January 3, 1943

Officer Canidate Class #56
Fort Sll, Okla.
Jan 3,1943
Dear Mother + Dad --

Happy New Year - even if a bit late. I'm afraid this letter will just ramble on and on without much order. First of all, before I forget it, I bought 2 set. of crossed canon for you Mother. When I send the box home (sometime within the next two weeks), you'll find them in the envelope with my Center School Certificate. notice of being made a Corporal, Corporals stripes, and O.C.S. insignia. Hope you can use them. Now to answer your letters.

1st. your letter of Dec. 16 forwarded from Bragg. Thanks for the money order. I got it cashed without any trouble at all and it came in handy. Particularly since I won't be paid for Dec. until the end of Jan. because of moving. I've written to Aunt Stella.

I was so sorry to hear about Mrs. Bird and Linda Fairchild. I wrote a note to the Steins + Mrs. Brown -- and to Aunt Virginia.

You haven't told me what my gifts to others for Xmas cost. Tell me and I'll send you a check. Now do it! I'll be mad if you don't. Incidentally -- don't waste 10 ¢ on special delivery. The army just doesn't have that service. If you want to send letters air mail a 6 ¢ stamp will do it. Also I want to remind you again not to send insured or registered mail unless the contents absolutely require it. We just don't get the chance to get to the P.O. to pick them up.

I got notice yesterday that there is a registered package there for me. But I can't get it. The P.O. isn't open when I'm free. I'm just going to have to skip noon chow tomorrow if I want it before next Saturday. The same is true of insured mail. Tell folks not to insure mail to soldiers. I havent received any Xmas packages yet -- but I should get them soon.

I doubt if I shall be able to phone you from here. But I might be able to some day if I can get near a phone. If you ever went to call me however -- call person to person. Officer Conidate Class #56, Ft. Sill. They'll let me know, and I'll call back.

You folks certainly have been gadding around. I envy you all the good meals you must be having.

I'm glad you finally got the electric door bell. I I know how you wanted it.

Don't worry about opening the card from Ann Hamilton. I don't mind in the least.

I'm inclosing the Pa. drivers license form. Incidentally, I like your new stationery, Mother. I signed up for $ 25 bond a mo. after Jan 1st. I'm having them sent home. You know what to do with them Dad.

I got the letter from Boris Raynes. He was one of my good friends at Penn., and was drafted last spring. It seems I'm just following him around -- for he was at Bragg too. He's here now waiting for overseas duty. I went over to see him New Years day and we went into Lawton to a show together last night. He was certainly surprised to see me.

I got a surprise too the other day. While in the tailor shop chatting with Roscoe Brownell, I happened to look around and there standing next to me was a boy from Shippensburg S. T. I had roomed with at Eagles Mere 2 years ago. It's a small world isn't it. He's in O.C.S. too.

Our hut has a gas stove that keeps the place fairly wam dispite all of the windows and the cement floor. But we have to turn it off at night -- so its plenty cold in the morning.

We eat in a huge mess hall cafeteria style on the stamped metal trays you see pictures off. The food here can't bad, if we just had time to eat it. They serve soups, thank goodness, so we get really warmed on cold days. We never had soup at Bragg.

Say "hello" to everyone for me. I appreciated so much the card from evenone -- the Shieters, Beards, Pearl, Deafy Comstock, Maude, and everyone.

Now to tell you a bit of what I have been doing. We arise at 6:00 and police up. There are demerits for wrinkles in the bed or dust on shoes or a dirty hut. We eat at 7:15. At 9:00 we start classes. Lunch at 1:00. Classes again from 2:00 til 6:00. From 7:20 to 10:30 we have to study in our huts. If we leave for any reason we have to mark it on a sign over the bed.

Motors wasn't as bad as I expected, but it was embarrassing for a greenhorn to have to take a truck apart +put it back together again. I had to ask how to do everything I did. But I learned a lot.

We drove some too -- up + down steep hills and over roads our Olds would never have made. Tomorrow we get one final exam and then go on into the course on Material.

With the holidays, I've been fortunate in being able to get into Lawton. I had an excellent meal there New Year's day. It's not a bad town at all. Much better than Fayettesville. But of course Okla. is dry -- they sell only 3.2 beer. I've seen quite a few Indians on the street and a few cowboys. Stores feature indian trinkets -- combat boots + saddles. It is the county seal of Comanche County. That sounds like real wild west, doesn't it.

Glad Xmas business was so good, Dad. How much merchandise do you have left? I guess that's all the news, I want to go over to the old post (very picturesque) to get a foot locker this afternoon, so I'll close now.

Yours, John