6:45 P.M.

Oct. 28, 1942

Dear Mother:

Was so surprised to hear that it was 20° there.  But I guess its that time of the year though.

The weather here has been chilly but yesterday and today the sun was shining and it was nice and warm.

As to my future in the army, I don’t know what I all said in other letters, but I am going to be a High Speed Telegrapher after I finish Basic Training.  Every soldier has to take this training whether he is to be a line-man or clerk.  This Basic Training last 4 weeks and deals with fundamentals of radio, chemical warfare, camoflage, drilling, marching, exercises, military courteousy, map reading, first-aid, rifle practice, and others I can’t think of.  They do some of their teaching by movies.  All in all it is very interesting and should not be taken lightly.  After we have finished the course we will be given a stiff exam on everything.  Everyone gets one hundred and twenty rounds of ammunition for target shooting because even though we will not be at the front there always is a possibility of parachute troops.  The Signal Corp takes a lot of pain to train its men it teaches every subject thoroughly.  We have 6 one hour classes every day and the schools are a mile away from the barracks.  We march their in the morning, come back for lunch, go back again and march back for supper, all in all that’s four miles of marching a day.  Now if that isn’t a thorough study of everything I’d like to know what is.  The officers are very nice but strict as they have to be to keep order.

I asked for a pair of shorts that was a near white color because if they aren’t they have to be hid on inspection day which is every Saturday.  And on this day we have to stand at attention while he, the Captain, looks at our clothes, hair, foot locker and bunk to see that everything is up to snuff.  One Friday night we scrub the barracks and shine our shoes so that they shine like …a heel.

As to the exams we got. Well as I told you before they gave us a code test at Camp Grant and a mechanical aptitude test on which I passed everything perfect.  So they sent me to Camp Crowder.  Here we had another test on electrical subjects on which I also made an excellent score.  Then we went before a trained interviewer that places the men.  He had a lot of trouble placing me because I was suited for everything they had to offer so finally he went up to the Sargent in charge and they put their heads together so here I am a telegrapher.  He said that after my completion of Basic Training I’d be made a Corporal Technician.  And after completion of my telegraph training, which takes much longer I’d be made a sergeant Technician.  I also am eligible for officers training upon which I am given a great deal of thought at the present time.  It takes a lot to study and work but its being done here every day.  There are kids here 21 years old and Lieutenants already.  The officers get 6 weeks training here and go to New Jersey for 3 months and if they pass there they receive their commissions. 

After a day of school here, everybody is pretty tired and glad to get to bed.  We start school at 6:45 A.M. and get back at 11:45 A.M. go back at 12:15 P.M. and get back at 5:15 P.M. have the flag ceremony, which is retreat, at 6:00 P.M. eat at 6:15 P.M., lights out at 9:00 P.M have to be in bed at 11:00 P.M. Almost everybody’s in bed at 9 o’clock though, unless they’re at a show or writing letters.  As I said before they have a special room for writing letters everything is fixed up swell. 

In the day room they have refreshments, piano, radio, pool table, ping pong, books, and magazines. 

This place makes everybody feel right at home. 

The meals are serve family style and are better than any meal you could ever buy in the best of hotels and I mean this for every meal.  We have had every kind of potatoe, chicken, turkey, ham + eggs, bacon, corn, tomatoes, peas, beans, breakfast foods, grapefruit, other kinds of fruit, different kinds of pie, cake, ice cream, and numerous others.  We can eat all we want until we’re full.  And boy oh boy the boys sure do eat.  There are mostly young men here because it takes a young mind to learn all the things they teach.

I’m beginning to think this outfit is better than the air corp.

The studies are very interesting. 

As for calling Prebsttes(?) well when I call it took me ½ hour waiting in line to place the call and another ½ hour to complete it.  I know there is always somebody home at Klein’s, but as I didn’t have time to waste I called there because I didn’t know if Prebsttes(?) were home or not.  We very seldom get a chance to make a second try because the waiting line is so big.  It cost $11.00 for 3 minutes.  I talked 10 minutes for $2:25 which is very cheap. 

Now whenever you all get to gather at Prebsttes(?) some night why let me know long enough ahead of time, at least a day or two and at night between 7:00 + 9:30 P.M.  If you want to do this it’s alright with me and reverse the charges.  I’ve also been made this offer from Klein’s already and I sure aim to take advantage of this.  Now in case you do set a date for such a call and you don’t get a call that night, I will call the next following night, because I might have K.P. or something like that, because everybody has to do it. 

I can’t think of anymore now.  If I have forgotten anything please let me know. 

This is quite a lot of writing anyhow. 

What’s the matter with the neighbors don’t they know how to write.

Robert Cook from Chicago Heights is in the same barracks with me.  Incidentally, I am in a room with two other fellows because there was no room out in the barracks.  In here we have a lot of privacy.  These two boys are from Chicago.  They are Robert Burns and Charlie Clemsman.  Nice kids, too.  We went to the show last Sunday night and saw the Yank at Eatson.  We are going Thursday night and see Wake Island.  I bet Homewood hasn’t had that yet.  We get all the best pictures here. 

Your Son,

Melvin