May 12, 1942 - Dear Honey Bunch

I’m not going to stick my chin out too far.

Well it's not radio school but it's a change. There's so much involved in firing those big guns. Setting elevation with a giant wheel is a lot different than recording numbers on a board. Now he's left to wonder if he'll be picked to go to another fort. His friend Tony is finishing up his training as well. Hopefully he gets a break. The new spring Army fashions are out - he's not excited. We do love meatloaf sandwiches.

RE: Big guns. I think these are the guns he's referring to, at Fort Ruckman.

Original Letter

Transcript follows:

The Boston Globe - May 12, 1942 - Evening

There it is!!! Pay raise for enlistees - that's Dad. Imagine going from $21 per month to $50. Too bad you're not getting gas, sugar, coffee, etc. Recall that President Roosevelt has prices frozen. And poor Mom. Is she going to get enough gas to travel to Winthrop? Just what is "essential"?

Meanwhile in Hartford...

The On to Victory Parade today!! Big crowds are expected. Check out the booth selling war bonds. They created a war bunker. There's a farm labor shortage so they're setting up camps to house migrants who do the work to encourage them to stay and help. And Hartford leads in tin can collection. That is, for a town their size.

Transcript - May 12, 1942

Fort Banks

Dear Honey Bunch,

Well I’m still tired. I guess I’ll always be tired. To-day was the first time I’ve had to drill for over a week and so it seems funny. Up in the pits they put me on a new job and it’s hard. I was setting the elevation of the big guns and we have a big wheel to crank the guns up into position. On those telephones all I had to do was stand and watch them drill and write numbers on the black board. Now it’s hard, but it should be an important job. Not that the other one wasn’t. (all the jobs are important)

In a few weeks they are going to pick out the best men to go out to some other fort for some actual firing. I don’t know enough about it to know whether this would be a break or not. If it will help me I’ll try to get picked, but if it only means spending over a month on an island where you can only do three things (eat, work, and sleep) I’m not going to stick my chin out too far. No passes during that time. I’ll find out more about it. I still think you’ve got to be on the ball all the time to get anyplace.

I got a letter from Tony to-day. He is going to finish his training in a couple of weeks and he seems afraid he is not going to be able to see his girl before they station him someplace. I hope he gets a break.

The fellows in charge of supply is always taking my sizes for something or other. This morning I gave him a bunch of them. For summer wear, work, and for the fall. I’ve got enough stuff as it is and any more and I won’t have any place for it. It’s a good thing it takes time to get this stuff. Some of these fellows have more clothes now than they ever did in civilian life. And they are the ones who squawk the most. It’s funny but true. The Army is the home they’ve had in years. I mean good?? food and real shoes. Oh well, I’m the one who is complaining now.

I’ve just come from noon chow and it was pretty good. Pork! I would rather be eating meat loaf sandwiches with you on my lap like we did yesterday. It looks like it is going to rain and so we will stay in, I hope.

I love you very much and think of you often,

Leonard

Next letter tomorrow, May 13, 1942

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