March 3rd 1943

Letter #15

March 3^rd, 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Tampa, Florida

 

Dear Mother

            I don’t know what’s up but the set up looks good so far.  I am going to college for nothing, Military school really.  We will get 1 weeks exams (physical and mental) then start classes.  We were told that we will take phyics, math (through trig), English and history.  This I will know more about later.  We are not allowed to even talk to the civilian girls and boys here except on official business.  I know we will get around this, though.  We are 200 strong.  We are invading this university of 200 girls and 100 boys and they resent it very much.  I can’t blame them though, because we pushed them right out of the dorms.  They are all living down town, in private homes.  I hope they get over it.  This is a creaking old college that was on the rocks so they army is helping it out. I don’t care how bad it is, it is really wonderful to be going to school.  This is really my chance.  I hope to God it keeps on looking as good.  Its going to be awful tough for me but that’s what I want after that picnic in Miami Beach.  I wish I was in as good mental shape as I was physical.  I am really excited I cant event sit still.  I am ready to start out today, but I know by now the army wont hurry.  It is always slower than an individual, or at least me.  Maybe it will be waiting for me sometimes.

            I think the inspection is going to be very strict.  From what they told us in our pep talk it will be just as tough as West Point as far as discipline and inspections etc are concerned.  200 more are coming as soon as the dorms are straight.  We still do now have any hot water.  The temp is a lot cooler in winter and a lot hotter in summer here then in Miami. 

            Our trip down was terrific.  We got called at 12 noon yesterday.  We got out stuff inspected in the hot sun with out winter woolens on.  It took until 6:15 last night.  Truck took us to Miami.  We carried our own equipment.  (You have seen them in the railroad station)  We got on Wooden Coaches that were used as “Jim Crow Cars” and rode until 6:15 this morning.  That was nearly as bad as the two nights we spent coming down.  We were under strict discipline, no widow up (woolens still on) aprox 80 degrees, in shade, couldn’t even take off coat, didn’t know when, where, how long, we were going had’nt eaten since 11:15 in morning.  No Sleep.

            I will write as soon as something new starts poppin.  Tell some people my new address- will ya!

Love, Dave

P.S.  I am not completely classified yet.  I am not in pre-flight yet.  I have had all my “shots”.

March 1st 1943

Letter # 15

March 1^st 1943

Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

 

Dear Mother,

            Tomorrow will be my birthday!  I want be about to celebrate it I guess.  About ¾ of my friends have left.  Mac Bain is still with me.  We are going together.  Please do not write any more.  I will let you know when to write again.

            I haven’t done anything except sit around for the last few days.  I couldn’t get a pass to go to the beach yesterday.   I did get a chance to go down to the tailors and get my O.D. uniform fixed up so it fits.  Mac Bain is going though what I went through.  It seems that everyone has the same thing some time.  Most aren’t as bad as ours though.  I wonder just what it is.  It certainly isn’t a common cold.  Some smart doctor should investigate.  We went to a play a couple of weeks ago and you couldn’t even hear the actors talk because of the coughing, sneezing and blow of noses.  

            Johnnie Wayner got the least notice of anyone.  He was drilling (not on shipment even).  He was told he had to be ready to leave in 10 min .  Didn’t even have time to wash the layer of dst off from “Open  order drill”/  (where you run and fall on your face).  He didn’t have any uniforms except for summer that we got when we first came.  He made it but what a wild scramble.  Ill bet he is cold now.  Everyone with him took overcoats etc. 

 

Love Dave

 

February 28th 1943

Letter #14

February 28^th 1943

To Mr. Carl B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

 

Dear Dad,

            I am still on “shipment”.  Over half of the flight has been shipped to goodness knows where.  All we know is that some of them left with just there “suntans” but most of them had there O.D.s.  I have mine.  This does not necessarily mean I am coming north.  We did not get issued long flannel underwear which is G.I.  for up north (Penna etc.)  This waiting around is certainly nerve racking.  You cant unpack your stuff and send your dirty stuff to the laundry or anything we sit or get lectures that kill time, nothing else, all day.  This morning a lot of guys left at 3:30AM and 4:30AM.  They got everyone up there yelling.  We still have to get up at5:15 even if we don’t do anything.  We aren’t supposed to read or write letters or anything during the day – just sit.  In the evenings, when we are usually allowed out, we are free to do what we want, but we are restricted to our own room.  This is sure getting tiresome.  The latest rumor is that we are leaving tomorrow morning at 4AM.  I hope we do either one thing or the other.  If we were taken off “Shipment” maybe we could go to the beach tomorrow.  Maybe I will be able to think up a good one to get out again like last Sunday. 

