June 13, 1943

OCS Faculty-Materiel
June 13,1943
Dear Mother, Dad, + Grandma --

I don't know what was wrong with me Wednesday. I was just feeling sort of low and disgusted with everything. I'm afraid my letter showed it. I'll try to do better on this one. I'll write part of it now and finish after church.

I received an announcement of Mart Rice's marriage. I suppose that means a gift, so will you select something for me and send it. Send me the bill and I'll send a check.

I'm glad your foot is healing, Mother, and that it wasn't anything more serious.

I'm glad that Dad ordered a summer suit. It sounds very nice -- and I know he'll feel a lot more comfortable in it. It's too bad, Dad can’t just wear my suits too – for I have an idea I won't need them for a few more years. And they'll be out of style anyway by that time. I'm sure they won't fit me either -- for I've lost a lot around the waist. They'll look like zoot suits!

Thanks for sending on the Legion card. Please thank Joe Johnson for me -- will you, Dad? It was nice of them to remember me.

Yes, it's been hot here, and hotter than it usually gets at home. But I'd much rather have the heat than a winter like the last one. I hope I don’t get sent to Alaska, Iceland, or some other cold place. I'd much rather stay where its warm.

You asked about Earl Grimm. No, he's not connected with the school. He's in a communications battery in the Replacement Training Center. The type of outfit I was in my 1st month at Bragg. 

So Bob Streeter has finally been called.  I hope he gets into something worth while. Give him my best wishes. What about the apartment? Keep me informed + when you hear where he's sent, I'd be interested in knowing.

And if Ed. Pangburn's son is sent out here to Sill - let me know. O.C.S. will be a lot harder to get into and once in it will be tougher going too.

I can tell you this now because it has come out in the papers. O.C.S. is to be cut to 90 men per class -- it used to run as high as 600 + 700. And the course is to be lengthened to 17 weeks. Materiel will get about 3 extra days. There will be a shakeup to comply with the new situation. It is quite possible that not all of us will be needed -- so don't be surprised if I'm not here a full year. And if I am kept -- there's a good chance I'll be spending all of my time out on the range conducting rifle practice -- or something equally as bad. Once or twice a week, I wouldn’t object -- but as a steady diet, I don't think I'd like it. The new schedule goes into effect about the middle of July. In any event, it will mean more work, for there will be lots of new lectures to prepare and master.

Your candy is still holding out. The nice thing about sweets of this type is that they will keep well. And there isn’t the tendency to eat a whole box at any time -- as with chocolates.

I've been eating in G.I. mess all week now. The food isn't prepared too well -- and the tin trays don't make it any more appetising. But it is sufficient to keep me alive -- and its as cheap as one is able to find anywhere today. 70¢ a day! At any rate one learns to eat to live -- instead of living to eat.

I wrote to Marilyn congratulating her on winning the award. I got a note in reply and this is what she had to say about it: ”and I'm grateful most of all because the past 4 years have been quite a struggle to Mother + Daddy and by hard work and trying to live as they would want me to live, I feel that I'm making it worth their while.” That's why she was pleased about it.

I've been getting some excercise lately. Friday night, one of the men from the department and I played basketball on our outdoor court. And yesterday I went over to the Officer's Club pool and enjoyed an afternoon of swimming. I was to meet Wells there -- but he was tied up and didn’t make it. I saw Dorothy Griffith Guinn there and had a chat with her. And then I ran into one of my old gunnery instructors and palled around with him for the afternoon. We had dinner together at the club before coming back.

The meals at the club all quite good. I had half a fried chicken, soup, pie a la mode, iced tea, vegetables, salad + trimmings -- and served nicely too. Thank goodness Okla. is dry or the officers club would be a far different place.

I have another fairly easy week coming up -- no section of my own. But I'll have to handle some of the classes for our enlisted instructors. I had a 1st aid class this past week - I'm getting to be quite versatile.

How I wish I were home just now. I'm dying for some strawbery shortcake. I did get a dish of scrawny berries one day last week -- but they didn't compare with those I'm used to.

I'd love to put on a clean white shirt again too. I've just about come to look on clean linen shirts as the height of luxury

Wells leaves next week-end. He's very anxious to know where he'll be sent. And very fearful lest it will be to a Replacement Center.

Love,
John