Cpl. Harold R. Hobson 31289857
379^th Base Hq. [?] [?] B, Sq.
AAFT C#1
Miami Beach, Fla.

April 10, 1944

Bryant Service Club:

Just a little note to acknowledge the receipt of the box of delicious candy from the club. These gifts from the Club are greatly appreciated, and it is certainly a good feeling to know that your alma mater thinks of you while you are away in service. I’d like to take this opportunity to compliment the members on the fine work they are doing by keeping up contact with Bryant men and women in the service.

Gratefully,
Harold Hobson

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Bryant Service Club:

Please accept my sincere thanks for the box of candy and the Christmas letter. They were both welcome and gratefully received.

For the Christmas holidays I had the good fortune to be home. While in Providence I had the opportunity of visiting Bryant for a short time on the day before it closed for the holidays. Athough [sic] I didn't have the opportunity to see all of my professors because they are now in the service, it seemed good to get a look at the buildings again and to visit with the professors remaining. My chum, also on furlough at the same time, and I enjoyed very much our little chat with Mr. Gulski, Mr. Appleby, and Mr. Naylor. We also spoke to jolly Mr. Richards a short time between class sessions.

Thanks, again, kind friends, for the Christmas package.

Your friend and alumnus,
Harold Hobson
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[Engraved on Card]:

Thank you
very much

Just a note to tell you
how very much
I appreciate
your thoughtfulness

[Handwritten]:

Pfc. Harold R. Hobson
Miami Beach, Fla.

June 28, 1943 [Transcription ends]

April 5, 1943

Members of Bryant Service Club:

Words can hardly express how surprised and glad I was to receive the package from the Bryant Service Club. I gratefully appreciate the gift and wish to extend my sincere thanks to the club.

For the present, at least, I’m comfortably situated at Miami Beach, the “playground of the South.” I was lucky in getting a job in the office; I feel as if I owe a great deal to Bryant training for being placed where I am. I’m anxiously looking forward to a real good experience in office work while in the Army which might get me somewhere in civilian life after the war.

The Service Club news letter came about a week ago and was very informative and interesting. I can quite understand the reason for mimeographing the letters, as the list of men in service must be long by now and still growing. It must be a full time job keeping track of all those entering the service.

Bryant must be quite changed with so many of the professors leaving. Without Prof. Shors of Iowa and Prof. Lee of the metropolitan city of Pawtucket, the college would look as if something important was missing. However, they are doing important work in helping with the war effort, and maybe Bryant will be favored with their services again. I suppose Prof. Gulsky [sic] is still planting his corn; his jokes were about the corniest I’ve heard, but it made the hard work and tough problems seem so much easier and we did have lots of fun.

The weather is fine here and I’ll bet there are many who wish they could be in my place. The ocean is just across the street and the swimming is swell; oftentimes the water is warmer than the air, which is usually pretty warm itself.

I was one of those who were lucky enough to be transferred to permanent post before finishing my basic training. The basic period is 25 days for the Air Forces and I only completed seven. It seemed good to get away from the drilling and live a civilized life once more. I am practically living a life of a civilian, except that they don’t have to fall out for roll call or take callisthenics [sic]every day.

Once again accept my sincere thanks. You can hardly realize what it means to hear from you and how much the gift is appreciated.

Gratefully yours.
Harold R. Hobson
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