Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
7 August 1962
Brig and I just got back from Frankfurt. The test [for AG2] was really a woolly-booger!! [The AGs involved with the secret Naval Security Group were engaged in work almost totally unrelated to the body of knowledge for which they were tested for promotion. Despite this disadvantage, they were compelled to compete fleetwide for promotions with AGs who daily reinforced their knowledge of the Aerographer's Mate specialty just by doing their jobs.] We both think we flunked it. A funny thing happened to us on the way to the transient barracks there. We somehow got into the WACS barracks. Brother talk about red-faces. Our billets [assigned quarters] was [sic] one barracks down and they look alike.
The car seems to be running fairly well. I haven't been buying clothes, shoes, or camera because of the constant drain of gold on that VW. Brig and I washed and waxed it the other day and it looked pretty good.
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| Gerry Gow and Steve near Black Forest. Photo by Gerry Brigowatz. August 1962. |
14 August 1962
Saturday, Brig, Gerry Gow, and I put the top down and drove to Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden and thru parts of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). It sure is pretty here. We are having a heat wave, and yet the country couldn't be greener. I usually go for a walk on the weekend (I should say hike). I always end up in the woods, and it reminds me of the mountains behind Uncle Bill's. Sunday is a great day for the Germans; there are more Germans out walking in the woods than are in town.
I've been to a couple bier tents and the catholic parish picnic. I enjoyed the picnic; those sneaky people had two kegs of Parkbräu and free eats. Joe [Cooper], Gerry Gow and I really took advantage of it. I haven't heard anything from John Tobias. I'm going to find out how much red tape I'll have to go thru to get started in U of MD courses. If the Navy gives me assistance it'll probably cost about $40-$50 to get started.
25 August 1962
Nothing happened to my auto that I wanted new headlights; the old ones are not sealed-beams and aren't too good. I just had it tuned up recently and then a day later it wouldn't start. [The topography had to be scanned before parking the VW because the battery, alternator or something was on the fritz. The solution was to park headed downhill with handbrake on, gear shift in reverse. Starting procedure consisted of shifting into neutral, disengaging the handbrake, climbing out if necessary to push to get rolling, nimbly jumping back in, quickly shifting into low gear and finally popping the clutch. If the VW gained enough momentum, it would jump-start itself. This was often done alone after more than a few brews, but was safer with a passenger/pusher. How many days till payday?] I got disgusted and let it set for a week.
I've been eating at Gretchen's everyday since she got back (the day I wrote you the last letter). That is, eating supper there. The other day I took my whites down and she washed them. I noticed she had a band-aid on her finger and asked what happened. Here they didn't get clean enuf and she scrubbed them by hand and got a blister. I also showed her how to iron them.
01 September 1962
Brig took some pictures of him and me with my car. I'll send you some when he gets them back. In one we are drinking Parkbräu and waxing the car. It doesn't look too bad. We might go to one of the wein fests along the Rhein or Mossel Rivers this weekend. We have not been doing too much lately.
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I'm going to take Gretchen out for some pizza tomorrow. She never has eaten any before. Here, it is more messy and they serve it with a knife and fork. I'm not sure whether I should get two or share one. It would be very difficult to slice it and eat it as we do back home.
Gretchen and I were at the festzelt (bier tent) almost every nite for the four days. She sort of got a little tipsy the one nite. I sort of got a little tipsy most of the nites. They feed me so much good chow that I actually can't eat anymore. It's next to impossible to convey to her and die Mutti [Mother] that I'm stuffed [The Germans say they are satisfied, or "Satt" instead of full (voll) or stuffed.] and will soon have to go to the bathroom to ****.
I made arrangements for our office to tour the Parkbräu Brauerei [brewery] on Labor Day. I imagine they'll pass out a few Parkies. Brig used to be bragging about Milwaukee beer back in the states. The other day at Wiesbaden AFB he got hold of a Schlitz. He said he almost barfed.
The car is working OK now. The valves aren't in the best of shape. But otherwise it's OK. My main trouble the last time after I had it tuned up was a clogged fuel line. It sort of had me up a tree. I expect to get a spare tire and not have to put any more money into it.
You know I won't come home at Xmas for several reasons: (1) Lack of enuf leave time especially when I need it to see Europe (2) Lack of funds, and (3) If I wanted a drink I wouldn't be old enuf. One of the airmen of the shop called home to his girl and said it cost him $12.00 for the first three (3) minutes and $4.00 per minute thereafter.
14 September 1962
I've now completed my first week of German classes. So far, it's been very simple. I should've started at Deutsch II or III. I haven't heard anything from the Navy, yet. If I don't within the next few days, I'll have to pay the whole amount myself - no sweat, though.
As of yet, still nothing from John Tobias. - Today I worked days (0730 - 1630) and went to school in the evening. I'm off now for about an hour or so and must then work a Mid (0000 - 0730). [Inklings of things amiss in the world reflected by the initiation of a more intensive work regimen?] Not any sleep until tomorrow!