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

 

April, 1944 Closes: Jack's first airplane ride. "The earth takes on a whole different look from up there"

 April 25 1944

Dear Ma

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

We flew this morning & it sure got me down. I personally don't care much about flying although its some thing different. It sure isn't what I thought it would be. We flew around 150 and it seemed like we were just standing still. The earth takes on a whole different look from up there but around here the country isn't worth the 2nd look any way. We figured out we went around 700 miles in those few hours but all in all I have driven 700 miles & felt a while lot better than I did when I got down. We got up at 4:00 & made our beds & dressed & was out side by 4:15. We rushed over to chow & stood in line for 30 minutes & then rushed in & ate. We got back out side & went down to the line & there wasn't any more planes. Well we swept out a building & they told us to go load up a plane & get parachutes. We did such & they told us to change to another B17. Well all in all we got started at 8 oclock & then flew till 11:30 & came down hoping we were through. They told us to load up again & take off so we did such. We get up there & waisted a hour for a tow plane & didn't get one so came down & unloaded all the ammunitions that we had just loaded. We took off for lunch ate a quick bite & fell out for classes. Got off at 5:30 & redressed & ate. It's now 7 o'clock so don't ask me what I in my spare time. 

We live in tents out there & it's 50 miles from Vegas, but don't look for it on the map because you won't find it. We came out Sun Mon & tope to go back Sun morning. 

Well Ill close because I have to study for a test & shave & hit the hay. I have KP. for 3 hours tomorrow morning. 

Jack

New stationery! It has the familiar propellor/wings logo and underneath reads: A.A.F. FLEXIBLE GUNNERY SCHOOL L.V.A.A.F. Las Vegas, NEVADA

April 28 1944

Dear Ma

I guess I ought to get busy & write you a letter seening that I haven't for a while. I have a good excuse though. I wrote you one letter and misplaced it & haven't had time to write another. They have kept us rather busy up to this after noon. We have been gettin up at 4 rushing over to eat & then get a plane loaded with ammo & such & then taking off. We fly about 4 hours & by that time / when we get down we have to clean up the plane & go eat again. It's usually around 12:30 or 1 o'clock we then fall out at 130 & go to class till 530 & then go eat again. Well it's 630 to 7 o'clock by the time we get through. We have to shave & such & by the time we get done its time to go to bed & get up & start all over. I have gotten 12 hours in since (the air) we got here & I don't know of any thing you can do, where there is less work, that is more tiring. When we get down we are so tired we don't know which way to go. Most of the guys get sick in the air but little me I just stand around & laff at them, my turn will probable come up yet though. I don't get much sick out of flying but I guess it's all right. We went over the edge of Death Valley one day & another trip we flew over Bolder Dam, Bolder City, the other Field & Las Vegas. I t was the most interesting trip we have had so far. I rode the tail most of the time & got quite a kick out of it. Back there you are all by your self and you get a pretty good sight of every thing you go past. I also have ridden the nose a lot & from there you get a darn good view of every thing.

I didn't like the instructors the first few days but the ones we had last day were swell. The pilots are pretty good fellows too.

You can tell Nene I was on K.P. the other morning but its only for 3 house so it wasn't bad for a change. 

The weather here is cooler than in Vegas & seems like just as windy. We live in tents so we notice it that much more. We also got a nice little shower to day, in fact darn good for Nevada.

We are around 50 miles from The other Field & out in the middle of no where. There's a little filling station up the road & a few houses around a spring. out side of that we can fly for hours at a time & never see a house. 

Well I'll close for now & try to get some sleep. 

Jack 

Here's a part training/part propaganda film about gunnery school and filmed in Nevada. I'll bet dollars to donuts that this movie was one of the ones Jack wrote about in previous letters. Watch Ronald Reagan and Burgess Meredith in "The Rear Gunner" (1943).

 Next: Jack finishes up gunnery school and is about to get his wings. 

April, 1944: finishing up at Las Vegas Army Gunnery School

We re-join Jack in Las Vegas where he is in gunnery school. 

