January 3, 1943 (3 letters)

Sunday 1/3/43

Dear Folks –

Hello – just a note to let you know I’m still here slaving away in school. I’m up to the neck in books these days but having a lot of fun regardless of the work.

We start our 3rd week tomorrow & it promises to be rough. So far I’ve had all 5’s on exams so I’m not worried yet, however, its definitely too early to start counting chickens. We are now firing sandbox gunnery problems in class. The Capt. creates the burst with his yardstick & we sense the bursts & fire the problem – calculating the angles of elevation & deflection for the guns. It’s fun but plenty complicated & confoozing. Among other things we’ve greased trucks, run surveys, made maps, layed gun positions, & etc. Most fun I’ve had since coming in the army. Just hope I can get to Sill for more of it.

Last night we saw a movie for relaxation. It was called Ice Capades – lots of ice skating in it - & it certainly made me homesick for an afternoon at Powderhorn. I really missed the snow & ice again this Xmas. Of course I was too busy to miss it very much which was a good thing.

Nothing more to tell at the moment so I’ll end it & get back to Small T & Axial Precision Fire. Feeling great – hope you both are the same. So long for now.

Love, Dorance

Sunday 7:05 P.M.

January 3, 1943.

Dear Dip,

For the past 1 ¼ hrs. I have been pouring over the assigned text on Supply and I decided that for a 10 minute break I would drop you a line.

Thanks ever so much for your newsy letter of the 27th and special thanks for the pictures. I appreciate them especially since I didn’t get any real good ones of the Cadre Club before I left.

I was surprised to hear about Clausens & that bunch going to Camp Hood. Especially Murray Grand! Glad to hear Earl started to school too.

Since I wrote you things have been going along busy as usual. We had our first formal exam on 12/26 and I got a C. The lowest grade in the class was an 80% which meant all with 80% got E’s. My C meant that I got about 90% missing only 5 out of 50 questions. You can see the competition was stiff on that one because (1) we were given a limited amount to learn that week and the boys all being very conscious that week were (2) up on it. Most of these birds are scared to death – I never saw the like of it. (Scared meaning they will wash out.) I have adapted a “keep my feet on the ground, look ‘em in the eye” policy. It pays big dividends. Where these boys goof off most is when they have to be platoon commander. From the first here, I have felt as much at home leading the platoon as I would in bed and it has been noticed. The Co. officer patted my head for it.

It doesn’t seem possible that two weeks have gone by here already. Only 67 more days and I’ll have it in the bag!

I got to get back now and study more Supply so bye-bye for the now.

Dip, I hope you can write again before you go to Ft. Sill, but if you can’t, please send a post card giving your class number at Sill so I can keep track of you.

Best of luck and say hello to James Dean & the rest of the lads. I sure miss you all very much.

As Always,

Chesta

January 3, 1943

Dear Marion –

Your letter just came this morning & at a time when I’ve got a few moments to spare, so here’s an answer comin right back at cha. It won’t be long cuz even tho this is Sunday I’ve still got a h--- of a lot of homework to do.

About the candy – don’t mention it. It must have been the only box of candy you received because you said it was the sweetest gift.

Say – I’ve been having a dickens of a time trying to visualize what kind of a position you were in to drop the bowling ball on you left toe. I figure you must have crossed your legs on the delivery. Hmmm, I guess I’ll have to come home & give you a few lessons. In bowling –

Had a Xmas card from Rolie – a very quaint one. It had a picture of palm trees on it and according to Rolie was supposed to be very typical of his surroundings. Almost sounds like he might be on some south-sea island somewhere. Maybe somewhere in the vicinity of New Guiney (looks like wrong spelling but haven’t time to verify it).

The O.C.S. School is still dishing out the works to us – am now in my 3rd week. Things are going pretty fair – so far I’ve had all 5’s in exams, however, there are still 2 rough weeks ahead so it’s really too early to start counting chickens. We are now firing table-top problems – the Capt. plops his yardstick down in a sandbox to represent shell bursts & we have to sense the shots & calculate deviations for the guns. It’s all very complicated & puzzling but pa-lenty of fun.

I’m enclosing a snapshot taken at Wrightsville Beach last summer – not so hot but the best I have. Now I’d better get to work – Write soon. So long.

Dip