18 June 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

18 June 1944

Dear Mother:

Another week has rolled by and it has really been a hot and sultry one and perhaps another week towards our leaving here and the sooner the time comes the more I think that it will rather nice.  We have been here too long and should really have been gone long ago.  I never saw such a large amount of red tape and so many officers getting away with things as we have had here lately.  And the Colonel just sits there and smiles and never knows all that does go on.

I bought a sheet for myself the other day because they called in our mattress covers and pillows and I am not going to start sleeping on the bare mattress yet.  I will take it along with me and may find use for it in the future.

I believe that I forgot to mention receiving the package with the cup cakes and candy.  They were all very good an arrived here in good shape.  The candy had not melted.

I finally got the saber wrapped up and on its way to you, and you very likely will have received it by this time.  The government I understand will ship home things for us from here, so I will have a few things to send home and will but not just now.  We have to wait for our movement orders before we can have it sent that way.  As I understand it, this service is available for all from T/4 up.

Received the letter with Aunt Maibelle’s address the other day, and will now try and take the time to write her.

What did you think of the pictures of the airplanes taken from the windows of ours?  Yes that is me standing by the front of the truck.  I was eating when it was taken.

The unit next door is even more advanced towards leaving than we are.  They are a very highly specialized Laboratory Group and have thousands of dollars worth of microscopes, iceboxes etc.  They have in twenty three officers, 4 Lieutenant Colonels and one full colonel.

I have already been to the swimming pool this morning and it was really wonderful.  We were over about eight o’clock and remained there about an hour.  The sun is again out very bright and the fresh clear water cool which made the whole thing very nice.

Just now received Muriel’s Graduation Announcement and (I) think it very nice.  The picture was certainly or is a very nice one.

In answer to your question about our groups, there are no more in training and if they were to have one, they would very likely take the cadre from our group.

They are training smaller groups now and will use them quite a lot more.  You have heard me speak of Whitney. He was in a station hospital in North Texas, and he thought that they were ready to go several times.  But about two weeks ago they broke them up and are training them all over again at Camp Barkeley and after the completion of that they will be sent out as cadre for other groups.

Major Eskin while in Los Angeles said that he called a couple Saffords in the telephone but neither seemed to claim me.  His wife is staying there for the duration.

Well enough for now and I will write again soon.

All my Love,

Stanley

May 10, 1943

PFC Stanley W Safford

Co “B” Med Serv Sch

Barracks No3

Ft Sam Houston

Texas

May 10, 1943

My dear Mother

Here I am still here, and they keep telling me that not to go very far for fear of getting a shipping list for me and them not being able to find me.  I have already graduated and no longer belong the school and I am legally under orders from Washington, but in a way still responsible to the school in a way that is hard to explain.

We had Brig. Gen. Beach[1] speak at our graduation and he is certainly an old sleepy eyed fool.  He sat there and yawned and acted as tho he were simply disgusted with the entire affair and the room was very hot and stuffy as the weather has been the last week or so.  That is until last night we had quite a storm which the wind had blown in.  Thunder and lightning included but it has cleared up and is a very nice day today not too hot with a cool breeze blowing.  The rain has sure been needed here for things have been very dry and were beginning to look rather withered.

You may tell Muriel that she may have the baseball and bat she wanted, but to take good care of them.

All that I have asked about my leaving think that it is a very good idea. Even all the attached Co A cadre would like the chance to leave and also a new order has come though that only limited service men may be kept here attached.

The pictures of the cymbidium are quite good.  I suppose in spite of the film.  What is the size of your film?  I think that I have forgotten.  Perhaps I may find some good Eastman somewhere and will send it to you.  We quite often have access to such things which the public do not.  How is Muriel’s supply of gum holding out?  I shall still get you your medical corp. insignia.  I have a small one for Muriel but have not found anything decent for you both.

I received a note from Ray Coates the other day and he now tells me that he, at long last, has gotten into Special Services (production etc of plays etc) which he has been trying to get into every month since he has been n the army.   He is a very good example of a good person being held down. Even then a Major General gave him a boost.  What doesn’t a person have to go through to get somewhere here.

I just found out yesterday that there (are) some greenhouses here on the post and that there is a special branch which this comes under.  But as usual no one seems to know any too much about it but they never do.

The picture of Ann which you sent in your last letter was very good.  Only she shows signs of growing up.

And it is quite a laugh about Richard M sending for money.  Big shot.  And again the PX is run by the government and they usually always serve better food.  I wonder why, although I have only eaten here about twice.

There is sure a big graft here somewhere.  You can get ice cream in town at all the places and they have none here most of the time.

A couple of the boys who came in last night were in my same Co. at Camp Barkeley and at the same time and they are corporals and Sgts.  They seem to get somewhere else everywhere but here.

Sgt Elkins finally got his final transfer through a roundabout way from Senator Raiburn[2] of Texas.  His wife’s father knows them in some way.  And when the Co. commander heard of that he could hardly wait until he had called Sgt Elkins in and told him that it was a better idea for the army to run alone without the aid of civilians and that they would all get long much better in all ways concerned.  He was quite disturbed over it although I don’t blame Sgt Elkins for wanting to leave.

For some reason I just don’t seem to have much nerve very likely because I haven’t done much but wait and have not tried to start a letter for fear of having to drop it for the reason of the usual last minute rush.  And I had intended on writing and letting you know of my leaving by special letter and then would have mailed you one upon my arrival at of course I don’t know where. What a mess.

Enclosed you will find some negatives of which you can have about six copies made of the one of myself on the porch when you are around some drug store or other.  And maybe some or a couple copies made of the other couple good ones.  The purpose is to send a couple to the Matsons and Miss Mosher.

They would probably like a couple.  The same with Frances and Esther. Then you will find another envelope with nothing else but negatives of some of the pictures that I have taken here.  Unless you want any you can put them away for me.

I, even after doing nothing today, feel quite dragged out,  I suppose the waiting is the reason.  It gets on a persons’ nerves after a while of it.

The sun is now going down and evening is coming on.

One of the Sgts. asked me how I was enjoying my vacation.? Ha ha.

How are the rest of the cymbidiums doing and also how are the two doing and also how are the two doing that are in the ground.  And has the Easter lily come up again this year. And how is the large begonia doing after so much rain.  Joseph tells me his garden is just going wild with so much water.

Well I had better really bring this to a close before it becomes boring and tiresome.

