June 4, 1944 Sunday

Hi, hon,

Are you listening to the symphony this afternoon? I hope so, because I am right now. Maybe we’ll get a chance to hear a lot of good music this summer. We’ll try to arrange it. They have a good record store in Abilene.

Now to get things up to date. I reported Saturday morning to the 12th Armd. Div. headquarters. They went thru the motions of interviewing us for placement, but I know they had us all assigned before we came. The few of us that came here were split up all over the 12th Division. Tom, Hinchey and I were put into the armored infantry section. Rudick got into a tank battalion.

We went down the line until the offices closed on Sat. We didn’t get far enough to report to our battalions—but can see where we will end up pretty well. Tom and Hinchey are in the 66th Arm’d. Inf. Battalion. I am in the 56th A.I.B.—the only new officer put in this battalion. So you can see we’re pretty well spread out. I am not officially in the 56th yet—just attached for quarters. I will report officially tomorrow.

Armored Infantry is set up like this—3 battalions to a division. 3 or 4 companies to a battalion, and 4 platoons to a company. A platoon (which I will probably have) has as I recall, 5 half-tracks, 3 rifle squads, a machine gun squad and a mortar squad. Big outfit to handle—nearly 60 men, if they have regulation platoons.

You never saw such flat country! The road from Abilene to Barkeley (15 miles) is straight as a string.

I’ll just write on here as things come to mind—so many things to tell you about.

The most important is about room hunting. That isn’t so easy. Things are pretty crowded in Abilene. But not impossible. The ones that brought their wives with them are all settled now. Last night I went in to the Chamber of Commerce, U.S.O., Public Utilities, a couple of realtors, and called up the advertized places in the paper. They had nothing, or were saving what they had for couples already here. I put in a classified ad to run 4 days starting today. I’ll enclose a copy of it.

Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll continue to look nights for a place. I am at a disadvantage, tho, because they serve couples already here first, and the paper ads are answered before I can get in. Consequently, I will take most anything I can get. If it isn’t good enough, we can change when you come and can be free to operate in a big way. Everyone is confident that we can get an apartment when you are here. Can I plan tentatively on your being here the weekend of the 18th?

I’ll work like a beaver this week, because I hear that the week of June 11-18 the Div. will be in the field on some kind of tests. Back in time to meet you, tho.

Do you know how much your fare to Texas will be? 40 or 50 dollars, I imagine. Gee, we are dealing in pretty big finances these days—know that? I am being as tight as possible now, but find that money goes pretty fast, anyway. As soon as we get settled, tho, this will end. It only cost 15 cents to take the bus to Barkeley. That will be much better than Knox.

About our money in the bank. I’d like to leave it in Keene, but would also like to have it available if we need it. Can it be changed to a checking account? If so, better change it. Otherwise, we can leave some signed withdrawal slips with my folks and send to them when we want some. Checking account best, tho. I plan to have one soon anyway.

Whee! You’ll be a real financier by the time you get all your money straight! You handle more people’s money, hon.

Take all the time you need, tho; any time you get things done is soon enough to set out for Texas. I’ll be waiting.

That’s all the uninteresting things I can think of. In this framework I have been living some very interesting things. Seeing so many new things, and also getting used to myself. Getting married really changed me, I think, and I’m quite happy about it. Feel as tho I had gotten a real start on life, and now it’s much easier to do things I like to, but which are hard to start. You know—like reading something a little deep. You find it hard to start, but when you do, you’re very glad you did. I’m not distracted by little things as before, and can follow a thought through to a conclusion.

Have been reading some short stories by Sinclair Lewis, Ernest Hemingway and Conrad Aiken. They are all favorites of mine, and write things that are worth reading slow rather than just skimming.

There are three colleges in Abilene. Hardin-Simmons is the only one I have heard of. Some army families are living in rooms at dormitories there. Maybe we will if we can find nothing else—wouldn’t be bad, maybe you could take some courses good for graduation at K.T.C. Should be a good environment there, but the rooms don’t have a place to cook or prepare food. That would make living expensive.

It will be nice when we’re together, Bun. We’ll be sharing things again, and living a real life. Bet we’ll get on just as well facing real problems together as we did living as royalty at the Bradford. Be even more satisfying to be doing some solid building together, I think. I love you so many ways.

Your loving husband (heh, just wanted to see how it looked),
All yours, always,
Wallace

Sunday Eve.
Dearest Honey,

Just thought I’d say I love you again before I went to bed. Feel like the old lone cowboy tonite. The prairie moon am beaming, and tho I haven’t heard a coyote yet, I expect he’ll sound off soon.

Well, there’s a train whistle. That’s just as good.

Funny how lonely this country gets. Everything seems so far away. You walk for miles to reach a building that looks just down the road a little. It rained this afternoon, but the sky is so big the clouds just covered a spot in the center, and it was clear all around the horizon.

This place is very pretty, tho, but in a way that a New Englander finds a little big. It won’t seem so big when you get here, tho. Together it will seem as beautiful as it is. It’ll be “Mighty Fine,” as they say here.

Come as soon as you can, Hon; I love you very much.

Your,
Wallace


June 4, 1944 Sunday
Dear folks,

Wahoo! Never thought I’d be writing from the depths of the heart of Texas tonite.

Last week has been full of travel, and travel and things. Main accomplishments: crossed Ol’ Man River; got assigned to an armored infantry battalion of the 12th Armored Div. Will have half-tracks rather than tanks when I finally get settled. Now I’m still working my way from one headquarters to another. Started at division and going down. Things closed up between Reserve Combat Command and battalion this Saturday.

Camp Barkeley seems to be O.K., and Abilene is a clean, modern city. Every thing is so flat out here that they don’t dare build anything over one-story high.

Don’t know as I thanked you folks for all you did at the wedding the way I should. Want to now, anyway. You all did a lot of work, I know, to make things go as well as they did.

Haven’t got a permanent address yet, but will let you know when I do.

I think I am going to be in the 56th battalion—the only new officer in it. Our class of 61 is spread out all over now. From California to Arkansas and Louisiana—and Texas.

Keep me posted on the adventures of Carl, Bob, Justin, Jay, and women folks.

Love,
Wallace