December 9, 1942 – Cowboy Music. . .Which I Detest

Wednesday Afternoon

Dear Mom + Dad,

I can’t figure out just how the mail works around here. It beats me completely. I received two letters today, the Thursday and Sunday letters. Of course one was air mail but it came a day earlier than ever before. This all has to happen just when I thought I had the system figured out too. I guess I’ll just write as usual and you do the same and pray to God that it gets here and to you.

You should see me writing this letter. I’m on that clean up detail I told you about yesterday but there is nothing to do as we finished it this morning. We are not supposed to be in our barracks when everybody else is out. As a consequence I’m sitting here on the steps writing. I received another big batch of letters this morning and I want to get them done so I’m taking this opportunity to do them. I received the paper today that is sent to the boys in the service. I read about a few of the boys who are in here in pre-flight school at San Antonio. I’d go over and see them as I know them but I don’t know how accurate and up to date the reports are. Maybe I’ll run across them someday.

Perhaps the best news of all was the news of receiving the radio. I’ve been without one even though there is one in the barracks. However it isn’t much good and the darn guy has a taste for cowboy music, which there is a preponderance of in Texas, and which I detest. So you see I have several good reasons for wanting one. It sure will tickle me pink when it gets here. I don’t expect it for quite a while because of all the Christmas rush on packages but I’ll get it soon or later. Can I thank you very much for it now before Christmas? It is really the only thing I wanted. Thank you!!!

Also the pictures arrived today. They are a lot better than I expected them to be. I’ll find use for them somehow. I didn’t really want six but now that I have them it will be O.K. Thank you for developing them. I had some pictures taken Sunday that are now being developed. I’ll send you some if they turn out to be any good.

I was very interested in the article on Nick Chick. I used to spend quite a bit of time with him. It sure is amazing what some of the boys have gone through. Dick Clark is at Marshall Field Alabama according to the paper. Will you try and find out his address I’d like to drop the kid a line. Pat Blackshear wrote a little article in the paper that was very good. I think that when I get a little spare time I’ll write to him. He really is a marvelous man. Tell him I liked his article.

I’m all set for open post tomorrow to have a good time. It looks like it might rain about then to make matters worse. I’m afraid something may come up where we won’t get it so I have my fingers crossed.

I guess that’s the new from here, now on to writing some of the other letters.


Love
Bobby

December 8, 1942 – Fell into a Soft Detail Today

Tuesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I wrote you about open post last night as being possible today but here I am back in the barracks. But wait a second we will have it Thursday. We will be off from 10 to 10P.M. It sure will do my outlook a lot of good to get a change of scenery. Also they are going to pay us Thursday morning and we get a full pay. Isn’t that wonderful all those things happening at once. I don’t know yet how much I will get but I image after all the deductions are taken out I will probably get around $60. It will seem good to have an excess of money. If I have enough I’m going to try and send some home if not I’ll find good use of it.

I also fell into a soft detail today quite by accident. They picked five men out of each barracks for a detail and I was one of them. It turned out that all we have to do is keep the outside of our barracks clean for three days. We are excused from everything. As luck would have it I was supposed to pull K.P. today and because of this I got out of it. I think I will get credit for K.P. on the roster. Everything seems rosy as things are set up now. Easy detail, open post and getting out of K.P.

Well our upstairs bay finally got double decker beds. They shipped new men in and as yet the shipment hasn’t gone out. So for the present we are crowded. I’m still waiting for the list to come out for shipment to see if I make it or not. I’d like to go now and get started on this deal. I’ll probably end up in Kelly Field, across the road.

That’s all for now.

Love
Bob

December 7, 1942 – Shipment to Pre-flight Next Week.

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your Tuesday evening letter arrived today along with a mess of other mail that I will have to answer. I’m going to do yours first and then on to the rest. I was very glad to receive Jimmy’s address and I’ll write him as soon as I can get caught up. I’m still in the dark as to where he is. His address is an overseas address so I don’t know what to make of it.

Very sorry to hear that both of you are or were sick. I trust it is the latter and that you are in fine shape now. I can’t really imagine anyone being sick anymore as I feel fine and have not been sick in a long while even though I have had a few days where I didn’t feel so hot. That is as it should be. Let’s hope that you are fine now.

