Ft Sill, Okla.
July 7, 1943
Dear Mother, Dad, and Grandma -
First of all, I must tell you that I have signed up for my leave. If it goes through as it stands now, I'll have 10 days beginning Sept. 29th. I'll be able to leave here the evening of the 28th and arrive home sometime the 30th. I shall have to be back here the 9th which is a Saturday, I believe. But since Saturday isn't a full day, I'll be able to hold it over until Sunday the 10th. That should give me a nice vacation.
Since I applied for it, however, I've had a letter from Don Sholl which may cause me to change my plans later on. He is due to get his commission and get a leave sometimes near the end of September. He and Janet will be married then. He asked me to be in the wedding party -- and if I can arrange my leave to correspond with his, I'll be all too happy to oblige. So I may change my leave a few days one way or the other later on.
His plans are not definite yet -- and he doesn't know what kind of wedding they are to have or how big it will be. If it is to be a small ceremony, I take it that Jack and Cal will be all the ushers he needs. But I'm at least to be in on the party, if I can make it.
Now to answer your letters. Okay about the bond -- just so you put them away somewhere for me. Glad to hear about Danny Mazzerella. Had you heard that Jane Colteryahn announced her engagement; to an aircorps man whose brother married Jane's old roommate. I figured it would take her just about a year after she left Bucknell.
I've had letters from Emmy, Don, Jane, Charlie Bond, and Dick Nutt this week. When it rains it pours. Dick is directing the Wesley Foundation at Yale this summer - i.e. the Methodist student movement. Charlie wrote to tell me all about the Navy. The town must really be on it's ear.
So Laura McGann is still active. Well I'm glad the kids of the town have one champion anyway. I don't agree with the curfew idea either. It won't keep the kids at home -- it will only take them off the streets and into worse jams than they have been in.
It has really been hot here lately. yesterday all of our therometers were all the way up to the top. One large one in one of the class rooms read 99 in the shade and when we put it out in the sun it went up to 119 in a rush. Last night it stormed all around us -- but not here -- although it did cool off a little bit.
Well, Mother, you and Dad may find yourself in the middle of some excitement in the near future. Now don't repeat this, please, but Charlie Bond passed on the words that there is another movement under foot to get Rev. Ostergren to resign. I hope you and Dad will keep out of it. Ostergren is probably as good as we'll get for the salary we pay, and he's a good man too. It's just too bad that it's impossible to satisfy everybody. But if a few of you use your influence to keep peace in the church, everything ought to come out all right. Let me know if anything develops. I think perhaps the Methodists have the right idea. By changing ministers every once in a while not as many people have a chance to become dissatisfied.
Guess that's all the news for now.Love,
John