January 7, 1943 – Quiet Around Here

     

Thursday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your both letters arrived today and I was very glad to hear from you.  It seems that the mail is coming in more regular now that I am situated.   I’ve been very neglectful of you lately simply because I haven’t had the time.  I think almost three days have passed since I last wrote to you so please forgive me.

Most of the boys are on guard tonight so everything is quiet around here.  I don’t know how they missed up on me but they did so I’m happy about the whole thing.  I can spend a more or less peaceful evening doing a little studying and writing a letter or so.

The clipping you sent me about the trip I took to Texas last year, it was the same except I started at Camp Upton instead of Dix.  A lot has happened since then.  I’ve been in the army now 11 months and it seems quite a while since I started out.  It has been a worthwhile experience and I think I have learned a lot.  For one thing I appreciate things I took as common place before.  It is funny how your ideas change.

My radio is tuned in on a Cadet program and they just had a member of my beloved Brooklyn “Bums” on.  He is down here as a cadet.  It sure seems strange to be hearing about the Dodgers deep in the heart of Texas.

I got paid yesterday, the grand sum of $65 as my remuneration for my second month as a cadet.  I have about $70 or so in my pocket.  I’m going to hang on to most of it as I will have a few open ports in a little over a week when I become an upperclassmen, I may need some of it.  If I have an excess I’ll send some home later to add to my bank account. 

There is only about 5 more days to go and I will become an upperclassmen.  I’m fairly certain that the majority of the hazing will be cut out about then.  Things have changed around here already as we have a new group commander.   I expect the class system will die a slow death now.  Personally, I think it is a good idea but then it has its good points and bad points too.  Things are getting a little rough around here as far as discipline is concerned.  They are even cracking down on our posture in class.  You have to be on the ball from morn until night.  That doesn’t bother me much as I’m accustomed to that baloney from the regular army.

Did I say it is quiet around here – the upperclassmen just came downstairs on their way to a class and things were in an uproar for a few minutes.  But it quiet again. 

I have some studying to do so I’ll quit for now.  I’ll right again as soon as I can.

     

Love

Bobby

January 4, 1943 – Tests and Day Room Orderly

   

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your letter arrived today, the one written on New Year’s eve and it was very nice to hear from you.  I have just found out why at times I don’t get my fan mail for some time.  This is another Haring upperclassman in my squadron and his initials are R.S. while mine are R.E.   He has been getting my mail then of course a delay in sending it back through the mail room in the squadron.  We now have it worked out and where we will bring our mail to each other if it gets mixed up.  He will be leaving soon, in a week or so, for primary so then the situation will be clarified.  He is the first one I’ve ran against with the same name and spelling as ours.  Then to add the R initials it sure is coincidental.

Well I had my two tests today and I think I made out pretty good.  I know I passed my code test as we corrected the papers.  There is no mark in code as you either pass or fail.  I passed.  On my aircraft recognition I’m certain I passed.  I made a few mistakes but I think I’ll end up in the high eighties which is good enough for me.

The latest rumor out is that upper class leaves on the 13^th or a week from Wednesday.  I think our school finishes up on this coming Sunday so that would make it just about right.  Then I become a vaunted upperclassman.  I do not intend to use the privilege of being to haze the poor underclassmen providing we get the chance.  I want the time myself and then to I’m not convinced that the system is the thing but rather I’m against it.  So if they cut it out for, good, if they don’t I’m not going to use it.  That’s just my theory on it.

I am day room orderly today and it is a very easy job.  Nothing to do but sit in the day room and write, read, and incidentally watch it and see that it is not misused.  We have a day room with a pool table, ping pong table, victrola, etc. and it is rather nice.  Of course I spent my half days in school but the rest I spend in the day room safe from the upperclassmen.

I got a kick out of hearing that my rum went into the fruit cake.  To tell the truth I didn’t even know it but the cake was very good.  A fine thing to be giving your young son isn’t it. 

I guess that is about the story from here.

     

Love

Bobby

January 3, 1943 – Rugged Week Ahead

 

Sunday Afternoon

Dear Mom + Dad,

Here it is Sunday and believe it or not I've had a comparatively quiet day.  This is our second day off this week as the upperclassmen have open post and we have no school.   I think this is the last one they get and from here until next week this time we really will have to be on the ball.  It will be a rugged week but I’m ready for it.  I figure about this time next Sunday we will be upperclassmen or at least a day or so away from it.  That will be a wonderful thing.  At lease it seems so right now but I still have a tough week ahead of me.

I spent a good part of the day studying aircraft recognition.  I have it down fairly well now and I’m not so worried about it so much anymore.  I’m going to spend a little time on it tonight just as a clincher.  I want to get a good a grade as I possibly can.

I just got back from the show.  I saw “ArabianNights” and it wasn't so hot but at least it was a change from the old routine.

