Tuesday, August 22, 1967

Aug. 22, 1967

Tuesday

Dear Mother + Dad,

It's Tuesday evening and about 5:15 p.m. here. I thought I'd drop you a few lines and let you know how things have been going.

The plane trip out here was all right but it did seem like a long trip anyway.

As I told you on the phone Sunday, most of the day Thursday was spent in classification. I picked Long Beach and San Diego for home ports and Hawaii for overseas. Thursday night I went into San Francisco for a while. Practically all-day Friday I was at the medical building for a physical and shots. I got 4 shots but will get more later on when I get ready to leave here.

That night I had duty, so I stayed here.

I got up about 10 AM Saturday and went into town to the ball game. After the game we went back downtown and went to China Town and Fisherman's Wharf. I rode the cable car back downtown and later came back here.

Sunday morning I had mess cooking and had to get up about 4:30 AM. I was over there till about 11:30 AM then came back to the barracks and called you. I had duty Sunday, so of course I had to stay here. I went to the movie here that afternoon. The rest of the day I slept and just took it easy.

Yesterday I didn't do much of anything. I just loafed around the barracks and went to the library later on. That evening I went into San Francisco and went to a show. By the time it was over it was rather late so I came back here.

Today was much the same as yesterday. I usually go over to the Exchange three or four times a day for a cup of coffee to occupy some of my time.

Well, Bill is probably on his way to St. Louis now. I hope he sold his car and got what he wanted for it.

There's not much to do around here during the day. Some of the guys get put on working parties but that usually doesn't amount to much. So far I've been able to avoid any of this manual labor!

I'm in the duty section today so that means I have to stay here tonight. I'm going to wash my clothes tonight and go to the show at 8 PM.

I'd like for you to send me some of my civilian clothes if you will. I'd like that brown pair of pants that I wear (Levi's permanent press) with the black wide belt. Send the light-colored permanent press shirt along with the paisley one.

Send my shoes along with a pair of my green socks and a pair of the dark brown ones. I'd appreciate it also if you would send my little radio. Don't get any batteries because I can get them cheaper here. Of course if my ring is back, send it also. Thanks.

The temperature is usually around the 60's here. We wear our blues all the time which came as a surprise to me.

You might check with the reserve center — later on, no hurry, and see if I made third class. Tell them not to notify me here but to wait till I get on board ship, or they can use their own judgement and do what they think is best.

Its not too bad here. This place is nothing like Great Lakes though. It's a lot smaller and its not as strict. I don't know when I get paid while I'm here. I have heard that after you are here 10 days you get your first pay.

Tell everyone I said, Hi. I'll probably write next week or sometime later. There isn't really much to write about because there is not much happening here.

I hope everyone is fine and am sure David is anxious to go back to school. Write if you have the chance.

Your son,

Mike