5/14/42
As you can see by this postmark (Ayer, Massachusetts), I am now a member of Uncle Sam’s Army. However I haven’t the faintest idea, as yet, what will happen, or where I will go. We got into Hartford about 7:20 and almost immediately to pass through (no info) the physical. I passed OK. At present, we are enroute from Hartford and boy, it sure is a rough track. More later. AP
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Alfred Peabody Guion
Trumbull, Conn., May 24, 1942
Dear Boys:
A postal card from Lad reveals that he is, and expects for the next six or eight weeks, to be at Ordnance Replacement Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, Co. B, 1st Ordnance Training Battalion. I am awaiting further details to learn whether this was his choice, based possibly on the fact that his experience with moving heavy equipment with Socony-Vacuum or possibly the use of diesels in transporting big guns, or whether he was just sent there willy-nilly. I asked Harry Robinson one day how he became deaf and he told me that during the first World War, they sent him to Aberdeen and the concussion from the firing of the big guns was what destroyed his hearing.
Daniel Beck Guion
No news from Dan, merely a request to have Barbara (Barbara Plumb, his girlfriend) bring down with her his Alaskan slides which he had promised to show to several interested parties in Roanoke Rapids. Barbara left Thursday night and expected to arrive Friday morning, returning to Bridgeport in time for work Tuesday morning. I hope to receive, even though it be secondhand, more detailed information from this tantalizing individual who merely writes he now has a specialist’s rating carrying with it a boost of $20 in his pay, but what the rating is for, how obtained, etc, is left to the imagination. He also refers to the possibility of making application to Officer’s Candidate School, but beyond that bare fact no more information is vouchsafed. He does mention that he has applied for a furlough early in July, which he will not know definitely can be granted for some time, and announces he has definitely decided not to use his car down there.
Richard Peabody Guion
Dick has just received card notification from Draft Board that he is in Class 1. He informed me today he has decided to see what can be done about transferring him to a day shift again. He is losing weight due to lack of sleep, which is harder to get in summer day times, and the reflection of artificial light from the pieces he works on affects his eyes. He still spends most of his spare time at Stratford (where Jean Mortensen lives) in spite of the gas rationing restrictions.
David Peabody Guion
Dave, for some time, has been hopeful of making the grade as President of his sophomore class, but finally lost out. He took his defeat in the sporting spirit. Lately he has been seeing a great deal of Natalie Slawson, at whose house he calls, whenever the parental discipline is a little off guard.
Aunt Betty (Lizzie) Duryee, Grandpa’s Aunt
Aunt Betty manages to put in a pretty full day divided up between caring for her flowerbeds, darning socks, washing dishes, cleaning house, etc. She says she is not over-doing things but I would rather she took it a little easier.
Elizabeth Westlin (Guion) Zabel and her son, Raymond Jr. (Butch)
Elizabeth, due to gas rationing restrictions, won’t be able to use the car as much as formerly, so probably will not visit us as frequently.
The sewer drain, under the cellar stairs, sprung a leak and backed up in the cellar and I spent as much time as I could spare from dinner chores this morning and after dinner this afternoon, in digging up the ground to find where the break occurred and trying to fix it, with only partial success.
DAD
To0morrow and Sunday, more of Elizabeth’s Adventure in St. Petersburg, Florida, when she was 16 years old.
Judy Guion
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 