There is a shipment going to pre-flight sometime this week. The main question is will I be on it or not? I sure hope so as I’d like to get out of here and get started on schooling. I’ll just have to wait and find out what happens. So cross those fingers again for me. If I stay here another month I think I will go a little crazy.

There is a rumor going around that we might get out on open post tomorrow. I don’t know if we will get it or not but let’s hope so. They will have to let us out once before Christmas as naturally we will have to buy a few things. I hope that by this time you have my Christmas all set. I’m not going to partake in it too much but then you have my instructions.

I guess that’s it for now as I have a million more letters to write. So I’ll sign off for tonight.

Love
Bob

December 6, 1942 – Reflections After a Year at War.

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

Another Sunday rolls around and another day to hang around the barracks. I have just finished reading the Sunday papers and I have found them interesting. As you know it was one year ago today that we got in this war. The papers finally came out with the story of Pearl Harbor. It certainly was a big blow to us. Even so as things stand today it is really encouraging. When you look back and remember just how low this country was fixed for the problems of war then and how we were situated now you begin to realize just how far we have come. I am really beginning to have a confidence in what this country is doing and their plans for the future. Of course I have doubts about some of the things being done but basically we are preparing for the future in a most commendable manner. Our time is going to come very shortly and I have a feeling that it won’t be so long from now. There is one thing about this war and that is that we are getting well prepared for any eventuality before we undertake anything.

Another thing was announced today that also was of importance and that was the stopping of all enlistments into the armed forces. It is about time that this was done as we had two machineries working against each other. We had one set up for the drafting of men and yet we were disrupting that be allowing men to enlist. As it stands now we can determine where a man should be and act accordingly. This also has its drawbacks too. It is another step away from democracy and another step towards strong central government. This new setup can take a dangerous trend in the future. We have been slowly leading away from personal rights to social regimentation for the common good. I’m rather afraid of just how far this socialist trend will go. It is liable to go to extremes and I don’t want that. I still can’t shake the conviction that Roosevelt has this purpose in the back of his mind and is using the war as a method of encasing in on our minds so that it will be a dangerous thing to shelf in the post war world. We have to rely on the faith of the people to see that this doesn’t go too far after the war is ended. I still can’t see how we hope to install hopes of democracy into the world if our government is leaning towards a socialist trend. Perhaps the future will belay the indications that seem to be shaping up. They may be necessary now but will they still be there in the post war U.S.A. as a necessity is the question that bothers me.

To sum up the whole situation I can say I’m very much enthused over the way we are going at this war. We have come a long way in a year and I feel the rough spots are now behind us. A year from this time we should either have the war won or so near to a conclusion that it won’t be long afterward.

My thoughts still wander back to a year ago today, one day that probably will stay etched in my mind for years to come. It was a day when the supposed impossible happened. I can remember practically every one of my actions for that day and the sort of stunned numbness that permeated my mind. I’m afraid it is one day I will never forget as it so changed my future and my life.

Well now that I have written almost two pages of my thoughts and ideas I had better get down to more concrete things. All morning yesterday was spent in policing up the same darn corn field we did the day before. To say that the boys and myself are agitated would be putting it mildly. But then what can you do about it?

Yesterday afternoon we converted the lower floor of our barracks and doubled its capacity. We set up all double deck beds as we expect new arrivals in today. The capacity of our barracks is now around 75 instead of 50. The upper floor where I live has single beds so I was fortunate in this respect. The new men coming in probably means that there will be a shipment out of here to pre-flight school soon. As to whether I will make it or not is a question as a lot of the boys have been here longer than I have. Our course I’m hoping for it and it is just another case of awaiting developments.

I guess this afternoon I will go to the movies as a release from the usual routine. Last night we had our bridge game. I play now about every 3 days for an evening. It is a lot of fun and I’m really learning the game. We started last night to play contract instead of auction bridge. The only difference is the bidding and that is more complicated.

I guess this letter should hold you for awhile. I’ll probably hear from you in mail call tomorrow as we have no mail today.

Love
Bobby

December 4, 1942 – General Patton Article in Life Magazine

Friday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m sending you a bash of clippings from Life in a separate letter. They concern General Patton at one time my commanding officer at Camp Young. I have heard him speak and seen him several times. Thus I’m interested in him in his present activities in Africa. I wish you would save it for me and you might find it interesting to read. The article typifies him very completely.

