George L. Taylor

I’ll take up where I left off, only this is my new address. Now I mean this place is really swell. It’s going to be home anyway for 13 weeks. Will really have to start to work tomorrow. Move in last nite about 7. There were about 10 already in here and every one of them were sick from the shots. The smallpox I took didn’t take and the shot just felt like somebody hit me awfully hard. One guy fainted just before they got to him. Sure is silly. The food is swell and so is the Sarg. Got issued 2 pairs of long handles & I mean heavy ones, too. I wish pop could have a pair.

Get our rifles in a couples of weeks I think. I’ve got all I can eat under my belt. 12 to a table & the food is put in big platters & you take what you want. The slogan is - - - “Take what you want, eat what you take.” I received all my pants size 31-31. I wear a 28-29 but expect to fill these up the way I’m eating. I bet you won’t know me when you see me next. I pile my plate up with fat meat, peas, carrots, celery, potatoes, gravy, 3 breads, butter, milk & coffee, lettuce salad. The plates are the size of yours & I fill them twice running over. I never waste a bit. I sure feel good out here. The wind blows all the time, tho. Wish I could have got in the 130 Bn., but didn’t.

Love, Pvt. Buddy

Monday, March 1, 1943

Just found out for sure that I’ll start my training as a gunner on a 155 mm. Howitzer. They are

#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 (called cannoners) – Gunner – Chief of Section. Sooooooo . . . .

if I can make the grade I’ll be next to top on a squad of 9. Would sure like to be the gunner. Is that the same size that you were on Dad? Had retreat tonite, and it sure is awestricking. It does something for me anyway. I didn’t know that retreat was in honor of our dead either. Also found out we don’t shoot rifles very much doggon it.

Dear Mom & Dad,

Just got home from town. Sure am tired tonite, have to wash about tomorrow nite and get things ready to go. What made you cry, Mom? We can’t have any of that you know. I bet you get as lonesome as heck up there, but soon you & Daddy will get situated & the war will be over & we can all be together again. You just keep on makin’ out as good as you have so far & I can keep my mind on the war, and we’ll be together sooner. There is nothing dangerous about the PT’s (paratroopers) at all. . . It means lots of hard work but I’ll be in good physical shape then, so don’t you worry at all . . .

Your loving son –

I’m ready to start tomorrow I guess. You two be sure and keep your fingers crossed all next week, cause I’m going to need everything I’ve got to make it. . . . The PT’s have a song too. I forget the name of it. When you go to jump you holler “Geranimo.” That’s the PT battle cry. We had a lecture yesterday given by the major in command of the PT’s & he told us again that we were an elite group of men & that we should dress as such, act as such & so on. They sure are proud men. I hope I can be one of them.

Our 1^st 4 jumps are from 1200’ & our last one 800 feet. Everyone says the jumping is really swell. It’s the stuff you do before you get to jump. The parachutes we use are 28’ & hold 185 lbs., so I ought to come down pretty easy. We were also told that we could quit up till we’ve made our 5 jumps & them we couldn’t. A man is court-martial led then just like anything else. When we quit now or are washed out we aren’t sent directly to a unit that is going overseas. Also the parachutes we use have made 18,000 jumps without a death. They are just about foolproof. Instructors have just rolled them up under their arm & jumped & they still open.

Well it’s starting to cool off here a little now & I’m sure glad. . . . Kansas is paradise compared to this, wind and all.

Your loving son

Did I tell you how the PT wings looked? I can’t draw very good but this is the idea.

