3:00 PM

4/12/43

Dear Mother: 

I got your air mail letter of April 9 today. 

I just finished a stretch of K.P. and am slightly tired from being on my feet since 4 A.M. this morning.  I started yesterday afternoon at 3:00 PM and worked ‘till 8 and finished today.  That’s the way it’s run here and it’s a lot easier all around. 

I made pilot alright, but I don’t know when I’ll go over to pre-flight school which is just across the street here.  I’ve sent cards and letters to all the people around there.  I wonder if they got them or not?

I went to the chapel here Sunday and it was packed.  There wasn’t even any space left on the floor.  And hot as could be. 

What kind of a big fish did Dad catch? 

This is some cheap paper from the P.X. 

We’re supposed to have open post tomorrow and if no, I’ll get to San Antonio and look around. Things are down on a big scale in the mess hall.  They feed 1600 men at every meal.  At least 500 gals of lemonade are made each meal or some other drink.  Lemons by the crates are used.  The kitchen is bigger than our house. 

They are as strict as can be around here.  You have to have a pass to get out and you’re searched at the gate when you come back in.  These passes come once in a life time, so I hear, so I sure am going to take advantage of it. 

The plane on the other side is a trainer and many of them fly around here each day. 

Today is the first day that the machine gun range hasn’t been going. Other days we could here the machine guns chattering all day. 

The physical training is very strenuous here, but that is half of the life of a pilot anyway. 

Just got a letter from Harriet.  Herb got 7 letters.

I guess I’ll close now. 

                                                                                    Melvin