February 10th 1943

Letter #9

February 10^th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

 

Dear Mother

            I received that letter addressed to “Cadet Training Center Miami Beach” boy oh boy that was sure unusual that ever got here  I was really glad to get it though. 

            My arms got better my vaccination took and now all I have to do is wait for the next ones and hope that they aren’t as bad.  I had a swell swim Sunday.  Monday we went to movies all day long 4 hrs in morning and 4  in afternoon.  They were very interesting but it was sure tiresome.  This morning we did the same.  This afternoon we marched which was sure welcomed to me after sitting in the movies all that time.  The movies were about everything Venereal Diseases, personal cleanliness, first aid,  close order drill (all the movements in detail, keeping your trap shut about shipments etc.  We also had a couple of lectures on War Bonds.  Gov’t life insurance and dependant allotments.  I found out that all that they are going to give me down here is $10 a month to spend no more and no traveling expenses for trip down as I had expected.  This will make it impossible to pay you back unless you want me to cash a Bond.  I will be bale to hold out I think, myself.  I have been winning at dice and cards slightly eversince I left.  I am getting low because of so many things you have to buy:  soap, shoe polish, equip towels, socks, laundry bills etc.  WE don’t get everything furnished like a regular buck private, although we are definitely buck privates.

            I did one think stupid with my limited fiancés since I was down here.  I lost $3.00 at the dog races last night.  I knew darn well you can win with them I played them so often before but you know how you go along with the other fellows.  They are still running every night bit the horse races have been closed because of gas rationing. 

            All the fellows are “women crazy” all ready but I am deinately not one of them.  I don’t give a darn whether I see one or not cause none of them are the type I care for in the first place and second I still haven’t gotten over my overdose in York – To many and to damn serious.

            Guess what Mother!!- - I went to Presbyterian (I cant spell it) Church Sunday night and met the nicest bunch of people (civilians that wernt Jews).  They were all swell to me they have a service center in a private home.  They said to come up anytime day or night to read, talk , or eat or write home or anything.  Can you imagine that!!!  Only about 20 people were there Sunday so its like a family.  They play games on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  This religion is sure a great thing.  I am going regularly from now on if I can.  (there were several nice girls there too) or rather I shall call them ladies.

            I certainly will be glad to here from some of you?  Do you still have skating or skiing?  Whats the dope on Marge and Hamey?  What about Babe where is she?  Tell me all the news, will you?

Love

Dave

Here are some examples of War Department Films that were watched during training

February 9th 1943

Must have been in a hurry, letter was written on the back of an envelope.

Letter #8

February 9th 1943

Mrs. C. B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

I am waiting for lunch, haven't done a thing all morning except eat breakfast.  This army is too easy so far.-  If a person was satisfied to be a private he could have the time of his life in the army.  Any one that says he has a hard time is either lying or the height of lazyness.  I haven't seen anyone over working yet - a little drilling and exercising but nothing I didn't do just as hard working on the farm - wait until I get into pre flight school then my story will be different.

Love Dave

February 8th 1943

Letter #7

To Mr. Carl B. Thomas

Miami Beach, Florida

February 7th 1943

Letter #6

February 7th 1943

To Mr. & Mrs. Carl B Thomas

Miami, Florida 

Happy Valentines Day!

February 7th 1943

This is the start of the letters from basic training.  Several of these letter have some very neat stationary, im going to scan and post them as well.  Enjoy!

Letter #5

February 7^th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

 

Dear Mother,

            I am having the time of my life.  I haven’t had any trouble with anyone yet.  The only trouble I have had was with a smart Jew with a 10cent cigar who was a buck private but had several months in the army and was in charge of checking out equipment when it was issued to us.  He said the easiest way to carry our helmet was on our head and I thought it would be easier to put it in our duffle bag and carry the whole works on my shoulder.  We really had it out but of course I lost.  He called the sergeant. 

