October 2, 1945

Brooks Field

Oct. 2, 1945

Dear Mother:

I have been waiting to hear from you before writing because I didn't know just what the opinion was at home.  Well I got your letter today and so will apply for leave to become affective about the middle of the month.

 I have been wanting to come home for some time but I have been having so much fun that I guess I just needed a little persuasion.  It also looked like a long way and rather expensive.  However I will come on the Air lines and that will make the distance seem shorter but the expense will be a little greater but in time saved I believe it will be worth it.  It will cost 1 1/2 times as much but I can save 5 days and the money will be well spent.  Anyway money ceases to be an object anymore.  

I was a little afraid to send Mary such a birthday present because I had no idea what her taste along that line was.  Also it is awful hard to send perfume to anyone knowing before hand that she doesn't use it a great deal.  I know she would like it but I had a lot of doubts in my mind as to the advisability of such a thing.  In fact I doubted at first if you would approve.  She also has written so I am very happy that it turned out O.K.

It is too bad you can't meet the latest lady fair.  She is such a lot of fun and so full of mischief and fun everyone would like her.  And she enjoys doing everything we do.  She likes to dance but loves to go to record stores and listen to classical records.  We went to the "Opera" last Friday to see Sigmund Romberg's "The New Moon" put on by the S.A. Civic Opera Company.  It was strictly an amateur production with three of the leads taken by  Mt. Opera Stars so it wasn't too hot.  But we all got a big kick out of it.

Gordon MacRae singing "Stout-hearted Men"

Wanting You by Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

There are so many things we like to do together that I hardly have time to write.  Really there is only one catch to the whole thing and that is she is Catholic.  I have no wish to get mixed up in any such deal so don't worry.  That is also very strange because she is also so bitter about her religion and makes no bones about it.  It is the first time I have seen anything like it.  Usually they are so indoctrinated that it is almost impossible to talk to them but Anne is just the opposite, even though her parents are such firm followers.  Anyway we have a lot of fun together and you have to have something to do in your spare time and we have a lot of it.  I just feel fortunate to have met such a swell person.

We went out to eat one evening last week and she suggested the "John Quattle" because as she says "it has atmosphere".  Well it really was a nice little place outside of town not too far from her house.  You eat outside in a kind of garden but the best part of it was they have a violinist and a cellist who play requests.  They just wander around and park themselves where they can.

We ordered a couple of steaks done Mexican style which are really delicious, you probably have never eaten much Mexican food.  When we were about done the two gentlemen came over to serenade us and were we thrilled.  I guess we acted a little spell bound and I could just imagine how Mary would have liked that.  They played Jealousy and something else by Fritz Kreisler.  Anyway when we left I knew just what she meant by atmosphere.  So that is the way it goes her in S.A, I really do enjoy it because everyday is different and entertaining.  Do you think you can compete?

Jealousy Tango

I haven't written much about S.A. to you because there really isn't much to it.  It is one of the most crowded but still deadest towns I have ever been in.  They have so few things interesting to do that entertainment is scarce.  The movies change once a week and I have seen all of them, we went up to the Alamo but there isn't much to see, if you are not a native of Texas you can't see an awful lot to do.  Since I am interested in everything I do get more enjoyment than a lot of people.  I have found out that a town is no better than the people in it and the Mexicans around here are not my idea of good neighbors.  They have an average of 3 killings a night and all kinds of hold ups and knifings.  Frankly I am a little afraid of the place and may buy myself a gun to carry.  Perhaps I would get a false security from it and then really get into trouble.  Anyway when you have good company you can have fun in any town.

I am sending a picture taken in town a couple of weeks ago.  As you can see we were very happy, just whistling along.  It is not much of a picture, but that is what we look like in our afternoons off.  One of those sidewalk photographers caught us and gave us a little card and this is what we got.  Even though it isn't much I can always get a larger one out of it later on, maybe 40 years from now.

Taken September 20, 1945

I also have one take of Anne on the street which is really terrible and I shan't send it because I am sure you would get an awful impression.  She is an awful good looking girl but the picture has her scowling and looking rather unhappy which is just the opposite of what she is with me.  She may be different than I think but I doubt it.

I am going to send Mary the program from "The New Moon" so if you want it you may have to show her the picture.  Maybe that is a good way to be sure everyone hears what happens down here.

Well I have just rambled on and on and haven't really gotten anywhere.  I don't really have to get anywhere because we are staying in tonite.  I am getting tired of going out and coming in late every night anyway and I think they need a rest.

