Jan 31, 1943
San Antonio, Texas
Sunday 12:00
Dear Folks:
Well I got that shaver Friday. I also got that letter from Dort and I did pay for that coal. The receipt must be in my old pocket book.
I am pretty sore and lame today. I played football after supper last night and got banged up a little. I also rubbed the scab off my vaccination.
I thought I wouldn’t have to walk so much if I joined the air corps but I guess I walk more. We have to learn in two weeks what the regular army learns in two months. In our nine months we have to learn drilling, saluting and all other military things in addition to learning to fly. When we get to pre-flight school, I guess we will really be busy. We’re just getting warmed up for that here.
Tomorrow I think I will start going to evening classes. We have classes here. I don’t have to go but we can if we want too.
I don’t mind shaving so much now. I don’t cut myself all up.
Yesterday we had a personal inspection. About five officers came through and we had to stand at attention while they looked us over. Some guys got called because their shoes weren’t polished shiny enough.
We have it pretty easy on Sunday here. I got up at 7:30 and went to breakfast. After breakfast I shaved and cleaned up a little.
I went to church at 9:45 and got back at eleven. I’ve been writing letters ever since. I wrote one to Orlin and one to that kid down to the shop. It’s one that Berg sent me his address and now I’m writing a letter to the folks back home. I hope they aren’t too cold up there. How is everybody and everything. How’s the Studebaker and Ford working. How’s the hens and cows and everything. When I get home I’ll know how to mop the floor for Mother and make beds and sweep. I’ll probably even know how to sew. I’m also getting good at loading stones on trucks. There are more stones here than I ever saw in my life. Tell Dad that the ground here is flat, no hills, but there is too many stones. The ground seems to be black but it also seems to be clay.
It is 1:45 now. I just got back from dinner. We had chicken (5 yrs old), gravy, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, peas, carrots, and ice cream. Not too bad. Well I can’t think of much more to say so I will close. Oh yeah! How much did that shaver cost? Tell Pug and Eddie and Baldy hello for me.
Your Son and Brother,
Alva
P.S. My hair is getting almost long enough to comb.
P.P.S. Tell Dort my secretary is my little Chinese friend.
Note: “Pug” is Alva’s older sister Pearl. Pearl had just turned 28 in January of 1943. She was married to Eddie, and they had a son Clarence, named after their father. Alva referred to his nephew as “Baldy” in this letter who was then just seven months old and presumably had no hair!
Ancestors Across the Ages 