            We cannot turn on any lights in out rooms so everything at night is done in the dark.  The weather is perfect as usual.  We have Sunday afternoon until 4 o’clock to go swimming or church or what ever you want to do.  This writing paper looks cheap doesn’t it – the answer to that is “it is.”  The only civilians I have seen since I arrived have been Jewish, the same fat greasy kind that was down here before.  A civilian looks as strange down here as a soldier walking down the street 2 years ago looked. 

            We marched about 15 miles a day but it’s a snap – I have even surprised myself.  About 75% of the guys are lame from blisters and corns etc etc.  I haven’t one of anything.  Sunburn is taking it toll also; it hasn’t bothered me yet.  The food is great – got meat, 2 veg, potatoes, salad, drink, desert, jam and bread every meal (except breakfast of course).  We have everything we cant get in civilian life except butter.  Also at the Post Exchange you can get lots of items that you cant get.  We had 2 banana pies with everything else for breakfast, plenty of sugar, coffee, coca cola.

            The one thing that has really bothered me has been the shots.  We got them yesterday afternoon.  I didn’t sleep at all last night and I have felt terrible all day.  Today – we have taken several exams (mental) but nothing to do with the air cadets yet.  We are in pre-pre-flight school – it will last for 24 days then if your turn in school comes, you go.  Otherwise you hang around here until your turn does come.  This is semi-official.  You never know what is going to happen here until the minute it does.  You can image how the rumors fly!

            Its hard to get a regular letter written because keeping room clean, shoes shined etc etc. in your spare time.  I certainly do wish I would hear from you and the rest.  This is a lot different then when your life is your own and you can go and come and do what you please.  There are a swell bunch of fellows here.  We got out pictures taken together last night (the first night out) we had to be in by 10 o’clock.  I will send them up Monday if I have a chance.  How about sending me down the pictures we took there for a couple of days before I left.  I will return the ones that I don’t want.  I wish I didn’t feel so terrible.  I want to go to the beach as soon as I am done this letter.  We are not allowed to go to Miami a all and some places have military restrictions.  All the stores are setting soldier (air corps) supplying only.   We were the first squadron of Air Cadets to come down here, all the rest are just plain air corps fellows (draftees).  They are on the average much older and tougher naturally.  The average age of the cadets is 19 ½.  So I am about right.  I am glad I didn’t get a lot crap like military sets etc. cause you aren’t allowed to have hardly anything except G.I.  My clothes that I wore are being sent home. 

            If I don’t do say so myself we have the best bunch of guys in our flight, the best 4 in our room, and I am the best soldier here.  This drilling is a snap.  Thank goodness I am not with a bunch of dopes so we have to go over things again and again.  I think that’s why our sergeant and corporals are so nice.  I was telling to one and he said he would rather drill us then those draftees any day.   We all try I guess that’s the difference.  Sam Barber, Harland Slack and 6 guys form York are here in some hotel but I haven’t located them yet.

            I guess I have told you all the news, write soon and often as possible you get a slight touch of homesickness when you are lined up for mail and everyone around get a dozen letters and you don’t get any.

Love to all, Dave (Yardbird) Thomas 

Penny Postcards

The first of the four letters written home from Dave were done on Penny Postcards.  These are prepaid postcards purchased by travelers.  Once Dave is officially brought into the Air Corps he will no longer have to work about postage as it is free to all military persons.  

February 2nd 1943

Letter #4

February 2^nd 1943

Miss Nancy A Thomas

Columbia, South Carolina

 

Hi Nancy!

            I am writing on the moving train.  We are in South Carolina 2:30pm – dirt has been sifting through the windows the whole time so I am just black now with no place to wash in this old train – we are having some meals considering we had no dinner – just stop and pick up box lunches and go on.  I’ve had two hard boiled eggs,  2 bread pork chops, 2 oranges, French fried potatoes, all the cold and hot coffee.  Lunch, cake, 2 apples, 3 sandwiches, cheese and meat and peanut butter, a lot of swell guys nearly all 19-20 years old.

Dave