June 9th 1943

Letter #34

June 9th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother,

I got your letter written FRiday the 4th today. Everyone I get from you helps give my spirits a lift. I am getting more calloused as time goes by. I still hate this way of living but I don't have much more then 6 weeks to go. One thing is very encouraging. The strict rules at chow have been stopped completely. That is really wonderful. We can now see and appreciate the wonderful food we are getting. It is absolutely the best that I have had. I have been here two weeks and can still say it, so you know it must be good. The new rules say no upperclassmen can do anything to you while eating. You don't have to eat at attention, keeping you eyes on a point straight to the front and sitting on 4 inches of a chair with one hand hanging straight down or anything like that. You can look at your food sir on all of your chair. Of course you still have to sit up very straight and keep only one hand on the table but you can look around and ask for the butter etc. like a normal human being. You can even even go and get seconds I have 2 bricks of ice cream today. The reason this was changed, the hospital complained that there were to many underclassmen sick with indigestion from eating such good food at that. The latest rumor is that they are going to cut out the whole class system. Too many upperclassmen are taking advantage of there authority and people are crowding the hospitals. Just like John L. Lewis and his coat miners union. They can go too far. All of the other Air Corps pre-flight schools have stopped long ago. There just isnt time for that kind of stuff while we are trying to win a war.

There are 28 fellows here form the 19th Bombardment Group. It has been publicized a lot lately. They were gunners etc. they are trying for the same thing I am. Out underclassmen head (called Squadron Lt.) has 9 medals. He was a tail gunner on a flying fortress. He was in Guadel Canel, New Guinea, and also up in the Aleutians (Alaska). He is a swell fellow. Twelve of the 28 are asking to be sent back to their squadron. They cant see this kid stuff. I can just imagine how they feel having a damn kid in the army about 2 months telling him what and how to do things and giving a lot of wacky orders. I know I will be able to stand it now though. I guess you can get used to anything even if you don't get to liking it. The two things I really enjoy are the P.T. and the classes. The P.T. is nearly killing my physically and the classes mentally, but I really enjoy them both because I am learning things from good teachers that really teach a lot in a little time without any time wasted (very unheard of in the army). The P.T. is getting me in fine shape. I still haven't lost nor gained any weight but I believe it is placed better and I don't tire nearly so fast. When it is all over for a day I don't feel any worse for the wear. It's just at the time that it's going on that I think I am going to die. I really wish I could show you some of these Calisthenics. They are tougher and more complicated everywhere I go and as days go by. Yesterday was the first time that I completed the whole 7 miles. I just got there like a robot. I actually couldn't stop walking like I was running. You know, moving my hands back and forth etc. It is really a queer sensation. We have to do it in one Hr. I will be able to do it I am sure (before I leave) I run the 3 mile (it is a little less I think) cross country up and down hill cross creeks though wood etc in 24 minutes after Calisthenics.

This camp doesn't have any other then the "Sad Sack" <----S.A.A.C.C. and AAFPS (Pilots)

I am making $75 plus $1.00 a day that I get but give it right back for those delicious meals. We are eating a regular officers mess now, paying for it the same way. That's why it's so much better then we have ever had. I hope I never hit G.I. show again.

Say hello to Kap, Nancy, Steve, and Jean. Cheer Mary Eleanor for me. I can just imagine how she feels and how he feels too. If Marge is there say ill write her soon. Tell Dad I gope his women are straightened out. I wish I was could so it for him. Thats my speed.

Write Soon Love

Dave

P.S. "Then get back to normal as as quick as possible." Will we? I am supposed to be studing but hering from home helps me with my studies more then cramming, at this point.

May 31st 1943

Letter #33

May 31st 1943

To Mrs. Carl B Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dearest Mother,

I am still alive but I have never taken such a moral and mental beating in my life. I just despise this method of learning to get along. Keep on the ball and learn to be exact. I always had pride in myself that I could fix something well and exactly and dress faster and better then the average fellow and I am always getting "chewed on" less then a lot of the fellows because of this but when they do get on me it seems to make me feel a lot worse then everyone else. The other underclassmen just ignore the guys and laugh it off (after they leave of course). I just can't laugh. I am either angry at myself or at them or disgusted or just plain down in the dumps. This is enough to ruin my sense of humor. The underclassmen don't dare even smile and get caught or they get racked back. I wish to God this mess was over. I would quit today if it was but I am going to see it through, as long as the war continue, even if it kills me.

They keep harping on the feet that we are going out to kill! kill! kill! The instructors ask you, "Would you machine gun women and children if they were along a road or someplace." They ask :would we machinegun a flier that had to jump out in parachute." I say "YES" because if I didn't I would be done. I wonder if I will ever be able to though. I don;t like to imagine myself in such a position. I certainly wish God would keep these things from starting.

