in, new men moving in, 64th trying to move in and add to this something I’ll tell you about later and you can see what a mess it is. Nobody knew where or what there was to do. It sure was sad.

I was just informed this morning that I’m not longer a member of this outfit. As I told you my notification of passing the air corps exams was obtained in the office. There are going to transfer me somewhere. I don’t know if I’ll stay here move someplace else or what, it is all on the fire boiling.

The rest of our outfit is supposed to move out tomorrow morning. I think I will join the boys that went out this morning. The chances are very good that I will go with them. I don’t think the transfer will go into effect right away. So as you can see I’m in quite a mess. All this mix up and then a transfer coming through on top of it.

Right now practically all the non coms have taken off to town. I have been appointed as sergeant of the guard tonight. So I’m in charge of this whole outfit until tomorrow morning. Just another headache to my many numerous cares.

I’m enclosing another lousy picture of myself that one of the boys took. I can’t seem to get a good one of me at all out here.

I’ll write as soon as the situation clears up a little and I get a little time.

Love
Bob

October 17, 1942 – Back at Camp

Saturday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

While I have just a few minutes I’m going to write a few lines. I’m waiting to go into Indio so I may have to cut this short somewhere.

We were supposed to move back to Camp Friday but only a few of us went back and most of us stayed back in Desert Center. However this noon we got orders to move in. So we packed up and got here around 4 P.M. We are now on a more or less alert and I expect we will move out again to some other spot in the desert tomorrow morning. We are awaiting order and hanging over. It is fairly certain that we will only be here a few days. No knows exactly what the score is. So we will just have to wait and see what develops. Maybe we will and maybe we won’t. So I’m hoping for the best.

I understand to that some of the boys are going on furlough. Things are in such a dither that you can’t tell the score. I’ll try and clarify the situation as soon as it clarifies here. It really beats me.

Your letter written on my birthday arrived today along with several others. I’m way behind on my mail but thanks for the well wishes. Tell Brother + Marion I received their cards and I’ll write as soon as I get caught up. I also received another letter from Russ. He seems to be doing fine and doesn’t have it hard at all. He is near Honolulu and there is no actual conflict there. He gets time off for swimming and all that stuff. It sure was good to hear from the kid.

Well that’s all for now. If I get a chance I’ll write tomorrow. I can’t promise anything but I’ll do my best.

Love
Bob

October 16, 1942 – Heading Back to Camp Young?

Friday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

Well your letter and cards finally arrived yesterday. I was rather disappointed when I didn’t hear from you on my birthday. But then it was the fault of the mail and not yours. I knew you wouldn’t forget me.

Your spoke of putting a deposit in the bank for me. You said Mother mentioned it. I’m afraid there was a slip up somewhere as this was the first time I’ve heard of it. Please tell me about it. My bank account has not been increased in quite awhile but I can’t help it. I’ve been able to spend a little to have a few good times while I was in Blythe. So I took the chance. I still have enough of my last pay check to last me. However I rather have hopes of getting to L.A. either this weekend or next so that will bust me again. I don’t mind as I figure I owe myself a good time now and then. Then to at the end of this month I draw $66. I bought my Chevie on $60 per so I’m not so bad off after all. I’ll save what I can but if I get a change to have a good time I’m going to spend it to. Do you blame me?

I’m fairly certain that we are going back to Camp Young today. One platoon is going to stay out here but I don’t think it is mine. I’ve heard no notice to move but I’m fairly certain it will come sometime today. It will be good to get back to that place even though it isn’t much, it’s better than this.

I’ve have heard indirectly to from one of the boys in the office that my notification of passing the exam for the air corps has come in. I don’t know what will happen after that. I may get a transfer and I may not. At least I’m now on the detached service and can’t be sent overseas. I’m going to let events take their course and see just what does develop.

I’ll write again as soon as I get a chance.

Love
Bob

October 15, 1942 – “Dust Storm Today”

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I rather expected a letter from you today but no luck. Maybe tomorrow will bring one forth. As I have a few moments I’m going to write a page or so. I am sitting listening to my radio. I brought it out a few days ago. We have two tents with electric lights. We have a generator here to make our power. So I figured I might as well use it and bring my radio out. It sure is nice to listen to it.

We had a terrific dust storm out here today. I’m a mess. Dirt and sand all over the place. It sure is terrible. Where it has been warm before, today is awfully chilly. I guess winter is beginning to set in even out here in the desert. I can’t stand cold weather anymore as my body has become accustomed to the heat. If I ever come back east I’d freeze to death.