Your son,

Stanley

---

[1] George Corwin Jr., Brigadier-General (1888 – 1948) - http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/gcbeach.htm

1941- 1942: Commanding Officer Station Hospital Fort Sam Houston

1942- 1946: Commandant Brooke Medical Center Fort Sam Houston

1948: Commandant Walter Reed Army Medical Center

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Rayburn

March 10, 1943

March 10, 1943
Practice Ward - Plaster Room

My dear Mother:

Here I am writing from the practice ward. I have no more classes for the afternoon. We had a very good lunch today consisting of roast beef, mashed potatoes, fresh tomatoes. But where they got them I do not know. And we had some very good pineapple cobbler which I sure enjoy. I am sitting on a very low stool and writing on a very high table so my writing is none too good.
Yes I received your very nice box Monday and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for it, and I really like the tie. The cookies were just as fresh as the day they were baked and they are delicious. And I was just about to need another toothbrush. You be sure and charge me for the things you sent. And one of these days I will get it all straightened out.

I guess my teaching rather got the best of me the first day for I was a little hoarse Monday and yesterday but I am practically all right today. I taught the folding and preparation of surgical supplies Monday. Yesterday I taught the scrubbing up and the putting on of the gowns, mask, hats and gloves. Today I taught the Waggenstein suction apparatus which consists of rubber tubes and glass tubes and bottles and the second hour the duodenal tube. All my classes have been two hours watch and three of them a day.

The Camp Barkeley boys arrived here yesterday, four bus loads of them and they are the eighteen year olds and they not only look but also act young. And they had no sooner arrived that they sent three of them to the hospital. Practically the entire camp has been under quarantine for as long as eight weeks: flu, meningitis etc. And then they put a medical training camp there.

I can hear the Sgt. here in the practice ward in the next room giving a lecture on gasses and the care of gas casualties. He is certainly a wonderful person to work with in fact they are all very nice except one and that is that lazy guy from Georgia that I have spoke of before and he certainly gets on my nerves.

Sunday I went for a nice long walk. I took a bus for quite a distance out and then walked up into the hills and across the Olmos Dam and back down the other way through the park by the Alamo Stadium and the Greek Theater and through the park back out and caught a bus and returned home.
I just came back from the post office thinking that perhaps I may be able to get the mail early, but the late mail was not in as yet and I didn't have any in the early so I left it there. And there may be some in the late afternoon mail for me because the afternoon mail is practically all that has accumulated from until morning till about three o'clock. The morning mail is just what has accumulated from the afternoon until morning which is not very much.

I received a letter from Aunt Nina the other day which quite surprised me because I didn't know that she ever wrote very much and I never expected her to write to me. That must have been some wedding that the Prentices' daughter had. I suppose they think they have money. Did they ever pay the bill that they owed you?

Did you ever get the picture from Marie? Have they as yet moved to Salt Lake City. It should be quite q relief to have them gone for awhile. You might suggest that now that they are thinking of settling down that they take grandpa for awhile and see what she has to say regarding that. I can just hear her, can't you?

You mentioning the old age pension affair awhile back. I can say that she certainly deserved just what she is getting. Too bad they can't rope Clari in too. He would take their side when it does not affect him. And the little abused thing getting married to a woman with two kids and saying that they were his, Isn't that just like him? Too bad they had to get Nina in on the affair. And then they trying to run you down along with it. And I like your remark about it being none of their business about how much Dad makes. I would like to have been there. The day will come when that tribe will regret what they have done in the past to you and then hear their cry.

Have you heard the Minns say anything about receiving a birthday card from me? I also wrote a letter at the same time to them.
Have you as yet bought my chance on the quilt?
Have the tulips come up and bloomed as yet? They should be very nice. They are a beautiful (?) bronze-purple and they are one of my favorite tulips but I have never had any of them before and was n hopes of being able to see them bloom but perhaps shall wait another year. The larger daffodils you speak of may be Golden Harvest if they are the first ones in the bed the other side of the tree. I sure bet they are a beautiful sight. How are the carnations coming. Did the iris bloom very well out by the chicken pen this spring and how are the little apricot and the avocado trees doing, they should be grown quite a bit by now that is in growth.

I have now had dinner and have walked down the stream I speak of East of here and found that it was too deep to follow down a little ways there are wild strawberries growing amongst the other only green trees for quite a distance around. Someday I will follow it down to where they tell me it joins quite a large stream. There are a lot of birds of different kinds including one owl. And there are also a lot of tadpoles with about two legs on them.

I sure hope you are able to read this letter. I think I will be thinking of getting ready to go to the library soon for I am able to write much better there and I am also able to concentrate much better there. It does not have the confusion and the noise that we seem to have here.

I was quite amused awhile ago. One of the new boys here was telling me awhile ago that he was getting ready to start on his second razor blade since he has been in the army. He told me that he had been in for only six weeks and is only eighteen years old. They just can't seem to get used to sheets, bus service, at regular intervals etc.
The sun is almost ready to disappear over the roof of the Service Club. It turned out quite warm. This morning it was sprinkling some.
Well, I had better think of closing now and will write more in a few days. Closing with lots of wishes for your good health.

Your son, Stanley

February 22 - March 2,3, 1943

February 22, 43

Dear Mother:

What do you think of my new stationary. You are the second person who I have written to on it. The other one was to Muriel and I will mail them both the same time only I will mail yours air mail and send hers free and I want you to let me know which one gets there first. I found out the other day that the Air Mail goes North through Fort Worth then over to El Paso and on the California so in that case the Air Mail may not travel faster than the other. I am rather curious.
Which ink do you like best on this stationary the red or the blue I am using in my pen. I just could not resist buying it. Or do you think I am rather silly over stationary. The librarian here who I have become rather well acquainted with let me use the red ink. There are certainly some very nice books and stationary stores here in San Antonio. I saw a book the other day I would sure like to have in fact two, both of them by J J Audubon. The one on bird prints and the other on flower prints. If I continue to want them I will get them and send them home. What do you think of the idea?
The Camp Barkeley Boys are leaving next Sunday so I understand I do not believe that I am going because of the teaching affair. In fact I rather like it here and I would not mind being stationed here permanently that is of course for the duration. Although the heat may be too much for me in the summer. Although it is quite nice here now, the trees all coming into leaf and signs of Spring all around.
The other day I saw some daffodils in bloom and they were sure nice. They reminded me quite a bit of my own.
You know the little red spots I spoke of in my last letter, well the doctor tells me that it is pityiriasis rosacea, harmless non contagious type of disease and the pay off came when he told me he didn’t know where I got it and that they know of no treatment. Then a nurse at the hospital who knows the head nurse in the operating room told here that she knows of cases that come to her allergy clinic that it is quite often caused by linen or the water here.
Well anyway after complaining to the high heavens about my shoes the doctors gave me a written note to the supply office to exchange for some more larger ones. I now have 8 ½ C and he wrote down 9-D which is more like it I think. By the way do you still have my ration book. It may come in handy in some way.
And another good piece of news is that I do not have to pay tax on my army salary of last year. Which is quite a relief for I have enough to pay as it is, don’t you think so?

