March, 1944: Biovac, Guns, and getting ready to ship

Feb 25 1944

Dear Ma

I got a letter from you today – this morning so will try to answer it while I am waiting to fall out. 

We sure have been having splendid weather here latley. Yesterday it was a typical spring day in fact we were running around with our coats off. I got up this morning & it wasn't half bad but 5 minutes after I got back from breakfast it started to snow. It has been getting worse all the time, the wind is behind it & it sure is miserable out now. We also had to take about a 6 mile hike in it this morning so it was very pleasant all in all.

I got a letter from Louie today but he didn't have much to say. He never does write much nor often but he does write.

We were supposed to go out on our camping trip last night but it was poseponed (thank God). I am sure glad we didn't go now it is so miserable out everyone is cussing it.

We get passes tomorrow but I don't believe I'll go in -- financial difficultys. We won't get paid until the 10 if then so I have to hang tight on to my money. You can tell Nene I got her letter with her picture & showed it to a few of the boys in the barracks (50 of them all in all – that all that live here) They think she's cute but don't tell her.

Am sending a article I want you to save for me -- it is pretty near correct. some of the stuff is misleading but that's the way things are.

Well I have to fall out so will close.

Jack. 

postmarked Denver Mar 2 1944

Dear Ma

We have been out on Biovac & just got back today. Am tired so will just send you a card & will write you tomorrow & let you in on it. I got a couple of letters from you & the one from Nene. 

We had quite a time but will wait until I can write you a letter & let you in on it all.

Jack.

 March 2 1944

Dear Ma

I guess I'll try to write you now while I have the time & energy.

We went out on Bivouac Mon morning & didn't get back until last night. We had to sleep in tents 6 to the tent, the also never had lights nor running water. We had one little stove in the middle which would bake you for a few minutes & then get cold as a chunk of ice. The chow house wasn't any more than a shack with tables about as high as my chin. All we did while we were out there was to fire the 45 auto & the Thomson sub mach gun. It was a lot of fun but it wasn't enough to suit me. I wanted to fire more but they wouldn't let me. All in all I didn't like it very well.

We are now through with our basic now & don't know what we will do. I guess we will just get detail from now on until we ship to a teck school. I hope it is soon but it may not be for a while we never know from one day to the next what we are doing to do.

We have been having pretty nice weather the last few days it has been like spring around here but probable be storming by morning [_____] things are too good to last. I do hope the weather stays nice from now on though. It sure is mean when we get out on the drill field & it's storming.

Well I'll close now so write

Jack

Note: the .45 automatic handgun and the Thompson submachine gun were standard issue during WWII. And you can see that Jack did love firearms!

March 9 1944

Dear Ma

Seeming you won't write to me when I won't write to you. I guess Ill have to write.

We are shipping Monday & I don't know where so I'll just have to sit tight & find out. I guess we are going to some tech school but were I don't know. You might as well not write till you hear from me.

We were on guard duty all last night & today some fun. No sleep & feet tired. We were laying a round this after noon when they came in and said we had to fall out to fight fire. We had to go out & fight it by stepping on it & starting [?] others. We had our ODs on so they look very nice to night but I am going to ship in them any way.

It has been blowing like heck up to yesterday & it turned off nice. It is a very nice day today – thank god. 

A bunch of the fellows are shipping tomorrow so I'll have to keep my eyes open from now on, or keep every thing nailed down.

I got Nenes letter today & you can tell her I don't stink either because I took a shower I also got a letter from dear old uncle Wayne to day. He didn't say much but it was a letter.

Well I am so tired I'll close now.

Jack.

Note: "OD" refers to olive drabs. From Wikipedia: 

Army Enlisted Men's Winter Service Uniform

The issue enlisted men's winter service uniform in 1941 consisted of a four-pocket wool serge coat in olive drab shade no. 33 (OD 33, also called "light shade") and matching trousers. Shirts, which featured two patch pockets and no shoulder straps, were either OD 33 wool flannel or khaki cotton chino cloth. Either shirt could be worn under the coat; however, the cotton shirt could not be worn as an outer garment with the wool trousers. Whenever a shirt was worn as an outer garment the necktie was tucked between the second and third button of the shirt. The initial shirt had a standup collar like a typical dress shirt. In 1941 the shirt was redesigned with the collar band removed so the collar would lay flat when worn in the field. In 1941 the necktie for the winter uniform was black wool and the summer necktie was khaki cotton. In February 1942 a universal mohair wool necktie in olive drab shade 3 replaced both previous neckties. The OD 3 necktie was shortly superseded by a khaki cotton–wool blend necktie. The single khaki necktie was mandated for both summer and winter service uniforms.

 Next: shipping out to Las Vegas, Nevada