1943.3.31

March 31, 1943
Wed 10:30 A.M.

Dear Folks:

Well I have a whole hour off this morning. We usually have Naval Forces from 10:00 to 11:00. But we had our final exam on it yesterday. I didn’t do very good I am afraid. After we finish this course we are supposed to be able to distinguish between 400 ships, both U.S. and Jap. We had 40 on our exam and it was pretty hard. I had trouble remembering those Jap names. I think I got 10 words a minute in code this morning. If I did I will be excused from code for the rest of the week. We also have our final exam in Physics and in Maps & Charts on Friday. Then we will be all done with our studies for two weeks and then we will start to work. I think our program was in that paper I sent you. We will have 3 hours of P.T. a day, which in itself is a hard day’s work. The fellow who sleeps in the same bay with me was pretty disgusted. He said I slept in all the classes. And when we had our last exam in Physics I got a 92 and he failed it with a 68. He said he just couldn’t understand it. Well shucks I can’t think of much to say. Just the same old thing.

We get up at about 5:30 and hurry all day and then go to bed at 10:00. We had a parade yesterday. One fellow in back of me passed out. And one from in front of me got sick and had to walk out. They had shots just before that so maybe that had something to do with it. But it was pretty hot out there. It is sort of cool again today. Well folks let me know how things are etc.

Well folks it is now 6:00 P.M. I got paid today $75. How are you folks set for money? Could you use some?

Well after supper we drill from 7:00 to 7:50 and then we take a test in code. Only it is different. This test will be with a light. The light will flash on and off and we will take the letters from that.

Well good-bye folks,

Alva

P.S. 2 1/2 weeks and I will be flying. Boy I’ll be glad to get started. If I can’t fly I want to find out and get it over with.

P.P.S I weigh 167 lbs, all muscle too.