I’ll write again tomorrow.

Love
Bob

October 14, 1942 - Cold Starry Nights

Wednesday Afternoon

Dear Mom + Dad,

If you could only see me now. I’m laying on my cot writing with nothing on but my shorts. I sleep out here in the open and at night it is really beautiful. The stars and everything. I don’t mind it at all. Last night it got really cold out here. I thought I was going to freeze. 1 blanket under me and 3 over and I was still cold. The weather has taken a sudden change in the last few days. The nights have been cold and the days just warm enough to be nice. If it would only stay this way it would be swell.

Something is messed up on our mail. Today at mail call there wasn’t one letter for anybody in the outfit. When there is not one letter for 125 men something is screwy. I haven’t heard from you in a long while. Your usual Sunday letter is overdue now. But I attribute it all to some oversight on the part of the mail system. Probably one will come tonight.

Last night I went into shower and to the show. I saw Sonja Henie in “Iceland”. It was very good and I enjoyed it very much. It does you good to go to the movies as it rather changes your perspectives. Last night when I went in I was feeling a little blue but after the show I picked up a great deal. I feel pretty good now about the whole mess.

We are getting rid of all our patients in preparation to moving back to Camp. We are going back to Young a few days at least. I don’t think we are going to stay there very long. I guess we’ll still remain in the desert though in some other spot. Maneuvers I hear are going to continue so we will probably be servicing them somewhere. I’ll be happy if I can get over to L.A. and Hollywood again. I need that touch of civilization after wasting away here so long.

Well hope I hear from you soon. If I do I’ll write in answer to it right away. If I do miss you for a few days it will be because we are moving.

Love
Bob

October 13, 1942 – 24th Birthday in the Desert

Tuesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I have now seen the last of my 23^rd year and I’m afraid I’ll never see it again.  I was rather disappointed as I didn’t receive a letter from you today.  However I still have the evening mail call to come yet so perhaps one will be in there.

This is sure one place to celebrate your birthday.  As I said before one day is the same as the next so I guess it doesn’t make an awful lot of difference.  I’m going into Young tonight for a shower and to see a movie.  That is the way I intend to celebrate.

We are moving out of here either Friday or Saturday.  We now have orders to evacuate all our patients on Friday so I think we will go back to Camp either then or Saturday.  It will be good to get back even if it still is to Young.  I don’t like this field work too much.

I’m not in the mood to write anymore.  I’ll try again tomorrow.  Write me soon.

Love

Bobby 

October 12, 1942 - Blue Monday

Monday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

Today is Columbus day and tomorrow is my birthday. It doesn’t make any real difference as out here one day is just like another. It is also Monday and I’m in a mood that typifies Blue Monday.
Yes for the first time since I’ve been out here things have caught up with me. I know what I need and that is a change from this desolate, barren was land. I’d sure like to get away for a few days and live a normal life again. I suppose things could be a lot worst and I know the blues will pass away so why worry.

I understand that they are going to give out furloughs again as soon as the maneuvers end. I’d sure like to have one but I doubt very much if I will get one. I don’t care particularly as I’d rather have one around Christmas time. But probably my luck will hold and I’ll not get one either time.

It is getting cold as all get out around here at night. I almost freeze every night. After being down here in this hot climate so long, I can’t stand it. The days have cooled a lot but it is still warm enough to sweat during the day. You just can’t figure this climate out.

As I’m not much in the mood to write more I’ll quit. As I told you I find it increasingly hard to write. There is nothing new except the same old routine and I get bored writing about it and I know you get bored reading it.

Love
Bob

October 11, 1942 - A Beautiful Piece of Descriptive Music

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

As I have a few minutes to kill I’m going to scribble off a few lines. Last night I did get into see that show at Camp Young. It was really wonderful. I saw Leopold Stokowski, Fifi Dorsey, Edward G. Robinson, Mimi Litnova, Hoagy Carmichael, + Victor Borge. Leopold conducted the L.A. symphony and he played the Russian Symphony. I suppose you have heard of this number written by a contemporary Russian composer. I don’t remember his name. It deals with the war now going on. It starts out very simple with a theme repeated and gradually increasing in volume. That is the peasant first living peacefully then gradually arising to the pitch of battle. It ends in a crescendo of the bombs falling all over. It really is a beautiful piece of descriptive music. A lot of the boys didn’t appreciate it but I did.