April 14 1944

Dear Ma

I'll drop you a line while I am doing a little setting around. 

We have been going to school as usual also have been going out to the range quite a bit too. We have been firing shot guns off the back end of truck & from turrets & standing. It sure is hard on my shoulder in fact It is usually black & blue. It sure is sore now but as I have said I'll probable live.

We had a test in turrets the other day & I made 88 in it so I guess I have been getting o.k. I had a test in Air craft reconition, but I am afraid I flunked it. It sure is a hard course, I don't care what any body says. This course sure is ruff, they have every minet of every day figured out what we are going to do. You think the Navy V8 boys [?] made it rough there well I think we have it just as rough – we don't have to worry about washing out like they do though. They at least get a pass Sat night but us we just stay in & sleep till 7:30

The weather has been pretty nice the last few days but has been rather windy. It cooled off a little bit but is still rather warm. We get to wear our suntans starting Sunday – thank God.

This is Sat rather Fri night so we will have to get ready to have inspection to morrow. I can't figure out any way of getting out of it so I will have to get ready 

Say school is darn near out isn't it, I guess the kids are happy about it. 

The wind is sure raising hell out again today & I don't mean may be. You remember how it was in Albuquerque at times well thats the way it is here about 3 out of 4 days.

We go to a nother camp in a week to start flying. We will be there a week & back here a week & then the big day. In other words we will be shipping gout of here 3 weeks from today. We haven't heard any more about delay enroute so we all can do is plan on not getting them. The do say we will ship from here to Lincoln & be there the whole sum of 8 days & then be assigned to a outfit. I'll probable be able to get home in the next month or 2 but I won't plan on it until I get it. 

Well I guess I'll close now

Jack 

Note: I'm not sure if he wrote "Navy V8 boys" but I do find a reference here to Navy aviation pilots in reference to V8.

And he wrote to his sister Bo:

April 16 1944

Dear Bo

I'll scribble you a note in answer to the one I got from you.

I have been going to school same as usual & it's still about the same, plenty rough. We had a test in aircraft reconition & belive it or not I passed. I didn't quite see how I made it but I got a 84 in it. I also had a test in Turrets & made 88 in it, so if I can keep it up I might be able to get a pair of wings after all.

We only have 3 more weeks left here & then we will graduate from here & ship out. In fact we will ship from here 3 weeks from today. We have 1 week here shooting the machine guns & then go to a camp 30 miles from here & start flying. We will be up there a week & then come back here for a week of flying & then it's over. We get about 2 hours a day for 2 weeks of flying.

I went into town yesterday but didn't do much, I have gotten so I don't care if I go to town or not any more. There's not much to do & about all you get out of it is loss of sleep. I would just as soon stay out here & sleep.

The wind has been blowing & the sand comes in. It's so miserable out that most of the guys are just setting around writing or playing cards.

So you will be happy to get home,  & you were the one who had to go back to Neb to go to school remember [?] you get 300 miles from home you start crying to get back home. Make up your mind now do you or don't you want to be home. 

I should be studying but you know how it is – wait till tomorrow or some time else. 

Well I guess I'll close for now & write a note to Ma.

Jack 

[with a flourish]

April 19 1944

I'll try to write you a quick letter as I have quite a bit to do & have been rather busy.

We have been firing the machine guns & they are a lot of fun. Its harder to hit with them than I  ever thought. I thought it was like a water hose, just spray it but it's like a rifle & you have aim it. I have gotten just a little better than average as in nothing exceptional with the things. I started to shoot the shot guns again to day but the trap house caught fire & then the thing broke down. I only got 3 shots in so I didn't get any score. 

You ask about the camera, go a head & use it but read the instructions on both the camera & exposure meter. Yes It probable needs batteries & if you can't get any write me & I'll try to get you some. Use the No 24 film first. 

We have some tests to morrow so I have to do some studying to night. We also have a G.I. party in just a few minutes. That will take about 1/2 hour so that takes some more time. It seems like we never any any time to our self. 

