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
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
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
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
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
April 5, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Sunday Afternoon

A Young Man Went Off to War