August 29, 1944
August 29, 1944
Dear Shirl,
Now to unfold some of my thrilling adventures. Actually they weren't thrilling, but the newness of the scenery was interesting to me.
At 8:00 am we climbed aboard a 1916 Pullman, but at least it was a Pullman, so no gripes. The first day and night were uneventful, but on Sunday morning we had a three hour layover at Sweetwater Texas. It was the middle of nowhere and fifty miles from the next water hole, yet the town was clean and new. Very colorful. I saw genuine cowboys driving big Buicks. There were flocks of pretty girls and everyone was friendly. It was more like a northern town than a western. I did run into a swell curio shop. That's where I got your rattles. I won't argue with anyone that Texas is large. It took us almost two days to cross it. About every fifty miles is a pretty good sized town, but those fifty miles in between are sure desolate. As far as you can see, nothing but flat yellow sand covered with sick looking sage brush.
Arizona was next. That's more my idea of real country. About two out of every three people are Indians. They wear the oddest looking costumes, sort of a mixture of Mexican and indian. We stopped at Winslow for an hour so I got off and romped around. I stopped at a typical western restaurant run by a Chinese. He was a very smiling and jovial character and the blighter hooked me for thirty cents for a cup of coffee and a glass of tomato juice. We went through part of the Grand Canyon. and crossed a flock of mountains. Some of the sights were really breathtaking. There sure is a lot of stuff i've got to see again. We have a very wonderful country.
This base is really the cats meow. I'll be here for about five months. For the first month our schedule is pretty rough. We get up at 4:00 - breakfast at 4:20 - first class at five - classes until 4:00 pm - an hour of calisthenics - an hour and a half of drill - 40 minutes for supper - an hour of study hall and to bed by 8:15. This is for thirty days straight, no Saturday or Sunday off. I guess Deanna will have to wait awhile. We'll be able to get to San Bernadino and L. A. during the last three months. I wonder what Shirley Temple's phone number is?
Florida climate could never compare with California's. The evenings are cool enough for a sweater and even though the afternoons are hot I haven't yet perspired or been too uncomfortable.
Say if you're not doing anything around Thanksgiving, take a run out here. I'll take you to dinner in our high class Cadet Mess Hall. I'll match it with Camelia House any day. We get the swellest crumb apple pie. I'll bet we eat better than nine out of ten civilians.
All our instructors are officers here and I sure do get bawled out. My poor pride has been beaten, bent, and broken in only four days. Oh well, I'm young and I'm strong so I'll probably survive.
It has taken me six days to finish this letter. That's how busy I am. Gotta go to another class right now.
When I get my next furlough I'll tell you some hair raising yarns about my hair raising experiences with a hair raising parachute at hair raising Gunnery School. Wow, I still shudder
Todos Me amor
Ray
S.P. Just got your letter of august? Let's sign truce! You lay off "childish" I'll lay off nastiness O.K.?
If you ever pull a "yo all," routine on me I'll put ice cubes down your neck.
Miss you muchly
Ray