Training Continues
5/5/43 (1:30 PM): It’s funny after we’ve been in class, a seemingly interminable length of time, I’ll look at my watch, and it will only be 9 o’clock. By then, I’m sleepy, by eleven, and my feet are tired. So far we’ve had only a 5 hour stretch, but tomorrow the new system starts, with a solid 6 hour stretch, broken only by 10 minute rest periods for trips below decks. By noon we’ll all be dead on our feet.
Today was our day off, & we were told we couldn’t go off Post. However, we tried it this morning, and the guard didn’t say a word. We kept on going, & had a nice shopping trip for a couple of hours.
5/5/43 (7 PM): How do you like my funny stationary? As you can see, I’m deep into Yale traditions. A crowd of us are & have been for 2 hours waiting to go in for personal history interviews, & while waiting, we explored a room full or old papers strewn around. Then I got sick of that, & found a pen in the crowd & got started on this.
Had my first 6 hour class this AM – part of the time spent in going out, setting up the view cameras, taking a couple of pictures & developing them. Mine were very good, as were most of the boys’. We went to get our last set of negatives off the drying line, & to my absolute disgust, I found my best one missing. Someone had swiped it in another class, as the boys ahead of us haven’t been doing so well. That was a particularly good negative, & I guess someone needed a good one to turn in.
This afternoon I was to go to P.T., but have successfully missed it again, waiting for this interview. We had to fill out a 10 page personal history statement when we came, and now they are checking it out. I’m going to have trouble, as I didn’t put down the numbers of my parents’ naturalization papers. I didn’t know them, but I guess from what the boys say who have been in there, I’ll have to find them out.
One other point of interest – half of the 3 or 4 thousand men here lost considerable sleep last night & considerable time from classes this morning on account of the dish washers didn’t get all the GI soap off the trays, & it acts as a most potent Laxative. Men were standing in line at the hoppers all night long, & this morning, we’d be out taking pictures, & you would suddenly see someone take off from his camera like a bat out of hell, & you’d know just where he was going.
5/12/43 [Written over several days and posted on the 12th]: New address: A/C Malcolm W. Cass, Squadron L, Div. 21, Group III, Cl.-13-43-PB, AAFTTC, Yale Univ., New Haven, Conn.
Only a few minutes now, but enough to get a start on this letter. I’ve been so darned busy with class, P.T., and Detail the last few days I have hardly had time for the necessities of life. Am sorry I haven’t been able to get a letter off sooner.
Two days ago I lost my fountain pen somewhere, much to my sorrow. I’m sure it was in the photography building, & there’s still a chance I may get it back. This morning I bought a straight pen, as I don’t like wringing letters with pencil.
5/16/43: Saturday night again, & lots or studying to do. This was [a] big inspection day, but we got no gigs. I guess they didn’t inspect. We couldn’t be that good. One of the boys had a pie come, & some of the crumbs fell on our floor & left grease spots. I took a soapy cloth & scrubbed the spots. After it had dried, the floor looked worse than ever – clean patches here & there with a grease spot in the center of each. It didn’t touch the grease. I’ll have to get some Clorox, or something.
Today we changed back into our sun-tan khaki uniforms, the same as we wore in Florida. I’m glad to be out of these woolen O.D. [olive drab] uniforms, although the Southerners are freezing. They issued several uniforms to us, & we’ll never wear them again. We’ll be officers before cold weather comes again (we hope), & then wear other uniforms.
Now here’s a little news, & don’t get excited!!! If I can, & I expect I shall be free, I’m going give you a buzz on the telephone Monday night, - this Monday – May 17, between 7 PM & 8 PM. I’m also going to call Mother, & I’ll call her first. If you aren’t going to be home, would you call up & tell her, then I’ll wait ‘til another time to call you. Something may happen, but I feel pretty sure about getting through. I’ll try not to be later than 8 PM.
Today we had a bunch of tests the worse being one called the Bruka Test in which we step up onto a bench 20 in. high, stand erect, then step down again at the rate of 30 complete steps a minute for 5 minutes. It is a terrific test, and isn’t for the legs but for the heart. Apparently I’m in fair shape, as I got an average score. Also had to do at least 50 sit-ups, 10 chin-ups (I could only do 8, the way we had to do them, but there were plenty who did less than 8. 6.5 is the average for the first trial. Everyone has to do 10 before they graduate. We have to run 300 yards in 42 seconds, swim 300 yards, & jump into the pool fully clothed from the balcony one floor (20 ft. above), then undress, tie the legs of the trousers together, & pass the loop over your whole body in deep water. We haven’t done these stunts yet.
Now must close. I’m not thinking of anything but hearing your voice on Monday night, & I hope it works out.