Laundry Archives - Page 2 of 2

20 December 1941

Dear folks:

Another letter to you while I’m sitting in the service club with nothing particular to do. This town is really swell and the people have taken us in with open arms. Yesterday after duty, while I was strolling down main street, a lady stopped us and told us about the big Christmas dinner they are having, turkey and everything. The whole town is behind it and also they are rounding up gifts for each of us. Later we went in for a beer and we had four without paying anything. All on the house. Shows are half price and tonite was given a free malt in a drug store. When you go in stores many little items are given free. Also the ladies secured a washing machine for us to do our laundry and two irons to press them. Last nite we had a big free dance at the high school and all the girls in town were there. The announcer was a big fellow like Jon Lenz. Everyone had a swell time. We take showers at the high school too. But some things aren’t so good, for instance we have only hot water by heating it on a hot plate and the building is cold at night and we sleep rite on the floor. You see this is field conditions as in wartime. We are pretty lucky though. One battery has their tents pitched on the football field and have to straddle over a ditch to use the latrine. Another quarters themselves in the buildings around the swimming pool. Guess I’ve told you how pretty the town is. Our big guns are lined up around the city park, everything ready to go, if the case need be. This morning was taken up by inspections and the kids stood around as our officer inspected us.

There is one big item I do need badly and will have to have soon and that is a sleeping bag. It is almost impossible to get along without one and the floor is too hard to get any sleep. As they cost around eight or nine dollars I’ll have to ask you for a little money or you can order it thru Monkey Ward or some place and have it sent direct. I hate to ask for it around Christmas and all but I’m afraid I wouldn’t have any hips in a few weeks.

I read in the paper tonite that telephone calls were not permitted now, that is long distance. Hope that is wrong. I feel kind of cheap not buying any gifts at all but I won’t get paid until the fifteenth of January and I’d be mighty near broke.

This is enough for now but hope you all have a good time Christmas Day and wish I could be with you.

All my love,

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,

2 November 1941

Dear Folks:

I just got off duty a few minutes ago so I’ll have time to write you a good long letter. Today is Sunday again and a very dull one it seems but I guess most of them are. Today I was table waiter in the mess hall so work during the eating hours. I would get it on Sunday. Have been here two weeks so had a pass last night. My buddy and I went to Paso Robles about 15 miles from here. It all turned out very badly. I was looking for some entertainment but there wasn’t a thing, not even a dance. Every store and building was crammed to overflowing with soldiers and the only thing to do was go to the show or roller-skate. And everything seems priced very high. Hamburgers 15 cents, show 35 cents, and roller-skating 40 cents. Two fellows with us bought a couple sandwiches for 52 cents. With so much business it seems things would be cheaper. Anyway we roller-skated until 10 o’clock then came back to the camp. Perhaps if I can get into Los Angeles or San Francisco things will be different. Have written several letters to Grandma and hope to get down if I can get three days off. Round trip is only eight, eighty-five but I would have so little time with a day and a half that it would be hardly worth the time. They want me to come down badly.

My actual radio training hasn’t started yet but will soon. First we must get the basic fundamentals of marching and firing. Two days ago last week were spent on our very latest and modern rifle range. We fired our rifles from a distance of two and three hundred yards. About 100 men can fire at one time. Two way telephone connections are set up from the firing line to the fellows in the pits that run the targets. I pulled targets one day—that is, was in a deep concrete trench and raised and lowered the targets and flashed back the score by means of flags and dices. Boy those bullets whistle overhead; also some bullets hit the dirt in front of the pit and spray dirt all over. In my firing I made ninety-nine out of a possible one fifty. Hope to do better next time.

Last week also had our periodic physical exam for lice, etc. It’s what the boys call a ‘short arm’ inspection. It was very funny. We all lined up with just our overcoats and shoes on, and with a cold wind blowing we shivered plenty. Some fellows lined up, then bent over, and pulled their coats up over their buttocks and had their picture taken.

My buddy and I have decided to try for officer’s training school, after our first six months are up. I think we have a good chance to make it.

So Bill Emick’s home? I just got a letter from him about a week and a half ago telling me of his roommate and the course he was taking. I’m very surprised. He did say though he was flat broke and couldn’t see how he was going to get there. I didn’t think he would ever come back to Minatare. And Wilma with another baby; another surprise. She must like ‘em. How is Duane getting along and what about the marriage scandal?

I have all the mail you sent. I got the shirt and the package and the two dollars. All very much appreciated and thanks so much. Mail call is the most important time of the day, and everybody jumps when the sergeant yells.

The fellow next to me is a very funny and fastidious fellow and about once a week thinks he must have an enema. You’d die if you knew his nickname.

Don’t know anything about Berg or the other fellows. Saw long lines of infantry marching back from a long hike and watched for him but didn’t see anything. Boy those guys in the infantry take a beating. They also have bayonet practice and of course they don’t hit the dummy squarely. A long pole swings around and smacks them. Also saw them throwing hand grenades and practically flattening out on the ground.

No my laundry is not $1.50 a week, but a buck fifty a month. There is no limit on the amount we can send. By the way if you want you can send my slippers and couple pair of shorts and skirts. I like plenty for Friday inspections. I will just about have everything then. We will be issued another suit; a field jacket and two more pairs of shoes so will always have clean clothing. Last week got up at four thirty to go to the rifle range but effective yesterday we operate on a winter schedule with reveille at six and retreat at four thirty in the afternoon. To sleep until six seems like a Sunday morning.

Last Tuesday nite went to a show ‘Camel Caravan’ sponsored by Camel cigarettes and saw some darned good entertainment. My buddy got in without tickets on the pretext of using the library. Guess tonight I’ll go to the show (14 cents).

I guess this is everything that’s been happening to me. Did you get the camp paper I sent? Should get a letter from Kate tomorrow. My buddy and I are going to buy a cheap camera to take some pictures so I’ll be sending some. I will get paid the tenth so will send you some money.

Write soon.

Love,