The weather is still a little cool here but I guess it's probable a lot warmer here than there. I guess I wrote & told you we are wearing sun tans now & they are a whole lot nicer during the day. The mornings are still cold in fact darn cold. We get up and have to put on quite a few cloths but by the time we eat breakfast we sat taking them off. 

My clp friend couldn't make gunner on account of his back so he shipped yesterday. 

We have had it poured on us this week & will probable have it the same next week. 

You ask about the radio, I sold it. After I shipped here I put it up & one night after I had gone to sleep a couple of my "buddies" fixed if for me. Well I figured I would cost me $5-$10 to have it fixed & a guy offered me $12 for it. Now what would you have done, especially if you only had $2 in your pocket. Well I did it. I only paid $8 for it to begin with. 

You tell the Runt since I am still the head of the house (until Bo starts to pay her income tax) I will tell you what to do & when it pretends to my stuff I think she out to keep quite. She may be a Sr. next year but with me that don't cut ice with me also tell her she hasn't written me one of those letters in a long time so for her to git to work. 

Well I guess I better close for now so write soon

Jack

Notes: 

• Suntans according to Dictionary.com is "a tan military uniform for summer wear."
• Jack got the equivalent of $178 for his radio. 
• Here is one of Jack's malapropisms. He said regarding Nene: "it pretends to my stuff." He meant "it pertains to my stuff." 
• I think we ought to bring back the idiom "it doesn't cut ice."

22 April 44

Dear Ma

I took my big test last night so I am trough with that. Maybe I should have said it took me. It sure was rough & I ain't kidding no one. It was 2 hours long & it took me the solid 2 hours to finish it. 

We go to Indian Springs to morrow morning so I imagine that the mail will be slowed down another day. We will start flying Monday, we got the cost of our flying suit today. They sure are nice, also expensive they cost around $35 & there's nothing fancy about them. I guess we get our pants & shoes up there. I heard the whole suits worth around 100.

It has been rather cold around here but warmed up a bit today. It tried to rain the other day but didn't do a very good job of it. It just settled the dust but thats better than nothing. 

So Nene tried to beat the other ones & almost did it. Well I guess there are some brains in the family after all. I didn't know she was taking a ___ course; I am glad that she is. To my notion it will probable do more for her than a lot of course she could have taken such as mine. Better tell Nene that she better get on the ball & find out what the score is also who's playing 

We have to get up at 3 in the morning & leave for the springs at 630 so will probable be ___ for a while. I wish we could sleep till 5 because Sundays the day I usually catch up on my sleep. I am so sleepy I can hardly hold my eyes open. We are always sleepy & always hungry. I guess we don't get enough. 

I should start packing but just can't get around to it. 

We haven't done but the same old run the last few days. I'll sure be glad when we get through. After we get out of here we go to a advanced school & then study some more, I am afraid its liable to get me down.

Well I guess I'll close now

 

Jack

Notes:

• Jack is so sleepy that his handwriting is getting even harder than usual to read, so I can't quite make out a couple words. 
• The flight suit he mentions that is "worth 100"? That's about $1485 today!! 

Next: Closing out April: Jack's first airplane ride. 

April, 1944: V-mail and Boulder Dam

4-4-44

Dear Ma

I guess I ought to write you a letter so as you will know the army hasn't killed me as yet.

It is still tough going but maybe I'll live. I got into a nice argument with a S/Sgt this after noon and he tried to tell me my views of life were wrong. I told him I still didn't like the army wished to Hell I could have stayed a civy. I also told him I thought I was doing more in civiling life than I am in the army. He seemed to disagree with me but I told him I still had my opin  All in all he didn't like one word of what I said but the army. He ask me how long I had been in so I told him I was happy to say I was still a civy up to 4 months ago that burnt him. Oh well I still don't like it. 

You ask if getting into trouble with the sargs was the reason I was always on KP. The fact stands no, as yet I haven't really been in any trouble in the army but if I don't learn to keep my big mouth shut I'll end up in the guard house. 