Your dummy letter arrived in this morning’s mail as I expected. Naturally it was very interesting and I enjoyed reading it. As I told you air mail doesn’t seem to save very much only a half day. So I leave it up to your discretion if you want to use it or not.

Tonight is our weekly G.I. Party of cleaning up the barracks. I got my bay cleaned up early and now I’m writing this is the midst of the madhouse of the boys cleaning up. The reason for this of course the inspections that comes on Saturdays.

This afternoon we spent cleaning up our whole area and policing up the terrain. We even went through a corn field that adjourns our barracks. The road that runs around the area was swept with brooms by the boys. Some applesauce isn’t it? But then the first of next week a general is coming through here and I thing I have told you about those experiences before. It sure is a shame to waste the time of men on baloney, especially in times of war. There is nothing can be done about it though as this is the army.

A shipment is due soon out of here to pre-flight. I don’t know if I will be on it but I’m hoping for the best, and that I will make it. I’d like to get started on this aviation cadet deal, at least on the actual training part. This phase is just a necessary evil. That’s all for now

Love
Bob

December 3, 1942 – You Get the Radio for Me for Christmas

Thursday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter arrived today and I was glad to hear from you. I don’t know if it was me or not but your letters seemed to be far apart. The mail does take a long time. Your Sunday evening air mail came in the afternoon mail call. As yet I haven’t received the dummy letter but I’m fairly certain it will come in on tomorrow’s mail call. I’ll let you know the result but I still don’t think the saving will be substantial. However, we shall see! How is my mail coming?

I’ve changed my idea on Christmas present. It doesn’t look as if we are going to get out of here before Christmas. I had intended to pick up a radio in town but now I will be unable to. I’d appreciate it if you would try and pick one up and ship it off to me for Christmas. Get a cheap one, rather small so that it will be easy to carry around. Try and get a second hand one for me. I know it is rather late but I will get it sooner or later and that’s what counts. Let me know if that is O.K.

Well as I told you my days are almost the same so there isn’t much news. We have to sign the payroll tonight. I don’t know how much I’ll get. If I get what is due to me I should have around $75. I intend to send some home if I get it. If I get only a partial payment I’ll have to hang on to it.

I had to get my haircut down to 1 inch again. This is regulation around here. I look like the devil until it grows out a little but I’m not going anywhere so it doesn’t make any difference. I’ve had it about a week now and it is beginning to come back fairly well. I had just got it back after a short one for the desert.

I guess that’s it for now.

Love
Bobby

P.S. Have you found out about Jimmy yet?

December 2, 1942 – KP Because the GI Boys had Typhoid + Tetanus Shots

Wednesday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

I neglected to write you last night as I was in no mood to write. I was selected to be on K.P. and that is where I’ve been working from 3PM to 3PM today. All of the new fellows from civilian life took their typhoid + tetanus shots yesterday so they gave them time off as it some of them sick. As a consequence all the G.I. boys pulled down K.P. and guard duty. However, it wasn’t so bad but I was dead tired last night. I feel fine now and my day is all through. I’m figuring on going to the show to see a movie.

The routine of this life is rather tiresome and it is getting on my nerves a little. We drill and do calisthenics both morning and evening mix a stint of K.P. in now and then and you have a picture of my life. It isn’t tough but it is very monotonous after a few weeks of the same thing. Perhaps the worse feature is not getting any time off to break up the monotony. I’d like to get in town once in a while to at least get away from the post. I’m not really complaining but you know how it is. Well perhaps I’ll be off to pre-flight soon. I just have to wait now as I have been doing for the past few months and hope for the best.

I received a letter from Dr. Durgee that I will answer very shortly now. My correspondence is really catching up on me and I’m having a tough job answering the letters.

Well I guess that’s all for now.

Love
Bob

December 2, 1942 - Ltr from Gen Warren Carter - Your Boy now an Aviation Cadet

General Warren R. Carter

November 30, 1942 – Failed Daily Inspection of Barracks

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter of Thanksgiving Day arrived today and I was glad to hear from you. The mail is sure messed up. You said mother wrote me on Tuesday and I never received that letter. It will probably come rolling in about two weeks from now. I was getting slightly agitated as I wasn’t hearing from you regularly but now I know the reason why. I imagine from now on it will come in. I hope.

