June 2 1944
Dear Maggie
Don't be too surprised at getting a ^ nother letter from me, because I am in that certain mood to try to write letters. I guess it's because I was home & I get to thinking of different things that have happend. Gee I sure wish we could go out like we use to but I guess those times are gone – at least for some time to come. I don't think I ever had so much fun as we use to have when we would go out. From what I take Wayne is having a lot of fun too but he still looks back.
I haven't heard from Wayne in some time but that guy is too busy running around with his wemen to write I guess. He always writes & asks why I haven't written sooner but I write one letter answering his & then another asking him to answer mine. It seems like evey time he writes he tells me about some new girl he met in some town. It wouldn't surprise me if he spends his furlough there in the east but he may fool me. As I have said befor they are going to be his down fall.
We went up to listen to a few lectures this morning, it was all about combat. I guess they want to get us use to the idea we will be going into combat soon. I don't think much of the idea but the war wasn't my idea either. They tell us what we should do if this happens & that happens. They showed us what we would use if we were forsed down over certain areas & such.
We went from the lectures to chow & then right off the bat had a formation to get payed. I didn't have a chanch to even get back to the barracks. I did get off about 3 oclock though so it was bout evened things up. I don't know how they figure it but it seems to me they payed me too much money but I ain't one to tell them about it. It seems like I am running out of ink so if I have to start writing in a different color all of a sudden don't think it's too funny.
We have been having wonderful weather – hot. I sure seems a lot hotter than it is – because of the moisture. Its so damp here it reminds me of the coast – when you get up in the morning your cloths are all damp. Thats one thing I don't like is cold damp cloths.
Here it is I mean the different color ink. it looks like theres too much ink on the point.
I heard to day that Clovis was made into a B29 school – I thought maybe I would go there but if it has been changed I won't go there. We did find out we will be stationed for our training in this neck of the woods. Most of the camps are right through this part, in Nebraska & Kansas & then a few are in all the surrounding states. There are 2 in Colo I would like to go to but they are for B24.
Everyone in the Barracks are worried of bout furloughs. they haven't gotten them yet & are afraid they won't get them. In fact they are almost certain they won't. I guess thats one worry I don't have . There is a hot rumor that we are going to get another one here but I almost don't belive it. That's almost what you would call wishful thinking.
Well have you moved yet & are you planning another move. You move all most as much as I do. I often wondered why you had a P.O. box but it finally sunk in, you don't like the mail following you all over. That reminds me one of the fellows got a couple of letters that just caught up with him only 2 months old.
III
I told you I was in the mood to write tonight. If you just write one as long in answer I'll be more than satisfied. I guess I should kick though you really write a longer letter than I do.
Louie is still out in Wash – that is the last I heard from him. He writes me almost as often as Wayne does. The only trouble is Louie never writes a darn thing. He did write and tell me he was back in IA. I told him to stay out of it if possible but he will probable jump at the chanch to get in. He'll be sorry if he does get in though. There I go again pounding the army down again. I guess I shouldn't talk that way about my Uncle Sam, but I'll still settle down to civilian life again.
Say do your 2 girl friends till live with you or have they moved out.
Well I am all through now so Ill stop
Louie is still out in Wash – that is the last I heard from him. He writes me almost as often as Wayne does. The only trouble is Louie never writes a darn thing. He did write and tell me he was back in IA. I told him to stay out of it if possible but he will probable jump at the chanch to get in. He'll be sorry if he does get in though. There I go again pounding the army down again. I guess I shouldn't talk that way about my Uncle Sam, but I'll still settle down to civilian life again.
Say do your 2 girl friends till live with you or have they moved out.
Well I am all through now so Ill stop
Write soon
Love Bill
It makes sense that the training camps were in the middle of the country. Less chance of being attacked by the enemy.
June 7 1944
Dear Maggie
I recived your letter this moon so while I am waiting to fall out I'll try to answer it. It's raining now so we are hoping against hope we won't have to fall out.
I was suppose it have some kind of detail this morning & while we were marching to get there I got sidetracked. I dont know what they did but they never had my name so they don't know what I did.
I had guard duty the other night & like to have froze to death. I had my feild jacket & overcoat on & was still cold. I had to guard the bunk, which is a little, or was, one room school house. I would walk around it in about 30 sec & then sat down wondering what I could do to keep awake. A couple of times I went to sleep standing up & when I woke up I would be scared enough to stay awake for a few minents.
Well I have to fall out so will continue latter
We had to go out & stand in the rain & listen to the news. We get 5 minents a day of news rain snow or shine. When we got through we fell out & came back to the barracks. Now all I have to do is set around till 5:30 & then go on a nother night detail – all night – then sleep all day tomorrow.
I don't know if ma has gotten the pictures or not but Ill write to her & ask her about them
II
I just bought my self a pipe, a kid had a good one he had never smoked & needed some money so me I drove a hard bargain & got it cheep.
So your Bro. got demoted from a First Sarg, to buck private – that's rough. I don't like Sgt but I personally think he got a darn dirty deal. I know if it was me I would be a very poor solder from then on. Some one probable had it in for him was the reason.
So you finally heard from dear ol Malc. thats quite a surprise. I have kept writing Wayne for her address but he never has sent it to me yet. Don't you belive that about me not writing Wayne either because its like I said. He just dosn't got it in him to write much. I usually get him to write by telling him how easy he has it that makes him blow up & maybe gets around to writing.
You ask what kind of a plane I fly in well – I should fly in a B17 but will probable stuck in one of those flying box cars (B24): I haven't been assigned to a crew yet thats that I am writing on here. We will make up our crew here & then go to some other field for our training. From what I hear we will be in training for about 9 weeks & then across the pond we go. We were expected to go England but from the looks of things we will probable go to the S. Pac. Me I would like to go to Panama – it's nothing but patrol down there & you get your flying pay plus your over seas pay. Another thing you don't have to worry about being shot at. I don't suppose I could be so lucky to get any thing like that though. I am so lucky you know.
III
I notice its still raining out by the water running under the walks on to the floor. Every time it rains the beds darn near float out. Oh well if we are still here around harvest we will wish we had some of this rain. I don't belive I ever saw such cold weather this time of the year in all the time I lived around this neck of the woods. I don't know if I told but Concordia is only about 150 miles from here so the country & weather is about the same.
Well what do you think of the invasion personally I think it's the big turning point in the war. At least we can see where we are starting to get some place. Some of the fellows think the war in Europe will be over in 3 months I hope so. Those infantry are the ones who should get the credit. They are the ones who really win a war – the air corp just helps. Don't get me wrong I still would rather fly than walk. You know how I like to walk, it's alright when you dont have to go any place & have plenty of time to get there.
Well I guess I better close now so write soon
Well what do you think of the invasion personally I think it's the big turning point in the war. At least we can see where we are starting to get some place. Some of the fellows think the war in Europe will be over in 3 months I hope so. Those infantry are the ones who should get the credit. They are the ones who really win a war – the air corp just helps. Don't get me wrong I still would rather fly than walk. You know how I like to walk, it's alright when you dont have to go any place & have plenty of time to get there.
Well I guess I better close now so write soon
Love
Bill
P.S. I noticed you addressed my letter as Pvt didn't I tell you I was promoted or demoted to a Pfc. I haven't sewed the strip on yet so you can see what I think of it. It's a laugh.
Finally! We get Jack's thoughts about the war. He didn't say anything about Normandy to his mother. Here are his letters to her during early June, 1944.
