March 10, 1943, Fresno, California

Tom has been in the army almost two weeks and is adjusting to military life. He’s received letters from his sister and responds to them. He details some of the daily life in camp.
March 10, 1943, Page 1
March 10, 1943, Page 1

Tues. evening 5:30

Dear Folks,

I received the letter you wrote March 2nd yesterday and the one you wrote March 6th this afternoon so you can see how mixed up the mail is out here. However, I now have a lot to look forward to, that long air mail letter that you wrote Elaine and also the candy and papers and believe me I am looking forward to them. There is really nothing that I specially need but don’t let that keep you from sending candy or cookies when you feel like it, because as yet the mess Sargt. hasn’t started putting fudge on the tables. In fact it is a mighty long way from that, but the food is getting a little better.

Tom holding Karen and looking proud. This is the picture that mentions received, taken the day he left for the Army Air Corps in late February, 1943.
Tom holding Karen and looking proud. This is one of the pictures Tom mentions he received, taken the day he left for the Army Air Corps in late February, 1943.

Karen certainly looks like a big girl in the pictures you sent. The thing that worries me is that I might not know her and that she won’t know me the next time I see her. You can tell her that not only did her Uncle Tom look proud in that picture but he really was. I know that she was the center of attraction while you were home.

Now to answer a few of your questions: We don’t have to get up till 5:15 but it doesn’t get light till 7:30. Believe me getting up early and washing your own mess kits is the worse part of Army life for me. You know how I enjoy washing dishes. The uniform is O.K. and fits pretty good, but we will get different ones when we go into cadet training. All the fellow in the barracks are from colleges in the middle west and several from N.U, however, no Sigma Nu.[1]Tom belonged to the Sigma Nu fraternity while he was at Northwestern. I haven’t been into Fresno yet. Whenever you go to a post you are not allowed to leave for 14 days. I will probably get a pass for this Sat. or Sun. night if we are here till then.

March 10, 1943, Page 2
March 10, 1943, Page 2

They say alot of times they keep you for 13 days and then you get shipped. Except for the fact that you can see the snow capped rockies in the distance you would not know if you were in Ill. or Calif. It has rained everyday for the past week and I mean everyday. All our marching has been in about 2″ of mud. In calesthenics (sp) we do push ups in the stuff and all my clothes are dirty. They won’t let us send them to the laundry because we might not be here long enough to get them back and we can’t wash them ourselves because they won’t let us hang them anywhere to dry. As the fellows say that is one hmmmm of a situation.

Yesterday afternoon we had a lecture on, and practiced field stripping the .45 cal sub-machine gun. We are suppose to go on the range with them sometime this week. This will probably be the only guns that we will get instruction on because they are carried inside of a plane in case of force landings. It is certainly a wicked looking gun. The clip hold 20 rounds and it fires those automatically in 2 sec. It can also be fired semi-automatically. Maybe you are not interested in this and maybe I am not to be talking it so will shut up.

Karen (center) with her cousins Susan and Nancy
Karen (center) with her cousins Susan and Nancy.

Karen, Susan and Nancy must have got along O.K. They are all cute but just between us Karen is my favorite. I am pretty sure that you agree with me.

I forgot to answer your question about playing bridge here. I have only played one game and that was plenty short. You will probably have to teach me all over again. Have Carl or Bob been down to see you yet?[2]I don’t know who Carl or Bob are.

I have a lecture at 15 till 7:00 so had better close. We have lectures just about every night so there really isn’t much time for letter writing. This is the longest letter I have written since I have been here, so you folks can feel complimented.

March 10, 1943, Page 3
March 10, 1943, Page 3

I have written Dad every chance I get, because I know he likes to get the letters.

It is generally thought that we will go to some college after we leave here for pre-flight training and if that is right I hope it is a little nearer home or Chicago.

Tell Helen and Norm hello for me an I know that Helen is doing a good job at taking my place and looking after Karen. I am afraid I will be out of practice at changing panties but she will probably be a great big girl by then but not too big.[3]Helen and Norm Higgs were close friends of Elaine and Stanley Hughey, lived close to each other in Chicago, and took trips together on vacation. They remained lifelong friends.

*Ich bin immer von Sie denken. (I am getting a little rusty on German but I think it’s right.)

Love Tom

Translation: I am thinking of you always. (sounds like a line doesn’t it?)

March 10, 1943
March 10, 1943

References

References
↑1 Tom belonged to the Sigma Nu fraternity while he was at Northwestern.
↑2 I don’t know who Carl or Bob are.
↑3 Helen and Norm Higgs were close friends of Elaine and Stanley Hughey, lived close to each other in Chicago, and took trips together on vacation. They remained lifelong friends.

A Young Man Went Off to War