Wednesday, February 8, 2012

January 10, 1944


Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976
5th Auxiliary Surgical Group
Dodd Field
Fort Sam Houston
Texas

January 10, 1944

Dear Mother:

I am writing you from the tent where I sleep, an the surrounding here are much different than they would be at the office.
I would rather come down here with the fire going in here than to try and build a fire in the office.
The weather here has been very changeable of late.  We had some very cold weather here, in fact it froze ice and did not warm up the next two days.  I wore my sweater both days around the office.  Now this evening it looks very much like rain and very likely will be tomorrow morning.
Received your letter of the 6th today and I really like the “Blue Hour” perfume scent.  Mrs. Tedesco had some which was called “Blue Carnation”. Someday I will get a small bottle of it for you.  It is very nice.
Say, did Marshall mention his forthcoming marriage to you in his letter? I received a letter from him a couple days after my last letter to you was posted.  It really took me by surprise, and especially him.  From what I gather she is from Utah and he hopes to have her out on the coast before long.  Well, how time does fly, and things happen!
The cymbidium you speak of “Trexie” is supposed to be pink and a rather rare variety.
Well the 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group is falling to pieces by slow degrees.  We just had ten officers (of our 29) taken away from us, and the Col. Still sits there and thinks he is all ready to go, what a laugh.
All I have done all day is work on charts of one kind or another and how I get tired of them as well as have the arm ache after writing so much.
Received a letter from Lottie today in answer to my New Year’s card.
Yes those drain tubes you speak of being used in Ed Smith are really a mess, there is always something happening to them.  We even had a couple drain tubes in a couple of the dogs here.  I never had the occasion to help Maj Skinner since something has always come up to prevent him from coming down.
Yes, the last pictures were taken on Kupfer’s camera.  He has a German made Zeiss which is very good as far as cameras go.
I think they are getting ready for the big push since the units are leaving the country by the dozens.  That was where the officers were going that left here, to fill up units where they are needed now.
I guess Muriel can give my address to her sailor friend if she wishes to, it may be interesting.
Well my bed time is very near so I shall close for now and more tomorrow morning.  Good night.

Jan 13, 44
Maybe eventually I will get this letter done and on its way.  It rained all night and then froze this morning and everything is frozen stiff.  Right now outside it is snowing very nicely and everything has a very thin coating of white over it.  I can look out thru the crack and see it beginning to fall a little heavier.
Received a letter from Miss Mosher today and her family has been having quite a bit of sickness, flu etc.
I went to church last evening with one of the boys here who belongs to the “First Free Methodist” church and listened to a sermon by a pastor who has been all over the world, and his home is Los Angeles.  He had snow white hair and goatee which made him look very distinguished.
We spent all day yesterday, moving, taking out and bringing in of furniture for the office here.
After another break of going over and tangling with one of the Jew Lts. Up on the Post.  I will go one with this. Why they have those kikes around is more than I know.  This one has been a 2nd Lt ever since I have been here and from the way people here speak of him he will be one for some time yet to come.
I am very glad to hear that the cymbidiums are beginning to show signs of life and really amount to something.
I just finished running thru a letter for the construction of a gate to keep the animals we have around here from bothering our neighbors in their classroom.  Sgt Ryan has asked for it several times and the 1st Sgt seems not to take heed so I write out a letter and take it to the major in Headquarters and we will see the 1st Sgt then.  The signature will go over them all.  I get tired in a way of all these things having to be done over other people’s heads, but that is the only way sometimes and I can get them done quite easily that way.
The blotter of “Blue Hour” is places in one of my boxes of stationary and I hope will leave a nice fragrance.
The balance of this letter has been written on company time, but I have put in so much time over time for them that it does not make much difference.
Closing now, I remain as always your loving son,

Stanley

Additional sheet of paper as a “PS”

In the letter from Lottie C, the other day which I never expected to receive since I only sent a New Year’s card with my name.
Yes, she writes a lot like Florence (does) with all the “Dear Mom” and “Dear Mother Gertrude” etc.  She seems quite pleased that Virgil[1] was able to be there with you folks for Christmas, and as always she wants me to write.
Will you tell Muriel that the word “powder” is not spelled “power”?  Her last letter was a fright as far as spelling etc go.  And all she talks about is this boy or the other.
What is coming of her and Frances and a few others like them?


[1] Virgil Chipman, pictured here with Muriel

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