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