April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon

It is still very cold at night. Tom talks about his roommate, Sam Ashcroft. Tom’s doing well with his studies.

Sat. noon.

April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon, Page 1
April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon, Page 1

Dear Folks,

The weeks are rolling by pretty fast. We had a chance to go up town today so I had a chance to get alittle paper to write letters on.

It has really got cooler here the past few days. In fact even sleeping here in the room Sam and I wear long underware to bed and put our overcoats over the bed. However, I can really sleep but I have a heck of a time getting up at 5:15. Sam is as hard to get up as I am so you can imagine how fast we have to rush in the last 5 minutes. Sam’s last name is Ashcroft he went to N.U. and he reminds me alot of Steve. He is going with a girl from St. Louis who just graduated from nurses training. She took most of her training at the Lutheran Hospital.

Sam Ashcroft (3rd from left) in front of East Hall at Arizona State College in the spring of 1943. With Sam are his roommates in the Aviation Cadet Training Program, Tom Cartmell, Jack Brink, and George Bollen.
Sam Ashcroft (3rd from left) in front of East Hall at Arizona State College in the spring of 1943. With Sam are his roommates in the Aviation Cadet Training Program, Tom Cartmell, Jack Brink, and George Bollen.
April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon, Page 2
April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon, Page 2

It seems like all the fellows girls that I know are named Elaine. Bud Spencer’s wife is named Elaine and so is Sam’s. It must be a pretty popular name.

The speech I made about you went over pretty good. It wasn’t in a regular class but in military indoctrination. The Lt. is in charge of.

I didn’t get my grades from N.U. but Sam’s were sent to his home. Did they come to you.

I will keep most of these travelers checks but I might not keep the full $80.00. We are suppose to get paid Thurs. I think it will only be $20.00 then and the rest we will get later on in the month.

The school work isn’t very hard but will probably get worse. My grades are O.K. I got a 99 on the first Eng. test and I don’t like the course. The others are much more interesting especially Navigation.

April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon, Page 3
April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon, Page 3

New post regulations start this Mon. They are even tougher. From Sun. at 3: P.M. till the following Sat 2: P.M. we aren’t allowed to talk to any civilians. However, starting 2 weeks from this weekend we will get 20 hr. passes. From Sat. afternoon till Sun. afternoon. If you ever did come out here I don’t know if I would get to see you any more than then or not. From what I hear this is the toughest C.T.D. in the country as far as discipline goes. I think all the fellows here are living for that 20 hr. pass. I will look up these addresses of these people you gave me and go see them.

We have calesthenics in a few minutes so had better close. The first thing we do out there is run around the track 4 times (a good mile). That tires me out more than anything we do.

Tell Agnes hello.

Love, Tom

April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon
April 11, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday Noon

A Young Man Went Off to War