Name/Title
Spalsbury: #92 Letters Home September 30, 1944Entry/Object ID
2021.2.336A-EScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216th Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to his parents Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked SEP 30, 1944, 2 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents Air Mail stampContext
Friday Night -
29 September 1944
Dear Mom and Pop -
I waited long enough to write, didn't I? I haven't written any letters lately, in fact.
Guess what. I had a Change-of Address card day before yesterday from Russell Larson, a fellow I knew in "A" Btry of the 778th. Well, the 778th is well on its way to Europe by now, or has already reached its destination, possibly. The APO number is c/o the Postmaster at New York City. The outfit must not have been at the P.O.E. long, since I had a letter from Larson from Camp Haan postmarked Sept. 7, and the card was postmarked Sept. 23rd from Cp Haan. They say they don't mail these cards until an outfit is well on its way, for reason of military security. So the 778th must have left shortly after he wrote. When he wrote he said they had everything packed, and were just waiting around, and would probably pull out in a week, and then again, maybe not in a month. -------In some ways, I wish I were with them. It's funny how a part of you always seems to be left behind in your old outfit, and no matter what you thought of the outfit while in it, you somehow wish you were back there. Let a little more time pass, and I'll probably forget about the old 778th!
I've been busy lately, learning a new job. The 1st Sergeant told me day before yesterday he wanted me to be the Company Mail Clerk, so now I'm a mail clerk, as of yesterday. There's really not a lot to do, but it is a responsibility, and will take a while to get on to, since I'm not familiar with the name of everybody in the Company, what platoon they're in whether or not they're on furlough, in the hospital, on detached service, etc. The regular Mail Clerk is now on furlough. One of the Sgts. told me that the 1st Sergeant was getting tired of his work, and was going to put him out on the line when he returned. He is a T/5, and also helped the 1st Sgt. around the Orderly Room.
I'd just as soon be out on the line, I believe. Still, it's a good deal. No details, and a chance for a rating, in time. However, there are 3 or 4 guys in the Company who can handle the mail job, since they've had it before.
I helped T/5 Daoust, who helps Cpl. Manke, Company Clerk, up in Personnel this morning and afternoon when I was thru with the mail. We worked on a big P.O.R. chart for the Company Commander, Lt. Rogina.
Special Orders came out the other day for 416 men to leave the 16th Armored Division in a day or two for the Army Ground Forces Replacement Depot #1 at Ft. Meade, Maryland. They're going overseas as replacements. They've been going thru the Processing Center here, getting all checked over, etc. One of the guys from our Company (there were 6 of 'em who left) came back yesterday ---he was rejected. The 1st Sgt. really blew up. He thought he was rid of him for good. He's 38, Jewish, and not much good in the Army. He's really a comical character, and acts very screwy.
Pop, the box of Russell Stover's Candy came about 5 days ago, and was really dee-licious. I finished it yesterday. I really made it last this time, and enjoyed it bit by bit. Thank you!
Thank goodness, we didn't go out on a bivouac this week, since the program was changed. We are now under the 4th Army, not the 2nd.
Love, BobCollection
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. R. C. Spalsbury, 17135556, Co A - 216th Armd Engr Bn, A.P.O. 412, Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to his parents Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked SEP 30, 1944, 2 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., 8 cents 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, 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. Then Robert was stationed at Camp Haan in southern California, a U.S. Army training camp for Coast Artillery Anti Aircraft gunners. During his time at Camp Haan, Robert was transferred from Battery B to Battery A and began working as an office Clerk in Battery A.
At the time this letter was written, Robert is serving at Camp Chaffee at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He had been working as a Clerk-Typist in the HQ Company then transferred to Line Company A. In this letter he conveys that he has been given a new job of Mail Clerk for the Company.
This letter is two pages, front and back, written in blue ink on small, plain stationery. The letter was sent in an envelope with red and blue hash marks around the edge. The pages are folded in thirds.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
