5 August 1944
Saturday Night
August 5, 1944
Camp Fannin, Tex
Dear Mom:
I got some time now, so I better write you a note. I sure did get a lot of mail from you lately — thanks. I haven’t received any boxes from you yet but I guess I will soon. I really think you are sending me too much. Such treatment will spoil me when I get overseas and have to live on Army grub alone. The food here is not so hot — beans, and peas and black eye peas, and everything is swimming in grease. Lots of us don’t even bother going to chow sometimes. Once in a while they have a good meal. But they don’t know how to cook food down here. As for sleep it is our toughest problem. Some days we work 20 hours — sleep 3 hours. Then be ready for another day. But remember this is Basic Training, and the idea is to see how much the men can really take. After basic is over we will get a regular working day — shorter too. Everything we do now is done under battle conditions or worse, to toughen us up. The Colonel said today it is better to lose 10 men right here than 100 over there and he really meant it.
I think you better soon ease up on some of that work up there. There is no sense in killing yourself. Please forgive me for not sending you a birthday card. I spent the night of your birthday in an almost jungle woods and never did get to buy you one. But I did think of you. In this place a man’s mind does not seem to function correctly at all times, sometimes mine wanders back home where I know it shouldn’t. The 17th I was out on a simulated combat patrol, and couldn’t seem to concentrate at all. After a man goes so long with out rest, his body just seems to be far away. Well tomorrow I am going to rest.
I sent Freda a little booklet showing some of the things I am learning. You can ask her to see it. I could only get one mom.
How is your financial condition these days? I hope you are doing well. Say hello to Pop + George. Tell them to behave.
Love from
Your Son
Fred
August 5, 1944
Camp Fannin, Tex
Dear Mom:
I got some time now, so I better write you a note. I sure did get a lot of mail from you lately — thanks. I haven’t received any boxes from you yet but I guess I will soon. I really think you are sending me too much. Such treatment will spoil me when I get overseas and have to live on Army grub alone. The food here is not so hot — beans, and peas and black eye peas, and everything is swimming in grease. Lots of us don’t even bother going to chow sometimes. Once in a while they have a good meal. But they don’t know how to cook food down here. As for sleep it is our toughest problem. Some days we work 20 hours — sleep 3 hours. Then be ready for another day. But remember this is Basic Training, and the idea is to see how much the men can really take. After basic is over we will get a regular working day — shorter too. Everything we do now is done under battle conditions or worse, to toughen us up. The Colonel said today it is better to lose 10 men right here than 100 over there and he really meant it.
I think you better soon ease up on some of that work up there. There is no sense in killing yourself. Please forgive me for not sending you a birthday card. I spent the night of your birthday in an almost jungle woods and never did get to buy you one. But I did think of you. In this place a man’s mind does not seem to function correctly at all times, sometimes mine wanders back home where I know it shouldn’t. The 17th I was out on a simulated combat patrol, and couldn’t seem to concentrate at all. After a man goes so long with out rest, his body just seems to be far away. Well tomorrow I am going to rest.
I sent Freda a little booklet showing some of the things I am learning. You can ask her to see it. I could only get one mom.
How is your financial condition these days? I hope you are doing well. Say hello to Pop + George. Tell them to behave.
Love from
Your Son
Fred