Name/Title
Spalsbury: #95 Letters Home October 16, 1944Entry/Object ID
2021.2.339A-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. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked OCT 16, 1944, 5:30 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., FREE postageContext
Sat. Nite. - 14 Oct 44
Dear old sweet things ---
This'll be short, 'cause it's 20 to 12 midnite, and I gotta still send a few postcards to people I owe letters to.
This place has been a madhouse lately, what with all the preparations for the maneuvers. We've all been running around like our heads were off.
I'm enclosing the 8 snaps. Don't bother to send 'em back ---just now, anyway.
Had a most wonderful letter from Haglund today. He's in Hawaii, in Hq. Btry of Harbor Defenses, working in Personnel as a Clerk -Typist. Seems to like it fine. However, he says it's very hot and humid there, making it rather uncomfortable.
Mom, look up Jack Planalp's address at Cp McCoy, Wisconsin, and send it to me. I forgot to copy it down when I sent the letter home. I haven't had a word from him since that letter, so I guess I'll have to brush up his memory. Maybe he's mad at me, though, because I let you read his letter, and you used it to read before a meeting. I never said anything to him about it -- Maybe you did. One never knows.
Yes, I call the mail out at Mail Call most of the time. But sometimes, I have a guy from each barracks come down to the Supply room and pick it up, especially when we're rushed for time. There'll only be one Mail Call a day out in the field, instead of the regular two.
I see by the schedule of the maneuvers that we're to have several days of "maneuvers" then several days of "rest periods", in which we have classes, 1st echelon maintenance, etc., just like we do in garrison.
Your letter came today, and the News-Press, also.
Since furloughs are given every 5 months here, I'll be due for one again Nov. 7th. Can't be too positive about the time, though.
No, Lt. Goldman is from N.Y., I believe.
Class "D" personnel has recently shipped out of the Battalion. "A" Co. lost 7 men, including Rex Russell. Russell and two others left today for Sheppard Field, Texas. They are fit enough to be used in some Army assignment, so they'll use 'em down there for something or other. Four others were transferred today to a Detachment in the other part of Camp Chaffee. Maybe they'll be discharged over there, since Camp Chaffee has a Separation Center now. Then, maybe they'll find some use from them over there. Don't know.
When I said I had $900.00 worth of bonds now, I was counting in the one G. Whinery gave me. -Yes, I am now again taking an $18.75 bond a month.
Yes, I had another letter a while back from Verlin Wells. I know where he is. --He's at the U. of Minnesota, studying German. He's still a Pvt. He seems to think it's a grand deal and thinks he's quite the guy, and somewhat of a wolf. Planalp said once he'd turned into quite a "regular" guy (sarcastically). I don't care much for the change. Neither did Planalp. Neither did Steuart Brown. Stu said he didn't seem to be his old self.
No, the PX's here aren't as well equipped as most other ones I've seen. They have no fountains, nor do they have much stock in general. But what can you expect? After all, this is Chaffee which nobody seems to like. Chaffee is in two sections: the 16th (Armd. Division) Area, and the 14th Area, about a mile east of our Area. There are miscellaneous outfits over there, besides some various Headquarters. The barracks over there are the new style (two-story, indoor latrine, etc.)
Yes, "Dragon Seed" was enjoyable, wasn't it, but as Haglund said, "Katie's (K. Hepburn) Bryn Myr (accent) didn't fit too well into the Chinese setting, did it?"
Love, Bob
[NOTE: along the left hand side of the front of page one: P.S.- Don't expect too many letters while on maneuvers.]Collection
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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. G. C. Spalsbury, 806 South 11th, St. Joseph (10), Missouri. Post Marked OCT 16, 1944, 5:30 PM, Fort Smith, Ark., FREE postageDescription
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. Recently, he was given a new job serving as Mail Clerk for the Company.
This letter is two pages, front and back, written in blue ink on small, plain stationery with matching envelope. It is folded in thirds.Condition
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Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
