March 2, 1943

                                                March 2
Dear Folks:
            Today is open post for the upperclass and we have no drill or classes. Had a lecture this morning and then went “up” in the pressure chamber. The chamber is a big drum with windows and 2 benches. The air is pumped out of the chamber to simulate the air pressure at any altitude. Above 10,000 ft altitude we are supposed to use oxygen which is taken in through a mask. To show us the effect of lack of oxygen we were run “up” to 18,000 ft. and held there for 6 minutes without oxygen masks on. The lights get dimmer and the finger nails turn blue. Breathing gets faster and talking and moving is difficult. I tried to whistle but couldn’t.
            After 6 min. all of us except 2 put on oxygen masks and were run up to 28,000 ft. The 2 without oxygen were told to write and soon their writing became unintelligible. About the only thing they could remember was their names. About a minute after they put on their masks they were back to normal. The experiment was to show us that we could not trust our judgement when oxygen gets scarce. Both of the men felt a little sluggish but thought they were doing a good job all the time. While “coming down” we had to keep swallowing to keep our ears from hurting. Two men couldn’t keep their ears open by swallowing and really got an ear ache.
            9 P.M. Just got off guard. Went on at 6:00 P.M. and off for rest of night at 8:30. 5 other men & I were lucky in getting off so early because we were assigned as guards at the Service Club. We stood inside the door to see that only the right men got in. It surely is cold here to-nite. Forecast for a severe freeze. Must be having a real freeze up there.
            Sunday March 7. Just got back from chapel. Today is “open post” again for upperclassmen so we will have no drill or classwork. Will catch up on my studying. It is cold here again to-day, see ice outside. The papers and magazine came yesterday.
            The cat score has taken a turn for the better I see. As near as I can figure out I don’t have to file an income tax form since I made less than $250 last year.
            We had measles down here too. The barracks next to us was quarantined for 10 days. Was afraid I’d get taken in on another quarantine. See Bob Davis has been having trouble with quarantines also.
            We are half through with our underclass studies. The “code” is the only thing I have had no experience with. It is something like an audible “shorthand”. We learn the alphabet in “dah’s” and “dits” — such as dit-dit-dit (S), dit-dah (A), dit-dah-dah-dah (J), etc. We listen to those sounds through a set of ear phones and write down the letters.
            Also got letters from Marvel Lee & Arlan. Marvel Lee, the boss ought to make each of you a “vice-president in charge” of something.
            Arlan, where is Effingham, Kans.? Will be 9 weeks in each — pre-flight, primary, basic, & advanced. From what our tac[t]ical officer said there are new primary schools being opened up north and this class will probably be sent north, which would suit me. I suspect it will be pretty warm here in the summer. Is Irwin Fowles stationed at K.S.C.? That set up for cadets ought to allow a little more freedom once in a while. At least, Manhattan hasn’t been a soldiers town as long as S.A. The vener[e]al disease rate in S.A. is about the highest in the country. The army really takes precautions against this, however.
            Am sending some more pictures. 17 men including me were going “up” in the pressure chamber again yesterday to an altitude of 38,000 ft. but something went wrong with their schedule after we got there and we turned around & marched back. Pass this circular around.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John