28 Feb February 28, 1944

letter
from: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
to: Mrs. Alice Shonkwiler
2-28-44, 8 P.M.
Noteworthy: Dad chews out Mom; Dad asks about "Junior".

Dear Alice and Ronnie,

Today is over - our first real day in the Army.  And I’m telling you, I’m damn
glad this day is over.  I think I sent you a schedule for the day - and they
carried it out to the letter plus adding some in.  Those gorilla exercises this
P.M. were tough.  I thought when I was in school and training for track that I
took and knew all the exercises that were known.  The Army, I find knows them
all, I didn’t.  Anyhow I didn’t drop out and there were a number who did.  I
certainly felt sorry for plenty of those old fellas - including myself.  The
man in our hut with five children is also quite a beer drinker and he has all
the looks of one.  He had a hell of a time.

I got your first letter tonite. And frankly, I was just a little disappointed.
I see you are up to your old tricks - you wrote me a letter on the 24th and
forgot to mail it until the 27th - waiting until the 24th was bad enough but
to top it off you failed to mail it until three days later.

page 2
Temperature here yesterday - Sun -  was 85 degrees - today was just as hot or
hotter.  On top of that we had to wear our wool uniforms most of the day.

At our 1st barracks inspection today, I passed everything except my footlocker.
Don’t know what was wrong with it, but I will learn.              GWS

I was practically the only man in our hut who failed to get a letter Monday.
And I wouldn’t have gotten one today now if it hadn’t been for
Dick <? Briselevis> up at the office.  It’s a fine thing when some friend makes
enough effort to get a letter to me before my wife does.  When I feel in the
mood now, I’ll have to see if he isn’t on the top of my writing list

I went to a show yesterday afternoon "Friendly Comrade" ["Tender Comrade"] with
Ginger Rogers.  it was pretty good.  Try and see it, if you can.

I’ve asked you, in my last letter, about everything at home that is going on
I want to know.  So far you haven’t answered any of them but I am waiting
patiently.  However there is one very important thing I am anxiously waiting to
hear about.  Thought you would volunteer the information - but you didn’t. How
is Junior coming?  Well Ronnie ol’ boy your old man is quite tired tonite so
say an extra prayer for me and try and see that Mommy does a little better with
her letters in the future.

Daddy