October 24, 29 and 31, 1944: Dad writes a few letters home from Topeka Army Air Base where he is still stationed with the Headquarters Squadron of the 270th AAF Base Unit (SW). Despite it being the end of October, Topeka is seeing high temperatures in the 80s. He mentions that he spent the 24th seeing a movie and going to a U.S.O. show. He comments that, “They make it a point to have a U.S.O. show every Tuesday…”
Dad writes about his status in terms of his duties and future prospects in the armed forced. “They intend drawing some of us fellows for the ground forces. It seems that I, too, have been frozen. It does not mean that I may be the unlucky one to wind up even in the Infantry, Artillery, etc., but am darn close to it. I’d sooner be overseas in the Air Corps than in the Army Ground Forces here on this side. Don’t broadcast anything. Now, if I should miss out on this deal and it were possible for me to apply for a group similar to that in which Stanley is in, I hope you people would write me stating either yes or no and I’ll understand what you mean. However, I will not lose my head and first see exactly how things go, but I sure would hate to be a foot soldier. I’d like to make sure I stay in the Air Corps.”
By the time the 29th comes around, it seems that the prospect of Dad’s duties changing has been put on hold as he writes, “You needn’t worry about this Ground Forces deal as fellows from elsewhere were taken which leaves me in the clear for about a month and then the sweating out probably will start all over again. It’s possible that they won’t bother me, though.”
He managed to take the day off the previous Friday and go golfing “…and broke 90. I had 46 for the first nine holes and 42 for the remaining nine for a total of 88. Now to break an 80 is next.”
His thoughts turn to his brother as he writes “Stanley has been in the service for two years but when you look back at the years, it doesn’t seem to be so far away at all. Shucks, I haven’t seen him for that long a time but I believe I will remember him.”
He writes that they had another U.S.O. show that included “…a juggler who would lay on his back and juggle things with his feet. Imagine him juggling three large balls. Then he juggles a 90 lb. bed. They also had a good classical singer that appealed to me very much… They had two comedians and several dancers. It was a good hours entertainment.”
On the 31st “the weather is still warm” and Dad writes that he has “already casted my voting ballot…and I believe I voted for the right fellow. …Somehow I have trust and confidence in Roosevelt” Dad says that that is his opinion and that “If you folks believe the Dewey is the man who should be in, vote for him. Vote for whatever you think is right. That is the right for which thousands have so far lost their lives for.”
Before wrapping up his letter, Dad makes a note that he has applied to take the exam for the Physics course that he is taking on a correspondence basis and that he only has three more classes left.