May 9, 1942 - Dear Maxwell
...it makes me feel as low as a snake’s sister.
What is a bed. Let's examine that. For a whole page :) Meanwhile, the weather is not great which makes drilling and everything else miserable. I like how he throws out the cookie challenge. Then the large box shows up....
FYI - the 920 Club is a show on the radio - WORL, 950 AM, a religious station out of Boston usually Wednesdays at 6:30pm. Similar to the 700 Club I believe; just 220 less? They continue to rock today for Jesus. I bet he got a real chuckle out of that. LOL.
UPDATE- remember the story about that cute little spaniel in yesterday's Globe??? Scroll down for the verdict. I found it.
The Boston Globe - May 9, 1942
Not sure how you get by on 2-3 gallons of gas but for non-essential driving I guess that's enough. How is Mom going to get classified as "essential" to get more gas to get to Winthrop? These are tough times but MacArthur has them on the run.
The Boston Globe - May 9, 1942
UPDATE: His name is Bill! I found the update to the story about that cute little spaniel. Mr. Buck can hardly contain himself.
Meanwhile in Hartford...
News is pretty much the same as in the Globe just, wordier? All papers use an AP service and add their own local happenings. I can't say it enough about the coverage; that is, the reporting is incredibly comprehensive and detailed.
Hartford Courant - Radio
I posted the radio schedule before but wanted to again since it's pretty impressive and he mentioned the 920 Club. I was wondering what she listened to so grabbed the Courant for Hartford radio. Maybe the news perhaps a radio drama. Ellery Queen is on at 7:30pm. Just be sure to tune in on time. There's no rewinding or starting over. Love the Household arts and a knitting party is such a good idea for the young ladies.
Transcript - Next Day???
Fort Banks
Dear Maxwell,
It’s a wet dismal day here and it makes me feel as low as a snake’s sister. It started raining last night and has been raining ever since. That is up until now and it’s 19½ minutes after one now (I just glanced at the sundial and so I know). I had my raincoat rolled up in my pack and so I broke it out this morning. They should issue us two raincoats. Another thing they should give us two of is beds. One for inspection and one to sleep in. I used to think a bed was a better friend to man than fifty dogs, but the Army has spoiled all that. It’s getting so that I hate my bunk and almost dread going to bed nights. Going to bed means messing the bunk after I probably spent an hour fixing it up and all day watching it so it would remain the same. The fellow who invented beds didn’t do it to torment his fellow companions. He was trying to devise a better and a more comfortable way of sleeping. The Army however doesn’t look at it in this light. They think a bed is something to pretty up and not to lay on. To lay on a bunk is something they can’t understand.
Oh well, it’s kind of hard getting into the swing and since they started letting so many out every night, it seems funny. The fellow that sleeps next to me is out on a pass and it seems funny to see his bunk empty. After seeing him there faithfully for 5 weeks and then have him gone. This morning I swept and mopped under 2 other bunks besides my own because the fellows were gone. I didn’t have to, but it makes the place look right and we never know when they will be there for an inspection.
As for that radio school I spoke of yesterday, it still is quite indefinite. It rained so hard that I didn’t expect too much to-day. The 1st sergeant said he was going to find out about it. Maybe to-morrow. I still can’t see why they pick me to study radio. The only thing I know about radio is how to tune in the “920” club.
I got some cookies with jelly in them from Peggy this afternoon and they are all gone. They were pretty good. My wife can probably do better. I also got my laundry from Woods Court. The fellows saw the large package and right off they thought they had enough to eat for a week. I told them it was a vacuum cleaner to do away with the Army barracks household drudgery. No more sweeping floors – wow –
Well sweet, I’m looking forward to seeing you soon. The next pass will be probably for 5 hours but the next one after that will be for 24 hours. Of course, they might change their minds.
You are such a nice wife and I love you so much. I’ll have to close now. We have night drill to-nite and I’m mad. I don’t like to go up there at night and especially when it’s raining. Oh well –
All my love is for my wife
Leonard
P.S. I bet you never knew a snake had a sister.
Next letter Monday, May 11, 1942
Check out our Facebook.
Comments Welcome :)
