Name/Title
Spalsbury: #9 Letters Home May 17, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.239A-IScope and Content
Letter Home from US Army Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, Battery C-57th A.A. Trng. Bn., 3rd Platoon, Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 17, 1943, 10:30 AM San Diego, CALIF , 6 cent Air Mail stampContext
May 16, 1943
Dear All,
I just got up this Sunday evening after a nap of about an hour and a half - it's now 8:45 p.m. The reason I was so sleepy was that I had Cossack (Beach) Guard from twelve noon Saturday to twelve noon today. My three watches were 4-6 yesterday afternoon, and 12-3 and 6-8 this morning. There were four of us at Outpost No. 3 (including the Corporal in charge of us), which is about the middle outpost along the entire length of the Camp - there are five outposts altogether. We were on a little point half way down the huge bluff about 200 feet above the beach. The surf pushed in directly below us. It was a pretty sight - but rather chilly, since the ocean breeze is quite cool. On the far horizon the sea was a purple haze, changing to blue closer in, then green, and then white and greenish brown where the whitecaps broke and pounded toward the beach. We had a field telephone on which we reported "All Clear" at ten minutes to every hour. We slept in a tent which is permanently on the post. Only one of the boys brought his overcoat, which we all used - also woolen gloves and our knit cap - worn under our helmet liners and helmets. We each had twenty rounds of live ammunition in our cartridge belts, with which we're supposed to scare people off the beach - a restricted area. You see, we're actually in a war zone - about a mile and a half out from shore the sea belongs to anybody - Jap, German, or Italian, etc. Our supper last night and breakfast this morning was brought to us in a regular field can, which kept everything hot. We ate out of our mess kits, which added a lot to the atmosphere.
I enjoyed the Beach Guard except for the fact that I'd written Warren Thursday evening that I'd meet him at 11 a.m. Sunday in the Army-Navy Y.M.C.A. writing room. When I got back about 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon I phoned the Y and had them look around for him in the room, but to no avail. He might have been there, and he might have gone to Mexico, like you said. I certainly hope he did the latter. You see, we're never sure around here when or what detail we'll pull.
Mom, I've been re-reading your last two letters, and will answer your questions. I wrote a long post card jointly to Aunt Esther and Grandma Whiney, thanking them both for their gifts - Aunt Esther's arrived last week - it was Colonel Effingham's Raid, by a man named Fleming. It doesn't sound very interesting, and I doubt if I'll ever find time to read it, but it was thoughtful of her anyway. I had a very nice letter from Duane last week in which he enclosed a three dollar money order - very nice of him. I'll write him next after this.
I haven't got the Dramatic Club letter yet, but one day last week I got the latest Griffon News and The Golden Key of Phi Theta Kappa, which I enjoyed reading. Thanks for sending the church bulletin - I would like to have heard Nancy Lee Jones sing "The Lord's Prayer."
I thought probably Katie would pass the letters on - it was good and long - 5 pages on both sides - almost too long for one person alone! I'll write the entire staff a letter later on.
Who in the hell is going to marry Betty Schmidt - some young minister?
Hubert Speer hasn't gone to L. A. yet. I don't know whether or not he's homesick or not - I wouldn't be surprised. He's still in the 4th platoon - he's going to the Enlisted Specialist School here at Camp now - he's studying radio operation, or something similar. I'm glad I qualified for A.S.T. P. - I'd hate to go to E. S. S. here. The teachers aren't so hot, so I hear.
At the Star Unit, they'll give us all sorts of comprehensive exams on all the various school subjects, such as English, grammar, spelling, math, history, biology, etc. I usually do well on this type of exam, so I imagine I'll be put into a very advanced phase of specialized training. I hope so anyway.
The plants are almost entirely all unfamiliar to me out here in this vicinity. I do recognize roses, iris, snaps, geraniums, and stocks around the Camp, though.
I was surprised to hear the candy I sent was better than the Whitman's. The price at the P.X. for the 2-lb. box was $1.60, which means that it'd cost about $2.50 in L.A. I'm surprised at the very high quality of the goods at the P.X. - perfume, etc.
Don't worry abut me not shaving now. I've been shaving every other day for quite a while now, and think I make a nice appearance. So there, too!
Thanks for the Air Mail stamp and envelope. I can get the envelopes at the P.X. here, and believe I'll buy a bunch tomorrow. I still have plenty of air Mail stationery, so don't send any more. I may have you send some of my nice handkerchiefs, preferably the white ones, and my extra undershirts and shorts, if I have any nice ones left. I'm not cramped now, but I many want a few more articles later on. I'll tell ya what to send me in your next letter - that picture of Duane and me standing up on Wyeth Hill, the one we took that Sunday when Tootie rode us up there. I don't have a picture of Duane with me, and it's a pretty good of us both. Just look in my photograph album toward the back, and take it out. I have a notion to buy a photo album at our P.X - they have imitation leather ones there in the form of books. I have a snapshot of Richard Swanson he gave me. He's in the first platoon now - he asked OCS, and will make a good officer , I believe. He won't be 19 until next fall, but is pretty mature for his age and has had quite a lot of military experience - : His Jr. year in high school he spent at the Culver Military Academy, and at Kansas State College he had about two years of Anti-Aircraft Artillery R.O.T.C., so he is really just where be belongs. He asked for the Anti -Aircraft division when at Leavenworth.
I just put the Latimer's address down in my book - I believe I'd rather be sent there than Pasadena, but it doesn't matter a lot.
Are you becoming more active in the D.A.R. again, Marie? For awhile I thought you sorta dropped it a little.
I think I'd like White Man's Folly - books like that do analyze world conditions in a way that clears up a lot of your old ides and opinions about things. Yes, I guess the Chinese have been shoved about by the whold world. You can't really blame them for their attitude.
Of all people to flunk OCS, I'd certainly not have dreamed it of Gene Hawk. He was such a fine athlete and an outstanding leader, and popular, too. Of course he can go through again - one can always make application for OCS. I remember his hearing was somewhat poor - that might have had something to do with his failure. Tell me more if you hear anything about it.
Did you kids receive the Camp Magazine, The Ozzlefinch, and last week's newspaper? I sent them a week ago last Sunday, and they should have arrived toward the end of last week, I imagine.
Yes, I knew Warren went to L.A. last weekend with some boys - he told me in his letter he intended to. I hope he went to Mexico this weekend, and hope my letter didn't reach him, because he would probably have cancelled the Mexico deal if quite a few were going. I must drop him a short note tonight, and explain what happened. I just would get Cossak Guard this weekend!!! Damn! - - (But I rather enjoyed the guard, anyway.)
The next big thing I'm going to buy is a good Schaefer pen. This one has a good point, but it only holds 5 or 6 drops of ink every time I fill it. I've filled it twice now during this letter. It is a pretty long one, though, isn't it? After one or two more months in the Army, I believe I'll buy a good Serviceman's Watch for 30 or 40 bucks. They're very handy, and the cheap one I have isn't any too reliable.
I'm down here in the small writing room of the Rec. Hall. It's much more quiet than the large room outside, and the light and table are just right. I'd better stop now, since the Rec. Hall will close in 15 minutes, the man said.
Love and Kisses, and Slush,
Bobby
On the outside folded pages: "P.S. - Enclosed is the 4th article on the A.S. T. P."Collection
Marshall WhiteLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
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., 3rd Platoon, Camp Callan, California to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh Street, St. Joseph, Missouri - Postmarked May 17, 1943, 10:30 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 four pages, front & back, written in ink pen on plain Air Mail stationery. The envelope specifies Via Air Mail and edged in red, white and blue diagonal marks.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
