Name/Title
Spalsbury: #13 Letters Home May 31, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.257A-EScope and Content
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, 3rd Platoon-Battery C, 57th A.A. Trng. Bn., Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 31, 1943, 11 AM San Diego, CALIF, 6 cent Air Mail stampContext
May 29, 1943
Dear Folks,
It's now about twenty minutes to midnite, Saturday night, and I'm sitting on a folding metal chair in the latrine writing this. You see, on Saturday nights bed check is not until 12:30 a.m., and one doesn't have to arise Sunday morning unless he want to eat chow, which is usually served about 7:45.
Tomorrow morning I'll get up at about 7:00 a.m., dress, brush my teeth and wash off my hands and face, go down and join the chow line (it's served cafeteria style on Sunday mornings), eat, and then join the line in front of the Battery Office to get my pass to San Diego. Luther Luckett and I plan to go down past the 52nd to pick up Bob Raidt, then go on to Diego. I'm planning on meeting Warren at 11a.m. in the Army-Navy Y.M.C.A. and Luckett's planning on meeting at 12 a.m., Sam Bates, an M.U. Fraternity brother of his and of Raidt's who's at a Marine Induction Camp there. I certainly hope Warren's there, and sorta imagine he will be, because he wrote me about a week ago, saying he had no duty for this Sunday, and could meet me. I wrote him last Thursday evening, so he got my letter in plenty of time.
Earlier this evening I was down in our Rec. Hall, reading last Friday's issue of The Range Finder, and also the copy of Penny Whistles, which came day before yesterday. I've no idea who sent it - it was some girl's writing - not Kathleen's - and addressed wrongly, as it was in the Griffon News. I imagine the Penny Whistle's staff sent a copy to each E. R. C. boy. I certainly enjoy reading it, but don't think it's as good as it's been before. Jack Planalp has some good poetry in it, and some of the humor is very clever.
For God's sake, don't tell people not to write, or don't you yourself refrain from writing or sending anything, because mail is always forwarded to boys when they're shipped out. Besides, we A.S.T.P. men may be here the entire 13-wek cycle - we hear all sorts of "latrine" rumors, as we call them. However, I myself think we'll leave sometime after our 8th or 9th week here, and today we just completed our 7th week. After the 8th week the O.C.S. men begin going to O.C.S. Prep School here.
I hope 2nd Louie Buzard looks me up, but rather doubt if he has time. That' the first statement I'd heard of Camp Davis being easy, and believe you me I've been getting a big kick telling a lot of the O.C.S. men about it. All of the officers here make an especial point of impressing firmly upon the officer candidates how terribly rugged it is back at Davis.
The other day we all got to fire the 50-calibre Machine Gun for a few seconds at a "sleeve" towed high in the sky behind an airplane. Every tenth (or so) bullet is a tracer, which makes a phosphorescent glow, enabling you to see just how close you're coming to the target.
The little box of candy I sent for you kids' anniversary should arrive Tuesday, I imagine. I mailed it Thursday evening at the Camp P.O. Is it your 23rd or 24th, and was it June 1st or 2nd? I wasn't quite sure.
If you haven't already done so, send the hankies and the $20 to me. I wonder how much I'll get on pay day on Monday -- I've already borrowed $4 from Luckett.
I don't intend to get a watch for awhile for there's not much of a variety at the P.X. and they said they didn't order watches.
At mail call this morning I had a letter from the church (the Brotherhood). Dr. Fricke wrote the letter to the boys this time. Not much of much interest in the letter. I hope you like the new pastor.
Did you get the rose bed plan in time for the show on Thursday? I hope so. I remember now that in the 2nd row I left out Etoile deHolland - a very pretty dark red one 3rd or 4th from the left, I believe.
Well, it's 12:20 a.m. and I must mail this, and undress before 12:30.
Goodnight,
Love, BobCollection
Marshall WhiteLexicon
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, 3rd Platoon-Battery C, 57th A.A. Trng. Bn., Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 31, 1943, 11 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 two pages, front & back, written in ink pen on plain Air Mail stationery. The envelope specifies Via Air Mail. The envelope is smaller than the stationary so it is folded in thirds to fit.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
