Mon. noon.

Dear Folks,

Have just returned from a not too good lunch. However, meat loaf has to be fixed just right to suit me and 837 Lakeside ^[1]837 Lakeside Place was his sister, Elaine’s address in Chicago was too far to travel for lunch today.

I didn’t get a chance to write you over the weekend. The time that I wasn’t sleeping I was studying for two exams which we had this morning. They weren’t very tough. Our squadron was the only one that didn’t have passes last weekend and so Sun. afternoon Sam and I were laying in here sleeping and Jack was reading when in walked two 2nd Lt.  Jack called attention but you know me when I am asleep. Anyway the Lt. started yelling ‘attention’ and finally Sam woke up and about broke his neck coming down off of the top bunk. While this was going on the Lt. was shaking me. Finally I woke up and by the time I knew what was happening on of them was giving Sam and Jack heck for having the room looking like a pig pen, so he said, he should see it sometimes.

Anyway he didn’t say anything to me, he probably figured I was so sleepy I wouldn’t know what he was talking about anyway. What a life –

I got a letter from Harold yesterday that I am sending you. I wrote him and if you get a chance you might. I put his address up at the top of the page.

I am also sending some pictures that is if they are ready this evening.

That artical on Beloit is just about like what we have but it appeared that they had more freedom. However, on of the boys/ dads who is a major in the air corps wrote in a letter that this is the toughest C.T.D.  ^[2]College Training Detachmentin the bunch but the best, so maybe we will get a break later on.

I have just found out that the pictures won’t be ready till tomorrow. I hope this letter isn’t to long in ‘reaching’ you but you said that it didn’t take long and I have been getting yours in about 3 days.

The 12-M must mean midnight. The mail goes out once daily.

Love, Tom.

Col. H.E. Schneider Med Corps
Station Hospital
Buckley Field, Colo
April 16, 1943

Dear Tommie,

I hardly can picture you being 6 ft tall and weighing 150 pounds – neither does it seem possible that you are as old as you are. You see I remember you only as when I last saw you. Got your address from your father and heard about you being in the Army from my sister Nell. I wonder if you would care to tell me about your present plans and generally about your present duties. You can be assured, that if allowed, I would like to be regarded by you as life long friend because your mother was the grandest person that ever lived as far as I am concerned. ^[3]Tom and Elaine’s mother, Oradelle Cartmell, died in 1934. We are all well and Mary and I often think of you, Elaine – your father and specifically Mrs. Oradelle Cartmell. Nancy is eleven years old and is having all the troubles of a 5th grader with long division and fractions.

Best regards

Harold