March 24, 1943

Dear Folks:                                                                        Mar. 24
            This weather has been more like Kansas so far. The wind blows, the dirt flies, and then it rains. It rained last night & this after noon and looks like it would rain again to-nite. This is the rainy season here they say. The instructor told us that last summer there were hailstorms as big as oranges found here.
            Have 1-1/2 hr. in air so far. It is quite different from flying I did before. The plane is heavier, larger, and lands faster. Glad I had C.P.T. [cockpit procedures training?], though. About 1/3 of cadets have never been up in a plane while another 1/3 has had flying instruction. Some of them got air sick. They have a donkey here and the first man to solo has to kiss him on the nose and the last man to solo has to kiss him on the south end. It takes from 8 to 12 hrs. to solo.
            Sat. after noon. We are supposed to have Sat. afternoons & Sunday off if the weather during the week hasn’t thrown the schedule off. We are confined to the post for 2 weeks but the upper classmen can go to town which is about 1-1/2 mile away. Did I tell you Fort Stockton is about the size of Clay Center? — from what I hear.
            Had a formal inspection this morning and drill & P.T. this after noon. We have a recreation hall here with a bowling alley, pool and ping pong tables, radio, and Cocoa Cola machine. There is also a lounge which is furnished with floor lamps and soft chairs.
            Directions on the ground here are very hard to keep because the whole field and buildings are set around at 45° from north. It is easy to keep straight in the air because of the section lines. There is a large pond and some irrigated land north west of the field. Outside of that the ground is all brown in color.
            Just got your letter & one from Marvel Lee. Can’t have any pictures on display so will just keep the proof of Arlan’s. Yes, Guldberg who is the tallest man of we three that rented the car in S.A. is here with me. Martindell went to another primary school but I don’t know which. However, I bunk beside another Hutchinson man, Griffee, who worked in the Hutchinson State Bank and has done business with Marvel Lee. The trunk I mentioned was one I bought.
            Didn’t know Clarance Alquist was sick again. We still drill 1 hour a day which is about as much as usual. You might send me some more of those cold tablets. I used some and gave away some. Don’t need to send this letter to Marvel Lee or Arlan since I’ll write them.
                                    Yours truly,
P.S. (over)                                    John
            We have mosquitoes and flys here already. Would also like my pocket watch. I’m afraid my wrist watch will get dirty pretty quick.