February 17, 1969
Dear Mom, + Dad + Dan,
We went from Logan Airport to Philly by Eastern Airlines. We had about 60 guys then. At the stop at Philly, we picked up about 50 more guys; we went from there to Charlotte, N.C. for a 25 min layover. We left there at 10:15 Tue night. And arrived at Columbia, S.C. About 10:30, we got to Fort Jackson, about 11:30; we stood outside for about ½ hour, and the temp was 33 degrees. We had to take anti-cold pills and fill out some forms. We got through there about 2:30 Wed morning. We went to chow and then to bed; got to bed about 3:45 and slept till 11:00 Wed morning. We went to chow and testing and got our clothes Fri morning. I donated a pint of blood about 1 hr ago. And now I am sitting on my bunk writing. We will be going to chow in about ½ hr. (noon time Sat). It isn’t too bad. I belong to E company; about 350 guys. We have our own room with 8 boys. The guy who bunks beside me is from Rockport, and the rest of them in my room are from Mass. 1/3rd of the E company will go to Fort Gorton, Georgia, for base train. The other 2/3rd will stay here. You can’t write to me until I am at basic and send you, my address.
It was sleeting this morning when we went to donate blood. They said that we might feel faint after, but I felt beautiful. We had coffee and donuts. They even gave us a ride in a bus back to the barracks. We have the rest of the day off. We can go to a movie at 12:30 if we want, but I am going to get some sleep and clean the room. They said we would have a 2-week leave after basic, in about 8 weeks (just in time for spring), we go to bed at 9:00 and up at 5:00 (boy that's murder). We have about 30 min to fall in. I am on the third-floor room 318. Brand new barracks. We have to sweep and buff the floors every night. (elec. Buffer) That razor is ruff. I got three of them now and more shaving cream than you can imagine. Well, we start processing Mon Tue Wed, and then basic training. I am sending home my clothes Mon, and I will try and stick a letter in with it because they are sending them home at their expense.
It really isn’t bad at all. You should see this one guy in with us. He came in with 7 others. They are Puerto Rican, and this one guy can’t speak or understand English. The drill Sargent called a formation Infront of the barracks. And everyone ran out and lined up. After everyone was out and lined up out came the kid (Santiago) the drill Sargent told him to hurry up, but the kid just smiled and kept on walking. Boy did the Sargent run down to him. Asked him his serial number and a bunch of questions but the kid just stood there and smiled. After about 5 min of hollering the drill Sargent found out that the kid couldn’t speak English. I’ll write and let you know what my address is. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine
Love ya all
Mickey.
(PS I should be a general after basic. Ha ha)