Name/Title
Spalsbury: #108 Letters Home December 17, 1944Entry/Object ID
2021.2.352A-CScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216 Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to his parents Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 S. 11th St., St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked DEC 17, 1944, 3 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents Air Mail stampContext
Saturday Evening -
16 September 1944
[NOTE: based on the postmark and context of the letter, this was actually written December 16 not September]
Dear Folks,
At last I'm getting a chance to write you. And believe me, it's really a welcome chance, because I've really been running myself ragged lately. Naturally, the mail has been unusually heavy lately. Then, too, I've been helping Cpt. Manke quite a bit with various records and clerical work. We are continually having inspections - 4th Army - I.G. - etc. They're really making certain that everything is "on the ball."
Have they ever been putting pressure on us lately! I guess they work every outfit this hard prior to "goin over", to see if you can "take it." It's mighty confusing.
Pop, I was really glad to get your letter yesterday. I was beginning to get somewhat worried about the "home front." I know Mom's last letter was postmarked November 28th, and I was wondering why she didn't write. Now I understand. She really has a "full house," with Uncle Leo, Emma, and Laura Lee. I'm glad they can all be there with you folks.
Folks, I'm going to try to get a 3-day pass over Christmas. I've got a fellow to handle the mail for me. He's handled it before, so knows the ropes. I sure hope I can get the pass.
I may phone you within the next few days and let you know about it.
I was sorry to hear about Mr. Cox and Mr. Engel. The church lost two of its old standbys in their deaths.
Folks, I'm enclosing $15.00 for your Christmas. Do with it what you wish. Pop, take the five bucks out of my bank account, that I wrote for a while back.
I didn't know Duane was at Hamilton Field. Please send me his address, so I can write to him.
Got a Xmas card from Barbara Mann today. Also one from Mariella Swenson, with a letter enclosed. Mariella's leaving her job with the Ration Board in Savannah, to enter M.U. as a Junior in the School of Business Administration. She didn't say anything about Charlie (in Australia). I wonder if they're still engaged.
Have had a card from Rev. and Mrs (?), one from Jack Planalp, and one from Rex Russell from his home in Springfield, MO. I suppose he's received his discharge by now. I had a change of address card the other day from him from a General Hospital in Oklahoma. Guess he was sent there from Sheppard Field.
Well, there's not much more to say, I guess. Tell everybody "hello" for me - my sis Laura Lee, Emma, and Uncle Leo.
With Love,
BobLexicon
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216 Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to his parents Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 S. 11th St., St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked DEC 17, 1944, 3 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. He now has the job serving as Mail Clerk for the Company.
This letter is one page, front and back, written in blue ink on plain stationery. The letter was sent in a matching plain envelope. The page 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
