Name/Title
Spalsbury: #68 Letters Home January 11, 1944Entry/Object ID
2021.2.312A-GScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, ASN 17135556, Btry B - 778th AAA Bn, Camp Haan, California to his parents Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh, St. Joseph, Missouri. Post Marked JAN 11, 1944, 11 AM, Camp Haan, Calif., 6 cents Air Mail stamp.Context
Monday Evening -
10 January 1944
Dear Folks-
My, I think it's been a week since I last wrote you. I had your letter written Thursday tonight at Mail Call, Mom, and you said you'd just received my newsy letter that day. I believe that's the last one I wrote, and it must have been written last Monday.
I really should have written you sooner, and I started to last Thursday nite, but it was late and I was tired, and besides, the latrine was noisy and stinky. You see, Mom, here's the deal: I was down to the General Store last Wednesday or Thursday night, and noticed that they had a bunch of Sheaffer Lifetime pens, ranging from about six to twelve bucks. They just put them on display that day, and the gal said they'd sold 50 of 'em since 5 p.m. So I grabbed at the opportunity (realizing what a big chance I was taking), and bought one for you, Mom. Now I hope and pray you haven't bought one yet with that five bucks. And for God's sake, if you've put in an order, cancell it at once! If you haven't got one yet, tell me in your next letter, and I'll send it right to you. I think you'll like it. It's a Shaeffer Lifetime "Statesman", has a fine point (I asked for a medium point, but the goddamn salesgirl was so busy flirting with some soldiers at the counter that she handed me the wrong one, and I didn't notice till I got back up here at Topside), is a $10.00 pen, and cost me $7.50. I guess if you've already bought one, Pop can use it. Or, if Pop doesn't want it, I could send it on to Duane. He doesn't have a good one, does he? As a last resort, I could keep it myself and have two altogether. I'll write the rest of the letter with The Statesman, to demonstrate the point. Oh yes - the color is a modest striped green and black.
Well - wonder of wonders! - I've finally seen the Wenz's and Uncle Leo. I went into L.A. and Hollywood Saturday and Sunday, and yesterday (Sunday) afternoon took the bus from Hollywood Boulevard to Santa Monica. I had to transfer at the Beverly HIlls Station and at Sawtell Avenue, so it took me 1 1/2 or 2 hours to get there altogether. I had to walk about two blocks from the bus to the house. Leanna and Ed certainly have a pretty little place, with very attractive landscaping. It's in a very exclusive residential district called Brentwood, or right by it, anyway. I'd written Uncle Leo a short letter earlier in the week, telling him I might drop by Sunday afternoon. Leanna greeted me at the door, and gave me a big kiss, right on the lips! She almost didn't recognize me at first, though. She called Ed, who was upstairs, and Uncle Leo, who was puttering around in the garden out in back. My, but Leo is aging rapidly! He walked so slowly, and his color was so yellow. He said he'd had five colds since he left St. Joe. He said the reason he missed me in K.C. was because he left about 9:15, when my bus arrived. I guess he was feeling pretty low, so I'm glad he left and didn't wait any longer. His face is certainly wrinkled - reminded me of Grandma before she died. He reminds me of Grandma, too, in the way he clings on to life. I wonder - is he going to prosecute Mrs. Callis? He's absolutely in no condition to do a thing like that. While I was there, Janet came in with two of her girl friends. She's fourteen now, and a tall, slim, girl - very attractive in a wistful sort of way. I like her eyes - they're sorta big and sad - like Annie's, I guess. Bob, who will be seventeen in April, was at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in L.A., ice - skating, so I didn't get to see him. Ed showed me their game room before I left. There were four bicycles there - they each own one - Leanna, Ed, Janet and Bob. I visited with 'em about an hour and a half or so, and then several people dropped by to see Uncle Leo about some wallpaper. They were former St. Joe people - I forget their names. I stayed a while - long enuf for Leo to serve us all a drink - (apple juice) - then departed. Ed was nice enuf to drive me over to Wilshire Blvd., where we waited for the bus to downtown L.A. which I boarded. Naturally, they want me to come back some weekend, and bring a friend, if I want. Uncle Leo said he'd write me soon.
