Class #56
Ft. Sill, Okla.
Dec 24, 1942 Dear Mother & Dad -
It was good to hear your voice again an Monday, Mother. I'm only sorry I didn't call when you were home, Dasl. I should have known.
yours an mail letly arrived today.son's air mail letter of the 14th was the only word I got at Biagg last week. I may I have tomorrow, if I can. But even if I don't, I shall be thinking of you. I's just like you Mother to have a big dinner and send half of it out. God bless you for keeping the Christians spirit going.
What are you going to sell for the rest of the year, Bad. From all reports you're just about sold out. Better by bonds while you can.
I hope the box I sent has arrived this time. I have another first about ready. It contains letters, cards, another volume of my diary, which you are free to read, and a 10¢ photograph I had taken in the station at Tulsa, Okla. I'll probably mail it off next weekend.
I didn't even know Hays Nesbit was planning to be married. Who's the girl? Someone from Rochester? Too bad about the mumps. Keep me informed.
Alice told me about James, Jr. Good for him! Hope he likes it.
You can send on my Xmas box now if you haven't already. I'll combine Xmas & New Year's for a real celebration!
I began to tell about the trip out in Alice's letter. I'll finish it in yours. Here goes. After a brief stop in Memphis, we moved across the Mississippi by moonlight and into Arkansas. Since we had missed connections, we went around the long way. I awoke in the morning. (I shared a lower that night) in Springfield, Mosouri.
The western side of the Mississippi is much nicer than the eastern side in the south. It's good to see rich black soil again -- and mpainted barns & houses. The country reminds me a great deal of the midwest. But it is even more level. There is something beautiful about the plains -- but I'll still take Pa's mountains.
After dinner in the Diner, we pulled into Tulsa, Okla. Tulsa is a wonderful City. It is modern, clear, and neat, and the people are very hospitable. We roamed the downtown streets for over an hour. I've never seen so many women in slacks.
We hit Oklahoma City just before supper. We didn't get out of the station, but it looked like a good place too. There seemed to be oil wells in everybodies and his neighbor's back yard. The skyline was dotted with them.
We pulled into Sill a little after 8:00 and came right over to the area. We sleep until Sunday in 15 man hutments heated by gas stoves.
After Sunday I'll move into a four man hut. That will be my permanent home.
Sill seems very nice, but I'll have to dig. I don't know how much time I'll have to write. So if you don't hear from me for awhile, don't worry. It will take me a little while to get used to the pace. I'll write next Sunday at least and every Sunday thereafter -- but I can't promise about the week-days.
I'm pretty tired -- so I think I shall close now and go back to the hut and turn in. The weeks ahead are going to be hard. The 1st two weeks will be hardest for we have 10 days of motors and then 5 days of material. After that they get into academic subjects where I'll be able to shine a bit more.
Happy New yearJohn