Feb 4, 1943
Thurs 12:00
Dear Folks:
Well I have a few minutes to share now so I guess I better write you folks. I will start the letter now and finish it later on.
I got a letter from Murell yesterday so I wrote right back to him. He didn’t say much. He only asked questions.
I’m getting along okay down here. About two more weeks and I will move over to pre-flight school. That is just across the road. They are pretty tough on them there. I guess we will work harder there than anyplace else in our training.
It is sort of wet down here now.. You know I have to change my clothes at least 5 times a day. Some fun! One of the guys received his Christmas package yesterday. It was cookies. He came from the regular army and has been moving around somewhat.
It seems like every time I just sit down the bugle blows and we have to go out again. I am taking a class in code now. It is from 6:30 to 7:30 in the evening. It isn’t required but it will help later on.
My shaver works good. It isn’t so bad shaving every day now. Did I tell you I had K.P. duty the other day. It wasn’t bad. I got all the milk and all the ice cream I wanted anyway. I had to get up at 4:30 that morning. We go on for 24 hours at a time. We went on at 2:30 one afternoon and worked until 7:30. Then we got up at 4:30 and worked until 2:30. It was a dirty job.
1:40 I just had a couple of shots, one for tetanus and one for typhoid. One on each arm. My left arm is a little sore but not bad. Our physical training this morning was sort of tough. We went from one exercise to another. They are going to toughen us up. I can’t think of much to say not but I will write soon.
I am alright so don’t worry any about me. You folks don’t write very long letters do you? Let me know how you are and how the cows and chickens are doing, etc. How everybody feels, how you are standing the cold weather, how the cars are working and everything. I didn’t get any mail today in the 12:30 call but I think I will get some in the 4:00 call. I suppose the kids are all over the chicken pox and have forgotten them by now. Well I better close now. I have to meet a formation soon. My Chinese friend has a radio he plays once in awhile. His name by the way is Walter Chinn. His mother is right from China and his father was born in the U.S. Well this radio of his is 8 in high, 4 in wide and 4 in thick. I am getting good at polishing shoes, mopping floors, writing letters, making beds and getting up quick in the morning. But I haven’t learned anything about airplanes yet. But I guess I have almost ten months to learn in. Well goodbye everybody and be good.
Yours truly,
Alva
P.S. An Aviation Cadet is higher than a master sergeant (they tell me). I haven’t been to town yet and don’t know when I will. Soon I hope.
Note: This is a an aerial view of Alva’s parents’ home taken in recent years. There is a long driveway off the street. The house did not have an attached garage at the time Alva lived there. I am not sure what outbuildings were present in 1943. The house currently sits on 10 acres but it may have been on 40 acres back in 1943. Alva’s family moved here in about 1935, when Alva was a teenager. Previously they had lived in the city.
Ancestors Across the Ages 