I had a dandy time by myself in L.A. and Hollywood over the weekend. I sure spent a lot, though. Pvt. Fagan and I hitchhiked from Haan into Riverside. We attempted hitchhiking from there, but after an hour's waiting, I finally left him and bought a round-trip ticket into L.A. for $1.93. Fagan was gong to Long Beach, anyway. Arriving in downtown L.A., I took the Hollywood Blvd. car, and walked about the gay, brightly-lighted streets. I took the Sunset Blvd. bus out to The Guild, where I got my bed check (I'd previously sent a postcard, reserving a bed for Saturday night). I had two pieces of apple pie, some liverworst and delicious salami sandwiches, cup of coffee and glass of milk. My belly full, I took the bus back down Sunset to Vine. I strolled down both sides of Hollywood Blvd, greatly enjoying the color and sound. I bought some postcards, souvenir books, etc., and finally went to a Request Theatre, where I saw Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator." I'd seen it about three years ago, and always wanted to see it again. I took the bus back to The Guild, where I got in bed about 1:15 a.m. Slept till 9:15 Sunday morning, had a dandy breakfast, then hitched a ride down Sunset Blvd to the Radio Studios, where I saw a broadcast. It was the Lockheed program - "America-Ceiling Unlimited", starring Joseph Cotten, and others. Well, I went over to Santa Monica during the afternoon. I got into downtown L.A., at about 6 p.m. I've always wanted to see Olvera St., the Mexican section. So I took the Spring St. car out there. Had some pralines and Mexican fudge. Also had a real Mexican enchillada - it cost 35 cents. I want to return there when I have more time to browse around. It's really very quaint. Jack Planalp would love it there - you know he's nuts about anything Mexican or Spanish. I also want to "do up" the Chinese Section, which is just a few blocks from Olvera Street. --- I waited a half hour in the P.E. Station for the Red Car, which took three hours to get to San Bernardino. There I took the bus to Riverside, where I ran across Savlich, just back from his furlough in Sacramento. We were hungry, so had a chicken dinner in a Restaurant there. We caught the Camp Haan bus, then the Topside bus, and pulled into Baker Battery about 12:45 a.m. Quite a weekend!!!
I went down to Personnel the other day and had Bennet, our clerk, change my bond allotment. Beginning in February, I'm buying a 50-dollar bond every three months instead of a 25-dollar one every month. This will be only $12.50 deducted for bonds monthly, instead of $18.75 monthly. Now maybe I can begin saving for a furlough. Duane's check hasn't come yet, nor my ration currency. By the way, Mom I made you co-owner of my new 50-dollar bonds, which means you can cash 'em if you or I need the dough.
I'm enclosing my Transcript that Loyola sent me. Send it back in your next letter. Also I'm sending back those stinky pictures. Throw 'em away.
Had a letter from Lilbern Roberts this morning. Then one from you this afternoon.
Pop, thanks for the newspapers.
Love, Bob
[Note - written along the left side of the back of page three: P.S.- Yes, I knew you got the dates, etc. - Had a letter from Barb the other day.]Collection
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, ASN 17135556, Btry B - 778th AAA Bn, Camp Haan, California to his parents Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh, St. Joseph, Missouri. Post Marked JAN 11, 1944, 11 AM, Camp Haan, Calif., 6 cents 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 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. At the time of this letter, Robert is stationed at Camp Haan in southern California, a U.S. Army training camp for Coast Artillery Anti Aircraft gunners.
This letter is three pages, front and back, written in blue ink on very thin, plain stationery (likely Air Mail stock). The matching envelope is equally thin and shows signs of deterioration along the edges. 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
