Name/Title
Spalsbury: #114 Letters Home January 22, 1945Entry/Object ID
2021.2.358A-DScope and Content
Letter Home from Pfc. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216 Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Cp Chaffee, Ark. to his mother, Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph 10, Missouri Post Marked JAN 22, 1945, 2 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents Air Mail postage along with a Red, White and Blue "Via Air Mail" sticker.
This is Robert's final letter from Camp Chaffee at Fort Smith, ArkansasContext
Saturday Evening -
20 January 1944
Dear Mom -
Your long letter written Thursday night arrived this afternoon, and was very welcome, since I haven't had any mail since your last letter of the 12th. Mom, I believe ordinary mail gets here almost as fast as air mail, so it's really not worth the difference. Don't worry about it, though. In wartime, a lot of things are apt to be delayed, which is something to be expected.
I haven't heard from Duane yet, either, but imagine he's pretty busy, and his mail is probably being held until he leaves. Do you really suppose he'll get a new A.P.O. number? When and if he does, be sure to send it to me. I'll have to write him another letter before long.
Haven't done an awful lot today. Took a shower this afternoon, and at the same time washed some clothes. One of the fellows was going into town tonight, so I'm having him buy a box of chocolates to send Kathleen for her birthday. It'll be slightly late, but it's the thought that counts, I suppose. "Better late than never ---" (I'll omit the rest, due to the guilty conscience).
You said you talked to Mrs. Urquhart? How is Bob now? I hope they give him a convalescent leave, as they did Dale Lingelbach. But perhaps his injuries weren't so severe --- something to be more thankful for than getting a convalescent leave. You really have to admire Bob for being so cheerful in his letters, as Mrs. Urquhart says. When I look back and consider some of the letters I wrote, Mom, complaining about this or that, I'm ashamed. Now I realize how selfish I've been about a lot of things.
I sent some more excess equipment home today. The bottles of Seaforth Pop can use. They're what Kathleen sent for Christmas.
Mom, I don't have any idea about when we'll leave, which is something I couldn't tell you (or shouldn't, anyway) if I did know. Just consider me as still down here in this delightful (?) state of Arkansas until you get further notice.
Yes, I did forget to mail the letter and card I wrote last Sunday. I believe it was about Tuesday when I discovered I hadn't mailed 'em. Sorry!
Your Garden Club project should be very interesting. That's a good idea, having an expert speak on each particular flower. In that way, the members get more than just a superficial knowledge of the one's they're especially interested in.
I didn't know Mrs. Golden was still in St. Joe. Is she working there, or still just visiting her sister-in-law, or whoever it is - her sister, I guess. I'm anxious to meet her. If she's anything like Laura Lee, I know I'd like her.
- - - - -
I stopped for a few minutes to drink a bottle of beer and have some sardines, crackers, and cheese with the fellows here in the barracks. We finished up that olive pimiento cheese you sent in the Christmas box. It really hit the spot.
Well, it's 10 o'clock, and I'm getting pretty drowsy, so will stop and "hit the hay."
Whoops! Pardon the ink blot. The heat from the coal stoves has a tendency to make my Parker run.
As always,
Bob
P.S. - Give Emma my regards. She's really O.K., helping you out as she is. Tell her I said she was "on the ball." (An Army slang expression for being very efficient.)Lexicon
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
This is Robert's final letter from Camp Chaffee at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Letter Home from Pfc. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216 Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Cp Chaffee, Ark. to his mother, Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph 10, Missouri Post Marked JAN 22, 1945, 2 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents Air Mail postage along with a Red, White and Blue "Via Air Mail" sticker.Description
Handwritten letter home to his parents back in St. Joseph after being called up to serve in the US Army during WWII. Pfc. 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 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.
In the past several letters, Robert has made reference to the unit preparing for deployment without any specifics of dates or locations.
This letter is two pages, with the first page being front and back, written in blue ink on plain stationery. The letter was sent in a matching plain envelope. The pages are 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
