[Note: White star containing a red circle and set within a blue circle, with gold wings above.]
ARMY AIR FORCES TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
February 9, 1942
Hello 
If Miss Lipson and you were so elated over what I described in my last letter, youll probably be ecstatic when I describe the doings of our new General. Name is Sneed. Has been moving things around ever since he came. He fixed it so that we are kept moving 16 hours a day. That leaves a scant 8 hours for sleep. Im sure Ill never get over this. Things are rough but Im sure its probably good for us and the winning of the War. Hows that! I can just see you two rocking with joy!!
The other day they looked over my 1A torso for the sixth. This time they really looked into details. The rigid inspection was for the purpose of finding out if I could survive the rigors of Gunners School. You see, the radio operator member of a bomber crew doesnt sit and send messages when the ship meets up with the enemy. He gets up and handles a gun. I discovered I had too much wax in my ears but outside of that I have deteriorated none. Passed the exam OK and so my future might be something like this:
9 more weeks of this rad radio school, 
5 weeks at Gunners School, 
Staff Seargeants rating 
Flying pay ($144 per month) 
Wings 
A few months at air bases in the U.S. to get experience, 
And then anything!!
All this sounds pretty good to me but it doesnt mean I will necessarily follow this carreer. It does mean I am eligible if the Brass Minds decide they want me there. There are other possibilities for me that may supplant this. I am telling you about this Gunners business counting on it, cause Im not. V You get so that you dont count on anything in this Army until it happens.
I have learned to like Chicago very much. Two Sundays ago there was a wonderful concert lined up at the Civic Opera House. The Minneapolis Symphony, Mitsopoulis conducting, Szigeti playing the Brahms Violin Concerto. I decided to go. Hadnt heard any good music since I got into this War and figured it would do me a lot of good. I scooted all over town trying to get a ticket at one of the USOs, Service Centers, and box offices, but no soap. By this time I was determined to get into this thing at any cost. Fifteen minutes before concert time I got into a long box office line. When I finally reached the window, I threw down a $10 bill and said to the guy back there Gimmee the best seat in the house. He threw tickets back at me and said, There tis and its for free. Thats cause youre a soldier. All the people around me who heard, smiled warmly. I guess it made them all feel good and of course I did too. Heifety will be here this Sunday. Wonder if I can work the same gag. Bill