Parks Air College East St. Louis, Ill. July 26, 1942

Dear Mother,

Well here it is Sunday afternoon. I am over at the U.S.O. in St. Louis Mo. was back to J.B. to see some of my friends. Rumors really grow fast in a place like that. You know the boy I spoke about that died. Well here was just in the hospital is all. He was very serious ill tho.

It looks like it could rain any minute. It has been kinda sholta (?) here today. I got up about 9:00 this morning. Three of us went to church. We went to a Lutheran Church. One of the boys was from Iowa, Kentucky and I from Michigan. It was a real nice service. The first since I have been in the army.

I am doing a lot of studying. The propeller class is interesting but so many Technical names. We have to learn each one. It is raining out now. Hope I don't get wet going back.

I suppose you attended church this morning. How is everything around Berkey? I have so many letters to write but I don't know when I will find time to write. Our school work really keeps us on the jump. I don't want to fail, because in a short time after school there is a possible chance of being made a Tech Sarg. I hope so. Then I can start giving a few orders.

I am making out on changing over from day to night all right. Getting so I sleep later every morning. Have you sent Irene's picture yet? Everyone of the fellows has there girl friends pictures here. We really have a nice place to sleep. Plenty of food and good showers. I haven't gotten any pay yet. I don't know if I will got any soon or not. Some say we will others say not before the 10th. I will be running out if I don't get some soon.

The porch looks swell. Are you going to do anything to the front porch? Do you eat on the porch?

I am wearing an air corp emblem on my sleeve. It makes a lot of difference people here have high honor for the air corp. They treat us swell. Get a lot of treats and when walking up town they give us lifts. Well I can't think of much more to say. I'll write later. So long for now.

Love Ralph

Background Information:

• This letter was written on paper provided by the USO. To learn more about the USO during the war, check this website: http://www.ww2uso.org/
• Also the envelope is the first one that was stamped with a slogan to promote the sale of defense savings bonds and stamps. More information on these bonds and stamps can be found at: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/

The next letter will be posted on Aug. 3rd.

Parks Air College July 23, 1942

Dear Mother,

Well here it is almost the end of July. Time is really flying here for me. I like school very well. I think props are going to be a nice thing to speciallize in.

I want you to send me my house slippers. Would there be any way you could send me my little traveling bag. If not tell me, I can buy another one cheap.

I was up town yesterday and bought notebook and school equipment. I bought myself a garrison cap, and had my picture taken. I will send you both pictures. I sent one to Irene. You can keep one and give one away to whoever you want to. Then I am sending some smaller ones. Give Ruth one and anybody esle you want to.

I am getting use to sleeping daytimes now. I woke up at nine this morning. After I get this wrote I am going back to bed. Seems funny to eat breakfast at 1 P.M. dinner at 7:20 P.M. and supper at 2:30 A.M.

The fellows here all real jolly and full of pep. Everynight when we got back from school, a bunch of them get around the piano in the mess room and do we really cut loose on singing. Lights go out at three in the morning. Girls waitresses in the dinning room. It is ran like a cafeteria. Real nice meals and the food is just like home cooked. Nothing like army food even in taste.

Well I should begin to get some letters by today. Some of the boys got letters yesterday, transferred from J.B.

There are 350 of us here in these barracks. 3 floors. Nice latrines and cold water fountains at all times. I am really going to like it here. After completion of the course we receive a certificate of graduation. This will enable me to get a good job when I am out of the army.

Well I must close for now. Write soon, and tell them at church my new address. I am busy but try to find time to write a few lines to everyone. So long for now.

Love Ralph.


Background Information:

• A garrison cap is "a foldable military cap with straight sides and a creased or hollow crown sloping to the back where it is parted."
• For photos and more information on the cap, check this link: 

http://olive-drab.com/

The next letter will be posted on July 26th.

Parks Air College July 22, 1942

Dear Mother & all,

Well I have got settled now. I know what I am doing. I am going to school at Parks. We leave the barracks about 5:00 o'clock. Go by school bus out to the college. The captain said Parks was the best air college in country.

