1. Dear Mom,

     When I left SF it was cold, about 45 degrees. They put us on a 707 and the next thing we knew we were in San Antonio, TX. When I got off the plane a blast of hot air hit me. I felt like I was going into a furnace. If that had been the worst of my worries it would have been good but I saw Bill and tried to say hello to him and he yelled at me. It seems that Bill is now my TI. That means training instructor. I guess he can't be my brother and my TI at the same time or at least not be a brother to me and my TI at the same time. So he is my TI.

Anyways we were put on a bus and taken to Lackland and fed a real nice dinner. I would tell you what I ate, but I really don't remember anything but the coffee - which tasted like urn cleaner which - I later discovered it was. We were told if we got it we were suppose to eat it, so I was afraid not to drink it, but it took a lot of sugar and cream to cover up the taste.

I did learn something valuable about the chow hall today. If you count the number of ambulances outside the chow hall you can tell how good the food is. The more ambulances, the badder the food is. That does not mean we do not have to eat it, as my TI says that all of the food is chosen for its value to us as members of the military, and every menu has been chosen to make sure we get everything we need. I am however trying to figure out how half raw eggs passed off as scrambled eggs are supposed to be good.

As for the washing machine and Sammy, I guess you would have to tell them that I have to come home on emergency leave to kick the washing machine hard, not just kick it as they wouldn't let me come home to just kick. They figure that you could do that. As for Sammy, tell them that he is having a serious nervous breakdown and that might do it. But most of all, don't tell them Sammy is a cat or it just will not fly.

I guess I should go now. My TI tells us we are going to have a lot of fun today doing exercises and getting our uniforms and most of all a free haircut. I think I will ask them just to take a little off the sides as I got a hair cut last week I really don't think I need one, but they tell me it is free, so what the heck.

Love,

Your Son.