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dc.creatorHays, Joseph Warren
dc.date.accessioned2020-09-02T18:22:53Z
dc.date.available2020-09-02T18:22:53Z
dc.date.issued1944-02-16
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/40479
dc.descriptionHays recounts brutal schedule; thanks family for cookies, Valentines, etc. Asks Dad to buy him pocket knife.
dc.format.mediumpaper
dc.languageen_US
dc.relationJoseph Warren Hays Papers (MS 159)
dc.rightsPrior written permission from TCU Special Collections required to use any file.
dc.sourceSeries I, Box 1, Folder 3
dc.subjectWorld War II
dc.subjectUnited States Army
dc.subjectUnited States Army Air Corps
dc.subjectSheppard Field
dc.titleHays letter to family
dc.typeDocument
dc.description.transcriptionTyped on stationery:[I think that I shall NEVER be as miser’ble as on K.P.]2-16-44Dear Folks,If you don’t hear from me again for the next two months don’t besurprised. This place is murder, its every bit as bad as Maxwell plus flying, as if either one of them aren’t bad enough by them selves. Our day starts at 5:30 A.M. and some times, on off days, it ends at 7:30 at night. Sometimes, we have classes on up to10:00 at night and in two or three weeks when I start night flying there just won’t be time for anything. An example of how things run around here. We get up at 5:30 and by 6:10, 40 minutes later we are to have accomplished the following, gotten dressed, made our toilet, marched to the news hall and eaten, marched back, and fall back out for classes. On alternate days, when we fly first, we get to the flight line at 06:50 and the day ends at 7:30 P.M. when we get out of our last class. After that we eat supper and on some days go to code, blinker code, and link trainer on up until 11:00. On top of all of this they are unusually strict on discipline and such foolishness as that. Our brass and shoes are always shined, no halfway jobs will get it either, freshuniforms on at all times, hair cut once a week, and the room is always to be in inspection order. Besides classes and flying we have a full hour of P.T. and a full hour of drill every day with 5 or sometimes 10 minutes between formations. Inthose extra seconds we have left over afterchanging clothes we are supposed to keep the room dusted and swept. Besides all of this they have started this old 50% wash out again. They have finally filled the critical need for pilots that Dec 7, 1941 caused and now theyhave started taking only the absolute best again. But, as I said before they are going to have to get mightytough to be as tough as I am.Amy, or whoever it was that told me, Benny hasn’t gone to California as yet. I got a letter from him today and heisstill slaving away out at Consolidated. However he is to report to N.T.A.C. March the first. Amy also, thanks for all of the letters, candy, and the encouragement and best wishes that I have never acknowledged receiving from you. The Martha Washington especially was swell.Howdy, and thanks to everyone else for the letters, valentines, cookies, etc. that have also been received, enjoyed, and never acknowledged. Don’t look for any improvement soon however. They have kept my little twot in a fast hustle eversince I got in the Air Corps, but I’m afraid it ain’t seen nothing yet. This will be all for now and for a long time I’m afraid except for a favor from Papa. The first time you have time go down to 1505 Main Street and purchase me a good, little pocket knife. If Wolf and Klan doesn’t have one probably no one will so just skip it. I lost the one that I bought myself just before I came into the Army. I kept it about a year, that’s pretty good for me.Loads o’ love,Joe


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  • Joseph Warren Hays Papers [162]
    The collection includes a complete set of letters written by Joseph Warren Hays to his family while serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. The letters detail his aviation training across the United States and his service in Europe toward the end of the war. In his later years, Mr. Hays wrote recollections of his missions over Europe. The collection also includes printed publications, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook, a photograph of Hays, and ephemera.

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