PLease send me all the letters you can but no packages. They wouldn't let me keep it. They would eat it if it was food and store it someplace until I got out of here if it wasn't. Classes in code, phyisics, start Monday, I don't know when the others start

Love to all

Dave

May 27th 1943

Letter #32

May 27th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother,

I was called out at 3:30 this morning. We fooled away the time (in formation of course) until 9 AM then we got our gas mask and marched over here. The barracks are the same as at classification except the upper class are on the 2nd floor and the lower class on the first. We have to snap into a "brace" everytime they come into the room. We have to do anything they say. Something tells me that the next 4 1/2 weeks, while we are underclassmen, we are going through the real hell. Tampa without its upperclassmen will be wonderful compared to this.

We don't have any time off, no open post, we cant even go to the PX. They tell that after today we won't even have any free time to write home except once a week. All of our free (Official) time is at the disposal of the upperclassmen. That is when we have to "Brace" and shine their shoes etc. Every meal is eaten in silence in a sitting "brace" with one 3 inches of your rear on the edge of the chair. Everywhere we go, we go on the run. We arn't allowed to ever walk (unless we are in drill formation). We arnt supposed to ever smile. If they catch you they put you in a brace. They also have the demerit system here. This will not go into affect for several day however. This seems like a lot of unnecessary stuff to go through to win a war. It reminds me of pre-war days when they had nothing else to do.

I wont get out of here for at least 5 weeks but do you know anyone that live in or near San Antonio? I believe it will be impossible to get acquainted with anyone without having some slight connection from somewhere. Anyone that wants to be considered decent and well bred or what ever it is, will not even look at a solider here. I certainly would like to meet someone.

I have once again left all of my friends. I know only one person in this barracks and he wasn't ever one of my special friends.

The show is excellent again. We are at last on "cadet" rations for good. (I hope).

They took it easy on us today. Tomorrow it really starts. We have to get up make bed, shave etc before 5:30 without lights, so wont be in way of the upperclassmen when they get up. We better not wake them either.

I really can't tell much more that It will be like but pray for me Mother. All I hope is I don't do something to get them really on my neck.

Lots of love

Dave

P.S. They said not to write anything home just send this card.

May 25th 1943

Letter #31

May 25th 1943

To Miss Kathrine A. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dear "Kap"

I haven't heard from you for a long time. I answer your letters or something? If so I am sorry. I will try and do better.

How soon is your school out? Are you passing everything? What sports did you take? During the winter, did you do any more skiing with Besty? Have you written her lately? How is dancing class? Do you still go? There were a few in the spring weren't there.

There are a lot of swell fellows here. I will be leaving all of them except two when I go to pre-flight. It seems that as soon as you make new friends in the army you are separated again. There aren't any nice girls in town that us "soldiers" can get aquatinted with. The only ones that are friendly are the "spicks" or "greasers" or mexicans as they call them. They don't appeal to me. The U.S.O. is the same as all of them. You can sit down in a comfortable chair and write letters on free stationary but other than that there isn't anything worth while there. No girls, that I would like, are at any U.S.O.'s in San Antonio. Everyone hate the soldiers here because it has been over run with them since the last war. I don't write to the girls in Tampa any more I got tired of them.

I hope Mother doesn't sell to many of those chickens. When they begin to ration meat for the army you know its getting scarce. Even the officers are complaining about the show since it changed to that garbage.

Mother tells me that Steve has registered for the draft. In case anyone is worried, I am willing to be $5 that he wont be drafted. I hope to ell he wont enlist. He could do his country a lot more good at home. Tell him I said it isn't worth it even if you do feel a little uncomfortable when people say "When are you going to into the army."

Those pictures of me: Mother and you all can pick out the best. They should send one big one. I paid for it when I was in Tampa. If anyone high pressures you all to buy any more, dont do it unless of course you want to.

Over at pre-flight they have riding horses I hear. I hope we are allowed to ride them. The fellows are building a swimming pool over there also. Whatta time we will have if we ever finish it. Have you done any swimming this year? I would give you a million dollars to go swimming in a great, huge, cool, green, deep, quarry someplace. Those out side of York would do.

I gotta go to Calesthenics now (<~~~HEY MOM! Note the spelling. OK?)

Love

Dave

P.S. Are you Guinea pigs still alive?

