Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.013 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 Place Written: Nashville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 March 1943 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 27.8 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Finished up his "pyschs" this week, but has not written to anyone for a week. The first day was an eight-hour multiple choice test to determine placement, followed by "penny arcade day" where his coordination was tested with a variety of contraptions, the next day was "ARMA" or "adaptability relative to military aeronautics," followed by an interview with a psychiatrist. He mentions that most of the fellows "wash out" at this point. The following day he had a "complete going-over" and they thoroughly tested the eyes by looking at depth perception and prism divergence and convergence. He had only one recheck at the end for his leg which has a metal plate in it. He describes the jury of medical officers who ruled him "not guilty" to say he did not have to have the plate taken out. He was cleared to go for classification and now he is anxiously awaiting the answer. While he waited, over a thousand men have been shipped out for further training. Wash outs are increasing daily, but they get an automatic three-day pass.
Visited with Phil and Lois, and had "one super meal" that Lois prepared. The weather is dismal with temperatures around zero and they are in "crummy barracks." Describes guard duty as a twenty-four hour position with two hours on and four hours off. Recieved his first typhoid and tetanus shots, which the army "dishes out wholesale." Asks Dad and Bee to send his letter around as he does not have the time to write to everyone.
The letter is written on stationary with "U.S. Army Air Forces" written in blue at the top of the letter, with the blue U.S. Army Air Forces logo.
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