Dear Folks,

As you can see I made it back from the bivouac ok. We walked back yesterday and made it in 3 hours and it was a good 15 miles. The boys in the back had to double time to keep up. We had an “eager beaver” of a 2nd Lt. leading us who had served on Attu Island and was really in condition. I don’t know if my feet or hands swelled the most, I do know that my right hand swelled that I couldn’t turn my ring. We had one ten minute rest, however, we didn’t mind the walking as much as we did the going without anything to drink. Everyone was glad to shower and get a shave. We moved directly into the new pilot squadron so this is the first chance I have had to do any writing at all. Our new C.O. seems to be a pretty nice fellow but you can’t tell about those fellows till they get mad and then they can really be tough. We haven’t heard how long we will be here but it will probably be 9 weeks, we start to school Mon. our courses will be, aircraft identification, code, gunnery, etc.

Things keep getting stricter as we go along and here we have to be ready for barracks or personal inspection 24 hours of the day. I wish you would send those things now because I can really use them. They are as follows: elec. razor, nail clippers, watch, + hair brush. We have to shave everymorning and in the hurry someone always gets left out.

Cleda, I received your letter today and I really enjoyed it. I am glad you had Mrs. Perkins for a meal and I am sure she enjoyed it even if it was hot. Thanks alot.

I got a letter from Mary and she said Dad couldn’t figure out what M.M. meant. It is just a glorified name for K.P. and means Mess Management.

I saw Sam Ashcroft today and he washed out on his eye test, he couldn’t cross his eyes, it is surprising how many wash on that. I am going to see him tomorrow, I don’t know what he plans on doing but I think he will go to Scott Field.

Tattoo just sounded so will have to close. I wanted to let you know the new address and that everything is going ok. This will be my address for some time so if any one wants it you will know. I am going to try to write Grandma tomorrow.

Goodnight –

Love, Tom

Dad, I have a pretty good book I will send you as soon as I finish it.

I will have a picture taken it cadet brass and send it to you.

Thurs. night.

Dear Folks,

Got in about an hour ago from our 20 mi. hike. Just to walk 20 wouldn’t be bad but this was cross country over the mountains. We left at 7:AM. and had to go all day on one canteen of water which is not quite a quart. I’ve emptied 2 since we have been back. The C.O. was plenty proud of us because not one person fell out or lagged behind which is pretty good for 300 men. We carried full pack and K rations which aren’t bad at all. They contain a can of concentrated meat + egg yoke, cookies that swell up, powdered coffee or some other drink, a stick of gum, dextrose tablets and 4 cigarettes. I would hate to have the same menu for a very long time. On the way back we had to march about an hour with gas masks, a P-38 came over and sprayed tear gas and then another came over with a mustard gas substitute, there really wasn’t a dull moment.

Tomorrow we walk back to the base which is about 15 miles. Will I be glad to get a bath and a shave. A few more days growth on the beard and I don’t think any of you would recognize me.

Oh yes tomorrow we are officially cadets, we will supposedly get 9 weeks of pre-flight but I doubt it very much if we get that much. I will really be glad when we get to primary.

I don’t know if I told you about going into the pressure chamber or not. I thought sure I was going to pass out at 18,000 but as soon as they turned on the L2 everyone felt like a million dollars. We then went on up to 38,000 and it didn’t bother me abit. We stayed there an hour and during which time two fellows in another group got the bends so bad that they had to come down, I got a slight one in my neck but it went away. The kid across from me passed out at about 35,000 because his O2 mask got loose but he snapped out as soon as they fastened the mask. The whole thing was really an experience I’ll never gorget.

What little war news we have heard up here sounds pretty good. I hope we can get into the southern part of Italy before the Germans have a chance to get set. It seems that they are really expecting them to use gas. Our mask was the first thing we were issued at Fresno and they have been giving us drill in them ever since. Our chemical warfare officer said the Japs have a large supply and have already used it on several occasions in China before we got in to the war. I think we are hoping they start it so it will give us an excuse to use it.

I am the bugler here at camp and have to blow retreat so will close. Pardon the writing but the mess can is rough and dirty.

Love,

Tom.