May 18th 1943

Letter #30

May 18th 1943

Miss Nancy A. Thomas (Sister but addresses it to his mother)

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother,

I guess you are wondering what has happened to me. Well - my last letter was written when I was almost dead. I am in perfect health now. Here was the setup:

Before my physical I sprained (so I thought) my arm on the obstacle course. It was so sore I couldn't even sleep but I was bound to get through my Physical before I went to the hospital about it. I did it. And was classified so now they could not wash me or hold me back here in classification to rot. I went to the hospital and hot it reset. One of the bones in the elbow was cracked and had to be shoved around a little. It is coming along nicely now. I don even have it in a sling. They proceeded to give me one K.P. because I couldn't do calisthenics very well. On top of this I began to get awful headaches. I stood this for 2 days. My last note was written at beginning of the 2nd day. I finally went on sickcall again Sunday. ( I thought it was from the arm). WELL guess what I had - The German Measles. I was sent to the hospital for several days. Friday they let me out. Sat and Sunday I was allowed to take it easy. I feel okay now, ready for pre-flight in about a week. During my stay at the hospital I had to stay in bed all of the time. I couldn't read or write at all. I had to wear dark glasses until Sunday. It seems that measles are a big cause of poor eyes. Isn't that what supposedly happen to Steve? The doctors take it very seriously here. They don't want our supposedly perfect eyes to get hurt. I think mine are OK but they haven't been checked. They feel all right.

As you can see I don't have much else to say because I haven't done anything new or interesting for quite awhile.

I was certainly glad to get your long letter. Three pages on both side that is really unusual. I feel honored. I love to hear the news. Not just the important big events that little ones also. Like Jeans fun with the car and chickens makes me feel closer to home

Love to All

Dave

May 14th 1943

Letter #29

May 14th 1943

To Mr. and Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

May 11th 1943

Letter # 28

May 11th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

I have finished all of my tests - I think I made it. I haven't heard yet for sure but I know that I passed my physical and that was my biggest worry. I was one of 18 out of the 40 fellows that I came from Tampa with, that didn't fail something on my physical.

The Lord was sure good to me. I feel like a superman after struggling through that.

I got a picture taken of myself in Tamp but left before I even saw the proofs so I don't know whether it is any good. I told them to send it to you. If you don't get it by next Wed. tell me and I will write and tell them to hurry.

Love Dave

May 9th 1943

Letter #28

May 9th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother

WELL-!! Mother I passed everything. I am a full fledged "Aviation Student" now. I am still not an Air Cadet. As I told you before we had a new law several days after arriving making it so you don't become "cadets" until you got to pre-flight. We are just getting the dirty deal as usual. This G.I. chow is lousey.

I sent Dad our average daily schedule but we don't follow it all of the time. I have been on K.P. 2 times last week. Next week I have 4 days K.P. Do I ever gripe but it doesn't do any good. Boy oh boy, will I ever be glad to get out of here. The 3 pilot pre-flights are here at San Antonio Texas, San Anna Calif - or Maxwell Field Alabama - I hope its Calif

Love Dave

May 3rd 1943

Letter #27

May 3rd 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother,

I am glad that you like Anne. She is the first girl I have like anymore then to have a good time with once in awhile, for a long while. The only catch is I am just another soldier to her. She is just doing her good deed for the day when we go out. I have gotten a letter from her since I arrived which was a surprise. I also got a long letter from "Teddy." She was a swell kid I really had fun with her. I am going to try and keep in touch with them bit it seems so useless. There is more of a chance that I will be sent to Alaska then be sent back there (to Florida).

I was glad to get those birthdays. I can never remember them. Did "Babe" get my letter? I thought she would be around home when I wrote it. I am glad she and John are getting to see each other a lot before he leaves.

That women situation in an office is really tough. Up in York it was quite a problem. They are all "cats" and are jealous of the other and are all trying to make the boss or the other men in the offices. Dad sure hates to be bothered with them I know. I am glad its cheered up now. I think thats the best way to handle , to "put your foot down."

I did not solo my 10 hrs in Tampa, were all with an instructor there to take over if I did something dumb. Our instructors were civilians. They are civilians in primary flight training also. Only basic and Advanced are army instructors.

I sent N. a card that show our barracks. We are about 5 miles from San Antonio, 1 mile from Kelly Field. I haven't even seen it yet. We get open post Tuesday so we are going in to look over the town.

The weather is perfect unless you have to go to school like I will. This temp is about 85 degrees all day long, the evenings 60 degrees all night. There hasn't been a cloud in the sky or any rain since we arrived. You don't mind the temp because of this. Of course you sweat but it doesn't bother you like in a humid place like Florida. I imagine it will really get hot by summer though.

The country is as flat as South Jersey. There are a few oak trees around the buildings but nothing but brush and dust and weeds far as far as you can see. This is as poor soil as further west and south so they do farm here to a certain extent.

I still haven't heard about my classification since I sen your and Dad cards.

