OCC #56
Ft. Sill.
Jan 13,1943 Dear Mother + Dad
We got paid sooner than expected -- so I'm in the money again -- and with January payday just 15 days away -- I have much more then I need just now. Consequently I'm Sending home the inclosed money order for $45. Place deposit it to my checking account.
Yes I wrote to Emma H. + thanked her for her Xmas present -- also to most everyone except a few hundred who sent Xmas cards.
For the answer to your question on clymate consult my this week's letter to Alice. She asked much the same question. However it is much dryer than N.C. -- so not as disagreeable and damp. Not yet, anyway.
Glad Bob Rishel is in OCS too. What branch of the service and where? The peanut butter cookies didn't carry too well. The chocolate ones were delicious however. I ate the crumbs of the others and enjoyed them too.
Well the 1st week of gunnery is over. We've had two tests. I had a perfect paper in one and only only one small mistake in the other. Monday I'll get my 1st chance to show what I have learned in a practical way, for we go out on the range to fire our 1st problems. We fire three times next week -- so I'll really have to concentrate. It's a lot different from paper firing, for on the range we have to carry all the figures in our head and make all our additions & subtractions mentally. Hope I make out all right.
This afternoon - Saturday - we were out firing anti-ancraft machine guns at balloons. It was fun, but I didn't do too well. Guess it takes practice. We also fired the revolver, carbine, and Tommy gun. I did best with the Tommy gun -- 7 out of 8. With the small arms we did combat firing (not aiming) jut quickly pointing in the direction of fire & pulling the trigger. I did all right.
Young's wife is due to have a baby this week-end. He's all on edge. Doesn't know whether he's going to be a father or a mother, he says!
I hope to get into town tomorrow afternoon to mail the package and to look for an Indian bracelet. for you, Mother. Don't know whether I will or not. I guess that's all the news.
Love,John