End of January, 1944. Did Jack make cadets?

Jan 14 1944

Dear Ma

I got a letter from you today so I'll try to start an answer to you.

Ericksons relation sent me a letter today asking me out for Sunday dinner so I called them up & took them up on it. 

Say if you ask about that roll of film yes I want some enlargement of those ships if nene thinks she can make some good ones.

Mon

I went out to see the Ericksons yesterday and had a swell time. They took me for a nice long ride out there. They also have to small boys so they have quite the family.

It has been rather cold the last few days although the sun does come out but it doesn't seem to warm up very much.

Well we have to fall out so I'll close & try to write more next time.

Jack

Jan 18, 44

–– me (pointing to gunner in illustration)

Dear Ma

I guess I might as well write and let you know just what the score is. I didn't make cadets but I guess I must have hit it pretty close because they told me if they lower the standard I'll get a chance at it. I haven't completed it but from what I hear I'll probable go in as a gunner but I don't feel too bad about it because Ill be able to make about as much money at being a gunner as 2nd Louie. I also feel a little better because only 12 made it out of better than 50 in our bunch and some rather most of them had some college.

We sure had a nice day today it got chilly & the wind blew like the devil. We are out in the stick where the dust and sand comes a flying at you & feel like bolders. We also went through the gas chamber today filled with tear gas. We sure had a bunch of bawl babys come out of there too.

I hope Florence likes her job better by now tell her it can't be any worse than the army even at that. Tell her not to forget we also have to run outside to go to the head.

Well I guess that all for tonight.

Jack

Notes:

The standards for cadets kept changing. The Army was forced to lower the qualifications to meet changing demands. During most of the war, there was too much of a need for pilots for them to keep standards requiring college degrees.

Here's a little first-hand story from a cadet. 

"2nd Louie" means 2nd Lieutenant, the entry-level rank for commissioned officers.

Jan 24 1944

Dear Ma

Guess what we moved today in to a different barracks & also got guard duty. We will go on guard duty 2 hours a day for 2 days & the 3rd day we get 4 hours but all in all we figure it is a pretty good deal.

We went in to town Sat night and had a swell time. Rented a couple of rooms & then went to a dance, as usual I don't dance but had a lot of fun while there. We then walked out to the city park & the museum & it was really nice. I didn't get home until about 8 o clock last night.

We have had pretty nice weather the last few days in fact yesterday was next to perfect. The sun came out but yet it was nice not hot nor cold. Today it looked like a pretty nice day but has turned out very windy & when the wind blows here it really blows.

Say about those pictures I sent you have you mailed those yet some of the boys want some of them & are getting anxious to get them.

Well I got a nice long letter from you today telling me all the news. So Uncle Geo. is scared of being drafted -- well I don't blame him much I don't like it either.

I received the scarf. I don't know if I wrote and told you or not. Thanks a lot.

I guess I better close & catch a little shut eye.

Jack.

Note:

• Uncle George is Jack's dad's brother.
• Among the letters were two postcards from Uncle George, who lived in Dayton, OH. They were sent toward the end of 1943. They are below.

Postmark Sep 8 1943, Dayton Ohio

Dear Neva & all

Am to report for my physical exam to-morrow a.m. Lena & Sugar are at Lena's folks. They don't know about it. May get a deferment. Will write when I find out. Regards, George.

Postmark Nov 21 1943 Dayton Ohio

Sunday.

Dear Neva & children

We have a new baby boy, born this a.m. (2:42) Lena & baby doing fine. Weight 7.6 An appeal to my draft board has been sent in by Frigidaire. Hope every one is well. Sugar is farmed out to friends. Regards George

Notes: 

That baby would be my Dad's cousin John, who still lives in Ohio!

George's penmanship is beautiful, isn't it?!

...and the last letter in January from Jack: 

Jan 26 1944

Dear Ma

I'll try to scribble you a few lines to let you know just how things stand now. I was officially notified that I was a armor gunner & that I have 45 more days of basic left. I also found out approxamatle how my I.Q. stands in the army. There are 5 groups starting with 1 & going to 5, I had to be at least in the 3rd group to get in the air corp. Mine is in the middle of the 2nd group so I guess thats not too bad now is it for a Eutsler.