February 23
Well here I am back at the letter again and I intend to finish it this time and get it well on its way.
It sure has been warm here today and they are still trying to enforce the wearing of wool shirts, although in looking around I find there are quite a few of them being worn.
I also found out that I am for sure going to be here for another one month as an instructor in the practice ward. That news sure made me very happy as I wanted to stay here for a while longer.
We sure had some very interesting operations today, on one of them a hemorrhoidectomy. They removed a piece of flesh and fat around five by five and about two inches deep and they had an interesting herniated vein in the abdomen and I saw the beginning of another one on the back.
I went down the hall to the ward today with the nurses and intended on being of a … help and bringing him back for them. Well anyway after I got down there they decided to give him a retention enema so she asked me to give it for her and the both of them stood there and asked him to relax and watched me. I never would have thought that I would be doing such things, did you? The enema contained a sleeping narcotic of some kind and he was to sleep before we got back to surgery.
You ask what they intend to do with the boy that has the tumor on the brain well they are going to operate again. I also stood by and wiped the major’s brow today while he was operating. I watched a case today on a major and he was quite nice before and after the operation, thanked me etc.
I for some reason looked toward to receiving a letter from you today but suppose I will get one from you in the next couple of days. I sure realize you have your hands full both at home and garage and it surprises me to think you get as much done as you do. And I sure appreciate the nice long letters you write,
Have I mentioned to you that I sent Aunt Maibelle a couple more elephants the other day. In a previous letter I asked her if I could send her anything from S.A and she replied with her Valentine card to me “If you find any stray elephants without a home you can get them and send me a bill for them”. Although I didn’t send her a bill I think and hope she likes them.
I am looking forward to hearing from Marshall. Have you heard from him yet?
I got a very nice letter from Esther the other day and she was mentioning having big washing etc. I sure feel sorry for her.
I believe I will answer her very soon on this stationary.
I also owe Mrs. Sherwood a letter (Aunt Dell) otherwise I am not very far behind on my mail and I hope to have more time yet with my new occupation when my work is once in the hospital. I think I shall like the job of instruction for a while anyway.
I think I am going to be rather unhappy for a couple of days with Whitney going and the other acquaintances leaving. Whitney is the boy that came from Washington and I have grown to like him very well. Of course the army is very much that way. Well I had better close now for it is very near closing time here. So goodbye and good night with lots of love from your son.
Stanley


March 2, 1943

Dear Mother,

Well here I am again several days behind in writing you and I keep telling myself to write but there seems to be so many distractions and there has been so many things happening here of late that they are very hard to recall and to tell you of them and it perhaps will take a couple letters to describe them all to you.
I received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you have received the box and hope you find the grapefruit good as some of them that I have had and the cards may prove of interest to you. Your questions about Fort Sam Houston. I will answer another day when I finish reading about it. It dates back to before the Spanish American war I understand.
I was one of the lucky ones to be able to get in and see two brain operations and they were certainly interesting even though the agony the two patients went through was not so interesting. And the noises some of them made were terrible although the operations were very interesting they became very tiring. The one lasted 5 ½ hours and it was on the boy I spoke of and they discovered that he has a tumor at the base of the brain which cannot be removed and which was stopping the flow of blood from the head but he put a tube in and it may never cause him any trouble. And the other one only took four and one half hours. The captain drilled only five holes in the man’s head and then sawed between the holed and took quite a large piece of skull out. That man was able to talk today upon my return to the hospital, but the first one is not recovered as yet fully of course he was so bad off before.
The hospital train brings in the war casualties ever so often and there was one from Santa Barbara here today. You see they evacuate all of the important ones from the coasts inland whenever possible.
Well I felt rather sad Monday because the bulk of the friends that I came from Barkeley left early Monday morning just as I was getting up. They slipped some of their baggage out Monday. Some went to Colorado Springs Colorado and others went to Louisiana and Alabama and Whitney went to Camp Bowie still here in Texas just where he did not want to go. Camp Bowie is about 80 miles from Barkeley and from what I hear it is about as bad as Barkeley.
Well we awoke this morning to find it was thundering and lightening and I was looking forward very anxiously to having a good rain out of it because I have not seen a real good rain since I have been in Texas, but it just rained a little and finished there after all the expectation I had built up but then one of those cold Texas winds came up and has been blowing hard and cold ever since and is now quite cold outside now, in fact I had to wear my overall I am going to enclose some clippings from the paper here which you may be interested in. And I thought Spring was coming.
I inquired at the Internal Revenue Office here the other day and they told me my type of Income Tax form did not have to be notarized because the Sargent told me it did not have to be done so I inquired about it. I am enclosing the form with my letter and am disgusted with the whole affair and this amount of course the tax bothers more people than I.

March 3, 1943.

The wind blew all night and was as cold as could be this morning and the lieutenant who is officer of the day here this morning still ordered exercises and the company commands came out and made them much shorter and the same lieutenant turned the heat off as usual last night and the barracks became very cold.
The barracks were sure quiet when I went home last night. The lower floor only has two on it and the upper floor only has about 6-8 on it and that is out of about 20 beds which make up a full capacity barracks.
Well, my first class does not start until the tenth and even then I will only teach every other class. In other words it will be just a nice luxurious job until I leave here that is as long as I have this job. Probably the only thing that will bother me will be when it comes my turn to stay with the ones that fail the test for some evening for two hours and that is to make sure they study. During my ten free days we are able of we want to, to go over to the hospital. We went over yesterday in one of those command cars and we drove up to the front door of hospital and got out and went in the front door.
The man I spoke of as carrying his bottle to class in a briefcase last month. Well he returned this morning after being gone two days and I suppose they will finally get rid of him this time I hope.
Well the mailman’s job is now mine again and I am not too glad of it either. I raised such a rumpus about them giving the mail to anyone and everyone and I guess the postal sergeant decided to give it to someone else so he went to the First Sgt with it and he in turn appointed a new one. I also notice that the mail goes only to one person now and that is the mailman who in turn signs for it.
Well yesterday the corporal asked me to take the job back. I guess I was the only one that would put order into it.
I am sitting at the desk here in the practice ward desk trying to finish this letter and get it well on its way.
We are planning on going over to the nut ward this afternoon which should be very interesting. I believe I shall close now and write more tomorrow. Quite amusing about M & Nelson.

