Name/Title
Spalsbury: #99 Letters Home October 27, 1944Entry/Object ID
2021.2.343A-CScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216th Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to his parents Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked OCT 27, 1944, 1:30 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents Air Mail stampContext
Thursday Night -
26 October 1944
Dear Sweetie-pies ----
Pfc. Walter Horzepa and I are now up on the balcony at the Service Club. We just came up from the cafeteria, where we had malts and sundaes. Before that we were at the P.X. and at the movie, out of which we were expelled. All the 16th Armored Division men who are now in the "field" (we are) aren't supposed to be in these places - they're "off Limits." Problem #2 ended yesterday, and we came in last night, to pitch our pup tents on the large drill field up over the hill from our barracks here in Camp. Silly, isn't it? We are now in our 2d "rest period," which ends Sunday, when Problem #3 begins. The reason we came into camp was to have a complete individual clothing and equipment inspection. Since most of our clothing, etc., is locked up in the barracks, it was necessary to come in, in order to drag it all out for the inspection. ...Just another example of the stupid way of doing things that the Army has.
Darn it! We were just ready to find out who the murderer was in the movie when they ordered all 16th Armd Div men to fall out.
Your letter came this morning, Mama, and also the Sunday paper, Pop.
There were two huge bags of mail for the company tonight, and I had to get help to carry the 2d one down to my mail locker, where I sort it. The bags have been unusually heavy in the field, because so many of the guys have written home, asking for packages to make the "maneuvers" more enjoyable. As a result the bags have usually been plumb full.
Gawdawmighty!!! Has Raidt been discharged? Why don't you tell me these things? You talk as if I already knew he had, Mom. You never mentioned it before. What was the matter with him? He was at Camp Butner, wasn't he? I wonder if Paul Leibowitz is still there.
Our latrine was really put to use this afternoon. We were all showering, shampooing, shaving, s-------, and washing and scrubbing our clothes, which are plenty dirty.
I've certainly had little time for writing since we've been on maneuvers. Besides what I've written you kids, I've just written a post card to Duane and a letter to Planalp.
All my love, Bob
[NOTE: written along the top of the front of the letter, above the U.S. Army emblem: P.S. You say I look thinner in the pictures. I believe my face is thinner, but I weigh 175.]Collection
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216th Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to his parents Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked OCT 27, 1944, 1:30 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents Air Mail stampDescription
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, 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 then moved to engineering training at Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA. After flunking out of the ASTP program, Robert was briefly stationed at Camp Roberts, located in central California assigned to the Infantry Replacement Training Center. Then Robert was stationed at Camp Haan in southern California, a U.S. Army training camp for Coast Artillery Anti Aircraft gunners. During his time at Camp Haan, Robert was transferred from Battery B to Battery A and began working as an office Clerk in Battery A.
At the time this letter was written, Robert is serving at Camp Chaffee at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He had been working as a Clerk-Typist in the HQ Company then transferred to Line Company A. Recently, he was given a new job serving as Mail Clerk for the Company.
This letter is one page, front and back, written in blue ink on stationery with a gold embossed emblem centered on the top of the page with the words United States Army printed in gold below it. The letter 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