Our schedule is 5:30 P.M. to 7:20 is shop. 7:20 to 7:50 we eat out there this is our dinner. 7:50 to 8:35 shop. 8:45 to 9:35 lecture. Then 9:45 to 12:50 A.M. shop. 12:50 A.M. to 1:50 A.M. lecture. We arrive back here about 2:15 A.M. and have supper at the barracks.

Something got mess up on shipping orders and we should have started last week. So we have two weeks in one The course is ten weeks long. We will be here nine weeks.

The gov't pays Parks $76 a month for each trainee. Parks expenses doesn't come to $76 a month. So what is left we get. It makes us about $16 more besides our $50 a month.

I was assigned to a special course in propellers. After the course I will be given a Technicians rating with the army. The captain said we should be given Sergent stripes in about 3 months. So I hope I can keep up on the course. It is going to take a lot of studying.

We have to be in bed at 3:00 A.M. and get up at 11:00 A.M. Then 15 min of exercise and 45 min of drilling. Got to get use to the hours. We have off from Sunday morning to ourselves at 2:00 A.M until Monday morning at 11. After the course I will be a propeller Specialist. Some propellers have over 500 parts so we got a lot to learn in a short time.

It is nearly time for breakfast now. It is 12;30 p.m. We eat about 12:45. Yesterday we had ceral, milk, coffee, bacon, pancakes & Syrp, and grapefruit. The meals are swell.

The beds are double bunks. I flipped for it and I got the upper one. I better not roll out.

Did you know Irene is working in Sylvania now? I suppose she get home every Sunday now. Why don't you invite her over. She probably has a lot more about army life than I can tell you. I don't know if I told you in my other letter or not. But send her picture to me. I put my address wrong the other letter it is class 1 - 43 - C. I will receive the letters and mail tho. Well I guess this is all I can think of now. There isn't much to do but study and a lot of it. So I guess I'll have to get busy. Goodbye for now.

Love
Ralph

The next letter will be posted tomorrow, July 23rd.

Parks Air College, East Saint Louis, Illinois July 20, 1942 9:30 P.M.

Dear Mother,

Well here I am shipped out of J.B. at 4:00 P.M. and arrived here about 7 P.M. We have barracks to stay in here. Two decker bunks. We will go to school from 4:30 P.M till 12:30 A.M. then come into East St. Louis on a bus to our barracks. The barracks has been made over from an old shoe factory.

I don't know anything about my schooling yet as we just arrived today. Was placed on shipping and was to leave J.B. in half an hour after our names was called. All I know is what one of my buddies named Henry Fox told us. He has been here about a week. So you can give everybody my new address.

I am glad I am away from J.B. it was so unhandy. We had a quarter of a mile to go to the latrine. 1 mile to chow. Here it is all located in one building. We get up at 11:00 A.M. roll call and 15 minutes of exercise, 30 minutes of drill and then chow. After that we clean up the barracks and study until 3:30 or 4 and take a bus out to Parks Air College about 3 or 4 miles out from here.

We have cupboards or lockers to hang our clothes in. Don't know how the town is here. Just across the river from St. Louis.

School is 6 nights a week and we are off Sundays. Maybe I can get to church now. Hardly any army work and restrictions connected to it. I will know more about it after a week or two of it.

We came over on a truck convoy. There was twenty five of us. Was sure glad to get out of J.B. It was a hole in the ground. So many of the men were sick from the climate out there.

I was sure surprised when we got to Parks Air College. Freeman use to get literture from here. Well I guess I can't think of much more to say so I guess I will close and I will let you know later how everything is going. Tell Cliff's, Harold's and Luella and everybody esle my change in address. I don't know if it is correct or not. But I will receive them if sent here.

Well goodnight. You will here from me later. Send the big picture of Irene to me now. Right away. Wrap it so it won't get broke or bent.

