September 21, 1942

Dear Old Tool:

Well, old man, I guess you think that we have really forgotten you this time, but we haven’t tho it may seem that way. We just haven’t had the time to do much writing anymore. We haven’t done anything in particular, but we still haven’t had the time.

I was sorry as the dicken to hear of your misfortune, but you’ll fit in somewhere yet in Uncle Sams Army Air Corps. I hope that by this time you are already somewhere else and doing fine at it.

You’re not the only one that has washed out though. It seems I have too. A week or so ago I decided that I wouldn’t go back to school and stay at the C. & O. As soon as I told my boss that, I was given a permanent job with quite a raise and then I was ordered to take my physical exam. Then very suddenly one day my boss called me and told me that the offices in Huntington, W. Va. Had disqualified me physically and therefore I couldn’t work for them anymore. So, here I am without a job. I have tried to get another exam, but as yet I haven’t met with any luck. They told me that I was disqualified because I am a potential diabetic. I have another job in view that I think I will like pretty good. It has something to do with mechanical drawing.

There is only one thing that is consoling about this and that is that the army might not take me for the same reason.

Jean and I still haven’t set any date yet and it seems we won’t be able to do so anytime soon now that I am out of work. We were planning a possible date sometime next spring. That would have given us time to prepare for such a thing, but unless I get back to work pretty quick we will have to make some other plans. You can still keep pulling for us if [you] want to.

The only things I really miss about not going back to school is the ratting of the Rats and being able to get into football games free. Jean and I went to the opening game last Saturday night anyway. Richmond played Camp Pickett and showed quite an improvement over last year beating Pickett 27-0. I believe that the team will do lots better this year than they did last year. They are using about 5 sophs on the team. The “T” formation they used is a little ragged, but I think they can polish that up a little to a better degree. There are two things the team seems to have that they didn’t have last year and that is a good team spirit (pep too) and some pretty good punting. Well heres hoping they will do much better than they did last year.

Nothing else of any importance has happened around here lately except Paul’s and Charlotte’s wedding. We all had quite a time and everything went off fine and now they are happily married and Jean and I are darn good and jealous of them and you can’t blame us for that. We have been going together longer than they have.

Well there doesn’t seem like there’s anything else to say now so I guess I’ll sign off. Be sure to write again soon and let us know what’s cooking down in that part of the country with you.

So long now,

Ed. (for Jean too)

P.S. I forgot to tell you one thing of importance. That is, they have started a cadet corps at Teejay

this year and my brother by some way was made Commandant of the corps. According to all reports they are coming along just swell. My brother thought he was something when he got his picture put on the front page of the paper.

So long again.

Don’t mind these horrible things enclosed. They’re just pictures of Jean and myself (and my dog).