Name/Title
Spalsbury: #16 Letters Home June 15, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.260A-GScope and Content
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, 3rd Platoon-Battery C, 57th A.A. Trng. Bn., Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked June 15, 1943, 10:30 AM San Diego, CALIF, 6 cent Air Mail stampContext
Monday, June 14, 1943
Dear Folks,
I finally decided to write you, even though the last I heard from you was last Wednesday, I believe. I was sitting here trying to decide who to write to - so you see, you're the lucky ones. I cold have written Aunt Esther, Uncle Robert, or Grandma Whinery instead, but decided you'd appreciate a letter more than they. It's a bit after 10 p.m. now, and I'm in the Rec. Hall writing room.
I imagine I'll get quite a few letters written tomorrow, since I'm going to be on Beach Guard again from 12 noon Tuesday till 12 noon Wednesday, together with 3 other A.S.T.P. boys and an acting Corporal. I really look forward to it, since I enjoyed the last one, and you do really have quite a bit of time to read, write, loaf, or sleep.
Pop, you're going to get a little surprise within a few days, but I don't know whether it'll reach you by Sunday - it may be a day or so late. I got it all wrapped and addressed up at the P.X. this evening, and will try to get someone to mail it for me tomorrow. It's hard to get to the Post Office here, since it closes at 6 p.m., and one usually has to skip evening chow to get there. It's about half a mile from my barracks.
How do you folks like the way my new fountain pen writes? I got it at the drug store in La Jolla yesterday afternoon for $9.00, including tax. It's a Parker brand - the same kind our P.X. was selling for $5.25 several weeks ago, but they're sold out, and it looks as if they'll never have any more, at least for some time, anyway. So I really don't mind spending so much dough on it.
I have $2.30 left, so the next time you write, Mom, you'd better send the rest of my money - $10.00, wasn't it? But quick!
My films haven't returned yet. I inquired about them at the P.X. this evening, and the next delivery will be on Wednesday, and I'm sure they'll be in then, since it'll be two weeks ago this Wednesday that I left them there. I'm getting 2 prints of each negative (8 exposures), enlarged to 3"x 4," and I had to leave $1.35 when I left them. So you see, everything at the P.X. isn't so cheap. But of course the P.X. doesn't develop them - they're sent to a Photo Shop in La Jolla.
Yes, drinking is so disgusting. Some of the boys in the barracks got "happy" one evening last week. Three of them, including Luther Luckett, drank six large pitchers of beer among themselves. Of course they weren't drunk, but they acted so childish about the whole thing, as if they'd done such a wonderful thing. Some people certainly love their liquor - or the effect it gives them. I think about 3/4's of the boys here smoke. Even though this is a School Battalion, most of the guys here are dull clods, but it doesn't bother me. I always manage to find people with standards similar to mine, and I manage to appreciate the good points of the "dull clods."
No, I never received a card from Altha Polk. I imagine she got mine, though I suppose she thought one to you would be sufficient.
I see by a clipping that Hubert received from his parents Saturday that Ralph Harper was killed. He was a pretty nice boy, but I never knew him terribly well.
Saw Frank Buzard again last night, and talked to him for awhile. I think he's rather homesick and lonely, and tired of doing nothing up at the Officers' "Pool," where the new officers live before they're assigned to a Unit. He says some of the fellows he came out with have already been shipped abroad, and weren't assigned to instructing trainees here at Callan. I think mostly older officers are used as instructors.
I still haven't heard from Duane, the little devil! He must be busy, too. He wrote so regularly there for awhile. I guess maybe he thought I was homesick. But then, too, he wasn't very busy then.
Warren and I had a good time in San Diego and La Jolla yesterday. I met Warren at 11a.m. in the Army-Navy Y.M.C.A., and after walking about town for awhile, and walking over to Balboa Park to finish up a roll of film I got at our P.X., we ate dinner at "Ye Golden Lion Restaurant," San Diego's most exclusive. I had hamburger steak Sunday Dinner deluxe, which cost me $1.95 after I'd paid the California tax (5 cents) and tipped the waitress (15 cents this time - so there!!!) It wasn't as good as the Roast Romona Turkey Luckett and I had there several Sundays ago. Warren and I took a bus (15 cents) to La Jolla, which he liked very much. I'm in love with the little town myself. We strolled along the beach, and coves, looking at the swimmers with their lovely tans and sporty duds (slang for clothes?), and took one more picture. We bought an ice cream bar, strolled along the streets of La Jolla ("The Jewel" - Spanish meaning), had a choc. malt, I got my pen, etc. Showed Warren the USO and St. James Rec. Hall, where I had a free cup of coffee and cookies. Yum-yum. Warren can't see how I eat so much. I weighed 161 on a scale in a La Jolla Drug Store, but it's a bit high, I'm sure.
We got a free ride back to Callen with a boy here in Battery C. I bought some articles at the P.X., showed Warren the Service Club, and then we took in the movie, "Coney Island," at the Camp Theatre. Warren went back on the bus.
I think Warren's homesick and lonely. There aren't very many sailors in his group as nice as he is. He says they think he's a prude.
Well, I'm in my latrine, and taps has blown, so I'd better stop and undress and get into bed before the C.2. comes around.
Send the $10.00 quick, please.
Love, Bob
P.S. I went to the Hospital Sat. eve. to see Bill Jennings, but he was at the movie, so missed him. I'll go again soon.Lexicon
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, 3rd Platoon-Battery C, 57th A.A. Trng. Bn., Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked June 15, 1943, 10:30 AM San Diego, CALIF, 6 cent Air Mail stamp ContextDescription
Handwritten letter home to parents back in St. Joseph after being called up to serve in the US Army during WWII. Pvt. Spalsbury, at the time of this letter, is at Camp Callen, California for Basic Training. The letter is three pages, front & back, written in blue ink pen on plain Air Mail stationery. The envelope specifies Via Air Mail. The envelope is smaller than the stationary so it is folded to fit.Condition
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Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
