24 February 1946

Dearest Mom

Life has been moving along at a fair rate, and I was very happy to get your letters.

I went to see Moe one afternoon, and then had lunch with him. He told me about Dad's going to England next February and about the Oxford house and the situation. Sounds like a fine thing. He also talked about being in the navy during World War I, and since he was a first mate on a transport we had fun discussing the sea and the changes in present day operations.

Mirsky's tell me that Dubjakuski (or however it is spelled) told them that Dad and Tolman are a sort of governing committee for Caltech. Committee sort of leans toward chemistry, doesn't it? Anyway, such information through biologists can't be much trusted through the same channels I'm told that there is some mistrust of Beadle.

Several days ago I shipped some boxes home collect, because I thought that is good way to insure their delivery. The moving will follow later some 13. The boxes contain some of the last I've acquired in the last six months.

Now for the news to date: I'm off the ship, and in Fort Hamilton awaiting processing and orders to proceed to fort McArthur for separation from the grand old army. So if all goes well I'll be hitch hiking my weary way to Pasadena within two weeks! That's a conservative estimate, because I should be out of here in three days, but I want to average in stop over in Indiana for a couple of days if I can. Might just possibly make it home by March 10^th the best possible way I could celebrate coming of age and a new freedom. Makes me pretty happy.

Right now I'm uncomfortable with a bad cold acquired with the move from ship to barracks. The snow, ice, and freezing weather don't bother me particularly I don't have to stay outside. The snow is often beautiful.

I'm tremendously happy to learn about Pete's being president of the frosh class. A fine achievement. Give him my congratulations and best wishes. I'll be glad to get home and see the growth of the family it's been a good half-year.

All my love,

Linus

24 February 1946

Dear Dad

This hasn't happened for a long time I'm caught without ink. Poor form to write in pencil, especially since I write so seldom anyway, but I hope you'll forgive me.

I've been existing in a sort of vacuum for the last four or five days, since I found out that I could be taken off the ship for discharge. It was a surprise , you see, because I have only 29 months service, and the very lowest authorized time is thirty months. Also I hadn't realized that I has so much time. I left the ship even though a lot of pressure was put on me to stay. I want to get adjusted to normal life as soon as possible; also, there is some chance that radar mechanics will be part of the essential list, and that would slow me up badly.

Now I've been at Fort Hamilton four days, but with the holiday and the weekend, as orders have come out. But I expect to be on the way to Fort McArther by the middle of next week.

I wrote to Berkeley before leaving Europe in January, and received a letter enclosing application forms and saying I could be readmitted (according to my records) upon approval of the dean, So I shall submit the application as soon as I acquire an official record of my army tech school carrer [sic].

I'm too late for the spring term, and if I go to England with you in February. I'll have a hard time squeezing the fall semester in since it ends in late in February. That makes thing rather simple. I want to get as much time in as possible by going to PCS now perhaps, and to summer school.

Although this teller talks principally of my troubles, it is meant to be a birthday greeting to you. So best wishes Pop, for the coming year, and Happy Birthday!

My love to you

Linus