Tag: letter

July 15, 1944 William Shepard to parents…

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1704 W. Broadway
Enid, Oklahoma
July 15, 1944\

Dear Dad:

Everything is going fine so I thought that I would write a letter. This finishes my second week here in basic. I have had about all the actual flying I will get. From now on its instrument flying and cross-country and night work. Im getting along fine.

The weather here is hot as blazes although we have a cool place to stay. I fly 6 days a week. It is a pretty long day but I dont have to study evenings. We go swimming a lot. K. W. likes it fine. Sue is beginning to. Ill be happy if we can always find as nice a place

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as this to live in. Enid is a bit smaller than Muskogee but better laid out. The air base is 4 miles south. We take turns driving. I have a B card and need it too. The oldsmobile only gives 12-14 miles to the gallon. It needs an overhaul. On a trip I get 16-17. It is a club coupe and we can pack all our belongings in a rear seat & put the matress in them. The trunk is empty when we move. It is nice and roomy well Ill close and mail this Ill write again soon.

Your son
Bill

June 10, 1944 Lois Shepard to in-laws…

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301 N. 26th St.
Muskegee, Okla.
June 10, 1944

Dear Dick —

Have expected to hear from you again. Haven’t gotten the Saturday mail yet – so maybe there will be a few letters from home today. They have been few and far between.

The news of the invasion was a relief wasn’t it. I’m afraid it will take a while but I’m glad it has started. We got as a car – the ’39 Oldmobile $700. It needs a little work but much better than the Studebaker which is still advertized for $300 now & has to be sold by Sunday. That was just a story to get rid of the thing quick. The car we have has loads of space to pack things. It is a coupe – & no seats in the back but room behind the front seat for Bills & my trunks & a place for Kenny to sit. We could even fix a bed back there for them. Then the trunk is plenty roomy also. It is black & looks very nice. Radio-heater-clock. Tho they all need a little work done on them.

Bill had to fly this morning as it rained

[pg. 2]
Thursday all morning. He will be home at noon today tho. He had O.D.[?] Wednesday of this week, so we thot we’d have the whole weekend & here he has to fly this morning. Bill had his 40 hr. check then 40 hr. re check – he’s still in – tho he had me worried again. I refuse to worry any more.

Sue is taking her morning nap but it is about time for her to get up & I’ll have to get the kids cleaned up as we’ll have to take them to town with us.

We wanted to go out tonite but Sat. nite is the only nite Mrs Kelly goes out so we’ll have to wait. Maybe tomorrow nite.

Sue is awake so I’ll close –

Love
Lois.

No date [aft March 1944] William Shepard to parents…

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letter_shepardw_to_shepardwr_1944_nodate_p01S.O.G.A.F.P.S.(P)
S.A.A.C.C.
San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother and Dad:

Here I am again, in a barracks. All the fellows are swell. Its just as if I was a G.I. (dogface) again. We all live together, eat and march like O. C. S. Only it is easier. Not too easy. The meals are swell here. Best since Pendleton. Up at 5:15 and quit at 5:00 we also have plenty of calisthenics, running and sports.

Looks as if I would get through, at least I feel like it. Just saw “See Here Pvt. Hargrove” its a scream and the best army picture

 

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that I have seen. See you when you get the chance.

Tell Herman Ill write him soon. I hope to get some pictures of you all soon.

Well Ill close and give you a chance to write. Do. Give my regards to everyone

Love
Bill

April 29, 1944 William Shepard to parents…

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2413 Elgin Ave
Muskogee, Okla.
29 april, 1944

Dear Mother and Dad:

Ill dash you off a letter and eat. I awoke late this morning and have written a ream of letters.

It is still cool here. The wind is always blowing. I wont know how to fly in calm weather when it comes, if it does.

The flying is coming along O.K. I have 5 hours 40 min. now. I will probably solo when I get about 10 hours. It is so strict now that Ill be lucky to get through. If I should happen to wash out, Ill call Lois and have her come down for a short visit, as I will

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probably go overseas right away. If I don’t, then you folks can come down and bring K W and Susie. Do you think that would be okay? If everything goes as planned, you all will be coming out about July 1st.

No news of any importance so I’ll close.
All my love
Bill

Early 1944 William Shepard to parents…

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Dear Mother and Dad:

Well the waiting is over and I have passed the tests. I start training Monday March 13, 1944. I should finish training in November or December. I will probably get test-pilot work, but if I dont, Ill get fighter aviation. Its what I want.

I miss you all. It was sure nice being home. Ill get another leave when I finish training. (I hope) Ill be in Texas until I finish. If you all can why dont you come down this summer? About a week

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or two before I graduate I want Lois to come down. We can talk about that later.

I dieted for five days when I came down. Then I just got in under the limits.

All my buddies passed the exams, but most the other fellows in the bunch washed out twelve out of twenty five failed. Only six out of twenty five made pilot. Bob Orr, Cleveland, Bill Stewart, Texas, Maness, S. Caroline, Pick-?, and Steve Butler, Youngstown made navigator.

We all buddy around together

Well folks, Ill sign off for a while

Love
Bill

~1943[?] William Shepard to parents…

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Hello Mother:

Here is that oft promised letter. About finished here. I think Ill go to Enid Okla. in about two weeks. I have 58 hours now. I will have my acobatic check ride soon. It will be easy as acrobatics are easy for me: I seem to fly better upside down. I always was crazy. Ill be glad to get to a larger ship. Lately Ive wanted some more power on the nose. The new trainer has about 500 H.P.