They have been running us wild the last day or 2. We even have a class tonight around 7:30 I guess. We have so much time to our selfs we do a little sleeping once in a while. We got to sleep around 930 or 10 & then we don't have to get up till 430. They wonder why we go to sleep in classes & etc. 

Oh yes I made a 94 in a test on the machine gun & I field striped it in 1 1/2 minutes.

Well I have quite a bit to do so will close

Jack

Now we have our first V-mail. V-mail was a more efficient means of transporting letters from the front. The military provided a sheet of paper, then after censoring the letter they took a picture of it and shipped the rolls of film back to the States, where the letters were printed and mailed on their way. They measure about 4x6. Read more about V-Mail here. 

This letter was written by Jack's friend Carol Goodwin (remember Grandma Goodwin from earlier letters?) from Concordia, Kansas. 

On the top of letter are printed instructions: print the complete address in plain black letters in the panel below and your return address in the space provided. Use typewriter, dark ink or pencil. Write plainly. Very small writing is not suitable.

Below that, the censor's seal and signature, the addressee, Jack, at Buckley Field, and to the right the sender's address and the date:

#17166576

Cpl. Carol G. Goodwin

33rd Armed Regt. Base

A.P.O. 253 90 Postmaster

New York, N.Y.

April 5, 1944

The censor's date is 7 APR 1944

Dear Bill, 

Well, how's the old veteran coming along by this time? If you didn't know, I'm stationed "somewhere in England" and wish I were someplace else. We really can't kick too much, though. We have [censored] even though they're not so hot. I'm playing bull fiddle in a dance band now and I like it O.K. even though it does make us on duty 11 or 12 hours a day, since we play on an average of 10 or more dances in two weeks. It's pretty tough going. If we get a night off a week we're lucky.

Well, Bill, I sure hope we can get together again after this darn thing is over. Show those goldbricks back there how to shoot. Write again soon and maybe we can get into the habit again. Lots of luck. Yours, Carol

I hadn't heard the slang term goldbrick. According to Dictionary.com it means: "a person, especially a soldier, who shirks responsibility or performs duties without proper effort or care."

Carol G. Goodwin died in 2000 in Kansas. I couldn't find an obituary of either him or his wife Marjorie. It looks like they didn't have children. But, because we are an interconnected world, I give you the obituary of Carol's brother-in-law, Don (Carol's wife's brother). 

April 7, 1944

Dear Ma

I'll try to scribble a few words down to let you know I am ok.

You can write my dear uncle Wayne & tell him I detailed stripped a 50 cal. mach gun in 10 1/2 minutes. It's a pretty fast time infact I sort of busted up my hands working so fast. 

We went out & shot the 12 gauge shot gun today & had a lot of fun. We were out there 4 hours & shot about 50 times. I didn't do so good but hope I can do better next time.

We got payed last night so am very happy now. I only had a few pennys in my pocket so now I can use it. 

Don't bank too much on this but I heard we get our delays enroute. Thats a rumor but we like to belive those things & hope they come true. I'll really belive it when we get them but just hope until then.

School is still rough but maybe I'll get through OK but I am going to have to hussle to get it. The air craft rec. is really rough I guess I'll have to go night school a few night but I guess I'll live. 

I got a letter from Bo & she was happy about me getting a delay enroute so I guess she won't fell so good about me not getting it. I hope we do. 

Well I guess I'll close now

Jack

April 9 1944

Dear Ma

We we went to Bolder dam, & it's quite a place. It's more or less out in the desert or in the hills & is rather big. It did disappoint me though I thought It would be bigger. We did have it over the civys we got to stop & look & it, also walk over it. The civys only get to drive over it in a convoy. We stoped at Bolder City but it's not much, just a small quiet town. All together different from Vegas. The town is a government reservation so there's no gambling drinking or anything else for that matter. We walked through the town 3 times in 15 minutes & still wondered where the town was. Its smaller than Vegas (there) in fact they don't have much of a town just a very few stores.

