April 30, 1942 - Dear Audrey

...but I guess I’ll be a good soldier.

Happy pay day and happy spring! The first payday of his Army career. I don't think they've gotten the raise to $42 per month yet but it's coming. In the meantime, it's $21 plus he gets a battery bill that's wrong. And still they wait on passes even though training is pretty much over. There's still a lot to learn. And now they have to outshine the fancy-pants Marines. He might be able to spare her some time on Friday and she might be able to spare a knuckle sandwich. At least Mom can have some fun and play some tennis or softball. Go Mom.

Original Letter

Transcript follows.

Boston Globe - April 30, 1942

R.A.F. is the Royal Air Force and in 1942, they are kicking butt and pounding German occupied Paris. For a month, 2-ton bombs have rained down on Paris, mostly on factories producing anything related to the war. Detailed war coverage in the papers is impressive. And flexible too - jumping over to Mrs. Henry Ford's method for drying apples for the troops. Did you know that today was the hottest April 30th on record at 84 degrees?

Boston Globe Exclusive

Here's chapter 4 of the Globe's exclusive: Defense Will NOT Win the War.

Transcript - April 30, 1942

Fort Banks

Dear Audrey:

This is pay day and also a very nice spring day. In fact, it’s too nice. I don’t feel like doing anything. I’d like to pick you up and go some place and horse around. Maybe down to the beach.

Pay day in the Army is like everything else here – different as hell. First of all, we drilled like hell for over 2 hours early this morning and it looks as if we aren’t going to do anything more. Then around 10:20 we lined up and march over to the Finance office for our money. And we had to go thru a “song and dance” before we got it. Now we are back here waiting to pay our battery bill which is in most cases wrong. They have me down for a haircut that I never received. It’s hot and muggy standing in ranks. It looks as if they are going to call us soldiers at last, which means they will be issuing some passes around here for us rookies pretty soon. They don’t give us any breaks as yet.

It seems there is to be a dance or party over in Lynn to-night (Thurs) and so they asked for volunteers to go. Some of these affairs turn out to be a real flop and so a soldier is taking a chance. So they ask for volunteers. Most of the rookies stuck their hands up (not me) but they were told to bring them down because we were only rooks.

So, though our training is over in some things, we still have a lot to learn. I thought we could march pretty good and also that we look pretty good out there in the mornings. However, the captain doesn’t seem too satisfied. He saw the Marines doing some fancy maneuver in the show the other day and the next morning he was out on our necks. His motto seems to be that “if the Marines can do it, Battery H will do it better”. Oh my head. That pack gets heavy and that helmet mighty uncomfortable, but I guess I’ll be a good soldier.

Where in the devil are you going to play tennis and softball and with who? Not that it matters but I’m just wondering. I never saw any courts or room for a softball field when I was down. Of course, they wouldn’t need much room for you because I don’t think you could hit the ball out of the infield. I remember playing ball with you up on the farm and then you couldn’t even hit the ball. I am allowing for improvement now by saying you couldn’t put it past the infield.

I’m glad you didn’t make that fudge and brownies the way you made those biscuits. The whole upper floor in this barracks would be sick. Might even be dead by now.

I started cleaning my rifle and stuff last night so that it would be in order for Sat. and so I will be free Fri night. It’s hopeless cleaning that rifle anyway because it collects so much dirt and those inspecting officers could find something wrong. They can find something wrong on the most perfect soldier.

There is a dance Friday night and so I guess I won’t be able to see you. There is a little colored gal I promise to fix up so. You can come over if you want to and maybe I’ll be able to spare you a few moments. I’ll try hard to give you a break. Anyway, I will stop drinking coffee. Well I’ve got to fall out so sweet, I love you very much and I think you are wonderful.

All my love,

Leonard

I THINK HE GETS A PASS? Next letter Wednesday, May 6, 1942

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