Yes Bobby D broke his nose playing touch football and I’m sorry to hear he had an operation. Will you find out Mrs. Dever’s address from me so I can write to her? Also see if you find out any dope on Jimmy. I’ve heard he is overseas in Africa but I have nothing definite on it. I know he’s across somewhere but I have the slightest idea where.

Well I have what they call an hour of additional instruction to do tonight through no fault of mine. We have a daily inspection of our barracks and the lieutenant didn’t like ours. As a consequence the entire barracks have to work the ramp. Well since I wrote that last sentence I have completed my tour on the ramp. There were two barracks out there for the same reason and the place was really crowded. I use to be in a boy scout outfit now I’m in a glorified military academy. That’s the army through plenty of bad mixed in with the good. It really wasn’t too bad. We have a cadet officer who definitely is a rat and tonight really proved it. His is in our barracks and he rode us tonight. However, he will be taken down a peg or tow as there are too many G.I. soldiers here to stand for it. There are ways of taking care of men like him and the G.I. boys know how to do it within regulations. We don’t have to take what he was handing out as there is a limit to everything.

As you know there is now chance of my getting a furlough unless unforeseen events develop. I’d like to get a week around Xmas as I could fly home but I doubt that very much. We be lucky to get Xmas off. That’s all for now.

Love
Bob

November 29, 1942 – Plans for Christmas Presents

Sunday Morning

Dear Mom + Dad,

I received the carton of cigarettes you sent in yesterday’s mail. I appreciate your sending them to me. I promise you I will make good use of them.

I want to get something else of my chest too as it is nearing Christmas time. It doesn’t look as if I will get much time off and as a consequence will not be able to get home. Naturally I want to give you both Christmas presents as well as Harold and Marion. I hate like the devil to buy them and send them myself as I can’t tell when I can get to town. I want you to take money out of the bank and buy my presents for me. Dad you can buy Mother’s and Mom you can buy Dad’s and both of you pick out Harold’s and Marion’s. Just let me know what you buy. Also use you own judgment on what to spend. Personally I don’t care as I want to show my appreciation to you in anyway possible and this I feel is one way. If this plan meets your approval let me know at once. I’m going to try and have some photographs taken to send home. Also I’m planning on calling you up by phone on Christmas morning. I told you what I wanted and if that is O.K. by you let me know. I can’t think of anything else I want outside of a radio.

I’ve been playing bridge with the other fellows nights and enjoying it very much. I haven’t played that in years and I’m sure rusty but it is coming back to me slowly. It sure helps to pass the time away. I guess that’s all for now. Write me soon. I just wrote to Harold + Marion. Leata wrote me again and I answered that too. I got a paper from school and it was good to hear about the kids. I’m going to write to Mr. Hemenway. It will help to keep in contact with them as I may want to use that place as a reference someday.

Love
Bobby

November 28, 1942 – Will Pick Up a Radio as My Christmas Present

Saturday Afternoon

Dear Mom + Dad,

I neglected to write to you last night as I just couldn’t seem to find the time please forgive me. I’m going to try and get this off so that it will catch the afternoon mail at 2 P.M. I hope I have no interruptions.

I mailed to you this morning a sketch of me made by one of my buddies. I think it is a very good job. I through you would like to have it. I’m also going to try and get a portrait (photograph) of myself made and send it to you. However I have to get in town to have that done so it will probably be quite a while yet.

I’m enclosing a money order that was sent me by a friend I loaned 5 dollars to back at Camp Young. I tried to cash it here but you have to go through so much red tape and the post office is a mile from where I lived that I gave up. So I’ll shove it off on your shoulder. I’m going to dip 5 dollars out of my $25 reserve to take its place. That means I’ll owe you $20 now as I’m sending you this five. I don’t know when we will get paid but it should be coming out soon. I should receive almost $70 so that will cover all my needs.

Speaking of money I’ve decided what I want for Christmas. As soon as I can get in town I’m going to pick up a radio. I’ll let you know how much it is and you can send me part or all of its cost depending on what I pay for it. That will save you shipping a radio all the way to me. I don’t really want anything else besides that. Let me know if that is agreeable to you.

It is a miserable day here, cloudy and overcast but we have had a nice week all along so I don’t mind. I still can’t get used to seeing rain. As soon as I finish this I’m going to listen to the Army-Navy game. --- I got a long letter from Harold and Marion. Brother seemed very enthused about going to school. I’m going to write to him this weekend as I’ll have a little time to myself. That’s all for now.

Love
Bob