4-4-44
Dear Ma
I guess I ought to write you a letter so as you will know the army hasn't killed me as yet.
It is still tough going but maybe I'll live. I got into a nice argument with a S/Sgt this after noon and he tried to tell me my views of life were wrong. I told him I still didn't like the army wished to Hell I could have stayed a civy. I also told him I thought I was doing more in civiling life than I am in the army. He seemed to disagree with me but I told him I still had my opin All in all he didn't like one word of what I said but the army. He ask me how long I had been in so I told him I was happy to say I was still a civy up to 4 months ago that burnt him. Oh well I still don't like it.
You ask if getting into trouble with the sargs was the reason I was always on KP. The fact stands no, as yet I haven't really been in any trouble in the army but if I don't learn to keep my big mouth shut I'll end up in the guard house.
They have been running us wild the last day or 2. We even have a class tonight around 7:30 I guess. We have so much time to our selfs we do a little sleeping once in a while. We got to sleep around 930 or 10 & then we don't have to get up till 430. They wonder why we go to sleep in classes & etc.
Oh yes I made a 94 in a test on the machine gun & I field striped it in 1 1/2 minutes.
Well I have quite a bit to do so will close
Jack
Now we have our first V-mail. V-mail was a more efficient means of transporting letters from the front. The military provided a sheet of paper, then after censoring the letter they took a picture of it and shipped the rolls of film back to the States, where the letters were printed and mailed on their way. They measure about 4x6. Read more about V-Mail here.
This letter was written by Jack's friend Carol Goodwin (remember Grandma Goodwin from earlier letters?) from Concordia, Kansas.
On the top of letter are printed instructions: print the complete address in plain black letters in the panel below and your return address in the space provided. Use typewriter, dark ink or pencil. Write plainly. Very small writing is not suitable.
Below that, the censor's seal and signature, the addressee, Jack, at Buckley Field, and to the right the sender's address and the date:
#17166576
Cpl. Carol G. Goodwin
33rd Armed Regt. Base
A.P.O. 253 90 Postmaster
New York, N.Y.
April 5, 1944
The censor's date is 7 APR 1944
Dear Bill,
Well, how's the old veteran coming along by this time? If you didn't know, I'm stationed "somewhere in England" and wish I were someplace else. We really can't kick too much, though. We have [censored] even though they're not so hot. I'm playing bull fiddle in a dance band now and I like it O.K. even though it does make us on duty 11 or 12 hours a day, since we play on an average of 10 or more dances in two weeks. It's pretty tough going. If we get a night off a week we're lucky.
Well, Bill, I sure hope we can get together again after this darn thing is over. Show those goldbricks back there how to shoot. Write again soon and maybe we can get into the habit again. Lots of luck. Yours, Carol
I hadn't heard the slang term goldbrick. According to Dictionary.com it means: "a person, especially a soldier, who shirks responsibility or performs duties without proper effort or care."
Carol G. Goodwin died in 2000 in Kansas. I couldn't find an obituary of either him or his wife Marjorie. It looks like they didn't have children. But, because we are an interconnected world, I give you the obituary of Carol's brother-in-law, Don (Carol's wife's brother).
April 7, 1944
Dear Ma
I'll try to scribble a few words down to let you know I am ok.
You can write my dear uncle Wayne & tell him I detailed stripped a 50 cal. mach gun in 10 1/2 minutes. It's a pretty fast time infact I sort of busted up my hands working so fast.
We went out & shot the 12 gauge shot gun today & had a lot of fun. We were out there 4 hours & shot about 50 times. I didn't do so good but hope I can do better next time.
We got payed last night so am very happy now. I only had a few pennys in my pocket so now I can use it.
Don't bank too much on this but I heard we get our delays enroute. Thats a rumor but we like to belive those things & hope they come true. I'll really belive it when we get them but just hope until then.
School is still rough but maybe I'll get through OK but I am going to have to hussle to get it. The air craft rec. is really rough I guess I'll have to go night school a few night but I guess I'll live.
I got a letter from Bo & she was happy about me getting a delay enroute so I guess she won't fell so good about me not getting it. I hope we do.
Well I guess I'll close now
Jack
April 9 1944
Dear Ma
We we went to Bolder dam, & it's quite a place. It's more or less out in the desert or in the hills & is rather big. It did disappoint me though I thought It would be bigger. We did have it over the civys we got to stop & look & it, also walk over it. The civys only get to drive over it in a convoy. We stoped at Bolder City but it's not much, just a small quiet town. All together different from Vegas. The town is a government reservation so there's no gambling drinking or anything else for that matter. We walked through the town 3 times in 15 minutes & still wondered where the town was. Its smaller than Vegas (there) in fact they don't have much of a town just a very few stores.
We rode over in a G.I. truck, some of the fellows rode over in buses but I got a truck. It wasn't bad though. We had a sprinkle yesterday so there wasn't any dust blowing. We didn't have retreate [?] parade yesterday because of the wind & the dust & a hour later it calmed down & was a nice day.
April 10
I guess I ought to finish this & get it mailed I got a letter from Wayne today also a card from Bo & a letter from you.
We went out & fired the shot guns again today but I didn't do too good. I don't know what is wrong but I just ain't on the ball
The weather was fair today but still warm.
Well I guess I'll close
Jack.
Note: Boulder Dam was renamed Hoover Dam in 1947. The bill to build it was passed in 1928, and the construction project employed thousands of workers through the Depression. I'm surprised that Jack was disappointed in its size. It's an impressive dam! It's really an incredible feat of engineering, and if you ever visit Las Vegas, make sure to take the trip out there to see it! There's a tour and a gift shop, and civys can now walk over it!
Next: Finishing up at LVAAF
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