July 16, 1943

July 16, 1943

Dear Mother;

You can't guess how I happen to be writing this letter at the hour of 1:00 p.m.  So far today I have had off except for a little walking.  I am sitting in the shade of a dispensary waiting to have an x-ray taken of my ankle.  1 week ago today I strained it playing push ball and have let it go until today.  The only reason I let it got was because I wanted to get in the training time but now I have 28 days so I can have all the time I want off if I have an excuse.  Otherwise you have to work just as hard as always.

The army is a great place to kill time.  If you had anything really wrong with you, you would die before a doctor would see you.  Through the ordinary channels it is impossible to get waited on immediately.  A fellow sitting beside me here has waited 2 days to get an x-ray taken which in itself takes only 5 minutes.  Whenever anyone goes on sick call you always take a pencil and paper because you get plenty of time to use them.  You may see records of the hours that men are sick, well take them with a grain of salt.  Most of that time seems to be spent waiting to be seen or for examinations.  Anyway I get a chance to catch up on correspondence and not get penalized for it.

I don't think that I told you that I have been to the Smith rifle range twice more this week, once to shoot the carbine and once to shoot the Thompson Sub-machine gun.  Each holds a thrill within itself.  The M-1 carbine is a very short .30 caliber rifle.  It is accurate up to 150 yards and has little more kick than a high power .22.  We had no score to get so the shooting was not too good but were familiarized with the piece and that's what the army wants.

M1 Thompson submachine gun

The Thompson sub-machine gun is the .45 caliber M-1 A-1 1928 automatic.  It also has very little kick but has a tendency to rise in the air when fired.  When you shoot it by single shots this is not noticeable but when you switch to automatic the muzzle just rises right up.  It will shoot 600 rounds per minute.

I suppose your not too interested in the foregoing so I will tell you about our trip to Arcadia.  We left here at 1:00 pm and left by the main gate.  This was so that we could get on highway #66 as soon as possible because that was the road we followed.  I guess that we passed the poorest section of this county or the whole state of MO is poor.  The people live in the poorest looking houses I have ever seen.  They are worse than the houses up around Dikes Pond.  The thing is that even in the towns we went through they were all the same with few exceptions.  People in N.E. should be glad they are there because they can at least make a decent living.  These people look like farmers and that don't (no erasure) doesn't seem to provide too good a lively hood.  Some of the farms looked better than others and they in general raised beef or had cattle of some kind.  We did see a lot of MO. mules and they didn't look too stubborn.

We went by several of the largest piles of sand I have ever seen.  Some covered an area about 1/2 mile sq and as high as 3 to 4 hundred feet.  They were just outside of some of the towns and we figured that the piles had something to do with mining.  No one knows just what they were from.

Most likely something like this from the many quarries in southern MO

Arcadia is a pretty enough place.  The worst thing about it seems to be the water.  They have no pure water so all you drink has been chlorinated.  You can really taste the chlorine and that isn't good.  Anyone could get to like this place if he could take a shower and eat off a Tray.  That is all I missed.  

Right now I feel like a nap so

With love

Austin

July 14, 1943

July 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

As you see I am still writing from this good old state of Misery.  I have got back to calling it that because it is getting muggy again and I begin to swet starting at 5:30 a.m. and do so until 10:00 p.m. when I am unconscious (I hope).

I hope you will forgive me for not writing yesterday and answering some of the questions you ask but yesterday I went swimming a soon as I could get out of camp.  The swim was wonderful and I have almost learned to do a forward sumarsalt.  The fellow who showed me how to do it can do anything on a springboard.

(I am going swimming again)

That chance to go swimming came all of a sudden and I figured that even if I owed you a letter I could get forgiven for one more day.  I like to swim well enough in this weather that I would leave anything to go.  They have a high tower and I dive off from that.  It is fun and a thing that few people in the area can do.  I guess the Mississippi river is not a very good place to swim.  It don't look to good.

Tonight before I could start this letter again the hut had to clean rifles.  It was no fun and we had about 80 to do.  It took quite a while.

I don't know what our prospects to ship out of here soon are.  1/2 the squadron has left already but we are left behind to do the dirty work.  We have to work just as if they were with us.  We hate to stay and hope to heaven that we get on shipping soon.

Now a few of those questions.  The last time I saw Harold he had no idea he was leaving.  I was going to see him when I got your letter.  I am glad to see that he got a raise.  I hope he likes Nebraska better than he liked this place. Near the end of his stay here he was doing K.P. most everyday and I don't think that helped his morale.

