Basic Training

11/15/1942
Mon PM
Dearest Helen,
Will try to write a letter while waiting for chow. Our routine for today consisted of cleaning up our rooms and preparing for an inspection of our cloths to see that we had everything we’re supposed to have and nothing over. After chow we marched down towards the end of the island to have a blood count taken (more jabs in the end of the finger) and our teeth looked at. It was quite a hike, about a mile each way. There are really some beautiful places down that way. Much nicer than where we are located.
I guess Freeman and I won’t walk to the end of the island as I have found out since it is 10 miles to the end or 95 streets.
My nap yesterday (Sun) was in vain. I wasn’t picked for guard duty. Freeman was though. He was on from 2 to 4.
I haven’t been sleeping so well, especially since I had those shots Sat. I imagine I will though as I did the first night here.
I am feeling a little better now. The first few days in the army I had pains in my stomach and gas all the time. I guess now my stomach is becoming shrunk to army rations though. I eat candy or cookies between meals though to stave off the hunger. I hope you won’t think I’m to crabby about the food but no one likes it any better than myself.
I have written post cards to about everyone I can think of but every once in a while I think of someone else to send one to. If you think of anyone I ought to send a card to tell me and send me the address if you think I might not know it.
I wrote a card asking you to send me an algebra book. I don’t know whether I’ll get it in time or not. If it is not too much trouble or if it is at all possible you may as well send it. It might be here on time. The math exam seems to be quite important. I guess first year algebra covers square root doesn’t it?
It is a funny day here. First it rains and then the sun comes out. Let me know how cold it is up there. Down here when you walk any distance you perspire quite freely. At night we sleep with both windows wide open with just one blanket.
I guess I haven’t told you too much about our quarters. Here goes – There are 170 men here. The main part of the hotel has two floors but where we are in the south wing there is only one floor with a store underneath us. There are from 2 to 6 men to a room. I guess I told you before there are three in my room including myself. Some of the rooms have private baths and some lavatories and toilets, some with lavatories and showers and some with just lavatories. Ours has a lavatory and shower. There is a very nice lobby with a desk and switchboard. All the room phones have been taken out. We have a radio in the lobby and a collection is going to be taken up for blackout curtains so we can have a game room there. A stairway leads down from the second story into a very nice garden or terrace in the back. It has all cement walks and all kinds of tropical bushes, trees and flowers. I guess that will sort of give you an idea of what it is like. Oh yes, the furniture in our room consists of 3 beds 3/4 size, 3 chairs (1 easy chair) a desk and two dressers and a small bed table and waste basket.
Everyone smokes a lot in the army. It seems I have managed to keep down to about a package a day though. I guess you will have to train me all over again to eat slow as everyone rushes in to the mess hall eats in a hurry and falls out in line again to march back to the hotel..
I haven’t told you about the mess halls either I guess. They are all cafeterias that have been taken over by the army. Some of them are beautiful inside. Others are not quite so nice. We all fall out in formation at the rear of the hotel at a given time for each meal. Then we march to the cafeteria and file in in a single line. If we happen to be firs there we don’t have to wait in line too long. If we are not first we have to wait our turn and some times if the chow is getting scarce you get pretty small portions.
This noon I had a good size spoonful of spinach about a table spoon full of potatoes 1 slice of liverwurst, 1 slice of salami and a little cole slaw. Plenty of bread but no butter and the jam and peanut butter was all gone, a piece of cake about 1″x2″x2″ and ice water. The iced tea (that’s what they call it) was all gone. We’re in the Air Corp and I guess a meal like that will never hold us on the ground. Well honey I’ll sign off for now any way. I’ll write again tomorrow. Lots of love and all that goes with it.
Ted
PS If you ever make anything especially good or tasty send some along will you honey.