Dear Folks,

Have been trying to get a letter off but haven’t had the time yet so here’s a card. These bivouacs are alot of work and with very few comforts. The flys and mosquitoes are bad and there are plenty of scorpions and snakes. They have a very bad habit of crawling in bed with you. We have been having different lectures, tactical marches, a forced march of 20 mi. tomorrow with full pack, field problem this afternoon and hike back to the base Fri. morning. The H2O supply is limited to about 2 gal./person/day. We are not allowed to shave and my face is just starting to itch, needless to say no bathing.

Love,

Tom

Dear Folks,

Just got back from M.M.^[1]MM = Mess Management duty and am one tired boy. One thing is that you get plenty to eat but from 3:30 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. is alittle long to go on just food alone.

Classification comes tomorrow and we get pictures taken and cadet clothing issue to us. I hear we are going on a four day bivouac the end of this week. I don’t specially relish the idea of sleeping on the ground but they say we really get to rough it and let our beards grow.

By this time you are probably looking forward to seeing Elaine and the folks. I got a letter from them tonight and it seems like they were having an awful time trying to pack all of Karen’s stuff.

Love,

Tom

Dear Folks,

Got classified as a pilot yesterday and have been on M.M. ever since.^[1]M.M. = Mess Management which is the same as K.P., or Kitchen Patrol A couple of my buddies got bombardier, there were 25 bombardiers out of the squadron. We go on a bivouac Sun. morning and come back Fri. and go directly into pilot school. That is the pre-flight and lasts about 9 weeks. I will have a change of address when we get back from our bivouac.

We received part of our cadet issue in clothing and have been sworn into the air crew. This is just a note to let you know that I got what I wanted and at the present after 17 hrs. of MM. for the 2nd time this week I want to get the full benefit of my 7 hrs. sleep. One more thing is that we go into the pressure chamber Sat. morning. They take us up to 18,000 (feet) without oxygen masks and then up to 38,000 with. All the cadets that we have talked to have got the bends at 18,000 before the O2 masks were used. I will know more about this later also.

Goodnight

Love,

Tom

Dear Folks,

Have to drill again tonight as we have been doing every night this week. Our C.O. dosn’t think we are “on the ball” so consequently we drill all day with rifles and two hours in the evening for practice. Today we had rifle drill, guard duty tomorrow and 18 hrs. of K.P. duty Sun. I am sort of looking forward to my dentist appointment tomorrow because I will at least get to sit down.

The war really sounds alot better but peace still sounds like it is a long way off. Maybe that is because you never hear anything about it around here and everyone just seems to take it in a matter of fact way that we will be in the army for ever. You can see that the army doesn’t give us much time to think of such things.

Elaine sent me several of Karen’t birthday pictures and I can hardly imagine her growing so much. She certainly is cute and it looks like Elaine got her wish for the curly hair.

I will be glad when we find out the outcome of our classification even if it does mean wash out. Everyone feels the same way and all are anxious to move on to something new. This isn’t much different than a glorified Fresno. (the two minute whistle just blew for drill.)

(8:30)

We got off early tonight because the captain in charge seemed to think we looked pretty good. We won the parade last night but the C.O. wants us to win the Sun. parade.

The first bunch of the “wash outs” from our squadron pulled out today. You didn’t know whether to feel sorry for them or for yourself. Several were with us at Tempe and it certainly seems like our original bunch is getting transf’ed out.

Before we go to pre-flight we have to learn the makes, name, number and wing span of about 50 British, American, and German planes. At the present I haven’t been able to find any time to learn much but maybe I will later.

When I write and tell you when to send that package here are the things I wish you would send: elec. razor, sharpening compound, nail clippers, watch, and hair brush. This sounds like alot but I can really use it all. This safety razor shaving every day takes too much time. In fact I have to shave and shower yet tonight. Will try to find time in between K.P. Sun. to drop you a line.

Love, Tom

Dear Folks,

The squadron has been bad so we have to drill every night this week after supper. We just got in and everyone is pretty tired and disgusted.

We won’t know the outcome of our classification till next Wed. night. Will let you know as soon as I find out.

I have a wisdom tooth pulled Sat. Morning, guard duty Fri. And K.P. Sun. I think if I work it right after having the tooth pulled I might be able to goldbrick^[1]Goldbricking is feigning injury or illness to avoid work or some task. on the Sun. K.P. Dad I received two of your letters today it was swell to hear from you will write and let you know when to send watch and rest of stuff.