I’m going to try and get out of mess formation tonight and eat in our service club just as a change.  We have a new service club here and it is very nice.

Well I guess that’s it for now.  I’ll try and write again as soon as possible.  I probably won’t have much time this coming week but I’ll try and get a few words in here + there.

Love

Bob

January 2, 1943 – Studying Aircraft Recognition

 

 

Saturday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I had just started to wonder when I was going to hear from you when up and comes your Sunday letter and Tuesday letter at the same time.  The mail sure is crazy around here.  Your letters written two days apart arrive at the same time as you can see how messed up it is.  Then your amount of receival of my letters bears it out.  My athletic supporter arrived quite a few days ago and in your Sunday letter you mentioned it should arrive soon.  This place seems to bring me the most trouble I have had with mail since I have been in the army and the slowest.   I used to get air mail 3 days in California here air mail takes 4 to 6 days.  It can’t be helped I suppose so I can bear up under it.  As long as I get the letters that’s all that counts.

Your Saturday letters were very nice and I enjoyed reading them very much.  A total of seven pages on both sides it really overwhelms me.  Your description of Christmas at home really sounded very good to me and it made me think of previous years.  I’m glad you go my message via telegram.  It didn’t convey what I wanted but at lease it got across my thoughts of you for the day.  The West. Union won’t let me say what I wanted to.

You sent me Jimmy’s address, I think I told you I heard from him last week and wrote to him at the same time.  But thank you for sending it anyway.

I had a math test today and I only got 100%.  Last week I took one in math and got a 95.  I missed a problem by making a silly mistake.  This is fairly easy for me.  In radio code we got no mark but I’m coming along in that fairly well.  On Monday I have a test in aircraft recognition and that is the one that is worrying me a little.  I think I’ll know enough to pass by then as tomorrow is our day off and I’m figuring on studying it then.

I have about one more week to go as an underclassman.  I figure my first half will be over next Sunday and then I shall have a little more peace than I have now.  Things are pretty rough now as they are clamping down on us near the end.  We really had a rugged inspection this morning and the gig list is getting large.  I’ve stayed off it so far.  You can get caught for so many small things that it is a miracle I have.  Tomorrow starts hell week and I guess we’ll be really hazed then.  I can take it though.  I’ve gone this far without trouble.  The last week will be easy.

I’m sending you another one of the tale spinners.  You will notice they are thinking of abolishing the class system.  Those orders are from Gen. Arnold so I imagine that we will be the last under this system.  Personally I think it is a good idea as there is enough baloney without adding to it. 

I had better quit now and study my aircraft recognition.  I’ll write tomorrow.  

Love

Bob

January 1, 1943 – Let’s Hope That 1943 Will End Up With Peace in the World

   

 

New Years Day

Dear Mom + Dad,

So starts another year.  Let’s hope that 1943 will end up with peace in the world.  We get no time off today except for 2 hours this morning.  Of course we don’t actually get this off as we are subject to the upper classmen’s whims.  However, they have a test this afternoon so they are leaving us alone.  Thus I figured I’d start the New Years off right and write to you.

I’ve got some good jazz on my radio and I’m getting my kicks at the same time I’m writing this letter.  My radio is really swell.  I can’t really tell you how much it is appreciated and how much pleasure it is bringing me.  It is the nicest thing I could get.

I wrote you a short note last night.  I was a little sad being New Years Eve and all that and I don’t imagine it was much of a letter.  These darn holidays have been hard on my morale.  You seem to miss home more than ever around this time of year.  So I can’t help being a little nostalgic now and then so please forgive the tone of my letter.  Your never realize how good your home was until you have the privileges if it denied to you.  However, now I know just what it did mean.

Well I haven’t very much more time as an underclassman.  I don’t know exactly but it is only 10 to 12 days.  Then I will have a little time to myself and the routine will be a little easier than it is now.  Of course you are still under rigid discipline but you have a few more privileges and you are not bothered all the time.  That is the main thing I just want a little time to myself so I can do some of the things I like.

My school work is going fairly well as I have had a lot of it in school before.  I’m going to have a little trouble with aircraft recognition as that calls for memorization, at which I’m not very good at.  However, I think I’ll get it all right, and I’m not worried.  I’ll have my real worries when I get in primary and start flying as that’s when your make it or you don’t.  You either can fly or you can’t.  In primary over 50% are washed out because of the flying.  If you get through the primary you can feel fairly save that you will make it all the way through. .  It will be nice to know that if you can make it or whether your abilities are not for flying.  This training I’m getting is no fun as they really mean business here in the air corps.  Sure there is a lot of baloney (that) goes on too but they are really doing a pretty good job.

Well I guess that’s about it for now.  This is a very long letter for me.  I very seldom get to a second sheet written.  Well may the New Year bring you the best.

    

All my love

Bob