Aug 31, 1943
Tues. 9:30 P.M.
Dear Folks:
Well here I am all settled in my new home. We arrived here about 3 A.M. this morning. We left Greenville at 12 noon yesterday. Then we had a 3 hr. layover at Dallas so we had a chance to look the town over.
The buildings here are just like those at Majors but things seem to be cleaner. The officers seem to be nicer though. But of course I got in trouble already. I was walking along with another fellow and there was two fellows in back of us. Well a Major, who turned out to be the post adjutant, came riding by in a car. None of us saluted him. So he turned around and stopped us and gave us heck and took our names.
Outside of that everything went smoothly today. We were even told that we could plan on getting a 10 day leave when we finish and maybe 15 days. The only thing is the first 4 1/2 weeks here are pretty hard. Then after that it is quite easy because there is no more ground school. So if I don’t write so much don’t get worried. We were even told about ordering our uniforms etc. When I come home I’ll be all decked out in a new officer’s outfit. It will all be tailor made and should fit just right. When we get our wings we are given $250 for uniforms. I guess it will take around $150.
We get up at 7 A.M. here and go to bed at 11 P.M. Except when we fly nights. Then we go to bed at 3 A.M. and get up at 7 A.M. That will be fun too. Very few fellows wash-out here. We have a still physical exam soon and that will get a few because some of the boys’ eyes have probably went bad. Maybe mine have but I don’t think so. We start our regular schedule on Thurs. My address is: a/c Alva Bessey Class 43-J Sqd. A, A.A.A.F., Victoria, Texas.
Well folks I’ll be seeing you in 9 weeks.
Yours truly,
Alva
P.S. I have some pictures for you as soon as I get a chance to send them. A.B.
Ancestors Across the Ages 