Dear Mother,

I just received your letter that was mailed on the 7th. Evidently it takes 2 days for an air mail letter to reach San Antonio. Well, I started this letter at 2 o'clock Friday and it is 8 o'clock Saturday evening now. I have been on K.P. the entire time. I saw Charles last night and he told me some news about Brigham. As you know, Al was classified as a navigator. Well, to make a long story short, his chest X-ray was rechecked and he is in the hospital under observation now. It seems that the medical officers suspect some kind of spots on his lungs. All we can do now is hope for the best for Al.

I was classified as a pilot today and expect to leave for a pre-flight school within the next four weeks. However, there is some doubt in my mind about this. From every indication here at San Antonio, it seems that I will be sent to a pre-flight school but there still is the chance that I might be sent to a college. This is just purely a premonition that haunts me whenever I think about leaving here.

Mother, don't worry about my health, for right now I am in the pink of condition. I have been subject to only one illness since being here and that is the "G.I. runs," which is commonly known as dysentery or something like that. Anyway, you sit on the throne for about three hours, get up for three minutes and then head right back again. However, I think it did me good if I have any "intestines" left.

In our barracks here we have fellows from all over the United States. It's hard to keep names straight, so we give them "nicknames" corresponding to the state from which they originated. One of the main reasons that I probably won't be sent to college is this - our uniforms are regular cadet uniforms. They compare very much to an officer's uniform, while the fellows that are at Keesler Field, Miami Beach, and are now in college, have regular private's uniforms. Also, we receive a total of $108.00 per month minus deductions, which is regular cadet's pay, while the other fellows receive only private's pay, which is $50.00.

Every sport imaginable is played down here. There is always a football, baseball, or some other game being played right here on our squadron area. If you get any information concerning stuff happening at U.C., write me all about it. Maybe I can help you "concoct" some new ideas on what is going to happen to me.

If you get a chance, send me a couple boxes of brown shoe polish. I want something which will dress my shoes, as well as shine them.

Well I must close now but will write again as soon as possible.

Lots of love,
Jack

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