Letter 13

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt ASTP
Ft Benning Ga

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave
Buffalo N.Y.
Zone 20

Sunday morn
Nov 14, 1942

Dear Folks,

At last I got my 1st pass. I’m writing, as you probably noticed from the U.S.O. As far as I’m concerned the USO is a very good organization. We (Dave Coulter, Harry Cook and I) came into town yesterday about 5 o’clock. We bought a few things to send home and a new garrison cap, which is ultra snappy. Then we got ourselves a very good meal and which tasted so different from army food. Sleeping is quite a problem in Columbus Ga. But we went to the USO there and they sent us to Alabama, which is just across the Muscogee.

The towns, Phoenix city and Columbus, are miserable but the USO’s are fine. We paid 35 cents last night for a cot, (clean sheets and blanket) which was set up in the auditorium for us. When we got up they furnished soap and towels for a shower and then fed us coffee and doughnuts. Stationary is provided in quantities for all soldiers.

Enough about the USO, I think you should know more about the filthy towns. All you have ever heard about the South is true, except that I haven't run across any of the “Damn Yankee” type as yet. The bars are all lousy, you never saw such dirt in your life. We wanted to get a couple glasses of beer and we had to walk for 2 hours before finding a half way decent place. The best saloon down here can’t compare to the poorest in Buffalo. The girls aren’t just right either so we avoided them completely, I’ll be very much pleased to get back north to school, I hope.

Well, our 1st week of basic is completed, only 12 more to go. It was quite a week. We worked like slaves constantly and I never learned so much in such a short time. We had instruction on; the disasemblege and assemblage of the M1 (garand rifle); military courtesy and sanitation, both on post and in the field; interior guard duty, incidentally I’m on guard duty tomorrow night. Hope something exciting happens so I can get a commission. We drilled and drilled &and then drilled some more. According to the corporal I’m the slowest, dumbest, most awkward soldier in the army, of course he flatters everyone with those fragrant terms. We went on 2 short marches with full field equipment and pitched our tents up in the woods. Also we learned how to handle the rifle in the strict military fashion. I think I’m improving the art but its slow progress as I still keep knocking my helmet off. Exercises for an hour or more every morning, once we were ordered by the lieutenant to play football so that was the 1st command I enjoyed.

Thanks a million for all the things you sent. Everything will come in very handy, especially those hankies. I’ve 12 pr. of socks now, but if anyone wants to send more? I won’t feel put out. Those khaki brown socks will be swell when I get away from Benning and back to a soft life at school. As soon as the polish arrived I painted my buttons. Everything's swell and I’m pretty well set for awhile.
As soon as the ASTP paper comes thru I’ll start writing to all the family. I’ve got 18 letters to answer from last week.

Well, thanks again, for everything, I have to make sure I get to church. Hope you like the things I sent. Stay healthy Keep writing and cleaning my bedroom and I’ll be home before you know it.

Love to all
Eddie Jr.

P.S.

How about Lou, whats his address? I never thought he’d marry. How does grandma feel about it?

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And from the 1943 Hit Parade
"You'll Never Know" - Dick Haymes

Letter #12

Pvt. E. Cowley 42025054
7th Co. 5th Regt. ASTP
Fort Benning, Georgia

The Cowleys
35 Woodside Ave.
Buffalo N.Y.
Zone 20

Postmarked November 8, 1943

Dear Folks,

I’m in the middle of a detailed inspection, the lieutenants have just gone thru our barracks and we’re waiting for the majors and colonels. Everything has to be in G.I. order. There can’t be dust on anything at all, from the tip of our shoes to the top of the rafters. We’ve been shining things and cleaning since retreat last night. I think we’ve got the best looking and neatest hut in the Company. I printed the numbers on the gun rack and mess kit rack. It looks pretty snappy and the sarge thought it was “dandy”.

You’ll be pleased to know I passed all the exams and I’m sure going to college at last. The kid I go around with down here, Dave Coulter from Williamsville, flunked out on the 5th exam. He’s trying to get in the air corps. The air corps has priorities on A.S.T.P. candidates and anyone that washes out of this automatically goes into the air corps, providing he can pass the physical, which I can’t. The A.S.T.P. is the highest rated division of the army. We’re rated above Officers Training, air corps, and everything else.

I’m sending home my insurance & war bonds at last. Also my admission to A.S.T.P. for you to put in my book.

Received a swell letter from Miss Mulholland, my English Teacher at state. She gave me all the dope about the school events and wants me to continue writing. It seems funny writing to one of my teachers when usually I try my hardest to avoid them.

I ordered 2 boxes of A.S.T.P. stationary and hope I get it very soon. Mother I think it would be a good idea if you would send me 5 more dollars as I have a million things to get before I’m settled. It would be swell if you would also send maybe 1 or 2 of our big bath towels white or blue preferred, 3 or 4 T shirts, and as many of my jockey shorts as there are around the house. I have to buy some more woolen socks down here, I’ve got plenty of the brown ones. When my money arrived, I already owed $2.50 and I bought a carton of smokes, large toothpaste, 2 face towels for display only, 3 bars of soap and some candy bars.

The day before yesterday I was on K.P. from 6 in the morn till 10 at night. K.P. is really all they claim and then some. We have all our equipment now and we’re ready to begin our basic Monday. Our Company’s gonna be tops in the outfit. At least we’re trying damn hard to make it so.

I’m back again after a lecture and posing for a photograph, of course the rest of the company muscled in on the picture. Remember when I said I wouldn’t write home for anything, guess I was quite mistaken but then I didn’t think V-12 meant anything at all. In fact I probably wouldn’t have mentioned it if they hadn’t called for it.

You asked what bivouac is, well, it is an abbreviated form of maneuvers as it only lasts 2 weeks. During those 2 weeks we live in the hills and sleep in our pup tents. Naturally we sleep right on the ground. During the day time we fire rifles, machine guns & mortars etc. besides all types of marching and tactical lessons. We have 2 bivouacs coming so I’ll tell you a lot more later.

Trying Army exams is quite different from the exams I’ve tried so many of in school. You know if you miss your out and out for good. There’s no excuses allowed and no second chances. It’s something like a life or death exam. When I took the last 3 I felt quite unprepared for them and wasn’t too sure of my chances of making the grade. My year at state didn’t help my math, physics & chemistry any but if I ever get a chance (which I should) to study, I’m going to know as much as I can hold when I began.

Well I’m going over and try to find room to take my compulsory daily shower. (and do I need it!) Would you call up Ray W. and give him my address. I wrote to him from Upton & told him to get my address from you. I’d like to know if his brother is down here. The camp is about 10 times the size of Buffalo in area so there isn’t much chance of running in to him. I could write and have him meet me someplace. Sounds kinda strange doesn’t it. Best of health to all the Cowleys and let me hear about that fudge soon.

Love to all
Eddie Jr.

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It really was a great year for music: Stormy Weather sung by Lena Horne