Category Archives: From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

From Tom Cartmell to Doctor and Cleda Cartmell, From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon

Tom sends a private letter to his dad, writing more about his difficulty breathing and speculating about the dust and oranges as possible causes. He asks for some medicine and a list of items that might cause severe reactions in him. Tom gives more examples of gigs.

Sun. afternoon.

April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon, Page 1

Dear Dad,

It is really beginning to warm up here. It hit 102° yesterday afternoon and I think it is that hot again today.

My breathing is still giving me some trouble so if you haven’t already sent some capsules for it please do so. Also I wish in your next letter you would make a list from that paper thats in the top buffet drawer. Just list the ones that are severe reactions. They feed us alot of oranges and that as well as the dust might be whats causing it. Try to do this right away.

We are suppose to start flying in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to that. They say all the instructors are civilian and that they are pretty nice fellows.

April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon, Page 2

Today the whole post started wearing sun tan’s (summer uniform) which makes it alot better. The winter wear got plenty warm with wool pants and wool shirts.

I think I told you about the gig system. Anyway all of us fellows in the room ended up with 4 gigs apiece. All of them were from having something in the room dirty. We only had one up till yesterday afternoon but they came in then. I didn’t have one of the pockets buttoned on one shirt in the closet and I got one for that.

April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon, Page 3

One fellow had 13 gigs and that means he had to walk off all over 5. He is walking 8 hours today. I see him pass the window everyonce in awhile.

I just finished 5 navigation problems in about 10 min. so I feel that I haven’t lost all of my math ability. Thank goodness for that because the prof we have isn’t much to brag about we haven’t any books yet. Some of the fellows that aren’t very sharp in Trig are having a tough time. It sort of looks like they are going to try and make navigators out of a bunch of us. Even if you are a navigator you still must learn to fly. However, I would still rather be a pilot.

April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon, Page 4

Tell Mrs. Erickson that the mirror she gave me really comes in handy. When we came here we had everything in our barracks bag and one side got cracked, however it was the magnified side which wouldn’t be used much anyway. Now we have it rigged up over the sink and I don’t think any of us could do with out it.

Must read some Eng. so had better close. Don’t forget about the medicine and list.

With love,

Tom

April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon

From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

March 18, 1943, Fresno, California

Tom has gained 7 or 8 pounds, but worn one pair of shoes through the sole. He tells his Dad how happy he is with him, and just wants him to be satisfied and proud of him. One section of his letter has been cut out. I don’t know why.

Wed. evening.

March 18, 1943, Fresno, California, Page 1

Dear Dad,

I received the letter that you sent me from S. Louis Mon. while I was on K.P. That is one thing that is a good two days work done in one. They get you up at 3:AM. and you work till 8:00 P.M. that evening with 30 min. off for each meal. The one good thing about it is that you get plenty to eat. I have gained about 7 or 8 lbs. so far, so I guess the food isn’t too bad and although you don’t get very much sleep the hours are regular and that means alot. Everyone likes it pretty good but everyone is anxious to get into flying and you can’t blame them for this because thats what they enlisted for.

I have really been enjoying your letters and I am doing my best to keep them coming to you.

I couldn’t have asked for a better dad and the uppermost thought in my mind is that you will be satisfied and proud of me. If I can accomplish this I won’t worry about a thing that the future brings.

These G.I. shoes that we have, have about 1/2 inch soles and all of us have holes worn through one pr. You can see that we haven’t been riding very much. Yesterday we had review at 5:00 P.M. in which about 1/4 of the post marched in. Our flight had only had 2 days of rifle drill and were choosen as the color guard. The whole thing was very colorfull and plenty big.

March 18, 1943, Fresno, California, Page 2

I received a letter from Cleda Mon. also which she wrote from St. Louis. If I have time I am going to write her tonight. We were suppose to go out on the range with the sub-machine guns today but it rained so we go Fri. I am afraid I will have to learn to shoot all over again because I will have to learn right handed. ^[1]Tom is left-handed. I probably won’t be able to hit a thing.

There isn’t a thing I need and I can get things cheap at the P.X. (post exchange). We haven’t got paid a thing yet but my money is holding out O.K. I still have about $5.00 and I haven’t used any travelers checks yet. When we start getting paid I think I will cash several of them and send the money home and you can put it on my account. There isn’t much sense in carrying $80.00 of them around. If you think this is O.K. let me know. If I ever need any money I can write home for it. One other thing I wondered about – does the insurance I have have a war clause in it?

Tell Mrs. Erickson I received her letter and the Times. Thank her for me and I will try to write her soon. If you see Uncle Leslie also tell him I got his 2nd letter. It is too bad G.H.S.^[2]Greenville High School lost to Woodriver but they didn’t get walked over.

Will close –

With love,

Tom

References[+]

References
↑1	Tom is left-handed.
↑2	Greenville High School

From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

March 6, 1943, Fresno, California

Tom finds the central California weather not to his liking. They drill in the rain without raincoats. But his biggest issue is lack of sleep.

Fri. noon.

March 6, 1943, Fresno, California, Page 1

Dear Folks,

The past three days has been typical Calif. weather. It has rained every day. We went out and drilled for 3 hrs. this morning without any raincoats and then the officers got enough of it so we came in.

Dad, your letter came this noon and believe me it was really swell. It was the first letter I have received so far but I imagine there are a bunch waiting to be sorted.

The food is getting better but I still don’t like getting up at 5:15. We have to eat breakfast, wash, make beds, shine shoes, + sweep out by 7:30 + be ready to go on the field. We had shots Tues. and Wed. I didn’t know if I could make it through the day or not. Everyone is afraid to go on sick call for fear that they will get washed out. They have washed several out all ready. I am feeling O.K. today.

