Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania

 Wednesday, October 1944

(Postmarked: November 8, 1944)

 

Hello Pauline-

 

            Well it looks like they’re going to make garrison soldiers out of us returnees. There are a few rumors floating around. One of them is [that] a closed order drill is on schedule.

            Most of the men don’t like the idea, being as some of them hold the Purple Heart Ribbon for wounds on [their] arms, back, feet, and legs. They feel [that] they’re in no condition to do any drilling or any other exercises.

             I stood [in] my first retreat formation last night and it looks like there will be plenty of other formations coming us.

            [For] the past three weeks, the men sent here were alerted and shipped out daily, but now the shipments have been held up. Another reason is [that] there won’t be any action ‘till after the third day and then they will discharge about 700 men in this area. I hope I’m still here and one of them.

            Since I [have] been here I have been on two details; one detail was charge of quarters in the shipping section. That day there were about 30 men up for medical discharges.

            Most of these men were bomb happy. They would jump two feet in the air whenever a telephone would ring. One had his right eye shot out, another all of the toes on his left foot. Others were suffering paralysis of arms and legs.

            The other detail I had was a guard detail. I had to watch a young guy who was 22 days A.W.O.L. He sure was in a bad shape. He had three prison court- martials and [was] in need of medical attention. The first time he went A.W.O.L. for 11 days he was fined two- thirds of his pay. The second time he was gone 7 days [and] was fined and was put in the stockade for two weeks. The 3rd time he got hard labor for 3 months.

            The last six weeks he was on M.P. duty in Pittsburg or scout patrol.  When he heard he was being transferred he went over the hill. He was picked up by the M.P.’s at home and brought here.

            While at home he was running around with a girl and picked up a contagious disease. I told him to report it to the officer and they would send him to the general ward right away. He could get cured in seven days with penicillin and sulfa drug treatments.

            At one time V.D. was a serious offense. You were subject to a dishonorable discharge or fined and sentenced for one year [of] hard labor.

            There were 30 men that went to the hospital yesterday morning. Nine of them received medical discharges; the others were waiting to be examined and to go before the board.

            The only chance I get at getting out is if I get what they call a Section 10.  It’s a form of discharge through government convenience. When they can’t find a place to put you, they release you.

            Right now, I think I’d take a Section 8.  That’s where you wind up when you start acting screwy.  Section 8 means a section of the army regulation regarding men who are physically or mentally unfit for service. It might be a good idea to start bucking for it.

            I had five medical examinations in the last two months and they can’t find anything wrong with me. I think I’ll let some one drop me on my head so I get Section 8.  I guess it would be just my luck to get my neck broke. Well so long – see you later –

 

 Pete