Love,

Tom

Dear Folks,

Have alittle time and didn’t know when the chance would arise again. Dad, I received your letter so to answer a few of your questions: No, Sam didn’t get to come yet he will be here in about another week. We didn’t even notice the 4th here.^[1]4th of July celebrations We were on the train at the time and went through many town and didn’t hear any firecrackers.

It is a good thing you came out to see me when you did because in a lecture we had the other day we were told we would get all our training on the west coast and would be lucky to get any leave at all after we finished. The last bunch of Bombardiers that they graduated he said they gave them a “right face”, marched them on a boat and gave them gunnery practice on the way over. However, I think that is more the exception than the rule.

I have gone through everything but the last part of the 6-4 physical. This is the worse part and that which most wash out on, it includes the eye test, blood pressure, (Schneider) etc. A few have washed so far on such things as air sickness, lousy coordination, etc. Two fellows washed themselves.

These dentists are really fiends for pulling wisdom teeth I have to have one pulled this Fri. I think just about everyone has to have something done. We also had our interviews yesterday and the captain that interviewed me was a Northwestern grad, so we got along fine. They really want to know everything about you and after two days of written tests and an interview they really do.

I guess you haven’t seen Bill Van Meter for some time. I heard from him several weeks ago and it seems that all the girls in St. Louis won’t let him go home on weekends any more.

I guess Mrs. Perkins is there at Greenville now if you see her tell her hello for me and that the weather here is really different than Phoenix. Tell her I will write them when I know she is home.

Let me know if you don’t get the picture, it should be there now on any day. I also gave one to the Perkin’s and Aunty. I didn’t know what to get Mr. + Mrs. Perkins so thought of that.

Will let you know how I come out Mon. I hope everything goes ok. If it does we will get cadet ratings and uniforms in about a week.

Love,

Tom

Dear Folks,

All these letters will have to be interpreted because we only have short periods with nothing to do. In a few minutes we go to take our psychological motor learning tests. Yesterday we had aptitude tests 1 + 2 which took from 7:20 AM. Till 4:20 P.M. About 2:00 P.M. you begin to wonder just who is crazy. (Time out.)

Just returned from taking the tests and if I wasn’t crazy I am now. We aren’t suppose to say what they were like but if you can imagine a bunch of screwy pin-ball machines you will have a pretty good idea. I think we have our interview this afternoon. The physical will either be tomorrow or Mon.

I wrote Aunt Molly and have tried to find the telephone number to the house they were living at but I guess they haven’t any if they have and you know what it is let me know.

The weather is really swell here even though it is awful foggy every morning. The nights are really cold and after the fog lifts in the morning the rest of the day is nice and sunny. The food is good (that that we get) but there isn’t enough However, we are now on field rations but as soon as we are classified we start getting a dollar a day for food.

We had a talk yesterday by Lt. Bell the fellow that dropped the first bomb on Germany. It was really interesting.

I about passed out last night in the mess hall when I saw Bob Compton on K.P. He was the boy from ΣΝ^[1]Sigma NU, Tom’s college fraternity at Northwestern. Bob survived the war and earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California in 1949. that went with us when Mr. Luther took you and I to lunch at Cooley’s. He washed out on his physical and doesn’t know just what he is going to do. It was the first time I had seen anyone I had known since I had been in the army. He is going to come over here tonight.

Last night they had a band concert and there were so many fellow there you couldn’t get near enough to hear.

We haven’t been drilling or having much calisthenics lately and as a result I am getting stiff. However, we will probably start off in high next week again.

Cleda, I received your letter last night. I will try to write John if I get a little time.

We have lunch in a few minutes so will have to close. Will try to get a letter off soon.

Love, Tom

Mon. Night.

Dear Folks,

The way things look now you will have to be satisfied with cards for awhile. These first two weeks will be plenty busy because every day is planned with tests, lectures, movies, physical exams, calisthenics, drills, etc. We should be classified in two weeks and know what is going to happen. About an average of 20% wash out here.

It is almost time for taps and we have been having a G.I. Party since 7:30. We have calisthenics at 5:30 A.M. which is really the best time. The weather here is really swell nice and cool in the day and cold at night. Two blankets aren’t any too many. What did you think of the form letter we had to send? Forget a lot of it.

Use this address.

Love,

Tom