Dear Mother,

I'm on interior guard duty today, so I have some time to write. Interior guard duty consists of sitting at a table in the barracks and seeing that nothing happens while the rest of the men are gone. I just received your letter dated the 25th. I didn't know that Patty had an S.A.E. pin - at least I didn't remember it. But evidently, she is doing all right. Everything is coming along fine down here. I've been in pre-flight 5 days now - only have 8 weeks to go.

You ought to see me now. Our uniform has been changed lately because of the extremely hot weather. We wear overseas caps, shirts unbuttoned at the collar, shorts, garters, stockings and G.I. shoes. We look more like a bunch of Boy Scouts than soldiers. But open shirts and shorts are much more comfortable and we really don't care whether anybody likes our legs or not.

So far we haven't been hazed too much - anyway, I'm still alive. At last I've received a responsible position. In our squadron there are five flights - I'm in Flight C. Two days ago, the underclassmen were drilled by other underclassmen to determine who would be the flight marcher. I am flight marcher for Flight C. Flight marcher for the underclassmen in pre-flight compares to barracks lieutenant in the classification center. I have a good chance of becoming the squadron commander when I become an upperclassman due to being selected as a flight marcher.

Last night about midnight we had a queer experience. Somehow a dog got in our barracks and when he couldn't get out, he started setting up a howl. He just ran all over the place for a while until he ran into one of the foot lockers (similar to a trunk). When he hit the locker, the lid fell and caught his tail. He let out a yell that made everyone jump out of bed.

We got him out of the barracks and he just took off across the field for all he was worth.

I just read the sports section of the San Antonio paper - see that the Reds have won 3 and lost 3. They ought to do better than that. I haven't seen Charles since we've been in pre-flight, but you can tell his parents to stop worrying. He has practically lost all interest in Edith. He realizes that she is out to "hook" him and doesn't like it at all. I read a letter of his which he told Edith to stay away from Texas. He quite frankly told her not to come down here. So he's fairly safe - anyway he couldn't see her for the next four weeks at least.

When we go to Primary, we'll be sent to Pine Bluff, Oklahoma, Kansas City, St. Louis, or one of many other places. But it will be away from San Antonio. I'm hoping for St. Louis. The reasons are quite obvious.

Well, I've run out of words so it's time to close.

Lots of love,
Jack

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