Name/Title
Spalsbury: #41 Letters Home September 1, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.285A-EScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, California to his mother Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, c/o Mrs. P.H. Wire, 18 Country Club Drive, Bellville, Illinois. Post Marked SEP 1, 1943, 3PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Context
Tuesday Evening -
August 31st, 1943
Dear Mom,
I got your letter yesterday noon, in addition to one from Uncle Robert and one from Jack Planalp which he intended for Lilbern Roberts and missent to me. I was surprised to hear from him again, since I only had a letter a week ago Monday from him. But when I read the salutation "Dear Lilbern," and then the rest of the letter, I knew what had happened. So last night I wrote a note to Lilbern, inclosing the missent letter.
I wonder what kind of work Uncle Robert will do here in California. He was telling me what a hard job it was to settle down and work again in Tonkawa after being in the Army. He said he couldn't seem to work like he used to. "The Army did something to me, " he said. He worries too much about himself, doesn't he? But I should talk.
I hope you like your new work. It sounds interesting - more interesting than selling New York Life, even.
Some of us who received unsatisfactory grades for the first three weeks were called out of class this morning. We had to report before a board composed of Father Connoly, Registrar, Lt. MacGinnis - the officer in charge of us here, and a Captain who was a classification officer. I received a B in English, C in History and Geography, and F in chemistry, physics, and math. The Captain said I was where I belonged in Basic II, so I guess I won't be changed. I told them how hard it was for me to concentrate and think, so Father Connoly suggested I have a talk with Father Malone, student advisor. I'd thought about talking with him any number of times, but never really got around to it. You know how reticent I am about approaching people. They are talking of forming a remedial group here, and I thought I might be put in that. But I'll probably know in a week or so.
Well, I saw Duane this weekend, but not in L.A. I went to the Biltmore Hotel Saturday evening about 10:30, but they wouldn't let me go to the room. I didn't want to wait for the boys, and it's a good thing I didn't, because they didn't get in until 2 a.m. Sunday. So I took the streetcar back to Inglewood, and hitchhiked back to Loyola from Inglewood. I slept late Sunday morning, arose and washed and shaved, and dressed. Then I set out about 11 a.m. Sunday, and hitch-hiked over to S.A.A.A.B., arriving there about 1 p.m. I had six or seven different rides altogether. I walked over to Duane's barracks. He'd just returned from L.A. shortly before. He looks O.K. - has quite a tan - but he looked very tired -from the night before, I guess. He took me down to the Service Club, where we had a malt together. He also lent me two bucks, since I was pretty low in cash. We saw Frank Pierce, a St. Joe boy, and his folks, and stopped to talk with them for awhile. They have a dress parade every Sunday afternoon at 3, so we walked back to his barracks, then I took the bus into Santa Ana. There I got on the Los Angeles streetcar; which cost 72 cents to ride into L.A. Then I took the streetcar to Inglewood, after gong to two different USOs to get refreshments. Then I hitch -hiked back to Loyola from Inglewood.
I thought John Jamieson was not going overseas. You wrote me before that he couldn't because of his eyes. How come he's going now, I wonder?
We have a Recorded Music Hour here now from 6:15 to 7:15 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We had our first one this evening. I enjoyed it a lot. Some of the boys organized it themselves. The school is going to buy us some new records and albums, too. All of us who listened this evening handed in a list of the records we'd like to have, so they'd know what to buy.
I had a long letter from Katy Morrow today. She begins at Mt. St. Scholastica on September the 9th. She said she sent me a box of fudge, but I haven't received it yet. I hope it arrives within the next day or two. Also had a note with 35 cents inclosed from the Telephone Co. in L.A. I put that much into the pay telephone when Duane called Friday night, and didn't get it back at first. I told the operator, so she sent it to me. But the funny part -is -just as I was leaving the booth the quarter and dime came clinking out. So - I'm 35 cents ahead!
Love, Bob
[NOTE: SAAAB is the Santa Ana Army Air Base where Robert's brother, Duane, is stationed for pilot training]Collection
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, California to his mother Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, c/o Mrs. P.H. Wire, 18 Country Club Drive, Bellville, Illinois. Post Marked SEP 1, 1943, 3PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Description
Handwritten letter to his mother who is visiting in Illinois. Pvt. Spalsbury, at the time of this letter, has completed Basic Training at Camp Callan, California, was stationed for a short time with a STAR Unit for ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program) soldiers in Pasadena, CA and is now stationed at Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA for additional training.
This letter is two pages, front and back, written in blue ink on heavy weight cream colored stationery embossed with Loyola University of Los Angeles A.S.T.P and university building image in gold. The letter was mailed in a matching envelope with a 6 cent Air Mail stamp. The paper is folded in thirds.Dimensions
Height
10-1/2 inWidth
7-1/4 inCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
