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

June 6, 1944

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Fort Sam Houston

Texas

June 6, 1944

Dear Mother:

Well I never thought that I would ever see France but it looks more so every day.  From the looks of the news there will soon be a lot of action over there and a lot of use for us.

I woke up this morning to hear a lot of noise and the papers were all out with “Invasion” all over the front page but not much else…

Our plans here for the future are that an advance party is leaving the tenth of June for POE and we will follow then some time afterwards.  Major Skinner is one of the three officers and we have not received definite instructions as yet but are quite sure it will be New York or at least the East coast.  The Surgeon General’s office has changed their strategy and are not sending this type of group West.  They are sending much smaller more flexible groups out there.  We are being prepared for warm clothing which is a good indication perhaps of our destination.  I can just see an evening in Paris.

You mentioning moving pictures reminds me of the picture I saw the other evening with Sgt Rapp and his wife.  They had invited me over for dinner and I took them to the show afterwards.  It was more for the reason of her wishing to see it than it was mine.  The picture was “Pin Up Girl” with Betty Grable.  As far as she is concerned I do not like her but the picture was quite beautiful and Hollywood in some places.  They had a couple very good seating numbers which were really quite nice.

Well the other day my OCS deal finally bounced back due to our dear unit here.

They were never enthused regarding it so therefore gave me no cooperation.  Major Grubin was quite mad about it and told me that it was practically all their fault in the personnel office and the colonel’s. So I got back the entire affair all under one cover, excepting a couple letters which were removed for some reason or the other.  I, my hands are washed of that for now.

We have been swamped here the last few days with all the 70 nurses coming in and the rest of our officers.  And I have this dope in here that is no good at all.

I am going to soon be rid of him as soon as the Major gets back.  He has been sick for two days and I was up to see him today and done some work with him.  I had lunch with his wife, son and daughter and they are all quite nice.

I have made out a $25 allotment to become effective in August and to be taken from my pay, of course we get 20% increase for overseas so I will then be drawing $41.25 and even then may have too much.  The government will send 100Lbs of things home for me so I will put all of my things into a locker and mail it all home at one time.  I am making out an elaborate will and power of attorney which you should receive in the next couple of days.  The power of attorney is to you.  The will you can put it in the safe deposit box for me and leave it there.  Find out if it is necessary to file a copy there in the courthouse.  I never dreamed there was so much to a will or the other stuff of that kind.  They tell me I should have had one made out at home.

Major Eskin, who is one of our officers who is in LA now to leave his wife and family there writes back and tells us that there writes back and tells us that there is no place like it.

Sgt Ryan is now back in the unit and is feeling quite well, only the doctors tell him he will not be able to have too much bad usage of his jaw for some time.

How is Maibelle getting long these days? Do you know her address?  If so send it to me and I will try and write her soon.

I feel that if they think enough of me to keep me from OCS they can do a few favours for me soon and give me some consideration and take this dope out of here.  It will be more work but rather do it myself than to have him swooping around here and having to be shown how to do everything.  And that is not all they are going to do for me either before they are through with m. I am going to get all I can, I have made up my mind to that.

Well enough for now and I will write again soon.

I remain as ever,

Love,

Stanley

December 27, 1943

Sgt Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

Dodd Field

Ft Sam Houston

Texas

December 27, 1943

My Dear Mother:

I sure hope that you will forgive me for not writing you before this and thanking you for the many lovely and useful gifts.  How shall I repay you for your many kindnesses to me?  The sweater and the slippers are just what I have been wanting for some time.  How did you know that I wanted them?  And the stationary is the last word in being beautiful as well as fine.  I want to thank you all for the many and wonderful gifts.  Your last box did not arrive until today and I was quite pleased after opening it to find all the good things the box contained and let me tell you, they are just as nice as ? and I appreciate them so very much.

You asking about the fruit cake.  The two types which you sent last time were both very good.  The dark sliced seemed to have more moisture to it and a little different flavour.  They are both very delicious.  I also received I guess a piece of fruit cake from Aunt Maibelle which I have not opened as yet.  It is quite heavy and has a very nice smell.  I will keep all of it for a while.  I received a small box of Vermont Maple sugar candy from Miss Mosher, a little peg game from Miss Brode.  Some nice handkerchiefs from Paul and Thelma and salted nuts from Mr. and Mrs. Matson as well as a book of Colliers cartoons.  Also received some cookies from Aunt Dell today and also a dollar bill from Jay in his Christmas card which I am going to have to answer for tonight.  I can’t think of anything else just now other than the things you sent all the soap, blades, sox etc are certainly nice.  The sweater will certainly come in handy here in this barn in the evening and early mornings.

As you probably know I received a card from Claude Safford also Herbert Shaffer.  I am sending New Year cards to the Chipmans and Vera and Val.  Herbert tells me that he was to spend the Holidays home.  He has certainly been quite fortunate to be so near home for so long a time.  I also received a card from both Blair families and the Miners.  Luther Lee also sent me one after he got mine.  Did not receive one from any of the relatives there is L.A tho.

We had a very nice Christmas meal here in fact a lot went to waste and some very good entertainment after the meal.

Major Eskin’s wife who has studied music sang Guounod[1] “Ave Maria” and sang  it well.  A large part of the officers were there with their wives and families which we don’t often see much of.  The Dining Hall was a little over done as far as decorations went but quite nice.

Did you hear from Marshall in any way.  I did not receive anything from him although I mailed him a card quite early so he must have received it.  They certainly have a mess here at the Ft Sam Houston Post Office.  They have gone off their schedule for deliveries even.

I and Kupfer went to a show Christmas afternoon and saw a picture about some ghost ship or something of that type.  Nothing special about it tho.  After  that I came home and went to bed.  We did not have dinner until 2:00 o’clock.  My day was quiet otherwise.  I should have gone to church but got up too late to get there on time, so when I did get up I opened my gifts and then cleaned myself up for dinner. 

Last week I went to dinner with the Kinsfather and had a very enjoyable evening with a dinner and show. They, or rather she, has changed quite a bit since lat I saw her.  She is much more grown up now than before.

Well the tent is getting cold and it is about my bet time, so will close now and will write so will close now and will write again soon.  I want to thank you again .

All my love,

Your son,

Stanley

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[1] Correct spelling GOUNOD