April 23rd 1943

Letter #26

April 23rd 1943

Mrs. John W. Steele

San Antonio, Texas

Dear "Babe" and Tommy

This place is another example of poorly organized army camps. I have again changed my life to the opposite extreme. This place reminds me of Drew Field - Everyone does what he want if and when he want to. I haven't done anything since I arrived. We are called at 5:20 for breakfast (none of us get up yet) then we sleep or go out and play ball or horse shoes and walk around eat candy etc. until noon and then the same thing until supper then we go to Free movies or pay .15 for a first run movie. You are supposed to be in bed by 10 o'clock.

The meals are absolutely the best I have ever had. We have clean plates with 2 veg, pot, meat salid, bread, butter and milk every meal. They are really knocking themselves out to see that we are in good shape for the Physical thursday.

We went to a lecture this morning. They told us very pleasantly that 1/2 of us would wash out here. They Physical really doesn't sound any different except the eye test. That still has me worried. I have met several fellows that washed because their muscle control was not good enough. That is what the Doctor said about me, remember? The mental and physical test last 8 hrs without a break one of the reasons for this is to see if you will blow-up under continued nervous strain. Then to complete it they give you test with different machines to see if you have steady nerve, proper reflexes, dont blackout too quickly and muscle coordination of eyes and feet. All of this should hake approx 4 days then you wait for the results for another 4 days. Then you (if you arnt washed) sit down on your fanny again and wait. It may be 4 weeks or 4 months. The latest rumor says at least 4 weeks be not more then 8 weeks. You don't have to do anything while you are waiting but I am going to start getting in better shape. One of the things you have to be about to do after 8 weeks is pre-flight is run 7 SEVEN mile. BOY oh boy that nearly bowled me over when I heard that. I havent ever run over a mile. They also (here in classification) have night school I am going to go to that to. I want to learn my radio code. We have to be able to send and receive 15 words a minute sometime or other. I am no sure when. It make you kind of nervous when so many fail. They leave in a couple of days to a regular camp in air corps grand duty. One fellow was washed because he had an auto accident (serious) that was his fault and they found out about it.

I certainly miss Tampa in a way. Everything was run so exact you know what you were doing even if it did deem impossible to get done. I miss the other fellows and girls too. The fellows in this group I did not run around with as much as the ones that are still left back in Tampa. I miss that "Teddy" to she was really full of fun I had a lot more fun with her then with Anne Moore but she wasn't so hot looking. Thats they way it goes lots of times doesn't it?

By the way the pants presser arrived that Ma sent. I enjoyed the gum and read the magazine but the darn presser was broken (the handle). Oh Well! I dont have any pressing to do now anyway. We pay a flat $1.50 (automatic deduction) every week for all the laundry we put in.

We are back on part pay while we are here being classified will you send one of my Bonds or buy one from me or something. I am down to $8 and we dont get paid until the first. Then only $10 at time

Love

Dave

April 20th 1943

Letter #25

April 20th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Flomaton, Alabama

Hi Mom!

Can you imagine this. For the second time I have hit the luck. The first was to get in section and get out of Tampa in 6 weeks instead of five months - then to hit a pullman and flip for the upper birth and win. So I slept by myself with sheets. The first time I have had sheets since I got in the Army. A porter fixes up beds etc. We eat in diner with good meals and waiter service. Any $1.00 limit on menus. Free I wont mind the long rids so much with this luxurious setup. We are supposed to arrive at boarder of Fla and Ala at 12 noon. We certainly are going a round about way. We went to Jacksonville now we are going west again. I certainly did hate to leave those swell tampa gals and guys. I have never met more more friendly girls and fellows.

Love Dave

April 20th 1943

Letter #24

April 20th 1943

Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother,

Arrived 4:30 yesterday, huge camp of thousands of fellows - are here from 2 weeks to 2 monthes being classified as bombardier, pilot, or Navigator or gunner, or even Mechanic.

Pilots pre-flight is several mile from here Randolph and Kelley

More later

Love

Dave

April 16th 1943

Letter #23

April 16th 1943

To Mr. Carl B. Thomas

Tampa, Florida

Dear Dad

I think tomorrow is the day, along around 6 o'clock.

To-day we finished 10 hrs. I has an hour "check" flight. The C.A.A. inspection said I was slightly above average but nothing to brag about.

I has some excitement to-day for a change. I didn't pull out of my spin (this was before the check flight) soon enough so the wind and twisting cracked my windshield - It cost the Govt $40 for a new one but they wont have to pay it because the fellow that went up right after I did had the head blow off the motor - all the people (?) came flying back and finished the window, they were only 200ft off the ground and the instructor tried to make a crash landing - He did but the plane caught in a ditch and turned over. It was pretty well cracked up. Insurance will take care of the plane. Neither the instructor nor student were hurt, wasn't that lucky. Another plane had motor die at 2000 feet. He was able to glide into airport and land. (Lucky Day) I am continually glad I wasnt in either one. Those guys were really scared.