We won’t get to leave the post for at least another week and we might get shipped out before then, however, that remains to be seen.Everybody is hoping to get out of here as soon as possible. I was talking to some of the old timers and they say it is the worse place they have ever been. It was a Jap concentration camp up till Dec. 1st so we can’t expect everything. We are due to fall in very shortly so will finish this letter tonight if we don’t have a lecture or detail of some kind.

March 6, 1943, Fresno, California, Page 2

(6:00 P.M.)

It rained all afternoon so we didn’t drill. We had school instead, studying the soldier’s manual.

I guess you know that I tried to call you last night again. I called about 6:00 (8:00 your time) and they said they would hold the line for me at 8:30. I had a lecture at 7:00 and they called me out of that but by the time I got to the phone it was too late. I have given up so I won’t try again.

About this major on the post. I wouldn’t do for me to look him up so I guess he will have to hunt me up. It would be alot easier for him to find me than me to find him.

I am going to cut this letter shorter than I had expected to. There is a big inspection tomorrow and we found out alittle while ago that our flight was on K.P. tomorrow, which means we get up at 3:00 A.M., + get our barracks ready for inspection tonight. We get one or more demerits for something we do wrong and after so many we don’t get to go into cadet training. So far my record is clear but they keep getting tougher, I wish we would get shipped out of here before I do get some.

Ich schlafe gut uber nicht lang genug.^[1]I do not sleep well enough.

My German could stand some brushing up.

Love,

Tom

Notice the little change of address.

It means the 80-5 Training Group. Basic Training Command #8.

References[+]

References
↑1	I do not sleep well enough.

From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

March 1, 1943, Fresno, California

Tom is getting settled into his basic training in Fresno. He has a friend from Northwestern sleeping in the lower bunk. In the event of a family emergency, Tom instructs his Dad to contact the local Red Cross. Candy bars are 3 cents each and plentiful.

Sun. afternoon

March 1, 1943, Fresno, California, Afternoon, Page 1

Dear Dad,

This makes a lot of letters that I have written to you in the last few days but our flight got off this afternoon and it is hard to say when that will happen again so I thought best to write.

Our flight was about the only one that didn’t get shots this afternoon. The fellows that had them can hardly move their arms.

Fresno AAF Basic Training Center Fairgrounds, August, 1943

I am fairly well situated now and there are alot of fellows from N.U. here. One of the fellows I knew at school bunks under me. We slept together on the train and were pretty lucky to be together this long. Our “sarge” remindes me of “Herk” File, so you can tell what he is like. His bark is alot worse than his bite. The officers are O.K. but it is best to keep away from them. It is really surprising how well the fellow drill. Most of them have had ROTC so we all know about as much about it as the fellow that has been in for a week or two. These fellows certainly don’t look like the college boys they were 3 weeks ago.

March 1, Fresno, California, Afternoon, Page 2

I have tried to put through a telephone call twice this afternoon to you but they keep telling me to wait three hours. I have about given up.

Last night in lecture they told us to tell our folks that if anyone ever got seriously sick at home, + we were needed, that your parents were to get in touch with the local Red Cross + you would get away 48 hrs. sooner.

They have been shipping them out of here pretty quick + I doubt if I am here for much more than two weeks.

The only thing I don’t like is eating out of our own canteens + then washing them afterwards. It is just like being out on maneuvers. When I get home after this I will probably dislike washing dishes ever more.

They lectured for about an hour last night in telling us what things not to write home about so I can’t tell you very much about whats going on, but there is a good many boys here + it is mainly basic training.

March 1, 1943, Fresno, California, Afternoon, Page 3

When I get a chance I am sending home the suit case. There are a number of things in it I don’t need such as your razor. They gave us a pretty good one + I can get a good shave with it.

There isn’t a thing I need in fact I can get candy bars for 3⊄ and about anything else at half price so if you want an gum or anything let me know.

This will probably be the last chance I will get to write any letters this week + I have several more to write so had better close.

Your loving son,

Tom

March 1, 1943, Fresno, California, Afternoon

From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

February 25, 1943, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Still on the train heading to Fresno (and his basic training), Tom describes his interaction with the USO.

Thurs. noon.

February 25, 1943, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Front

Dear Folks,

This heading includes everyone but it saves room. We will be in Albuquerque, N Mex. in alittle while + I think they will mail these then. It is hard to write on this train.

The country is really beautiful. Last night it snowed but we were up to about 8,000 ft. + this morning we saw many snow colored mountains, however, it is now nice + warm out and a swell day.

All we have been doing is sleeping + eating.

Every time we stop at the USO meets the train + passes out post cards, matches, cookies + candy. This life of leisure will change when we reach Fresno.

How did Karen like the car ride?

Love, Tom

February 25, 1943, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Back

From Tom Cartmell to Doctor Cartmell

February 24, 1943, Dodge City, Kansas

Tom has just left Chicago by train, and is on his was to Aviation Cadet basic training in Fresno, California.

We are to meet the El Capitan soon.^[1]The El Capitan was a train from Chicago to Los Angeles, started in 1938. The trip took about 40 hours.

This train is riding rough.

Photo of El Capitan at Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1938

Dear Folks,

February 24, 1943, Dodge City, Kansas, Front Side

Just had lunch at Newton, Kan. and this will be mailed in Dodge City when we stop for dinner. Have been having a good time and we won’t get to Fresno until Sat. morning about 2:00 A.M. They told us today that the address I gave you before is wrong and I doubt if I get any mail that you send to it. I will let you know the real address as soon as possible. There are about 400 on the train and all are college fellows but not many from N.U.

Love,

Tom