Lot 15 Letter 32 - 18th of March, 1943

18		March		1943

To: Mrs H.K. Beyer

124, 2nd Avenue, West Reading, Pennsylvania.

From: ACC Herbert Beyer 904 Training group: Flight 602, Basic training center No.9 A.A.F.T.T.C

Miami Beach, Florida.

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Regards to all the folks
March 18, 1943

My precious darling,
(I love you)

Well I'm now participating in another one of those army surprise maneuvers. We started our guard duty at 7am this morning. Our day consisted of drilling with rifles and lectures on the new type guard duty that we are performing to-nite, "beach guard".

We are instructed to "halt" an intruder three times and shoot to kill. We carry real live ammunition. My shift goes on at 6 to 8 pm and 12 midnight to 2am. We're allowed to walk barefooted and without ties and we can walk two man to a post. I'm going to walk with the fellow from Pottstown. We're, the squadron, is broken

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up into three "reliefs" so when one shift goes off another will come on.

Darling, I received two of your letters today on duty. Your letters dearest are really a wonderful inspiration to me. I read them over and over and just imagine I'm talking to you. You said darling, that I could have had you with me. That's true in a way dearest, but don't you think it would have been kind of foolish? First of all it would have cost a fortune and we couldn't have been together enough to make it worthwhile.

And again darling, personally I don't think I could have stood the grind without retaining certain vital strength giving fluids. You know what I mean dearest don't you? I'm glad you like your job and all darling but don't hurt your pretty little hands. I'd give anything to hold one now. Be careful how you pick up and work

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those sharp pieces. There's a certain knack to it that keeps you from hurting your hands at all, I know from experience. And whatever you do, darling, do it exact and precise. If you don't some soldier may lose his life. I only wish every civilian worker could taste a month of the army. I'm telling you they would work a little differently than they do in all respects, I've found that out darling. One more thing about work, my precious, remember how we both feel about talking to other fellows and girls? Well the 'fellows' part goes for you and of course girls for me. You asked in your letters how the boys get to talk to girls. Well, my dear, there are a few 'boys' in PX and there's a pier where some of the

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dance friends go occasionally where there are some "bike boys" and so on. So far I haven't gone there simply because I am not interested. As far as PX goes, I only talk to them when I have to. Darling I miss you so much I just couldn't talk to anyone else. Darling, another thing, don't get any funny ideas that we are all something down here.

All we are and all we wear is just like the regular "buck ass private in the army". The only difference is that they call us mister instead of private and our title is Aviation Cadet Candidate Private. By the treatment we get we often think we must be lower than a private. Don't worry though darling. when the proper time comes, I'll be on top. I don't want to let you down cause you're what I'm fighting for.

Darling I just thought of something I want to tell you before I forget it. If you really like your job and want to go back you should get a leave

Did you know: The word "inst" was a very commonly used abbreviation for the Latin "instante mense" meaning this month.

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of absence from T.M.W. instead of quitting, do you hear? Make as though you just want to leave temporarily to be with me until I'm shipped too far away and then come back. If you want my advice don't join any service. Get the SPARS, Marines etc out of your head. You can do much more good making range finders and money for us after the war than in the service. That in my opinion is the wisest thing to do. Oh well we'll have plenty of time to talk that over yet so we won't worry about it yet. Well dearest I'll add more to this letter and mail it tomorrow nite. I don't have any stamps and no way of getting any. Bye Bye my sweet.

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Darling, here I am again about a day later. That guarding the beach was quite something. No one found it necessary to use any of their ammunition, but one thing did happen that was a little exciting. First the story was a little distorted. The story was that a blonde had washed in on a life raft. Finally the truth was that a life belt had washed ashore and several crates of fruit. I actually saw them although it didn't happen on my post. There must be quite a tale connected with the life belt but we'll never know it, I guess. The stories go that survivors in life boats came ashore already and burning ships were seen and reported, Also a mine containing 350lbs

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of TNT. When it washed ashore the guard, it was told, was going to fire a shot at it. Later and very luckily for him, he reported it and didn't shoot. A mine like that could kill everything within a 200 yard radius.

It really is exciting because you are automatically on the alert all the time expecting anything to happen. As daylight came we became beach combers instead of beach guards.

I found some very beautiful conch shell and some coral. All in all I got about 4 hours sleep in 2 intervals. I'm really sleepy

Did you know: The word "inst" was a very commonly used abbreviation for the Latin "instante mense" meaning this month.

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We got home about 6:30 pm Friday evening, had mess and mail call, took a bath, finished my darling's letter and as soon as I mail it, my precious, I' going to bed and dream of you.

We' e expecting our shipping orders any hour now. Just think of that darling, we' ll soon be together. Take good care of yourself, get rid of your cold and have an early period this time for our sake. Darling I take all the care in the world of myself. I take a bath every day and am very careful when I sit on the toilet. I try to be very sanitary and keep our little Herby in the best of health. You do the same darling, will you? I love you and miss you very very very much my dear and still can't wait till I can hold you tight again. Well good nite my sweetheart,

All my love
Herb

Did you know: The word "inst" was a very commonly used abbreviation for the Latin "instante mense" meaning this month.

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