February 6, 1943 - The first time I ever shot a gun and I’ve been in the army a year. . .


Saturday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

I’m sending you a clipping from our paper, the Tale Spinner as undoubtedly it will interest you.  They won’t let us send the papers out anymore so that why I’m not sending it to you anymore.  The news in the clipping was a shock to me as it means we have to hand around here for about a week and probably do all sorts of silly things.

We are not all finished school except for one subject, physics, which ends Monday.  That means a week to hang around waiting for shipment.  I have some good news for you in the line of school work.  My final in maps and charts was a snap.  If I didn’t get at least 95 I’ll kick myself.  I think my average for this course will be in the 90’s.  Then I go exempt from code today and don’t have to go to that anymore.  That means I have only one hour of school and I have that for two days.  Speaking of that I need a 37 in that to pass the course.  I know I can get that with plenty to spare.  If I don’t make any silly mistakes I can get a 100 in the final as I know the work.  So now I can say that there is nothing between me and primary except time.  It sure is a load off my mind to have the school work behind me, now I can relax a little.  It lifts the tension to know it is all behind you.

As far as where I will go I haven’t the slightest idea.  I can be shipped anywhere in the Gulf Coastal area. The part about Cuero in there (paper) doesn’t concern me but a special group of officers here who are taking flight training.  I’m ready to go anywhere, it really doesn’t make much difference anymore.  The chances are that I’ll probably stay somewhere in Texas for my flying training.

I had a letter from my old girlfriend in New Paltz Kay today.  She was telling me about the Delphic banquet this year.  It was held this year at the Lorraine, on the Highland road about 4 miles outside of town.  What really got me about the whole thing was that mode of transportation to it was a moving van.  Rather unique don’t you think?

Tomorrow morning I’m going down to the rifle range and shoot a tommy gun (machine gun).  I don’t think I told you but I shot the pistol about a week ago.  The first time I ever shot a gun and I’ve been in the army a year believe it or not.  It is interesting and I’ll get a kick out of shooting the machine gun.

It won’t be long before another open post.  I’m really looking forward to it.  I guest I’ve told you I have a date with Peg again.  Then on Wednesday we are have a dance for our group in the Service Club.  Peg is coming out to go to that with me.  So you can see I have a few interesting things coming up in the next week. 

This has been the longest letter I’ve written in sometime.  It sure is good to have the time to relax a little.  Believe me I haven’t had a moment I can really call my own in the last two months here.  Perhaps things will be a little different from here in, but I know that I will be busy from here in too.  Oh well, I’m learning something I want to do.  Deep down I wouldn’t give this up for anything except the end of the war.  That’s all for now.



All my love
Bobby

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