Year: 1940

Editor’s note:  One of the big hit songs of 1940 was Glenn Miller’s “In the mood”–click to listen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teJfuKdzbOo

2/5/40

Randolph Field, Tx.

Hi Toots:

Guess we just don’t live right.  Some will get along just as well as I will, and yet if I hadn’t gone to college you’d have a ring too.  At the rate I’m going, you’ll probably get it about the time our youngest offspring gets out of college.

Forget your mother on the Wheaton trip and concentrate on Doris & Cliff.  They’re still my in-laws.

I liked the poem.  Graduation is yet so far away that I’m not even thinking about it.  From all indications, all of what’s now left of us will leave Randolph on the 12^th.  The last half of the alphabet, including yours truly, is going to Brooks Field instead of Kelly.  If it works out that way, it will suit me fine.  Brooks is much closer to Cousin Annie Laurie’s than is either Kelly or Randolph.

Get this!  Ask Bill if I had an article in January Radio and what it was.  Was it that last short story I wrote?  I saw a copy of it, but didn’t see anything of mine in it.  They sent me a check and a letter and I wondered if it was a mistake or something!  Just wondered whether to thank them or to return it and razz them about making a mistake.  This surely shows how carefully I read Radio.  Let me know as soon as possible.

I spent the week-end at Annie Laurie’s.  We had our Randolph “Graduation Dance”.  Although I didn’t contribute, it sure was awful drunk out Saturday night.

My final grade in meteorology was 81, which isn’t so hot.  We have little to do now but fly and we haven’t flown since Wednesday.  It has been fogged in almost solid since then.  It cleared up at 10 this morning, but the field is so soggy we can’t fly until tomorrow.  That means 2 hours per day all the rest of this week.  I haven’t flown for so long I’m beginning to miss it.

That’s about all for now.  Be a good little girl.    Love, Cy.

P.S.  As soon as I get a chance, I shall get an application for duplicate copy of that insurance policy notarized and send it in.  Apparently there won’t be any trouble.

2/8/40

Randolph Field, Tx.

Yippee!

Well, it’s all over!  Randolph Field did its damnedest and could not scare me.  I flew my last couple of hours this morning and Lt. Housman wished me good luck at Brooks and that was that.  Tomorrow I turn in my equipment and Monday I move to Brooks.

I’m mailing this to the house because you couldn’t get it otherwise.  Your letter just arrived today.  I’m not sending Pop anything from here, so whatever you do will be from both of us.

OK on the reporter.  Now that I’m going to Brooks and have 249 chances out of 250 of graduating, you may tell Mother the ban on newspaper clippings, information, etc. is off.  I just didn’t want everyone to know I was here and then find out later that I’d failed.  For the first time since I started, I’m not worried.  So if Oak Leaves still wants the picture and it’ll make you any happier, ok.

Phooey—your Confucius joke is as old as a Chinese egg.  It’s still amusing. I don’t know where Tom and Marje get all the money!  But that’s none of my business.

You bad girl!  You know it’s going to be you and I.  It took me five years to find it out, and I don’t expect to forget it very soon.  I still can’t quite figure it out, but I don’t want to.

I didn’t realize what a strain it’s been.  I’m sitting here trembling like an old man.  I wish you could be here to enjoy this day with me.

Honey, I still don’t know what the score is, but we can keep hoping.

Well, it’s time for lunch.  I still can’t believe I made the grade.

Love to a very sweet girl,  Cy.

P.S.  All of Chicago gang got through, but Vince washed out a month ago.

Editor’s note:  on 3/26/41 the movie “I wanted wings” starring Ray Milland and William Holden was released.  It is the story of 3 men going through training in the Army Air Corps and the airplane scenes were filmed at Randolph Field, Tx. in the summer of 1940.

2/12/40

Brooks Field

San Antonio,Tx.

My Angel:

I hope your last letter wasn’t serious!  Of course I’m more concerned about my cousins.  I only know two or three girls in S.A.  and I honestly don’t know which sides of town they live on.  Honey, my cadet wings have sure been worked on, but are untouched.  And, hey!  You’d better get a wedding ring before our offspring gets through high school!  (Hope you mean “ring” and not “wedding”).

