June 28th, 1943

Letter #36

June 28th 1943

Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio, Texas

Mother,

Today, for some unheard of reason we got what is capped open hill!! Which means we don't have any required formations except mess. We can go to the P.X., Post Theater, or the exclusively upperclassmens service club. Something must be cooking. The rumors are running wild of course. They always do. I am going to catch up on my sleep most of the day. Then gorge myself with food (candy etc) at the P.X. and catch up on my letters. You are the only one I have been able to write to. I didn't expect to be able to do that but after that first week and a half they starting letting up on me. I believe they bothered me more then anyone at first but now I am bothered the least (in our barracks). I was the only one that didn't have an "gigs" until yesterday. The sun was shinning through the windows just so and the inspector saw smears on the glass. I shouldn't get more then 2 at the most. You don't have to walk them off until you get 5. Then you walk one hour for the everyone more then 5 per week. They are really suffering some of them, I thank my lucky stars that I got on the ball from the first. If I keep there now. I won't be bothered hardly any. I get more time to study etc.. They don't get a kick out of beating you when you don't let it faze you (poker face) and make them look poor in the way your shoes, brass etc are cleaned. I am beginning to see their side now. They are responsible for us and have to keep us perfect like their upperclassmen had to do with them. It seemed as if they were unreasonable at first but most of that stuff has been cut out except with a few guys that don't keep on the ball and a few upperclassmen whose power has gone to his head. You know the type that like to keep demonstrating his power as soon as he is given a little authority. I still will be plenty glad when its over. In a week and half we will be upperclassmen. I still say I will do things faster and better when I am not beaten into it.

I really enjoyed Dad's letter. Hearing form him helps me keep up my courage. You should get a cleaning woman more often there are too many rooms in that big house for you to clean. I know Jean helps but with a heavy schedule like she has cuts down her free time.

Has john actually left yet or what? Who is Mrs. Fletcher? What is the connection? Where, when etc did you get yo know her? I might look up that address.

We do not even see any planes (on the ground) here. There are plenty flying around though. Another screwy rules is that no underclassmen is ever supposed to look up into the sky at an airplane. Just another form of mental torture. Can you imagine hundreds of fellows that are planning their future in the air not allowed to even look up.

Tommy is really cute isn't he? I hope he stays good. That certainly is a shame Johnnie has to go overseas. I can just imagine how Mary feels. Of course, he has a chance of getting home before I do, even if he is overseas. They are just as likely to give him leave after several months. He is a Captain you know!

I finished my naval identification course yesterday. I think I got about 90% in it. I am glad thats over with. It really took me a long time to memorize their characteristics. Next comes airplane identification. I all ready know a lot of them. Math is getting harder. We have our 2nd test Monday. Over Navigation I hope I pass ok the third part is over actual problems in dead reckoning etc. I flunked my 5 word code test. I just blew up. This won't bother my records just so I get ten words per minute by the time I heave here. Code is the only course that lasts the whole 9 weeks. It is the only thing that we start from scratch on, is the reason I guess. The other courses we are supposed to know a lot about when we come here. If we didn't we would be sunk they way the fire it at you.

How is the situation at home. Do you get much meat and butter and how about shoes. We arn't affected by that stuff much know. What about the feeling the people have at home? Is it better or worse? From the looks of the papers it is getting worse. I wish the situation looked as good as home as it does in Europe and in the Pacific. I can't understand the peoples attitude. Am I getting this army propaganda and not the other side of the question.

I hope I keep hearing from you often. Mother that will give you a good excuse to sit down and take it easy. I have really enjoyed the extra letter this week.

Love

Dave

P.S. I got paid today - you never did tell me how much I owe you all.

June 7th 1943

(I had this one slightly out of order)

Letter #35

June 7th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

San Antonio Texas

Dear Mother,

I feel a lot better today then I have felt for a long time. I haven't gotten any "gigs"; I passed my first code test, I got 100 in my first math test and 95 in my first Navel identification test. I really had to work to do it. I feel like a beaten up dishrag. If I last for another 2 1/2 weeks. I will need a vacation. When I am an upper classmen I won't be going all this time. I haven't gotten over 6 hours sleep in one night since I arrived, especially when we exercise like we fo. We get 1 hour drill one calisthenics and and then run the 3 mile cross country. I really do get winded. The exercising I did in classification (running) helped a lot though. I don't have any after affects. When it's all over I don't feel stiff or tired, especially, just sleepy as always. Another thing that didn't help I had the "G.I.'s" for 2 days (If I were in China they would call it dysentery.

You asked me about drinking: I have seen just as much since I got in the army as I did in York. There just isn't anything else for most people to to without a lot of trouble.-

No mother-I havn't started hitting the bottle - I still can't see anything to it. I take a drink once in a while but I haven't gotten at all drunk. The party when I left the Y..P.R. I drank more then I have since I got in the army. I don't smoke at all either. That is one thing that is very handy. In the army there are so many times and places where you can't smoke. Did you know that cadets arn't supposed to smoke in Public (outside). They that as future officers and gentlemen you should not do it. That's one rule that easy for me to follow.

You were really correct when you said the nice people don't associate with the soldiers ("Cadets" are just soldiers here). There are plenty of churches in town but we arn't allowed in on Sunday. We had post churches in classification but here the fellows are about 10 to 1 as dar as fitting into church is concerned. I am sorry too because I got a lot of enjoyment out of it.

I hope W.C. really loosen up to the soldiers. PLEASE PLEASE give them a chance Mother. With thousands of guys around there isnt a lonelier life then a soldier. I am really glad to hear the Quakers are helping out. Mary and Jean should have fun at the dances.

Steve doesn't need to worry about the draft I don't think. Tell him he can do ten times more good there at home working for the summer then going to school. Tell him not to give up school. A good man at home can do a lot more good then 5 men in the army. Even if I got killed in action I wouldn't do the country as much good as his working hard and well. In the Army, you get the glory and credit and the people at home, do all of the work. No one realizes it until he gets in the army. I know I didn't. I know now that I could do more good at home then I could here. I am satisfied though, someone has to do this. I wonder how John and Harvey really feel. I don't suppose we will ever know. The coal miners or the auto cowboys or fellows like that can make the country weaker then thousands of fellows like myself getting killed. I am not trying to sounds like one of the "Expendable" but it is true, isn't it?

I am surprised that you are having so much rain. The weather is really perfect here (for a vacation). The rainy season starts soon. I believe I will have some money to send home this month. I have bought nearly everything that is required. Just exactly how much do I owe you now? I haven't been about to keep track of it. We should be able to settle up soon if I keep on this crazy man's life. I can't even get a cake of soap at the P.X.

About the pictures. I bought and paid for one large photo for you on Mothers day. I don't care which one you pick or if anyone want ant more but thats the situation as far as I'am concerned.

Yes, I am known as Aviation Cadet David L. Thomas (at last) I am also known as the lowest form of humanity on the face of the earth.

Our classes are excellent. The teachers are very good to and efficient. I certainly am glad I took math and phyics in school. If this class system was done away with the setup would be perfect. Having someone heckle you all day you just can't study. I have to do it all in the early morning when they are still asleep. They don't bother me so much but I have to always be on the alert and can't do any studying. I would get caught some way if I did. Some guys are really getting it tough. You just have to keep on the ball or they will make it ten times worse. Some guys are actually going to the hospital. When they put them in the chair brace they throw their back bone out somehow. Three guys I know of re in the hospital. All of the upper classmen are at the movies tonight thank goodness. Please write to me,

Love

Dave

I gor tour letter with you holding Tommy. It really made me wish I was home. Tommy is big and cute isn't he.