27 Feb February 27, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
2-27-44, 10 A.M. Sunday
Noteworthy: Dad’s first week in boot camp, description of; Dad is willing
to trade places so he can go home.


Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Sunday and a day of rest or nothing to do.  I stayed in bed until 9 A.M.  Of
course I missed breakfast but who cares?  That bed certainly felt nice.  Besides
I had an orange I had saved for just such an occasion.  Last night I went to a
show with one of the fellas here, saw "The Bridge of San Luis Rey."  Not bad.
The theater is nice and is about 1 / 2 mile from our hut.  They charge $0.15. Or
you can buy 10 tickets for $1.20.  We got out at 8:15 P.M. and was [were] going
to walk down to the lake, but finally decided we didn’t want to get lost in
this place the first week.  I think we will try it sometime today, though.

Before I forget, I wish you would send me about 1 / 2 dz white hankies, 1 pr
shoe trees for my brown dress shoes, 1 / 2 dz or so white undershirts and
underpants if you can find them, if not I can buy some here, 1 / 2 dz  pr
cotton and part wool white or army socks, my bathing trunks and some shower
sandals.  Get real thick

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woollen soles if you can find them, some white towels.

It is very nice here this morning.  Temperature about 70 degrees.  And everyone
is lazying around taking things easy.  I am writing this in the day room - some
one is playing the radio with victrola records and there are quite a few boys
writing letters and reading.  I suppose you are beginning to think I am just
on a vacation.  Nevertheless, I will gladly trade places with anyone that would
like to come down here and take my place so I could go home.

We moved again today.  About the sixth time since arriving in the Army.  This
is supposed to be the last time for the duration at this camp.  1st they just
brought us here and dumped us into wherever they could find.  Then we were put
in this company, and now we have been placed in huts alphabetically where we
are supposed to stay.  There are 16 boys in my hut.  There are 5 from Ohio,

1 from Ky, 2 from N.Y. 3 from Ga. 2 from Ill. 1 from Mich. So you see we come
from everywhere.  So far they seem to be pretty nice bunch.  There are no real
young men in our hut.  One man is 36 and has 5 kids ranging from

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15 yrs to 15 months.  He comes from Ohio and drove a beer truck.  Most of us
have children.  We were told yesterday that when we finished our training here
we would definitely be shipped across.  The bunch leaving here this last week
all went to Camp Ord California for shipment to the Pacific <? Isle>.  So you
had better be making up your mind to the fact that in all probability that is
what is going to happen to me too.

There were 180 men in the last cycle (they call it here) and out of that bunch
only four were kept here.  And they claim there is no rhyme or reason about the
manner they used to pick those 4.  I know for a fact that one of the men they
are keeping is a kid from the bottom up and just as dumb.

Yesterday they issued us our rifles and assigned us to squads and the first
unjust

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thing in the Army I have so far run across occured.  They lined us up according
to height.  The tallest man in the squad was automatically appointed squad
leader.  They say you advance upwards from squad leader.  Since I am the

smallest man in my squad and on the end of the line[,] you can figure it out.
We start our basic training tomorrow and here is our schedule for the first day.

Arise at 6 A.M. make beds and dress - Ready at 6:30.  Breakfast at 7[,] after
breakfast we have to clean huts[,] shave, etc.  Inspection at 8.  8 - 9 drill,
9 - 11 opening ceremony, 11 - 12 personal and <? sex> hygiene, 12 lunch - 1:15
- 2:15 organization of army and information. 2:15 - 3:15 guerrilla exercises,
3:15 - 4:15 military discipline and art of war 4:15 - 5:15, protection of
military information and censorship, 6 p.m. chow.  After that we are free
unless we are assigned some detailed work.  And there is plenty of that.  They
have posted our first week’s schedule and Monday looks like the softest day.

I have received no mail yet.  But then none of the boys have either so don’t
feel too bad.  Certainly hope to get some to-morrow though.  I am interested in
hearing how things are

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working out at home and if anyone misses me very much.  You don’t, huh?  Have
you been driving the car and is it still in one piece?  One fellow here has
been in the Army since Feb. 1st and says his wife has already received an
allotment check for Feb.  He says that anyone inducted in Feb. will have full
allotment checks sent their wives for Feb.  So according to that, you may get a
check for this month. Have you gotten it yet?

Well Ronnie, ol’ boy how are you and Mommy and Bobby and everyone else getting
along?  Hope you miss your Daddy a little bit but not too much.  I know I
certainly miss you plenty.  I guess you are going to be a big man before I get
to see you again.  You be a good boy now and do what Mommy tells you so you will
be a nice big man when I do get to see you again.

New page.
It’s getting close to chow time Mommy so will have to close now.  I miss you
too Mommy - a little bit.  So you be a good girl and take care of Ronnie, and
maybe someday I will be able to come home and take good care of both of you.

Oh yes, you had better send me a box of those powders.  I still have a little
stomach trouble occasionally.

Bye now and lots of love to both of you,
Daddy.
.
.

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