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.