Sunday, Nov. 14, 1943

Dear Mom,

I am glad to hear that you are working. It will be an interesting experience for you to work in some place such as Tech. Be sure you don't overwork yourself doing two jobs at once, though

Life here is becoming more enjoyable day by day. My sense of humor is recovering, my health is improving, and my adjustment to army life is progressing favorably.

We arrived in Wichita Falls about 6 P.M. Friday. On Saturday, the 6^th we got uniforms and our first shots, 1 in each arm, tetanus, and typhoid. The tetanus hurt badly for fifteen minutes; the other started several hours later and made the arm almost unusable for a day or two. Last Wednesday or Thursday we had another set; smallpox and another typhoid shot in the arms. This was really a large typhoid injection; it raised a fever and made me pretty sick for a few days. Now I have a head cold, but otherwise things are progressing very well.

We've had a score of mental tests, and more to come. I haven't found my grades in them yet. I'm especially interested in my score on the Army General Classification Test; it determines whether one goes to O.C.S. or not. It wont' affect my cadet status, but if I wash out I may be able to go. We also had a test to determine which of three things we could be if we wash out: radio-gunner, air mechanic-gunner, or armorer-gunner. I messed up the radio test no aptitude, so I chase the armorer job. It will get in into action most quickly, three months or so. With luck, however, I wont' wash out.

By the way, I should tell you the cadet schedule. It is this, with leeway of two or three months both ways:

Private Basic training, one month or so.

College training three or four months.

Cadet Pre-flight, probably at Santa Ana, one or two months.

Flight training, eight or nine months.

I was glad to hear about my cousin. We take the test that determines whether we will be pilot, navigator, or bombardier here instead of after college as was the practice. Next week I will probably be able to tell you the results.

Much love,

Linus