Love
Ralph


Background Information:

• Freeman was Ralph's youngest brother. He had turned 17 on June 10, the date of Ralph's first letter to his mother.
• Parks Air College was founded in 1927, 2 months after Charles Lindbergh's Atlantic flight. During World War II, Parks and its subsidiaries trained one of every ten Army Air Corps pilots and and thousands of aircraft mechanics. (http://parks.slu.edu/)
• This is the new stationery Ralph used to write his letter.

The next post will be on July 22nd.

Jefferson Barracks July 19, 1942

Dear Mother & all,

Well here it is Sun. I had plans made to catch up on my letter writing. Well my plans were changed. I went into town last night on the convoy to the U.S.O. dance. We were late in getting back to camp. I had been placed on K.P. and I only had a few hours sleep. So you can see how my plans were changed.

You asked about breakfast & Supper. For breakfast we have fried potatoes, bacon or ham, eggs scrambled or boiled, rolls, cereal, 1 pt of milk, coffee, plums, peaches or muskmelon.

For supper we had tonight, potato salad, slice tomatoes, cold meat, cold tea, ice cream and cake. Our meals all run about the same. On K.P. today in general mess I found out about how much it takes to feed about 4,000. They had 1000 lbs of turkey, 1 ton of mashed potatoes, 500 lbs of carrots and 40 gallons of peas.

It has been really hot here this week. Nine men have died, most of them from the heat. One fellow I chumed around with died of double pneumenia (spelling wrong).

Friday we had a mass parade. A Major General was here to review it. During the parade 700 men fell from the heat. That started the ball to rolling and he made them let up on drilling us so long and so hard. Things will be little more cheerful now I hope.

What did you mean Harley got his car? Hasn't he always had one? Ding's mentioned it too. I can't figure it out.

They are shipping the men off to school fast right now. I probably will get sent in a few days. I will let you know as soon as I do.

I haven't received any letters in the last two days. Today on account of K.P. So I will probably get a slew of them tomorrow.

How is everything around home? Have you the threshing done yet? It seems like I have been gone a long time. But the time still goes fast to me here in camp. Are you using my car now or have they laid it up? I hope I will go to school somewhere nearer home. Got a letter from Charles Stutzman he said if I was sent to Chanute Field Ill he would bring Irma and Irene out some weekend. I hope so. But I can't plan on it. My plans always are changed. Probably land in Salt Lake City or Denver. Everyone one says those two fields are swell places.

I guess I will have to have you send me my camera when I get to another base. Can't seem to buy one around here anymore at all. I would like to take snapshots of places I have been at.

Well I guess that is all for now. I can't think of anymore to say. I must answer a few letters or people will think I forgot them. I have been so busy and it is so hot you can't sleep nights. K.P. was easy today. We got some sleep on it. It takes about 200 K.P. in one mess hall. Weekends are always easy. Well goodnight and write soon and often.

Love
Ralph

Background Information:

• The Dings were friends of the Browns, In fact, Ralph's brother Glenn married Audrey Dings in 1944 (but he'll write about that later).
• To understand why Ralph would like to go to Chanute field here is some information from the internet: Chanute Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force facility, located in Champaign County, Illinois, south of and adjacent to Rantoul, Illinois, about 130 miles south of Chicago." For more detailed information, here is a site with photos: http://artofabandonment.com/
• I also found this information about the history of Jefferson Barracks at this website: jbccstl.org

"1941-45–During World War II the Barracks serves as an induction and separation center, basic training camp, and the largest technical training school for the Army Air Corps.  There is a population that is a tenfold increase over the capacity in 1939.  A detention camp is formed to house Axis prisoner of war."

The next post will be tomorrow, July 20th.

Jefferson Barracks July 13, 1942

Dear Mother & all,

Well here it is Monday night and the weather is just schrching hot. The sweat is really dripping. Excuse the bottom of the paper. It is where the sweat dripped off of my chin.