We rode over in a G.I. truck, some of the fellows rode over in buses but I got a truck. It wasn't bad though. We had a sprinkle yesterday so there wasn't any dust blowing. We didn't have retreate [?] parade yesterday because of the wind & the dust & a hour later it calmed down & was a nice day.

April 10

I guess I ought to finish this & get it mailed I got a letter from Wayne today also a card from Bo & a letter from you.

We went out & fired the shot guns again today but I didn't do too good. I don't know what is wrong but I just ain't on the ball

The weather was fair today but still warm. 

Well I guess I'll close

Jack. 

Note: Boulder Dam was renamed Hoover Dam in 1947. The bill to build it was passed in 1928, and the construction project employed thousands of workers through the Depression. I'm surprised that Jack was disappointed in its size. It's an impressive dam! It's really an incredible feat of engineering, and if you ever visit Las Vegas, make sure to take the trip out there to see it! There's a tour and a gift shop, and civys can now walk over it!

Next: Finishing up at LVAAF

Closing out March, 1944: Working Hard

 

March 28 1944

Dear Ma

Ill write you a letter to try to clear up a few things about your letters. I think I have all the letters you have written me. The last one I got was a air mail it was mailed about a week a go so you see it doesn't pay to write air mail. Also I told you to jump nene about the address business well I guess I'll jump you now. You had the address on my letter letter wrong so I guess I'll have to tell you to be more careful.

We started to school yesterday & it sure is rough. They go over things so fast & you have to get them or else. We had the 50 cal machine gun and plane reconition. We had a bout 6 hours on the Mach. Gun & then had a test if we don't pass the test we have to go 2 hours a night for 3 night. It is really rough. We get up at 4:45 & get off at 6:00 PM & then have to go eat so we have plenty of time to our selfs. We have a little more than a hour at noon, and most of that is taken up by standing in line for chow & the remaining time is bunk fatigue.. by the time we have mail call & eat at night it is 7pm. Then a guy should review what hes been given out in class.

We are having a General come here for an inspection tomorrow so every one will be on edge & we will probable catch hell for everything we do. Oh well I am getting use to it so it won't make me any difference. It seems like I can't get use to this army life: I always am broadcasting when I should be turning in, it don't pay to try to tell a sgt. whats the right or easiest way to do something.

Bo ask me to have my picture taken so I'll explain it to you be for you do the same. They don't have any place to do such here on the post to you will have to stand fast until I get home.

Well I have to hit the sack so will close

Jack. 

March 29 '44

Dear Ma

I ain't feeling so good so this will probable be short & sweet.

I would like you to write Bo, Margaret, & Wayne & tell them that my getting a delay enroute would be very unlikely. In fact we were told this after noon that we wouldn't get them so I guess that's the way it stands. We also had a hard day today & then we got told off just a few minutes about the barracks being dirty & etc. All I call we ain't feeling so good tonight. We had quite a lot to do & then we had a nice hard hour of K.P. not K.P. but P.T. so my bottom sure is draging. 

I saw my old friend Clp [?] Johnson the fellow I told you about Xmass. He was shipped in here today. He was shipped out befor I left Buckley & went to Salt Lake. I sure was surprised to see him

Well it's rather late so I'll have to close

Jack

31 March '44

Dear Ma

Since I have been getting quite a few letters from you Ill write you one in return. 

I got a letter from Marg today – she didn't write much except about the baby so I don't quite get the score, but don't tell Nene. 

You say you don't understand why it is so warm here & so cold there. Well for one thing we are only 1,800 feet here & most of it around us is desert. We do have mountains but nothing on them. It gets cold here at night as there but it's hot as the devil during the day.

We took another test in Machine Guns today but I don't know how I did. I'll find out tomorrow & hope to gosh I didn't flunk it. We also had a test on sights too, I did it all right though – I made a 100. We have a test in it tomorrow too & hope I do as well but probable won't.

I got the candy tonight & thanks a lot. I do't know who made it but it sure is good. I couldn't quite figure out what it was – so small & heavy but I soon found out. 

