June 23, 1943

O.C.S. Faculty - Materiel
Ft. Sill, Oklahoma
June 23, 1943
Dear Mother, Dad,+ Grandma --

Thank you for sending a gift to Mart and Church for me. It sounds as though you picked a very nice gift.

I'm glad you had such a nice time at Showalter's last week. It sounds like one of the old time parties the Bee used to have. I wish you and Dad could have celebrated your 25th like that. But perhaps we'll be able to do something on you're 30th.

I'm so glad to hear that Alice is getting out again. I bet she gets a big kick out of it. It can't be as warm at home as it is here just now, however, or she would be staying inside.

I still don't see where you get all the merchandise to do such good business at the store. By this time you must be down to the window trimmings. But take it in while it lasts. These may be the fat years before the famine.

I hope the tie has arrived by this time and that it matches your new suit, Dad. Won't you be a sport, though. Did you get a straw hat too -- or a panama?

Don't be too sure the war will be over so soon. Europe is going to be a very tough nut to track and I'm afraid it will take a long time and heavy casualities. And then there will be the Japs to work on -- plus a six months in the service until I get mustered out. But I hope your optimism is justified.

Yes, I wrote to the Law School to thank them for the extension of my leave of absence.

Still no news as to what will happen when the new schedule goes into effect. I suppose I'll find out when the time comes and not before, so I might as well just relax and see what comes up. We all expected the Colonel to tell us last night at the weekly Gunnery class -- but instead he talked about the fortress that Hitler has made of Europe. He leaves this week for two or months special training, and my immediate superior has taken over the Colonel's Job. Anythings will be run a little differently.

The cookies have not yet arrived, but should be along either in this afternoon's mail or tomorrow. I'm writing this at the office in a free period.

Again there is not much new. I intended to go to a movie Monday, but nothing good was on, so I spent the evening quietly at home. I did get to a movie Sunday afternoon which was entertaining at least, although nothing special -- "Coney Island". Last night was Gunnery night, of course, and after class I went right back to the barracks.

Tonight there is a USO show in the artillery bowl, and I think I shall go. They say its quite good and this is the last night.

It certainly is a small world. Monday evening I started for the PX and was stopped by a 2nd Lt. who wanted to know if I wasn't a Demie from Bucknell. When I told him I was, he identified himself as Harry Johnson's brother. Harry graduated in '42. I'm sure you remember him. The brother came through OCS before I got out here -- same class as Bill Beck -- and now has returned to take the Survey course. This fellow graduated from Bucknell in '36 and was an Alpha Chi Mu, so he must have passed the house numerous times. His face was awfully familiar.

I see by the paper that Cookie has been promoted to 1st Lt. Now if I were out in a line outfit, I would be getting a promotion in another three months too. As it is, I'll probably have to wait a full year -- and I'll be lucky to get promoted then. And under the new ruling I won't be eligble for Captain for another year. Cookie will probably be Captain by next Xmas. But I guess I might just as well get used to the idea and stop worrying about it.

That's just about all the news. Oh yes, I had a letter from Ken. He's in Burlington, Iowa for the summer doing youth work in a very crowded defense area -- and living in a trailer himself.

Love to all,
John