October 14, 1945

Dear All:

We have started training in earnest now, go to school 8 hours a day and we start flying next week for sure. Have a pretty tough program laid out for us and I can’t figure why we will ever finish this training if we are not going overseas. They don’t seem to be considering anyone for overseas unless they are going to stay in the army awhile. Have some new poop out where you can sign up for the emergency plus six months or for 30 June 1947, whichever comes first. I haven’t signed up for it, but I sorta wish I had – I would in a minute if I had a couple of years of college already. I think I will go to school and then try to get back in for a few years or maybe a degree longer – might even make it my career if I can get Regular Army. Retirement in thirty years at ¾ pay isn’t at all bad, or 20 years at ½ pay. Pretty good.

Got a letter from Albert and he’s bought himself a car – a convertible. He had a total of 90 days leave you know and he had to report to San Antonio, so he got as far as New Orleans and wired them and they gave him 30 more. That makes 120 days he has had so far. He’s really been a bit lucky – could have been working and drawing his army pay too. He’s going to take his discharge and go back to Tech he thinks – may see him these yet, can’t tell.

I think my clothes are over in the post office but it closed before I got out of class so I will have to wait until Monday. I wish you would send my sweat suit and top coat and that bag that I sent the clothes home in as I would like to have it to mail my summers home in. If you put the stuff in a box you can fold it pretty small and send it along. I’ll ask again for the shaving brush just in case you might have forgotten it.

You whack Pop on the head when he starts to go out on those night calls this winter. It’s just too darned much trouble and the R.R. has no appreciation for a job well done, just like the darned army. It’s not what you do that you get ahead on – but who you know and I’m not going to buddy-buddy anyone if I never get anywhere. Rather dig ditches for a living. Might do that yet if things don’t shape up a little better. Oh well!

So Bob is finally out and a joe civilian again. You can see why I wanted to go over. You get all the good deals if you are a returnee. Spilt milk now though. Does Bob plan to go to school or go back to his old job or has he decided yet?

Guess he will go back to work and start raising a family! Fooey on that I say…. I don’t trust women anymore; I always get tangled up with the wrong ones it seems.

Have run into several guys from Kirtland here. One is an instructor and I am hoping to get him for mine. That’s about it for now. Will write again soon.

Love from yo’ boy,

Roy