We sure do get tired out here.  I think that the heat is what tires us the most one day you can run the 1 3/8 mile with ease but on a hot day it is really to much to expect anyone to do.

That Boston group was still together until this recent break up.  As it is now all the alphabet from A to P has left and us poor guys with R's S's etc. have to stay behind because we didn't choose the right name.  Please advise the next A.C. {Air Corps} to be you see to change his name because everything goes by the alphabet.

I suppose you must have guessed how I answered all the letters.  I just run through yours and give you my thoughts on the subject.  That seems to be the best way to let you get my idea on something.

As to my "dear Public" you can tell them that I get along very well.  I argue with the rest and complain but not so bad as some.  I kind of like the life because I am getting something out of it.  It is kind of hard to see some of your best friends leave and know that you have got to stay behind and do hard work while they have it easy.  Everyone complains.  It wouldn't be the army if they didn't.  I get bored with it after a while.

This washing business is getting to be a problem.  You just can't find time for it and do everything.  If you do all you are supposed to you shouldn't wear the same clothes more than twice without a wash.  That means you have to have a lot of clothes or work every night.  The soap works pretty good and cuts the work.  The army supplies G.I. soap that will make anything white, even gray socks.

I am officially in the Air Corps so buy anything that says Air Corp on it but don't by these things that specifically define what you are or do in the Air Corps as I am yet unassigned and may be for some time to come.

As to the guard house I haven't yet seen its inside.  I don't even know where it is.  There area lot of prisoners here and they do the hard work around here. Most of them are fellows who have gone A.W.O.L. or deserted from the Army or some other major offense.  Some of the fellows are nice looking young kids.  They don't look like the type that get in trouble.  {For information on deserters and less glamorous psychological effects of the war, check out Deserter: The Last Untold Story of the Second World War } 

I always like to get the cut outs you send.  You can act as my censor of the Herald.  Anything that is worth sending, send along.  I don't get much chance to read papers but I get most of the news.

I don't know what else I have forgotten but just remind me and I will tell you what I know.  I don't know much about the organization of the army or stuff like that.  I didn't tell you that I met the younger Crosetti brother.  He went in the draft with me but got a transfer to the Air Corps at Fort Devins and came here after 2 weeks at Devins.

Now be sure you get the rest of this.  I hate to say this but I am almost out of money.  Please get me $5 from my bank account and send it anyway you can get it quickly.  I don't have much money and I have little hope of getting any soon.  If I get paid soon I will send it right back.  I hate to get money from home but I don't see anyway out.  I have gone about 6 weeks on $25 and $4.25 is a small sum for the pleasure I have got in town and around here in the last 6 weeks.

With Love

Austin

June 30, 1943

Jefferson Barracks

Missouri

June 30, 1943

Dear Mother;

I try to read your letters as soon as possible and write an answer.  Often it is hard to do just that but for once I have found time before supper to write.  This is not written by street light as most of my letters.

I have bought a book on aircraft spotting.  It shows views of both Amer. and Jap planes.  William might be interested in some of the models we see once in a while.  These are not models made by civilians but are a cast plastic and are much better than other models.  They are cast to size.  As yet we have had no instruction in aircraft identification and we don't expect it for some time.

About that business in the Sat. Eve. Post of the PX's, I haven't had a chance to read it.  Each week one of the boys on the Post comes around and sells them.  Each time I buy one and set it away in my foot locker.  I have read only 2 articles in the 3 magazines I have bought.  I am glad you brought it to my attention.

I don't know whether I wrote or not about our day room.  We are about the only ones in camp without a day room.  Our room was taken over and everything removed to make way for an office staff who does a little of the work on the red tape the army is wrapped up in.  Down the street they have a room with pool tables, books, soft drinks, easy chairs, tables and everything to make you comfortable.  It is really the place to go after dark if you have nothing else to do.

I went to St. Louis Sunday.  It is really quite a place.  It takes about 1 hour and 15 min. to get in and, out it takes longer because it seems every soldier comes home at the same time.  I didn't get a guide to the city as I didn't know just where to find one but I will get one if it is possible.  St. Louis people are so nice they will tell you anything you want to know or do anything for you.  At the U.S.O you can get all kinds of things and invitations to churches and organizations.  Everyone has a wonderful time and most everyone goes back.