It started snowing some time last night & is still snowing tonight. It is a rather wet snow too. I don't know just how deep it is but I guess it's around 6 in. so you see we are having a pretty nice snow. It will sure be nice to get out & march in I noticed some fellows marching today & when they did an about face they sort of lit on there ––.

Say what about that roll of film I sent you I sure would like to have those things get here so please try to get them back.

Also please send me my Income Tax stuff so I can file a return on it the time is getting rather short.

Well I'll close for now. Oh yes I got nenes letter & tell her thanks

Jack

Next up: All the fellows think I look like my Ma

Mid-January, 1944: The 64 Physical

 Jan. 9, 1944

Dear Ma,

Ill try to write you a letter but I don't know how far I'll get with it.

We finished some of our test yesterday but have a physical tomorrow. We really taking a beating on this stuff & I do mean a beating. I really don't think I made it but from what they tell us we will know in about a week today- I hope, in some ways that I made it but in other ways it will be the hardest 14 months I'll ever spend or have ever spent.

We went into town last night but didn't do much of anything.

Jan 10

We took a physical, rather a part of one today. It was a blood test, x ray & etc, on the blood test it felt like they took a gal of blood out of my arm & I know I only had 3 qt of blood to start with. It felt like they were taking my arm off. Ask Jim what a 64 physical is.

I got a letter from Margaret K today but she didn't write much. She wrote a little about Pete but that's all she wrote.

I guess I'll have to send my camera home because I was with Louie & he saw some guys taking pictures well he up and took the camera away from them.

Well I'll close now

Jack

Notes:

It took some searching, but I believe when he is referring to a "64 physical," he means the Aviation Cadet Qualifying Examination. This WWII document, Initial Selection of Candidates for Pilot, Bombadier, and Navigator Training mentions the "64" physical examination, on about page 58.

Pete is the son of his sister Margaret (Tuck) (Jack's nephew, my cousin). He would have been 3 months old. 

He writes again the next day, after the physical exam was completed:

Jan 11 1944

Dear Ma

Well we finished our physical to day & how do you think I came out. Shall I keep you in suspense or shall I tell you. To tell you the truth I came out on the top meaning your dear son is in perfect health. I was sort of worried about my eyes ears & teeth, my eyes checked 20/20 even my depth perception was O.K. it was one of the best scores made in the barracks. My hearing was OK. & my teeth were all all right not a thing wrong with them. It was a stiff physical in fact the toughest physical I have ever taken.

12

You ask about bonds & etc. I should have another bond or 2 comming & also some from my retirement fund comming. I guess that's about all I have from the dear old P.S.N.Y.

13

I received a letter from you today so will try to finish this & get it mailed.

We went out on the drill field today I should say this morning & the really put us over the ropes. We did calacentics for a bout a hour & 1/2 then went out on the obstatical course which darn near killed me. I guess I ain't as good a man as I though I was but I hope I never get so good I can run that damn course and not be tired. 

So they want some more red tape on your allotment. I guess all you can do is give them what they want & when you let them have every thing maybe they'll let up.

So dear Florence has gotten a job at last I'll bet she's one sad girl. Oh well it's about time she went to work after all you started out a whole lot younger than she not taking my self into consideration.

We went into town yesterday afternoon & had quite a time. We went skating in the evening and you should have seen me you talk about you stepping well I was also doing about the same.

Say why don't you go up and have so pictures made of your self not too big but about 3/5 or something on that order. & please don't give any excuses but do it. I mange Tuck & Bo George & Benny would like one so do it.

It sure is nice out today but it was cold last night it was about -3 so it was cold when we got home last night.

Well I guess I'll close now so

Jack

Notes:

• P.S.N.Y. = Puget Sound Naval Yard. 
• George is his Uncle, his Dad's brother. I'm not sure who Benny is, possibly a family friend.  

Next, we'll find out if he made cadets.....