Furloughs Archives - Page 6 of 6

10 January 1942

Dearest Folks:

A quiet Saturday nite is probably about the best time to write so here goes.

I have the bed sack and it is just the thing I was expecting. They are very warm and perhaps now I can shake off my cold. Luckily I have it now because tomorrow nite I begin sleeping outside in a tent and it will really feel good then.

Last week busted a couple of ribs when I fell against a box in a truck but they didn’t bother much except when I lay down on my back or lift anything heavy. I think they are about healed now though.

The weather is really swell and haven’t seen much rain yet. As I said today is Saturday so another fellow and me went to the park and loafed awhile then went to the afternoon show with all the kids. It was just like the one in Minatare. Last nite the 20-30 Club had another dance for us which was a relief to attend. There was a lot of girls there and I had a good time.

Last week the battery was saddened when one of the fellows was shot to death thru the heart, accidentally. The guy that shot him was almost crazy after it happened and I feel very sorry for him.

Tomorrow the churches have extended a special invitation to all soldiers to attend church and also get in on a big dinner. The Episcopal church here is typical of most. Small but very pretty.

Grandma’s visit was a big help to my flagging morale. She brought plenty for me to eat and already it is gone. We all had dinner downtown and spent a couple of hours visiting. They left at two so they weren’t here very long. Now I am worried and disgusted about the service and on the box you sent. I’ve been looking for it everyday and have written about it but so far have heard nothing. Have received the cigarettes from Kate and Dick. Also I received the letter from Pvt. Mason with the two bucks in it. He is from St. Louis and a fellow with wit like Bob Hope. A very swell guy. He stayed in Roberts as an instructor.

Got a number of Christmas cards from the Reddings (one for birthday and one for Christmas), Farley, Flowers Sr, Jim Sandison, Wylma N., the Davises (by the way they have written me three letters), and several others.

Suppose you have the pictures by now. I think they are pretty good and if they are retouched and framed they will look much better.

January 18 I will begin drawing $30.00 a month and the extra nine will seem like velvet. Have no idea still about where we will go but looks like we will stay here for some time.

I think this covers about everything. Wait a minute. I got the letter from Dad and soon I’ll write you a personal one. I’d almost give my right arm for a furlough to come back for a few days and especially tonight. My morale is low. Let’s hope all the Japs die of the plague or something.

Lots of love,

15 December 1941

Dear Folks:

I feel very tired. Was on KP detail all day for fourteen hours from five until seven, but since I’ve shaved feel a little better and more in the mood to write.

Probably this will be the last letter I will write to you from this camp because tomorrow am being transferred to San Luis Obispo, about 50 miles south of here. This will be my permanent tactical unit and I’m supposedly going as a radio operator. Our course has been considerably shortened to what I know about a couple of our radio sets, isn’t worth knowing. Five thousand new rookies are being moved in Wednesday so our barracks will all be cleaned out.

Felt pretty low when you mentioned a furlough. That’s definitely out and am not sure even that I can go to San Diego. Everything is so uncertain. It was swell of you to offer the train fare for me. I want to come home so badly. One fellow, who’s Dad works on the railroad had the passes and everything fixed and he’s more or less moping around too. We will get an arrangement worked out and I will call you as soon as I get arranged in my new location. This new camp is closer to SD [San Diego] and about six miles from the ocean and located near a town of about ten or 15 thousand and I’m glad to have been sent there. After a training there, I don’t know for how long, will be shipped again.

If I can’t be with June or Lloyd or Gram and Gramps for Christmas I’m afraid it will be a lonely one. Last Sunday in church we sang a Christmas carol, but for some reason this year, can hardly believe it is the yule season.

The rains have begun a little and yesterday (Sunday) we all sat around and played cards or took it easy.

Yes I still have my wrist watch and it is working fine. Maybe if I go, will send it to you because wouldn’t want anything to happen to it. My money situation is fine, you’d be surprised how far twenty one bucks will go. Had some 8×10 pictures taken tonite and before I leave tomorrow will try to send you a couple.

This is about everything without going into detail and will write soon after I’m at San Luis Obispo.

Keep your chins up.

All my 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.

8 December 1941

Dearest Grandma:

My heart seems so full when I think of you and what has just happened that I’m afraid my letter may be tainted by the times. My heart also just leaped at the bulletin saying 50 unidentified planes were over San Francisco. Hope to God they aren’t more Japs. I worry about you and suppose you will be under blackouts if you stay where you are. I can hardly believe it has all come to pass and still wonder if I’m dreaming.

I’m afraid all our Christmas plans have gone astray but perhaps we will even yet be given two or three days.

Know Mother will be greatly worried about us and all of you especially being on the coast, and hope she will keep calm and just stay.

Goodbye for now. Folks tell me all you can and I’ll be thinking about you all the time and pray for your safety. Enclosed is a picture of me.

Lots of love,

2 December 1941

Dear folks:

I just wrote you a letter day before yesterday but guess I have time to write another.

Yesterday ushered in something new again—this time being on guard duty. I went on yesterday at 4:30 PM and was on for twenty-four hours however we only walk during darkness. I walked two hours then slept four—walked two and slept four. We slept in the guardhouse in our clothes, thereotically to be ready for call. My hours were six to eight then midnite until 2 AM. I was sure tired when I was awakened at twelve, and does that rifle get heavy after two hours. However, we had nothing to do all day but lay around and read.

The radio work is very interesting and now I know all the code but have one lesson yet to pass before try for speed. I believe 10 words a minute are required as minimum for the course.

Many of the fellows are pretty glum today just getting the news that our furloughs are going to be short and many had already planned on going home. The men in the 88^th infantry were today sent to Panama. Berg is in the 87^th. Something seemingly a little unusual happened yesterday and that was all the Japanese boys were taken out of our battery. Wonder if it relates to the crisis. They would have a good vantage point in a radio outfit.

Got a letter from Gram today and she’s expecting me down for Christmas. She didn’t help me any on my bus fare but promised to for the next time; but June and Loyd took care of other expenses. I never got to see Uncle Will. They had such short notice she couldn’t get word to him. In answer to your next questions we have six more weeks of training after this one. This will probably end about the 1^st of February. I have no idea where we might be sent.

I’ll say the cake was good and it wasn’t broken a bit, in very good shape and so soft and delicious. The fellows raved about it and agreed you were a superior cook.

Delighted to hear about the game—can imagine the unlimited excitement that went on all day.

This is all I can think about for this time. Everything going fine. No rain yet and still getting heavier.

All my love,

Thought about something else. Regarding Christmas gifts, I know it would be of little avail to caution you on expenses. But I’ll give you my list of what I can think of now.

Cheap pocket watch
A camera
Pair of brown civilian shoes (no two tone)
Sweatshirt
Small leather bag for toilet articles
Eversharp
Keycase (for trunk locks)
Stationary folder (for envelopes, stamps, etc.)

Please don’t fill the list but just pick one or two and that will be more than enough to ask for.