Name/Title
Spalsbury: #10 Letters Home May 21, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.254A-GScope and Content
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, Battery C-57th A.A. Trng. Bn., 3rd Platoon, Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 21, 1943, 10:30 AM San Diego, CALIF , 6 cent Air Mail stampContext
Thursday Evening - May 20th
Dear Ma and Pa,
I looked for a letter this morning and afternoon, but got nary a one. I notice lately that the Air Mail seems to take three days instead of just two, as it did for a while there. You've probably received the Oozlefinch by now, I've sent six of them so far. They're 35 cents apiece, but I thought they'd probably be appreciated quite a lot, and they do give a fairly accurate picture of what we do her at Callan. The last one I sent was to Duane. I hope Aunt Esther forwards to Tonkawa the one I addressed to her and Grandma Whinery, i.e., after she looks at it. I guess I should write a nice long letter soon to Grandma Whinery, because she won't get the post card I sent to her and Esther at Houston.
I wrote Lilbern Roberts a letter last night, and tonight I wrote post cards to Jack Sewell (the first I've written to him) and Kathleen - she hasn't answered my letter yet, and I sent it Air Mail, too. But I did take pretty long to answer hers, and then too no doubt she's very busy now, with exams, commencement, etc. Be sure to call Katie and ask her to send me a Penny Whistle magazine - it's surely out by now. Also, do me a favor (maybe I've already asked this) by calling the registrar at Junior College to see how I ranked among the upper ten. I imagine I was 9th or 10th, but I'd still like to know definitely. Why don't you folks go to the Commencement Exercises, whenever they are, and send me a program? I'd certainly appreciate it - I'd particularly like to see who all is on the graduation list.
I haven't heard from Warren for about ten days, and I've written two short notes to him since then. Maybe he's peeved about Sunday, but it just couldn't be helped. But then, too, maybe he's been shipped, since he told me his course would last but 5 or 6 weeks. Since he began training when I did, it makes it our 6th week now.
We A.S.T.P.'s may (it's a slight chance) be shipped out Monday. Some A.S.T.P.'s in Battery D were shipped out last Monday, and they're just a week ahead of us in their training. We also heard that A.S.T.P.'s must complete 36 actual days of Basic Training before being shipped out. This Saturday will be our 36th day. You see, Sunday's aren't counted. But you can never be sure of anything in the Army, so I'm not counting on leaving Monday at all. In fact, I'm going to turn my dirty laundry in to the Supply Room this Saturday, and if I leave before it returns from L.A. (that where it is sent ) the Supply Sergeant will just have to send it to me. That's what they do, so I hear.
Went up to the Post Exchange this evening after chow, and had a chocolate nut sundae, then a caramel sundae. Tasted good.
Last night I rounded up Hubert Speer and we took the bus down to the 52nd Battalion. We looked for Bob Raidt (he was out), for Wm. Jennings - the other guy from J.C. (he was in the hospital), but we found Robert Ryan and John Stuart, the two red-haired fellows from Rockhurst who came out on the train with us. We chatted with them for about an hour, comparing our training and experiences, etc. Night before last the 52nd went on an all-night hike - they slept in their pup tents - something we haven't done yet in the 57th. Hubert and I walked back, stopping at the Service Club on the way. He was hungry and wanted something to eat, but I wanted to write letters back at our Battalion Rec. Hall, so I hurried back. This quiet little room is ideal for writing - it's not so noisy as out in the auditorium proper, where the boys play pool, read magazines, lounge around, and just talk.
I bought a good looking Hickok dress belt for 60 cents at the P.X. last night - it has a shiny bronze buckle. Also bought a stick of Camphor Ice to put on my nose - it's still red and peeling, and the small bottle of Skol Suntan Ointment I bought long ago just doesn't seem to help - it only seems to make my skin even drier. I get quite a big kick out of toilet articles - it must be my vanity.
I'll certainly be glad to hear from Bob Cox. It's too bad about Harry Agranoff and Barnie Driver - I've been very lucky in that I've never even had to report for sick call yet, and there are a lot of guys here who've been in the hospital already. Many of the fellows have been having dental work done - fillings and extractions, even - but I believe my teeth were in no need of that, for they never called me. Which reminds me - before I left I went to Dr. Pribil and he asked two dollars for cleaning my teeth, I only had a dollar, and never did pay him the second one. Did you ever go see him, and pay him? It probably doesn't make a lot of difference, because he has such a terrible memory anyway - in fact, he never really seemed to care whether he was paid or not.
We've been having a lot of Automatic Weapons and Gunner's Drill lately. You see, that is our type of specialty in basic training here. We fired the 30-caliber machine gun Tuesday morning, and have had drill in the use of the 40-millimeter gun (one is worth about $50,000, so I hear) and the 50-caliber machine gun, and also the use of the director for the firing of the 40-mm.
Did I ever tell you I scored 135 out of 200 possible points on the 30-calber rifle range? It just barely qualified me for Marksman, and soon I'll get my metal badge. Sharp shooter is from 168-177 inclusive, and Expert shooter is from 178-200 inclusive. Of course there were very few of the last two groups, but scores of Marksmen in the Battery. Hubert Speer didn't qualify at all. I did very well, in fact much better than most of the other boys on slow fire, but did much worse on rapid fire, which brought my score way down.
If you see Marjorie Kramer again, give her some of my love (ha, ha) and tell her I intend to answer that swell letter she sent me when I get time to do it justice.
The obstacle course get dustier by the day. I'm glad the area around the Camp proper (Barracks, Mess Hall, building, etc.) is paved or grown with grass. The rainy season here doesn't begin until November.
I weighed 155 at the P.X. the other night.
Yes, Mrs. Montgomery use horrible language, but she's just a small town gal from Amity, Missouri. She's nice, though. Yes, Warren is her favorite. I think Jenene was her father's favorite, but of course he's been dead a long time now. Do they have any idea where Clayton is now?
I guess the food situation gets worse by the day. You're lucky to have the butter lady, though. I'd like to be there to eat some of that strawberry ice cream you'll be making this summer.
It's about 10:10 p.m. now, and before bed check at 11 I intend to take a shower and shave. So I guess I'll be stopping this letter Beside, this is the sixth page, and I think that's plenty for awhile. Luther Luckett an I came down to the Rec. Hall together, but he'd already gone back. He was a soph. at M.U., and a good friend of Raidt's - in fact, in the same fraternity. He know scores of St. Joe boys and girls, so we enjoy talking about them. Luckett's Pop is a Major in the Leavenworth Reception Center. Luckett is an A.S. T. P., too.
Does Duane still write a letter to you folks every single day? I wish I had the time he has, up there at Moorhead!
Load of Love, Bob xxxxCollection
Marshall WhiteLexicon
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, Battery C-57th A.A. Trng. Bn., 3rd Platoon, Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 21, 1943, 10:30 AM San Diego, CALIF , 6 cent 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, is at Camp Callen, California for Basic Training. The letter is three pages, front & back, written in ink pen on plain Air Mail stationery. The envelope specifies Via Air Mail. A USO (United Service Organization) logo is on the back of the envelope.Condition
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Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
