Feb 7, 1943
11:30 A.M.
Dear Folks:
Well this is my easy day. I didn’t get up until 7:30. Some of the guys sleep real late. We just had a medical inspection about ten minutes ago and we had to get some of the guys out of bed.
We have an inspection every day. I guess there has been some cases of measles and they want to keep it from being an epidemic.
I got a letter from you yesterday. It was written Jan. 31. Last Sunday.
Friday we went on a hike. We were gone three hours. We had our gas masks along and we had a gas attack with tear gas I guess. They did this from a jeep that drove past us. The next time they will swoop down in a plane and attack us with gas. We had to walk about a half mile with them masks on. On the way back we ran part of the way and walked real fast. We ended up by running the last 1/4 mile. My little Chinese friend was almost dead when we got back. Some of the others were in pretty bad shape too. I didn’t mind it.
I went to church this morning and there was quite a crowd there. I suppose by now the kids must be well enough to go to Sunday School again.
This picture was taken in September of 1943. Alva’s sister Dorothy is in the back row (4th from left) His girlfriend Garnet is the tall women in front of window.
We had a personal inspection yesterday. A lot of the boys including myself were told to get a haircut. We are supposed to have our hair cut once a week.
You asked about my insurance. I had that taken care of a few days after I got here. I thought they were going to send you a notice of it or something. Did they?
Of course this is a little different than in the regular army. They pay their own and the government pays ours. Ours is all $10,000 and in the regular army they can take only $5,000 if they want to.
There is a lot of scrubby trees in this country and the ground is all stoney. On this hike I only saw a few open fields. The rest was all brush and scrubby trees. I haven’t seen any good big trees down here yet. Of course it may be different in other parts of the state. I don’t know and probably won’t for some time. If we don’t get an open post before we move to pre-flight I will be mad. The first 4 1/2 weeks at pre-flight we don’t get to go to town. After that we will get one day a week off.
About my clothes. I could have sent them free if I had put them in a cardboard box and sent them. But as long as I had that laundry bag I put them in there. They said I might be able to send them free but they thought it would have to go collect.
You know we even have to fold our handkerchiefs a certain way now.
Yesterday I got hooked on a work detail. We had to pick some stones up and plant some grass. To plant grass here they dig a hole about 4 in. deep and take a little bunch of old dead grass and roots and bury it in this hole. They put these holes about 18 in. apart. They say that stuff will grow but it looked pretty dead to me.
We have physical training in the morning and afternoon. Part of it is running 1-3/4 miles cross country. We run part of the way through plowed fields and ditches, etc. I think I came in first of the bunch that started out when I did yesterday. I like it but it’s hard on my legs.
At pre-flight they have a course that is 3 miles long and has some hills on it.
By the time you get this letter I will be 22. It doesn’t hardly seem like it but it’s true.
I expect to get paid by the 10th. I will probably get two weeks pay minus deductions. So I will send some money home by money order. I still have about $45 left. I have to buy some towels yet and then my expenses won’t be so much.
I will have some sewing to do now. I just got some insignias that I lacked. There are seven of them. They are circles about 2 inches in diameter. I have 6 for my shirts and one for my overcoat. I already had one on my blouse or short coat to you. You know like a suit coat.
1:30 I just got back from dinner. We have all meals later on Sunday.
I left my watch on in the shower the other day but it still runs.
I had to spend $9 on athletic clothing. I can’t think of much more to say now so I will close. I hope you are all fine and good.
With love
Alva
Note: The insignia pictured here was found in Alva’s wallet that he had with him while in the Air Force.
Ancestors Across the Ages 