Thursday, April 9, 1943

Well, so much happened today I doubt if I can remember it all. When we got up it was raining so after chow we were dismissed for the morning. So I had all morning to myself. First I was drafted to load empty coke cases on a bus. That didn't take long so I didn't mind it. When I got back to the barracks I darned a sox. Then I oiled by shoes to keep the rain out of them. That took about an hour because you have to work the oil into the leather. After I finished the shoes I washed out about 12 hankies and 2 pair of sox. Then I wrote four letters. I can't mail them until I get envelopes but they're at least written. When I finished that I laid down for a while and and then the captain came in and asked for 24 volunteers. Well, I went and we wound up cleaning the gym. It took about 15 minutes and then we played basketball the rest of the morning. The captain was playing with a sergeant and was he good. After lunch we went out on the drill field and drilled for an hour. Then we came back and the captain took everyone's name who played basketball or tennis then we were all issued our gym shoes, two pair of wool sox, two supporters and we're supposed to get the rest later. The gym shoes cost $4 but they're all leather tops. They look like boxing shoes pop. They have some kind of thin composition sole. After we got our stuff we were free for the rest of the afternoon. I played ping pong for a while and then slept most of the time. After supper tonight I got two letters. One from Elsie and one from Doris. They were mailed air mail on Wed. evening and I got them today, Thursday. It took less than a day to get here. That really is good. I hope it's always that fast. I also got the two packages forwarded from San Marcos. Pa, you're slipping, the big package was coming apart. The candy and nuts sure tasted good. I'll write Auntie right away and thank her for them. I'll send the shoes back and I think I'll have to send the shorts back too. The tee shirts are OK.

The first division or group has been made out and I think I'm on it. That means I'll only be here a month. I'll know more about that later. Bud went to the hospital to have his tonsils out and he also said they're going to make a navigator out of him. We got mirrors in the wash room today, now all it lacks is the toilet seats. They painted the shower room today so it ought to be ready soon. Last night was the first time I've slept between sheets since I left Sheppard Field. It sure did seem nice and the shower felt good too.

I think we start training next week. That will be swell. I saw a paper today and this rain was the first since December, only five months ago. Boy do they play poker here. Mostly black jack. One guy goes out with $50 or $60 every night. To bad you're not here pa, you sure could clean up. There is a seargent here that reminds me of you. Oh, our captain is 26 years old and one Lieutenant is only 19 years old. Everyone refers to him as a 90 day wonder. Like Eunices husband, O.C.S. I wish we'd had tomorrow off. I could use it to catch up on my mail writing. Well, time for bed so I'll say goodnight.

Love,
Rae

P.S Has dad gained any weight?