Jake Colvin writes home

[mgc1961]

For those readers who enjoyed my previous submissions about my brother-in-law's uncle, Jake Colvin, here begins more selected letters from the scrap books that his younger sister stored in the attic. If I correctly recall, Jake is about 21 years old when this letter was written. It's the second piece of correspondence in the scrap books. The first one is a telegram asking Jake Sr. to send his certificate of appointment.

Jake has just started his pilot training for the Army Air Corps. This letter was sent from Maxwell Field, AL to the Colvin home in Chester, SC. It's postmarked 23 October 1942. Some slight editing was done by yours truly. Additional letters that I post will have occasional explanations of places and names mentioned therein.

Thursday

Dear Dad,

I got your letter today and thanks. I'll get my money pretty soon now. They gave me $35.60 for Travel Pay. That's what I'll be living on until we get our regular pay.

The food situation is terrible. We have to walk about a mile to get it and then it costs plenty. We're hoping to be able to mess with the cadets for $1.00 a day. It cost about $1.50 now or more.

We had a limber-up exercise today. I am pretty sore too. Our six mile run will come tomorrow. If I'm not too sore I'll make it.

Our classes start in the morning. First - Math, one hour and then plane recognition for one hour. After this we have 1 hour of code. This code class will continue for the whole four weeks or until we finish it. I hope I'm quick to learn it. It will be the only hard course.

I've had to buy some more uniforms. If you get a chance send my alarm clock and bath-robe. I believe this is all that I need now.

(A math equation is jotted on the paper and scratched through with this remark written next to it: Excuse this. I had to work out a problem for the old lady.)

I like everything fine.

Love to all,

Jake

[pansypoo53219]

1. my great uncle was older, but he seemed so young in his letters.

i think unc clarence as in his 30's. he was held over. i think he was an MP. and he wanted to get back to the farm to help his dad.