1944 december 1

Dec. 1, 1944

Friday 2030

Dearest Katie -

It is amazing how dependable your letters arrive on consecutive days. It is practically a sure thing. Wonder if I could lay anyone some money on it. Tonite I must be careful not to write too much in order to conserve some inspiration for Sunday afternoon with you. In fact, I am going to be so conservative as to merely answer a couple of your more pertinent questions in your two letters and save the rest for Sunday.

The first concerns a gun for Brad. I will get him one if it is available. Otherwise I will let you know.

Tomorrow is Xmas shopping day for me so I should know by my next writing if a gun is possible for me to get. It rather surprised me to have you ask about my post school navy career, I suppose, because we haven’t talked about it before. Then I was amused at the timid sound of your saying that you were curious, you guess. Don’t you think I would be more than willing to tell my dear little one  only what I know about the part I am to play in this big war.

My observations & inquiries on the matter have gleaned nothing particularly definite. However, I can name a few of the assignments which have been given. Before doing so, I might add that the majority of observations bear out the fact that most graduates get their choice of assignments. Some are sent to Chicago for 4 weeks or so of teacher training to become instructors in this program. There are various assignments from Minneapolis to New England & ondown the coast to Florida, which haven’t interested me enough to classify because of their very location. I have heard of various assignments in San Diego, some in San Clemente, Calif. for what is known as radar jamming & reputedly a dangerous job.Some in Shoemaker Calif. for training with landing craft. Tonite I heard of a permanent asgnmt to Alameda Calif. Then there are some as assgnmts to Seattle which are slated for Alaska as final destination. There are undoubtedly a lot more locations on the west coast and I will try to remember to mention them as I hear them. There must be some carrier asgnmnts as well as to other ships which carry aircraft. The different locations I have mentioned vary also as to the type of work that is done. Some of them are schools for additional training, some are squadrons, which move from time to time & others are for what is known as line duty. That is, they are based rather permanently working on any aircraft using the base. So you see I can’t give you any very definite word. Then, too, it is possible to stay over here an extra month to specialize on particular pieces of gear.

I love you, my dear, and our little ones too. I hope you remind them continually to keep out of the streets. I pray every nite that you all will be protected from automobiles.

I love you,

Rex