Harold was the one who saw to it that I got started in the right direction.  We got separated just before we got on the first bus.  I was stopped by an M.P. who was checking up on the fellows leaving from the 29th.  We had to show some identification and I had only a Mass. driving license.  I thought sure I would miss the bus, Harold and my first chance to get out of the camp.  He did not go all the way with me but went to his girl friends house.  He sure has it bad.  I don't think he is a wolf however.  He is a lady's man alright.

We see a report of temperatures every once in a while in the St. Louis papers.  I guess you have had some real hot weather.  Our hot spell is broken and I slept under 2 blankets last night.  It was cold all day and a swell breeze flew.  I didn't swet at all today even when we drilled 2 hours, had conditioners for 2 hours, and ran the obsticle (sic) course and 1 3/8 miles.  I think I could like it here if it wasn't for the food.  Now we eat in a mess that is a mess. The plates and silver are greasy.  This is something I am not used to.  

Your letters seem to arrive in pretty good time.  The letter you wrote June 26 came today in the mail call at 11:00.  I keep writing about things that I have written before.  I don't know just what I have written about.  I can't realize sometimes how long it takes to get mail home and back.  Sometimes my letters must be rather incoherent because of the hurry I write them in and partly because these guys are always making a heck of a racket.  I sign off now.

With love,

Austin

June 26, 1943

It's the Navy, not the Army, but the idea is the same.

Jefferson Barracks

Missouri

June 26, 1943

Dear Mother;

As you have noticed I haven't written in the last few days.  The only reason is that I have been too tired to write.  Thursday we got K.P. and that is no cinch.  We got up at 3:15 a.m. and washed, shined our shoes, and made our beds.  We then fell out (3:30) in formation and marched to the chow house.  Once there we were assigned duties to do all day and duties during meals.  I drew an easy job during meals, just counting on a meter the fellows as they come in and directing them to their seats.  We fed about 2500 fellows (45 of us).  We washed and cleaned the place until it shone.  I helped wash the floor 3 times, all the tables and benches 3 times and in general helped all around.  The fellows that had the really tough job were the ones who shoveled garbage and ran the "clipper" (the dish wash).  They swet (sic) like no one ever saw.

{This song might describe his sentiments appropriately.  Go to 11:20 through 12:05}

After cleaning the place and everything in it for the third time they let us go.  They gave us a reward of a bar of ice cream.  A heck of a pay for a days work.  It was 7:15 at night and we went home, took a shower and went to bed.  Everyone was too tired to do anything.

We also got the good news that on Friday we would get a 7 mile hike.  When we lined up we had our gas masks, because they are carried every Friday, and a pack that weighed about 25 lbs.  It didn't weigh too much then but after the 1st mile it weighed a ton.  Too make it worse we had to wear the gas mask for 1/2 hour.  The gas mask cuts the efficiency of a man 50%.  You can guess how glad we were to get them off.  When you take them off you feel like you have run a couple of miles and you are breathing very deeply.

I am still wondering why someone did not pass out.  We marched in the middle of the day in the hottest sun you ever saw.  Everyone was soaked when they got home and again worn out.  I just couldn't write last night.

I have found out one thing.  You just can't keep clean clothes in a place like this.  When you think of sitting in the shade and being tickled by the water running down your neck, chest, back and arms, you can imagine what happens when you exert yourself.  We have only 2 class A uniforms (list) and one is in the cleaners 1 week  while you wear the other.  You can imagine what it looks like after a few nights.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I hope to get to the St. Louis with Harold. He came down to see me the other night and I made a date with him so we could go in together.  I guess he can show me around.  You know he has fallen in love again a couple of times in St. Louis, one down South and again out here.  He doesn't waste time.

Oh! to be back in Mass.  It is sure going to be heaven to get back to a climate where I don't swet.  I guess I just never worked hard at home (Remember Whittemores).

Everything is getting tougher.  We get up earlier 4:45 and work harder.  Intervals to shine shoes and G.I. the hut have been cut to the extent that you do everything in a hurry.  When you forget something (a sleeve not buttoned) you loose (sic) privileges.  If you go back to button that sleeve you practice falling out on the double for an hour.  It is no fun when you have to run the length of the street to do it.

I have just heard a rumor that we will ship out in 4 days.  It is just a rumor and there are a hundred like it around.  I am not planning to get out of here till I get on the train and even then they can turn back.  We have no idea where we'll go but we do know that we will go to school.

I suppose I could tell you about the fellows in our group that was in the R.C.A.R. {ed note- possibly RCAF} who has shot down 3 German planes but I have very little space and time.  It is 10:00 and I will go to bed.