Will scribble a few lines to let you know I arrived safe & sound & ready to go to work. We start Monday. Class 75. Talk about heat, the sun feels like it’s about a foot from you and you can light a match anytime of the day & the flame will burn straight up. Will have 4 weeks of training, A, B, C, & D. A is where they try to tear you down. Class usually consists of about 100 during & during A period about half drop out. They are sent back to where they came from & are sent overseas. Talk about your exercises. I mean you get them 8 hrs a day for A period & running 9 miles also. B period is jumping off 35’ towers with lines hooked to you & bob you up and down. C period is packing chutes & jumping off the 250’ tower with the parachute. Some fun. D period is your five jumps then you are a paratrooper & go through a ceremony & get your wings just like an air pilot. It’s really something. Most of the boys drop out A period but I’m sure not. They’ll have to carry me off. The call it wash-out just like in the air corps. You get your boots during your second week, B period, & the boys are really proud of them and their wings. Any paratrooper you talk to says a marine don’t even walk on the same side of the street as a PT. I guess we are in a class all by ourselves. Ha-Ha. I mean you really get tough. The boys that made it & left today say all you’ve got to do is pay attention, do your best, say you won’t give up and have nothing to do with the washouts or the guys that got hurt. Everybody that has gotten hurt it’s traced to the man himself as the cause, so I’m going to give everything I’ve got & mark my words I’m going to leave here as a qualified PT with wings. Have you seen PT wings? They are sure neat & they say when a PT goes to town the rest of the boys get out of their way. They sure treat us nice here. When I come home with those wings on I want you to just watch me throw out my chest at the boys. Ha-Ha. We sure are treated with respect.

We make five jumps in D stage and you jump with the chutes you pack yourself. I’m really going to try hard cause the best ones are picked for demolition school which lasts about 3 more weeks & you come out of it with a rating. Otherwise you are just sent right out to a line camp. Wouldn’t you like to see me with a couple or 3 stripes on? I hope I don’t freeze when I jump cause that’s something you can’t control yourself. Took another stiff physical today and passed ok. Cross your fingers til I get thru A period. Us Taylors don’t give up tho do we. Hope you are both well & write soon & wish me luck.

Dear Mom & Dad

I’m out under these big pine trees trying to cool off a little. Boy is it hot here. Started A period today. Didn’t think I’d live thru it & to think of another whole week of it. O Boy! Got to where I was just quivering all over & my muscles were just numb all over but my mind just said don’t give up, don’t give up. Lost 5 boys today and we didn’t even have a full day of it. We don’t really start til Monday. We are required to take 4 salt tablets a meal and as many more as you like. My fatigues were wet enough to wring & they got so wet the sweat started dripping in my shoes till they were squishing just like when you are wading in a creek. I feel very good tho. Stayed about ½ hour under the shower & ate a very good meal & also cut down on my smoking. Took out another $1000 Paratrooper insurance today. . .

Boy I sure thot I was going to have to give up today. Two of the 5 boys we lost today just passed out completely. They carried them off. The idea is of this first week if you have any physical defects at all they will show up and they just don’t want you. It takes guts the lst week and nerve the rest. Shoot, Fort Sill was kindergarten compared to this. Went over the obstacle course also today. Boy, it’s a honey. One place you go across (hand rope walk) there’s a big pit underneath full of water like they always have but this one also has barbed wire in it. Now isn’t that something. You gotta make it or get cut up.

The boots we get cost the government $15. Sure are good ones. I been jumping off a big water pipe out here that’s about 11 feet and that’s as hard as you land. I can’t hardly wait to jump. The only thing I’m worried about is this tearing down process to see if you can take it. . . .After you get to a line camp you don’t jump but about once every month or so. I’d jump every day I believe if they’d let me. I’ve talked to lots of the boys that have just finished & they say it’s a thrill you can’t explain. . .

___________________

Say, I made it all rite today, but I was wondering for a while. I bet I sweated 3 quarts today. We’ve got 2 colonels with us now. Boy it sure is good. It’s really going to get tough tomorrow & the rest of the week. WE have to run 9 miles Saturday. I sure could stand some of that good old Kansas water. Have to climb a 30’ rope hand over hand (I can do that now) & pass tumbling tests and all kinds of things. I like it if I could just get to where it was cool again. Hope Pop and you are proud of me if I get those wings. They sure mean a lot to me. I’d take civilian life any day to Army life, but we’ve got a job to do and it’s better to make the best of it and get it over with so we can come back home.

Lots of love, your loving son,