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United States Army Headquarters Company Fourth Army Presidio of San Francisco September 19, 1942
Dear Professor Barclay,
I have just been here a week yesterday and can say that the first period is successfully completed. The basic training period for all members of this unit (which is infantry) is six weeks. After that they are given special duties as clerks or members of the "Bull Gang" (laborers, etc.) I'm sure of making the office, as there is much low rabble in this company; but there is also a large percentage of fine boys and men who are not here to mop floors or wash dishes. After we "graduate," we may go into Fourth Army Headquarters (different from Headquarters Company).
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We then live in the finer barracks and have a much different schedule. But I must say the present schedule of exercises and drills and chores is doing me good physically -- and making me realize how well off I have been in the past. I hope to secure a commission someday and shall work towards that end when I can.
For a while I thought I wasn't going to get in, but I was helped (a lot) by the gentlemen who interview all prospective members -- Lt. Col. Wescott and Capt. Dunker (remember the names). They were most kind and are desirous of organizing an elite unit if possible. The men they want "in" therefore get "in." They secured a special waiver for me from Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City (Headquarters, Ninth Corps
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Area) after I had been rejected by the Market Street Recruiting Station (eyes). So you see I've been very lucky here thanks to your tip. I am in beautiful surroundings at the Presidio and am much better off than I would have been otherwise. Naturally I miss much of my old luxury, but I shall soon become adjusted to Army life. I do hope to return to Stanford some day and do some graduate work. But that is perhaps far off. I still look back to the Farm with a sort of wistful nostalgia and can't quite get over having to leave it. I did not have a great number of friends there, but I loved the place just the same. I got a C from Boggs; evidently that charming reader of
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his didn't think so much of my final as I did. I suppose that ruins my chances for Phi Beta Kappa; perhaps it was not for me anyway. It is strange how the things on which you place all your hopes seldom come to you. At least I developed the beginnings of an intellect at Stanford. Of that I'm proud -- Trolik or no Trolik. Incidentally I'm also proud of my B in P.S. 160. That was as much a Trafalgar as "Economic Problems" was a Waterloo.
I hope all this babble finds you ready to face the Autumn hordes who will soon be milling around you and your colleagues. How I wish I were one of them! But I'm very
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pleased with my present position and hope we won't be sent overseas. If so, however, I'll settle some scores made by the Japs against us when we visited their confounded islands in 1940. With best good wishes to yourself and hopes for a speedy answer (or at least when you have time),
Sincerely, Joseph M. Thomas Private, U.S. Army (and: Stanford '42).