I had a pass into town Sat. night and yesterday. One of my buddies and I went to the zoo. It is the second biggest in the U.S. It is located where the World's Fair was in 1904. A lot of buildings  I recognized from the book dad had. We got there about 11:30 and was strolling through the picnic grounds looking for a handout. Some people hollered at us and wanted to know if we had had dinner, of course we accepted. We really had a meal to. All the fried chicken we could eat. Everything esle that goes with a picnic to. Then we lefted there and went and got passes to the Cardinal and Boston ballgame. We got out of that about 6:00 and went over to another U.S.O. There we washed and cooled off a little. The other fellow met a truck driver from his home town he took us out to supper. All we spent yesterday was a 25 cents for a pass. It was good all day. Could ride any bus or street car. When I got back I had six letters waiting for me. One from Ruth, Donna, 2 from Irene and Marylou Setzler and the restaurant where I ate in Sandusky. Irene had mailed one of hers the 6th and I got it yesterday. The address wasn't complete. Today I received one from Harold & Lenore.

I received a letter from Mrs. Meyer she had part of one sent from the volunteer class, that was started from some party they had.

Well I have six days of drill in and tomorrow I am assigned to K.P. Jim wanted to know if I had to peel potatoes yet. Tell him its done with a machine.

Tell Luella she can have the alarm clock. I paid $3.50 for it.

I have been so busy I haven't had much time to write. It is so hot a person doesn't feel like writing. We had some terrible rains out here last week.

Is Jim staying over there now? Tell Ruth I am busy but maybe I'll have time to answer. Tell her what a toughen recruit is. It's when you are through drilling and can march. It takes the infantry 7 months and the air corp they give us the same thing in 18 days. I really mean you a tough if you can remember all of the facings, steps, movements, orders and a thousand other things.

We have 11 general orders to learn in our spare time. If we have spare time. This morning at 3:30 they woke us up and wanted to know our names and days drill we have had. The found 4 men A.W.O.L. now we are being bed checked everynight.

Our canvas ovens we sleep in are hotter than, well you know what I am thinking. My vocabulary is really getting bad. That's all you hear, here is cussing.

We were restricted to our tents last week everynight but Mon. We aren't restricted to tonight ever. So many shipping orders it is the only way they can find the men when they want them. A lot of the fellows who came with me are gone already.

I might be next. I don't know where it will be. Couldn't tell if I did know. A lot of information is getting out and they are clamping down on things here.

I was in the big parade Friday boy it sure was hot in it. Wish I could get into a cooler camp. All the fellows being shipped out write back and say it is heaven compared to J.B. I sure hope so. I don't get any pay until I am stationed. If I spend like I did yesterday I won't need much. A fellow can have a swell time for a few cents. I had a grand time yesterday. My buddy knew all the places to go. It was a grand day yesterday to.

Well I can't think of anymore right now so I must close. My address is changed. It is like this.

U.S. Army Air Corp
Pvt. Ralph W. Brown
31st Teach. School Sqd. (Sp)
Flight A. Tent Area
Jefferson B. Mo.

don't forget tent area is is important.

Love Ralph

Background Information:

• Ralph had worked in Sandusky OH prior to enlisting.
• Ruth & Jim are neighbors. I do not know who Donna or Marylou (?) Seltzer are.
• From the website "The People History" (1942), here are some the prices of some other items - 

How Much things cost in 1942 Average Cost of new house $3,770.00 Average wages per year $1,880.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents Average Cost for house rent $35.00 per month Bottle Coca Cola 5 cents Average Price for a new car $920.00

The next post will not be until July 19th.

Jefferson Barracks July 9, 1942

Dear Mother,

Received Luella's letter today. I have search thru my letters I have received and did not find one from Luella.

It started raining here about midnight last night and quit about noon today. I never saw it rain like it did here. It poured all of the time and lightning and thunder all of the time. It really rains in Missouri.

I don't hardly know what to write about tonight. I was in the squadrons parades yesterday. Tomorrow everyone one on the post is in the parade. It is really nice to see.