Well I will keep you informed of the latest developments but don't make any plans until you get definite word and that may not be  until I come up the back walk.  Maybe that would be a good trick to play.  Just because I am coming home don't forget to write.

With love

Austin

September 12, 1945

Sept. 12, 1945

Dear A.P.

I guess you have read Mother's letter so you know what happened on my end of the trip deal.  I am awful sorry it ended that way and wish I could redeem myself some way but now it is too late.   I hope next time I will know enough to make better arrangements before hand.

I guess maybe I am running around with this one dame a little too much but I am getting tired of it.  You ought to know what I mean.  So now I have met a girl in San Antonio who is just the opposite of the one in Austin.  She is 19 years old but acts about 13 at times or about 26, all according to how she is dressed.  When she is dressed to go out she can be just as sophisticated as anyone.  But when she is just slumming around she just does anything that comes into her head.  Anyway she is a heck of a lot of fun and very inexpensive, she brings her own entertainment.  I guess I would rather make a lot of women happy than one unhappy.

Gee, I sure was glad to see those pictures.  It kind of makes me feel that I didn't lose out all together on the trip.  Pictures are always a good way to describe a trip or as a reminder of a vacation.  I only wish I could have been there.  The cabin in the pines down by the lake sure looks like a fun place to stay for awhile.  One of the pictures was taken at a picnic.  Just what was Mother trying to hide?  Tell Dot I am sure it was she by the big feet and who else would Bill be leaning on?

I am glad Bill is going back to school.  I only wish he could find someplace away from home but in his case it is a little different but still it could be a lot better.  I guess he will have to get to studying again and I can't say that I blame him.  It looks to me that Esther and I will have to support the others while they get their education unless they have 

*missing page*

end of the war means to you in Real Estate or Building.  The government is most surely going to ease up on civilian priorities and I suppose housing will be going strong in the not too far future.  So what do you plan to do, stay in Real Estate and dabble in Housing or vice versa?  Either game has a future and the possibilities of a good living  Maybe you can let your partner run the Real Estate end while you concentrate on the construction end.  In that way you might really be able to retire some day.

Well our future here at Randolph is rather uncertain.  Seeing I am in H category and they are releasing A B C D E I guess I have some time yet to sweat it out.  We get our flying time in and not much extra.  We have no way of getting released any sooner than by the normal process.  We may get on orders to a separation center tomorrow and it may also be 6 mos or more before they even post a notice.  Seeing schools have already started I can wait 6 most but I am getting tired of doing nothing. When you have nothing to do it is hard to save money and I am really trying believe it or not.  I have saved $400 and seeing Mother is not coming I shall send it home.  I hope nothing comes up where I need money or you will hear from me.

Well take care of yourself and give me some advice on the woman.

With love

Austin

August 28, 1944

Aug. 28, 1944

Dear Mother:

I don't have a lot to write but found these two pictures while I was rummaging around in my spare pockets and thought here was an excuse to write a lot and say nothing.

When I first went to Blaisdell's I met the fellow that is going to marry Betty.  He is a pretty good looking fellow and has a swell personality.  He is a P.F.C. teaching Link to the cadets at Williams Field.  He really is a swell fellow.

From the picture you don't get a very good picture of the state.  There is more trees and grass shown than there is on many sq miles of the state.  However the pictures were good and you may get an idea of what I look like in my cadet days.  You may notice something on my right hand pocket which is not a pen clip but a ribbon fastened with a pin.  I got it at a Sadie Hawkins Dance.  I had a lot of fun at that dance which is one thing they have a lot of around here.  I don't know what I could tell you more about the picture except that they were taken in the driveway towards the field and taken with a 620 camera.

Now I want you to be sure to give Fred one of the pictures of me which you have at home because I am about to send him one of these.  Don't forget please because I promised him and my word will be mud if you don't.

Very little has happened lately.  We have formations at 9AM and 3PM and that is all.  All the rest of the day we do as we please.  I am getting lots of extra sleep and sunshine by the swimming pool.  Life is pretty easy.

Can you send me Ralph's address.  I would like to write to him if it can be arranged.  Please get it and send it in the next letter.

When you get that box together you can send it.  I have 2 more pair of shorts but send along at least 3 more because mine are going to pieces fast.  If you want those woolen socks to mend I will send them along.  You can buy some of that powder off Mr. Weeks and send that too.

There is nothing new about our assignment except that it is still very indefinite and that someday I may have to fold myself up into the smallest plane in the A.C., the P39.  I am looking forward to it.  It will be the training all of us have been waiting for.

With love

Austin