May, 1944. Graduation from the school to learn to kill.

Here we get a little confusing. I'm posting them by postmark, as Gram would've read them such, so bear with me.

Written May 6, 1944 and postmarked May 6, 1944. 

May 6 1944

Dear Ma

While I am setting around trying to think of some thing to do I'll write you a letter.

We got our wings today so that part of its over with now. It wasn't much of a graduation, a short speech & etc. We had to stand retreat to day & I guess the sun got me down, I had nose bleed shortly after we got back. The sun is so hot it just wilts you. We can't even get the barracks cooled off at night when we go to bed & then when we get up every ones cold. 

I got a letter from Tuck today & she said she would come to Lincoln to see me If I can't get away to see her. I am going to see If I can get a 3 day pass when I get there but If I can't I'll have her come down. 

We ship out Mon. & will probable be in there around Wed. I am not sure that's where we are going but thats the best rumor out. They were nice enough not to ship us out on Sun though - probable because the trains aren't running right on Sun or something. They have been shipping most of them (the other Squad out on Sun. 

We got Grounded Sat so I didn't have to fly & was I happy. It gets very boring flying all the time.

I got the kids a pair of earring & will send them to them If they want them. I really think the design on them are nicer than the ones I have. 

Ohyes we had our picture taken today so I will send it to you after we get it It's one taken of about a 1/2 of the fellows who graduated today.

Well I'll close for now -- I'll write you my new address as soon as I get it.

Jack.

This letter is dated May 3rd but postmarked May 9th, 1944.

May 3rd '44

Dear Ma

As usual I'll just try to write you a letter while I have a little time.

We have been flying since we got back from the springs & thats about all. Its a pretty easy life all but for getting up at 4. We don't do a thing until 7:30 so we usually catch a hours sleep after we have roll call.

I don't know if I told you or not but I had my hair cut off. I got rather put off about no delays enroute so I goes down & told the barber to cut it off. It's a lot easyer to keep clean this way & since we never go any place any way I. might as well be comfortable.

We have been having rather warm weather in fact hot weather. I flew high altitude the other day & by rights I should have had a flying jacket on but it was as warm in the plane I had just fatigues on. We flew camera mission yesterday, thats shooting a plane with a camera & seeing how you shoot. Personally I didn't think I did so good but I don't think it counts much any way.

Well we only have 3 more days left & then I graduate so you can tell Nene she won't be the only one who doesI guess this is a little different though, she goes to school to learn to better the world, I go to school to learn to kill. Oh well it can't last for ever. 

Well I can't think of any more to write. Oh yes, I got a letter from Glady & one from Wayne so I did all right. 

Well I'll close 

Jack

 

May 1, 1944: about to get wings

May 1 44

I'll bet you are wondering why your dear little son hasn't written. Well I have been so busy I haven't really had time. I have written you a couple of letters but always misplaced them. We went out to Indian [Springs] flying & they sure kept us going all the time. From 4 o'clock in the morning till around 8 straight. We more or less eat if & when we get time. I flew 3 days in a row last week & I don't think there is any thing more tiring than it. I guess it's just a strain on your nerves. I don't care if you just go up & read you still come down tired.

We were sleeping in tents out there & one night we got a good rain. You talk about catching it in buckets well you wouldn't have enough buckets to catch all of it. It was just like standing above some one & throwing the water down by the bucket full. I was lucky I had a lower bunk so the poor sap above me caught it all

It also was quite a bit colder out there than here but it's almost twice as high. All in all I guess it wasn't so bad out there though. We had better chow there than we have here.

Well it looks like we don't get any delay enrout. We have heard rumors that we go to Lincoln also to Walla Walla - Wash. If I go to Lincoln I am going to see if Margaret won't come down. I'll have to wait & see what the score is though.

If you haven't forgotten, we will graduate in a week even sooner in fact. We will get our wings Sat. I guess it's a pretty sure thing me getting my wings now. I pass that big test I wrote you about with a 83. I thought I should have done better but after all it was based on the class and.  & we have a lot of ex cadets. Personally I think I have done pretty good all in all on all these tests. I have around a 87-90 avg so I guessI can't kick too much.

About all we do this week is fly & mess around picking up on what we left out or missed. I guess we won't have any test to speak this week.

Well I have to fall out now so will write again soon also try to find those other letters.

Jack

Note: He meant Indian Springs there, so I corrected it. During WWII the Indian Springs Army Airfield was located near what is now Creech Air Force Base. The Army Air Corps used Indian Springs to train gunners for work on B-17s and trained pilots in the T-6 Texan training aircraft, according to Wikipedia.  After the war, Jack would return to this area to visit the Nevada Nuclear Test Site as part of his work at Los Alamos National Lab.  

 

And a letter to Bo on the same day:

May 1st

Dear Bo

I'll drop you a little note to let you know I am still alive, how much I don't know. We have a easy life here we don't have to get up until 4 AM & we get to go to bed around 8:30 to 9:30. We were out on the desert for the last week, flying. We lived in tents & such but I guess we will live through it though it rained one night & the tent leaked like a sive.

I personally don't care much about flying, but it's better than walking. It's very tiring & when a guy comes down you are so tired you are ready to sink & go to bed. I rode the tail of the ship for about 2 hours & had a lot of fun. We flew over Bolder Dam, Vegas & a few other places. That was the best trip I have had yet. The officers are pretty nice fellows & the instructors are busy who have come back from over seas. 

2nd

Well I ought to finish this & get it mailed before I run out time. We went up again yesterday and flew for about 2 hours. It was very boring but I lived the ordeal.

You ask about wanting to get me a bracelet, well if you think I just gotta have one, you can send me the money & I'll get it in the P.X. I can get them cheaper than you can, but I still don't care about one. Also please don't start sending any birth day presents because about the time you get this I'll be shipping. We will probable ship to Lincoln & stay there for a week or 2 & then ship out of there again. From there know one knows where we will go but I got a hunch I will to go Texas. 

You talk about the wind blowing just a few minutes ago the wind was blowing so hard, and so much sand in the air you couldn't see the sun.

Your school ought to be out by the time you get this won't it. Gosh it doesn't seem like Nene should be graduating this year does it. It seems like those 2 kids should be in about the 7 or 8 grade. I guess I have been away from home too long & don't realize they have grown up.

We are suppose to get those wings Sat. and ship Sunday, also we are supposed to fly every day this week. You can see we will be on the move all the time. Fellows who have been to cadets say this is worse than cadets. Those guys grades aren't too hot either -- I have kept up pretty well with any & all of them. I have about a 85 or 87 avg. I think that's pretty good for a dumb Eutsler. One other thing against me is I don't care too much about flying & most of the fellows really like it. To me it's just another job.

We I have to get ready to fall out so will close now. 

Jack