            How is Mother? (Really)  She said she had a slight  cold in her last letter.  Every time she gets something wrong it worries me.  I certainly hope that blood pressure is getting under control.  Ever since Aunt Alice’s funeral I have been thinking how awful I would feel if I was in Christine or Howard or Mary’s place.  That would be the worst thing that could happen to me I believe

Tell M. thanks for getting my clothes fixed and keeping  them together.  I am enclosing $4 which should cover all the bills.  If not tell her to let me know.  My winning streak has stopped in gambling.  So I have quit entirely.  The ten we got for the month of Feb. is about gone so my fiancés are getting low.  I don’t know when I will be paid again.  I have taken up washing sox for 5cents pr and shinning shoes for 25 cent pr.  I am making 50 ro 75 cents a day on the average.  

            I certainly hope Jean isn’t getting serious over that Jewish boy.  He seems quite nice for a Jew but still he does not appeal to me as much some Jews I have run around with. 

            John Steele sure has this army organized.  Boy oh Boy I hope the day comes when I have things like he does  One thing- before I left I wondered where all of the privates were.  We said everyone (even Howard Okie) was a corporal or better.  I guess the answer to that is that only these can get furloughs or leave.  Down here just in out hotel there are 2 Captains, 8 Lt. aprox 50 non com’s and 2500 buck privates.  I think this is a fairly good percentage all over the beach.  So now we know where the privates are.  Tell Kathy that there are some privates down here. 

            I hope Marge gets her furniture in time.  She sure had had to wait long enough.  It looks like Babe isn’t going back to housekeeping, doesn’t it?  Are you all having “Peggy Trouble” again?  I hope not.  I don’t think she or her $6 per month, (or what ever it is ) is worth it. 

            Boy of boy!  Steve sure has had the tough breaks.  I hope it doesn’t continue.  Is he going to have to have glasses?  Do you think measles really cause other things?  How are you and your business?  Everything is running smoothly, I hope.  Do you have the secretary problem straightened out? 

            Probably by the time you get this I will be far away from here

 

You Son, Dave

February 26th 1943

Letter #13

February 26^th 1943

Miss Kathrine E. Thomas

Miami, Florida

 

Dear Kath

            I got you swell letter Wednesday.  I certainly do enjoy hearing from you.  I think what you did with Toby was a good idea.  I imagine it was kind of heard though after teaching him all of those tricks and everything.  You should teach suzy some tricks now.  You seem to be the best dog trainer in the family.

Did Nancy get that thing form me yet?  You will be surprised when you see it and hear it.

            I think we are going to be put back on “shipment” (definition:  pack and be on call any time day or night, 15 minutes notice.  We cant leave out rooms and we don’t drill or anything).

            At least that’s what you are supposed to do.  Last Sunday when we were on “shipment” another fellow and I sneaked out and went to the beach – boy was it ever nice.  The sun was hot as blazes and the water was just right.  I also had fun with some other fellow playing games etc.

            In case you ever wondered or anyone else ever wonders why I write to poorly its because we don’t ever have any chairs to sit on or tables to write on.  Its all done in the palm of the hand. 

            Hows the weather?  Do you still ride Besty?  Remember a long time ago you said you couldn’t saddle her and you couldn’t gallop her?  You sure can now cant you? 

            One thing good about this basic training, you done have any homework.  Of course I will have a lot later on if and when I get to pre-flight school, but its really very easy so far.  The only things that have bothered me so far have been those injections.  We are all of the time getting them, it seems.  My vaccination took so I have one on each arm now.  My cold is gone completely and so has the bad weather. 

            Did M. get my civilian clothes?  She should have.  Remind her to send them to the cleaners for a moth proof bag.  When they are all done if she tell me how much everything is I will send it to her. 

            Well “Cap” take care of everything and write again when you have the chance

 

Love, Dave

 

P.S.  Would you  want a polo shirt with :

Army Air Forces

Miami Beach

Fla

Printed on the front?  I am going to send Steve one!

February 26th 1943

Letter #12

February 26^th 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

Dear Mother

            That was sure a funny one last week; we get put on “shipment” and sit around for 3 days not allowed to do anything at all.  (not even write letters) except when you sneaked out or something.  Suddenly they, for no reason that we can see, take us off and we go back to exercising, drilling and listening to lectures harder then ever.  We made up the 3 days we lost in the next 3 days so we are officially on the 13^th day of basic training.  Tomorrow we are back on shipment but don’t stop writing this time cause we might not leave. 