I have three days of drill in already. Do you know it has been a month since I came into the Army? It seems like a year.

My address has been changed. It is 31st Tech. Sch. Sqd. Sp. Flight A. Tent Area. Jefferson Barracks Mo. A little bit more added.

I received a nice letter from Dick & Jane. This week one from Irma, and Harold Hill.

It is rather warm here even after the rain. It doesn't seem to cool off at all. Today the drill field was to wet so we drilled right on the banks of the Miss. It is about a mile wide here. It is an awlful dirty river. The water carrys, trees lumber and rubbish floating all the time.

I haven't received the afternoon mail yet. I hope I get some letters tonight. I will wait before I mail this to see if I get anymore mail. Irene has written about everyday so far. She says she gets awlful lonesome. But I'll bet I get more lonesome. I haven't seen a person I knew in civilian life since I let Camp Custer. The fellows in my tent are awlful friendly thou.

Sunday another fellow and I are going into St. Louis to the zoo. I was in St. Louis 4th of July night. Went in on the convoy. We never stopped for anything. Well I must close. Didn't get anymore mail. So long.

Love Ralph.


Background Information:

• Once again, I have no information about Dick, Jane, Irma, or Harold Hill. I'm guessing neighbors, friends, and/or folks from church. To my knowledge, they are not relatives.

The next posting will be on July 13th.

Jefferson Barracks, Mo. July 7, 1942

Dear Mother,

Well here it is getting time to write again. I suppose you all have been busy. I hope to. I am going to be sent to a school for airplane mechanics. I don't know where it will be but most of them say it will be Denver Colo I hope it will be Chanute Field Ill. It probably will be further away. It won't be for 2 or 3 weeks yet. I don't think. Things happen fast in the army tho.

We just had a hard rain tonight and it looks like more real soon.

How is everybody around home? I got a letter from Irene today and some pictures. Luella hasn't written yet. What is the matter with her? She would be mad if I hadn't wrote to her. I sent a lot of cards to folks and wrote quite a few letters. I forget some of them I write to.

One of the boys received a box of candy and cookies. We are helping him eat it before the ants get into them.

Well my fountain pen ran out of ink and I had to change to another one. We have been out drilling for our first day of drill. I am pretty tired. I will be in the parade tomorrow and Friday. Well I must close for now. I will write later in the week. Write all of the news. How is Dad and his porch coming? Has Ruth received my letter? Tell her to write. Well I am sending you some pictures but they are poorly printed and not so good. Give them to Luellas, Cliff and Harolds. Will send better one later.

Love
Ralph


The next posting will be on July 9th.

Jefferson Barracks July 3, 1942

Dear Mother,

Well here it is July 3 already. We just got thru having a G.I. party. That is confinement to our tents for punishment of two hours and scrub them with a brush, soap and water. Somebody in Flight A had a dirty tent and the whole squadron pays for it.

You should have been here to mother. They have a parade on Wednesdays and Fridays. I had to stand on the sidelines today and watch it. Everyone of the soldiers at J.B. were on the field at once and all in Class A dress. The band of 400 pieces in kakie clothes. White sun hats and white leggings. Flags all over the place. The men who have been drilling had to parade before the reviewing stand for the colonel to review. You would have enjoyed it very much I know, and you could have been proud to think I was one of the 50,000 men on the parade grounds. To hear the music and see the flags, and the men all marching and standing at attention, just made a person feel patriotic. It makes me feel better to think I belong to a strong organization such as this.

I think all the men here realize that we are here for one reason and the sooner we can get into action and get it over with so much the better.

I got your letter today. One from Irene, Cliff's and Rev. Meyer. Yesterday I got one from Harold's. It was the first one. I don't know if we get mail tomorrow or not. I hope so. I'll probably have some more letters.

I've been taking my tests today, and yesterday. One more day and then we start drilling. I don't think we will be here long. They are abandoning this tent area. To many of the men are having cold and developing into Pnemunia. Some of them die from it. Flight 565 permanent men are moving out and we go to another squadron. I haven't any colds yet and hope not to.

