After spending time back home on furlough, Franklin was temporarily reassigned to Fort Ord in central California. Unfortunately, he learns that everyone in his former battalion (B-88) has now been split up and he doesn't know where he will be sent next. However, he does find that the conditions are much better there than at Camp Roberts.
3/12/44
Dear Mother,
Came straight thru to Frisco -- very amazing. And the plane was hardly more than half full (probably because of mail).
~~~
Haven't yet been assigned to anything -- was just issued blankets, and was told where I might find an empty bed. Actually, since I haven't been assigned, my address is still Roberts.
B-88 has been broken up. I formerly thought that we'd be together. We'll therefore be assigned to different units, and could be shipped practically anywhere.
~~~
It certainly was wonderful to have been home. Don't think you "slipped up" on any of my food "specialties."
Will write again soon ---
Love, Franklin
 |
| Letter of March 20, 1944 |
3/20/44
Dear Mother,
~~~
Saturday, we had a course in dry firing -- how to obtain a correct sight picture, to hold it, shoot it -- everything. Seems rather silly after what we went thru at Roberts.
In your letter you said -- "swing music is of little value at a time like this." You won't believe this, but I don't know what I'd ever do without it; it cheers me up, -- makes me forget what is impossible to forget, -- different songs have definite associations with particular things and experiences. At this moment I am in the library of the main Service Club -- next to the far wall -- so I can listen to the juke box in the cafeteria below.
This camp certainly seems wonderful -- but perhaps(?) that's because I shipped in from Roberts. The mess halls have been serving reasonably good food -- and enough of it. And we can also buy food. Although the blowing sand is rather annoying, the weather has so far been very nice -- none of that intense cold as at Roberts. We're treated better -- course we're pushed around quite a bit -- but that's the army.
Went to a very good show, yesterday afternoon -- "Cover Girl" -- a musical comedy -- my favorite show.
Dear Mother,
~~~
Saturday, we had a course in dry firing -- how to obtain a correct sight picture, to hold it, shoot it -- everything. Seems rather silly after what we went thru at Roberts.
In your letter you said -- "swing music is of little value at a time like this." You won't believe this, but I don't know what I'd ever do without it; it cheers me up, -- makes me forget what is impossible to forget, -- different songs have definite associations with particular things and experiences. At this moment I am in the library of the main Service Club -- next to the far wall -- so I can listen to the juke box in the cafeteria below.
This camp certainly seems wonderful -- but perhaps(?) that's because I shipped in from Roberts. The mess halls have been serving reasonably good food -- and enough of it. And we can also buy food. Although the blowing sand is rather annoying, the weather has so far been very nice -- none of that intense cold as at Roberts. We're treated better -- course we're pushed around quite a bit -- but that's the army.
Went to a very good show, yesterday afternoon -- "Cover Girl" -- a musical comedy -- my favorite show.
Glad to hear you've been able to sell the eggs. With those several birds culled out, I'd be interested to know how the production is -- think I'll write Dave a note and get the "inside information".
For now ---
Love, Franklin
For now ---
Love, Franklin
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