Keywords
WWII;Robert G. Harris
Rights Management
All rights retained by Bryant University
Transcription
[Transcription begins]
Cpl. Robt. Harris 31119022
3406 Ord. MM Co. (Q) APO #
758, c/o Postmaster, N. Y.
June 5, 1943
BRYANT SERVICE CLUB
c/o BRYANT COLLEGE
YOUNG & ORCHARD STS.
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
U. S. A.
Dear Bryant Service Club:
It was a very pleasant surprise for me to receive a letter from my old Alma Mater. I think the idea of you kids back home keeping in touch with the old grads. is a swell jesture [sic]. Things like that make a fellow over here realize that he as [sic] a few friends in the world after all. Being away from home and in with a group of fellows you never new [sic], gives a soldier the impression he is almost alone in the world. Keep up your good work and let me in the latest news more often if possible. However, I realize that you must have a very difficult time trying to contact all of the boys.
I am situated in North Africa, the exact spot can’t be mentioned because of the censor. This is a land of sun, sand and palm trees but mostly sun and sand. It is indeed [sic] a very educational part of the world, but as for myself they can give it back to the Arabs. Speaking of Arabs, there is a subject that [I] could write a book about but I’m afried [sic] it would not be published. I can say though that the movies builds you up for a big let-down, when it shows you some scenes of the country. There is one thing that interests me about these natives, and that is the work that they turn out by hand. They are still using methods that have been in practise [sic] for generation after generation, but the results obtained are wonderful. The difficulty is that a person needs a fortune to buy any of the things that they make. The chief mode of transportation is the burro and the less fortunates walk. It strikes me funny to see them walking down the street with their shoes in their hands. Personally I don’t get the point. Have you any ideas?
Perhaps you would like to know my duties as a soldier. Well there isn’t much to write about on that subject. Every Company has an Orderly room in which the administrative work is done, and that is where I work. Being an accountant, they thought I would make a good clerk. Any one who has worked in civilian life as a clerk or accoutant [sic] I’M sure would find the Army administration interesting and amuseing [sic].
That seems to give you a very brief idea of some of the points as seen from a man on overseas duty. If anyone in school would like a little advise [sic] on planning for entrance into the service, I would suggest that they try and get into the Air Corps, either as a flyer or ground man. The Air Corps needs plenty of men for administration and is about the best branch of service in my estimation.
Good luck to you in your Bryant Service Club and as I have written before write me a word whenever you can. I was in the class of ’38, and any new [sic] of the boys that were in that class and are now in the army would be of great interest to me. Write and let me know about them.
May we all be celebrating a complete victory very soon,
Sincerely,
Robert G. Harris
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