Love,
Stanley

31 December 1942

Medical Corps
Camp Barkeley, Texas
December 31, 1942

Dear Folks:
Well I am leaving here tomorrow about 6:45 AM, that is if nothing happens, which would not surprise me, if they go as they usually do. They took me completely by surprise and I did not know it until 6:00 PM when I was going by board and happened to stop and see my name along with about eight others. And to top it I am on Regimental Guard Duty tonight from eight until eleven , where I am now. This is the Colonel Headquarters usually higher than most of us ever get the honor of serving on.
Received your Air Mail letter today and was quite relieved to hear from you. Had not heard from you since Christmas Day mail call.
Also received the package from Aunt Nina this evening, there is more Xmas mail coming in now than before Xmas and they are simply swamped. You mentioned me maybe calling home Xmas. I thought of it but Abilene only has one line out and it was swamped so I was told by a couple who tried but did not succeed, so I gave the idea up although it would only cost 1.90 for three minutes, which is not so bad I think.
I have not heard definitely where I am going but I have gotten wind that it is Fort “Sam Houston” in San Antonio, which would be better than this place I suppose, or so I have heard.
I had better close now and get this on the way and will let you hear from me at new destination and I hope a new title and address.
Good bye for now,
Stanley

26 December 1942

Medical Corps
Camp Barkeley, Texas
December 26, 1942

Dear Folks:
Well here I am on the day after Christmas and quite an enjoyable one it was for me and quite a few very nice gifts and very pretty cards, which was quite a surprise for me considering the conditions.
First of all was the lovely gifts from you, but you should not have gone to the trouble and expense because you have already done so much for me. And I suppose you are wondering where my gratitude is with not even as much as a card from me, but as I said before, I could not get into town to find any. I did have one of the boys here who goes into town quite often to see his wife get me some in a box they were fair but not very presentable and sent them as far as they would go thru I knew I could and would be able to go into town the 24th so would then mail you a telegram but they have stopped all messages of greeting on the 23. So I was out of luck there also, had intended one also for Paul and Thelma Chapin, so you can tell her the circumstances and I will write her a letter of thanks very soon.
The camera is just what I wanted and was overly pleased with it, the candy is delicious and I am going quite easy on it and for myself only. I also enjoy the nuts very much and Muriel’s sewing kit will come in very handy as yet have not had much of that type of things to do. The clothes are all new so they do not need very much mending as yet. I have not as yet tried the camera but will tomorrow and will probably go over to see Fred K and take a couple of him. He was over to see me yesterday in fact he was here when I got your two letters and I told him about writing the letters you mentioned Harry asking him to write. He is having quite a good time and seems to be enjoying it and spoke of getting a drink from one of the Sgts so I think he will get along alright.
Mr. and Mrs. Matson sent me a wonderful tin box of salted nuts of five kinds (Brazil, Almond, Pecan, Filbert and cashews) It has been worth something and was very kind of them to send it.
Miss Mosher sent me a little leather case with comb and fingernail file quite nice as well as handy.
And Jay sent me two one dollar bills which he should not have done and I am going to write him immediately after writing this so as not to offend him, which would be the last thing I would want to do, or would never hear the last of it.
Maibelle and Ed sent me a very nice set of Coty’s Shaving cream and powder with wash cloth accompanying it which in all was very nice. I may send part or all of it home expect the cloth home.
Have not received the package from Nina and Bill as yet Jay mentions a promotion of some kind in his letter or note.
Paul and Thelma sent a very nice package only I wish they had not done so much. It contained some of her toll house cookies which were very good, some gum, tooth powder comb, caramel candies and a couple flashlight batteries for my little flashlight and they were all wrapped individually. In all, it was very lovely.
Then Joseph sent me a very nice atlas and Mrs. Scheltema sent me some fruit cake and some nuts which I have not tasted as yet but they both sure look very good.
My trip into Abilene was not much of a success and I found nothing as a gift for you folks but I am still young to continue trying, the main part of town is about 4 blocks wide and 4 blocks long, from there out the town is still there for quite a distance but nothing to see there and of course there was a nice crowd also but I did have a very good steak dinner, but waited long enough for it so in all came back rather disgusted with the whole works.
Well perhaps I have some very good news maybe. Last Monday they called a list of names at mail call and my name was not on it which was nothing unusual for they quite often call lists of some kind and my name is on very few of them so I went on about my business and went to the barber, but before I got back I was told my name had been called and they had wondered where I had been and when I got back to our hutiment they told me here that is a couple boys here, that my name had been called along with some others who were not there also so there might have been a second list as they quite often have around here to make it more confusing. And I have not been able to get over to Battalion headquarters to make sure of my name on the list as yet.
Well what it is, is a group of boys they pick out for further training as male nurses, X-ray experts, pharmacists and a couple others and they are going to take a three months training period in either Houston, Fort Worth, El Paso or Denver, Colorado. The latter would suit me, and the climax is they are leaving about the first of January which would also suit me and that would in advance of the others. Of course I am not quite sure, but any way I am going to send something home the first part of the week. Among them will be some letters which you can leave unopened and put away for me also there will be a small pin for Muriel and her Christmas present will be later also.
While I am thinking of it, could you get me a leather case for the camera? I do not believe they would cost very much. I think the book with camera lists on it about $2 so if you are downtown and have time will you pick one up for me, for I would hate to drop it while carrying it also it will keep it in better shape. I hope you are keeping track of all these things you are getting for me and also the postage in fact everything because I intend to pay for it.
The glove (extra one) you sent is the wrong one can also too small but thanks for sending it anyway. The note book and paper are very satisfactory. The news paper clippings are very welcome and the comedy are excellent.
I received cards from both Blairs, the Miners and one from Ann - and is their name spelled Reid – and one from one of the customers of the nursery whom I never paid much attention to, in fact never cared for too much, but she is one of the socialites of Hollywood so will have t write a note to her. I had better begin to think of closing for now because it is getting late and will write some more tomorrow morning when I awake. Goodnight.

