Lt. John C. Sullivan 0-741106
408th Bomb Sqdn 22nd Bomb Group (H)
APO # 713 [indecipherable]
c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, California

March 27, 1944
New Guinea

Dear Bryant Service Club,

I was very surprised to receive your Christmas package yesterday. Doubly more so as it was addressed to [indecipherable], New Mexico and I left there one year ago, so you see the army is good on its mail service.

Your news was very good but the best of all was when I read that Ben Scuda, my friend of Bryant days, had been found.

Say, how come that great advice on how to stay single, (Mr. Naylor, of course) took the [indecipherable] to stop?

Oh merciful heavens, that Scott House, the boiling pot of Bryant should be turned [indecipherable] a girls dormitory and the name changed to Harriet Hall! Think of the glorious days the Scott House used to have. Imagine the traditions [indecipherable]. The school could always expect something new from the Scott House [indecipherable].

From your letter everything is changed around there. Wow! Ten girls to every boy! Here is 5000 boys to one girl!

Now the news Not much with me. Naturally since I last wrote I’ve come overseas. Had a little trouble getting here. Took three months for the trip. Usually done is 36 to 40 hours, but we had to have something go wrong and be forced to stay on a little island two miles long and a hundred yards wide. Had to send to States for a part and then were sent to wrong place. Finally got here.

Since I’ve joined the squadron I’ve been on forty bombing missions. Some were dull and some had a little life + kick to them.

My very first mission was a reconnaissance single ship to Rabaul. Rabaul then being the toughest target around here. That mission broke me in. Haven’t worried about a thing since then.

What’s the fastest you’ve even moved on foot? I doubled my speed once. The first night here. Had an air raid. I heard a fluttering in the air and moved fast even though the bomb landed two miles away. That was the last raid the Japs made on us.

Received my promotion to first lieutenant a while ago. Right now we are in training, [indecipherable] of combat flying, on a much larger ship. Hope to be back in combat soon because that means getting my ten missions quicker and coming home for a rest, this summer. Guess that’s all. Hope you all enjoyed the letter. I did yours. Write again soon.

Sully [Transcription ends]

UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES

March 28, 1942 [This letter was inadvertently dated 1942 rather than 1943]

Dear Bryant Service Club,

I received your letter and cigarettes two days ago. Once again I thank you now for your kind consideration.

My heartiest congratulations to Major Henry J. Lee, Lieutenant William F. Shors, and Lieutenant F. Douglas Hammond.

From your letter it really sounds as though Bryant has changes. If (?) every thing goes as has been planned, I hope to pay you a visit about the last of April or the first of May. After, of course, visiting at home.

A lot of things have happened since I last wrote to you. The biggest was that on March 6 I graduated and won my commission and wings. After that I had a five day delay in route to travel ninety miles. By no means of hook or crook could I get home and back in time. Seems as though you need a priority to ride in an airplane, commercial and army cargo. Very nice for those who have business with Washington but not us.

The weather out here? It is hot! Went swimming this afternoon. Water in the desert? Yes, they have a swimming pool in town. Either that or you can plug all the chains in the shower room, and let the showers run for a while.

I was sent here to study and learn dead reckoning + pilotage navigation. I did okay in ground school but on my first navigation mission to Amarillo, Texas, I missed the town by 20 miles. Instructors say that’s average for the first time. However, I figure that if in Africa a person misses an oasis by 20 miles, he’s a dead duck.

In four weeks I’ll be back in civilization again on the East Coast. There’s an article in the April issue of “Reader’s Digest” named “Queen Died Proudly”. In that article there’s a phrase “about as desolate as parts of Texas + New Mexico![”] That’s where I am.

That’s about all for now.

Sincerely,
Sully
Class of ‘42

Lt. John C. Sullivan, A.C.
c/o Student Officer’s Detachment
C.A.A.F.
Carlsbad, N.M.

[Transcription ends]

AIR FORCES ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOL
ROSWELL ARMY FLYING SCHOOL
ROSWELL, N. M.

January 31, 1943

Dear Friends,

This letter is to let you know that I received your Christmas present yesterday and it was in perfect condition.

All though a little late it was received with appreciation and I thank you very much.

You addressed it to Douglas, Georgia but I left there last August. From there it was sent to California where I had been and finally reached me here.

A little news about myself? There is not much to tell. I will receive my wings and commission on March 6 which is just a little more than a month away. After that I hope for a short furlough during which I plan to pay Bryant a visit. Outside of that, nothing important has happened.

I thank you again for your kind remembrance.

Respectfully,
John C. Sullivan [Transcription ends]

Air Corps Training Detachment
Douglas, Georgia

July 28, 1942

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, R.I.

Student Body: Thanks for your considerate gift. It is very thoughtful of you and I believe I can speak for the rest of the Bryant men in the service. I run across them now and then.

I have also received editions of “On the Campus” and “Bryant Alumni Bulletin” which are and always will be welcome reading material.

Gratefully yours,

John Cecil Sullivan [Transcription ends]