May 5, 1944
May 5, 1944
Dear Shirley,
Did you ever see a formal dress parade? It's really something. There were six thousand cadets on the parade grounds, each one dressed in clean suntans with flat top caps and white gloves. Each one wore a gun belt and had a carbine. The formation was symmetrically perfect and we all were facing the flag. "to the colors " was sounded and we all came to attention. Then, "present Arms". and everyone salutes together. It looks like a flock of pigeons flying when the white gloves rise. It's quite a thing to see a parade and then have "Star Spangled Banner" played, but just at the heaviest pounding of the drums, a whole squadron of B24's flew over. That was something I'll never forget. I sure was proud to be one of that gang. If you ever saw a cadet parade you would snub your nose at the navy.
The schooling here has a few more interesting points than C.T.O. Today we had two classes on "military Art". One was "economic and Political Infiltration", and the other was the study of, "Kid und Kessel and Schwerpunt and oufroller" movements. It sounds like hell , but it's fun.
Outside of academic formations, we are restricted to our barracks for the first five weeks. No P.X., no bowling alley, no show, no nothing. Well, it's a bit dull. We eat at a gigantic mess hall.
Lischke's gal sent him a chocolate cake yesterday. He's going around bragging his head off. Are you going to stand for that?
Hey, I got a hundred in the math exam. Some stuff huh?
I got gigged for dive bombing last night. Bah! have burned and peeled twice already. My genuine diamond melted on P.T. yesterday. Another bum investment.
You and Carol ought to prove an interesting team. What I'm trying to figure out is, will you cause Carol to be late or will Carol cause you to be early or have you dissolved partnership?
Would you like to know my daily schedule? We get up at 5:30 and fall out for Reveille at 5:45. From 6:00 to 6:20 we clean our little bodies and brush our teeth. 6:20 to 7:20 is breakfast (yum -yum). From 7:20 to 7:40 we disinfect our boudoirs. From 7:40 to 12:00 we have code, math, physics, aircraft identification, military strategy, first aid, and flight theory. 12:00 to 1:00 is dinner (yum-yum-yum). From 1:00 to 2:00 we drill - 2:00 till 4:15 is P.T. and Calisthenics. 4:15 to 4:30 is free time. From 4:30 to 6:00 we stand Retreat Parade. 6:00 to 6:15 free time. 6:15 to 6:30 free if we don't want to wash. 6:30 to 7:30 supper. 7:30 to 8:00 is close call to quarters. We listen to bulletins and announcements. From 8:00 till 9:00 we are free. To bed at 9:30 and then comes it another day. That, darn it, keeps me out of mischief.
How's your mother? Give her a mess of my love, will you?
There is nothing that pleases me more than to have you go to the show with your brother. He's an exceptional child. I too saw the Desert Song. but I don't know why Dennis Morgan's lower lip curls. Phooey!
My mother and Myles are planning to go to Lansing if Ken gets a furlough. Golly, I hope they don't discover my past.
Running out of time now, remind me to tell you a mess of mushy things in the next letter.
Give out with some more words. Lovey Dove
Mein Liebes und Hartzen
Ray