Transcription of Document FFDoc-0708.pdf |
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| Document Number |
Date |
Type |
From |
To |
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| 708 |
06/13/1944 | Letter |
Shields, Frank |
Pelletier, Dot |
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Tues. 13 June 44 1400 hrs Dear Dot, Gee, I liked that card you sent me. It was swell. Wherever did you get it? I appreciate, too, the letters you sent enclosing your thoughts on a variety of subjects. But like you, I haven't got your letter before me now to assist me in writing. For you see, I'm in school right now, doing a lab, & acting in the capacity of a repeaterman. There's practically nothing to do. Our system was lined up an hour ago, & it took me all of 1 minute to do my share of this "lining up." You see, a repeater is nothing but an amplifier placed in a telephone line every 30 miles or so in order to increase the signal & overcome resistance & other losses in the line. I work only when our Artificial Corps or Army HQ terminal calls me & tells me to. Right now there's some trouble on Channel 4 & Army HQ terminal is making some tests on it. You know, if this is all I do when they send me over I'm going to have a helluva lot of time on my hands. I'd better bring along a case of interesting books to read, 'cause these systems don't break down often & require lining up only 2 or 3 times per day. Imagine sweating the war out in some little village in France, just eating, sleeping, drawing pay & working occasionally. Oi! Oi! Just before I rec'd your letter saying your finances were sorta low I got one from Mom telling of how your car was sold. In my opinion, you're the winner in the deal. 150 shekels wasn't bad for that car. As mom says, if we'd had it up for sale we wouldn't have gotten 100. The question in my mind is what are you going to do with that money now? I guess you have some unpaid debts, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to get them told off. If there's anything left over, why don't you treat yourself to a helluva good dinner, or an extra summer outfit or 'somethin'? Damn - I left off this letter for an hour or so, and since there was no business going on for me on the phone, I guess I proceeded to doze. The N.C.O.I.C. just came by & told me to keep awake. That was decent of him since they usually put you on a detail or on hanger police if they catch you napping. And the guy was a M/Sgt too. It's getting hotter by the day up here. But I suppose it still couldn't compare with the heat you've got in Georgia. Last weekend (I was restricted to stand fire security) it rained as I've never before seen it rain in my life. The torrent must have washed away half our quadrangle, and for a while I thought it was going to take the barracks too. Luckily it didn't so I peacefully slept Sat nite thru. Lord, how I missed seeing "ma fiancée" this past weekend. T'was the first time in about 6 weeks that I hadn't been able to get home. But I'm surely looking forward to the approach of this Sat, when barring accidents & the C.O.'s displeasure, I'll hightail it for the Big Town. What a life, etc? But it won't last long. I think this is my last course here, & I have only a week or so to go in it. Theoretically I leave here 22 July, but I may be finishing 5 weeks ahead of time & I don't know what the hell they'll be doing with me meantime. Wed But I sorta wish they'd let me take a course in Elements of Radio. Well, we'll see. While reading this morning's paper, I noticed that the Gov't has effectively solved one of my post-war problems. For the G.I. Bill of Rights requires only the President's signature to become law. And one of its provisions for returning veterans is a gov't grant of $500 yearly tuition for 4 years to any serviceman who went on active duty before he was 25. In addition there is an allowance for subsistence of $50 per month for single men, and $75 per for married men. So you see, if the bill becomes law, it may solve 2 of my major problems at once. Of course, a G.I. can get this assistance only for from one year up to the time he's been in the service since the passage of the Damn but it's hard to write letters when you can't think if anything to say. Strange that of late both of us should reflect on our moral unworthiness of the numerous benefits God has bestowed on us. And yet, in a way, I feel that I've been living a slightly better life since I've been in the Army. Perfection, of course, is all but unobtainable in this life; however, perhaps we're yearning for it. I wonder if we shall improve enough to soon rid ourselves of this uneasy feeling. I have a rather close friend, Dot, whom I am ashamed to say I have neglected sadly of late. But I did write to him 2 weeks ago. I can never hope to make such an interesting letter writer as he, however. I enclose his most recent letter. From ones that have come before, I think you can vouch for his versatility & humor. I send this letter because it is too good for me to keep to myself. Gene [Dembinski] wrote this in answer to a letter I sent from Crowder, when I was tentatively a Radio Repair Man. Hence the allusions to Radio. When you're finished with the letter, send it on home & tell them to save it. I guess they won't be offended by his choice language. About your being on the overseas list - I reckon Touhey's adage is true. But I don't believe you'll have anything to regret. Well, Dot, I've run dry. So I'll close here for a while. Be good. Love & prayers, Frank. P.S. I reckon my analysis of Joe's romantic life was slightly erratic. Batting average so far - 0.000 Frank.
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