December 11, 1942

(from Vic to his parents, written from Camp Roberts, California to Racine Wisconsin)

Friday evening,

Dear Folks,

Thanks for your letter. Couldn't reply soon as I was out on maneuvers and didn't get in camp until last nite. Imagine Paul'll be home so I'll add some data later that might interest him.

Next week-end I'm eligible for a 48 hr. pass and may go down Glendale and visit Ralph Balzer and wife. Have been away from here on 36 hr. passes the past three consecutive week-ends. Have been down the coast to Santa Barbara and inland beyond Bakersfield and Fresno. This is really an immense state and has many climates and physical variations.

As I've oft mentioned, we graduate the 26th but may not be shipped immediately. Most of the recent graduates were assigned A.P.O. addresses so we stand a might good chance to travel abroad soon. Incidentally, look for big developments in all the war theatres come spring. Have good idea this'll be Hitler's last season. The Japs'll go on tho for a while but the navy will stop them.

Our first instructor, Staff Sgt. Lewandowski, informed me I'm slated for Ft. Sill Specialist School. Guess it'll be in the non-commissioned officers radio school. Perhaps the plans may be changed but not if I can help it. Passed O.T.C. exam but our group never was up before Regimental Inquiry Board where definite candidate appointments are made.

At Hunter-Liggett I operated a SCR-284 radio set from a vehicular mount on the truck (a 1/2 ton Doge weapon carrier) I was driver of. Set it up on a mountain top (McBride Hill) to be used as Observation Post No. 1. I observed 37 m.m., 105 m.m, + 155 m.m. fire and sent the data on to the Fire Direction Center which one of our boys operated at the battery. I never enjoyed a trip more and the mountain scenery was swell. You can't imagine what terrific fire-power our artillery has. They simulated every kind a fire-mission.

Mother I'd appreciate any home cooking in the line of cookies or cakes you send out but I guess it's getting on so much to-wards Xmas I'll rush you too much. Then too, you're rationed all the ingredients so I don't think it practical. Whenever a fellow in the barracks recieves such a package we all share in it and you can't imagine how much such delicacies we've already gorged ourselves on.

Am sending out most of my Xmas cards to-night as my week-end schedule is pretty well take up. Tom-morrow I drive for a captain in a jeep. He arranged troop movements so I may go to neighboring towns, I hope.

Karl Greubel tells me the gas scarcity has become a big problem and civilian travel is practically null. Does it seem very dead in Racine? Said he was going to visit his brother in camp. Perhaps Paul can go along over the holidays.

It was quite cold up in the mountains but didnt snow while we were there. The acute penetrating nite and early morning frost bothered us somewhat and water readily froze, but I'd actually enjoyed a good snow-fall. We bivouced in a scenic valley surrounded by steep rock ridges and pinnacles. Some sierra pine was noticeable but most of the trees, schrubbery and vegation was strange to me. At the western end of our vally bivouc flowed the Nacimeinto River between huge cuts. Trout could be clearly seen in the icy waters but we never had time to fish them. A group of WAAC's and WVAD's were encamped downstream from us and evenings they put on some corny skits. They're the laughing stock of the service and even the Col.'s & Gen.'s go t a big kick from their helplessness and silly antics.

Driving in the reservation is a difficult feat but I didn't break anyone's neck or car springs, quit. Radio operators command some attention by the brass-hats I've observed and I like the job more and more. We were actually lauded with compliments by several majors and colonels - imagine! Must've been an unusally sloppy radio detail accompanying the 52nd Bn F.A. on their last outing. We weren't so very hot but the officer personnel certainly thought so. Incidentally, we go back out there next week unless plans are altered at the last minute, per usual.

Regards, Vic

Many thanks for paying my last income tax installment. Boy! I can feel a heavy knock for this year ('42)'cause my income was fair, along with army pay (taxable) and the fierce rates!