Thursday, July 23, 1942

Hello John Milton;

I believe I have a couple of your letters I haven’t had anything to say about so I think right now I will answer them. It seems your daddy has gotten another schedule for you and I will send it along in this letter and he may add a message at the end of this. Incidentally, we are hoping you are going to get an opportunity before much longer to use this time table, but we will do as you suggested, and not build up too much hope, but I’m going to hope right hard.

We have ordered the “News Leader” sent you and we hope you will get many interesting and entertaining moments from having it, sorry we didn’t think of it sooner.

Well now about the new clothes. We are happy that you feel sufficiently certain thus far in your training, of what you have accomplished to justify your going ahead in getting these officers uniform. You have a right to be very proud, because it’s been plenty of work and effort, and we are more proud and if now is the time to get them, then I say, go ahead and best of luck and all I want is to see you in them.

Your Uncle Bud was interested in seeing the price list (in fact, he asks after you constantly and most often asks if we will let him read your letters. This I judge is like, a “fellow feeling” because of his having been in one war and in one so near him, in this one) and said, “the articles were plenty high”, at the same time he said, “if he (meaning you) has to have them, he has to have them regardless of the price.”

From my observation, the material the officers uniforms are made of are of the very best, some of it is positively beautiful, so I am not surprised at any price your clothes may be.

I imagine as long as all your companions got a touch of being sick, you didn’t feel badly or a lone when you did, on that rough trip you were talking about. It wouldn’t do for me to have to ride in one of those “things” would it? A boat is bad enough as far as I am concerned.

You are writing on very fussy paper these days. I am afraid the government is too extravagant to put out such paper for you boys to buy.

Did you get the trip to Radium Springs, that you spoke of?

I am glad for you all that parading has been cut out for now. And speaking of heat, listen to this, we went to the cottage last Sunday after Sunday school and came back Monday morning early, Sunday in the upstairs the temperature was 107 in the afternoon,- at 10:30 or most time to go to bed, it was 98. Can you beat that down there? Boy it was some hot. Papa asked after you and wishes you well and is glad you are doing so well in your training. He has a nice garden and we brought some fine things home with us.

Garnett isn’t so well, and hasn’t been down this summer, says, it’s too hot and his schedule of doing things wouldn’t fit in with Papa’s, so he rather stay home. It seems they sleep very late in the morning, go to bed sometimes early sometimes late, sleep after dinner if they want and so on, so figures he is better off where he is.

One or the other of us (or maybe both) will thank Mr. and Mrs. Sibley for the card. She asked me for your new address and I wondered what she wanted it for. She is not longer Young People’s Worker over at church. It seems Mr. Maddry wanted someone younger, - it has brought forth right much criticism for the members, for she is very much liked over there.

Adelaide’s mother was operated on last week and the day she went to the hospital Adelaide wanted to be there at the time, so she asked me to keep the baby, she is a cute thing and was grand after a few minutes of crying when she found her mother had left her, but I was surprised that she was good at all for she sees me so seldom. She is talking some now and is plenty company, I wish she was nearer so I could have her more often.

You may not have time to read any more of this, now, especially if Ben adds to it, so good bye now, and my best wishes for your flying and lots of love,

Mother,

Me too

We are anxious to see you in your new “togs”. I suppose orders have to be placed plenty ahead so that you will have them on time. I feel that since you were advised to order your uniform it is pretty well assured that your commission is forth coming.

Congratulations, “Old Kid”, By the way, I think the grade you made on your test which you mentioned was “pretty good!”(turn) (over) – (this is not “bread” but “addition”- ‘action” means several things.)

I received my “occupational questionnaire” yesterday, “Old men’s class”

I received yours some time ago and returned it to the local board.

Hope you received the package we sent you last Saturday ok. Your mother is wondering if you get to the movies any?

It is now 7pm so here is good night.

Dad

Hope you get that furlough. A marked time table enclosed for your convenience. (refer to back of page)

I took the “Instructions to passage etc” to the office and the fellows had quite a laugh from it as well as ourselves.

Write me if I can be on any help in arranging the train schedules for you.