John F. Zeller Papers
This reminds me of this summer working on the college switch board all night. You see I drew another detail over the weekend. From noon yesterday (Saturday) to noon today (sunday) I'm assistant charge of quarters. My duties consist of sitting in the orderly room and answering the phone, making announcements over the speaker system, posting the guard, waking the boys on K.P., etc. Now it is 3:30 in the morning. The Corporal on duty with me is sleeping. I slept from 10 to 2. He sleeps from 2 to 6. I should have all of these details out of the way so that the week-end is clear by the 6th, but I suppose they'll be starting all over again then.
However if in your next letter you mention that you are coming down giving the dates, time of arrival, etc., I can show that to the 1st Sgt.; and should I be scheduled for duty, he will relieve me. So don't forget to include a paragraph like that in your next letter.
Because I'm on duty. I won't get to Church today, so I can't send the bullitin. Don't hesitate to give Tommy that old blue suit + the gray coat. Both are too small and have been for over a year. I'll still have the ^ dark blue pin stripe and the brownish tweed suit to fall back on when the war is over. Not to mention my summer suit.
And anyway, I'll probably want something new then anyway, so there just isnt any sense in saving things if Tommy could use them.
Yes, I did recieve a letter from Hub Grice. I should have asnwered it sooner, but I didn't. An answer is going out in the same mail.
No matter, I'm positive I never recieved any candy -- or anything -- from Aunt Virginia. I checked through my diary to make sure, for I enter those things there, but there is no mention of it. I don't think I gave her my change of address -- so it is quite possible that it got lost somewhere if she did send anything.
The box of cookies have not arrived, but your Thursday letter has. I presume they will be along tomorrow. (i.e today, for it is now early morning.)
You guessed wrong on the note you enclosed. It was from Art Calvin -- announcing the birth of a baby girl -- Helen La Veine. You know his wife's home was Statin Island.
I had a letter from Tommy + Agnes this week. Also one from Allen + Mary the latter sent me a dollar to buy candy, they said. But I shall use it for a meal. I also had a note from Herm Bower and one from Jane Cotteryahn. Jane is working as graduate assistant in the Dean of Women's Office at Pitt. She teaches one course and is taking work towards her Master's in Counseling. She and Tommy have broken off.
I have been trying all week to get a Traveler's Check cashed. But the system around here is against me. I have to get an officer to cash it for me. Even a Travelers Check which they advertize is good anywhere. Register, a complaint with Mr. Green for me will you Dad? It seems they simply don't trust soldiers around here -- even with a thing as fool proof as a Travelers check. I finally gave it to the Chaplain, and I'll have to wait til Monday to get the money.
I finally got my army driver's license. I am now qualified on army army truck. I suppose now I'll be drawing truck divers detail. Anyway it will be better to drive the cool truck than to shovel the coal!
I haven't seen Paul Johnson for 3 weeks. I wonder if he has been shipped? Have you heard anything? George Purcell was shipped to Macon, Ga. last week. I haven't seen Hackenburg since I've been here, but I heard he was in a 6 week cycle and most of those boys left this week -- so I suppose he is gone too. Meehan has been classified in limited service and will be transferred. It seems he gets motion sickness. Brownell and I will probably remain here for another 10 weeks.
I am writing with a borrowed pen. Today mine got dropped by a fellow who was using it to sign a pass here in the orderly room, The point broke. In a few days -- perhaps the beginning of next week, I shall send another box home. The pen will be in it. Have a new point put in it and keep it there. I'll buy a new one here, since I need it immediately and it would take too long to send one to me.
I shall also send more letters for you to store away for me. My diary is almost filled, and I'll send that too. You may read it if you want too and then store it away for me. It is nice to have, and if I ever decide to write a book, it will be good background material.
P.S. They must have skunks in N. Car. too. I was just out to get one of the guards up -- and one of the little animals with a white tail ran in front of me not 10 ft. away. J.