We moved in here in time for noon mess.  There are 45 men in my class and 45 in the upper class.  The entire attitude to date is one of seashore resort class.  There is little discipline and no upper class hazing.  It seems almost too good to be true.  There are disadvantages, though.  We are living in “temporary” barracks built in 1916!  There are no rooms, each man having his bed and footlocker and steel locker.  The informality is excellent.  I’m already beginning to feel like a human being again.  It seems like a Boy Scout Camp.  Even radios are permitted, although this isn’t so hot for people want to go to sleep.

The biggest catch is that now that we are here, we haven’t any airplanes to fly!  They should arrive this week, though.  The BC-1’s aren’t much different from the BT-9s and I don’t anticipate any trouble.

The enclosure is something I plopped out at Annie Laurie’s last Sunday.  How’s about typing it and sending it to the poetry editor of the “Post!”  The check’s yours if it works.  Use the pen name of “Leo Johns” and submit it in your name.

Well, Darling, I’m still figgering.  Don’t be too surprised if we go back to the RCA and tell the A.C. to go to hell.  They’re piddling with a goddamn 3 yr bachelor regulation.  Precious, with a whole town full of girls who would give their all for my cadet uniform, I’m still sublimely waiting for the day when I can have you.  Of course, I may be wrong.  But I feel that you have something a little extra special in all respects.

Call Mother and tell her my new address.  It’s just like living in a barn here, but I think I shall like it.  Save everything you have for me.

Your husband, Cy

 

Click here to listen to “Maybe” by The Ink Spots from 1940; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp2Hwi9qM48

2/13/40

Brooks Field, Tx.

Angel:

This will be days late, but having to move at this time spoiled my chances of personally picking out anything.  So take the enclosures and buy us something you need.  I told you all my writing checks until we get married are yours!

Darling, budget here is lousy.  There are always so many fixed expenses that are deducted from the pay-roll, and when I do get open post, meals and transportation mount up tremendously, that any effort at budget is futile.  I am paying $10 per month on the family doctor, which is just holding even probably, and $7.90 on insurance.  I’m not too worried about that as army records are good receipts and that is a pay deduction.

That’s a swell subject for a Valentine’s letter!  But it is close to us.  Precious, the following is the dope received yesterday.  It is official at present, but I seriously doubt (as do many others) if it can be enforced.  Cadets must get married before June 30, 1940.  Otherwise, they must wait 3 years after receiving their reserve commissions, or 1 year after a regular army commission!  I can’t see that business, so we shall keep our eyes and ears open and see what we can do.  I’m getting damn sick and tired of not having you.  And I’m gettin’ pretty tired of going to bed without you.  I’m so darned jealous of Milton & Martha and their home that I can’t hardly stand it.  Speaking of which, my cousins here are pulling for you plenty.

The barracks here are like the one’s Cliff trained in, so I wrote him a letter last night, sent this morning.  It really isn’t bad here, but I wouldn’t want it to last for more than 3 months.  With all windows down (shut) the draft is so strong we have to tie our shoes to the bed to keep them underneath.  The hangars are little teeny things, looking more like barns than hangars.  They are wooden and were built in 1916.

Well, little girl, I’m going to take a shower and work some more.  Flying probably starts tomorrow.  These ships glide at 90, cruise at 190 with a top of 207 in horizontal flight.  Landing gears retractable etc.

Love, Cy.

2/17/40
Brooks Field, Tx.
Hi Wife:
This going to be a hell of a letter, but will write more later. Received a letter yesterday with a note from Bill & some definitions. The latter are being displayed at the Cadet Club this afternoon and are making quite a hit. Then I got your note this A.M. Apparently the P.O. sealed it ok.
Send the copy of the poem and I shall edit it. Then you can send it on in. I finally bought a copy of RADIO and found my article.
One of my instructors pulled a Confucianism this morning. “When rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.” Oh, me.
The enclosure from Crane is self-explanatory. You might drop them a line. I wrote him a 2 pager.
Be sweet, young lady. I still want you very much.
Yo boyfriend, Cy.