The War Letters

February 9, 1944

"Well I guess I'll have to snap off a 'quickie'...oh people I've never felt so dirty. It's a crime to have facilities to wash right here and not be able to utilize them..." The laundry situation is still challenging. It's been two whole weeks since he arrived and in a way, it seems like an eternity to him. Not that he dislikes the Army, but "the inertia around here is beginning to get to me...there is no purpose to what I do here and I'd just as soon get going." Most of the "little boys" who were with him have already shipped or are leaving today. He and the other "older ones" tried to keep them on track. They all had colds and had no idea of how to take care of themselves. They ran a Vicks line - cough drops, nose drops, VapoRub and aspirins - even checked up on their BMs. "They were so young and to feel sick when you're so completely away from the ones who have taken care of you all your life is a pretty lonely experience...it broke your heart to see them split up into different units and ship with older men." Lou Harwick left yesterday, leaving only Abraham Arom...36 years old, a linguist who has taught in New York for some years. He's written a modern text in Hebrew with the hope of it getting accepted for study in Jewish Sems. "He is an individual acquaintance of whom I am proud, fine character...I have no doubt he will be placed in the intelligence corps for he is fluent in Ukrainian and Baltic and Slavic languages. It makes the Army worthwhile for you know that unless you were in this exact position, you should never come in contact with men like Abe." In two weeks, he's learned a lot, "the Army can breed years of tolerance and understanding into you in a very short time." He got to Mass, Communion, and Novena yesterday...most innocent confession in years." It is here that he asks his family to save his letters, "they should make an interesting chronicle for me one day."

The War Letters

February 8, 1944

This letter is only to Harry, his brother. He's enclosed a donation for a Valentine's Day gift for their mother. It's "a hell of a mess down here...we work alternating sifts for 6 hours a night 6-12 and 12-6" and he tried to arrange his schedule so he'd have some time to get some washing done, some sleep and maybe some letters, but the orderlies weren't on the job and his room is "Gigged" tonight with a G.I. party, scrubbing from 6-9 to get the barracks in shape. He's learning quickly about sneaking out, and plans to sneak to church for Communion & Novena, which means he'll miss chow. It appears that Harry helped out on the home front with correcting Frank's classification by contacting Colonel House, who is "very nice and more than glad to help anyone in trouble." That's all for now!

The War Letters

February 7, 1944

"I must let you know the good tidings...I was boarded (and the sentence was not finished). Later that same day, "O BOY! O BOY! O BOY! Received a package" and 3 letters from home in the morning mail. Today was about the best day he's had in the Army thus far. He was boarded and accepted by Aviation Cadet Examining Board and hopeful he will be leaving by the next shipment. "At least I have some purpose - some goal. I have observed that men become stupid, sullen, and without character when they lose purpose." When a man ships, he's restricted and cannot call or write home so if he's not heard from for a bit, it means he's on his way to Basic. Depending on his fireman's shift, he's planning to make Communion and Novena tomorrow. He's being called for formal retreat - then chow! That's all for today folks.

The War Letters

February 5, 1944

"They have been shipping Air Cadets out of here by the hundreds, but I guess I'll be here some time before I can get my situation in order". While things are in limbo, Frank has received some mail, which helps his temperament. His fireman's shift has been all screwed up having been stuck with the 6-12 midnight shift for three straight nights. The schedule is good for his sleeping, but you can't shower & shave from 5:45 AM until 6 PM...but he's found a way to sneak in shave and is not happy about the inability to shower daily. It appears that the processing of Cadets is proceeding rapidly and he presumes there are a lot o schools ready to take them now. Most have been getting out in 3 days, while he's still hanging around - and getting razzed about it. In a letter he received from another fellow from Niagara Falls, John Dick, just passed his 40 hour check in primary flying, but was scared stiff because the two that went up before him had washed out.

The War Letters

February 4, 1944

"Since we're firemen, although we must be at all formations, we still have an excellent chance of missing all special details." Today was a good mail day with letters from Coach Ott, one of the fellows who was with him when he arrived, he is now in Aberdeen, MD, and a letter from Ann. Frank is still worried about whether or not he will get into the Air Corps and figures that as long as he can survive the shipping lists until maybe Wednesday of next week, he stands a chance. "The life here is a lazy one...I honestly believe I am getting the best rest her I have had in 4-5 years." The meals are starting to go down hill though, with over a thousand men to feed, the 50-80 KPs still cannot seem to do a "Cracker Jack" job, though he's eating more than he ever did at home. Some of the fellows fall out of the chow line and go eat at the service club, where they have to pay. Not Frank, he's been "husbanding" his money. There is an ever shrinking chance he'll get a pass and if he does, it's doubtful it will be enough time to get home as it is only for 36 hours, still he's asked Harry to check out the train schedules and costs. Time to shine shoes, break up and make up the bed, write more letters and soooo...

The War Letters

February 3, 1944

A short note to let his family know that all's well and that he "felt like a Hot Rock today when [he] got mail in both mail calls", and then hurriedly closed to report for formation.

The War Letters

February 2, 1944

Today he received his first letter from home, eliminating his growing worry because he hadn't heard from home since his arrival. The day before he didn't write because he was up at 4 AM for KP. He had to keep 8 coal stoves going - "one of the dirtiest jobs I have ever done and now my one and only fatigue uniform is filthy". He worked like hell to finish KP by 5:30 so he could report for a Fireman's job, which begins at 4 AM-12 midnight the following night, explaining that he took the job so that he could be "on the alert in the day time if anything should or can be done about getting me back in the Air Corps". The job is known as a "Goldbricking" job, but gets him excused from other details including KP. Each of the 3 or 4 fellows he  pals around with has their own tale of woe and he's surprised "how quickly men cleave to one another and how we all look out for one another." One of his pals has already left, which leaves him with two other Fireman waiting to be shipped out.