Sunday AM
The wind blew all night and managed to blow up some clouds as well as make t quite cold this morning and we have both stoves going. The windows all shake which make the entire building shake.
The Christmas dinner was the same as the Thanksgiving dinner except we had fruit cake which was quite strong of whiskey.
But we here did not care for the meal as we did the Thanksgiving meal and it was quite cold also. All the officers and those that are married had their wives there and a few of the boys here who have wives here or other relatives also had them here. Some of the boys wives are staying here and a couple of their mothers are also here. One of the boys wives was already to leave L.A for here when his name was called to leave here next week, so he telegrammed home for her to stay there, he is looking forward to seeing her after getting to the next station.
One of the Sgts who has always put on. he is someone around here and is about 5’6 at most , showed up with his wife an awful looking small red head a little shorter than he all painted up and wearing green shoes and green accessories. We are all getting quite a laugh about it here. Of course some of them here don’t seem to have much else to do but talk about officers etc. but I myself have a lot more to do.
Well it is after lunch. I played cards before lunch which by the way was a pretty good one.
We have just finished having mail call and they called off a list of men to turn in their items which they were issued here but my name was not on it so evidently I am not going with them. I am going over to headquarters to find out about it tomorrow and then I will know for sure maybe.
Your speaking of Christmas cards as you say the one you sent is surely a lovely one. Mr. Ricks sent me a very pretty one but quite large and a display of money.
How did Muriel come out on her P O work?
Probably Don Finleys going will be a great aid to Mrs. Finley for now she may get some rest.
The Seis candy is certainly delicious and I am keeping it also.
I wrote Aunt Ina about a month ago. Have not had an answer as yet so now I know the reason.
The pink grapefruit I spoke of are quite real and they are much sweeter than the other type if grown in a nice warm location.
They raise them down in the Rio Grande valley where citrus fruit does quite well. And I am going to send you some if I have to go after them.
I am glad you liked your birthday present and I am quite sure Aunt Nina has very good taste on such things.
I am very surprised at Clair sending you another pictures of their spoiled beats. Quite a bit of ------
Mr. Ricks was not to pay for the azalea.
The lack of rain there is rather funny but you may get all of it after the first of the year as we have in previous years.
There is planted under the tree some of the small bulbs of narcissus and some anemones. How are the little bulbs coming along in between the house or fence under Muriel’s window or do you remember the little baby narcissus I had there. Sure hope the gopher didn’t get any of my bulbs. Why don’t you plant some sweet peas and have some nice cut flowers.
I had better think of closing before this letter become too bulky and they charge you extra postage or have they already. I hope you can read it because I am writing it on my knees again, for we have no desk or table in these gorgeous hutiments. I might call you some evening so do not be surprised. Good bye for now, dear Mother. I will write more later.
Your son,
Stanley
Did I send you the reception the insurance and I am enclosing one for the bonds which you can keep for me. Also thanks a lot for the Air Mail letter or envelopes rather.
Stanley

20 December 1942

December 20, 1942

Dearest Folks,
I suppose you have been worrying about of late because I have not written you since a week ago. The reason is this. They have been planning on moving for weeks now and the first of the week they started on some of the supply, sgts and headquarters tents. And of course the usual confusion that takes place whenever they do anything here started, and I do mean started. And on top all this confusion there are once 20% of the company in the hospital with the flu or severe colds. With these conditions they continue to feed starches potatoes every meal and the big farce of a ceremony in the morning (roll call where they do not check whether you are there or not, which takes about 6:45. It doesn’t get light here until 8:10 and it is usually quite cold also and they would tell us not to wear overcoats after breakfast. So, Monday night they pulled another trick and had a nice road march and I was perfectly well up to that time, they had us carry loaded stretchers and then had us sit down and rest that is where it started and I got chilled as soon as we got back. I gargled my throat good and poured the Vicks on well. The next morning I awoke with a minor sore throat. Some of them were not able to come out at all. I continued the same procedure because I did not want to find myself in the hospital with the rest of them. I attended classes Tuesday and Wednesday when my throat was practically well but you know my old fault of losing my voice which I did, so Thursday I decided to stay in the tent. My throat was probably just overworked for every time you speak you have to speak twice as loud as is necessary to be heard over the constant noise that goes on here 24 hours a day. Then Friday we moved into our hutimets? And more confusion well as soon as we got moved in I got into bed again to be still and have some rest and I stayed yesterday also and am here today also although my voice is much improved.
They are taking measures to control it now forbidding spitting on ground which used to almost make me sick. Of course I do very little of it as you know and they are cramming us into stuffy mess hall classes either well, I hope we are all on the road to good health again and that I managed to escape with what I did.
Our new hutiments (?) are very nice. They are brought in in sections and put together and the walls and roof are about 1 in thick of some kind of pourers material coated on both sides with a type of tar. It is made by Johns Manville[1] because the initials J M are printed about a foot large on each peace. Jonnie Manville should be able to get rich of a few more wives with what he is making on this war. And of course they are all built lower than the ground around upon cement blocks these dumb Texans do not know any better and don’t want to and the government lets them put up such messes. Then they dig trenches around them to keep the water out. And on top all these conditions the government picks out a site like this for a camp so large. The old outhouses they used when we first came here became full. They started to fill them in. It flooded then they had to spray the entire length of house locations and what a sensed they have down there now then the brilliant sargeants got the idea of building raised walks yesterday so they did making them sloping towards the center and if everything is not a mess now for is rained all night and parts of today in fact right now.
Well enough for the woes of Camp Barkeley and to a more agreeable subject. There are fourteen in a building and thankfully we have quite an agreeable bunch. One in particular who has an IQ of 131 which by the way is ten higher than mine which is very good and you would think him to be a regular rattle brain to see him, but anyway he is inclined to gamble and never loses. He is supposed to have won a thousand dollars or more. In fact a few have seen it but I haven’t. They had quite a rumpus the other evening. One of the lieutenants mishandled one of the boys gambling who I guess he shouldn’t have and the boys were quite a few drunk. I think this boy has a pull of some kind I think.
Yes, I received the package Thursday and it is upon the shelf unopened, we had to buy the four electric light bulbs ourselves for our hutiment, quite a joke is it not. And I sincerely want you to know how much I appreciate it and I am quite sure I will be overjoyed when I open it.
But as to the presents for you, Muriel and probably Frances. I have not been able to get into town as much as I regret to say it so. I will make it up to you after Xmas although I am awfully sorry for it doesn’t make them seem like a Christmas gift if you get it afterwards.
I received a very nice card and note from the Miners, thought some of sending them a card but did not know their address then thought better of it. Is there any one I have not contacted that you think I should write to. You might get me Mrs Bourgonne’s correct name spelling and address and I will write them a note for she asked me to and I am going to send Paul and Thelma a card and addressing it Chappin. If I am wrong you can call her and tell her I made a mistake to cover up for me, She sent me a nice Birthday card I cannot understand Marshall not mentioning my letter if he got it. I will mention it on my Christmas card to him. He is not as prompt as answering his letters and he probably has quite a lot more time now also. I do not have Clarence and Frances Wilde’s address. You might send it to me and I might drop them a note. I also wrote Jay a line.
You asking me if it has seemed a long time since I have been away. Yes, it does. It seems months but I might be him soon for time sure flies especially as busy as they keep us here. I understand the next place will not be so bad then I hope to be able to keep up with my correspondence in a more business like manner. Fred spoke of going out for truck driving, yes I suppose he will. They have literally hundreds of trucks and ambulances. I have seen as many as one hundred ambulances in a driving test convoy, most of them are Dodges while most of the trucks are GMC and the big ones have ten gears in them including reverse and they also have quite a few half tracks. The average training class usually manages to do 1000 dollars damage to the ambulances and trucks and some of them are wore out at 10,000 miles and they are now claiming the Dodges are no good, use a quart of oil in one night fifty miles, quite an expense. Of course they are all governed(?) to 35 miles per hour. If they didn’t they would be wrecked sooner I suppose.
My letter is perhaps getting very long and boring by now, but it is perhaps my last one to you before Christmas. Has Marie returned the pictures as yet?
And Mother, whatever you do, do not work too hard Christmas. Have you gone to see a doctor about your arm and have you as yet gone on the dinner I told you anniversary if not you had better or I am going to do something else about it. Have you seen Matson’s recently, it is funny they have not answered my letter, it seems that people mention me not writing but when I do they don’t seem to answer it. How funny. Did Mrs. Barrow take the job at Matsons? If so, does she like it as well now. By the way what do you think of their house. Do you think it is very nice or is it what you expected.
I suppose Grandpa keeps the room all closed up now that I am away?
Have you found anything more on the camera as yet.
How is Uncle Bill coming with the draft?
I had better be closing now and I hope you have a very happy Christmas and lets hope we can look to a better and happier New Year.
Your son, Stanley
[1] Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has sales in excess of $2 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs about 9,000 people and operates 43 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.
1945: Government mandates production of asbestos-containing insulation products (silica/asbestos combination) to insulate Navy vessels, and products for other war purposes.
1939: Johns-Manville shifts into wartime production.

