Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
16 September 1962
I'm on watch again [Note: Typing on a "MIL."] and have little to do. I ran out of envelopes and will get this off by Monday. Today is Sunday (nobody works Sunday). That was meant as a bit of mild sarcasm. Hank Johnson has been here about a week or so.
We're getting in the football scores from yesterday. Send me the write-ups of anybody I know. Gary Bowman - Millersville STC; Dick Shiner - U of Maryland; Paul [Gerhart] at Princeton; and Mark Snyder at Gettysburg. I got a letter from Sam Magill. His parents were over on vacation [to England], and they toured the continent.
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25 September 1962
I needed a good pair of civy shoes for a while. Hilda, the lady at the EM Club, said she'd show me a place in her hometown to buy good shoes cheaply. We drove over (10 miles) and I got some for 22.00 DM, that is $5.50. They were the best they had too. They are darn nice, and I figure I'd pay $10 to 15 for them in the PX. They get the shoes right from the factories. It sure pays to be friends with all kinds of people.
I went over to Ramstein on Saturday to see a football game. It was still warm enuf to eat bratwurst and drink Parkbräu. It sure made me homesick for the football games. I hope they really get Telstar working and send some football games. We get 'em on the radio now and then.
A friend [Joe Cooper, later a roommate] wants to visit his sister [from North Carolina, married to an Army serviceman stationed near Paris. Joe was hungry for Tarheel "pinto beans" and his sister accommodated us both on southern cooking.] in Orleans and also to have a special watch repaired in Paris. I wouldn't mind making another trip to A'dam [Amsterdam] either.
Lately, I've been working a lot and getting still deeper in work, so, I haven't done much. Most of my free time I've spent with Gretchen. School also takes up some time, although I haven't done or needed to do any homework yet. The Navy came thru and I only had to pay for the initial registration fee ($10), my share of the course ($9), and my book ($5.10).
05 October 1962 (0400 Zulu, 0500 CET ((here)), 04/2300 EST)
My car went Kaput several days ago to the tune of $40.00. I'm going to put it up for sale. I figure no car is better than one that is continually draining me. Who knows, if I make 2nd I might be able to buy a new car. Lately, we've been working pretty much [A world wide crisis was brewing and Comint played a pivotal role.], so when I get a chance, I like to leave town for relaxation.
I don't think too much of the Miss. Governor. Stuff like that sure looks bad on foreign TV, radio & press. It plays right into Commy hands. I think most foreigners praise JFK for efforts along this line. [In the fall of 1962, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett refused to abide by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ordered the admission of a black student, James Meredith, to the University of Mississippi. President Kennedy ordered Federal Marshals to escort Meredith to campus. A riot broke out and before the National Guard could arrive to reinforce the marshals, two students were killed. President Kennedy had to call out troops and keep them there until the summer of 1963, to enforce the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling and ensure the safety of Meredith.]
14 October 1962 Sunday
I never got around to mailing this. I went to Amsterdam over the weekend (last). I bought 3 dolls in Dutch garb. Disseminate them as you see fit. I liked Sondra's picture.
Incidentally, I'm on the wagon. Now all I have to do is stay away from the Bayrischerhof. [A fine Gasthaus distinguished from all others in Zweibrücken; it was the only venue with Löwenbräu on the menu. No other Gasthaus in Zwei served that Munich bier. Herr Ludwig, the German professor, favored that location and savored the flavor of that brew for after class "labs." When Herr Ludwig was not teaching night classes to American GIs, he taught English in the German gymnasium or high school. He drove an expensive white Porsche, and explained that school teachers were held in much more esteem than teachers in the states and were compensated accordingly.]
P.S. 15 Oct 62
I made 2nd!! [I.e. petty officer second class or AG2!] I just might fall off the wagon one nite next month with a party!!!