Name/Title
Spalsbury: #33 Letters Home August 9, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.277A-IScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, California to his parents Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. Post Marked AUG 9, 1943, 12 PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Context
Sunday Evening - August 8, 1943
Hi ya, Mom, Pop, and Pat!
I'm lying here on my bunk. It's located in a room up here on the third floor of this administration building. It's an awful location, but I guess I'll have to make the best of it.
Boy, but Loyola University was certainly unprepared for us. We're all very disappointed in it. The chow has been stinky, what few meals we've eaten here so far (most of us have been out on pass since we arrived). The housing is terrible at least here. Some of the lucky guys, including Raidt and Leibowitz got quarters over in the regular dorm, where there are only four guys to a room. There are about 20 or 30 guys in each room up here on the third floor of this building. We were placed in the dorms alphabetically, Basic II first, then beginning Basic I over here and finishing it up over in the rgular dorm. If I'd been a Basic I, I'd be over there, since my name's toward the last of the alphabet.
There are about 250 of us A.S.T.P. boys here - all Basic I except about 35, who are Basic II. I would rather be in Basic I, since I'd never planned on being an engineer, and it would be easier to begin from the very bottom. The Basic IIs begin the study of physics with the topic of Heat, and presuppose that you know all about the topic of mechanics. I just had 7 weeks of mechanics, but don't remember much about it. In Basic II the study of chemistry begins, I believe, with qualitative analysis. Now I had 5 hours of College chemistry, but it was long ago and I didn't do so hot in it. The math in Basic II begins with the study of Analytic Geometry, of which I had 7 weeks, and didn't do so hot in.
The Basic I course begins at the very beginning in physics and chemistry, and with advanced algebra and trig in the math division. Although I've had algebra and trig at J.C., I'd like to start in Basic I anyway. It takes me a long time to get adjusted to new situations, and I feel if I began in something I knew something about, I'd adjust more quickly and be better prepared to go into Basic II. I talked to one of the Fathers yesterday about it, and he said I might be able to change. I said I'd like to try the Basic II for about a week, to see if I could handle it. It's going to be a big adjustment for me to make here - I've always studied at home, usually in solitude. But I guess one will get used to studying in study halls and other distracting places after staying here awhile. I guess (and hope) I can get used to anything.
We got our books yesterday morning - Physics, Chemistry, Analytic Geometry, History, Geography and English. We also got our lockers or closets, where we put our clothes. Mine is 'way down the hall at the head of the stairs. It was locked yesterday when I first found it, but the guy finally came back with the key, and moved out. Some of the boys don't even have lockers yet, and have to hang their clothes on the foot of their bed, so I'm not so bad off.
We were all given permanent passes yesterday. It allows us to be out from Saturday afternoon till Sunday evening, when we can go 35 miles away from school, and we can go any place within one mile of the school after chow in the evenings - or rather from 5-7:30 p.m. But there's hardly anything within that radius, except a number of suburban homes and a small University Cafe.
Last night on pass some of us went (hitchhiked) into L.A. to the Philharmonic Auditorium across from Pershing Square to see Bizet's "Carmen," presented by the Opera Association of the Golden West. It was very enjoyable, even if we couldn't understand the French, and didn't know much about the story. We sort go the "feel" of the thing anyway, and there was much beautiful singing and good acting and good set decoration. Friday night (have I already told you?) two other boys and I at the same place saw "Cavalleria Rusticana," a delightful one-act opera. Also on the bill was "I Pagliacci," but we didn't stay to see it, as we were afraid of not getting a ride back to Loyola that night. I wanted to stay - I'm sure we'd have got a ride anyway.
Last night Frank Hanlin and I slept at the guild canteen in Hollywood, but it's so crowded on Saturday night that we had to sleep on stretchers on the lawn, where the dew was thick. There were hundreds of guys - sailors, marines, and soldiers, sleeping on the lawn and garden walks. There were some Canadian and English R.A.F. men -- We had some cookies, cake, sandwiches, and milk before we hit the hay, and this morning we had a dandy breakfast - everything is free - and all you want. We took the bus to L.A., and at 9:30 a.m. met Haglund and Nelson (who are still at Pasadena) at the USO there. We took the Pacific Electric Street Car at the Subway Terminal out to the Angelus Temple of Aimee Semple McPherson. It seems that she's some dynamic dame who started a new crackpot religion some time ago, and it really went over big out here. It is evangelism, and much like a holy-roller service. It is said that Sister Aimee states when the offering plates are passed, "Let's hear not merely the tinkle of coins, but the crinkle of bills!" Sister Aimee disappeared for a month back in 1928 from the beach one day, and everybody thought she was lost in the Pacific. But on the day after her Memorial Funeral she turned up, and claimed she'd been kidnapped by Pete, Jake, and Mexicali Rose !!! (whoever they are). I didn't know any of this, but the boys had been reading up on Los Angeles and it's history, and found out all this. In the middle of the service, all the servicemen there were asked to stand. We were about the only ones, and were we ever embaresed! Then a small copy of the Scriptures - autographed by Sister Aimee herself! - was presented to each of us. --As we walked out, an elderly lady sitting in back of us assured us, "We're all praying for you boys," another smiled sweetly at us and said "Have you boys been saved?", and any number of them said "God Bless You!" They're really a bunch of crackpots, but it was a very interesting experience.
We had mail call yesterday afternoon before we left on pass, and I got an 8-page letter from Kathleen forwarded from Callan, and a nice long one from you, Marie, written last Monday. I certainly enjoyed hearing about the boys. I wonder why Planalp & Wells couldn't get into the ASTP - maybe they don't want it. I'll write Planalp, but he owes me a letter.
Love, BobCollection
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, California to his parents Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. Post Marked AUG 9, 1943, 12 PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Description
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 and is now stationed at Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA for additional training.
This letter is four pages, front & back, written in blue ink on plain stationery. The letter was mailed in a plain envelope, larger than the stationery with a 6 cent Air Mail stamp. The stationary is folded in thirds.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
