Document Type
Personal Letter
Keywords
Katherine Trickey; WWII
Rights Management
All rights retained by Bryant University
Abstract
[Transcription begins]
WAC Det., IRTC
Camp Wheeler, Georgia
8 January, 1944
Dear Folks,
It seems funny to have a chance to use a typewriter again. I’m rather out of practice so don’t be surprised if I make many mistakes.
The eight of us who came from Fort Oglethorpe are so far all in one office. It is a report section where statistics are compiled from the Morning Reports of the companies. Also in the office are the sections which make out the furlough papers and the discharge papers. I’m not sure what else goes on here. I am assigned to the furlough section and spend my time so fare (sic) (2 days!) just typing up the furloughs as the data comes in. I sincerely hope that this is not all I’m going to have to do. It is much too boring. Right now I am all caught up and will not have anything to do until someone else wants a furlough. The corporal who is showing me the job says that he has averaged only about thirty a day so I guess it is never very busy. However, it is rather interesting here in the office. The boys are very nice to us, and it is nice that we were all assigned to the same office.
Last night we scrubbed the barracks for Saturday inspection. Our unit is under the command of Major Webb. He does the inspecting and he is very, very exacting. I guess our liuetenants (sic) are rather discouraged. The barracks have cement floors and three coal stoves in each so you can imagine what a problem it is to keep them clean.
The girls assigned to the IRTC detachment are moving tonight to a diffent (sic) barracks. I have not even unpacked my barracks bag which arrived from Oglethrope (sic) yesterday. I’m afraid my coats will be so wrinkled I’ll have to send them all to the cleaners for pressing. I shalll be glad to get really settled and get a regular routine established.
If you can get a Sat. Even Post for Jan 8 do so, as it has some very good drawing (sic) of the WACs at Fort Oglethorpe. The artist got things very true to the actual looks and conditions there. I should like one to keep if you can find one anywhere. You’ll have to start a box or something for all these little items I keeep telling you to keep for me. There isn’t any space in an Army barracks to keep anything not absolutely necessary. Even food boxes usually have to be finished the same night they arrive so as not to be around at inspection the day! I think however when we get settled we are going to have locks on our lockers and will be able to keep things until Saturdays’ inspections which will help some.
This camp is just six miles from Macon, Georgia if you wish to look it up on the map. I probably shan’t go into Macon until a week from tonight. There isn’t any particular point in going in anyway. We can get most everything we want at the PX here. There is a nice Service Club not far from the barracks and also a movie house. However, there really isn’t much time to go anywhere. We get our of work at 5.30 and then go back to the WAC area for mess. At noon we eat at one of the men’s messes near the office. Evenings are pretty well taken up with washing clothes, cleaning barracks, extra details such as tending the stoves, etc. I understand that as soon as the WACs are better organized here we will have drill in the evening and also some classes.
It is going to be possible, I hope, for Majorie (sic) Crockett and I to bunk together as the lieutenant said last night we could pick our own beds when we move into the other barracks tonight; so if we have any luck getting there early enough so beds are available we will plan to pick a double bunk for ourselves. I imagine we’ll take turns about sleeping on the upper. I should think that might be better than one having either upper or lower all the time.
This is a long day. Very little for me to do except sit and wait for the very few furlough requests to come in. I certainly haven’t earned my board and room today. Maybe other days are busier than Saturdays. I hope so.
I think I’ll go to the show tonight if possibel. (sic)
I’ll write again later.
Loads of love to you all.
Kay
[Transcription ends]
