Chicago, Ill.
Nov. 14, 1943
U. S. Navy
Dearest Folks,
I thought I'd wait until I got to where I was going before writing to you. After getting all set for a nice long trip to Florida or California or something of the like, your son had a terribly long trip of forty five miles and is now stationed at the University of Chicago in Chicago - a fine thing. Here all this time I had figured on a two or three day trip out west or down south and it ends up a two & half hour streetcar ride. I'm not sorry though. At present I'm sitting at a desk in a nice room, small but comfortable, in a beautiful dormitory. My window faces a great yard, full of green grass and probably flowers in summer. I'm the only one in the room now, but I can expect two roommates at any minute. I have the top bunk of a three layer bed - Wow! what a view. This is all Paradise as compared to what I've been having - Heaven couldn't be better. The food is wonderful - served on plates instead of trays - plenty of bread, butter, everything. And from what other men have told me, this is just the beginning, it gets better as time goes by. All I'm wondering now is - when do they take the skin off your back?
Not only is it cozy but it seems that the band is [page break]
in bad need of musicians. Tonight I'm going to check and see if things can't be arranged for my getting in the band.
My schooling may start Monday, although it may take another 5 weeks due to the fact that I may go on work detail a while. Personally I'm hoping for the latter, because if that is true, I won't get out until May-June 1944 unless I flunk out before then. The Radio school takes about 16-20 weeks plus 5 weeks work detail is almost six months. This almost seems like going to school and getting paid for it - which it is, instead of me paying.
Of course, now, it'll be a fairly simple thing for me to see Mary in Bloomington every once in a while, or go and visit Aunt Min when I get a 36 hour pass. The only trouble, one doesn't know whether he'll get a pass until the very last minute. I know for sure, though, that my weekends will be open but whether I have to return to the Dorm at night I don't know.
I'll have to find my address too - I hope to add it in this letter if possible - so you can send me a few dollars. P.S. Blush - Blush - I only have 4 dollars left.
Today! I just found out my room was temporary and that things wouldn't be settled until Saturday. I won't know my address for a while yet so don't write to Great Lakes —
Well so long for now
Lovingly
Bud
[ILLUSTRATION 1: "U.S. Navy — Field Problem One (I) (won) (wun) (etc.) By H.S.Y." — eight-panel comic strip: Bud gazing up at the towering three-tier bunk, approaching, climbing with "Ouch! Ooch! groan," sitting confused with "????," a dazed "OOPS," a "PHHHT" noise with a mouse watching, sliding back down, and collapsed at the bottom with "???"]