AirCorps Training, March, '42

The next time Mike sends mail home, we find him in The St. Louis, Missouri Train Depot on March 24-25, 1942.  There are postcards to Mary and Mickey, Andy and Esther, and Rosie on these dates. 

In the March 24th Postcard to Mary and Mickey, he states that everything is OK, that it is a big place, that he arrived at 9:45PM the night  before and had to stay over night because his train west doesn't take off until 2:00PM on 3/25.  He says they zipped right through Chicago on the streamliner, "Abe Lincoln".

On March 25th, the card to Andy and Esther was written at 8:00AM, and Mike tells them also that he rode on one of those ritzy streamliners from Chicago to St. Louis called "The Abe Lincoln".  He also mentions that he spent the night in the terminal because his train west does not take off until 2:00PM that day.

Rosie's Card is postmarked 11:00AM and Addressed to Miss Rose Mary Halaiko, RFD 2 Box 44, Kent, Ohio.

On this card, Mike shows some sibling kidding and humor.  He writes, "Dear Rosie  Hello-o-o____blah Chicago_____ ______.  St. Louis______ _______, blah, ________ blah,blah_________yeh!  Hmmm!

Justink! Rode on a streamline train too.  Mike"

On March 29, 1942, Mary and Mickey received a short typed note from Mike at Kelly Field, Texas.  He lets them know that everything is OK with this being a real place with good food.  Mike gave them a temporary address of a/c Michael J. Halaiko, Pilot Replacement Center, Kelly Field Co. "A", San Antonio, Texas.

He tells them that his face is getting brown already from the heat.  The trip down was enjoyable, and he probably saw a lot of places he would never have seen otherwise.  Mike asks them not to forget to write.

On March 30, 1942, Mike wrote, "Dear Family" on stationery that was headed Luke Field, Arizona with a set of Airman's Wings above the heading, but Mike wrote up in the right hand corner, "Kelly Field, Texas".

Mike explains to them that today was quite a day in that they had written tests all day.  The next day they would undergo a stiff physical exam.  This would determine whether he qualified to be a pilot or not.  Mike explains that only about 50% of the participants pass this exam.

Mike tells them that planes fly day and night here, and that it is about 9:00PM, and the advanced students are roaring off into the night.

The day before they took a walk out to "the line", where all the planes were set to take off.  It was really something to see because there were all types of planes on "the line".

As far as Mike could tell, hew was going to be there at Kelly Field for 5 weeks of ground school.  Then they would go to primary school for 10 weeks.  If they pass primary school, they go on to basic school for 10 weeks, and then back to Kelly Field for advanced flying.

Mike concludes by telling them that everything is OK, the food is good, and not to worry about anything.  He hopes he will be getting a letter from them soon, which he had not received as of yet, his dear people, and he tells them so-long.

On April 12, 1942, Mike writes to Mary, Mickey and Jerome from Brooks Field, and as he explains, they were moved to this field about 15 miles northwest of San Antonio [actually the map shows it as southwest of San Antonio], the previous Friday, (4/10/42).

Mike tells them they will probably only be there for a short time only about 5 weeks.  He says that as of yet they have not touched a plane, and probably won't for another 4-5 weeks.

Mike says the food is very good there, and they get ice cream with every evening meal.  They eat in total silence after they march into mess in formation.  After they eat, they are commanded to rise, and march out in formation in silence.

Brooks Field had a theater and a canteen.  Mike thanks them for their Easter Greetings.  He says he couldn't get out to get any Easter Greetings for them, but knows they had a good Easter.  Mike asks that they tell Jerome Hello and to tell him to be a good boy.  

He asks if they have been out to the farm lately, and before he closes, he gives them his new address:

A/C M. Halaiko Plt. "G" Squadron "B" A.C.R.P Class 42-K Brooks Field, Texas

OnApril 15, 1942, Mike sent the following Post Card to Andy and Esther describing Brooks Field:

On the very same day, Mike wrote a letter to Andy and Esther thanking them for finally getting a letter from them.  He tells them also that he has been moved to Brooks Field, and that Andy would like the perpendicularity of the cots in the barracks.  The drill sergeants are all West Pointers, and they have quite a rigorous training schedule, arising at 5:45AM; breakfast at 6:15AM; stiff inspection at 8:00AM.  This is where Mike says Andy would be impressed with just how neat everything has to be.  Mike is very glad he no longer sleeps in a tent (after a year at Shelby), but in a barracks.  They are in bed by 9:30PM.

Mike believes that he will be at Brooks Field until about May 1st, and then be moved back to Kelly Field for 5 weeks of ground school.  Mike mentions that this day he has sent a booklet on Brooks to Andy that he believes Andy will find quite interesting.  Brooks is not quite as big as Kelly Field.

Mike then mentions someone by the name of Ellsworth in his letter, and that he must be quite a guy.  Mike felt many times like doing what Ellsworth did, but just didn't dot it, and does not know why.

On April 18, 1942, Mike writes a letter exclusively to his younger sister, Betty, from Brooks Field, Texas.  It is about 8:10PM Central War Time about one hour earlier than back in Ohio.  Mike tells Betty that he is listening to the Hit Parade, and Mary Martin is singing, "You Made Me Love You".  [Not Mary Martin singing at this Link, but (close), Judy Garland].  He asks her, "Are you listening?" and "Boy, can she sing!".

Mike refers to the Air Raid Drills that Betty told him about up in Akron. He says he hopes that there will never be a real one, but then makes the correction that there won't be because as an airman now, he won't let this happen. 

He tells Betty that as of yet he has not gotten near an airplane and probably won't for another 5 weeks or so.  Mike believes that as of now he is still in pilot training.  The other day they read off a list of navigators and bombardiers, and his name was not on it, so, for now it looks like he is going to make a stab at being a pilot, and a good stab it will be she can bet.

Mike reiterates how good the food is at Brooks Field .  Earlier that day, he had a thick T-Bone Steak, and Lamb that night with ice cream for desert.

He tells her that they won't be at Brooks Field long and he will write her when his address changes.  He finishes with, "Write. So-long Mike."  And then in a P.S. "M. Martin's singing 'Moonlight Cocktail' for the Army." 

Then in a letter to Mary and Mickey on April 22, 1942, he lets them know that he is now at Brooks Field, Texas, and probably won't be there for long.  He suggests that, if they are going to send a box of food, that they wait until he gets a more permanent address, because he doesn't want the food to spoil.  Mike doesn't know where he will go from there, but he will let them know as soon as he finds out.

Mike likes the wide flat fields of Texas and states that the corn is already 8-9" tall there.  He mentions that the day before he received 7 letters forwarded from Kelly Field that were all dated 4/10; 4/13; and 4/15, which proved the mail was held up a week or so every time they moved.

At this point, Mike still does not know if he is classified as a pilot yet.  As soon as he finds out, he will let them know.  He is inclined to believe that he will be classified as a navigator because of his college mathematics.

Mike tells Mary that he wants to send some souvenirs in the future.  He did get into San Antonio on a Sunday Pass the weekend before, but that was the first pass they had had since they arrived in Texas.  Mike said he would send souvenirs in the future.

He also asks for Mickey's brother Cyril's Address as he would like to send him a card  or letter.  Mike closes with his usual, "Well, so long now, Mike".  An then, "P. S. When I went to San Antonio, we saw "The Alamo" and liked it."