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.