John F. Zeller Papers
I had a "coming out" party this afternoon held over at the dental clinc. Yes I had a tooth pulled- my 1st molar on the upper left side. Doc Nesbit filled it and refilled it, until it was half filling anyhow. So I decided to have it pulled and get it over with -- knowing the army dentist would only pull it anyway. I’t been bothering me for some time with dull ache every once in a while -- and beginning this week it gave me a sharp pain everytime I chewed on it. Anyway its gone now.
They used novocaine -- so there was no pain. The whole left side of my face is still numb. The tooth itself looked huge. And the vacancy feels big enough to drop a two story house in it. Before long I suppose the shot will wear off and I'll be in agony for awhile. Just so it's okay by tomorrow -- for we have the hardest week ahead.
This past week wasnt any too easy. We had about 4 tests and 3 service practices. So far I've had all 5's. I hope I can keep it up.
Yesterday morning we took complete charge of a battery. I held every job there is at one time or another during the morning. I was Battery Commander, Executive, Gunner, Recorder, Fuse Setter, and just about everything else. It was a lot of fun -- and very good experience.
Yesterday afternoon we witnessed a demonstration in Infantry and Artillery on the Defense. It was very good -- equal at least to anything I've seen the movies do. Some 3,500 of us sat on the side of a mountain and watched the battle in the valley and plain below.
When we first went out there I would have sworn there were no men out in the valley, but suddenly 500 men just jumped up out of nowhere and conducted a battle. How men can live and fight in an area as completely covered by artillery and machine gun fire as that was I don't know. But they are doing it today in Persia, China, and Africa.
I saw Brownell at a distance at the demonstration -- but I didn't get a chance to talk to him. I guess he's still getting along allright. He should finish two weeks before I do.
There's not much else new. I had a letter from Cousin Emma this week. She tells me that her church is being redecortated. About time, don't you think? Wonder if she is having it done? Last night Winn (a boy in the next hut) and I went over to the main post to the movies. The show wasn't particularly good, but the theater is wonderful. Just as nice as the Campus. It's supposed to be the nicest camp that in the U.S. It was well worth the walk just to sit in those plush seats.