Name/Title
Spalsbury: #5 Letters Home May 7, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.235A-FScope and Content
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, Battery C-57th A.A. Trng. Bn., 4th Platoon, Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 7, 1943, 11AM San Diego, CA Air Mail, 6 cent Air Mail stampContext
May 6, 1943
Hello, Kids,
I received your nice long letter today, Mom and thanks. I really enjoy hearing all the news, and you tell me all about the things I want to know and the things I'm interested in. I'm writing this note on this paper instead of the Air mail stationery because these are the last two sheets of this I have and I wanted to get rid of them.
I finally got a long letter off the Kathleen last night - 5 pages on both sides. I sent it Air Mail, so she should get it sometime Friday. I wrote it on the paper which she sent me for my birthday, since I thought that would show I appreciated it. Isn't that right?
I wrote Stewart Brown a newsy card just a few minutes ago. It'll probably take about 6 or 7 days to go clear to Virginia. I must also find time soon to write Bill Partridge, Jack Sewell, Jack Planalp, Verlin Wells, and Lilburn Roberts. They're all fine boys - just like me! Next I must write Barbara Mann in the next few days - she's a nice girl. Duane thinks she's pretty fine.
Yes, I had a card several weeks ago from Miss Lowen, and I'll try to scrape up some time to write her a letter.
The shoe shine kit also came today, and many thanks for it. I see you paid a dollar for it. Up at the P.X. the other night I bought a little cloth bag the same size and type for 20 cents, although it didn't have the two compartments in the inside, and wasn't the nice waterproof silky material that the one you sent was. I'll use it for stray articles, such as my sewing kit, which, incidentally, I haven't had to use yet. However, several boys have borrowed it from me.
The bathing suit was not my royal blue one - I think this black one is Duane's - but it doesn't really matter. I may not get to go swimming before I leave here - its' still too cool so far, I think, although Haglund was down at the La Jolla beach a week ago last Sunday, and he said people were swimming and surfboard riding. The fellows who don't know how to swim are taken up to the pool at Del Mar, a small coastal town about 6 miles north of Camp, and they are given a rather hasty instruction there. I don't know whether it really helps them much.
Yes, I received the Griffon News with all the fellows' addresses in it, but I don't know anything about this letter from the Dramatic Club you mentioned. What is it?
We got shots again today. I got a tetanus in my right arm, and a typhoid in my left. The tetanus aches for only a few minutes afterwards, but the typhoid doesn't start becoming sore until about 2 hours afterwards. It makes it hard to raise your arm very high.
We took a march with light packs, rifles, and belts this afternoon to a point about a mile or two north of La Jolla proper. I guess it was about 6 miles altogether going and coming. My, but my muscles are getting hard, especially in my calves and thighs!!! You should see my tan, too - my face and neck and hands. My nose is still peeling, although it isn't the sorry sight it was several weeks ago.
Thanks for the clippings you send - I always let Hubert read them too. The Blackout caused quite a commotion, didn't it?
I guess maybe I'll be having a letter from Miss Wiley soon. I sent her a couple of cards when I was at Leavenworth.
Yes, Mrs. Morrow's quite a character - I always get a big kick out of her. She's probably disgusted with me for not having written sooner, but the extra long letter I sent last night ought to compensate.
I wrote Duane a letter the other day, and the the following day I had a short letter from him. He certainly seems to have it soft up there. I wish I could write letters while lectures are going on.
I don't know Ted Sullwold. I talked to Paul Leibowitz last night - he's in Btry. A.
Meteorology might be in the Engineering Division of the A. S. T. P. Engineering is by far the largest branch, as you probably read.
I guess Miss Schwab will send a Sunday School paper.
I believe I'd rather get in the Foreign Service Division than any. It sounds interesting and exciting, doesn't it?
I hope the yard is pretty when I come home on furlough, whenever that is. Ann Ashcroft said in her letter that Jamie had only four days at home before leaving for overseas. He's been in the Army 6 months - is in the Quartermaster Corps, which would be dull, I think.
I qualified for "Marksman" on the Rifle Range the other day.
Love and xxxs, BobCollection
Marshall WhiteLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
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LetterNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, Battery C-57th A.A. Trng. Bn., 4th Platoon, Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 7, 1943, 11AM San Diego, CA Air Mail, 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 four pages, front & back, written in pen on stationary with a red, white, blue with stars & ribbon V in the center on the front of each page. The envelope fits the stationary. On the back of the envelope Bob has sketched a 57th Battalion logo with the slogan "KEEP 'EM FALLING"Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
