Saturday, Sep 16.
For the last few days I knew I was
going to be a second lieutenant and I’ve given more than a few passing thoughts
to the seriousness of my new job and how
really little I know about navigation[1].
Now that my stay in Hondo is almost over, I realize that it hasn’t been so bad
and also that I haven’t gotten everything out of the base and Texas that I should have.
I’m to
report to Tampa Florida ,
Sept 18, which results in a 10 day delay enroute, but hardly enough time to get
to California
in[2].
It really makes me sick to think of 10 beautiful days of freedom & no way
to get home or even extract the most pleasure from them. The only thing in my
mind is New Orleans
and a 8-day drunk, but it couldn’t be completely satisfactory. I just hope my leave
is gay if not satisfactory.
[1] The
priority was to get soldiers into the field and in many memoirs the individuals
question their preparedness. There is also the fact that some practical
knowledge is only acquired in the field. This contradiction not only continues
in military training today, but in civilian life as well.
[2] Wartime
air travel was reserved and prioritized. A fresh second lieutenant on travel
orders to a his first duty station would never rate a flight. Train travel
would be subject to delays and he could even get bumped from that. Texas to California
and then a coast to coast trip would be right on the edge of the time
limitations. The military does not like people reporting late.
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