As for my washing we can do it ourselves or there is a lot of laundry service here. Bathing and toilets are large ones. About 150 stools and 150 showers for Flights A & B. Drinking fountains are all over the place. There are P.X's here and you can buy drug articles, pop, candy and almost anything you want. I think there are 10 or 12 of them.

I probably will be shipped on further west to school for airplane mechanic. I think that will be my line of work. I wrote to Mr. Meyer. I sent  Noms a card the other night. I am glad Irene and I are still single. There are so many of the men married. They just don't know what to do with themselves. Others take it like a vacation. It was a week ago tonight that I left Fort Custer. But I wish I was where I could see her and you, once in a while. We are so busy tho I really don't have much time to sit around and moorn. I haven't seen a person I know in civililian life.

Well tell everybody hello for me. Tell all I am feeling fine. Invite Irene over some day for Sun. dinner or something. She probably can tell you more than I have told you. Send me a picture of the house when it is finished. Did Ruth get her card? I have been sending about 10 cards a night. We have to put lights on about 8:30. One of the men received a radio today so it seems more enjoyable to here one of them again. I hope we get out of these tents or damp grounds. You can't dry any clothes at all.

Well I must close for now and write to Irene yet. I will write again next week. Write a lot, and tell Ruth and all the folks around to write. So long for now.

Love
Ralph


Background Information:

• I have no idea who Noms (or Noma) is.
• I think Ruth may be Ruth King (a neighbor).
• I don't know if Rev. Meyer and Mr. Meyer are the same person.

The next posting will be on July 7th.

Letter to his sister & brother-in-law Jefferson Barracks July 1, 1942

Dear Myrl & Luella,

Well how is everything in Michigan and Petersburg? I don't suppose it is as warm as it is here. It is really hot here in Missouri. I can see the Mississippi river from here. Across the river is Ill. They have been having plenty of rain here but it hasn't rained since I have come here.

I have 7 days of processing and 18 day of drill. It use to take about 7 months to do it. Now we get it in 18 days. That is all the training we get. Then we will be shipped to some other field or over. They really drill you hard here to.

There are between 40,000 and 50,000 men here in camp tonight. I wish I could see someone I knew. I have made friends and everyone is friendly. We are camped in tents in what they call Pnenemonia (misspelled) Gulch. It is correctly named. Everyone has a cold and a J.B. cough. The air is very humid here. Clothes won't dry at all. There is plenty of shade though. Out of the Gulch it isn't so bad.

I wish I was back in Michigan so I could be around for the fourth but I won't be. Have you heard from Irene? I haven't received any letters here yet. I hope they start rolling in soon. It seems like a year since I came. It isn't a week till Sat. I wrote Cliff's tonight to. So both letters probably will be almost the same if you see them.

I wrote to Mother last night. How is she taking it that I am in the Army now? I hope she doesn't worry about me. I am even gaining weight but my big stomach is retreating to somewhere else. We get awlful good chow here. Pork chops, steaks, pie, ice cream, head lettuce salads, potatoes, pickles, olives, coffee, ice tea, milk and everything esle you can think of. All we want to eat to. Even 2nd and 3rd helpings.

They feed 12,000 persons in the mess hall where I eat and they are fed in one hours time. When you get K.P. duty you work for about 17 hours. I haven't been on it yet, and hope I don't. I was on it once in Fort Custer. It wasn't as bad there.

Well I guess I'll have to close for now. I can't think of much more to say. Write soon and tell me all of the happenings. Send pictures if you have taken any lately. I will get some taken soon. Well so long for now. I wish I could see you. Tell everybody I said hello. So long.

Bill


Background Information:

• I was not sure what a J.B. cough was until I read another letter referring to the soldiers at J.B. I concluded that a J.B. cough is a Jefferson Barracks cough.
• On the back of the envelope he wrote "Keep Em Flying". This is the first time he's written a message on the envelope.

The next posting will be on July 3rd.