April 13, 1943

(letter written from Vic to his parents, Peter and Emilie. Written from Fort Sill, Oklahoma on Camp Roberts stationary. The illustration is Vic's promotion orders along with 22 other radio students.

They were Burnell Aaron, Gilbert D. Anderson, Bloise, C. Bell, Kenneth L. Blandin, Henry S. Calore, Orazio R. Carlucci, John W. Elvin, Patrick J. Feeney, Boyd O. Jordal, Vincent T. Kalup, Johnnie D. Lane, Maxwell J. McDiarmid, Matthew A. Murphy, Mitchell H. Nowak, Kenneth B. Oliver, Richard F. O'Reilly, Henry S. Pinyan Jr., Donald J. Quinn, Marlin G. Schwartz, Claude W. Scruggs, Floyd K. White and Dwayne H. Wynkoop. Signed by Capt. R.A. Pike for Brigadier General Balmer)

Tuesday evening,

Dear Folks,

Intended writing sooner but we've been extremely busy. We're now in a new course, and we're given somewhat of a promotion yesterday to T-5 or Corporal Technician. The course is a one month affair in radio mechanics or technicians. Again we've night classes in able to accomplish as much training as possible.

Originally, the school staff intended dropping the nite work and extending the course to two months. However, the great immediate demand for personnel in this field prompted them to run us through as rapidly as possible.

The work is intricate radio and electrical repair and installation. Much theory is involved but the textbooks and refeerence material is somewhat simplified and more exhaustive than perhaps necessary. Please not my new address.

Haven't heard from Paul so I don't know whether he's been inducted, or if he's at home or at school. Have a good hunch he's in the service at this date but couldn't say whether he made the Air Corps 'cause the Army seldom if ever gives an inductee his choice. Don't imagine he knows where I am so he's probably waiting for you to send him my address.

Phil Mascaretti wrote again recently and I'd judge he in New Caledonia although he didn't specify 'cause he was afraid the censors would hold (confiscate) or blot out portions of his letters. He said Beeny could give me all the facts, but as I can't reach him could you ask his folks just to satisfy my curiousity?

Neither Jake or Lloyd Valentine nor Ray Campbell have replied my letters, but I guess the mail is rather tardy in arriving at distant points and vice-versa. Tell the church pator I've been receiving the Danish lutheran and give him my new address. Get some literature from Cases occasionally too occasionally, too. Perhaps you can for the J-T and have them publish new address or is that a military secret?

Visited Dave Altman (Milw. Spanish Vet) again last Sunday where he's stationed at a hospital in Chikasha which is about 52 miles north-west enroute towards Oklahoma City. Usually have a fairly good time up there. The transportation is quite a problem even for service men due to extreme congestion.

Can't say when I'll get a furlough. We can't even apply for one here, being as we're un-assigned. Some guys I know say the Army is cutting leaves down to 10 days and they were unable to get home in that time so they took there's nearby where they were stationed.

Last week we wound up the communications course with simulated battle attacks & retreats on a grand scale. They were held for the part in the Witchata Mts. Wildlife Refuge about 35 miles due east of here. I was in the 8th F.A. Bn which acted as Division Artillery and had a number of duties. We moved up by nite under strict black-out driving conditions and one command rolled down a ravine and injured several. Numerous rattle-snakes and lizards were seen and we all had wood-ticks biting us. The country we displaced is very wild and rugged and we never slept while out there.

Your son,
Vic