Sept. 3, 1944
Dear Bob[1],
You must be
thrilled at the prospect of receiving your commission in the very near future.
Without doubt, you will be like Don[2]
when he received his captaincy and said, “No one could touch me with a ten-foot pole”! Any way, it’s an accomplishment to be proud of. Knowing how busy I shall
no doubt be for the next few weeks, I shall extend my hearty congratulations
now.
As it is
now September you can undoubtedly guess why I shall be busy. But the details of
my fall plans have just been completed. I begin next Tuesday as fifth grade
teacher at Arlington Heights school for L.A.
city. I’m very pleased, as you can well imagine over the prospect of entering
the system in a nice district, in a beautiful school, with that promises to be
a most congenial faculty. All these superlatives are the result of our first
faculty meeting this afternoon and “beautiful” describes the school rebuilt in
1933. It is some contrast after the dreary, crowded bungalow of last year and
Wasco’s[3]
antiquated but roomy building. Good equipment and pleasant companionship go a
long way in the satisfaction one obtains from his daily tasks.
From Monday
evening ‘till this afternoon I enjoyed Jane’s company. We took in the Bowl
(Heifetz), Turnabout Theatre, Farmer’s Market and the beach. In addition, we tramped
through many stores on nice, long shopping tours. We had such a delightful
time, we hated to see it end.
I hope your
leave from “deep in the heart of”[4] to
Fresno as a
shave-tail[5] is
an enjoyable one. I’d like to see my family, too, but perhaps they may move
down here. When you’re in Fresno ,
find out what you can of the old gang and report it with your new address.
Sincerely,
Barb[6]
The cartoon below was enclosed without comment on clipping or in letter.
[1]
Addressed to: A/C Robert B Richert 19111319,14-12-9B,Sec. K 25: 2nd
Base Unit, AAFNS, Hondo , Texas
[2] Friend
from Fresno ,
some extant letters in collection.
[3]
Transcription uncertain. Word appears to be proper name and Wasco is a small
community in the Valley and fits in context. Definitive answer may be found in
other letters.
[4]
Obviously a reference to the song Deep in the Heart of Texas since Robert’s
current base is in Hondo , Texas
[5]
Shavetail lieutenant. Slang for a newly commission second lieutenant, often
derogatory. Etymology: Early 19th unbroken Army mules had their tails shaved to
indicate they were untrained.
[6] Return
address: 1400 Alvarado Terrace, Los Angeles 6, California . Barbara is a
friend from Fresno .
Last name probably will be uncovered in further letters.
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