February 17, 1947 - arrived at Grider Field, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Wednesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               Here I am in primary and all set to go.  We pulled in here about 2:30 this afternoon and have spent the day going through the usual procedures on arrival at a new spot.  I have just finished getting all set up and am all unpacked.  This letter will have to be short as the time in very near for lights out.

               Pine Bluff looks like a good deal.  The place here is really swell and we have the best of everything.  You should see the inner spring mattress’s we have on our beds.  Some of the boys were assigned to rooms but I wasn’t fortunate enough to get one.  However in about a month I will be transferred to one.  Despite not getting a room we sure have fine barracks.

               We start out right on a schedule of school tomorrow.  I imagine the day after that will be on our first flight.  That sure will be a big thrill for me.  I’m enclosing a picture card with the little jobs we fly and some of our surroundings.  It will give you an ideal of it all.  I’m all for it and I hope I can get through it all.  Keep your fingers crossed!

               Our trip down here was rather uneventful as are most of the trips like that.  Not much interesting scenery just sitting around and waiting to arrive.  I did stop off at Forth Worth for supper and that is a nice town.  Before I left Peg came out and saw me on Monday and we had a good time that evening.

               I’ll have to quit for now.  I think I will be pressed for time around here too.  So I’ll try by best on writing to you as much and often as I can.  Wish me luck.

              

              

All my love

Bobby

February 16, 1943 - Forth Worth

Dear Folks,

Stopping off in Ft. Worth on way to primary.  A pretty nice place.  I'll write when I get in.  

Love Bob

February 15, 1943 - All Set to Leave

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I’m all set to leave now.  All my stuff is gone except for a small bag I brought with my personal belongings in it.  We get up at 2:30AM this morning to take off.  I don’t suppose we’ll leave for a few hours after that but we still have to get up.  I can’t see where I’m going to get a lot of sleep tonight.  I don’t even think I’ll go to bed as there isn’t much point to it.  That remains to be seen.

               We have nothing to do but hang around today.  I don’t have to meet any formations or anything.  I guess I’ll relax a little as I imagine I’ll be rather tired in the next few days.  I’m really looking forward to this trip.  I will be finally starting on my flying career.  I don’t know how I’ll make out but I have confidence in myself so lets hope for the best as primary will tell the story.

               I guess I’ve told you a half a dozen times Peg is coming out tonight but I expect to have a good time so I just have to include it in this letter.

               Well Mom + Dad, I’ll probably get a letter from you in mail call.  So I’ll quit now until I hit primary, then I’ll write to you as soon as possible.

              

              

 All my love

Bob

February 14, 1943 - Packing

Sunday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               Things are in a horrible dither around here.  They just told us that we have to have everything packed and ready by 7 A.M. tomorrow morning.  I have most of my stuff packed but I’m still in an awful mess.  We are leaving for Pine Bluff early Tuesday morning.  The haven’t told us just what exactly what time but we have to be there Wednesday and it is a 700 or 800 mile trip from here.

               Yesterday we had a turnabout day and it was a lot of fun for all of us.  The underclassman really poured it on us but its all in the spirit of fun and I myself got a kick out of it.

               I went to the tea dance this afternoon at our service club.  It wasn’t much of a dance but at least it broke the monotony of hanging around.  Peg is coming out tomorrow night and I will have an interesting session then.

               Please excuse me I have to get on with my packing.  I’ll write you as soon as I hit Pine Bluff by air mail.  So if you don’t hear from me you know I’m in route.

              

All my love

Bobby

February 11, 1943 - Shipping Out Next Week

Thursday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               

       Well our dance has come and gone and a very good time was had by all.  Peg came out and we enjoyed every minute of the dance.  It was fun!  Our own cadet band furnished the music and they were very good. 

          

       The latest dope on our shipping orders are that we are moving out on Tuesday or Wednesday.  As yet our destination is unannounced.  I should know in a day or so just where I’m going as they usually tell you before you leave where you’re going.  I’m really looking forward to primary as I guess you know.  This will be the turning point of the whole deal and I sure hope I can fly the army way.  It won’t be long before I find out.

      

         Remember I told you about the wonderful summer weather we were having; it turned colder then the devil last night and so another cold wave hits Texas.  You can’t predict this weather at all, one day hot the next day freezing.

         It is late now and it is almost time for lights out so I must quit.  I will try to write again tomorrow.

