Jack is in Lincoln, Nebraska for further training.
June 4
Dear Ma
Well I recived your letter today & was very happy to hear from you.
We had to go to lectures all day today – Sun, & we were very happy to do it for the army. We had to get up at 6 & got through at 6 the evening which also made us very happy.
It has rained practically all day & the best part of last night. The water is standing all over the place – in fact under my bed. It rained so hard this after noon it run in the doors & almost floated our beds out. I just went over to shave & it started in while I was over there but stopped before I started back.
You say Bo's friend is in Sq B -- that's an officers sq about 2 blocks down the street the only thing between us is sq C. He's in here for the same thing I am infact he listens to the same lectures I do & might have been in some of the ones I was.
We have no Idea when we will ship but every on is hopping against there better thoughts. I sure don't like this place --the guys from over seas say it's better over there than here. I hope I ship soon but it will probable be a few weeks befor I get out of this god forsaken camp.
Say who sewed up these wings. You better give some good excuse because I either want you to do it over of given me my money back. I want you to look at them close & see what's wrong. If you can't tell let me know & I'll write and tell you. If it's not too much work see if you can't do it over & do a little better line. If you have to draw a line on the material & sew it straight. Well enough for that you don't need to rush I ain't in quite that big of a hurry for them.
The sun is out but the clouds are still in the east so it will probable rain again tonight.
Well this is a little longer than the last one so I'll close
Jack
We've got new stationary today. The top of the page is adorned with the winged-star logo of the army air corps. Underneath reads: ARMY AIR FORCES
June 6
Dear Ma
Well its cold here – I was on guard duty last night & like to have froze. I had my field jacket & over coat on & was still cold. The wind was blowing a nice breeze & it had rained so it all made it nice. I was on from 12 AM to 630 so I had a nice stretch of it in fact too much.
I slept all day & am still so sleepy I can hardly hold my eyes open. Oh well Ill probably pull through.
Some of the fellows are shipping in the near future for Clovis to go to B29 school. I guess I won't get it but I don't care much all I care for is the war to end.
What is Margaret planning by now or is she there by now. I haven't written her because I thought she would probable be getting ready to leave pretty soon now & wouldn't have time to answer any way.
I haven't had any new L. rumors of when we will ship but I am still hoping it's soon. The sooner the better.
I got a letter form the Goodings but they didn't say a whole lot about Con. I guess that place is dead as ever. I wish I had of stopped there on my way back but I didn't & I can't do it over so there not much us of thinking about tit.
The wind died down some today & it got a little warmer but I am still cold. I got a nice cold last night.
Well I better close & take a shower & get some more sleep.
Jack.
Note: "Con" = Concordia, Kansas, where Jack was born and where family friends the Goodings live.
June 7 1944
Dear Ma
I'll try to scribble you a note while I am setting around trying to make up my mind as to when I should shave. I have let it go for 2 days now & the fellows are getting ready to do it for me.
Well this is Sat so I'll try to finish while the barracks are quiet.
I had KP. last night so slept all day & am still tired tonight. I had to get up on the pretense of shaving & washing some cloths. I don't want to do either but it looks as though no one will do it for me so I'll have to.The K.P. wasn't bad last night I though it pretty easy. The cooks were darn nice fellows & they never cussed one of us all night.
It is still raining around here & is still rather cool. It has warmed up a little the last day or 2 but I could still stand to see it a little warmer.
I got your letter & Nenes letter this evening & I got the wings: They look better thanks. I'll get around to sewing them on some day but I don't know when. It seems like we never get any time to our selfs.
Most of the fellows went to town tonight but me I stayed home. I don't know whats wrong but I don't seem to get much kick out of going to town Maybe I'll change some day but at the present I stay in my old sack.
Well I better close and get some work done
[unsigned]
As Jack writes these letters, the beaches of Normandy, France are being stormed by nearly 160,0000 Allied forces. Operation Overlord, or D-Day as it is known now, had been planned since 1943, and finally the day arrived when naval, air, and ground combat forces all descended on the beaches to drive back German forces. Sadly, there were 10,000 casualties that first day of June 6, 1944, with over 4000 allied troops killed. It was a pivotal day for the Allies, however, beginning the liberation of German-occupied France and paving the way for victory across Europe.
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