The show itself lasted for almost 2 ½ hours and it contained numerous stars. Nelson Eddy is going to come down to camp sometime to put on a program for us. I’d like to see that when the time comes.

I got a letter from Em today and Fran in the air corps and stationed in Atlantic City. He lives in a hotel private room and everything. Things like that really beat me. Look at me way out here in this sand + dust. I suppose though things could be a lot worse. I’ve been a little blue lately but not really bad. I’d just like to get out of here for awhile. Some of the boys went out on weekend passes but as I’m on duty I couldn’t go.

Maneuvers end next week so maybe I can go then. I still have no idea what will happen to us then.

Well thats all for now. I’ll try and write again tomorrow.

Love
Bobby

October 10, 1942 - Duty Shifted Again

Saturday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter arrived this morning and as I didn’t write yesterday I’d better get on the ball and write to you. So here goes. Your house sure sounds swell, breakfast nook, sun porch, etc. I think I remember your saying that you had a fireplace too. It must be the nuts. I’m looking forward to seeing it and perhaps sending a little time in it someday. Of course my prospects of getting there right at present are rather slim but maybe someday I can soon.

I’m being shifted in my duty again. It sure is a mess the way this place is being run. You see there are three platoons or sections to our outfit. Each week they take over the running of the hospital. As we are short of men we are on duty all the time. But as each platoon takes over they put on their own men where they want. As my platoon just went off I’m being changed. I don’t particularly like it as the admission tent is the best job in the whole set up. But what can I do. Your just get to know one job and then they change you over and you have to start all over again. It is really sad.

I got a letter from Emily the other day and she tells me Jimmy is stationed in New York City attending some sort of school. His teacher is Tom Connally. It sure does beat me when I hear about all those boys I know stationed near home. I haven’t been near home than 2000 miles since I’ve been in the army. I guess it just the breaks and maybe mine will be forthcoming soon.

I think maybe we will move from this spot next week. I haven’t the slightest idea where we’re going. I’d sure like to get me somewhere away from the desert. I suppose though that that is to much to hope for.

This is a big show going on in Camp Young tonight. Stowoscosky (spelling?), Nelson Eddy, Rita Hayworth, Edward G Robinson, and a lot of stars will be there. I don’t think I can go as I’m on duty at 4 today. However I might arrange a way of my getting there. I’d like to see it.

I brought my radio out from camp last night. We now have a generator which cooks up power for our tents at night. So I have it hooked up. At least I can hear it at night.

I guess thats all for now. I’ll write soon.

Love
Bob

October 8, 1942 - Yankees Lose World Series

Thursday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

It has been just about a week since I’ve heard from you. I know you are very busy with the moving business so I’ll forgive you. I haven’t written much to you lately either. But then I haven’t the time I had before so I guess we are both bad off. As you have probably noticed my daily letters have stopped and I’m afraid they will have to for awhile. I’ll write as often as I can and I know you’ll understand.

I received my absentee ballot the other day and it is already in the mail. I voted straight Republican because of Dewey. I can now sit back and watch with interest as to who will win. I don’t get much news out here in the desert but every once in awhile I get a paper. So at least I get a slight smattering of what goes on but not all the details I’d like to have.

Dad, your Yanks didn’t do so hot did they? I was pulling for them but the Cards really played superb ball and deserved to win although I wanted the Yanks to win.

I think I told you I was changed and put in the admission tent. Yesterday I put in my first day there. It wasn’t bad work at all and it is about the best deal in the whole outfit. So at least I feel a little better about this place than I did working in the wards. I still don’t know what is going to happen to this outfit. The latest rumor is that they are going to ship some of us out on a cadre. That will break up some of this outfit. I know that we have a request in for 90 new men so maybe there is some truth to it. It is so hard to tell. You know how many rumors there have been since I’ve been out here. This place seems to bring them forth as everyone is so anxious to get out of here. I can’t say as I blame them as I’d like to very much myself.

I also told you about me now being a corporal. I’m pleased about it as I can at least feel that I’m making progress. It probably be the last rating I get in the “medics” as when the notification comes through of my being in the air corps I will receive no further ratings. I tried to get stripes in the PX last night but they were all out of them. However I’ll get them and sew them on soon.

Well I guess that’s all for now. Hope you are installed nicely in your new home and that I will hear from you soon.