We had it a little bit easier today but am still tired to night but can still move. We have quite a time but live, how I don't know know. Yesterday I swore I couldn't move another step & went out went through calcucentic & then run 3/4 of a mile but was next to dead when I got back. I went to bed at 8: o clock.

Well I will close now & get ready to to go to bed. We have a big day a head of us tomorrow which is Sat. 

Jack.

P.S. Take a look at the map a gain & check the distance from Denver there & here to there. 

Notes:

"Marg" and "Margaret" in these instances refer to his sister Margaret (Tuck). 

According to Google maps, the distance from Denver, Colorado to Las Vegas, New Mexico is 328 miles, and from Las Vegas, Nevada to Las Vegas, New Mexico, it's close to 700 miles if they drove Route 66.

It's the first time he used the military style of date format (date-month-year). Military jargon is starting to slip in, such as "stand fast," which he used in telling his mother he couldn't get his picture taken. 

And speaking of military: I haven't described much about what was going on in the war while Jack was preparing to fight. 

Just the week before these letters, Allied POWs took part in "The Great Escape." Seventy-six men crawled through a tunnel to escape the Stalag Luft III camp. All but three were re-captured, and many of those were shot. 

Another significant event that came as Jack was writing this last letter: the Royal Air Force was suffering huge losses when they conducted an air raid over Nuremberg. 795 bombers were dispatched; only 689 retuned. The British lost 545 men that night, while not causing much damage to their targets. They badly needed Jack and his comrades to get over there and help out.

Next: V-mail and Boulder Dam

March, 1944: Las Vegas: drinking, gambling, desolation, 38,000 feet

March 22 '44

Dear Ma

As usual I'll just try to write you a letter but I don't know how it will end up.

I am glad you got the earrings & like them. I thought they were cute. I didn't know the runts would have liked them so well or I would have bought them a pair. Tell them I'll see what I can do about a pair of gunners wings for them later on -- that is if they want them & I get mine.

We got our oxygen masks the other day & had to go in the chamber. We went to the same thing as 30000 feet, we had quite a time with our ears but everyone came out ok. We have to go back & try it for 38000 feet I guess thats pretty tough on a guy but I think I can take it ok. From what they tell us about this course it will be a lot of fun but is going to be rather stiff too. Some of the cadets say its different harder than a lot of course in cadets. They also say if you can get through the first week that you can get through with the rest of it.

I have been feeling better the last 2 days but I still don't feel too good. My head has cleared up quite a bit & I don't have quite as bad a headack either. I guess its because K.P. got me down.

The weather has been a little bit better in fact it is getting hot around here. We were running around with just our fatigues on this morning then worked up a sweat. We have to wear fatigues I mean O.D's all the time now. I don't exactly like the deal so much but it does make us look a lot nicer.

The sun still sets in the east & comes up in the west. Oh well thats just about how crazy the whole state is so I guess it can't be helped.

Well I'll close & try to write Tuck & Bo.

Jack.

The envelope for the next letter had Gram's penciled notation "Lotio Alba is a lotion" so I had to look it up, of course!

From The Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (1912):

Onward!

Dear Ma

While I am laying around waiting to be called out I'll drop you a little note.

While I am thinking about it have you ever gotten any more allotment checks. If you haven't let know &  I"ll see just what I can do about it if any. Also has Margaret & Jim ever come across with any money, also if they haven't let me know & I'll see what I can do about that. 

We went to a couple of lectures yesterday & they were so interesting better than 1/2 of the fellows went to sleep including myself. We also went "up" in the altitude chamber to 38,000 feet, it didn't bother my ears at all this time. We had to set there for 2 1/2 hours with our oxygen mask on, you can't talk smoke or do a darn thing with them on. The only thing that bothered me was I had gas on my stomack & when they relived the pressure it like to set me wild. (I lived though)

We will really start to school Monday I guess. and what they tell me the first few weeks are really rough but after that it get interesting. We start firing after a week or 2 & then the last 2 weeks we get about a 1/2 day flying out of each day. We will fly over the Grand Canyon & Boulder Dam so you can see we ought to really have some fun after we get started

It is still warm here in fact too warm for O.D's but we will have to wear them for about an other week. The nights here are like those there cool in fact the guys who catch guard duty wear over coats & etc. During the day it is so bright it nearly blinds you the buildings are all painted white & the ground is sort of a white clay or sand.

