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.

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