BASIC TRAINING
March 1943 to April 1943
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Dear Folks,

I'm terribly sorry that the phone call turned out to be a fake or I guess that I should say a fluke. I tried to call at about 4:00 Sunday afternoon, but connections were not to be completed until 10:30 my time. Something went wrong somewhere, because the operator never called me back and the connection somehow was not completed.

However, you can call me by a person to person call if you wish. It is rather difficult for me to stay by a phone to contact you. Also, I'm sorry that I haven't written lately, but you'll understand when I tell you. I have been on K.P. the last two days. I'm enjoying it here more every day, though. I'm out of quarantine now and can go to the post show at night if I'm not on K.P., guard duty or an evening detail.

If you hear anything about Ralph, please pass along the information. I'm rather interested in hearing what his trouble was. But navigation is very good. A navigator is just as important as a pilot any day. Out of my original barracks of 90 men, 63 of us are still here. The rest have received either G.D.O. or C.D.D. I'm hoping that my new buddy, "Gil" Priestly and myself can sort of stick together. So far, all's O.K.

This afternoon late they gave us another test. The squadron commander took us out in a field, made us stand for 1 and 1/2 hours at attention and watched for "weaklings." One boy who was standing directly in front of me fainted at the end of the first hour. He fell right back on me. Boy, was I surprised to find him in my lap. Of course, he wasn't the only one to faint. That was the entire idea of this test, to look for boys who fainted under strain. I came out fine because I know how to take care of myself under such a strain. All the fellows who fainted are automatically "G.D.O."

That stuff about the cadet officer cry is entirely true. It is hard to believe, but I just couldn't yell as loud as one other fellow. But I tried hard. That information about Randolph Field is entirely correct. That field is to train those graduate pilots who wish to be instructors. Before I get there, I must graduate from an advanced training school first. Naturally, that will be some time from now. Thanks for the shoe polish and thank Mrs. Robertson for the candy. I'm not sure, but I think that Dick left for Shephard Field today. I guess it must be my "feminine intuition."

Well, time for taps, so....

Loads of love,
Jack

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