April 3, 1943

Dear Folks:                                                            April 3
            The weather is warming up here now. A still, clear day to-day and about 80° in the shade, which is about the warmest day we’ve had. They cut grass here for the first time this week. Sun glasses come in handy because any ground that doesn’t have grass on it is white in color & reflects sunlite right up in your face.
            Got your letter of 29 on April 1. Also got 2 bunches of Dispatches & a card from Aunt Hattie. I have 15 pr. of socks so they’re all in pretty good shape yet. Some of them had holes which I sewed up with the kit Marvel Lee gave me. I haven’t mended any since leaving Classification Center. Was a little surprised at Bud going into the Army. What happened to Doctors Davies & Galley? — Must be more stock in the county. Looks like Arlan could do plenty of business there — if “Clay County” could be changed to a more foreign name. Ha! Ha!
            Half of us fly in the morning and the other half flys afternoons. Each week the schedule is reversed so that one bunch won’t get behind if there are several foggy mornings. Wear parachutes every time we go up. We were shown how to check the chute each time before we wear it and most of us check!!!, believe me. The “washing machine” starts this week, that is those of us are “washed out” or eliminated if thought to be unsatisfactory for Army Flying. Most of us should ?? solo this week or next. Usually 20 or 30% are eliminated but 60% of our upper class have been eliminated already. You can probably find a picture of a “Fairchild” PT-19 in some of my magazines.
            The local high school & grade school put on a minstrel show for us last Thursday & it was really good. All had our pictures taken for the class book this week.