14 Mar March 14, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
3-14-44
6:35 p.m. Tues.
Noteworthy: Dad starts boot camp. Dad threatens spanking Ronnie and Mommy.

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Will start this now even though I know I won’t be able to finish it now and
maybe not even tonight.  We have a class at 7 P.M.   I have to fall out at
6:50.  Received the glasses O.K. tonight, and boy were they welcome.  The sun
bothered me more than anything and today we have been out in it all day.  My
eyes were about to burn right out of my head.  I hope to get G.I. glasses
someday soon now too so don’t think I will need any more glasses for awhile.

Today we had our first rifle practice.  I had it all before at Indiana so it
was old stuff although the style was changed a little since then.  We did no
firing just practiced sighting, aiming, and correct position.  4 hrs of that
without stop.  It certainly was  <?boresome>.  The worst is we have the same
thing for 4 hrs more tomorrow.  We don’t really start shooting until our 5th
week, I understand.  I certainly had a very poor <? citing> [sighting]  record
today without glasses.  I couldn’t even see the bullseye let alone draw a bead
on the damn thing.  However, I don’t think

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it made any difference as they didn’t look like they were keeping any record of
<? things>.  Tomorrow will be a different story, I hope.  We have a couple
Southerners here who claim to be expert shots.  Would get a kick out of it if I
could beat them when we shoot for records.  Now 9 P.M. and I am about ready for
the hay.  We only had two classes tonight instead of three we had of posted.  I
guess you do get a break in the Army once in a while.  We had to sit thru two
movies and I am rapidly learning on old habit of yours.  I can even sleep on
hard benches.

Glad to hear you got to go to the show.  Guess I forgot to tell you that after
talking to you Sunday I went to the show.  It was Ginger Rogers in "Lady in
the Dark."  Not bad but I knew she would marry the guy from the very first.

Well Ronnie, so now you know and can tell everyone your Daddy is in the Army.
That’s fine.  Be a good boy and don’t go running off with Bobby or I will have
to give you a spanking and thus maybe, Mommie one too for letting you.

Must close for now.

I love and miss you both.
Daddy