Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
12 November 1962 [The return address in anticipation indicated it was from an AG2!]
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John Tobias wrote me too. If I ever get off alert [re: Cuban Missile Crisis.] I'll be able to visit him. As it is now, we must leave word where we are. We also must be within 45 minutes of the base.
If you would want me to telephone sometime - make it well before or after the holidays. It'll cost about $4 a minute with a minimum of 3 minutes. I'll foot the first 3 minutes if you want me to phone. Let me know so I can coordinate with you. [The phone call was eventually made from Gretchen's haus and AG2 Fehr reimbursed the family for the courtesy.]
Last weekend Gretchen talked me into going ice skating at the Canadian Base. She even paid my way in. I didn't fall too much, but I wasn't skating either. Boy am I sore.
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Wetting Down! On November 16, 1962, the date of rank for the newly promoted AG2's, the new E-5s treated the office staff (Air Force included, of course) to a Navy tradition at the NCO Club called a "wetting down" party which featured free food and drinks. Although the wetting down ceremony originally involved officers back in the days when the Navy had ships of wood and men of iron, the tradition eventually extended down to petty officers. The festivities, the many diners and frequent toasts of booze and beer, cost the newly promoted more than the increase earned for the month. Since AGs are aviation ratings, there was one or two novice initiates egged into attempting a classical carrier landing, i.e., taking a running belly-flop leap at cleared-off tables wetted down with beer doing a hilarious best not to collide into the stern or slide off the deck! |
25 November 1962
Here is a recipe for schnitzel. Oh, I'm going to teach them [girlfriend and her mother] how to make fried chicken like you do (with bread crumbs). Let you know how I make out.
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I finally bought a hat like you wanted me to last winter [A Bavarian Hut or hat]. I was down at Gretchen's Saturday, and it was raining pretty hard, so she decided to give me my Weihnachte Geschenke (Xmas present) early. The kids got some early too - just like everywhere I guess. I got a collapsible Regenschirm (umbrella). It's about 12 - 15" long and becomes full length. [A three-part diagram was sketched in the letter to show the umbrella in stages, apparently collapsible umbrellas were new technology. Servicemen were not issued umbrellas. Must be part of the quiche code - real men don't use umbrellas!] It's sort of dark greenish plaid and goes well with my tweed coat. It must've cost about $8 - $10. [Camouflaged thusly in downtown Zweibrücken one day, an older German couple pulled their car off to the curb to ask directions of the disguised Ami (German slang for American), when upon closer inspection, the wife stopped mid sentence in mild terror realizing her error. To her astonishment, the beckoned Ami quickly gave her precise directions in fluent German and tipped his hat with a big grin.] I might get myself a winter suit within the next month or two.
If it weren't for my schatze, I don't think I'd have a button on any of my clothes. The laundry is ruff on everything.
This will have to take the place of a Xmas card, I just can't find the time to (or fight the trouble & cost) to address cards. I'm neglecting writing letters very much, so in case you hear complaints - please make up some excuse…
Frohe Weinachten und ein Glückliches Neu Jahr! [Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!]
P.S. I got a "B" in my difficult (really) German II mid-term. Guess I'll have to start studying - a new leaf!