December 10-13, 1942

                                    Dec 10
Dear Marvel Lee:
            Got your letter & thanks for the nail polish. Just got back from a free USO show. It was a stage show put on by a traveling unit and was a very good show. Had another typhoid shot today.
            Did my first guard duty Tuesday. Was on duty 24 hrs. — 4 hr. walking post & 8 hrs off. Then 4 more & 8 more. Was issued 1 pr. of wool knit gloves. The socks are olive drab. Glad you got a raise

Dec 12 Had our first “open post” yesterday so we looked over some of San Antonio. We had 6 hrs. to spend in town. The town was so full that Christmas shopping was out of the question. This is probably the last (& first) open post we will have before going to pre-flight school and we’ll not have an open post until we’ve been in pre flight for 4 1/2 weeks. The streets are both narrow and crooked in S.A. There is a creek fed by springs that runs right through the middle of the business district. The water is dark blue in color and each bank is paved & sodded. There is a walk on each side and benches and also palm trees & other tropical vegetation which makes a nice little park. There are lots of palm trees and tall white limestone business buildings. The old “Alamo” building is fixed up as a museum and the surrounding grounds are fixed up as a park. There are quite a few Mexicans and mixed breeds in S.A.
            General Arnold, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Air Force is supposed to be in this vicinity Sunday so we had to scrub the barracks extra clean this morning.
            Sunday. [Dec 13] Saw the General this morning and he gave us a speech. Had to stand for 3 hrs. Just got my Christmas present and thanks. Hope I never have to use it. Ha, Hah! But I know I will. There is a persistent rumor that we will go to pre-flight school this week. Hope so.
            Yours truly
                        John