Love
Bob

October 6, 1942 - Corporal Bob Haring

Tuesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’ve been meaning to write you all day today but for one reason or another I didn’t get around t it. So as least I’m going to rip off a short note to you anyway.

Perhaps the most important thing I should tell you is that as I predicted in my last letter I was made a Corporal. My official grade is Technician 5th class. You see there are two types of Corporal ratings. One is a straight Corporal and the other is technician 5th class or Corporal T. The straight Corporal actually has more authority but the Corporal T is a technician in a field and although his pay is the same he hasn’t quite as much authority. So now I’m Corporal Bob Haring and I’m entitled to wear two stripes with a T. (A diagram of this is drawn in the letter.) I received for this quite a pay boost. I now make 66 bucks a month now. I will draw that at the end of the month. I feel pretty good about it as I’m at least showing progress in this darn army.

I’m now on duty in the admission tent and it isn’t a bad job. I like it better than anything I’ve done so far. We have contact with everyone who comes in and it is rather interesting.

Tonight we had an awful dust storm. It blew down a few of our smaller tents and generally raised havoc with camp. This place (tent + equipment) is covered with dust. As for me I’m filthy dirty but I can’t do anything about it until tomorrow.

We finally got paid yesterday afternoon. I received a little over $50 when my deductions were taken out. So now I’m happy again.

That’s all for now. I’ll write a better letter tomorrow if I get time.

Love
Bob

October 5, 1942 - Rumor of Ratings to Be Given Again

Monday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

It just dawned on me why I didn’t receive your usual Thursday letter yesterday. I imagine at about the time your were in a dither getting things ready to move. Then again it might come in today but I’m not expecting it. I’m going to try and scribble off a few lines.

I have been transferred again to a different place. At 4 oclock I go on duty in the admission tent and dispensary. We take care of getting all the boys in doing a few dressing on wounds, putting them in their proper wards. The officers were not satisfied with the way the place was being run so I was one of the one’s picked to help straighten thing out. Not being conceited at all but they really think quite a lot of me in this outfit. I haven’t done anything to merit it but it still exists.

There is a big rumor going around that ratings are going to be given out again. It is rumored that a lot of the technicians are going to get Corporal T ratings. I don’t know how much truth there is in it but I’m inclined to believe it. Just for one reason and that is because we are supposed to get 90 new men in this week. There is a need for rated men and so I think maybe it will come through.

I went into Camp Young last night for my shower. I also went to the show and saw “You Can’t Take it With You”. It is an old picture that I had seen before but I enjoyed it very much even the second time. At least it was a change from the life I have been living.

How’s the moving coming? By the time you get this letter things ought to be in very good shape. I’d like to get home for awhile but as you know that is impossible.

Well I guess that’s all for now. I’ll write again tomorrow.

Love
Bob

October 4, 1942 - Tanks & Seems Army Just Waiting for the Go Signal

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m enclosing in this letter my drivers license renewal stub. It runs out on Nov. 4 and I’d like to have a new one. So if you will get me a blank and fill it our and ship out to me I will sign it and send it back to you. Then when the new one comes in ship it out to me. Of course, make my home address out as Marion Ave. I’d appreciate it very much if you would take of this matter for me.

I’m now on duty but I have a snap today as most of the boys have come around in good shape. There is nothing much to do except sit around and do nothing.

All around where we are camped the blue army is moving in. There are several divisions packed right across from us now. I went over this morning and looked over one of those new M-4 or General Lee Tanks. (Blogger’s note - hmmm, I think he means M-3, which were called General Lee tanks. M-4’s were called Sherman tanks.) The papers claim they are using them in Stalingrad now. This was the first chance I’ve had to look them over closely although I’ve seen thousands of them running around here. It seems that they have a tremendous amount of equipment tied up in these maneuvers. I sure hope we start using some of them soon and get this war over with. From what I’ve seen out here I’d say we are ready to start going. It seems that there is but little doubt but that U.S. Army is just waiting for the go signal from somebody. I believe that when we start this big push and start utilizing our equipment the war will end very quickly. Let’s hope so anyway.

I still haven’t received my pay but tomorrow is supposed to be pay day. I sure hope it comes through. I’m down to my last pack of cigarettes and no means of getting more. It seems that this five day extra wait has just about caught everybody short. The miseries should all be taken care of tomorrow.

Thats all for now if I receive your usual Thursday letter today I’ll write you later on.

Love
Bob