May 30, 1943

                                                            May 30
Dear Folks:
            I sent the radio and class book home before leaving Ft Stockton, hope they arrived. Please have the radio checked over and sent here.
            Boy, is this place rough! Its just like pre-flight — with airplanes. There are 2 “shave-tails” on every corner and do they rave! Our flight instructors are Lieutenants and they rave also. I think in a week we will become somewhat immune but right now we jump just a little when we see an officer. We get an officer’s training course and flight training to boot. One of those is a full days work.
            We won’t get out this week end. The plane we use is a Vultee BT-13, 450 HP. It takes a crew of 3 or 4 ground men to keep each one in shape. The cockpit is full of handles, gagets, and instruments. The cockpit has a plexiglass cover so some of the noise and wind is shut out.
            Sunday Morning. Didn’t have revielle this morning. The chapel is about a block from here and McDill and I are going over. McDill was an under classmen at pre-flight with me.
            The under class here is made up of classes from Uvalde, Ballinger, and Fort Stockton. The first call on week days is 5:45; Then drill, PT, class work, and flying, not in that order but changed around every day. Lights out at 10 P.M.
            The chow is served cafeteria style and I think it will be more uniform than the civilian feed was at Ft. Stockton because it varied every day or so from the best down to the worst.
            Had communion at the chapel this morning. The chaplain’s name is Cartwright. We notice the change in altitude and humidity. This is 1900 ft above sea level while F. S. was 3000′. There is quite a section of cultivated land around San Angelo and although it is nearly flat it is farmed on the contour — to save rain water I suppose. None of it is irrigated I think. There’s a small river running thru the town. This field is right on the southeast edge of town.
            We all had another eye check last week. We have to wear gas masks for 15 min. each P.T. period in order to get used to them. Note the address. I don’t think that first one I sent you was right. I will write Marvel Lee and you might send this to Arlan if he’s back at school.
                                    Yours truly,
                                                John
P.S. this place is set square with the world so the sun comes up in the east again. Farmers around Ft Stockton were binding oats when we left.

[in his mother’s handwriting:]

Address
Notice >          A/C McClurkin J D.                    he thot he gave
                        Class 43-I Upper 39                  us wrong address
                        Goodfellow Field                        Save this.
                        San Angelo, Texas