May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Noon

A new term has started and the students are feeling overwhelmed with classes and study. Tom details his new schedule, and it leaves him and his fellow students tired and sleepy. They believe this intense schedule is designed to wash out some of the students.
Mon. noon.

May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 1
May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 1

Dear Folks,

We went on a new schedule today which is plenty tough. A half hour of free time during the day (11:00-11:30 AM.). Get up at 5:15, breakfast and clean rooms by 7:00, 7:00-9:00 Physics lab Mon. through Fri., 9:00-10:00 Geography every day, drill 10:00–11:00 everday except Wed. + then we have swimming from 10:00-12:00. English from 1:00-2:00, History from 2:00-3:00, Calesthenics from 3:00-4:30, retreat and dinner; 6:00 to 7:00 everynight Physics lecture, 7:00-8:00 Mon. Wed. + Fri: navigation (the rest have math everynight), study from 8:00 to 10:00. When the Lt. read it off to us yesterday he said it was tougher than any college schedule he had ever seen, he also said the captain had told him we couldn’t do it. (Which is good psychology) It is suppose to get easier after 5 weeks because then I think we will finish History + English but you can’t ever tell. I am afraid I will have to start sending more post cards. I hope you won’t mind. Those two hours of study time at night will be plenty full and if not the sleep will come in handy. It is time for lunch so will have to finish this sometime later.

May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 2
May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 2

(8:30 PM)

If you ever saw a bunch of tired and sleepy kids you should see us and I am no exception. I should be doing English now but it seems that everyone else is either sleeping or just sitting. I really don’t see how it will be possible to keep this up for 5 weeks. We heard tonight that it is going to be used as a method to wash some out. It wouldn’t surprise me any if they don’t. The Profs are pretty understanding but they have to give us some outside work. You can’t tell they are shooting it to us all at once. We might be in the next bunch to leave for pre-flight. Whatever it is I don’t think they are going to leave us at any one place very long. That is O.K. with me.

May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 3
May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 3

We have passes coming this weekend. They will be from 2 PM Sat. till 3:00 PM Sun. that is better than we had figured on. Some of the fellows won’t get to go because of low grades and too many gigs. One fellow we AWOL[1]Absent Without Leave the other night and they are still deciding if they should wash him out or not.

Dad I received your letter this after noon and I can’t see why you didn’t hear from me for a week. I also got a letter from Aunty, Uncle Harold + Jim if you see them tell them I will write them as soon as possible, but that I am pretty busy.

May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 4
May 17, 1943, Tempe, Arizona, Monday Afternoon, Page 4

Well, I have to get started on that English and then get to bed.

Love, Tom

References

References
1 Absent Without Leave

A Young Man Went Off to War