Jan 22, 1943
Dear Folks:
I’m starting this letter on Thursday at 7:30. I’ll try to finish it tonight but I may not.
This morning I went for the last half of my physical check-up. They really give us a going over from head to foot. As far as I know I am okay in all respects. A lot of the guys must go back for a recheck because they weren’t just right. Some of them had something wrong with their eyes. Some of them had something wrong with their heart and that’s how it went. My little Chinese friend was 1/4 inch too short to be a pilot but they told him to come back tomorrow and maybe he would be taller. They said sometimes people are taller in the morning than in the afternoon. He is 5’3-3/4″ and 5’4″ is the low limit I guess.
I haven’t had a decent drink of water since I left home. We’ve had ice cream every day so far. We get plenty to eat and most of it is prepared pretty good. We got to bed at 9:30 and get up at 5:15, so we don’t get any too much sleep.
Well folks I lost my hair. I got it cut and it’s about 1/2 inch long. We had a sort of dress parade today. The sun was pretty hot today and I almost baked out there.
I was sort of busy again today. I even missed my dinner. I imagine I will be pretty busy from now on.
I was just assigned as bay orderly for tomorrow, ever what that is.
Well goodbye and good luck and write me soon.
Yours Truly,
Alva
(Side note: Bay Orderly refers to airmen temporarily assigned to help clean and maintain the community areas of the dormitories during the duty day.)
Ancestors Across the Ages 