We have a 39 Oldsmobile coupe or did you know? It sure is a nice car. I bought it from a boy in the Rainbow Division here at Camp Gruber.

It is a club coupe so we have plenty of room.

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I wish I could go to Canada with you but it will wait.

Well Ill close for now.

Your Son
Bill

P.S. Send Carls address

December 24, 1943 William Shepard to parents…

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470 Base Hq &A B Sq.
Pendleton AAF, Oregon
December 24, 1943

Dear Mother and Father,

I always like to like to get a letter from you. It brings me back home if only for a little while.

I guess that dad about worn out by now, working so hard. Here I am laying in bed two thirds the time. However I hope to be completely ready for duty in a few more weeks. To tell the truth I havent been feeling very good, but that is only natural.

The weather has been foggy for a month here. Today is one of the few clear days. I can see the snow– covered Rockies from here. This country

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is beautiful. It makes me so mad, when I think that you and Lois went home, then I came back to Pendleton. I almost tear my hair out. You cant make any plans at all in the army. Every time you think you have it straightened out it up and slaps you down. Suppose that my flight training will get screwed up somehow and Ill end up as a pencil pusher somewhere. As long as I can be busy I wont mind anything too much.

I hope that Louis can find a nice apartment there in Westerville. I dont want her to move away from there. It is handy, and you folks and Herman can give her some help if she needs it.

I expect to leave here in a

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month or so. If I get in good physical shape it cant be too soon.

I received a basket full of cards from everywhere. Letters from everyone too. While I was in the hospital I wrote a lot of people, now the answers are coming in. It looks as if I would have to keep up my correspondence now.

Dont worry about me, mother. If I get sick Ill let you know. There is a lot of men who would trade me places Ill bet. They are having their tails shot off while the surgeon just nipped off a tiny piece of mine.

Wishing you and dad a happy new year, I will be

Your son
Bill

December 13, 1943 William Shepard to parents…

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470 Base Hq & A B Squadron
Pendleton AAF, Oregon
December 13, 1943

Dear Mother:

As I am in hospital I can’t send the deposit slip. If they wont to business pay the extra five and get a receipt. When I get out I’ll mail you the deposit slip. Wrap the present and then put it in a large box, then wrapped the large box. Give it to her as soon as you can and let her guess.

I’m getting along fine and may be out soon if I don’t need another operation. If I do it will be a very minor one. It is good to know the situation is corrected. It wasn’t so pleasant but the longer one lets it go the worse it gets. The surgeon says I may never be troubled again.

I’ve been in bed about 10 days now and I’m fed up with it. Sleep eat read & then repeat. I do have time to write now and I’ve written everyone imaginable including Jack Hays. If I had Ruth and Johns address I would have written them.

I’ll be back in work soon and my call for flight training will come in the near future. I’m glad that it didn’t

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come before now in a way because I would have had to have the operation at my flight training base and it would have put me behind in my work, so everything worked out O.K.

I never knew I had hemorrhoids until the flight surgeon examined me. He said as soon as I had the situation corrected I would be in perfect health and that would be no bar to my flying.

Well Pendleton is getting colder now. The leaves on the trees are falling and the mornings are getting crisp. Just like September in Ohio. It’s strange that the climate is so mild here.

Ill close mother and wish you all
Love.
Bill

December 9, 1943 William Shepard to parents…

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470 Base Hq. & AB Sq.
Pendleton AAF, Ore
December 9, 1943

Dear Mohter

This is a letter of consolation to you. The war department regrets to inform you that your son
1st Lt. William A. Shepard Jr. 0570214
Was injured in the service of his country observers state that in a frenzy of patriotism, when the General yelled “shit on the jap”, he nobly pulled down his jeans and spread fourth and filth upon the yellow race untill he wore out his muzzle bore.

Seriously mother, dont worry a minute about my operation. Was one of those things. I had my choice of having it done now when there is less danger or later some 10 or 15 years. I choose now. I like to clean it up. The doctor is OK and

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I’ll probably be out before Xmas and so don’t worry.

Dont let Lois worry either. After all we have a lot of these operations any more. I didnt know it till I came in. They are nearly all successful, even the bad cases. And it pays to have it taken care of.

Ill close now. Write please
Your son
Bill

P.S. I dont have a damn thing to do but read letters so that’s the extra reason for writing.

P.P.S. I think they changed my caliber I’m not sure.

November 21, 1943 William Shepard to parents…

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470 Base H.Q. and Air Base Squadron
Pendleton Army Air Field, Oregon
November 21, 1943

Dear Mother & Father:

Arrived here safely, after much delay. Waited at Patterson Field for three days. Met some fliers I knew and had a ride home, but at the last minute the flight was cancelled and I had to come via airlines I was kicked off at Cheyenne and Boise and came in on the train, just making it.

As you have probably noticed, I have been transferred to another organization. You can address all mail to the above address until further notice.

It was nice to get home and probably will be the last time for a while at least. Although it will take me three monthes to pay  you and Lois back.

Ill send you the money for Lois’ ring in two weeks. Get it wrapped and give it to her on Xmas eve for me. Ill send a note to put in with it. I can pay you back Jan & Feb.

Same old place out here. The weather ifs foggy. Im just waiting now. Ill write later.

Your son
Bill