From: Base Weather Sta.
Sept 28, 1942
Dear Folks
I just got the letters from Ma, Dad, & Art. I was quite surprised to find you seeming to worry about how I'm making out. I thought I had made it clear. Evidently from what you saw of Roger you got a bad idea of the army. As I've told you the ten fellows in my group are treated swell. Our barracks are as good as one would find in any college and the food is excellent. Don't think I'm so terribly tired for although we are studying hard and long hours you must remember that when it comes to 9:00 I get to a comfortable bed and sleep to seven. I never got 10 hours sleep a night back home. These three weeks I'm studying hard but after that I'll only work 8 hours a day with 1 or 2 days a week off and still be able to come and go anytime. There are dances at the U.S.O. 2 or three time a week and always the theatres. So you can see I'm living on top of the world. I'll never have K.P., guard duty or details and have never held a gun so don't worry. I've gained weight and never felt better in my life. Good living is swell. When I do go I'll be in a non combat unit and not in the trenches or marching but still have good conditions. I have honestly hit the best branch of the army. As soon as I've been in 90 days, I'm going to head for officers training and then it will be Lt. Smith.
Aunt Helen sent me $5.00 and it was appreciated. I'm going to write and thank her.
Let Art take my suit and the skates for it is foolish to let them do nothing.
I hope mickey got his insigneas. I mailed them last week. I get the papers and mail allways now but there is about 2 weeks still missing from Altantic City.
Tell Dad I'm about 400 miles from St. Joseph and I'll take a run out some weekend after I get thru school.
We are learning to observe and record weather and its quite interesting. I really like it.
It's getting late so I'll write later.
Love, Fred
Seem to remember Eddie being called Mickey,not absolutely sure.Mom
ReplyDeleteHI ANDI, YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB SORTING OUT THE MAILS. YOUR DAD DID HAVE A GOOD TRAINING & SAFE. LATER IT WASN'T SO GOOD. MY ART WAS ON A DESTROYER & IT GOT MANY A SHELLING. BUT THEY HAD GOOD TIMES 'IN PORT' in the PACIFIC & LONDON! SO HE TOLD ME.WE ONLY HAVE PICTURES, NO LETTERS. I DIODN'T KNOW HIM THEN AS YOUR MOM DIDN'T DATE YOUR DAD THEN EITHER. WE BOTH HAVE TIME TO READ UOUR MAIL NOW THO. LUV, A. MARION
ReplyDeleteYes, Dad's (Eddie) nickname was Mickey.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we fully appreciate how fortunate we've been to never know "want". Growing up hungry during the depression must have been tough. My Dad (Uncle Art) spoke often in his letters about the abundance of food that was suddenly available to him when he joined the Army. The reunion is in the works for this summer at Moody Point. We are looking at early July at his point. I'll let you know when we set the date but try to keep those first two weekends in July open if you can. I'm glad you solved the Mickey mystery Maureen:).
ReplyDelete