November 22, 1942

From Pvt Stanley Safford
US Army
Co A 62 Med Tng Bn
Camp Barkeley
Texas

November 22, 1942
Dear Folks:
Hear it is Sunday and my first free Sunday in the army. I awoke this morning quite early and the usual cold strong wind was blowing and I did not get up for breakfast and understand that I did not miss very much, then got dressed and went out with the intention of going to church but could not find it and nobody at that time could tell me where it was. It was in one of the tents last Sunday. SO I then returned home to our tent and like to have frozen half to death before getting back. SO I will spend the most of the day writing letters which I am far behind on because of lack of time and by the (way) I do not have Jay Elmonts’ address which you can send me.
We have had the fire in the tent all day and upon going out I have had to put on our field jacket and the pair of gloves and lunch was quite good but this evening meal was not very good.
They opened the new latrine (lavatory) and shower room last evening and it was a very happy occasion for our camp to have hot water once again and it sure feels good.
Last Tuesday we went on a nine mile hike up into the hills where there are a few small cypress and some small undergrowth and we then had lunch there then returned home after repacking our tents etc. They not only had the ambulances but the kitchen and water trucks full of boys who thought they could not make it and didn’t. On the march we walked through the ground where the 90th division of infantry practices and saw their camouflaged trucks and guns, also we had some gas masks practices on the way.
We also had a class on gas masks drill this week. First we went out on the field and they exploded three different types of gasses to let us smell and we then went into the gas shelter to see what one was like. From there we went into a house with our gas masks on and went through the procedure of a drill we were then told to take off our masks and walk from the house. We then discovered that the room was filled with tear gas. From there we went outside into the air. The purpose of the drill was to give us confidence in our mask. The gas comes at a person like a huge cloud of smoke and quite thick and it was all quite interesting and we have had some very interesting classes on gas, orientation, bandaging, Germany invasion scheme etc. Can’t you just see me all wrapped up in bandages of all kinds and descriptions around the legs etc.
We have also had the first stages of letter carrying which does not seem to(o) interesting any way the first part of it.
We have some interesting character here in camp. One of them can ask some of the funniest questions imaginable and when the officers see him getting ready to ask one they grim to themselves, such as the one he asked on what to do with the gas mask when crossing a stream to protect it from the water. The captain answered him to use his own judgment in carrying it but only above water – quite a character(!) how he even got her is a problem to us all because he even looks crazy.
We then had the person whom I often wanted to ask if I had ever seen before, the first thing we heard was that they had him in the guardhouse for going under an assumed name and having had a previous jail record in L A and that he was a real colored boy from the Central Avenue district and his real name was Brown and he was using the name Martiny but he could speak a little Spanish, which made it the much more surprising but anyway they have gotten rid of him.
They are just beginning to start separating the cooks and truck drivers from our company, they will be for the balance of the six weeks given classes according to their line because they all have to have the basic two weeks training. They will still belong to the medical corps only they will do the cooking and the ambulance driving.
The camp was in quite an uproar last evening because the two weeks quarantine was up and that meant the granting of passes to town etc. But quite a few of them could not go because we have not as yet got our hats or caps back, which they tool to have braids put on them about a week and a half ago they are to be maroon piped with white you have perhaps noticed it but did not know that you could tell what they belonged to by the color of the braid.
In our handbooks it tells us all the designs we will see and the colors they will be in we now have three handbooks and two books of mimeographed papers which we as yet have not had much time to study. I may have spoken of it before but our emblem is called the caduceus. It is Mercury’s staff with wings attached and two snakes entwined around it. I think it is probably one of the nicest emblems that I have seen before. Of course you know that the officers wear a black and gold braid in their hats.
I received the box of things you sent and I sure appreciate them especially the candy, almonds, pecans and the dictionary. It has come in very handy already. I also received Muriel’s letter and want to thank her for Luther’s address and she is right about his mother being able to talk a leg off a person. I have been trying to find something to send home as a souvenir but yet have not found anything worthwhile but perhaps will find something of some value in the near future. I walked over to the other side of the camp this evening but didn’t find anything there to give you an idea of the size of the camp. They have a three thousand bed hospital over there. You perhaps do not have any idea of the size of this camp.
You speaking of cameras, there is a fairly nice camera and camera supply store on the North side of Sixth street between Olive and Grand anyway in the same block as the Beltmore. You might be able to find something there.
Tell Muriel that is she wants gum I can get it for her at 3c per pkg. approx. if she want it they do seem to have plenty of that here.
If the things on the back porch are bulbs, you can plant them now, as for the bulbs along the fence they are not planted clear to the South end and I thought I left a ridge there.
As for the bulbs in the refrigerator you can plant them anywhere as long as they get a part day shade and plant the crowns about five inches deep and perhaps you can wait until about Xmas before planting them. How are the callas coming out front. If you get time, would you check all the labels on my cymbidiums and make sure they are all kept tagged in some way and if you would make out a list of them and what size pot they are in and if they are in the ground, I will perhaps then let you know further what to do with them. Have you as yet seen Mr. Matson and showed him the pictures of the antiques and gotten the Hollandin azalea for Mr. Ricks.
Speaking of pictures will you have another set of them made including the ones taken at Joe’s house and send them to me because I would like to send him the ones taken at his home and distribute the other ones taken at his house and distribute the other ones in a couple chain letters to them and back to me and out again. Have you got the antiques covered as yet? There is a table cloth out in the backroom on the table that may be used if cleaned maybe. Do you play the phonograph very much? But don’t let Muriel play it. I have Aunt Maybells’ address.
And if Ned Safford follows the footsteps of his parents you probably won’t hear from him.
The letters and cards I mailed in Phoenix were mailed by the lieutenant in charge because we were not able to go into any depot of any kind.
I sometimes wonder if the Tanabes’ really trusted you with the packages you speak of as for insuring them for twelve thousand dollars I do not know.
I do not know or see any signs of any one getting fat on the food here.
The dark glasses will sure come in handy.
One of the boys in my tent is a Basque and is sure a nice person to good hearted for his own good the one next to him is a nice person perhaps a man of 35 or 40 rather hard of hearing and easy to get along with the next one is a dirty Mexican which I did not know until just 5 or 6 days ago. I knew he had some Spanish or something in him but when he tells you he does not speak Mexican and does not associate with them and then you catch him in his lies and he starts talking and associating with them, there is something wrong. The lieutenants have jumped him several times about his sloppy wearing of clothes and the mess he leaves his bed and surroundings but he still tries to pass for a white man with the name of Richman. Then the other boy is Italian on the verge of a breakdown and just goes to pieces everyone once in a while. He has been married 3 or 4 months and it is easy to see why they do not make good fighters. Then the other person is perhaps a man of 30 years and very easy to get along with.
I have as yet quite a few letters to write and I do want to answer Marshall’s letter.
Will you please send me some of my latest stationary or just a mixture of it and also my flashlight because I may have difficulty in getting batteries for the one Miss Mosher gave me here, but check the batteries and get a new bulb for it. Because I may have use for a stronger light, also send me a couple of air mail stamps for I may have use for them. I do not know when I will get a PO(?)
I also have to write Aunt Nina and thank her for the dictionary. Also, Richard Rohde, is the last name spelled correct or is it Rhode?
I received a nice long letter from Joe the other day. He always writes long letters and nice ones.
I surely wish I could be home for Thanksgiving but suppose we will have the day of so it will be a short week for us. If you ever have to reach me quickly you can sometimes reach me through the Red Cross sooner than by telephone. They come through so slowly.
Your son,
Stanley

