February 21, 1943

                                                Feb 21
Dear Folks:
            Getting broken in somewhat now. The descipline is really rigid. We hardly dare move without an upper classman saying so. Since Group 9 won the Dartmouth Trophy for being the best group in pre-flight, we under classmen have to snap into a “brace” every time Group 9 is mentioned by an upper classman — which is pretty often. A “brace” is an exaggerated position of attention.
            In the mess hall the under classmen sit on one side of the table and upper cl on the other. The L.C. (Lower Class) sits on the front 4 inches of the chairs and must eat at a rigid attention with one hand hanging straight down, eyes front or down on the plate. We eat after all Upper are served and must ask them before taking anything.
            We have 1 hr. & 15 minutes in the evening in which to study & U.C. can’t touch us. We had P.T. this morning & drill this afternoon. Sunday is like any other day except we can take time off to go to church. The U.C. gets an open post tomorrow and we do Guard Duty. Our classes start Tuesday. All in all it is not too hard and is good training. We will be lower classmen for 4 ¹/₂ weeks and then upper classmen for 4 ¹/₂. Some of the things the upper class has us doing is designed to get us to laugh or smile and of course if we do we take the smiles “off” and march them around in all sorts of drill maneuvers. If a man still smiles, he and another man in the same condition have to fill their mouths with water & stand close to-gether facing each other while the U.C. tells jokes to them. Of course the first man to break out laughing gives the other one a shower.
            The class work sounds like it would be interesting. Am sending a picture from the paper. It is slightly exaggerated but we hit all formations on the run. Each of us has an U.C. for a “big brother.” Mine is a pretty good fellow. Two of the U.C. in this barracks are from Kansas. One is from Salina. You might send this letter to Arlan & Marvel Lee since I’ll send them just a card.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

                                    Feb 21
Dear Arlan:
            Am getting gradually broken in. Will do Guard Duty Monday and classes start Tuesday. Being an under classman is about like being initiated into a fraternity. Will be here 9 weeks but will be upper classmen the last 4 ¹/₂.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John

Dear Marvel Lee:
            Am getting gradually broken in some now. Will do Guard Duty tomorrow and classes start Tuesday. Being an underclassman is about like being initiated into a fraternity. Will be here 9 weeks but will be an upper classman the last 4 ¹/₂. Barracks has linoleum floor. 2 upper classmen in this barracks are from Kansas.
                                    Yours truly
                                                John