Books Archives - Page 6 of 6

8 March 1942

Dear folks:

I guess it’s about time I took myself in hand and began to start writing again. Sort of had a vacation last week being in San Diego. Fifteen of us were sent there for guard duty at the fire central station and it so happened that I was a KP man so I had every nite off and went to Gram’s during all my time off. It was a real visit with the folks and when I didn’t sit around with them Dick and I went out. We took in a couple of dances and a show and then Gram and I went to a show one nite. We had it so soft there that I hated to come back to Escondido. As we had no officer there we had only two meals a day; at ten and three so I was free from about four o’clock on, not much KP for fifteen men. My last nite there I stayed overnite with Gram. Dick seems pretty contented and I think he likes his job with Cudahy’s. He’s getting heavier and huskier and is a swell guy. The folks do everything for him. One afternoon as I was going to Grams, I met Dick on the ferry and he sure looked funny in his old clothes. He has a white cap with a little black bill that makes him look like an armchair engineer.

When I got back a carton of cigarettes and a box of candy from Pat and Uncle Harold were waiting for me. Some fudge that was broken up but good.

I’ve begun to read a good deal lately and by the way if you ever want to send me something make it a two-bit ‘pocketbook’. I got that book “Kabloona’ last nite and just finished reading Lewis’ ‘Mantrap’. Currently I’m about half through ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and last week finished “We Are Not Alone.’

Hope Minatare comes through in the states meet or did they get there? I read the clippings Hank sent to Dick. Also got Stub’s letter. Good to get it.

Well the war gets more involved and blacker for us, so it seems, by every communiqué. I can hardly believe it is almost spring already, but a spring that will make history. By the papers we are sending great reinforcements over but they are a mere dribble at present.

I’m just the same, had a pretty bad cold last week but it’s coming around now. Well I’m going to write to Pat and Katie and as I’m about out of news so will put the curtain now.

Love,

19 January 1942

Dear folks:

I just mailed you a letter only this afternoon but thought I’d write another because you have some questions. If you could only see me writing this letter you’d be quite amused I believe. I’m in a tent as you know and it’s nite and we are using candles until lights are installed. There are five in our tent but only 3 of us are here. Two are cutting wood for the little inverted ice cream cone shaped stove we have and I’m sitting down leaning on my cot with a candle sitting atop a tent stake being used as a candleholder. The fellows in my tent are attached to headquarters battery which includes a lineman, an artillery mechanic, the bugler, a driver and myself, assistant battery clerk. So we hear the bugle plenty good and loud. Our schedule now is reveille at 5:55 and calestinics at six fifteen and breakfast at six forty five. It’s a little hard getting started some mornings but exercises loosen up the kinks.

Now to get around to your letter and go thru it as the questions come up. The first item is the sweater, yes, a nice sleeveless sweater would come in handy. Several of the fellows have them. Olive drab or khaki is the best color. The next is the mail, it’s all coming thru okay I believe. I got the two bucks, the Free Press regularly and other mail. All but the box. The boys in the tent say that as soon as you put in a claim on it they will dig it up pronto. I’m very disappointed. If they do get it here and it appears mutilated and rifled, I’ll turn it over to the post office here. Now comes around reading. The USO is plentifully supplied with all kinds of magazines but the Readers Digest is about the only one I read. Until we get lights in our tent I can’t do much but currently I’m reading ‘The Fight for Life’ by Paul DeKriuf. It’s plenty good and an eye-opener as to the prevalency of diseases. About three weeks ago I applied for a city library card but it had to be signed by a city property holder and with the constant prospect of moving in a hurry it’s a little risky. No, we’re not getting any leaves yet. Just today I applied for a twenty four hour leave to Coronado but I couldn’t even get by the first sergeant to see the battery commander. I called Grandma yesterday nite and I think they are coming up again Sunday. June always wants to know if there is anything I need. Yep, it might have been me calling you that nite, from taps ‘till reveille. I think about home and all the family.

I went to church yesterday and I could remember most of the prayers without using the book. After the service a lady turned around and shook hands and asked me if I was an Episcopalian and when I replied ‘all my life’ she said ‘I thought you were’. She asked me to join the choir.

I guess that’s all the questions. I really feel swell and getting heavier all the time. I took some pictures today of me climbing up the tent trying to put on the last joint of chimney and keep from sliding down at the same time. Hope they are good.

Well goodnite Mom and Dad and don’t feel too low. I want to go back to school all the more now but we’ll see how things come out.

Better send me your pictures so I can set them in front of me when I write.

Love,

10 December 1941

Dear Folks:

Just got your letter today and before I leave for classes perhaps I can get it answered. Well the camp has more or less realized the situation and taken measures in case the need be. From now on classes at nite are compulsory so that we can finish up in a hurry. It is rumored here we will probably be thru by Christmas or the first. From then-well we’ll both guess. Tonite was real blackout instruction and how to conduct ourselves in case of an attack. You can fill in the details. Several of our command cars have been sent to, I heard, the Phillipines and at nite trucks are moved to the shelter of trees in the valley. This morning at four had an air raid drill-get up fast, jump in overcoats to get out. Also we wear tin hats everywhere and the room orderly’s now carry pistols. Tonite are having a full field inspection preparatory to an overnite hike tomorrow.

To get away from this war fervor, I just completed reading “For Whom the Bells Toll” and now reading “As the Earth Turns”. I have “Green Light” reserved and have read the “Citadel”. Don’t know what will be done about Christmas leaves. I believe, though, that we will get a couple of days so that I can see Gram. I see Berg quite often and I believe perhaps he will go soon. Eighty three from the 54^th were shipped out yesterday. I’ll write a good letter later because got to go now. I think about you always and hope you will not be too worried. I am in no immediate danger. My money holds out fine. Till the next letter.

All my love,

My money holds out fine.

30 November 1941

Dearest Folks:

A quiet Sunday evening with little to do, now that my laundry has been tabulated, so perhaps can write a page or two.

The radio training is advancing all the time and now have the code almost learned, ready to try for speed tests. Some of the field setup of radios and the 5 different codes we must deal with are pretty rugged at times but we all feel it’s a good training.

Saturday was a big inspection day but tomorrow will be an even bigger one. Lieutenant General Danford, chief of the field artillery is inspecting the next three days. Suppose we will be scrubbing barracks most of the time.

In the evening last night stayed in the barracks and read. By the way I’ve read over four good books since I’ve been here. Just finished “All This and Heaven Too” and “Two Alone” and am now working on “The Power and the Glory”. Mom knows some good books she can recommend. This has been a favorite pastime lately. Went to church this morning and heard some good music from the choir. Took some pictures all afternoon and as soon as they are developed, I’ll send them to you. Hope they are good. We walked far enough.

Got a letter from Farley yesterday telling me all about himself. Suppose you got to see him Thanksgiving. Also got a card and paper from the high school about the homecoming and football game. I’m itching to hear how the game came out. Suppose we got licked.

Grandma said she was going to write and tell you how I looked. Did she?

Hope you are all okay and getting along fine. See you in the next letter.

Love,