              

All my love

Bobby

February 13, 1943 - One Year in the Army!

Saturday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               I have some choice news for you tonight.  I now know where I’m going for my primary training.  They told us today and our whole group is going to one place.  Our destination is Pine Bluff, Arkansas, near Little Rock.  I don’t know very much about the place but from all reports it is a good deal.    Personally, I’m in favor of it as it will give me incite on a different part of the country.  I don’t know just when we will leave but it will probably be Tuesday or at the latest Wednesday.  Naturally it makes me rather happy.

               Today is my first years anniversary in the army.  I’m starting on my second year now.  It has been a long hard year but then to it has been a worthwhile experience.

               Then today was a turnabout day and the underclassman got back at us.  However it was a lot of fun and I really got a kick out of it.  But that’s all behind now and we have our trip to look forward to now.

               Peg is coming out to see me on Monday night.  In all probability my last night here.  She’s a good kid and I hate to leave but you can’t help it.  Perhaps Pine Bluff may have another connection for me as good as Peg.  Lets hope so.

               I’m going to quit now as it is nearing lights out.  We have open bill and a day off tomorrow so I’ll try to give you more details then. 

All my love

Bobby

February 10, 1943 ...driving a convertible with the roof down, a beautiful day, and a nice girl beside me

Wednesday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

               Your letter of Sunday night arrived today and I was glad to hear from you.  Mom!  you had better come down here and stay for awhile.  The last five days have been really marvelous, warm, sunny, and wonderfully clear.  It would sure do you a world of good.  However, the weather down isn’t so wonderful as it is so darn changeable.  Tomorrow it just as liable to snow.  You can’t count on it from one minute to the next.  Regardless the last few days have been really swell.

               I have open post yesterday and had a really wonderful time.  I didn’t do much until 5PM when I had my date with Peg.  Then I did something that was really fun.  We went for a ride all over the country side around here.  Can you picture me driving a convertible with the roof down, a beautiful day, and a nice girl beside me?  Believe me it was really enjoyable.  I drove out all around Randolph Field, “The West Point of the Air”, it is a beautiful place.  I was out there about the time all the basic trainers (BT19’s) were returning home and it was a wonderful sight to see them coming in for a landing.  Peg and I then went to “The Tower” our favorite night spot around here for a little dancing.  All and all a grand time.

               Believe it or not we are off all afternoon as there is no more school for us.  It seems good just to sit around and relax a little and not have any school work to worry about.

               I got paid a little while ago.  I received $50 even.  It isn’t very much as they deducted our food for half of this month out of it.  However, next month we will catch up and balance the books.  It is plenty for me as I still had $25 left from last month’s pay.

               Tonight we have our graduation dance at the service club.  Naturally Peg is coming out to go with me so I expect to have a good time tonight too.

               Speculation is running rampant around here as to our destination.  As yet we haven’t found out a good guess would be Tulsa, Oklahoma, or in that vicinity.  It doesn’t make a awful lot of difference though.  I’d like to go to some part of the country I haven’t seen.  I’ve seen too much of Texas already although San Antonio itself isn’t bad.  I’ll let you know as soon as I hear myself.

               That’s all for now.  I’ll write again tomorrow.

              

All my love

Bobby

February 8, 1943 - Flight School Completed

Monday Evening

Dear Mom + Dad,

Your Thursday night letter arrived today and naturally I was glad to get your Christmas card.  It sure beats me as to how those letters got lost but they did and I guess that’s all that can be said about it.  I suppose by this time you know I received the February issue of Readers Digest, so that’s settled.

I am now through school completely and will do nothing but a lot of baloney until shipping time which is next week.  I took my final physics test today and got an 88.  I made a few simple mistakes and missed two problems.  I never should have made them but I didn’t take my time.  I ended up upperclass with the following averages in the following subjects, physics 84, battleships 88, maps and charts 95.  A grand aggregate of an average of 89.  So you can see I did fairly well.

Tomorrow comes out open post and another day of fun.  The following night we have our dance and another date with Peg for little Bobby.  I suspect I’ll have a good time in the next few days.

Glad to hear things are coming along nicely again, and especially glad to hear Mother and Lee are getting along better.  Please continue the practice of telling me what goes on at home you always have and I’ve tried to do the same with you.  You know how it is.

I’m not in the mood for writing tonight.  I’ll write again Wednesday after open post.

All my love

Bob