Bill Gets a Permanent Army Post

APO space 13135

c/o  postmaster

New York,  N.Y.

July 19, 1944

Dear Dorothy,

Your letter written on 29 June came yesterday. When I think where I was on that day it makes me break out in prickly heat. I spent a day and night in the hottest place in the world, no, it wasn’t hell but it is said the people who go to hell from there take blankets along. Of course I wouldn’t lay any money on a statement like that. It is said that 120° is considered a cool day. This is a place over in Iran I sure wanted to run from there. Ha ha. Just think it is a month today that I left from New York. Actually it seems like a few days.

Finally my orders have come that will send me mighty close to where Bells and Brushes are. To tell you the truth I have missed one plane already. That was because I couldn’t be found when the order came out. Don’t tell a soul but at that time I was visiting one of the friends (Indians) that I have made. That is really where I have been spending most of my time. It is sort of an escape from the Army. However I imagine I will be on the next plane that goes my way I have been assigned to duty with the Transit Service but I have to find out what job I am until I get there.   I naturally expect the dirtiest sort of job because I’m trained for nothing special.

I’m sure glad that there is someone besides myself who would like to be back here in the “ land where cobras sway to the rhythm of thin pipes and that jackal’s moan rises and falls in the moonlight over glistening rice fields” that was quoted from Stones letter.

I hit the jackpot yesterday when I came away with seven letters. But none from my parents yet.

That little incident that you tell me about when you climbed up a cherry tree and a huge branch breaks. Well, it sort of reminds me of another time you tried climbing down from a place you had climbed to. Remember that fence up at the “ tanks?"  You seem to be very successful at climbing things and getting down is a different story altogether. Tut-tut. So many times I have rocked with laughter thinking about you on that fence.

I better be getting along, what do you think?

Keep up the good work you’re doing fine. I really enjoy your letters, no kidding

Bye now,

Always, Bill

A. P. O.

492 c/o postmaster

New York, N. Y.

July 25, 1944

Dear Dorothy,

Finally after 10 months in the Army I have a permanent station and also a job.   I hope it is the last time I have to move until I start my way home back again.   I have been here for four days already and what I have seen of it,  it is pretty good at least a lot better than the rest of the bases I have seen outside the States.   At least there are trees and grass here where I haven’t seen at other bases. We also have airfield share of mind.

I was hoping that I would be able to get all the way here without getting airsick. I got as far as a large city just north of your home without getting sick. During the last two hours of my journey I got pretty sick. I hated to have my records broken. One thing I know is that airsickness is just the same as seasickness except there is no rail to run to when you are in the air.

We are only 15 miles from a very nice town.   Sunday I went in for church. I sorta expected to see Willis’s folks but I didn’t find out until after that they had all gone to the States.

I got my first letter from my parents today.   It is taken 25 days to get an answer to my first letter.  She sent a picture of herself dad and Ann. Dad looks as if he has gotten 20 years older in the last year and a half.  Ann is getting to be quite a pretty girl.

I’ve been assigned to work in the personnel office that takes care of the records of the soldiers and also hires and pays civilian workers. I worked all day and now I have to go back ind a little while to work as late into the night as the “ darn” Lieut. sees fit. They have so much work to do that it is about disgusting. In the office I work in an Anglo in Indian who has was interviewing Christian College for some time really quite a nice guy.

Bye  now.

Always,

Bill

Chautauqua

July 30, 1944

Dear Bill,

I’m getting fatalistic about this.  Every time I write to you as soon as I mail the letter I get one from you.  It’s very frustrating, really!!!  But if I get a letter out of it I don’t know why I should be bitter.  Quite the reverse.

Thanks a lot for all the class news.  Keep it us – we need all you can give us. 

Gee, but I’m jealous of you.  Think of being home again.  I suppose there are disadvantages to it but just being in India is a step in the right direction.  I hope they’ll give you gobs of furloughs – am I kidding?  Oh well!  Hoping doesn’t cost anything!

Bill, the thought of a G.I. haircut just slays me – slays all of us, rather.  I told Bev about it and she absolutely whooped.  All the gorgeous blond hair – it’s a crime, definitely!

Speaking of Bev reminds me that Stan will be up here on furlough from tomorrow to Friday.  Isn’t that swell?  Chautauqua definitely is the place to go on a furlough.

As far as that goes Chautauqua is the place to go period.  Stop me if you’ve heard it but I’m having such fun.  I just live for the operas and plays and I’m learning a lot about the orchestra and classical music in general.  Last night at the concert the trombones had a little solo which reminded me of you.  It was in the Brahms violin concerto – don’t ask me what horn solos would be doing in a violin concerto, because I wouldn’t know!  Anyway it did, to get back to the subject.

At moment of writing I’m a bit bitter.  My sister has just left Chautauqua, I’ve just found out I have to have one of my front teeth pulled – better’n your haircut by far in ruining looks – and to end my tale of woe I flunked an exam on Friday really magnificently!  What am I talking about it for, anyway?

Before I forget, your V mail arrived just a day before the letter.  It was very exciting getting it.  Thanks!

I always knew the A.T.C. was the best outfit of the lot.  I shall defend it to the death in future.

Of course it’s inane to ask you because you’ll tell all you can but please, all the dope on what you are doing and seeing.  Not the class letter dope – for private consumption.  Have fun and say hello to India for me.

As ever,

Dorothy