November 13, 1942

November 13, 42

We got up this morning on the run and finished on the run, heard lectures this morning then went right after lunch on a nice long hike to heaven knows where out North somewhere and circled around and came in from the West but surprise of surprise you can’t guess who we heard lecture today: Lew Ayres; and he was wearing corporal stripes and he gave a lecture that would outshine three fourths of the commissioned officers I have heard speak and he sure shows signs of being very well educaed, good English, manners, personality, pleasing smile and all the other things that go to make up a very nice person and he sure is a very active person. I would sure like to know him, he gave a lecture on the hospital ward, the adjourning rooms personnel and other part of the hospital.
The clothes we were issued consist of 2 pairs dress pants, 2 dress shirts, the same of the sun tan shirts and trousers, 2 pairs shoes, 1 rain coat, 1 overcoat, 1 dress coat, 1 black and 2 tan trio – 3 pairs socks white, 3 tan pairs, 3 each underwear. Then we have 2 tan caps and 1 wool dress cap, the garrison cap as it is called. We have to buy later (the one with the beak on it) also the heavy belt. Then we have what they call a field jacket of a padding in the middle, lined and both zipper and buttons up the front. Then of course a pair of wool gloves which sure come in handy. Then they say we have some wool ones on the way which might come in handy. Then we have two --- of a loose type of work clothes which we wear all the time unless on special occasions. The sun tans air for summer.
I just now heard that Warren won the election in California. The papers that we have here, even the Dallas and Fort Worth papers, are very dull. One headline and that is about all but we do not have time to read them any how so it does not make much much difference out here in the sticks.
Yes, Melton Stumfield was pcpt at Fort MacArthur for two weeks. There he was going to be sent to air corps field somewhere. There is no no one here that I can know very well but there are some that I know by sight. But there is not to awfully many that I would care to know too well and besides I do not think it would pay to know too many because your ‘chances’ are well not be sent (?) the same please when we leave here.

The Bn you were wondering is Bn, stands for Battalion. We are known here as M.R.T.C.Medical Replacement Training Center.
Any questions I have not answered in this letter, I will answer the next; if I don’t get this mailed I will never get it to you.

Goodbye for now, mother
Your son Stanley

PS: Received your letter today and Marshall’s. He talks about where he* is, what will he think of where I am.
Full address
US Army
Company A “-62” Medical Training Battalion - only it is abbreviated on envelope
Camp Barkeley
Texas

*Note from the transcriber: Marshall was an Asian-American neighbor whose family had been sent away to the camps. Marshall would eventually join the military also and be trained at BYU in languages.

November 12, 1942

Received Miss Moshers letter this noon but did not get a chance to read it for we were kept on the run until this evening. We got up to a very cold morning and had to put our overcoats ob and wear them to classes which made it quite uncomfortable plus the windy tents and they are so large that there is no possible way to keeping them warm, one of them blew down the other evening and what a mess this was. We also went to a lecture in the auditorium and heard a lecture on the German invasion of Poland, Denmark and Norway and it was quite interesting. We also went to the lecture on gas masks and more bandaging and then some more marching. Then I played a game of volley ball afterwards had a lot of fun…
… The dust was bad again today and everyone complained of it and the wind was hot and dry and the food was some what better. I have not had kitchen duty as yet but some of the others have. But I do not think it would be so bad.
Our training here will enable us to be what they call medical soldiers and company in the field they are on boats. They are in hospitals, field bases and in schools for the teaching of new students. In other words we are sent all over the US and even foreign places when we are through here. The only ones that they leave here are the ones they can use here which us few and the ones they train for officers. It is only for the later that I would care to stay here then it would be a chance for advancement which if I get it I will not turn down.
The camp here is about eleven miles from Abilene and there are no colored boys in this camp that I know of(f), There is one large groups of Infantry here, we can hear them practicing.

