Name/Title
Spalsbury: #54 Letters Home October 14, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.298A-JScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, Calif. to his parents Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh, Street. Joseph 10, Missouri. Post Marked OCT 14, 1943, 2:30 PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Context
Wednesday Evening -
13 October 1943
Dear Folks,
I flunked out of the ASTP today. It certainly hurts me to tell you, because I knew you wanted me to get adjusted here and succeed so badly. But I guess it's really for the best - I just wasn't assimilating the work at all.
Having completed nine weeks, the grades for the third 3-weeks period were posted yesterday. I got F in both chemistry and physics, D in English, and C in math, history, and geography. Not very good, you see. Father Hancock, the English teacher, stopped me in the hall today to tell me that most of my English grades were practically A+, but the low grade was due to the fact I didn't hand in a theme we were assigned. But English doesn't cut much ice, anyway. It's the physics and chemistry that really counts. The G.I. final exams were coming up Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week. I told the Board, when I went before them early this afternoon, that I thought I could pass the G.I. finals. But apparently they thought it best to leave. At least I'm not alone. About 15 other boys are leaving, also, and I guess more will leave after the exams.
We're supposed to leave this coming Saturday - the 16th, unless they decide to keep us here next week as proctors for the G.I. exams. There's a possibility of that. Then we would leave next Thursday. All of us who took our basic in anti-aircraft will undoubtedly be shipped to Camp Roberts, then from there to Camp Haan.
Captain Rutledge informed us today that this would not be a bad mark in our service record, so don't worry about that.
I really feel badly about this, but I felt it would happen sooner or later. Ever since I was at Pasadena, I was afraid it would happen, and now it's come true. I couldn't get the work there, and if I'd had any sense I would've asked to be sent back to my unit when the Board placed me in Engineering. I would probably have gone to Camp Roberts and Haan when Haglund did, then.
Which reminds me, I got a letter from Haglund yesterday. He was placed on Alert by the First Sergeant last weekend, so that's why he couldn't get in. We were going to meet in L.A. this weekend, and I'd put in reservations at the Guild Canteen - I phoned in last night. However, I wrote him a card this afternoon, telling him about me. If we stay till next Thursday, I'll still be able to meet him this weekend. I certainly hope we can get together, because he can tell me all about Roberts and Haan. Besides, he's a very cheery person and can maybe boost my spirits a little. Boy, they sure are low!
I almost went into Inglewood yesterday evening to buy my ticket home. I'm certainly glad I didn't now. We still have a chance for a furlough, however, after we get to Camp Roberts. If it would be at all possible, I might wait until Xmas now for my furlough. But I sorta doubt if that could be arranged.
I was feeling so confused and blue this afternoon that Bill Cribben (he's a Catholic) urged me to go right to Father Malone and have a talk with him. We looked around for him, but he was out. So I'll probably see him sometime tomorrow.
I just reread the nice long letter I got from you today, Mom. I appreciated the leaves and the column "Under the Stars and Stripes." I know you were counting on my coming home, and it really makes me sick that all this has happened. But I may get a furlough at Roberts, as I said before.
The money order for $55 is safe. I haven't indorsed it, and don't intend to for awhile. Don't worry about me cashing it, because I have enough money to last me for awhile. Besides, I don't feel at all like spending much money. In case I decide to send the money back to you, how shall I go about doing it? Do I have to endorse the money order, so you could cash it and get the money again?
Yes, I hear from Barbara Mann pretty regularly. No, I wouldn't have been able to see her anyway, since she leaves for St. Louis the 25th or 26th of October.
That was pretty cute about Pat. I can just see him sitting there outside Olsen's, and then moping around because you never showed up. Lt Maginnis (or rather Captain - he was promoted the other day) has a cute little black cocker spaniel, called Charlie. Charlie's always running around, and you can always hear him coming by the rattle of his dog tags. He vomited in the hall today.
I had a letter from Warren the other day. Yes, I guess he's in Hawaii now. I'm not sure, but believe Richard Grey was stationed someplace around Honolulu. Warren said he had a wonderful tan.
Now please don't let all this bad news worry you. It's probably for the best. I was miserable here, anyway.
Paul Leibowitz just came in this study hall a little while ago to study. He still has a black eye. Although his nose was broken, he hasn't worn a bandage on it at all.
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, Calif. to his parents Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh, Street. Joseph 10, Missouri. Post Marked OCT 14, 1943, 2:30 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. In this letter he announces that he has just flunked out of the ASTP program.
This letter is four pages, front and back, written in blue ink on USO stationery. The letter was mailed in a USO envelope featuring USO insignia on the back and a U.S. Army banner on the front with a 6 cent Air Mail stamp. The paper is folded in thirds.Dimensions
Height
8-1/2 inWidth
5-1/2 inCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
