September 18, 1943

                                                            Sept. 18
Dear Folks:
            Got your letter to-day. Hope Jo is still getting along alright. The $40 you’re paying for your dress is tame beside what I’m paying out — $160. I am not getting everything now, will wait to see where I’m sent. We get a $250 uniform allowance and will get the balance of what we spend for uniforms in cash. There is a rumor that we will get 10 day leaves. About 1/3 of the other class got leaves. We won’t know until we get our orders the day before graduation.
            I hear there is a hurricane in the Gulf. Corpus Christi is probably getting a blow out of it. Arlan said the white tom cat had been eating lots of rats. Mrs. Dodson had better censor her own mail before she breaks the morale of “the navy”. I’m a “flight lieutenant” for 10 days. Under a rotation system each man has to be a class officer at least once while here. I have to march our flight to mess, flight line, etc. Flying will taper off some now since we have about all the required time in and are required to fly at least 30 min. a day until graduation.
            Sunday. Went to a football game last nite between Texas Tech. and a team from this field. Tech won 26 to 19. The Tech freshman wear little green caps with their names, prefixed by “Slime”, on them.
            The M.E. church was packed this morning, even put chairs in the aisles. Have a northeast wind and some dust in the air this evening, as a result of the hurricane I suppose. Picked out our flying togs (free, courtesy Uncle Sam) leather, fleece lined jacket and pants, winter and summer helmet, leather gloves, fleece lined boots, wool sweater. The pants have zippers full length of the leg. Will give you a phone call if we get leave.
                                    Yours truly
                                                John