We have a big inspection tomorrow & will have to have every thing spick & span. I just had to go down & read the bulletin board on how to make up beds the way they do it here.

Well I guess I'll close for now. 

Jack. 

March 26 1944

Dear Ma

I'll write you now because I am starting school tomorrow & it may be a few days befor I get another chance to write you.

We had one inspection yesterday & faired o.k. We also went out on parade & won. We were the best student squadron in the parade it was only the 2nd time we had marched as a group. The Louie was very happy about it so he gave us all passes. We also are promised a trip to Bolder Dam this comming week, because of winning. 

About the town it is a swell town for 2 things drinking or gambling. Me I am not a gambler so I didn't do that, and for the drinking I don't have the money for that so personally I don't think much of the town. Every other place is a gambling joint & I really mean it, there are slot machines, dice games, poker or any thing you want to play. I never saw so much silver in all my life every thing is sliver dollars. There is more money floating around there than most places. I went in around 7 & came back out to camp a 9:30 so you see what I think of the town. 

They sure run us all day to day we had to be up by 8 o'clock and we didn't have but a hour off for dinner & then we didn't get done till 5. I guess it will be rather rough from now on but I'll bet you the next time I see you I'll have those wings on me or know the reason why. 

They say the school is very dry the first couple of weeks but that after that it goes so fast you don't realize the time. 

Tell Nene I got her letter but that she should be a little bit more careful about the address because that's the 2nd time she put the wrong one down, Tell her I thought she was smarter than to make a dumb mistake like that. 

The weather is still hot & windy, the sand is still comming at us. I don't see what keeps this state on the map. 

Well I'll close for now

Jack

Next, he wrote a letter to his sister Bo:

March 27, 1944

Dear Bo

Ill try to drop you a quick line while I have a minet to myself. We have been on the go more or less ever since we got here. The last couple of days we have been putting in 8, 9, or 10 hours a day in lectures or in classes. It is really rough too they go over it so fast & you have to get it or else go to night school for a week or 2.

You ask about me getting a picture taken of myself. Well its this way, we can't have it done on the post & we never get any passes here so I don't get in to town to have it done. You wait until I get home & I'll have it taken then with a pair of wings on me (I hope) I am sure going to try to get those darn things even if it kills me trying. It will take us 6 weeks to finish the corse & we are on the last day of the first week. I should be home for my birthday I hope. I also wrote Marg to see if she could be home & I wrote & asked Wayne to see if he could get a furlough. 

I went into town last Sat night & I don't care if I never go back. It's a swell town to go get drunk in or gamble – me I don't have the money for either one so I'll just stay out here & get old. We never get passes any way so I won't bee tempted. I never saw so much silver money in all my life & I ain't just a kidding you very seldom see a paper dollar in town. You ask how I like Nevada well I don't. We have about 1/2 of the State in our barracks all the time. The wind has been blowing pretty steady since we got here but they say it will let up soon (I hope) The state what I have seen of it is rather desolate & I mean desolate.

We have quite a time in this barracks – we have a bunch of guys who washed out of cadets & they are quite a bunch fellows. We also have a couple who were over seas as gunners so that makes it that much worse. All in all we have one hell of a time while we are in the barracks. We also have one buck sergeant who we call the gestapo – he always sticking his nose in some one elses business.

We will go to school for about 4 weeks & then we start flying in B17's a 1/2 a day every day & go to school the other 4 hours. After a couple of weeks we should be having a lot of fun because we will do a lot of shooting & etc. They gave us a book – about 250 pages, the pages are about the size of this page,  & we have to just about memorize every thing in the darn thing

Well I better – I just had to fall out & is 7:15 so you see our time is our own as I started to write I better close for now. 

Jack. 

Next: Closing out March, 1944