Please thank Mary for the yearbook.  I will write her later.

With Love

Austin

June 16, 1943

Jefferson Barracks

("Misery" 

"That's what I mean")

June 16, 1943 

Dear Mother;

Don't take the heading too hard.  It really is not so bad hear (sic) but everyone but the natives cuss the weather and wish they were in some nice cool climate.  It is not so much the heat as it is the high humidity.  Nothing really dries unless you wear it.  The rain comes in cloud bursts and runs off the ground in rivers leaving little gullies that have to be filled.  The rain comes in at such high speed that you get no warning.

Congratulate Mary for me for graduating from high school.  She sure must be glad.  I know that I was glad.

Gee I wish I would get a letter.  Here, a week after my arrival and posting of my first letter, I still have received no letter.  I admit that I have missed writing 2 days, but some of the fellows have received mail 3 times.  Well, I expect some tonight and I will be happy.

Yesterday night we got some more injections. They are not so bad at first but now I am having trouble with one arm and have a slight case of Typhoid Fever.  I would sure hate to get the real thing if this is anything like it.  We didn't have any hard work but some of the fellows collapsed on the march and in their cabins.  It is really tough on them.

I have a chance to buy a new watch from $26.50 at the main P.X.  If I had the money I would buy it.  It retails in Civilization for $45.  It is a Swiss 17 jewel watch.  Do you think I should buy it?

With Love
Austin


{The watch may have looked something like this, this or this.}

June 13, 1943

From Pvt. Austin L. Rounds
Squadron C 29th T.G.
Jefferson Barracks, MO

To Mrs. A.P. Rounds

15 Wilson Rd.

Stoneham, Mass.

Jefferson Barracks

Missouri

Sunday 13, 1943

Dear Mother;

I am sorry I didn't write yesterday or the day before but we have been busy.  I don't know just how the new mail is coming through because I have not received any mail yet but I expect some.  None of the fellows have got any mail yet.

This is really a great life.  Although I like it and feel fine I don't believe I will stay any longer in the army than possible. We are fed well but the hours are terrible - 5:15 to any hour of the night.  We have to be all up til 4:00 p.m.  Often they are an hour or so late and we don't get a chance to have a shower before supper.  That makes things very uncomfortable.  These first few days have been tough on some of the fellows because some come from very luxurious homes.  

It sure is hot out here.  I don't know just how hot it is but this is the first place I ever swet (sic).  And do we swet (sic).  The fat and the thin all swet the same.  I have begun to get a heat rash on my legs and under the heavy wool stockings.  The P.D.s ( a kind of legging) are made of canvas and are the hottest darn things you ever saw.  I have got so that I swet through a heavy undershirt enough to soak my shirts. My arms in my sleeves are always soaking wet.  Even with the heat we get no change in schedule.  A few of the boys I have talked with are from Texas and they say that they never were so hot in their life.  It must be the humidity.  It rains so often the ground is usually damp.  We are also on the Mississippi river.

You may get my clothes in a few days.  They are supposed to be sent free of charge at the government expense.  I am so tired and we are having a heated discussion.

Sincerely

Austin

Jefferson Barracks

Missouri

Monday 14, 1943

Dear Mother;

The two of these letters are coming together because we got into a hot discussion last night and I didn't have time to mail the letter before I went to bed.

On a whole I have not written too many letters so maybe I better explain and have you set up a memeograph (sic) and make copies to send around.  If you haven't already done so I wish you would write to Grandma and to Grandpa.  I hardly have time to write a letter.

(As you see my letters are a little incoherent.  This is because I no more than get a line written and we get the orders to fall out on the "double" and that means in a hurry.  Our new sgt is rather tough but a swell fellow.  Even so everyone gets a great kick out of the way he takes care of us.  He really does a wonderful job.

"There have been some changes made".  You ought to see the G.I. haircut I got.  If Pop would send some film and a camera I will take some pictures of the place and you can get an idea how I look in our "Class A's" and "Class B's".  I sure would like to have a portable radio and a lot of other junk, but that seems impossible.

You should get my clothes as I sent them home today.  I have run out of paper so you will have to wait till I get some from the P.X.

Sincerely

Austin

{For more information about Jefferson Barracks, since I can't find any pictures that Grandpa took, check out the Jefferson Barracks home page.  There's a short video about it too... just in case you're interested. Jefferson Barracks, Answering the Call.  If you've ever been there, we'd love to hear what it's like! }