November 11, 1942

Dear Mother,
I sure hope you will excuse me for not writing you before this but I and we all here have been extremely busy here since I last wrote you and the adverse weather conditions have not helped it any.
It was quite muddy as yet Monday but we still went on our regular duties and Monday morning it was the coldest I have seen it here yet and I do mean cold. It was extremely sharp cutting cold coming from North and it lasted all day. We marched about two miles over to our auditorium where we heard the chaplain, the commanding general of Camp Barkeley etc. There we had pictures etc. We then marched back and had lunch. After that we went to lectures in tents (large tents with benches): one on bandages, gasses etc. Then when we finished dinner we assembled in the mess hall for War bonds information and were asked how much we wished to have taken from our pay. And I am going to wait awhile before I have them take anything from my pay and see how things come out then I can tell more about it.
I have not spent much as yet and probably will not unless something --- comes up.
Then yesterday we got up at 6:15, had a part of what they call breakfast here, and it is not much, more about it later, we there again went to our classes and had more lectures on bandages, gasses etc proper ways of addressing officers etc, we then came back to lunch to which again was not lunch, we then went on a two and a half mile march, rested 15 minutes then marched back.
There was one platoon ahead of us and I believe two behind us, I am in second platoon.
There was also an ambulance which drove up and down the columns and when it got back it had 10 or 12 in it, and that was only a 5 mile march. What will it be when we take our twelve mile march one way and the same distance back the next day, we are going to make a camp there and stay one night.
I am not looking forward to that with any great expectation.
The road along the march is about like the rest of the land here but the south side of the road and the camp seems to be a much better type land and it improves as we go South-West and we even find a few small secret pines or cedars around here and there. I could not tell for sure because I did not get close enough to them but the soil is still the same old clay, I have a couple small pieces of it which I will send you sometime for you to get a look at the wonderful clay here.
The night before last we were called into the mess hall for a picture or something and just before we left for our tents a wind came up and in increased in its fierceness until the air was full of dust and particles of sand soil, pieces of wood and can lids from the garbage pails and blew the big pails over and before I could get to the tent I had my eyes filled with dirt, my clothes all dirty and when about part way someone ran into me and we both fell down, who he was or what became of him I do not know but he sure made a noise, when I got to the tent it was just a flapping in the wind and I thought for sure it would lift itself from the ground and the air was sure full of dust so that you could hardly see and everything was just thick with dust I had so much dust in my nose and there was so much in the air that I did not sleep to(o) well.
Then last night I had guard duty (the entries south half of the battalion and it was a lot of territory to cover. The others only had about one fourth as much. I watched from 6:30 -8:30 and the later hour was plenty dark and all the ditches to skip and holes to watch out for because a person could sure hurt themselves if they were to fall into them because the ground is not level one foot square in any place because when it rains it gets well slushed around and when it dries in the awful wind it leaves it quite rough and it also was a little cold but I was sure thankful that it was not later. Before guard duty we were paraded before a lieutenant and he walked up and down the rows looking each man up and down the front and back and he leaves nothing overlooked, believe me, it is quite an occasion, the show and all.

November 5, 1942

Pvt Stanley Safford
US Army
Co A “-62” Med Tng Bn
Camp Barkeley
Texas

Nov 5, 1942

Dear Mother,

Arrived here safe and sound last evening about 12:00 o’clock after one of the most awful trips I think I have ever made and across some of the most awful looking country in the US, I think. Before and after we left Phoenix there were some very nice looking country with very nice looking ranches of maise, kafir corn, peanuts, cotton and 2 or 3 other things I had never seen before. The cotton is sure pretty. We crossed New Mexico in the dark and I don’t think we missed very much if it was any thing like the other desert. We came through El Paso about 5o’clock yesterday morning. I looked out my birth window and it is a pretty good sized town, larger than I expected.

The train stopped for any freight, passengers and other types of trains on the tracks, so we were therefore late to pick up the Texas & Pacific diner that was waiting for us. We then only had two meals yesterday but what we had was very good except the eggs.

We traveled under army orders under a very nice lieutenant who had two aides. Also on the same train in 4 or 5 cars in the rear were colored boys. When we were switching for the diner we backed up along side of them and low and behold if I didn’t know two or three. Went to McKinley and Jefferson with them and they were quite pleased that I spoke to them and they then introduced me to two or three of their friends out the car window.

We then went on until we came to Sweetwater when we then put on an O P engine then switched around North of Sweetwater and came up to Abeline which I didn’t see much of(f), where very large army trucks picked us up and drove like mad around corners, over ditches etc until we came into the quarantine section of Camp Barkeley which is a large tent section, the largest I have ever seen. The tents hold six beds. To give you an idea of their size, on one side they go up a slope and disappear over the edge and they wind up for probably a distance of 1 ½ miles in each of the other three directions and beyond them on the barracks etc as far as the eye can see, of course remember it was 12:00 o’clock and it had been raining sometimes during the day for the ground was quite moist and in some places quite muddy as well as strictly and vol.(?)
I thought for sure that we never would get to bed because the seargents corporals etc were cursing and plowing through amusing(?) and one of the nastiest cold cutting winds coming from the north I had ever seen, then towards morning it came from the south and it was just as cold.

Then we got up this morning at 6 o’clock and the sky was the blackest I had ever seen a sky and we prepared for a downpour but it never came. We had a breakfast(s) that I thought would kill me. Two hot cakes about 1 inch thick that you couldn’t cut with a fork and 1 very good piece of bacon and that was it. Then we went in to be placed in our final groups and then we had to turn in our blankets which had been issued for the other tents and changed tents to the new one which I am now in.
It also has six beds around the side and a stone in the center which is about 1 ½ feet tall and all about the same in width and we are to(o) burn coal in it and we have it all fixed this evening.

I understand from the scores that I received on my tests at the Fort that it will qual(l)ify me for officers training after I have been in the army 4 months which I am sure glad to see after seeing what officers are treated like here. Their tents have floors in them and desks etc. Also I do not wish to hang with rabble t(o) long for a person comes in contact with some none to(o) desirable characters here. I sure feel sorry for some of the fellows here that cannot even make a bed and have no more idea of nice things or the finer things of life than a wild animal and their table manners are something awful. Some roll their bread up in a roll and hold it in one hand and shovel the food on their fork with it etc.

They do more reaching here than I have ever seen before.

We have just had evening meal, ham, macaroni, salad of lettuce, potatoes, corn, bread and a finish of pumpkin pie. There were only two or three of them that was any good and I haven’t seen any milk since I have been here.

There are supposed to be approximately ?5,000 here in this camp. They of course are not all in the medical branch.
We, after we finish our course of from 2 to 8 weeks, are then sent to hospitals all over the country but none that I know of or have heard of in California so I do not think that I will be home very soon at least not for a few weeks. How many I do not know and will not know until probably the night before.

I may get a 10 or 12 hour leave when perhaps then I will spend it in Abeline. It is eleven miles away and very small at that. Of course Texas has not many towns of any size. We are quarantined here in our section for the next two weeks.
How did you like your trip to the desert? I thought about you quite often.
Could you by any chance get me a small sheep skin, brown shoe polish and a soft cloth or two? They have the polish here but nothing else. I did get myself some more ink today. I may send home a couple things later because I want to carry my dress shoes in my case.

The flashlight Miss Mosher gave me sure has come in handy a couple of times, and the stationary case has sure helped me out a lot, in fact the whole case has come in handy. It may be a little nuisance but it is sure worth it.

Do you think that I could get a bible about half the size the one I have now?
And I want you to look around and see what kind of a camera I might be able to get or get for me if I am unable to. There is a few pictures that I would like to have. How are Boots’ little rabbits and have you received Marshall’s address. I would like to have written to him in Arizona.

With Love,
Don’t worry.

Stanley