            You don’t know a darn thing in this mans army until it happens you don’t even know when you eat until you get there.  Or when you are getting your “Shots” until you are shot. That needle sur e does give me the duce.  The last one (last Sunday) was the first one that didn’t knock me for a loop (chills and sweating alternately).

            Yesterday I had more fun then I have had since I have been here.  We went out to the rifle range and finally actually shot out rifles.  They are called “infields” .  1917 Eddystone quite like the Springfield (Standard Army Rifle).  They kick like a mule.  I was pretty lucky, I made 12 Bulls eyes out of the fifteen we had at 150 yards in a prone position.  My shoulder is still sore but it sure was fun.

            I have been having some fun on time of since I got rid of that gripps or flu or whatever it was.  I went to the “5 o’clock club” where it is quite a drive.  I have book-matches of that at home.  I went to several others but they weren’t as nice.  They soldiers sure can get around cheaper that everyone else.  I still am not broke.  We stay in about 4 nites a week to do wash, shine shoes, write, clean rooms, and do “extra duty.”

            We have been issued our O.D.’s (winter olive drab) they look better than our “suntans” (Summer uniforms) but mine need altering by the tailor.  I am afraid to do that here we are too likely to be shipped out without them. 

            I am sending a couple of snaps Johnnie and I took out at the breach Sunday.  They aren’t to good but they show the palms and the 3 of us some what plainly.  The girl is Nancy Schwartz of New York.  The picture does not flatter her.  She was the first good-looking girl I had seen here so I went to town.  Johnnie is like Dick, he makes me do all the work and get everything under control then he joins me.  She is NOT Jewish.  She was very nice and everything was perfect except I was on shipment Sunday and she was going home Tuesday anyway so all I have is her N.Y. Address. 

            It was such a beautiful day Sunday we whipped up an excuse and talked the “sarg” into a pass.  A married could I met (at church) said we should use them.  At first the “sarg” said, “ no, none at all to anyone”  I gave him the old story about being invited by this family to dinner etc. Finally he agreed to let us go if we called back every hour to see if our shipping order had come in.  So we did.  Only 3 other guys in our flight got passes.

            By the way!  If any serious thing happens in our family or near relations (Serious sickness or death, not births) I can get a furlough, if you send me a telegram telling what has happened and get in touch with the Local Red Cross so they can notify the one neat my post to verify the telegram so they will belive me.

            Thanks a lot mom and pop for the swell card and cabbages they were both enjoyed very much.

            It is 9 o’clock and the CQ just gave me “it” for not being in bed.

Good Night, Son Dave

P.S.

Give Nancy one of these snaps if she wants it.  Do you think Steve would want a polo shirt with the AAF etc on it I can buy them down here quite cheap.  I have a stirring rod with the name of 5 o’clock Club on it if Nancy wants it.  The club got its name because at 5am and pm (if you anrnt in the army) the drinks are on the house.  Uncle Sams boys it lights out at 9 sharp, asleep by 10 – isn’t that something!

Love to all Dave

February 19th 1943

Letter # 11

February 19^th, 1943

To Mrs. Carl B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

 

Dear Mother,

            Sorry I haven’t written sooner, have been sicker than I have ever been in life and still out of bed shots and flu.  Temp 103 Tuesday.  Doc isn’t any good, just paint your throat and say go on back on the job.  I didn’t do anything except Tues I had to go on sick call.  But I had to keep right on.  They wouldn’t let me stay in bed.  Wednesday we had K.P. work like dogs from 3:30 am until 10 o’clock the flowing nite.  It was hell. 

            We might be shipped out of here some time in the next few months

Good by now, 

Dave

February 12th 1943

Letter #10

February 12th 1943

To Miss Kathrine E. Thomas % C. B. Thomas

Miami, Florida

Hi Cap!

I sent you a card on the train on the way down but guess the colored boy didn't mail it.  We were not allowed to get off the train - I handed them all out the window to passing people.  If you enjoy the movies you would enjoy what I have been doing all this week we have had about 3 1/2 hrs of movies every day of the week.  The ocean is really swell but we can only go on Sundays except for 10 minutes 3 times a week after Calisthenics (they are swell fun)  Have you been doing any skating or anything lately?  How about dropping me a note and tell me the news.

Dave